Crosman’s Icon is a new precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle.
This report covers:
- The trigger
- The single shot tray
- There’s more
- Velocity
- Crosman Premier 7.9-grain
- No flat shot
- Summary
I pondered over today’s report for most of this month. I wanted to do a second velocity test of the new Crosman Icon, and I also wanted to adjust the trigger, as I promised. I also discovered some things about the Icon that I will share with you today. Let’s get started!
The trigger
There is a single adjustment on the Icon trigger, and the instructions in the manual say that you can change the length of the second stage pull. WAIT A MINUTE — CHANGE THE LENGTH OF THE STAGE TWO PULL??? Stage two isn’t supposed to have a “length.” It’s supposed to break sharply. However, I adjusted the trigger and discovered the manual is correct. By turning the adjustment screw counterclockwise you shorten the first stage pull and turn stage two into something that moves and does have some length.
What I discovered was the Icon trigger came set at the best place from the factory. The manual says that, but we are airgunners and we don’t believe anyone who’s not us, do we? We certainly don’t believe no stinking’ manual! When I adjusted the trigger to make stage one shorter stage one pulled with 2.3 lbs. and stage two broke with 3lbs. 9 oz. When I set it back to where the factory had set it stage one took 1 lb. 4 oz. and stage two broke at 3 lbs. 4 ozs. That is even better than I recorded in Part 2.
The single shot tray
I told you that the pellets were falling behind the rear of the single shot tray and several of you had trouble visualizing that. So, I will show you.
There’s your picture. The pellet has fallen behind the single shot tray.
There’s more
But wait… Then I tried to start the velocity test, so I loaded another pellet and it fell behind the single shot tray too. The first pellet was not there anymore, and I thought it had fallen out of the gun.
Oh it fell allright — INTO THE ACTION!!! I loaded a third pellet into the breech (the rear of the barrel, just ahead of the single shot tray) and “click.” The rifle didn’t fire. I cocked it again and again and it would not fire. Do you remember that I told you about this in Part 2? I didn’t know then what happened. Now I think I do. Pellets have fallen back into the action and are stopping the bolt from going forward hard enough or far enough to hit the valve stem.
So I turned the rifle upside down opened the bolt and hit the stock hard with the back of my hand, making a pellet fall out of the bolt. But the rifle still would not fire. So I took it to my workbench opened the bolt again and hit the stock several more times with a rubber mallet. Two more pellets fell out. Wanna see ‘em?
These two guys fell out of the open bolt when I hit the Icon stock with a rubber mallet.
Since the rifle was already loaded I fired it into the trap and this time it fired. I missed the sky screens with this first shot.
The lesson here is to always load pellets into the single shot tray with the rifle held level. You tend to point the muzzle up to load, but with this rifle that’s not good.
Velocity
Okay, let’s do the velocity test. Reader Alan McD suggested this.
“BB,
Strange results, that’s for sure. It would be interesting to see a full string with one pellet as a sort of “baseline” for the gun, without jumping between weights or different sizes. It could show what is happening better.”
Crosman Premier 7.9-grain
That was a great idea. So I did it. And I shot only the now-obsolete Crosman Premier 7.9-grain pellet for the velocity test. After all — the Icon is a Crosman airgun. I will show you every shot.
Shot…….Vel
1………..did not register
2………..956
3………..956
4………..967
5………..968
6………..966
7………..960
8………..960
9………..DNR
10………977
11………DNR
12………977
13………970
14………977
15………970
16………969
17………966
18………969
19………954
20………964
21………960
22………957
23………956
24………953
25………956
26………941
27………941
28………946
29………935
30………938
31………933
32………929
33………927
34………923
35………922
36………915
37………917
38………912
39………912
40………904
41………892
42………898
43………890
44………875
45………887
46………875
47………879
48………870
There! This list of velocities is why a chronograph is so important when testing an airgun — especially a PCP. At shot number 34 here is what the onboard pressure gauge read.
This is what the Icon gauge read after the 34th shot.
No flat spot
So I kept on shooting for awhile longer. But everyone can see that the velocity is dropping — right? In fact if you look at all the numbers on the list you see there is no real flat spot in the velocity. It moves up and then drops back down.
