Author Archives: B.B. Pelletier

Diana Chaser air pistol: Part 3

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2

Diana Chaser air pistol
The Diana Chaser is a new CO2 pistol.

This report covers:

  • The test
  • Qiang Yuan Match pellets
  • Adjusted the sights
  • JSB Exact RS
  • Pellets jamming
  • Trigger pull changed
  • Sig Match Ballistic Alloy
  • RWS Superdome
  • The magazine
  • Open sights visible?
  • RWS Superdomes through the magazine
  • Discussion
  • Surprise!

Today is accuracy day for the Diana Chaser air pistol. I threw in some extra tests just for fun. This should be interesting, so let’s go!

The test

I shot off a sandbag rest at 10 meters. I used the single shot tray for the first 4 groups, then switched to the magazine for the final group. There were some interesting results that I couldn’t have predicted.

Qiang Yuan Match pellets

I shot the first group with Qiang Yuan Match pellets. No particular reason for that, other than I had them ready. They hit the target low and to the left, but I left the sights where they were and shot all 10 pellets. They landed in a group that measures 1.052-inches between centers. This was larger than I had hoped for the Chaser. read more

Hatsan 135 QE Vortex .30-caliber pellet rifle: Part 3

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2

Hatsan 135 30 caliber rifle
Hatsan’s .30 caliber 135 QE Vortex is a large breakbarrel — both in size and caliber.

This report covers:

  • The test
  • Sight-in
  • JSB Exact 44.75 grain
  • JSB Exact 50.15-grain
  • Predator Polymag
  • Next
  • JSB domes at 25 yards
  • Predator Polymags
  • Polymags with the tips removed
  • Popeye?
  • What’s next?
  • Summary

Time for me to bend the bow of Ulysses and see what it can do. Today I have a slightly different accuracy test for you.

The test

I tested the rifle at both 10 meters and 25 yards. I shot 5-shot groups today because this rifle is just too hard for me to cock. A tired BB is a sloppy BB. All shooting was off a sandbag rest in the normal fashion and I used the artillery hold, both because I knew the rifle would be twitchy, something several readers confirmed.

Sight-in

Sight-in took five shots. As it came from the package the rifle was shooting high and right. The open sights have scales to tell you where they are and I found the windage scale most helpful, getting on target. read more

Benjamin 310 BB gun: Part 2

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1

A history of airguns

Benjamin 310
A Benjamin 310 multi-pump BB gun from 1952.

This report covers:

  • Smoothbore single shot
  • Trigger
  • Sights
  • Size and weight
  • How many pumps?
  • Manual
  • Adjust bolt for best air seal
  • Walnut stock and pump handle
  • Summary

Today we continue our look at the Benjamin 310 BB gun.

Smoothbore single shot

I make no attempt at hiding the fact that I like single shot rifles and guns. Usually their actions are simple enough that there is flexibility to do things you can’t with a repeater. For example, I had a problem with lead balls jamming in the Benjamin 700, and there is no easy way to clear the jam. The 700 action is all buttoned up. But the 310 is a simple bolt action that will allow me to test varying sizes of lead balls. If one gets stuck all I have to do is rod it out and keep on going. read more

Benjamin 310 BB gun: Part 1

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

A history of airguns

Benjamin 310
A Benjamin 310 multi-pump BB gun from 1952.

This report covers:

  • Green box
  • The “hidden” find!
  • Back to the BB gun
  • Finish
  • Model 310
  • A sweetie
  • Take our time

Two months ago I attended a small local gun show where the joke is — if you are looking for Indian jewelry, coffee mugs and dream catchers, this is the gun show to attend! Guns? Not so much. But it’s local, so I went. I haven’t had much luck at this show — ever! But because it’s mentioned the intro to this report, you know this time will be different.

I was halfway through the show, looking carefully at everything on each table when my buddy Otho called to me. He was on point the next aisle over. Oh great, I thought. Another rusty Daisy Red Ryder from 1986! But I was wrong. read more

Umarex Trevox air pistol: Part 1

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Umarex Trevox air pistol
The Umarex Trevox is a single shot breakbarrel gas spring air pistol.

This report covers:

  • Surprise!
  • Description
  • Large
  • Cocking
  • Trigger
  • Sights
  • Silencer
  • Discussion
  • Summary

Surprise!

Sometimes things come along that surprise me. Today’s Umarex Trevox air pistol is one. I have seen attempts at mega-magnum spring pistols before and so have you, but they usually disappoint in one or more ways. I don’t think this one will. And I hope not, because what we have here is a remake of the vintage BSA Scorpion air pistol of the 1970s. I did a special 3-part test of that pistol 4 years ago. The Trevox is so similar! If they were going to make the Scorpion today, this, or something close to it, is what they would do. read more

Diana Chaser air pistol: Part 2

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by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1

Diana Chaser air pistol
The Diana Chaser is a new CO2 pistol.

This report covers:

  • Trigger
  • Piercing the CO2 cartridge
  • RWS Hobby
  • Sig Match Ballistic Alloy
  • JSB Exact 8.44-grain dome
  • Cocking
  • Shot count
  • Report
  • Discussion
  • Summary

Today is the day we find out about the velocity of the Diana Chaser air pistol. There are a couple other things to learn today, as well. Let’s go.

Trigger

The first thing I wanted to know was whether that trigger really is adjustable. So I got a fine Allen wrench and started adjusting. Turning the screw in the trigger blade counterclockwise did nothing at all. The pull remained where it was — two stage and around 4 lbs.

Then I turned it in — clockwise. Bingo! I got to the point that the gun couldn’t be cocked. That tells me the trigger is adjustable and also that the adjustment works on the sear contact area. I had to back the screw out several turns and then I got a single-stage trigger that fired at 8 ounces. That’s FAR TOO LIGHT for an inexpensive direct sear! I kept turning and testing until I got a great 2-stage pull. Stage one is 12 ounces and stage two breaks cleanly at 2 lbs. 4 oz. The trigger can’t be “bumped off” which is important for a light trigger — especially one that has a direct sear adjustment. I’m staying where I am. read more

Hatsan 135 QE Vortex .30-caliber pellet rifle: Part 2

Posted on by ↓ 97 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1

Hatsan 135 30 caliber rifle
Hatsan’s .30 caliber 135 QE Vortex is a large breakbarrel — both in size and caliber.

This report covers:

  • Adjusting the trigger
  • JSB Exact 50.15 grains
  • Predator Polymag
  • Air Venturi .30 caliber balls
  • JSB Exact 44.75 grains
  • Cocking effort
  • Recoil
  • Discussion
  • Summary

Time for me to bend the bow of Ulysses, which no man but he could string. Today is velocity day, plus I said I would take a closer look at adjusting the Quattro trigger. I’ll do the trigger first.

Adjusting the trigger

All of the trigger adjustments work and I adjusted them all. The trigger came out of the box breaking at 6 lbs. 10.5 oz. and I was able to get it down to 5 lbs. 4 oz. When I did the first stage went away, so I added some and now it feels right to me. I also lightened the first stage pull (1 lb. 10 oz.) by a couple ounces (1 lb. 4 oz.), though it doesn’t seem any different when I pull it. read more