Part 1 A short history of the spring-piston power plant
Part 2 A short history of the CO2 airgun
Part 3 A short history of the precharged pneumatic airgun
Part 4 A short history of the single stroke pneumatic airgun
This report covers:
- History
- Benjamin Automatic (model 600)
- Benjamin 700
- Crosman comes on the scene
- Discussion
- Air Venturi Seneca Aspen multi-pump
- The future
- Summary
Just a reminder that today is the day that Billy Joe McCallister jumped off the Tallahatchie bridge. Sorry — I can’t help myself!
Today we look at the multi-pump pneumatic. Growing up in America this was perhaps the most coveted airgun a kid could have. And the Sheridan Blue Streak was the most coveted of all. We were unaware of the Sheridan Model A — the multi-pump we now call the Supergrade. The Blue Streak was the pinnacle, as far as we were concerned.
Sheridan Blue Streak. This one has been with BB since 1978.
BB’s Sheridan Supergrade is an older model with early features. Thanks to ATF sealant it now shoots as fast as any Supergrade ever made.
History
What I’m about to tell you comes from a one-time look at a multi-pump airgun (don’t know if the barrel was rifled, but probably not) that reader Larry Hannusch once showed me. As I recall, the exterior of the gun was brass and a shroud around the barrel held the compressed air. The butt plate was actually a place to rest your foot while you pumped the entire gun up and down many times. The gun hasn’t been fired to my knowledge in recent history, but it was probably on the low end of what a big bore PCP was capable of in the mid to late 1700s. Perhaps 400-450 f.p.s. for a .40? caliber ball? All of this is just my best guess from having seen the gun one time many years ago.
If there was one such airgun I’m sure there were others. But that is the only one of which I am aware.
My knowledge of multi pumps really starts with the St. Louis Air Rifle Company in 1899. They made a multi-pump single shot BB gun that had a wooden barrel! Actually there was a thin brass liner inside the wood. The valve was simple to the extreme. A rubber tube held back the compressed air. The trigger was a spring-loaded clamp that pinched the tube shut until it was pulled. The compressed air was then released. The faster the trigger was pulled the better the release.
St. Louis airgun of 1899.
Model maker Russ Snyder made 12 perfect replicas of this airgun around 1997 and I owned one for a time. As I recall the velocity was around 200 f.p.s. with a steel BB.
Walter Benjamin acquired the St. Louis Air Gun company around 1901/2 and began selling guns as Benjamins from that point on. He was proud that his guns only used air and “… had not a spring about them.” According to his literature they were the only true airguns made in the U.S.
In the early part of the century his rifles graduated quickly through several lettered models. Up until model G they required the quick pull of the trigger to exhaust the air fast enough for the shot. After that the valve was modernized into what we expect today. A pull releases a striker that knocks open the valve for the shot.
Benjamin Automatic (model 600)
The Benjamin Automatic was a 25-shot BB repeater than held enough air for two or three quick shots. All you did was pull the trigger and the gun fired. It came on the market in 1928 (some say 1930) and lasted for a few years, but was never as successful as the single shot models. I believe it confused shooters who didn’t understand the relationship between the air remaining and the possibility of a shot.
Benjamin 700
The Benjamin 700 came out in 1930 and was also a 25-shot BB repeater, but it had a bolt action that gave shooters time to pause and consider where they were with air. It also got several shots per fill and I tested that for you in this blog.
Crosman comes on the scene
Around 1923 the Crosman Seed Company brought a unique multi-pump air rifle to market. Like the Benjamins of the time it was a front pumper, meaning that the pump rod came out the front of the gun. If you read my report on the Benjamin 700 you’ll discover that you need very few pump strokes with such a mechanism, because each one pumps so much air. The downside is front pumpers are hard to fill — very hard!
The Benjamin 700 was a front pumper.
I stuck the picture of the Benjamin in here to show what a front pumper looks like. Crosman recognized right away that wasn’t the way to go and in 1924 they came out with their underlever pumper that soon became the .22-caliber model 101 and the .177-caliber model 100. Benjamin followed suit many years later but by then Crosman has zoomed ahead and Benjamin never caught up.
