Tech Force Air Guns

December 26, 2009

Three types of airgun powerplants

Filed under: Air Guns — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 5:33 pm

by Tex Force

If you are new to airgunning, you may be confused by some of the terms, especially as they relate to how the guns work. This week, I will explain how the different airgun powerplants work, and I’ll try to cover at least a few of the common terms.

Pneumatics came first!
We believe airguns were first made in the 16th century, though no examples that old have been found. The earliest air rifle mechanism known for certain is in the Danish Royal Museum. It has a date of 1604 on it, but it is advanced enough to make historians believe that something must have existed earlier.

A very common multi-pump pneumatic today is the Benjamin 392 (third rifle down on the page). An example of a single-stroke pneumatic is Daisy’s Avanti 853 Legend (third rifle down on the page).

Three types of pneumatics
The three main pneumatics are: 1) the precharged, 2) the multi-pump and 3) the single-stroke. The precharged is a gun that stores compressed air for one or more shots. The air is introduced by means of a separate pump or compressed air tank. This is the oldest type of pneumatic mechanism.

The multi-pump came next. This type uses several strokes of a built-in pump to charge the gun. Guns of this type are known to exist from as early as the 1700s.

The single-stroke is a pump-type pneumatic that uses only one pump stroke. If you try to put in a second pump, the first escapes. This type was first offered in the 1960s, making it the most recent.

Spring-air or spring-pistons were next!
This type of airgun does not store compressed air. Instead, the action of a spring powers something that compresses the air on the spot. The earliest type of spring-powered airgun is a bellows guns, where a flat spring rapidly closes a bellows and sends a puff of air up the barrel. You get the same result by rapidly closing a fireplace bellows! The earliest bellows guns are from around the year 1700.

The RWS 24 is a spring-piston air rifle. It isn’t pumped, and it doesn’t store compressed air. Instead, a powerful spring drives a piston to compress the air when the shot is fired.

Today, however, the most common kind of spring-piston airgun uses a piston with a tight-fitting seal to compress the air. A coiled steel mainspring shoves the piston forward, compressing the air in front of it as it goes. The first spring-piston guns were made in the 1840s. Spring-piston airguns have recoil, plus they have a current top power limit of around 35 foot-pounds.

Then came CO2
Carbon dioxide was first used to launch bullets in the 1870s. The first guns were made in France and were either 6mm or 8mm. The modern CO2 gun was invented by Crosman in the late 1930s. They had to wait until the end of World War II to hit the market. Some survival CO2 shotguns develop over 100 foot-pounds. CO2 develops around 900 psi at 70 degrees F.

Crosman’s Nightstalker (second down on the page) is a CO2 rifle. It uses a large disposable cartridge (bottom of the page) that drives the pellet and cycles the semi-automatic action.

Other compressible gasses
Propane is used to power airsoft and now paintball guns. It’s marketed as “green gas” and develops just over 100 psi at 70 degrees F. It’s good for velocities in the 300 to 500 f.p.s. region but not much higher.

When you buy an airgun, give some thought to the powerplant it has. Each type has advantages and disadvantages – and dictates how the gun functions.

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November 16, 2009

Using a Mil-Dot Scope

Filed under: Air Guns, Air Rifles, Airgun, BB Gun — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 11:20 am

When you are dealing with airgun trajectories, the first thing noticed is that it is very loopy in comparison to firearm trajectories. In other words, the perceived rise-and-fall of the pellet in relation to the bore of the gun is much more pronounced than that of a higher velocity, more powerful firearm projectile.

One of the best ways to overcome this issue is to use a mil-dot scope. Contrary to what some believe, the “mil” in mil-dot does not mean “military”. It is a shortened reference to “milliradian”, which is a measurement of angle that approximates 3.6 inches at 100 yards. Just as in firearm usage, the dots on a mil-dot scope are a reference point that can be used to quickly adjust your point of aim without having to click-adjust your scope’s settings.

