Crosman Bushmaster.
This report includes:
- Multi-Purpose Weapon?
- Realistic!
- Magazine
- Ooops—BB learns!
- Function
- Smoothbore
- Discussion
I was going to shoot the Umarex Thompson M1A1BB gun at 10 meters today but Ian McKee came up recently and left a Crosman Bushmaster full auto BB gun with me to evaluate. There is a back story about where this airgun came from, but I can’t remember if I’m allowed to talk about it or not. I’ll let Ian tell you if he wants to.
I’m late to the party because this BB gun has been on the market for years. Hard Air Magazine reviewed it in 2019! No problem, though, because it has stood up to a lot of use in all that time.
Multi-Purpose Weapon?
I did not include the MPW in the name because BB guns are not weapons. They NEVER should be considered as such! Say they are and people who don’t know weapons will believe with what could be disasterous consequences!
This BB gun resembles a Bushmaster SBR (short barreled rifle) firearm more than anything else I can find. That one is chambered in 5.56mm and indeed is a weapon.
If Bushmaster had called that rifle an MPW then Crosman would be correct to put it in the name of this BB gun, but if there is no Bushmaster that’s called a multi-purpose weapon, and I can’t find one on a commercial website, then neither should the BB-gun replica be.
It’s true that Ruger does produce a DPMS and since Crosman produces a BB-gun version of that the folks at Crosman may have simply carried the MPW name over. But Crosman actually calls their DPMS BB gun an SBR which is correct. So I am confused.
Realistic!
Man, is this thing realistic! It’s so realistic that, like the Thompson BB gun, I can hear shooters who have never handled a Thompson M1A1 firearm remarking how heavy it is! It weighs 6.5 pounds, but in this short package it feels more like 9. Much of that weight is in the magazine. By itself and unloaded it weighs 1 pound 6.7 ounces / 647 grams, so it’s a chunk.
Magazine
The firing valve is in the magazine. It looks very serviceable. If anyone can comment on that I’d like to hear it.
The BBs are also in the mag in a spring-loaded 25-round channel at the front. An optional high-capacity mag is also available with the same spring-loaded 25 rounds in front and a reservoir of 300 more rounds.
Bushmaster magazine.
There is lots of metal on the airgun and the only plastic is in places like the grip and buttstock. Yeah—RIGHT! And BB is also Arnold Schwarzenegger!
This BB gun is actually made mostly of synthetic, but it’s synthetic that’s so realistic it fooled me—even upon close examination! I had to use the tongue test to know for sure. And that, I guess, is how Crosman keeps the retail price so reasonable.
The buttstock extends à la M4-style and at full extension the length of pull is a comfortable 13-1/2-inches / 34.29cm. The only sight is a dot sight that’s attached to the Picatinny rail on top of the receiver. And—dog my cats, boys, if this sight isn’t one of the nicest dots I’ve ever seen! It has 5 levels of illumination and 4 different reticles. I have $200 dot sights with those same features, except the viewing window on this one is much larger!
Ooops, BB learns—again!
Okay, once again BB had to learn! In a phone conversation Ian told me the dot sight on this particular Bushmaster is a Sightmark that he bought from a pawnshop! It didn’t come with the gun and it isn’t a Crosman product. It’s an older model but it has features similar to sights that Sightmark sells for $250-300 today. No wonder it’s so nice!
The sight that comes standard on the Bushmaster also has a larger sight window, but Crosman and Pyramyd Air do not mention anything about any levels of illumination or reticles. So when I review the BB gun for you it will have the Sightmark dot sight installed.
Function
The Bushmaster is select-fire. That means both semiautomatic (fires with each pull of the trigger) and full-auto (fires as long as the trigger is pulled). Safe, semiauto and full-auto use the same single thumb switch you’d find on an M16. And, guess what? The rifle has similar disassembly crosspins to the ones found on an M16, only these don’t have ball bearing detent retainers.
