by B.B. Pelletier
Well, we looked over the bulk-fill Drozd in Part 1. We saw all the controls and took the weight and measurements, so we got to know the gun pretty well. Today, we’re going to start shooting for record.
Should you shoot steel BBs?
I made a point of telling you to shoot lead balls in the first report on the gun, back in August 2005. Since then, I have received numerous comments telling me why I was wrong to say that. The manufacturer packs steel BBs in the box with the gun, EAA (the importer) says to use steel BBs and many owners say lead balls have jammed their guns. So, am I willing to admit I was wrong? Not on your life!
So, being the stubborn cuss that I am, I tested the velocity of this gun with three different types of ammo this time: conventional steel BBs, 4.4mm lead balls and 4.5mm lead balls. It fed all three without a hitch, but I’m not claiming anything because of that. I fired only a handful of rounds, while I am informed that a Canadian club has some guns they have shot as many as 100K times! I can’t begin to compete with that. They shoot only steel, and they say that an IZH factory representative told them steel BBs are the right ammo.
Loading
Loading the bulk-fill Drozd requires removal of the magazine. However, on that model, the magazine is free of the gun ONLY; it’s still tethered to the CO2 tank by the hose. When you want to load, find a place to lay the gun close by. To load, pull down the spring-loaded follower. On this magazine, there’s no way to lock it in place, so one hand has to hold the follower all the time. Therefore, you’ll want to locate the ammo in such a position that your other hand can do all the work.
When the magazine is free of the gun, it’s still tethered to the CO2 tank. This is on the bulk-fill gun, only.
Load one at a time by dropping them into the one hole at the top of the magazine. The hole is large enough, but BBs or round balls will go everywhere if they don’t make it in the hole, so I advise putting a cloth under the magazine to stop the strays from rolling away.
Inserting the magazine back into the gun seems to require a knack on my gun. I don’t know whether this is normal or if it’s caused by the springiness of the gas hose, but the magazine kept trying to go too far to the front of the magazine well and would not seat properly. The solution turned out to be to force it to the rear of the mag well while inserting it. Then, it went in without a hitch.
Performance with steel BBs
The temperature was 61 degrees. I used Daisy Premium Grade BBs, which weigh 5.1 grains. They averaged 535 f.p.s., with a spread from 526 to 541. The muzzle energy for the average velocity is 3.24 foot-pounds. The very first shot was a low 481, but no other shot came close to that so I threw out that result. It seems you have to “wake up” the valve when shooting this gun the first time. That’s common for both CO2 and pneumatic airguns.
We’ll finish this test on Monday.
B.B. you said, “Load one at a time by dropping them into the one hole at the top of the magazine. The hole is large enough, but BBs or round balls will go everywhere if they don’t make it in the hole” Didn’t your Drozd come with the speed loader? With a little experience, you can load a full clip in about 3-4 seconds with no spilled BB’s.
Nuglor
Nuglor,
Good point! A new Drozd does come with a speedloader. The one I’m testing is on loan from Pyramyd AIR and doesn’t have it.
It’s been a year since I tested the gun new, so I forgot.
B.B.
I’ve got 2 Drozd and 3 speed loaders. Your welcome to my extra one if you can’t find yours. I’m sure Pyramid will gladly give you another one, but your blog is much enjoyed so anything for the cause.
Nuglor
BB,
I suspect you don’t evaluate non-factory or non-PyramydAir mods but a lot of people are interested in the HPA with longer barrel conversion for the Drozd as well. Perhaps you can at least comment on that when you are done with this evaluation.
Regards,
Dave
BB,
I am looking for a spring/pump air pistol under $100 for indoor (room-to-room) shooting. Accuracy would be the main factor (followed by fun/stress-relief factor ;). I am looking at the Crosman 1377, Marksman 2004 and IZH 53M (No review). Which is the most accurate? Which would you recommend?
Danke!
Bert
Nuglor,
Thanks for the offer. I will be sending this gun back to pyramyd when I finish with it, plus with the thethered mag I can’t use more than this one mag, so I’m fine.
B.B.
Dave,
I do review non-Pyramyd AIR guns all the time. However, the PCP version of the Drozd falls into the hobby category because it isn’t being built by a factory or shop that warrants it. So I probably won’t test it, but several of my readers have already commented on how much they enjoy it.
B.B.
Bert,
Of the list you published, the Marksman 2004 will shoot circles aroung the other two pistols. But don’t overlook Daisy’s 747! While it’s more expensive, it’s wonderful gun for doing what you want to do.
B.B.
off topic:
Is it safe to dry-fire a Daisy 953?
The reason is, the manual tells you to dry-fire when putting the gun into storage, and some other times, I know dry-firing spring-pistions are bad but what about the 953?
Dry firing is not bad for a single stroke pneumatic.
B.B.
BB,
Could you do a review on the leapers 8-32×56 scope? Maybe on the optics, adjustability, repeatability and so on. Thanks.
Hi BB, and thanks for all of your reports. Can you do one comparing the Daisy Powerline 008 and the Gamo P23. These are both small pistols, and they shoot both bbs and pellets. I’d like to see your impressions of handling and accuracy differences.
Leapers 8 -32 scope,
If you are thinking of buying one, just do it! This is one of the finest scopes I have ever used – way ahead of my Leupold Vari X II in clarity and brightness.
I will do a test on this scope for you, but don’t hesitate to get one if you want it.
B.B.
I typically don’t compare guns against each other. I know I have done it a few times, but I don’t like to.
I have shot the P23 but not the 008. I will put them on the schedule, but it may take some time before they come around.