Discussion
Let’s stop and consider the guns we are talking about. They are all multi-pumps which means you can put in a variable number of pumps to vary to power of the shot. That has always been the multi-pump’s claim to fame.
Are they powerful? Not that much. The .20s and .22s can get up to around 14 foot pounds and that’s where they top out. The Japanese company Sharp made multi-pumps that topped 20 foot-pounds, but their triggers became harder to pull the more air they held. However, they did know what to do about it. My sidelever Sharp Ace Standard Target has a trigger than is measured in ounces regardless of how much it’s pumped.
Sharp Ace Standard Target.
Air Venturi Seneca Aspen multi-pump
The Seneca Aspen multi-pump is a PCP that has a pump built into the airgun! What that means is you can fill it from a tank or you can pump it up yourself. This is exactly what the easy-chair engineers have been designing in their dreams for years. Then FX came along with their Independence that does exactly that and everybody changed their tune to —“I would buy one, if only it wasn’t $1,600!” Well, this one isn’t.
Seneca Aspen multi-pump PCP.
I tested not one but two of those air rifles for you and they came through quite well. The multi-pump part works, as does the PCP part.
The future
What am I suggesting today? I’m telling you that the world of multi-pumps still has lots of room for advancement. Airgun designers haven’t begun to incorporate all the things the market says they want, but maybe that’s for a good reason. You see — multi-pump pneumatic users are extremely conservative. They will tell you all sorts of things they want, but getting them to open their wallets is a different matter. The Crosman 362 and the Seneca Dragonfly Mark 2 are the exceptions to the rule — brave excursions into a world of tight money and stubborn shooters.
Summary
If I’m right about the mid to late 1700s date for the first multi-pump this is an airgun design that’s 275 years old. Yet it has seemed to advance in spurts, then hunker down for some time.
Where should it go from here?
B.B.
The pump pneumatic is best served as a 10M gun.
The Sheridan was to hard to pump up to get any real power as a kid. Leave it as a Single Stroke Pneumatic, where it is best served. Nobody wants tto sweat while they are shooting, at least I don’t. How many pinched fingers do you have?
-Y
BB,
We still make a front stroke multi pump rifle in my country. If I recall correctly about 80 pumps will give you an 18 gr. .22 pellet travelling around 650 fps for 4 shots before it starts going down and peters out by the 7th shot. Hard to pump in the field because you have to find a flat rock to pump it against. That last stroke comes up to about 70 kilos considering it’s a single stage pump like you find for bicycles. All the numbers above are from my rememberer when I did the measurements way back about 6 years ago.
Well they have already addressed with the new Dragonfly the additional linkage to decrease the work done to pump the rifle. Maybe some manufacturer might revisit the Sharp Ace and incorporate the trigger and valve mechanism so that the trigger doesn’t become harder the more you pump? In this Golden Age of Airguns I hope the accurate barrel becomes the norm instead of an outlier.
Siraniko
PS Section Summary last sentence: “When (Where) should it go from here?”
Siraniko,
Fixed it. Thanks,
BB
B.B.,
I grew up coveting a Sheridan Blue Streak or, barring that, at least a Benjamin. This was because I was a Boy Scout with a subscription to “Boy’s Life” magazine, which always had advertisements for those air rifles. My father told me about the front-pumping Benjamin my gtrandfather had and then sold many years before I was born. He used it for indoor mousing. I remember that I never actually personally saw a Sheridan or Benjamin until I was seventeen and there was one hanging up on the wall of a fancy knife and sword store at the mall called “United Cutlery.” The huge Bowie knives and swords were nice to look at, but the Sheridan glittered on the wall like a diamond. There are Americans my age who still think of the Sheridan Blue Streak as the most powerful air rifle of them all, capable of embedding a pellet deep into a 2×4.
Coincidentally, another famous Walter Benjamin (pronounced “ben-yah-meen”) was a German philosopher and esoteric theoretical literary and culteral critic in the early 20th Century. He was all the rage when I was in grad school. I presonally find the multipump air guns much more interesting than Benjamin’s Arcades Project writings on urban culture in the mechanized world!
