CO2 pistols & rifles

226 Pages·2003·81.2 MB·English

by  House, J. E

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222 PISTOLS
• A comprehensive history of CO guns
2
• How to shoot, test and use CO pistols and rifles
2
& RIFLES
• How to select the right BB or pellet CC
• A complete evaluation of current and “classic”CO pistols and rifles OO
2
• Complete ballistic tables for CO guns 22
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verything you need to know to enjoy the
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compelling sport of shooting CO pistols and
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rifles can be found in this first-of-its-kind guide
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from one of the industry’s experts.
ISBN 0-87349-678-7 U.S. $24.99
52499
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0 4608100678 4 9 780873496780
Frontmatter.fm Page 1 Monday, December 8, 2003 10:53 AM
CCOO
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222 PISTOLS
& RIFLES
JJAAMMEESS EE.. HHOOUUSSEE
1
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©2003 by
James E. House
Published by
Our toll-free number to place an order or obtain a free catalog is 800-258-0929.
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any infor-
mation storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except
by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a mag-
azine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio or television.
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2003108884
ISBN: 0-87349-678-7
Designed by Ethel Thulien
Edited by Joel Marvin
Printed in the United States of America
2 CO PISTOLS AND RIFLES
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About the Author
JAMES E. HOUSE shot airguns and fire-
arms as a young lad growing up in southern
Illinois. During his first two years at South-
ern Illinois University in Carbondale—where
he earned bachelor and master’s degrees—he
was a member of the Air Force ROTC rifle
team. He later earned his doctorate at the
University of Illinois.
House has been a faculty member and
administrator at Illinois State University in
Normal for the past 32 years, and currently
serves there as professor emeritus of chemistry.
He has written three textbooks on chemis-
try and quantum mechanics, including one
that he co-authored with his wife, Kathleen
A. House.
Since his retirement, he and his wife have
traveled extensively in the mountain states,
where they enjoy time afield with airguns.
House has applied his long-held interest in
ballistics to airgunning, with many of his
results found in this book. He has published
several articles on airguns in such periodicals
as Fur-Fish-Game, Predator Extreme, and U.S.
Airgun. He is also a contributing editor for
Airgun Illustrated magazine and a staff editor
for The Backwoodsman.
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CO PISTOLS AND
2
RIFLES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
1 THE HISTORY OF AIR AND CO GUNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2
Airgun Power Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
CO Guns in the Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
2
CO Guns in the United States. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
2
CO as a Power Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2
Collecting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Suggested Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
2 TESTING AND USING CO GUNS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
2
Surveying the Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Sights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Testing Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Tips for Using CO Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
2
3 AMMUNITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Pellet Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Pellet Weights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Pellet Dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Specialty Pellets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
BBs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
4 PRINCIPLES OF PROPULSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Pressure, Work, and Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Effect of Temperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Effect of Rate of Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Shots Per Cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Pellet Weight and Velocity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5 EVALUATION OF BB PISTOLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
The Daisy PowerLine 15XT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
The Daisy PowerLine 93 and 693 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
The Crosman AutoAir II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
The Gamo P-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
The Gamo Auto 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
The Walther PPK/S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
6 EVALUATION OF LOW-PRICED 177-CALIBER PISTOLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
The Crosman 1008 RepeatAir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
The Marksman 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
The Gamo PT-80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
The Daisy PowerLine 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
The Gamo R-77 Combat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
The Crosman RepeatAir 1710. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
The Crosman 357. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
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7 EVALUATION OF ELITE 177-CALIBER PISTOLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
The Beretta 92 FS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
The Colt 1911 A1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
The Crosman C40 and CB40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
The Smith & Wesson 586 and 686 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
The Walther CP99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
The RWS C225. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
The Crosman CK92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
8 EVALUATION OF 20- AND 22-CALIBER PISTOLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
The Daisy PowerLine 622X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
The Sheridan E9A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
The Crosman 2210. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
The Crosman 2240. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
9 EVALUATION OF CURRENT CO RIFLES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
2
The Crosman 2260. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
The Crosman 1760. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
The Benjamin G397 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
The Crosman 1077. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
The Crosman 2250B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
The Walther Lever Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
10 SHOOTING SOME CO CLASSICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
2
The Daisy CO 200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
2
The Daisy PowerLine 1700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
The Daisy PowerLine 1200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
The Daisy PowerLine 1270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
The Healthways Plainsman 175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
The Crosman 454. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
The Crosman 1600. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
The Daisy PowerLine 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
The Crosman SSP 250 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
The Crosman 116. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
The Crosman 38C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
The Crosman Single Action 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
The Crosman Mark I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
The Crosman 600. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
The Crosman 262. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
The Crosman 400. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
11 FUN AND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Traditional Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Fun Targets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shooting “Out There” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
12 THE BASICS OF BALLISTICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Trajectory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Beyond the Barrel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
The Ballistic Coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Ballistics Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Pellets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
13 HUNTING AND PEST CONTROL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Power Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Pellet Selection and Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
APPENDIX A: BALLISTICS TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many individuals have provided informa- are an integral and significant part of this
tion and materials that made the writing of book. I would also like to express my appreci-
this book easier and more pleasant. Some of ation to Don Gulbrandsen and Joel Marvin of
these individuals have given unselfishly of Krause Publications for their support and
their time during my repeated telephone confidence in this project from its inception.
