Custom stocks are great works of art in my book. They require magnificent attention to detail, a steady hand and eye, and a love of wood that I simply don’t have. However, the vast majority of stocks are made on CNC machines these days, or on home-shop duplicators that allow you to “trace” and existing stock and carve a new one at the same time.

Here are a couple of informational videos for you to enjoy today. The links are to Youtube, so if you have any problems viewing them here, take a look at the original link and see it for yourself!

Stock carving by CNC

That CNC machine you saw was making a stock for a Crosman air rifle.

The next video is one of a hand-controlled unit that you can use at home to duplicate or copy a stock.

Stock duplicating

This video is for a specific product, and is an add for the duplicator. There are many out there that do the same thing, but this gives you an idea of what is involved in doing it yourself by machine.

Knowing more about how to work on your own air guns just makes the hobby that more interesting. Enjoy!

Compasseco has began offering a new scope from Tech Force that is a bit different from their standard 3-12×44 scope.  Keeping the quality optics found on the TF 3-12×44, Tech Force has added a larger ocular lens that allows the shooter to enjoy a longer eye relief. A focusing ring is found on the ocular end, aiding in bringing the image seen through the scope into focus.

An addition to the new scope is the illuminated center dot on the reticle.  A welcome aid in low light conditions, this illuminated center dot really helps when zeroing in on your target, especially if you are shooting at a silhouette of a game animal or a target. All too often low light conditions prevent an otherwise achievable shot.

I mounted the test scope on my Air Force Condor in .177 and began to have fun. To make it more interesting, I also mounted a Walther Laser Sight on top of the scope, and played around with making the two red marks match up on target. Time and time again I was able to move one sight, such as the laser, and then match it with the Tech Force scope. It was very handy to have the Laser Sight set for one range, such as a short 15-20 yards, and then be able to look through the scope for longer shots, and still focus on a red dot as my focal point.

The lenses on the TF 4-12×44 IL are all multi-coated, which reduces glare and reflections while offering a nice, bright view. I found the image nice and crisp, with the duplex reticle and center red dot easily focused upon.  At just over 1 lb. in weight, the scope will not add much weight to your shooting setup, and would make a good choice for your medium-powered adjustable scope.

As you can see in the pic above, I have combined a TF one-piece high mount with the 3-12×44 IL scope and a Walther Laser Sight, which comes with both a flashlight and a laser combined.  This combination allowed me to walk through a garden area and put the laser on a rabbit that is close-by and bag him from the hip. Later in the same walk, a rabbit further off at 30+ yards was taken with the TF scope, using the illuminated center dot in low light as I was pest-controlling right at dusk.

Here are the details on the TF 3-12×44 IL scope:

Magnification: 3x-12x

Objective: 44mm Field of View

Eye Relief: 4″

Tube Diameter: 1″

Length: 12.59″

Weight: 1.05 lbs

Finish:  Black

Reticle: Illuminated Red Dot Reticle with Duplex Cross Hairs

Adj Size: 1/4 MOA @ 100 yds

Manufacturer: Tech Force Optics

Model: TF312X44IL

Currently selling for $99.95, give this scope some serious consideration as your medium-powered scope for just about any air rifle you want to put it on. It is robust, will handle the shock of spring-piston air rifles, and provides a large field of view for the shooter. Just another great product from Compasseco and Tech Force manufacturing.

Compasseco has always tried to stay on top of what is moving in the airgun industry, and now we have a video of a neat new product called the Pellet Pen. This device allows the loading of a pellet into a break-barrel pistol or rifle with a minimum of fuss. Just take a look at the video located here:

http://www.compasseco.com/pellet-pen-p-1698.html

As you can see in the video, you can even manage the loading procedure while wearing gloves. This is extremely helpful in situations such as hunting, or cold weather plinking outdoors. Just load up your pen in advance of your shooting session, and out you go. If you are hunting small game, then you would, in most states, have enough pellets in the pen to manage a full game bag depending on the bag limit.

With a 20 pellet capacity using normal-sized pellets, you should be able to step outside during cold weather, shoot a pen’s worth of pellets, then step back inside for a warm-up period while you reload the Pellet Pen. It really is a neat idea, and I’ve seen fore-runners of this product from years ago made out of ball-point pens, but the makers of the Pellet Pen have taken the idea to point where it actually assists in inserting the pellet into the rifle barrel, rather than just dispense a pellet into the hand from a handy carrying device.

Enjoy the video, then pick up your own Pellet Pen from Compasseco for only $19.95.

This particular entry’s title may come as a bit of a surprise. It is probably an unusual title, but is certainly appropriate considering my current physical condition.

This weekend I broke my back in two places. I had a lawnmower turn over on me and do a number on my spine, but I am home and wishing I could go out shooting. Here are some things I am confident of right off the bat:

1. I will NOT be shooting any hard to cock springers. I have a weight limit of 5 lbs. that I can lift with the doctor’s permission. Nothing more! So trying to cock even a spring pistol, much less a rifle is out of bounds.

