How CO2 cartridges are made

CO2 is one of the best power sources for airguns for a number of reasons. If you page back through the entries on this blog, you'll find an article explaining CO2 a little more in-depth than this entry. The only thing I'm going to do this week is send you to a video sharing site, YouTube, where you can take a tour of the Crosman factory and see how CO2 is put into the powerlets, how they are made, and some other neat stuff that will enhance your knowledge as an airgunner. Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7FgKkPHc1E

Shooting with a Scope

If you are new to shooting and have placed a scope on your air gun, you may have noticed that the pellet hits are varying heights in relation to your aiming point at different ranges. There is a reason for this, and perhaps this brief explanation will help you understand what happens when you fire a shot.

Gravity is an amazing thing. It pulls the same on identical objects whether or not they are moving along a horizontal plane. For instance, if you were standing on a perfectly flat surface, and you could aim your air gun in a perfect parallel to the flat surface you were standing on, then a pellet that you fired from your gun would hit the ground at the same time as a pellet you dropped from your hand when you pulled the trigger. The difference would be that the pellet you fired would have traveled in a horizontal trajectory, while the pellet you dropped simply went straight down.....but they arrive at the same time.

When a scope is mounted to an air rifle, the front of the scope is slightly lower than the rear. Thus your line of sight is not level with the bore of the air rifle. Here is a link to a very helpful demonstration that shows you what I am feebly trying to explain in these few paragraphs:

http://www.arld1.com/trajectory.html

Perry Babin has thoughtfully provided several demonstrations to explain some of the concepts involved in shooting. When time allows, take a look at all of his demonstrations to increase your knowledge of air guns and shooting.

If you look closely at the demonstration link I provided, you can see that there are two points where the line-of-sight crosses the trajectory of the pellet as it is fired from the air rifle. If your air rifle is zero'ed in at 30 yards, a common range for many air rifle scopes to be set at, then the points where the pellet's trajectory cross the line-of-sight (LOS) are at 12 and 40 yards. As the example explains, this is a good reference point for air guns that have a moderately high velocity.

Accuracy proponents often label a note card with the amount of hold-over and hold-under they need for a specific range. They tape it to the gun and waterproof it so that they can refer to it under shooting conditions. This allows them to maximize their ability to stay on target during shooting sessions. For a hunter, practice estimating ranges is an excellent tool for improving your take of game in the field. For the target shooter, your scores will go up. But understanding what happens in the relation of the scope to your line of trajectory is a good starting place.

The Air Force Talon SS

In 1994 a project started in Ft. Worth, TX that was to come to fruition as the Air Force Talon. An American-made airgun of the pre-charged variety, it has developed a loyal following due to the quality of its construction and the ease of modification and accessorizing that comes with owning this gun.

The Talon SS came out in 2001 as an answer to the need of airgun enthusiasts to be able to shoot in their backyard without disturbing their neighbors. The integral shroud dulls the firing report to a very manageable level while still keeping the overall length under 33" total. The gun breaks down by removing the butt which is the reservoir for the air, making it easily carried in a backpack or other small container, an ideal situation for the hiker or camper who wishes to bring along a quality air gun for small game needs or for plinking enjoyment.

I was sent the .22 caliber version, and with the enclosed adaptor I was able to quickly get 3000 psi into the 490 cc tank. Quickly attaching the tank to the gun, I was ready to shoot once I mounted an extra scope I had lying around. With a handful of shots, I was on target and ready to play.

To cock the Talon SS, you move the bolt forward, just the reverse of what you might expect. Once loaded, you pull the bolt back and release the automatic safety that is found inside the trigger guard. Though not the most ergonomic of guns, I had no problem acquiring my target, and wasn't uncomfortable firing many shots through the gun. It's just different than what I was accustomed to.



At 20 yards, using an offhand firing stance, I was able to keep 3 shots under the size of a penny. Two of the pellets almost went in the same hole, with the third easily within the kill zone of a squirrel or rabbit. This is the kind of accuracy you want from an airgun that you intend to hunt with, and having an adjustable power wheel also comes in handy in dialing in the level of power you want for the job at hand. I fiddled with the wheel awhile, noting the changes in velocity, but was satisfied with the medium setting for the general shooting I was doing.

The Talon SS is an easy gun to use. I had my father take a look at it. He is not accustomed to air guns and was unfamiliar with this type. In no time at all, he had it figured out and began knocking over cans at 40+ yards, not missing a single shot. And he hasn't fired a gun of any kind in years! So the newcomer to air guns will enjoy the Talon SS quite a bit, as will the seasoned veteran.



When you first open your Air Force Talon SS, you will find it nicely packed away in a foam-fitting case. I do believe that it is one of the best shipping boxes that I have come across in the world of airguns. It is broken down into the barrel and trigger group, and the tank....that's it, just two pieces. Put air in the tank, screw it together, and you are ready to go!



