Latest levergun, NIB

[earlmck]

I never buy new stuff, but I broke down and did it this time. When I was ordering up my lifetime supply of pellets last week, Pyramid Air had these little Crosmans at a good price ($55) for refurbished. The adjustable stock feature looked like it would be really nice for fitting different grandboys, it uses a peep sight like I am getting the grandboys oriented with, and I found some good reviews of the thing wherein folks allowed as how they were getting pretty fair accuracy.
So here's the new lever:

Crossmanpelgun8282.jpg

It has received the grandboy seal of approval over the last few days, although it is still a little hard for the smaller boys to pump (we've been using 4 -pumps for our 10m distance). This morning I did my regular shoot with my old Feinwerkbau target rifle. Then thought I'd have a little go with the grandboy gun. I figured, you see, that there would be a substantial difference in the group I'd get with the expensive target rifle vs. the little plastic toy.

Here's my groups from this morning -- 20 shots from the Feinwerkbau and 15 from Crosman:

Crosmangroup8285.jpg

So you can tell right off that I am a looong way from an Olympic-class shooter. That Feinwerkbau would put 'em all in one little hole at this 10m distance, so those shots pulled out of center are just what this old shooter did, and is pretty close to my average off-hand group. Target rifle has a crisp, 3-oz trigger.

And the group with the plastic toy is just about the same size with just about the same number of shots pulled (surprised the heck out of me)! Crosman has about a 4 pound trigger, and you pull it about 6 inches (it seems) before it goes off. The peep sights work fairly well for these old eyeballs -- the pulled shots aren't to be blamed on the sights!

Anyway, just thought I'd share the experience for you folks that might be needing something to help get the youngsters some useful rifle practice on a regular basis. This works lots better for me, especially in the wintertime, because we don't have to load up in the pickup and drive somewhere and then stand out in the wind and maybe some rain. Shoot this baby out in the shop where we can at least stay dry and out of the wind. And by the way, the adjustable stock is a real benefit -- at the shortest length it works for the 8-yr old and 10-yr old and at the longest it works OK for me. And the 12-yr old likes it just one notch in from longest setting.

Ammo for both rifles was the Gamo wadcutter that Pyramid Air sells for about $3.50 / tin of 500 when you buy enough to get their 4 - for the price of 3 deal.

[ollogger]

Earl, thats a cool rig, that sliding stock would be the deal maker for me, If i was looking for one
to teach the young


ollogger

[Blaine]

Looks to be a good shooter.....The GrandKids will love it

[Mossyoak1957]

now does that shoot like a real semi-auto rifle or do you have to pump it after every shot?
I'm not up on my pellet gun education.

[AJMD429]

Yep - those "AR" collapsable-stocks are better than ANY other 'kids' gunstock I've come across, regardless of the firearm they're on.

That EBR pellet-rifle looks like it shoots well enough to do anything I'd need done.

[Rusty]

We sure do have some great grandfathers on this site

[Streetstar]

now does that shoot like a real semi-auto rifle or do you have to pump it after every shot?
I'm not up on my pellet gun education.

pump it up for every shot -----

I recently came across a Crosman AIR-17 on Gunbroker that i snapped up for my nephew as well.

It is the pre-cursor to that gun, but from the 80's -- it vaguely resembles an old original M-16 or A1. I think they use just a basic tried and true chassis from something like a 760 Powermaster, then add the furniture to make it look more high tech for the kids.
He is almost 10 years old, but is pretty slightly built, so he it is a chore for him to pump it up so far --- may have to just get him a Cricket and a few boxes of .22 shorts instead

[earlmck]

I think they use just a basic tried and true chassis from something like a 760 Powermaster, then add the furniture to make it look more high tech for the kids.
He is almost 10 years old, but is pretty slightly built, so it is a chore for him to pump it up so far

I'm sure that's what they do, with the tried 'n true chassis. But this configuration has the adjustable stock and peep sights, so that was the determiner for me.

And yeah, my husky 8 and slight-built 10 kids struggle some. While we are together I do most of the pumping for them, but I'm sure if they were off on their own hook chasing the wily starling they could get the job done. Maybe not 10 pumps worth for full-power, but the 4 pumps is zinging them pretty good to the 10 yards.

We had been using a pump-up BB gun (smoothbore) but the accuracy just wasn't there and I was afraid that was going to allow some bad habits to go unnoticed. This little rifle is accurate enough that they can call their shots and know that a jerk left will send the pellet left, etc. If we can get together at least once a week I'm sure they'll be much better shots by the time our "sage rats" (ground squirrels) come out this spring.

[1894c]

WOW...can that shoot...although i personally think it's the good man behind the trigger... :)

[Bill in Oregon]

Earl, Pyramyd Air has snarfed more than a few of my clams over the years as well, darn their hides.

[ving-thorr]

Neat! I think I'll get one, for my sons of course, ahem.