So if you want to shoot groups at 50 yards I suggest starting at shot number 5 after a fill and stopping after shot 18. That gives you 14 shots that vary no more than 17 f.p.s. (960 to 977 f.p.s.). Sure it won’t always be exactly like this string, but it should be close every time.
From this velocity test it looks like the Icon is more for shooting at closer distances. Out to 25 yards there are perhaps 23 good shots per fill. And for plinking at even closer distances there are certainly 42 good shots, though they will vary by 79 f.p.s. (898 to 977 f.p.s.).
When I stopped shooting at shot 48 the onboard gauge read 1600 psi, which is still in the green zone. So that green color on the onboard gauge is fairly meaningless. Instead, stop shooting when the needle says 2000 psi, which is in the middle of the green zone.
Summary
Now we know the Icon very well, and I plan to use this knowledge in the 25 yard accuracy test. I’m going to do something special for you that I’ve never done before! But that’s not next. Gonna shoot at 10 meters first with the open sights.
BB,
There’s an actual printed paper manual included?! That’s an exception in a world that is always referring to a PDF file online. Maybe the muzzle should tilted down when loading?
Siraniko
Man, I am just not a fan of multi pumpers, although it seems some new good ones are coming out. I have given away everyone I have ever bought to friends or family. Pretty much the only platform that I do not like. Then what do I go and do??? My first vintage airgun purchase is multi pumper. Crosman 102 clickless. This is where I wish I had that Airgun Bluebook but not worth it for just one gun. Still would like to know how much I overpaid for it. 🙂
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165383623682?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
Bob,
That’s about right for a 102 that holds and shoots. And the shipping was half what it should have been.
BB
Man, I am just not a fan of multi pumpers, although it seems some new good ones are coming out. I have given away everyone I have ever bought to friends or family. Pretty much the only platform that I do not like. Then what do I go and do??? My first vintage airgun purchase is multi pumper. Crosman 102 clickless. This is where I wish I had that Airgun Bluebook but not worth it for just one gun. Still would like to know how much I overpaid for it. 🙂
I have to say I am not a very big fan of the way this air rifle is made. Those pellets dropping into the action is not good. I think I will stick with the Maximus.
BB,
I like to base-line a PCP like that, one pellet for the whole fill. I usually wait until I’ve shot a tin of pellets to break-in the gun though.
Interesting velocity curve, as you mentioned, not a flat spot to be seen. I won’t say anything about regulators though …not one word LOL!
Cheers!
Hank
Vana2,
FUNNY guy Hank ;^)
shootski
Hank,
I like to do a baseline for a light, a medium, and a heavy pellet. In an unregulated PCP the pellet weight can really impact the shape of the curve. I have a Gamo Urban that with, the right fill pressure, using JSB 25.4 grain pellets, will give me 21 shots with an ES of 10 and 25 FPE. That’s what one would expect from a regulated gun. I found that sweet spot by getting a baseline at the extremes as well as the middle. And testing is just fun! The more the merrier, as they say.
Half
Half,
After break-in I like to do a rough full fill baseline test with cheap pellets to give me an idea of what’s happening and where the rifle falls off the reg. Then I’ll shoot to find the golden pellet (or tune to the pellet of choice) and run the test again. …Like you said: the testing is fun!
So far I’m liking the 25.4 grain Monster Redesign pellets. I’m hoping that I can find a tune that will let me shoot both the Monsters and the KnockOut slugs.
Hank
BB
Knowing me I probably over read it.
What was your starting full fill pressure on the gun?
That’s alot of shots to stop shooting at 2000 psi. Almost acts like a regulated gun.
GF1,
I started at 3000 psi.
BB
BB
Thanks.
You know you should try shooting from 2000 psi down to 1200 psi and see what the velocity does. I have had pcp’s with a high power band and low power band.
Sometimes not as many shots on the low power band but still got as good of groups as the high power band. And I have seen the low power band pressure shoot higher velocity than the high power band fill. It’s all about how the valve acts to the striker/hammer and spring setting.
Maybe the Icon can be used at lower pressure too like a Discovery. You got to try to know is all I know to say.
My too quick reaction is what’s there to like about it. To be fair I was once told by a reader and later confirmed that velocity variation doesn’t always equate to poor accuracy at 25 yards.