Let’s put this to practical use now. Sight your mil-dot scope in at the preferred range you will be shooting at. For hunting purposes, I often use 30 yards, but recently I have moved to 50 yards with some of my more powerful PCP’s. But whatever yard you choose, dial in your scope so that you are dead on at a known range. Now set up targets at 5 yards increments closer and farther away from your preferred range. Test fire and note where the pellet is hitting in relation to the mil-dots in your scope. Many people draw on a notecard a scope sight, complete with the mil-dots, and notate on the drawing where pellets are hitting at each distance desired. I have seen these cards taped to the stocks of guns, and the folks who use them are among the best shots I’ve seen! They know their gun and understand where the pellet is going to hit at a certain distance.

This is an easy way to improve your hit percentages as well as improve your take of game if you are into hunting. And coming soon to Compasseco is a line of Tech Force scopes that will feature the mil-dot reticle. Stay tuned for a review of these scopes in upcoming blog entries.

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October 22, 2009

Tech Force Contender 87: Part 2

Filed under: Air Guns, Air Rifles, Airgun, BB Gun, Tech Force — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — compasseco @ 9:30 am

As promised, I’m back with another entry on the Contender 87 from Tech Force. You saw in the first report the aesthetics of the gun, how it looks, and a little about the power of the gun with the posted chronograph results using 3 different types of pellets.

But is it an accurate gun?

I mentioned mounting a scope on it, and I did. The scope rails on this gun are just barely too short to mount a 4-screw 1-piece mount with the factory scope stop installed, so I removed it and depended on the gripping power of the mount to keep the scope in place. So far, it hasnt’ moved. Using a 3-9×40 scope, I set about shooting for some groups.

My shooting style for testing isn’t like some reviewers…..I usually go for real-world conditions where I’m leaning up against a post or tree, or sitting down shooting off my knees. That’s the kind of accuracy I’m interested in since in the field, that’s how I shoot. There’s nothing wrong with a bench-rested group, but it is simply not the way I test guns.

The first pellets I shot for accuracy were the RWS Superdomes. The Superdomes almost always give me decent results in most any gun I try them in…..but not today. They provided by far the worst groups from the Contender 87, which surprised me. However, I write it as I see it, so here’s a pic of the groups I got at only 20 yards with the RWS Superdomes:

As you can see, that group isn’t anything to write home about….in fact, it is dismal at only 20 yards. A pattern of nearly 2″ takes a gun out of contention when trying to hit the head of a squirrel, or working towards beating your friends at target shooting. But I forged on ahead with some other pellets, and the results did improve.

The next pellet test was with the Chinese domes that are a good bet in many guns. They are uniform pellets, weigh just over 8 grains, and provide excellent groups from the QB-78 CO2 gun from the same manufacturer. The groups with this pellet did improve, but still weren’t what I was looking for from my test gun. Here’s a pic of the group:

The third option I tested were the heavier Beeman Kodiaks. These pellets provide lots of knockdown in a .177 pellet, and from the last report you see they are still doing over 900 fps from this powerhouse. And they proved to be the most accurate as well. The little circle you see drawn on the box is the circumference of a penny, and I was aiming at the center of the circle each time. As you can see, the Kodiaks did much better than the other two pellets I tested, and I suspect that the heavier the pellet, the better this gun will like it. Here’s a couple of pics:

You can cover this group with a penny!

Now that is more like it! That is squirrel-killing accuracy, and I’m certain as the gun wears in, the accuracy will improve. I would love to put about 1000 rounds through this gun and see how the accuracy changes as the gun wears in and the parts all begin to mesh appropriately.

Another nice option on the Contender 87 is the adjustable trigger. I fiddled with the sear engagement somewhat, and lessened the weight needed to fire the gun. It will take some more experimenting, but the trigger IS adjustable, and this will help you, as the owner, to get it shooting the way you want it to.

Now is there a downside to this gun? Well….maybe. It IS heavy. With a good-sized scope on it, you’re pushing over 10 lbs here, and this is a handful in the woods for a day’s hunt. But if you are shooting targets or competition, that weight can be in your favor. Most FT guns that I’ve seen would not be suitable for carrying around, and the heavier the gun, the steadier the shooter can be. So the size and weight of the Contender 87 aren’t a bad thing depending on the uses you have planned. As a hunter, if I’m going on a short hunt, or shooting pests, it would be a good candidate. If I’m heading out for an all-day hike with an airgun, I’ll choose something lighter for the long haul.