BB actually took this one apart. He will not tell you how to do that because he has answered too many sad emails and letters from folks who got things apart and couldn’t get them back together. He will just note that if you served in the military and are familiar with M16/M4 disassembly, this one is a piece of cake!
The magazine release is in the same place as on the firearm and operates the same way. The forward bolt assist however is just cosmetic on the Bushmaster BB gun and does nothing.
The gun is cocked by pulling the charging handle back, just like an M16. When the bolt comes back the ejection port door springs open. So the realism is there.
Smoothbore
This is a BB gun so naturally it’s a smoothbore. But Ian told me a person he knows who has one, or maybe it’s more than one person, who says the Bushmaster is very accurate. So I read the reviews and they nearly all said the same thing. The one that didn’t had a breakage problem with his gun that Crosman apparently wasn’t able to resolve. So that guy didn’t like anything about the gun.
This kind of accuracy is not common for a BB gun, but since we experienced it with the M1A1 Thompson and I also saw it at an NRA show several years ago on the airgun range when I shot a Crosman DPMS, I was kind of prepared for it. That’s another reason I chose this one to review today.
Discussion
So this report is about a select-fire BB gun that’s been around for years and has a lot of things going for it. It’s time we all took a good look at it and I’ll bet a cookie some of you own one. You can help me write this report.
B.B.,
In Magazine:
“The only sight is a dot sight that’s attached to the Picatinney rail on top of the receiver.”
There is no e in PICATINNY and not in the Rockaway Township, New Jersey one either ;^)
In Ooops and Function:
What is a Buckmaster?
I know of a Deer Hunting Association but not any kind of gun.
I’m not into bb guns….
shootski
shootski,
Fixed. Thanks,
BB
BB,
I’m afraid to ask what the tongue test is.
All airgun talks eventually lead back to “A Christmas Story” .
SSC,
“A Christmas Story”, is that the movie about Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB gun?
And “you’ll shoot your eye out”
SSC,
I’ve never seen that movie. I’ll look out for it this Christmas.
TBS usually plays it non stop part of Christmas eve and all day on Christmas.
schedule here
https://www.tvinsider.com/1109758/a-chrismas-story-tbs-tnt-elf-holiday-schedule-2023/
Bob,
If the item is cold it’s probably metal. Synthetics will be room temperature. The tongue is usually the most sensitive tester.
BB
Wouldn’t a magnet work just as well and be more sanitary?
Yes, but Tom, can you shoot the star out with it? Only 25 balls to do it with….
Have a great weekend everybody!
Best,
-Yogi
Yogi,
A magnet works on ferrous metals only. And firearms and airguns are usually made of aluminum these days.
As for shooting out the star, I really do need to write that report for you guys!
BB
Yes, we know the man that has them!!!
Ian
.
Like shootski, I am not really into bb guns. I do own one though. I have a 1959 Daisy 99. In 1960 Daisy went to the spring fed fifty shot tube similar to what is in the Daisy 25. I can load mine up with hundreds of bbs and shoot it until I am tired of shooting it. The accuracy is pretty good also.
Let’s see what this Mattelomatic lookalike can do. Hey, it might surprise us.
RidgeRunner of the Peeples Demacratik Republik of Virginia
I would have figured you’d have an original Plymouth BB gun!
OP,
Most folks want waaaay too much for one of those things. When Daisy made a replica of there original bb gun, they wanted $300 for it. Now one of them things sells for over $600. I would like to have one of the originals, but at over $1000, they can keep it. I am not that much into bb guns.
FM is with you Tom on the need not to use incorrect terms/nomenclatures for our airguns lest the ESS – Easily Scared Sheeple – start bleating to one of our demagogue pols to “get these dangerous weapons off the hands of domestic terrorists!” Don’t know FM will ever own one of these but he has been reminded to take out the Umarex MP40 and give it some exercise. If his rememberer remembers rightly, it seemed to be decently accurate out to 7-10 yards. Might give it a chrony test. The good thing about the hot weather down here in FL is it gives a little more oomph to those C02 cartridges.