Michael
Michael,
I subscribed to “Boy’s Life” too and coveted the Blue Streak. I got one when I returned from Germany in 1977, at the age of 30.
BB
BB
Got mine a year or so ago from Marc around Raccine. Easily groups inside an inch even with original open sights. Pellets are scarce now so it gets just a few shots at a time. Made a nice addition to my rotation.
Deck
Michael and B.B.,
Yes, those “Boy’s Life” ads for the Sheridan had me drooling and yearning for that rifle till my Dad finally got me one. I am really liking my new Crosman 362, and I can’t wait for the delivery of my Dragonfly Mark2, but the Sheridan will always be special to me, as it was my first airgun. According to this chart on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Products) it was made in 1974. The Williams peep sight (for which I paid the Sheridan factory the whopping sum of $12.40) was added a few years later. She’s got some miles on her, but I still love her, and she still shoots great. 🙂
Blessings to you both,
dave
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=it+was+the+third+of+june&view=detail&mid=AAA08DDCF0AB3627B1B5AAA08DDCF0AB3627B1B5&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dit%2bwas%2bthe%2bthird%2bof%2bjune%26cvid%3d54930c714f0f4ca580cb62a33331f66d%26aqs%3dedge.0.0j69i57j0l7.5717j0j1%26pglt%3d297%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dLCTS
Basil,
There you go! 🙂
BB
I had a crush on Ms Gentry in the late 60’s but near constant AM radio airplay of that song placed it on my list of ‘I’m sick of hearing that’.
Too much of a good thing might lead some to wanna jump off a bridge…
I have jumped off bridges, but never due to musical saturation. I remember my first car radio with station presets. What a god sent technology. I remember some of my trigger list- Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’, Tom Jones’ ‘What’s New, Pussy Cat’, a handful of the Beatles’ most insipid hits…..
BB,
Multi-pumps are nice – I have a long history with with a Crosman 101 and several of their pistols but I see them being in an awkward niche.
The 101 was much more powerful than the springers we had but the multiple pumps per shot was a big drawback for plinking and a nuisance when hunting. There were many times that I missed a running cottontail only to have it stop at the sound of the shot, then sit there watching me do the “funky-chicken” pumping only to run off as I was loading a pellet – most frustrating!
Before the advent of PCPs, I always wished for a multi-pump, multi-shot airgun. That probably explains my fondness for PCPs – even if I had to wait 45 years for them to come to market.
My Crosman 101 still works but it’s retired now. I enjoy plinking with my Benjamin 392 – for nostalgia reasons and a bit of exercise 🙂 Find the rhythm of pumping and shooting to be relaxing.
Happy Friday all!
Hank
“I enjoy plinking with my Benjamin 392 – for nostalgia reasons and a bit of exercise”
Hank, ditto with my Sheridan for the same reasons. 🙂
“Find the rhythm of pumping and shooting to be relaxing.”
And I agree with that as well; as I believe B;B. once mentioned, shooting one of these is akin to shooting a muzzleloader; it’s just a nice relaxed form of shooting. 🙂
Cheers,
dave
I own a Blue Streak and a Silver Streak, both with Williams peep sights. Both are accurate keepers – and as Michael and others said, Boy’s Life and the privileged kid in the next block created a deep seated urge to have this treasure. But I am also impressed (as I know others are) with my new Crosman 362. I think Ed has created a new classic with this gun. There may be more sophisticated competitors, but I think this one is good enough and will be customized and improved over time.. Pumping these is a bit tiresome, but also ritualistic and brings back a certain feeling of “power” as you work the lever. About two years ago, I broke down and bought an older Daisy Model 25 from Baker Airguns. Picking it up, cocking, and pulling that trigger brought back a strong positive memory..