At $189.95, you are getting a well-made, solid piece of shooting machinery for your money. It looks good, shoots good with the heavier pellets, and feels solid in your hands. So spend your money wisely, and enjoy the Tech Force Contender 87.

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The New Tech Force Contender 87: Part 1

The Tech Force Contender 87 is a handsome gun, and quite the handful as well. Weighing in a 9 lbs. without a scope, this gun isn’t for the small of frame or child-sized shooter. Lengthwise it measures out at 47″, and requires an adult-sized shooter to handle comfortably.

The stained-wood finish is nice and even, and the fit of the stock to the action is much above average. The butt pad of the gun also has been well-fitted to the rear of the stock, and provides a nice soft shoulder rest.

Fresh out of the box, you can easily see the fine finish on the metalwork. Though not the deep, rich blueing of a European gun, the oxidized finish is even and deep, with the logo of the gun embossed just behind the breech opening of the action.

The pressed checkering of the gun is positioned on the grip and forearm of the gun. It works well to provide a tactile surface if you are shooting in damp conditions or have sweaty palms on a hot day.

A scope rail is provided for mounting a scope, with a factory-installed scope stop to aid in keeping your scope mount from creeping away on you. Part 2 of our report on the Contender 87 will feature shooting results while scoped.

The factory open-sights feature fiber-optic inserts, green at the rear sight and red at the front site. Lining up on your target is quick and easy with this arrangement, and plinking is a breeze with the open sights.

The cocking mechanism of this gun is, of course, the underlever style. Once you’ve brought the arm all the way down to open the breech, a beartrap safety device engages and locks it into place. In the trigger group you will find the release for this safety feature at the front of the trigger group. Pull this back and the cocking lever can be returned to firing position. The safety is located between the beartrap release and the trigger. All three, the beartrap safety release, the safety, and the trigger are easily accessible with your finger inside the trigger guard.

Now, if you look at the stats on the description page of the Contender 87, you’ll see it claims that the velocity is near 1100 fps with .177 caliber pellets. And they aren’t kidding, either! Look at the figures below on the three pellets I tested today.

Beeman Kodiaks – 917 fps

Chinese Domes – 1057 fps

RWS Superdomes – 1082

The above pellets are not the lightest you’ll find, rather they are of average weight except for the Beeman Kodiaks. And if you do your math, you’ll find foot-pound energy (fpe) levels that prove this gun has the power to deliver in the field!

In part 2 of our report, we’ll mount a scope, shoot some groups, and play with the trigger just a little bit. But you can already see that for $189.95, you’ll get a lot of gun for your hard-earned money. So stay tuned for the rest of the report coming in the next few days.

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December 18, 2006

Contender Series 89 – The BIG gun!

by Tex Force

Compasseco’s new Contender 89 is a big, handsome breakbarrel air rifle. It moves to the top of the Compasseco line!

Well, there’s not much time left until Christmas; but if you’ve waited this long hoping to find exactly the right airgun, I believe this may be it. The Contender Series model 89 is Compasseco’s newest and best spring air rifle, and I was fortunate enough to test one recently.

The rifle
This is a powerful breakbarrel rifle with many quality features. For starters, it’s big: 46″ long and 7.75 lbs. The cocking effort is only 34 lbs., which is light for a spring gun rated to shoot .177 pellets at 1,100 f.p.s., but the 89 actually does it! It comes with a set of fine steel open sights that many hunters will want to use instead of a scope. The rear sight adjusts with fine clicks that are repeatable and never get harder, no matter how far you turn either adjustment screw.

The stock is a dark walnut-colored hardwood with an even stain. It sports four panels of the finest machine checkering I’ve seen recently on any air rifle – two on the pistol grip and two on the forearm. The butt is cushioned with a solid black rubber pad with no white line spacer – the sign of real quality in a buttpad! The blued steel is deep and even with a shiny finish that challenges the best German rifles. The trigger appears to be chromeplated and is straighter, for a better feel when pulling. All things considered, the Contender 89 earns its place at the top of Compasseco’s own rifles on the basis of appearance, alone. But looks don’t shoot, so I was very anxious to get the gun out to the range and test it.