2. Bending over to get a good sight plane is out of bounds for several weeks. I have a brace covering my entire torso keeping my injured spine in place while it heals.

3.  Moving heavy air tanks from place to place in order to air up a PCP is going to be a problem.

4. Hand pumping doesn’t even exist in my current universe!

5. CO2 air guns are going to save the day for me!

Once I took stock of my physical condition, I began to see some of the challenges that my physically-handicapped shooting brethren are trying to overcome on a daily basis. What I take for granted as easy to do and achieve has suddenly become almost impossible without some help.

The CO2-powered pistols such as the Crosman 2240 and the EB series of pistols from Benjamin will be the easiest air guns for me to enjoy for the next little while. Compasseco has quite a selection of other CO2 air pistols that would also fit the bill for shooting enjoyment. Here is a link to the entire category of pistols, many of which are CO2-powered:

CO2 Pistols

These are some of the air guns that I can physically handle at this time, considering the weight limits the doctor has imposed on me, my own ability to aim and shoot, and enough accuracy for me to enjoy shooting at animate or inanimate targets.  There is also the added enjoyment of being able to shoot these guns inside with an adequate backstop in place.

Another range of air pistols would be the AirSoft line of air guns that Compasseco carries, too. Here is a link to those items which may be of interest to a shooter in my condition:

AirSoft Guns

Being physically challenged as a shooter doesn’t have to mean you must give up shooting. You simply have to work around whatever obstacles are in your way to continue your enjoyment of a great sport. Let Compasseco help you out with their great selection of equipment for your shooting needs!

From time to time I run across useful little tidbits of info. Recently a forum member on one of the airgun forums shared this interesting YouTube video on how scuba tanks are made. This is a useful bit of info that anyone using a PCP airgun would like to know as it helps understand the cost of obtaining our gear, and understanding what it takes to provide that gear.

The video is about 7 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPJpufCj89I

Hope you enjoyed this tidbit of info as we learn more about airgunning together!

As promised, here are some pics of the show. I took quite a few more, but these will give you an idea of the show, the variety of airguns present, and some of the individuals featured there.

If you’ve never been to a show, I encourage you to attend one whenever you can. You won’t find anyone more enthusiastic about airguns than the collectors and vendors who show up for these events. You’ll pick up great deals, learn quite a bit simply by talking to others, and enjoy an atmosphere of fun and “being a kid again” as you walk around like a kid in a candy shop.

Enjoy the pics!

Dennis Quackenbush talking with a customer

My booth at the show

Larry Hannusch (R) at his table.

Some creations by Mike Reames

Leroy Roduner, creater of the Gargoyle

Jack and Reba Haley’s Southern Airguns table

Eric Henderson and some of his bigbore hunting gear

A prototype underlever Theoben rifle in the middle

Tom Strayhorn’s Walther Airgun table

More tables of airguns from the show

Like I said, when you get the chance, attend an airgun show. They are great fun!

This weekend I’m attending the Arkansas Airgun Extravaganza. This is an event that has over 50 tables of airguns, custom knives, and other neat doo-dads and doo-hickeys that air gunners love to pore over. You’ll find all sorts of hard-to-find stuff at these shows, and there will be some of the custom airgun makers present as well.

This year the event has been moved to Malvern, AR. This is a new venue, and all of us table-renters are anxious to see the difference in locations. Lots of fast planning went into this event, with Seth Rowland taking up a lot of the slack. Our thanks to him and Tim Johnston for getting the event organized so quickly and efficiently.

For the first time, the Custom Knife Makers will be joining us. Not as many as we would like, but there was a conflict with a big meeting of theirs, and we hope to have more of them join us next year. I, for one, am anxious to see some of the great artistry that the blade-men can come up with. (I wish I had that kind of talent!)

This is a short post, but stay tuned for a link to some photos of the event either tomorrow or Saturday. And if you are near the event, it is worth the drive to see what the world of airguns has to offer for the hobbyest, collector, enthusiast, and hunter. You will be amazed at some of the airguns that will be there…..some great pieces from history, as well as the modern bigbores that are used for big game.

I’ll have a booth there, and if you get the chance, please stop by and say “howdy” for me. I’d enjoy meeting you and visiting as much as possible.

‘Til next time…..

Tech Force and Compasseco have teamed up to bring you a fantastic bargain in air gun care…..the new Tech Force 27-Piece Universal Cleaning Kit. This attractively packaged collection of rods, cleaning tips, and jigs to hold your cleaning patches will clean all your air guns, from the smallest .177 up to your bigbore airguns that approach 12-gauge size barrels.

Packaged in a secure metal case, the kit even has patches to get you started. Add some solvents and gun oil, and you could use this kit for your firearms as well!

Upon opening the kit, your will find all of the above articles in their own slot and place, neatly arranged for easy access and secure storage.  Brass brushes will fit either of the two different-sized brass cleaning rods, and the various swabs will fit just about caliber or gauge barrel you want to put them into.