JerryC,
I’m with you on the Sheridan and the Crosman 362; set up as your two are, my Sheridan is an old classic; yet the 362 is growing on me; it’s a bit lighter to carry, and a bit easier to pump; also, as you can see in the pic, they maximized the sight radius on the 362…smart move. 🙂
Happy shooting to you,
dave
I’ll say it again for the good of the order: it would be great if the multi-pump technology could be advanced with a silent pump–no more click-wheeze-CLACK! And while I’m on my soap box, how about an anti-“mouse trap” feature–no.more blood blisters. Add an integrally silenced, tack-driving barrel. And a great trigger. Asking too much? By golly, it is 2022!
I am intrigued by the Seneca Aspen, the Dragonfly Mark II, and the Sharp Ace. My imagination is combining them into a trim, under 8 lb, Dragonfly Mark III that could be pumped up before a hunt and would hold enough air for 4 or 5 (or one magazine’s worth of) regulated shots before needing to be “reloaded.” Too much to ask? How much?
Roamin Greco,
Your points are all good ones. For a time there were customized Benjamins that would provide a few shots on one pumping session.
And regarding triggers, while Benjamin triggers are a bit creepy, my Sheridan trigger is light-medium in pull weight and crisp. My Sheridan is from the Racine era and is therefore not essentially a Benjamin in .20, so I can’t comment on the Crosman-made ones.
Michael
Roaming Greco
100% agree with you. This concept could sell.
RG and Bill,
What do you think the Seneca Aspen is? Read BB’s reviews. Your so called air rifle is here. What are you guys waiting for?
RidgeRunner, I thought that both the Seneca Aspen and the FX Independence are unreliable airguns, as far as their onboard pumps are concerned. Am I wrong?
hihihi,
I have no clue myself. I looked at the FX many years ago and figured it was way overpriced for what I saw. I have not seen the Aspen up close, that is why I referred to the Wizard’s blogs.
I have my MP. For me to buy another, it would have to be built at least as well as the Sharp.
R.R.
A 362 with another valve setup might do what I have in mind. That would be 3 consecutive shots in the 6 fpe area after maximum allowed pumps. The Aspen is too long, too heavy and too bulky next to the 362. Besides I don’t know how reliable it is over the years but the FX models with the external pump have a real issue in this section and they are very complex for repairing.
RG
Read my comment below.
Always surprising and interesting, Gunfun1. As usual, Gunfun won!
RG
Don’t know about winning. It was something I wanted. It wasn’t available so I put it together.. the hardest part really was cutting the stock in half and routing out the front fore arm part of it to make the pump handle.
I’m talking about the Disco 77 below I posted the picture of.
You’re a winner in my book, Gunfun1 (one/won–play on words).
RG
A note. The number 1 in Gunfun1 doesn’t mean Gunfun1 won. It means it’s just a name. Maybe I should drop the number 1 off of my user name. Wouldn’t bother me any kind of way. The 1 just means he likes having fun with guns.
Oh heck with it. You know what I’m doing right now.? Having fun with guns. 🙂
B.B. and anyone
Regarding multi pumps how do you think a four pump Webley Alecto should be stored? One pump or not?
Bill, maybe I am qualified to answer your question, because I come under “..anyone” and this is what I “..think..” (ie not experience/knowledge based but theoretical):
I think that, if the internals of a pumper are kept at a higher air pressure than the outside air pressure, then dust and dirt can’t get inside. And storing the airgun with one pump does that without putting much strain on the seals. Apparently just a single little grain of something can be enough to let air past a seal.
Bill,
Always store with one pump UNLESS that also cocks the gun and it cannot be uncocked. If that’s the case, store empty.
BB
I am afraid the multi-pump will continue to be a niche market. There are a few who will pay up to a certain amount for a decent MP. I did. I bought a non-functional Crosman 101. It looks pretty good right now, but still does not work. I have a rebuild kit for it and one day I may get it going.
What I would like to see is a very well made MP that is super accurate. It is also a single shot. Seriously. How many of you guys are going to hope your quarry sits still while you do the “funky-chicken”? Other than the occasional pesting or plinking, I am afraid the realm of the MP is doomed to what you see now. It can be refined, but at what cost? What are the armchair engineers willing to pay?