calls. I would especially like to acknowledge As usual, this book could not have been pro-
the help provided by Sara DeMuzio, John duced without the assistance and under-
Goff, and Kirby Kaiser of Crosman Corpora- standing of my wife, Kathy. Her help with
tion. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the data collection and photography has been
cooperation of Joe Murfin, Denise Johnson, second only to her encouragement during the
Susan Gardner, and Teresa Wrazel of Daisy work. To all who have helped, I send my
Outdoor Products. Brett Daniels of Wal-Mart thanks.
has gone well beyond the required level of
dedication in printing the photographs that
6 CO PISTOLS AND RIFLES
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PREFACE
For many years, pellet and BB guns pow- looks and functions almost like a firearm is
ered by carbon dioxide, CO , have held a fasci- considerable, many of the guns powered by
2
nation for many shooters. While airguns also CO are very capable instruments. Some are
2
have a great deal of appeal, many shooters do capable of outstanding accuracy and some
not like to pump them up. The spring piston have enough power to make them useful to
air rifles are heavy, long, and require a consid- the small game hunter and pest shooter.
erable force to cock them. The fact that a small Many of the CO guns have features that
2
cylinder of liquefied CO can be inserted in a make them logical choices for training per-
2
pistol or rifle and many shots fired without sons new to the shooting sports. However, the
having to do manual labor to supply power most compelling aspect of CO guns is that
2
must appeal to many shooters. As a result, the they are fun to shoot. Even when the cost of
demand for CO -powered guns is at an all- the CO cylinders is included, shooting a CO
2 2 2
time high. To meet the demand, manufactur- gun is an inexpensive sport.
ers have produced some of the most innovative In spite of the immense interest in CO
2
tools in the shooting sports. New models guns, there does not exist a book devoted
appear frequently with a degree of realism that solely to these guns. My intent in writing this
has to be seen to be believed. book is to provide a user’s guide to CO guns
2
Although air and CO guns are often con- that gives their specifications, instructions for
2
sidered together, there are significant differ- their use, and the performance characteristics
ences between them. Because the CO guns for almost all of the available models. Along
2
contain enough propellant to fire numerous with this information, also presented are a
shots, the emphasis is on making repeating brief history of the development of CO guns,
2
guns that hold several pellets in readiness for an elementary discussion of the basic princi-
subsequent shots. By holding the pellets or ples of CO power, and a simplified treatment
2
BBs in a magazine (cylinder or in-line), the of ballistics as related to pellets. A major por-
shooter can fire a series of shots simply by tion of the book is devoted to detailed discus-
pulling the trigger. Modern manufacturing sions of specific models of CO pistols and
2
methods allow the external shell of the hand- rifles. In addition to almost all of the currently
guns to resemble almost any firearm. The produced models, many of the vintage CO
2
result is that CO handguns are virtually pistols and rifles are also discussed in detail.
2
indistinguishable from the firearms they Much of the information found here has not
mimic. This is undoubtedly one of the pri- previously been collected in a single volume. It
mary reasons for their popularity. is hoped that this book will be widely viewed
While the fascination that comes with as the textbook of CO guns.