And speaking of replica arms, found some videos on the Diana K98 PCP rifle this week – now FM regrets not grabbing one when they were around to be grabbed.
FM,
Check out Midway USA. K98 PCP $391.50 Hope add is not a Historical Document for you.
.22 – 5 star review
Thanks for that, Bob M – will track it down and take a look. Got a little extra room in the gun closet since October for other airgun hardware.
Thanks to FM there is less room in mine. 😉
I got my hands on some .25 JSBs this week. I need to try them out. 😉
Bob M has now joined the ranks of the Enable FM Society. Found the PCP K98 online, where he pointed FM to; on the way. It’ll dovetail right into the airgun closet. Will have to get hold of a repro sling for it of course. Thanks, Bob M.
FM
The airgun god must favor you. How they managed to have it in stock at this date was a surprise for sure. I know there are repro slings out there someplace.
Sporting goods stores, smaller sellers and Airsoft sites often have unexpected airgun items.
I picked up a few customized BB 45 ‘Race pistols’ and air rifles on an airsoft site that were never found anyplace else. Granted they were Airsoft conversions for the most part.
Appreciate the heads-up, Bob M. FM had been doing some looking beforehand but was not finding anything, not entirely to his surprise. Tom wrote about the K98 on the blog a while back and will re-read those entries.
Have already found sites that sell repro slings and these seem reasonably priced but will wait to order one after the gun gets to Casa FM, hopefully by the estimated arrival date, November 18th.
Once upon a time I wanted the sproinger version of the K98 Mauser that was made from the Diana. I have seen one, but let it get away from me. Ah well.
Admit having to hold the nose a bit when “springing” for this one because it was made in Onkel Xi’s Reich but was going for the more realistic bolt-action piece. The rifle seems to get the O-ring of Approval from the reviewers on YouTube. Tom did complain about the inaccurate fixed sights in his blog posts, but FM will learn to compensate for them or mount a period-looking scope on the gun. This all started when FM went searching for a non-firing K98 replica but then he scratched his head and thought, “why not get a non-firearm replica that shoots and looks good enough for display?” It will probably also see some service controlling iguana-partisans.
Still surprised anyone had any in stock.
I have the Panther DPMS SBR which is a Crosman. My son gave it to me. Now it’s no target rifle, but has surprised me at how well it does shoot (for what it is). It’s a little uncomfortable for me to carry while hiking. Seems a little heavy and I just have not found a good place to grab it for carry. I should put a sling on it.
I did buy one of the big 300 round cap mags from Ebay. A mistake. I got it in the early fall and never tried it. Many months later I did. Lost all the gas. Looking up where the neck of the carts go, I see it’s missing a nut and a gasket. Live and learn.
I have thought about buying a new one from PA but the reviews aren’t as good as the standard magazine. The open peep sights with mine are no good. They are plastic and only adjust for windage. It shoots way too low. I have a red dot on her but I have bought some metal adj peeps, but haven’t mounted them yet. Later on I may try to cut/file down the front post of the standard sights to see if I can make them work just for fun.
Doc
There is a lot of “Mystery metal” inside that outstanding polymer receiver and mag. They probably consider it a coating for the hard stuff inside and conclude its all metal. The stock tube is definitely cold.
That outstanding replica finish is the same for the AK47 replica, the AK1. If you walk around in public with them, they will be considered a real MPW for sure. I think they had collectors like me in mind when they designed them. I was astonished when I opened the box for each, and the DPMS as well. The detail is equal to or better than the real stuff.
Off Topic,
Shootski,
Got a reply from the Hatsan Service Team regarding the Full / Semi Auto PCP Blitz 777 possible problem with a receiver pin.
“You should really just ensure that the side plate screws are tight, and that the hammer stop sear (HSS) pin is aligned with the hole in the side plate under the cocking handle.
The factory has also assured us that the newer versions of the Blitz 777 have had this addressed.”