Through the skyscreens!
This is one of the most powerful .177 spring rifles I’ve tested in a long time. RWS Hobby pellets go an average of 1,087 f.p.s., with a high of 1,101 and a low of 1,081. That’s a maximum spread of 20 f.p.s. for 20 shots – not too shabby when the power output is this high. That computes to 20.73 foot-pounds at the muzzle. With Beeman Kodiaks, a much heavier pellet weighing 10.6 grains, the velocity was slowed down to 881, with a spread from 872 to 885. That works out to 18.27 foot-pounds, which is more modest but still quite powerful. We expect a spring gun to be more powerful with lighter pellets, but the heavier ones are the ones we will take seriously, partly because they go slow enough to be accurate and partly because they retain their energy so well in a hunting situation.

Speaking of hunting, the 89 also comes in .22. With its respectable power, it would make the perfect hunting rifle. Although I haven’t tested a .22, the .177 is a good indication that it will also meet its advertised numbers.

The maximum spreads of just 20 f.p.s. and 13 f.p.s. are indicative of a powerplant that is very well adjusted. The gun shoots with little forward recoil and absolutely no vibration, both of which also indicate a very well-tuned mechanism. Many guns would require a heavy dollop of thick grease to shoot like this; and, of course, they’d give up some of their potential power in the process. The Contender 89, on the other hand, comes to you in perfect tune right from the box. Don’t take it apart; just shoot it as much as you can.

On target
I set up a target at 35 yards. The day was warm but not too breezy, so it was good for shooting groups with an airgun. Like all breakbarrels, the 89 is sensitive to how it’s held. I tried shooting off a sandbag and got groups in the 1″ range. For some rifles, that would be the end of it, but I discovered that with Kodiaks and a rifle held very lightly, the 89 will group about a half-inch at that range.

My advice
If you’re considering buying a rifle like the RWS Diana 34, the Beeman R1 or R9, or any other quality air rifle that costs between $200 and $550, you’d better put the 89 on that list, too. It’s as powerful and accurate as the R1, which puts it ahead of the Diana 34. The trigger isn’t as nice as the R1’s but it’s not bad, either.

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October 31, 2005

Crosman’s new Nightstalker is here!

Filed under: Air Guns, Air Rifles, Airgun, BB Gun, Crosman — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 4:55 pm

by Tex Force

There aren’t very many true semiautomatic air rifles in the world, which makes Crosman’s brand-new Nightstalker all the more interesting. A true semiautomatic gun is one that fires and reloads with one pull of the trigger. The reloading is performed by the gun, not by anything the shooter does. A real semiauto is much faster than any other kind of airgun.

True semiautomatic airguns are very special, because lead pellets don’t like being fed through mechanisms. Even the manual bolt-action repeaters get jammed sometimes, so imagine what can happen when gas does the feeding in milliseconds!

Nightstalker-web

Crosman’s brand-new Nightstalker is a true semiauto pellet rifle. It holds 12 shots and uses a huge 88-gram AirSource cartridge to power both the shot and the realistic blowback action that loads the pellet.

Isn’t the Crosman 1077 a semiauto?
The venerable Crosman 1077 (second gun down on page) looks like a semiauto and shoots 12 shots, each with just the pull of the trigger, but it’s really run by a clever revolver mechanism hidden inside the gun. Each trigger-pull also has to advance the cylinder, and that makes the trigger-pull longer than it would be if all it was doing was releasing the hammer. That’s what makes the new Nightstalker so exciting.

The Nightstalker features real blowback action with every shot
Until now, real blowback action was something you could get only from an airsoft gun. The blowback imparts a realistic feel every time the trigger is pulled. It feels like a firearm with so much going on inside the gun.