Here is a closer view of the contents:

When possible, clean your gun from the breech end in order to save the crown of the barrel from any inadvertent damage. Mess up your crown, and your shots won’t go where you intended them to go!

When cleaning air guns, be sure to use non-petroleum cleaners in areas that might have seals or other parts that would deteriorate from contact with harsh solvents. Cleaning the outside of an air gun with gun oil is no problem, but the insides would be better served with a good citrus-based cleaner like Goo Gone, or similar product.

Like I said, this kit is a bargain, selling for $29.95 at the time of this blog entry. Catch it on sale and you’ll get an even better savings as you care for your cherished air guns and shooting items.

A clean air gun is a beautiful thing, don’t you think? Keep it clean, with the Tech Force 27-Piece Universal Cleaning Kit from Compasseco.

Don’t let the title fool you….I’m talking about shooting opportunities during the spring season, not shooting with springers (spring-piston air guns)!

Seriously, it is spring, and the avian pests known as the European starling and the English sparrow will be back at it soon if not already. They will harass and kill our native songbirds as they compete for nesting sites. I was reminded of this once again a few weeks ago as I cleaned out the bluebird boxes in my backyard. I found 3 dead bluebird chicks from last year underneath a sparrow nest that the killers built on top of the dead bodies. I am officially declaring war on the sparrows and starlings in my area of the world.

I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot as many this year since I had to remove two old dead trees from my front yard that were threatening to fall on my house. They were prime nesting sites for cavity-dwelling birds like woodpeckers and starlings, but I couldn’t justify keeping them after the ice storm last year sent portions of them crashing down on my covered porch. So out they went, and the starlings are nesting slightly further off from my front porch now, which means I have to get up and go get them if I want to shoot them! I am happy to report, however, than my Air Force Condor is learning to really reach out there are put them down. This past week I managed to take a starling out of the top of a tree that was over 50 yards off!

So what other targets are available in springtime? Other than live pests, there are the heads of dandelions, just waiting to be shot off the stem by a true marksman. Don’t believe me? Get out your most accurate air rifle, find a good patch of dandelions, and go to work. It is challenging, especially if there is any kind of breeze moving them slightly back and forth.

The kids, or grandkids, or other small ankle-biters that inhabit your vicinity will be itching to go outside and do something, anything, that involves being outdoors. Grab an airgun and go out with them, taking the opportunity to teach and have fun at the same time. My little girl doesn’t know it yet, but she is getting her very own pink air gun this year for her birthday in a few weeks. Of course, old Dad will just have to “help” her with it, making sure she knows how to correctly use it. I’m not sure who is going to have more fun, my daughter or me!

No matter how you spend your spring time in the shooting sports, you are going to need ammunition, safety gear, perhaps some CO2, or maybe a new gun to enjoy during the warm months. Why not browse around Compasseco’s site and see what they can do for you in helping you gear up for some shooting fun? Their prices are great, and they are waiting for your call!

Coming up this month are some reviews of 2 new scopes that Compasseco and Tech Force are bringing to you, as well as a cleaning kit that has a variety of useful items in it. So stay tuned!

Each year those businesses that are involved in the shooting sports get together to take a look at what is available for our valued customers in the area of new guns, accessories, and ammunition. For airgunners, there is some very good news indeed this year.

Crosman has brought out a new PCP Marauder Pistol with a repeating action that is going to absolutely tickle many hunters to death. Add a small stock to it, and you have a very nice little short hunting rig!

Another pistol that is new is Crosman’s first PCP match pistol, the Silhouetter PCP Pistol in .177 caliber. This gun has grown out of the Challenger PCP Match rifle that Crosman has recently released, and competitors looking for a budget entry pistol will be watching this new gun closely to see if it will meet their needs.

Crosman has also enlarged their line of Nitro Piston-powered rifles with some new items that have been named the Trail Series. One significant addition is the .25 caliber option on the Trail NP XL 725 model. Imagine nearly 25% more power than the .177 offers! That will make a raccoon stand up and take notice!

For the beginning shooter, Crosman has brought out the Marlin Cowboy BB gun, a competitor to Daisy’s Red Ryder.

In optics, Leapers is bringing out some new products for the airgun shooter, so be sure to take a look at some of their new offerings as well. Can you imagine a 35 mm tube on a scope? Talk about some serious light-gathering!

The Gamo Corporation is putting some serious time into their new laser technology labeled the ND5 coherent laser light. According to one industry insider I know, this particular offering from Gamo is going to seriously affect the way we use lasers in low-light conditions. He has been using a demo for a few months now and is seriously impressed!

If you make the rounds on the forums, there is some good talk about some new offerings from some of the Spanish arms makers, as well as the Koreans. Some of the guns are featuring bottle reservoirs similar to the upscale offerings from Daystate and Theoben, and I am looking forward to getting a chance to shoot some of them myself in the near future.

The airgunning world is getting more and more exposure these days, and many folks are turning to airguns as a serious alternative for shooting enjoyment and hunting. Stay tuned for some feedback on the airgun forums from those individuals lucky enough to shoot them first!