Reassuring for sure.
I am guessing the vibration resulting from the high rate of fire may have had some unintended consequences, like loosening up some screws and letting the access plate back off some releasing the pin.
Like a Harley, a good walk around inspection prior to use will go a long way to safe operation. High-Tec Tactical can be complicated and require some TLC and periodic maintenance. They have pushed the limits of airgun performance with these select fire PCPs, and they may still be in a learning phase in design and cost reduction.
The .30 Blitz 777 is an adult airgun for experienced shooters, and we should be aware of things like screws getting loose with them all and stay on top of them.
I am confident I will enjoy owning and shooting this PCP now that I am aware of the care required to maintain it. Should have it by 11/12
Bob M,
Glad Hatsan was responsive!
Sounds good to me.
I think i would use some purple Loctite® 222 on the side plate fasteners and some witness marks for good measure.
Looking forward to hearing about you experiences with the rifle.
shootski
This rifle came to me via a Pawn shop. I like to cruise them looking for deals.
(Future blog delving deeper into this subject coming.)
This makes the 4th (well, as of yesterday, the 5th) Crosman full auto bb gun replica I have owned.
An original DMPS SBR, an AP4 (Ar15 pistol version), the Bushmaster in todays blog, and an R1 model (rifle version) and as of yesterday, I scored a Crosman full auto M1 carbine for $40 out the door.
I like them, friends and family love them at family get togethers.
I have no real complaints about them.
Yes they are repairable, but unlike the Air Venturi Micro Strike Tom is reviewing, they do not send extra seals, or give sizes and diagrams.
I have covered my experiences and feelings about the SBR in a couple of previous blogs.
If you own an AR pattern firearm, the ergonomics, weight, function (other then the forward assist) all work as the real firearm does, including last round bolt hold open.
So they are a great practice platform for the real firearm without the noise, expense and range requirements.
In addition to the fun factor, they look good on the wall.
Over my desk in my “office” normally resides a M1A1 Thompson, and a 1911A1 pistol on a display board. Artificially aged with artists Rub n Buff” paint. Both have complete and accurate markings of the original firearms they replicate.
In my new place will be more of them, I am looking for a Legends MP40 from Umarex, to go with the Umarex P08 Luger and a Umarex Walther PPK on yet another display board.
Also I am looking for an M3 “Grease gun” to go on yet another display board.
I can pick up accurate looking replica 1911’s very inexpensively to go with the M3, and the M1 carbine.
A couple of reasons.
1. They are all iconic weapons from history used on both sides of WWII.
2. They look good on the wall.
3. If someone breaks in, hopefully they will take the replica displays in their haste.
4. If that does happen, no real firearms attached to my name (or DNA left on the gun) are on the street.
Are they for everyone?
No, but I can say of every person that I have handed one of the full auto BB guns to, when they handed it back after emptying the magazine, they ALL had the biggest smile on their faces.
And that is what this hobby is all about!
Ian
The Umarex MP40 is listed as available on the latest PA catalog, as well as the Mauser Broomhandle. No P08 which is kind of surprising.
I would like to acquire them used, without paying full retail price if at all possible or trades…
I haven’t shot a replica Broomhandle yet, but it would be a good one for the wall.
The C96 design is more of a Great War relic more than WWII though.
The Mauser made M712 “schnellfeuer” (German for rapid fire) saw limited use in WWII.
It was produced from 1932 until 1936 with about 98,000 of the selective fire ones being made.
Total production of the C96 design, is over 1.1 MILLION being made world wide.
This design really needs its own blog..
Ian
Ian, can assure you that the M712 BB replica is great fun!
BB,
Ah, I see.
Actually, the metal will be room temperature also, but because of its higher thermal conductivity will cool your tongue faster than synthetics will.
I’m just worried that Ian won’t lend you any more of his airguns, now that he knows you lick them 😉
Didn’t you ever do that when you were a kid, to keep your siblings from taking your stuff?