Crosman had a semiauto pistol back in the 1950s and ’60s. The model 600 was a 10-shot .22 pellet pistol that shot as fast as the trigger was pulled. Today, a 600 sells for $200 or more because shooters love the way it handles. The new Nightstalker is just about half that, and it’s a rifle, so there will be even more velocity.

Handles many pellets!
The model 600 pistol, has a problem feeding pellets that aren’t wadcutters. The Nightstalker has a 12-shot rotary clip, so it won’t have that problem. Two clips come with the gun, and you’ll be able to order extras – which is highly recommended. You can load pointed pellets, domes and hollowpoints in the Nightstalker clips because the nose shape makes no difference.

How significant is the semiautomatic action?
Until now, if you wanted this kind of rapid firing capability at an affordable price, you had to get the IZH Drozd from Baikal. It’s also a CO2 gun, plus it has an electric motor to allow semi- and full-auto fire in short bursts. The Drozd is limited to shooting only round lead balls through its rifled barrel, plus it’s more expensive than the Nightstalker. It’s a great gun in its own right, but the new Nightstalker offers more ammunition flexibility.

Truly a tactical airgun!
As you can see from the photo, the Nightstalker can hold a host of accessories that will soon be available in the deluxe model. So it’s more than just another pellet rifle; it’s a new tactical platform! And, with the huge Crosman AirSource cartridge as its power source, you’ll get hundreds of shots before it’s time for a new one. If you buy extra clips, you can reload quickly and get back in the fun!

If you like fast action and responding to targets of opportunity with speed and precision, the Nightstalker is for you. The Christmas season is now upon us, so supplies may be limited, because every airgunner in America has been patiently waiting for this new gun. If you don’t want to be disappointed, the time to order is NOW!

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October 24, 2005

Tech Force 79 – a bargain 10-meter target rifle

Filed under: Air Guns, Air Rifles, Airgun, Tech Force — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 4:51 pm

by Tex Force

If you like to shoot at targets, Compasseco has a rifle you should check out. The Tech Force 79 is a family of CO2 target rifles that offers features usually costing three times as much. If you also like to hunt with an airgun, you’re in double luck because the TF 79 is also very powerful – AND it’s available in.22 caliber!

Based on the TF 78
The TF 79 is based on the TF 78 that we learned about last week. That rifle is, in turn, based on the famous Crosman 160, a classic CO2 target rifle from the 1950s and 60s. The TF 79 has everything the 78 has, plus many more target features. The trigger is the same finely adjustable trigger Crosman perfected in the final version of the 160. It’s based on a crossbow trigger and is extremely adjustable for pull weight, sear engagement and overtravel. It also has a positive manual safety – a rare feature on a target air rifle.

Competition sights
If you shoot at targets, a peep or diopter sight is something you need to have. The TF 79 comes with a finely adjustable rear aperture sight that helps you place your shots right where you want them. At 10 meters, this sight will be as accurate as using a scope! The front globe has replaceable inserts, that allow you to find the right sight for a given situation. You can even install aftermarket inserts.

Competition stock
Notice the deep stock on all the 79s. It naturally raises your eye to the line of sight so you won’t have any parallax error. The deeply scalloped pistol grip positions your trigger finger perfectly to squeeze straight back without any sideway influence. Couple this with the crisp trigger, and it will be difficult to miss what you aim at.

Superior barrel
Don’t think that because the TF 79 is affordable it isn’t accurate. The barrel on this rifle is a legend, as far as accuracy is concerned. Of course, you will get back what you put into the rifle, so we recommend using Tech Force match pellets in either the heavy (8.9-grain) or light (7.6-grain) weights. Try both to discover which works best you and your rifle.

A thumbhole stock – what’s THAT about?
So many shooters were buying the TF 79 for sporting use that Compasseco decided to do something about it. They created a special thumbhole stock that really moves the rifle over to the advanced sporter class. Even though they show the rifle with a peep sight, it’s really made to mount a scope. Allow me to recommend the Tech Force 8-32 target/hunting scope (second scope down on the page) as the perfect companion to this rifle. Though any scope will work, this one has all the power you need for those really precise shots the rifle is capable of making. And, remember, you need to buy scope rings separately.