2
shooting a CO -powered pistol or rifle that
2
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CHAPTER 1
THE HISTORY OF
AIR AND CO GUNS
2
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, MAN has of some fellow using a wooden tube as a
sought for ways to launch projectiles that blowgun. However, when and where we do
would eliminate the necessity for being close not know. Blowguns shooting poisoned darts
to a target, whether food or foe. David did not are lethal to both humans and game and they
engage in hand-to-hand combat with Goliath are still employed in some parts of the world.
but let fly a stone at his opponent. In that Even when used with nonpoisonous darts,
case, the swirling sling generated a force on blowguns are used to take small game and
the stone that when released sent it outward pests. Airguns that have some type of reser-
with considerable force. Archery has been voir for holding compressed air and then
employed for perhaps 4000 years. Pulling the releasing it behind a projectile have been
bowstring to the rear causes the limbs of the used for over 400 years. Since the invention
bow to be flexed due to the stored energy. The of the airgun sometime in the late 1500s,
work done by the archer pulling back on the many designs have come into being. While
string appears as stored energy in the bow. there is an impressive array of makes and
Upon release, the arrow is driven forward models of airguns available today, the basic
with considerable velocity. The use of a solid power plant designs can be placed in a small
propellant that burns rapidly to generate a number of categories. Interestingly, the power
large volume of gas behind a projectile and plants that we will describe are used in both
thus drive it down a bore has been known for rifles and handguns.
perhaps 1000 years. Work to develop new
Airgun Power Plants
projectile systems is not a recent thing.
Probably the first use of a compressed gas Some airguns surviving from the 1600s
to force a projectile down a tube involved the have hollow buttstocks that can be pumped
use of air compressed in the lungs and mouth up to hold compressed air. The stock is then
Precharged pneumatic rifles such as the Logun Axsor are powerful and accurate and hold enough
compressed air for several shots. Photo courtesy of Crosman Corporation.
8 CO PISTOLS AND RIFLES
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screwed onto the receiver and the com- at only 6000-8000 psi, so a PCP rifle can be
pressed gas is sufficient to fire 20 or more powerful indeed. Some models have the
shots before the stock must be recharged. advantage of variable power via a power regu-
One air rifle from the 1700s, the Girandoni, lator that controls the amount of air released.
had a bar that ran across the action at the Some PCP rifles also have mechanisms that
breech. That bar had cavities which held 10- hold more than one projectile so they can
12 lead balls and simply moving a lever function as repeaters. Today, PCP rifles are
caused the bar to move laterally to line up a made in a variety of calibers with the 22 and
ball with the breech for quick reloading. 25 being popular. Rifles in calibers up to 50
Other types of rifles had a hollow metal are available and they are very powerful.
sphere, which could be pumped up to a high A second type of power plant that is very
pressure, attached to the bottom of the action popular today is the spring piston or break-
to provide sufficient compressed air for sev- barrel action. Rifles of this type have a cylin-
eral shots. These types of rifles are known der inside the receiver that is backed by a
today as pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifles. strong spring. The barrel is hinged at the rear
Most PCP rifles today have a large hollow and it has a lever attached that forces the
tube or reservoir that lies below the barrel. piston back against the spring as the barrel is
That reservoir can be charged to high pres- forced downward at the muzzle. When the
sure (2,000-3,000 psi) by means of a special piston is engaged by the sear mechanism, a
pump or by attaching a scuba tank. Pre- pellet is inserted directly into the breech and
charged rifles are very powerful and because the barrel is elevated until it locks into place.
only air moves at the instant of firing, the With most break-action rifles of recent manu-
rifles do not have the undesirable feature of a facture, the safety is placed “on” automati-
heavy piston flying forward then coming to a cally during the cocking action. A variation of
stop while the pellet is being moved down the the break-action rifle is one with a stationary
bore. As a result, PCP rifles offer the ultimate barrel that has a lever alongside the action
in power and accuracy. Keep in mind that (side lever) or below the barrel (under barrel)
many blackpowder percussion rifles operate that is used to cock the piece. It is believed
Spring piston rifles like the Winchester 1000X have been popular for many years.
THE HISTORY OF AIR AND CO GUNS 9
2
Black process 45.0° 100.0 LPI