RG,
Nope. Not that I can recall 🙂
That’s what they make alcohol for (not the drinking kind).
Besides, I have no problem if it stayed there for as long as it brings him joy.
Tom has done more for me than I can ever repay.
I have to admit that I too use a similar method to tell metal from synthetics. but its usually a touch of my lip, not a lick…
Ian
Ian,
I was just teasing 😉
Actually I’m very much looking forward to the shootout between BB’s Remington Model 33 and your Ruger Precision Rimfire.
Btw, Is yours in stock form or modified? Are target barrels available for them yet?
The M3 is one of the best replicas I have, right down to the irregular welding. Still waiting for a SIG.44.
The Dot sight that comes with the Bushmaster is a no name simple red dot that seems to be an indestructible polymer item. One side switch OFF-LOW-HIGH symbols using a slide in draw CR2032 3V Lithium button battery.
The dot is not as tiny as some but is easy to see. The glass is 1″W x 3/4″H.
FYI ,,,, AI has decided that this is is called a DITTO sight !
Ok, a DITTO sight..
I have been Google lens to identify unknown things or things with no markings.
Another recent pawn shop find, but had to use AI to find out the exact name.
t\The photo below shows
A SIG Sauer ACP (Advanced Carbine Platform).
The pawn shop had it in their inventory for almost a year, they had tried every handgun they had, and took in to see if it would fit.
Turns out the seller didn’t include a necessary pistol adapter with the chassis, so it was useless to them.
This item was introduced about 13 years ago, so it has long been out of production.
And replacement parts are non existent on Gun Broker, or eBay at this point in time.
I asked what deal they would make me on it, we agreed on $40.
I wanted the accessories more than the chassis.
A SIG micro red dot sight,
a single point quick disconnect sling,
an ancient but functional Streamlight weapons light that uses 18650 rechargeable batteries,
and on the other side of the chassis is a picatinny mounted laser.
A lot of value for the money.
Only after I looked it over at home did I come to the conclusion I can design and 3D print the pistol adapter.
Then start selling them online.
I have to stop, I am giving up too much content for a future blog.
Ian
Conversion kits intrigue me. I admire the creators for their ingenuity. Especially stock and carbine kits. Most are designed to look more tactical and that is right up my alley. I always get caliber conversion kits when available. Will be looking into any possible .177 Cal barrel swap for the Blitz 777 for rapid fire plinking.
Airsoft seems to be taking the lead with conversion kits. Fortunately, BB and pellet shooters sometimes fit. My first conversion was a surprise. I found a P38 BB pistol with a longer inner barrel inside an ’80s Crosman Z77 UZI housing. Put a fake silencer over the barrel. The Uzi was not to realistic.
Since the ‘I’ and ‘O’ keys are next to each other on a keypad I believe I accidently spelled out ‘DIT’ SIGHT when I transferred the picture to my email from my phone. AI decided I was stupid and really wanted to spell “DITTO”, so it took over. God save us from AI.
Everyone,
I don’t LICK the gun! I touch the metal with the tip of my tongue. It’s the way all gun owners I know test for plastic parts.
BB
BB,
Have you tried using powdered sugar to make the tongue test more enjoyable? I just tap with my fingernail and listen.
Don’t know if the Bushmaster came in the box with the speed loader when you received it but it did include one.
Ingenious design. It has a nub that pushes back the BB follower and holds it and a projection that drops into the loading port…and… a tab that you use to hold it down with one hand while the other can pump the BB plunger.
Click on the pic and zoom in for a closer look.
The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks. Lol
As this was a used Airgun, no the speed loader was not present.
What I do for family Sunday picnic shoots is I take plastic drinking straws and seal one end by heating one end, then using pliers to close that end.
Then count out 25 BB’s into the first drinking straw.
I then cut them all to the same length as the 25 round straw. And stand them open end up in a glass or flower vase.
Like the brass tubes used at the carnivals for reloading the “shoot the star game.” Guns.
