THE CLASSIC CO2 SINGLE SHOT
Written by: Der Luftmeister
Have you ever thought about how certain designs become classics? They endure for many years in essentially unchanged form. Things just seem to be in balance. When it comes to classic designs in air rifles, one type that has been around for a long time is the single shot rifle powered by CO2.
Crosman pioneered the use of a compressed gas other than air to launch pellets. The gas chosen was CO2, and there are several reasons why it is a good choice. Carbon dioxide it is inexpensive, nontoxic, and essentially no corrosive. Moreover, it generates a high pressure at room temperature. This characteristic is necessary in order to generate enough gas pressure behind the pellet to give it a reasonably high velocity. Crosman introduced the 12-gram Powerlet® just about 50 years ago.
Over the years, Crosman has marketed numerous single shot rifles powered by CO2. Probably the most famous of those was the Model 160 which is still a highly prized rifle. This outstanding .22 caliber rifle was made of blued steel and wood, and featured an excellent trigger. I regret passing up an outstanding specimen a few years ago that was equipped with a factory peep sight. The current offering from Crosman is the Model 2260, but that is a subject for a later blog.
If you want a classic single shot that is virtually identical to the Crosman Model 160 look no farther. Compasseco started offering such a rifle a few years ago, and it is still available. That rifle, the Tech Force Model 78, is actually available in two versions, the 78 and the 78T. The standard Model 78 is an honest to goodness metal and wood rifle that features a fine bolt action that has a two way adjustable trigger. Measuring about 40 inches in length, the Model 78 weights a little over six pounds. Like the original Crosman 160, the Model 78 is powered by two CO2 cylinders. The cylinders are held in a tube below the barrel. The Tech Force 78 is available in both 177 and 22 calibers.
In addition to the standard model, the Tech Force 78T is available. This rifle is set up to utilize the larger 88 gram or nine ounce CO2 tanks. Other performance characteristics are the same as for the standard Model 78 that is powered by two small cylinders.
The Tech Force Model 78 is a 177 or 22 caliber that makes an excellent pest rifle. My brother has had one for several years, and it is a fine airgun. The open sights are adequate with the rear sight being fully adjustable. The advertised velocity for the 22 caliber Model 78 is 600 ft/sec while that of the 177 caliber version is 750 ft/sec, but I have not actually chronographed these rifles yet.
The velocities are typical of 177 and 22 caliber models that are powered by CO2. Because the gas pressure depends only on the temperature, virtually all models of rifles of the same caliber give about the same velocity. A 22 caliber pellet of normal weight has to be driven to about 615 ft/sec in order to give a muzzle energy of 12 ft lbs which is the commonly accepted threshold for a magnum airgun. The Tech Force 78 is a little short of that energy, but it is nonetheless a powerful airgun, especially in 22 caliber.
The classic single shot rifle powered by CO2 is not dead. Tech Force 78 and 78T rifles represent excellent values with the prices being only $89.95 and $99.95, respectively. If you want one of these fine rifles, Compasseco can fix you up pronto.
Have you ever thought about how certain designs become classics? They endure for many years in essentially unchanged form. Things just seem to be in balance. When it comes to classic designs in air rifles, one type that has been around for a long time is the single shot rifle powered by CO2.
Crosman pioneered the use of a compressed gas other than air to launch pellets. The gas chosen was CO2, and there are several reasons why it is a good choice. Carbon dioxide it is inexpensive, nontoxic, and essentially no corrosive. Moreover, it generates a high pressure at room temperature. This characteristic is necessary in order to generate enough gas pressure behind the pellet to give it a reasonably high velocity. Crosman introduced the 12-gram Powerlet® just about 50 years ago.
Over the years, Crosman has marketed numerous single shot rifles powered by CO2. Probably the most famous of those was the Model 160 which is still a highly prized rifle. This outstanding .22 caliber rifle was made of blued steel and wood, and featured an excellent trigger. I regret passing up an outstanding specimen a few years ago that was equipped with a factory peep sight. The current offering from Crosman is the Model 2260, but that is a subject for a later blog.
If you want a classic single shot that is virtually identical to the Crosman Model 160 look no farther. Compasseco started offering such a rifle a few years ago, and it is still available. That rifle, the Tech Force Model 78, is actually available in two versions, the 78 and the 78T. The standard Model 78 is an honest to goodness metal and wood rifle that features a fine bolt action that has a two way adjustable trigger. Measuring about 40 inches in length, the Model 78 weights a little over six pounds. Like the original Crosman 160, the Model 78 is powered by two CO2 cylinders. The cylinders are held in a tube below the barrel. The Tech Force 78 is available in both 177 and 22 calibers.
In addition to the standard model, the Tech Force 78T is available. This rifle is set up to utilize the larger 88 gram or nine ounce CO2 tanks. Other performance characteristics are the same as for the standard Model 78 that is powered by two small cylinders.
The Tech Force Model 78 is a 177 or 22 caliber that makes an excellent pest rifle. My brother has had one for several years, and it is a fine airgun. The open sights are adequate with the rear sight being fully adjustable. The advertised velocity for the 22 caliber Model 78 is 600 ft/sec while that of the 177 caliber version is 750 ft/sec, but I have not actually chronographed these rifles yet.
The velocities are typical of 177 and 22 caliber models that are powered by CO2. Because the gas pressure depends only on the temperature, virtually all models of rifles of the same caliber give about the same velocity. A 22 caliber pellet of normal weight has to be driven to about 615 ft/sec in order to give a muzzle energy of 12 ft lbs which is the commonly accepted threshold for a magnum airgun. The Tech Force 78 is a little short of that energy, but it is nonetheless a powerful airgun, especially in 22 caliber.
The classic single shot rifle powered by CO2 is not dead. Tech Force 78 and 78T rifles represent excellent values with the prices being only $89.95 and $99.95, respectively. If you want one of these fine rifles, Compasseco can fix you up pronto.
posted by Randy Mitchell at
8:31 AM
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