I will bet you that one of these industrious fellas here will take a new Crosman 362 and build it into something worth having. Steel breech, long barrel, walnut stock… It will be a one of a kind and will be a demonstration of where one can go, but the majority will balk at the price tag. There are those already those whining about the 362 not having a metal breech.
BB,
Off subject quite a bit. Back in 2010, you acquired a Webley Junior. You started testing it, but bemoaned it was of such low power. You disassembled it, but all looked fine with the exception of the transfer port seal and you did not take it any further.
Well, now to 2022. A Junior has moved into RRHFWA. Mine would not shoot a pellet out of the end of the barrel, no matter how many times it was cocked and fired. I disassembled it, replaced the very crooked spring with a new one and soaked the piston seal and breech seal for a couple of days in silicon oil.
I have not chronied it yet or tested the accuracy or lack thereof, but it will most definitely send a pellet down range now. It is a nice little pistol.
Do you still have the Junior? I have a new spare breech and piston seal if you need one.
P.S. I like that Sharp. That is where someone needs to try to take the new MPs. It will not sell many, but there will be a few.
” I like that Sharp. That is where someone needs to try to take the new MPs. It will not sell many, but there will be a few.”
RidgeRunner, I heartily concur with you on that; there will be a few, and I’m one of those few. LOL! 🙂
Dave,
I could see it myself. Like I said, it would have to be extremely well made to get my attention. I say that because I have a Crosman 101. A manufacturer could make one, but the financial return would be quite prohibitive. I could see a “one of” or “proof of concept”, but not mass production. Like the Webley Paradigm, it is now an evolutionary dead end.
Yes, you’re right; it would be like a semi-custom gun, and pricey; yet if the quality was there, I’d get one. 🙂
Dave,
Check out what GF1 did. It would not take much to upgrade his MP. There is hope for us. Crosman could do that,
They have the parts already.
If we are lucky, Ed will read this and give Crosman a push. 😉
“If we are lucky, Ed will read this and give Crosman a push. ”
RidgeRunner, I hope so; that would be great!
The gun I put together below I did talk with Crosman about building it. BB was a bit involved with it too. I was hoping Crosman would build it with the Discovery wood stock. But then came the 362. I was totally happy with the 362.when it came out. Yes a wood stock and steel breech with the dovetails would be nice.
My 362 does have a steel breech and a Williams adjustable rear notch sight. I’ll post a picture below by the Disco 77 I made. If my 362 didn’t have the steel breech it wouldn’t be able to wear that rear sight or a scope or dot sight and so on. The Crosman steel breech in my opinion should of been mandatory. But hey, at least the 362 is modular.
Dave
Me too on Sharp.
Deck
Deck,
Yes, I think RidgeRunner is onto something here; the “Sharp 2.0” is a rifle that should exist. 🙂
Here’s to hoping,
dave
P.S. {Shakesperian aside to airgun design engineers: “C’mon guys! You can do it; just as the Dragonfly Mark2 grew from the modified Benjamin 392, the ‘Sharp 2.0’ is just waiting for one of you clever engineers to make it a reality!”}
Deck,
Reply to your post /blog/2022/06/a-short-history-of-the-multi-pump-pneumatic-airgun/#comment-490391
Looking at the Pyramyd AIR site /product/seneca-dragonfly-mk2-multi-pump-air-rifle?m=5170 it looks like it will be in on 6/13 but it depends on how many they will get in to how many preorders have been placed.
If you have the coin and want it I would say place your order now.
Mike
RR
Where did the replacement spring come from?
Here.
https://www.airgunspares.com/home
They have a lot of parts for many of these old UK airguns.
RR
Thanks for the link.
I may have to get me one of these things. Imagine, me getting a Gamo.
/product/gamo-arrow-multi-shot-pcp-air-rifle?m=5540#11227
“You see — multi-pump pneumatic users are extremely conservative. They will tell you all sorts of things they want, but getting them to open their wallets is a different matter. The Crosman 362 and the Seneca Dragonfly Mark 2 are the exceptions to the rule — brave excursions into a world of tight money and stubborn shooters.”