I slide the mag follower down, pour in the 25 bbs from the straw and release the follower.
Having a bunch of these loaded in advance greatly speeds up the reloading process.
Ian
BB,
This looks like a fun gun, and that’s always a good thing.
Even when I shot in a pistol league, we used to have “Fun with a Gun Night” once a month; instead of our target .22s, we’d use pocket pistols or old revolvers to take down things like 4″ high tombstones (plastic, not actually stone) set in a sand bank. Shooting for scores is fine, but sometimes you just want to shoot for fun.
Yesterday, I was shooting my Haenel model 1 from Frank B (God rest his soul); it’s just like the one which you reviewed here:
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/03/haenel-model-1-part-3a-compulsive-airgun-buy/
I could not find Part 4, but I think you said something to the effect that the rifle was good for shooting Necco wafers at 10 yards or soda cans at 20 yards.
I have mine sighted for 15 yards; but if I sit on my back steps, my 15-yard range becomes a 30-yard range.
My shooting bench blocks most of the trap that is set up for firearms, but I can put cans on top of the trap, on a board I use to hold my archery target. For fun, I tried the Haenel at this range.
Sitting, with my back again the door frame and the rifle rested on my knees, I found I could knock down cans at 30 yards if I aimed right at the top of the can. The trouble with that is the sights obscure too much of the target; but I found if I hold up about 1/16″ of the front sight I can then aim an inch down from the top of the can. From a rested position, this little rifle can take them down every time…not so much from offhand…yet it is great quiet backyard fun…and just another reason to love airguns. 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
BB,
Occasionally I do not receive an email notice of a blog response. It has been discussed before, but I don’t remember exactly what was discussed. I believe it had to do with using the bloggers registered name as being the addressee for it to happen.
For example, a response from FM today was overlooked until I reviewed the entire blog and found it. He did not address me personally, the reason for no email notice?
I can see replies and comments not needing an address name in a real time conversation but entries a day or two later can be ignored if the blogger does not happen to go back and review the entire blog if this is the case.
Now, I often abbreviate blogger names like RR and FM, will they not receive an email notice of my entry as well, a day later?
Is the entire bloggers registered name required for an email notice to be sent out?
I try to address general comments to you, BB, so you are aware of an entry.
Do you receive comment notices if you are not directly addressed or do you need to constantly reread the entire blog to find them? Just trying to clear the air.
Bob,
I THINK I can see all blog comments but occasionally one slips past. Sometimes Word Press has changed the rules and other times Pyramyd AIR’s IT team has done it—I think. I really don’t know.
My wife used to look into things like that for me but I no longer have the time nor the inclination to do so.
BB
Bob M,
I only receive notifications if the comment is a reply to my comment. Otherwise I have to either check if the RSS Aggregator was able to pick it up or read the comment section.
Siraniko
That how it seems to work for me too. I use an app called Feedly to see all comments in chronological order.
“I only receive notifications if the comment is a reply to my comment.”
Siraniko, that is exactly how it works for me; thank you.
I agree with Siraniko, Bob. I’ll reply to his reply to you, and Ill bet you get notified of this reply but not the other one.
Roamin Greco
Yes, I received both post notifications above in my email. Might have something to do with the white line ‘chains’ ? Not sure what they do.
The link to the blog at the bottom of the email is useless if you don’t happen to be logged in at the same time.
BB-
Sorry for the late reply to this blog.
I was wondering if anyone has tried the PCP conversion for any of these? PA shows them as available packages on the R1 model, I believe. I would imagine they would fit any of the similar magazines.
Paco,
Interesting thought and why not? The mag is the same.
BB
I have seen BULK fill adapters with a foster fitting on the end that replace a co2 cartridge in the mag.
And you connect it to an external CO2 tank with a coil hose or similar.
But I have never used one on the Crosman guns.
I wonder what the cool down factor would be on them?
Better or worse than 12 gram..
Ian