We shall see.
Deck
Deck
Seems I have heard that too. 🙂
Deck,
Do you have the old Hawke Chairgun program (or something similar)? I like to use it to play “what if” games with velocities and pellet weights.
I setup my point-blank range (plus/minus 3/8″) then “calibrate” the program by tweaking the BC such that the trajectory matches the pellet weight, actual velocity and several points (usually 20, 40, 50 yards …30ish yards is the typical “far zero” range).
Once the program agrees with the real world trajectory I can start changing velocities for that pellet to see how the POI ( theoretically 🙂 ) changes.
With the program and actual shooting, I’ve found with the low ES on my rifles that the changes in velocity doesn’t affect the POI enough to worry about at sub 60 yard ranges. …Shooter induced errors are worse 😉
Hank
Hank
I am limited to 25 yards but perhaps others will comment. We have quite a few readers who stretch out to 50 yards and more. I sometimes go to a 100 yard range for powder burners but I enjoy shooting at home for convenience. Small group sizes are just as fun with air as with powder.
Hope you get some replies especially to your 60 yards and under findings.
Deck
Deck,
I like to plink 1″ spinners off-hand so 25 yards is plenty! Far enough for shooting groups as well.
I’m fortunate to live on 10 acres in a rural area. Last year I extended my 60 yard range to 128 yards in anticipation of testing slugs but a cataract in my right eye put everything on hold.
I’m scheduled for surgery in May, in the mean time I’m shooting my springers left handed/eyed.
Getting old is a pain in… in… the everything eh?
Cheers!
Hank
Vana2,
Yup! In the noise.
see my response to Deck down a few posts.
shootski
Vana2,
I’m in the scheduling hopper for my first consult for the same eye surgery. Have you decided which distance you will have installed? I can’t make up my mind if I want near vision and use corrective lenses for distance or the other way around. Hank are you having only one eye done or both?
Regardless wishing a great procedure out outcome!
Having people work on my eyes is going to be one of the harder things in life for me…!
shootski
Hank & Shootski
Had cataract surgery on both eyes. Other eye issues too. With glasses I see targets well enough and am fortunate to be able to focus front sights now and peeps are a joy. Scopes of course are fine but some dot optics not so good. I elected to implant lens that glasses boost a little at distance. Turns out the front post or globe insert is in sharp focus. I lucked into that one. Being old and retired gives me lots of shooting time.
Wishing you much success with your surgery.
Deck
See this gun doent have enough power to be casual about shot placement like a big bores do.
A rabbit at 25 yards is big game for this one, it dont have the “Kenelworth effect” that the energy dump of a big piece of soft lead can have when it stays in the game animal, and flattens out.
this will do the same thing just at a a smsller scale. I would regulate this puppy and try get all those free shots that are outside the nice part of the shot curve. But is it worth it? If this gun is priced right, I think its fine the way it is and also a good candidate for Rob’s little shop of horrors, and mod it to be a little hotter or maybe better shot count, depending on the acuracy potential it has. Love the threaded barrel end. As far as getting the ammo out of the action, that is an issue for sure.
R
Rob
I bet as we speak somebody is 3D printing up some single shot trays with a smaller hole in the back of the tray so the pellet won’t fall past the bolt.
And a piece of something could be ca glued to the existing tray in the back so the pellet won’t fall back in.
A easy fix but yes. Why didn’t Crosman catch that mistake before they made the trays.
B.B.,
Looked at the photograph in Part one but both magazines are on the same side so impossible to even try to guess.
Can the pellets (a pellet) fall out of the rear of the magazine into the action?
shootski
Shootski
It looks like the magazine is similar to a Marauder mag.
If so they are spring loaded so I don’t see the pellet falling out of the mag. If not spring loaded then maybe.
shootski,
I hope not.
BB
Decksniper,
I was going to give Ya’All the formula(s) to figure it out but being attuned somewhat to this Modern Age’s needs…here is a great Online calculator:
https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/projectile-motion
So if the average FPS MV is 750′ over 10 shots has as an Extreme Spread (ES) of say, 15FPS, the attributable change in the Vertical POI to be expected at 25 yards is measured only in the small hundredths of an inch!
shootski
Shootski
Interesting! Saved the calculator.
Deck