One of the nice features of the Air Force line of airguns are the accessory rails that line the length of the gun. You have a variety of choices in sights, lasers, bipods, lights....just about whatever you want to attach to the gun. Air Force has their own line of accessories, and many aftermarket models will fit as well.

Compasseco has been carrying the Air Force Talon and its relatives for some time now, and you will find several items in their inventory that will let you turn this great gun into the gun of your dreams, decked out with all the doo-dads your heart can come up with. And the pellet selection that Compasseco provides will be sure to give you all the desired ammunition you can want for feeding this great pre-charged pneumatic.

While firing shots over the chronograph, I was pleasantly surprised with the consistency of the velocity. With mid-weight pellets such as JSB Exacts, the mid 700’s were easily achievable with the power wheel dialed into the median range offered in the power adjuster. Crank it up, the velocity goes up, crank it down, and the same desired effect is the result…..just as it was designed. But my favorite feature? The soft "chuff" when I pulled the trigger. A quiet airgun is a beautiful thing, and the power of this airgun makes it a great choice for the hunter who hunts in urban or semi-settled areas. The accuracy it delivers is fantastic for small game, and it has the power on tap for larger pests such as raccoons and possums when needed.

If you look around the net, you will find some forums dedicated just to this airgun. There are specialists out there who will further tune and hone the qualities of this airgun, but remember that tampering with the gun will void the warranty in most situations. But the gun is wonderful in its stock form, so enjoy it a little while before you decide whether or not to make any adjustments.

Airguns - A Viable Option for the Hunter

Airguns are becoming more and more popular as hunting tools here in America. Since this country has a long history of firearm ownership, airguns are often overlooked. However, with the increased urbanization and a greater demand on the individual's time, hunting closer to civilization is becoming more and more common. Airguns provide a unique weapon that can be used safely and quietly where other weapons cannot.

By far, the most common usage of airguns in hunting is for small game. The squirrel and rabbit-sized animals all fall well within the range of power that is generated by the more common, quality airguns available. Below you will see several pics of hunts that either myself or friends I know have gone on and successfully used the airguns you see in the pics. Airguns are fantastic tools for hunting, and these pics prove it.







In addition to smaller game pictured above, there are airguns on the market that are capable of taking much larger game. These guns are almost always of the pre-charged variety to attain the power needed for the larger game you see pictured below.






As we head into the hunting seasons this fall, take your airgun out and use it for more than just plinking. Search through the articles earlier in this blog and take note of what guns are capable in terms of power for the game you intend to hunt. And don't forget to ask landowners about access to their property and mention you wish to use only an airgun. Your chances of an affirmative answer are better when you show them the airgun you intend to use instead of a high-powered centerfire or even a rimfire. Compasseco carries airguns of all kinds, and one of them is bound to fit your need for a hunting arm....so browse around the website and take note of the selection.

Be careful out there and follow the rules. The public is watching, and you want to show airguns in the best possible light.

Spring Piston Safety Issues

Spring-piston air guns are among the most popular air guns available today, for a number of reasons: simple construction, one-cock powerplant, reliable functioning, and no need for additional equipment in order to enjoy them. However, spring-piston air guns, particularly the rifles, can have some safety issues that call for the user to be careful and attentive to the condition of the air gun.

Just this morning I was reading on one of the on-line forums about a spring-piston air rifle that was cocked prior to loading, only to have the stock break, which released the rear end of the gun which consequently snapped up and popped the user in the face, causing some minor injuries. After reading through the thread concerning the cause, I came to the conclusion that the owner had an air rifle that had a crack in the woodwork, but was still being used. I could be wrong about that, but that was what I gathered from the discussion.

If you own an airgun of any kind, it falls to you, the user, to insure the safety of your airgun by keeping an eye on the physical condition of the entire gun. If you notice a hairline crack in the stock, especially around the grip area immediately behind the trigger, you need to set it aside and not use it until that is fixed. When you cock a break barrel airgun, there is pressure being brought to bear on the wood that is attached to the receiver end of your airgun. The thinnest and weakest part of your wood stock is the pistol grip area, and if it is cracked, you run the risk of having it separate at a very unfortunate moment, leaving the entire rear portion of the airgun free to snap back up and cause injury.

I have mentioned before the detrimental effect of having the barrel snap back up while under tension from the spring. Think of it in reverse, and you have in mind what happened to the unfortunate individual who posted on an airgun forum about his mishap. While holding the barrel safely to prevent it from moving, the cracked stock gave way and the reverse happened.....the rear of the gun snapped up!

In the future, look for video entries showing safe and proper handling of air guns. Safety is everyone's responsibility, and making our sport and hobby a safe and fun event calls for us to be watchful, careful, and aware of the condition our air guns are in.

Be safe, be careful, and enjoy airgunning!