B.B.
BB,
How about a review blog of this new Anics pistol? Looks good on paper at least.
https://www.airgundepot.com/beretta-9000s-air-pistol.html
-Joe
OK, I just read your review and the comments on the Anics A3000. Sounds like a mess. But still, I’m wondering how much of a mess the 9000 is compared with the 3000? Do you have any experience with the 9000?
Thanks,
-Joe
Joe,
No experience.
B.B.
BB,
Is the leapers 8-32×56 good enough for field target? Thanks.
Absolutely!
B.B.
ahh! yet another adventure in learning (damaging)about my airgun. i was opening the barrel and then flicking the stock vertical so that the barrel locked up. perhaps i used a little too much force, because the breech seal now has a strange indent on it! seems the tail of a pellet caught during lock-up and squished the seal in. i tried putting a tiny triangle of paper above the breech-reciever interface and indeed it was blown upwards perhaps an inch or two. i know you said a little is normal but i dont know how much normal is. firing behavior still seems normal. should i take a pin to it and try to pull it back up, or will it fire fine the way it is? getting another breech seal wont be fun. (heck, i dont even know if spare parts are being made for my gun!)
To all,
I think everyone will enjoy/learn from this. Just today I was out hunting with my Remington genesis, and was taking a few pop shots at some little birds. The gun was working normally, nothing different in the least. Well, I went to hold the gun at an upwards angle, and the back of the scope slid off. I haven’t dropped it or anything like that. The actual tube of the scope was snapped in half by the recoil of that gun. This is the scope that is supplied with the gun. I’ve had it for about two years. I have pictures if anyone wants them. It was pretty amazing, I know I always read how these guns destroy scopes, but I didn’t realize how bad it was. It was just insane to see the tube broken in half. So this is a warning to everyone, get a really good scope if your getting a springer. Me, I’m moving up to PCP, and getting a condor. 🙂
Mr-Lama,
I concur with your move from a Springer to a PCP. Im gonne do the same when budget allows.
Curious though, what factor made your choice the Condor? There’s alot of PCP’s in that price range, some with more power and multi shot.
I’m curious. What air rifles in .22 or .25 caliber have more power than a Condor?
I know you can get one 80 foot-pound shot from some Career 707s, but you can’t get 15. By the 15th shot, the Career will be below 50 foot-pounds.
The Sam Yangs all top out slightly below 60 foot-pounds. A Condor will give 15 to 20 shots over 60 foot-pounds. Which gun will do better than that?
B.B.
dm20,
First, by closing the barrel that way you risk bending it. The sudden stop can put more force on the barrel that you do when you cock it, and air rifle barrels are made for soft steel. And you can also peen the breech face.
As for the breech seal, this is where a chronograph comes in handy. Lacking one, I’d recommend just shooting your rifle. The amount of air escaping the breech seems on the high side of normal, but it might have been that way before.
B.B.
I’m pretty sure there aren’t any .22 cals that are more powerful with more shots. The multi-shot thing was a battle though. I was really leaning toward a gladi8or. In the end, the condor won because it’s almost half the price. I like to hunt, and I’ve seen video of people taking racoons and jackrabits over 100 yards with the condor, with accurate shots at that range. That’s the kind of gun I wanted.
Oops!
“There’s alot of PCP’s in that price range, some with more power and multi shot.”
I should’ve said “…some with more power and some with multi shot”
your right BB, the Condor is the bully on the block in .22.
Mr-lama, you answered my question. thanks. Did you consider the Korean offerings by Shin Sung?
dsw
OK,
I should proof read!!
There isn’t a more powerfull PCP than the Condor in .22. I agree.
The only way to get more or equal power, it seems, would be to go to the large bore rifles that are single shot, making them in the same class (to me) as the Condor. IE most powerful and single shot, and like priced.
make sense? I want a quiet, powerful hunter in .22, with a multi shot mag, precision barrel PCP for around $500.
I think I’m going to get the Evanix AR6 rifle with the thumbhole stock. It’s close but mostly it looks great! Lol!
Maybe I will take the advice BB gave and apply for a license for the silencer.
dsw
I didn’t really look at the shin sung guns, but I did check out the sumatra 2500. I ended up getting the condor because I don’t really like lever actions or the way the sumatra looked. Also wanted a bipod.
mr-lama,
I was looking at the numbers of the Talon SS for my comparo when I said there was other .22’s with more power and multi shot…
I’m still torn tween the Talon SS and the AR6. will have to wait to see if Santa has anything to say bout it!!!
dsw
Well, the talon SS is quieter. And you can get aftermarket mods that will make it silent. I’m having that done to my condor. That sucker is LOUD. Expecially after shooting springers for forever.
Hmmm…
QUIET Condor? SILENT Talon? How would I get more info?
I do love the simplicity and efficiency of those rifles. Will have one eventually.
Let me know how your mods work out on the Condor. You know weight, cost, effect, etc..
dsw
Ha, well I see that sparked your interest. 🙂
Go to talontunes.com
He (anthony) does all kinds of mods you can get. The quieting mods aren’t listed on the site. Just email him and ask him about a shroud. They cost $175 I believe. They will make even a condor nearly silent.
I know B.B. hates forums, but go check out talonownersgroup.com Everyone there is very knowledgable and can help you with any questions you have. Any more questions just ask.
Enjoy,
lama
lama;
thanks, I’ll check it out.
dsw
lama,
It’s true, I don’t like forums as a rule. But I have recommended the Talon Owner’s Group to other readers. I agree that it is a helpful place.
B.B.