Airgun Pistols - Some Choices to Use

I almost always use a rifle when hunting, but from time to time I pack a pistol instead. In the world of airgun pistols, there are a few candidates that stand out from the crowd in terms of being useful to the airgun hunter. The other pistols aren't bad, but they lack the punch needed for taking game. So here is a brief list of my candidates for your hunting arsenal.

Crosman 1377 - A venerable design that has been taking game for quite a few years. Unfortunately, the 1322, it's .22 caliber sibling, is no longer available. However, you can convert a 1377 to a 1322 if you like with a few parts. This gun has the advantage of being adjustable in power by varying the amount of air you put in the gun. Another advantage is that it is less susceptible to cold weather side effects that you get from CO2-powered guns since it uses air.

Crosman 2240 - A great little bolt-action pistol that runs on CO2. Accurate, compact, and infinitely customizable with lots of aftermarket parts. Velocity of the .22 projectile is adequate for squirrel and rabbit sized game at reasonable distances, and you get a decent shot count from each CO2 cartridge/powerlet.

Crosman 2300 Series - An upgrade to the 2240 platform, this gun features a great rear sight and semi-custom front sight, as well as a metal breech that lets you mount additional sighting options. The trigger is better on this gun than the stock 2240 as well. However, I believe it is only available in .177.

Benjamin Sheridan Pneumatic - A pump-up airgun similar in function to the Crosman 1377. This gun lends itself less to modification, yet in stock form is quite capable of taking the size-appropriate game of your choice when you do your part and put the pellet on target.

Benjamin CO2 pistol - Similar in function to the Crosman 2240, this gun also does a good job on small game. I prefer the sight system on the 2240, but the Benjamin sighting system is quite adequate for the hunter if not the target shooter.

RWS 5G - This spring-piston pistol is powerful and accurate. Self-contained, all you need is a pocket full of pellets and you are set for the day in the field pursuing your intended game. There's no nonsense about this pistol!

Now, are there other pistol offerings out there that will help you with pest control? Certainly, you can use whatever pistol you have that will hit the target with adequate force. However, if you intend to actively pursue small game, and not just pop the occasional pest, then I believe these candidates are your best options. And airgun pistol hunting is among the most challenging of the shooting sports. You really have to work at it when using an air pistol, so get the right gun for the job before heading out into the field!

The New Benjamin Super Streak

The new Benjamin Super Streak is the first springer to bear the name "superstreak" since the inception of the company, to my knowledge. Upon being acquired by Crosman, some changes have occurred, and the use of the name that generations have used to refer to a pump-up pneumatic now has a springer to its name.

The gun in question is one of the better-made offerings from China. And it is a whopper of a gun! Fully 50" in length, this is not a gun for the small shooter, or for the shooter who has a limited reach. When I'm sitting down in a chair, it is almost impossible to reach the end of the barrel if I have the butt of the gun resting on my thigh. So cocking it takes some getting used to, and you have to really reach out there to slap the end of the barrel! The long barrel does keep the cocking effort from being prohibitively irksome, but it still takes a good tug to cock this large springer.



Out of the box, I immediately noticed the truly ambidextrous thumbhole stock. What a nice touch, good for left or right hand shooters. And there is some attractive patterning on the stock to firm up your grip.




Each Super Streak comes with a 4-16x40mm CenterPoint precision scope. This Adventure Class scope has adjustable objective, zero locking/resetting windage and elevation dials and a red/green illuminated Mil-Dot reticle. Included are flip open lens covers. The scope comes mounted, though it needs firming up by positioning exactly where you want it, and securing the scope rings and mount in place. The CenterPoint scope is nice, bright, and easy to adjust. The adjustable turrets have a handy locking ring that allows you to secure your scope adjustments in place without having to worry about scope knob covers. I found this a useful feature, and hope other makers adopt such a system.



The Super Streak I tested was in .22 caliber, and I used the following pellets for testing: Crosman Premiers, JSB Exacts, RWS Superdomes, RWS Super H-Points, and Gamo Hunters. Of the pellets listed, I managed my best groups with the Gamo Hunters, which were sent downrange at an average velocity of 850 fps over a 5-shot group. Depending on the pellet used, you will get anywhere from 21 fpe to 26 fpe, dependent of course on the weight of the pellet.



Here is the pattern I achieved from the Gamo Hunters. Note that this gun is brand new, out of the box, with about 200 warm up shots in it. Over time, groups normally will tighten as the gun wears in, and the shooter become more accustomed to it.



The trigger and safety switch are metal, located inside the plastic trigger guard. The safety is positioned just ahead of the trigger, common in many airguns. Easily reached with the trigger finger, it held firm in either position, and required a purposeful movement to engage or disengage the safety.



If you prefer open-sight shooting, the rear sight is of good quality, easily adjustable, and the front sight sports a globed front pin.





This gun will suit the large-framed individual who enjoys hunting. It has the power for raccoon-sized animals and down, and comes with all you need to get out into the field after a few test shots and sighting in. And the price? Currently selling for $299.95, it is easily acquired. So give this new Benjamin some consideration when thinking of a hunting air gun.

NRA Convention in Louisville, KY - May 16-18

The NRA is holding its yearly convention in Louisville, KY this year. This is great for me as I live about 35-40 miles from there. Compasseco will have a booth there this year, and I will be joining them with some displays of my African airgun safari, and a custom .50 caliber muzzleloading airgun. If you get the chance, I hope you'll stop by and say "hi" if you attend the show.

The NRA is, and always has been, at the forefront of protecting your shooting heritage and right to bear arms. Many folks erroneously think that airguns won't be targeted by the anti-gunners, but they are dead wrong. Anti-gunners are in the business of trying to control people's lives to the point that they want to determine what you can and can't buy, purchase, or own. The fact that guns are already one of the most regulated items in the history of man doesn't seem to make any sense to them. So protecting your gun rights, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, is a serious matter. Your airguns will be on the list right after guns if they get their way, so if you aren't already a member of the NRA, do something good for your shooting pleasure and join today.

I hope to see you at the convention. And if I get some good pics, I'll come back and post them for all to see.

Lead Ban in California.....How it Affects Airguns

Recently, efforts to help the California Condor have brought about the banning of lead projectiles from firearms in certain parts of California. This ban is proposed to take effect on July 1, 2008. However, many airgunners have erroneously assumed that their pellet guns will no longer be useful for taking varmints and small game inside the zone.

Here is a link to the PDF file that addresses the issue:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/docs/LeadInformation.pdf

If you'll take a look on page three, you will see that airguns are exempt from this ban as they are not considered firearms by the laws of California. The PDF file referenced specifically states that airguns and their projectiles are exempt from this ban. This is good news for those of you who use airguns in the area affected by this ban. However, I would caution you to carry a copy of the PDF file (print it out for yourself) so that any over-zealous official who may jump to a conclusion not specified by this new law can be corrected before costly fines and court procedures come about.

For many hunters, this law will adversely affect their sport and enjoyment of the outdoors. However, if you hunt with an airgun, you still have the ability to get out and enjoy some prime ground squirrel hunting this summer without fear of the lead ban affecting you. But as mentioned, carry the information detailed in the above link in case you are stopped by a game warden or other law enforcement official and questioned about the use of your lead pellets. Fore-warned is fore-armed!