I saved the best for last!
The TF 79 is on sale as of the publication of this blog posting. Instead of the normal good price of $179.00, the standard Tech Force 79 (second rifle down on the page) is reduced to just $143.20. Just in time for Christmas, if you can wait that long, this classic target rifle is now more affordable than ever!

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October 17, 2005

A quick look at Tech Force 97, 99 & 78 rifles

Filed under: Air Rifles, Airgun, BB Gun, Tech Force — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 4:44 pm

by Tex Force

One of the best things about Compasseco is their Tech Force airguns and accessories. I’ll go into details in future postings, but today I’d like to take a general look at three of the air rifles they offer.

A great entry into adult airgunning!
For many years, Chinese airguns came into this country with no controls on how well they were made or what features they offered. Compasseco actually started by selling Chinese spring air rifles back in the 1980s. Then, they had a better idea.

Chinese economy with American tastes & quality controls
Because Compasseco was buying so many airguns from them, the Chinese factories were interested in what their largest customer wanted. Compasseco had enough dealers and customers telling them what THEY wanted that, before long, they were starting to make changes to what the Chinese produced. At first, the changes were in the safety and cosmetic areas, but they soon extended into accuracy, power and special features that American shooters said they wanted.

It wasn’t long before Compasseco began to develop their own trademarked line of airguns, built to their more demanding specifications. These were called Tech Force and they surpassed any other guns coming out of China. I could talk about a lot of models that unfolded over the years, but for today I’ll just briefly touch on three important models for you – the Tech Force 97, 99 and 78 rifles.

Tech Force 97
This underlever spring rifle was an outgrowth of the Chinese QB 38 (later called the Tech Force 38), which was an improvement over the time-honored B3-1. The Tech Force 97 was and is more powerful than the older 38 and also a lot more accurate. Significant improvements were made to the wood stock for a more American shape, to the quality of the front sight and underlever lock, and the powerplant to be smoother and more consistent. You can read more about the TF 97 on this website in the article, The Tech Force 97.

Compasseco had hoped to compete with European air rifles with their TF97, and in many respects it does. It’s sold at a price you simply cannot find in any other seriously powerful spring rifle today. But, in the end, the company wanted to take spring rifles even farther.

Tech Force 99 Magnum
The Tech Force 99 Magnum is all Compasseco’s own design. It’s the spring airgun they always wanted to build. Where the 97 had grown out of an existing gun, the new 99 Magnum is based on nothing else. It is bigger, more powerful yet just as smooth as the TF 97, and it maintains the same high quality and accuracy. It is truly a magnum, yet the cocking effort is light enough for most older youths and nearly all adults to operate.

The TF99 is ready for a scope when you buy it (scope stop is installed), or you can use the excellent fully adjustable sights. This is a big air rifle, so if you want something that’s physically smaller, I’d advise you to select a TF 97. For the ultimate in power and accuracy, the TF 99 Magnum is the best Tech Force spring rifle made.

Tech Force 78
The last rifle I’ll mention is actually a whole battery of CO2 rifles called the Tech Force 78 . These are modern recreations of the famous Crosman 160 air rifle of the 1950s and 60s – but with a lot of modern improvements! The standard TF 78 is a sporting rifle that sells for less than half of what a vintage Crosman would bring, yet you get the same power and accuracy PLUS the famous Crosman fully adjustable trigger that only the very last 160s had. Who says the golden age of airgunning is over? It doesn’t end there!

Tech Force 78T
The Tech Force 78T is a special version of the 78 that operates with a large bulk CO2 tank or Crosman’s newest 88-gram disposable CO2 cartridge. This makes the rifle ideal for target use, which its adjustable trigger and superior accuracy fully support. Even though it is designated for target, this rifle is still as powerful as a sporter, so hunting is certainly possible. Read more about the 78T on this web site at A Tech Force 78T Review. Be sure to also order some Crosman AirSource 88-gram CO2 cylinders when you buy this rifle.

Of course, there’s a lot more to say about Tech Force. We’ll get to the other guns and products in another posting, but for today we have looked at three of the classics.

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October 10, 2005

Sheridan Streak for the best in airgunning!

Filed under: Air Guns, Airgun, Benjamin Sheridan — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 4:39 pm

by Tex Force

The Sheridan Streak has been made for over 50 years!
The first Sheridan Streak was a Silver Streak (scroll to the bottom of the linked page to see the Silver Streak), initially offered back in 1949. That rifle was made to sell at $19.95 because Sheridan was having a tough time selling their Model A, a premium pneumatic, at $56.50. The new Silver Streak had all the performance and accuracy of the Model A (some people call it the Supergrade today) but was designed to be less costly to manufacture.

This Silver Streak was made around 1951
and looks very similar to the first Silver Streak produced.

The Blue Streak followed shortly thereafter
The Silver Streak was such a success that it put Sheridan on the map! Soon, the company was humming with activity; within a few years (no later than 1954), the Blue Streak was added to the line. Both rifles are identical except for finish.

The Silver Streak is heavily plated with nickel (NEVER chrome, which is typically not used on guns), while the Blue Streak is finished in a matte black paint. The Blue Streak has always been a few dollars less than the Silver Streak, except at the very beginning, because the Silver Streak has to be polished before plating.

Sheridan introduced .20 caliber to the world
The inventors, E.H. Wackerhagen and Bob Kraus, found that the poor quality of pellets available in the 1940s limited the performance of their rifles. They developed their first prototype with a .22 caliber barrel, but they selected .20 caliber for the production guns so they could control the quality of ammo people would use.

Sheridans have always been the most powerful American multi-pump pneumatics because of their proprietary .20 caliber pellet. Though their velocity of 675 f.p.s. on 8 pumps of the mechanism is somewhat slower than a Benjamin pneumatic, the extra weight of the Sheridan pellet makes up for it.

Open sights, peep or scope?
Sheridans come with fine adjustable open sights. A shooter can do wonderful work with these sights, and I have taken rabbits at 35 yards with them. But if you want something even better, try an optional peep sight. Made by the Williams Sight Company, this sight attaches directly to all new Sheridan rifles in holes that are already on the gun. This is, perhaps, the best way to sight a Sheridan.

Some shooters will want a scope. To mount one, you’ll first have to install a Sheridan four-piece scope base. It clamps to the barrel and lets you mount medium-height scope rings. I suggest medium-height rings, because I’m also recommending that you mount a smaller scope on a Sheridan. Because you have to pump this rifle, a large scope gets in the way of that operation. I like the Tech Force 39×40 scope (3-9x) (third scope down on the linked page) for a Sheridan.

Don’t forget to order pellets!
The best pellets for a Sheridan Streak are the Sheridan S-P50 cylindrical .20 caliber pellets, shown on the page with the Silver Streak rifle. You won’t find these listed on the pellets page, but you can order them on the page that shows the rifle. Another great pellet for this rifle is the Crosman Premier in .20 caliber. For best accuracy, buy the pellets in the cardboard box (shown at the top of the page).

These are still the “good old days!”
The Sheridan Streaks have been around for more than half a century, yet in all that time, and though the company changed hands twice and moved once, the rifle is as good today as it was when it was first introduced. The styling has changed several times, but the power, accuracy and overall quality have remained the same throughout the decades. You often hear oldtimers talking about how well things were made back in the good old days. Well, the Sheridan Streak is still made that way today, so you have a chance to join the fun!

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October 7, 2005

Welcome!

Filed under: Air Guns, Tech Force — Tags: Air Guns, air pistols, air rifle scopes, Air Rifles, airguns, BB Guns, CO2 Guns, Crosman air guns, Daisy air guns, Gamo air guns, Pellet Guns, RWS air guns, Tech Force air guns, Walther air guns — admin @ 4:38 pm

by Tex Force

Hi, there. This blog is a part of the Compasseco web site. I will be posting items of interest to airgunners once each week. You can make comments to each post and if there is a question, I’ll do my best to answer it for you.

I hope this blog will help you enjoy the fascinating world of airgunning all the more. Watch this spot!

Tex

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