Fellow airgunners,
B.B. is right on the money with these comments, especially this part:
“multi-pump pneumatic users are extremely conservative.”
Yep, that’s me to a “T”! Hahaha!
I did cough up the money for both the Dragonfly Mark2 (still awaiting delivery on that one) and the Crosman 362. I really like the 362 a lot, and I’m sure I’ll feel the same way about the Mark2. And here is the great thing about this blog; I bought them both due to reports and commentary I read here.
My small stable of multi-pump pneumatics is growing…all I need now is for some clever engineer to read what B.B. and RidgeRunner had to say about the Sharp, then to go out and design the “Sharp 2.0″…I am already ready to buy it! Hahaha! 🙂
Blessings to all, and happy shooting to you,
dave
I guess I may like multi-pumps, I have about 10 rifles, 3 pistols converted to rifles and one or two pistols. I like that all you need is the gun and pellets. Most of them are lightweight and well balanced.
When I was a kid the fact that you got one shot before doing the funky chicken made me become a better shot and hunter.
If I could only have one pellet gun it would be a multi-pump.
Don
Ok here goes old Gunfun1 again.
It is what it is. Multi pumps are classic. Then and now.
RG all the things you mentioned above is what makes multi pump air guns what they are. Classics now and back then.
To me the 362 is a big leap forward compared to some of the older pumpers.
Now the 362 is modular. That is a big thing. People start exploring the things that will bolt on a 362 they might be surprised.
What I would like is some nice walnut and laminate stocks for the 362 and other of the Crosman Benjamin pumpers.
Here is a old 1322/77 that I built with a old Benjamin Discovery.
I was hoping the 362 would be like it.
All in all I’m totally happy with 362. But a wood stock and a steel breech would be a welcomed upgrade from the factory. A nice factory Marauder rifle trigger assembly could be next. Or maybe a Maximus or Challenger barrel.
GF1,
That is really an awesome little MP! I would really like to have one of those, most especially in .177!
This is a step closer to the “Sharp 2.0” Dave and I have been discussing. The Discovery/Maximus bed is a superb beginning for what I personally would like to see.
I think that Dave is going to be very happy with that Dragonfly. I myself can see all kinds of possibilities there. LW barrel, walnut stock, etc.
RR
Yep and you could swap out the long Discovery or Maximus barrel and still use a factory 1322 or 77 barrel on the gun I put together..
And up above I said I would post a picture of my 362 with the steel breech and Williams rear notch sight that PA sells. Oh and notice how far forward I have it mounted. I did that so the rear notch would match the front post sight better. It has the opposite problem of the front being to big. There was area of the front post that showed light on each side of the notch so I slid the rear sight as far forward as I could on the steel breech dovetail to minimize that airgap I’ll. call it. And just to say at 5 pumps my 362 with the sight set up is a accurate pumper out at 35 yards. And not to say 35 yards is the maximum because I can repeadidly hit cans at 50 yards with it off-hand. 35 and in its nice lite weight pesting and plinking gun.
Here is the rear sight link from PA.
/product/crosman-williams-rear-sight-notched-blade-elevation-windage-adj-3-8?a=2008
RR
Forgot to say. I’m going to get a Dragonfly II. I like the scissor pump. If the 362 came out with that it would of been a big surprise.
Like I said I’m getting one of the scissor pumpers. What I’m going to watch for is how durable they will be. Maybe thats why Crosman backed out of that. Back in the older times and now.
As it goes. Time Will Tell.
GF1
Do you know if any Dragonfly 2’s have been delivered yet?
Deck
Deck
No idea but hopefully we will know soon.
GF1,
I think they are more concerned with litigation. That may be what happened to that hand pump they were experimenting with. Too many pinch points.
I am glad to hear about your pumper experiments. When you do get the Dragonfly, maybe you should consider a LW polygon barrel.
“I think that Dave is going to be very happy with that Dragonfly”
RR, I surely hope so! 🙂
Dave
Hope you like it. I want to order one but waiting for it to be available.
Gunfun1, I’ll post something here about the Dragonfly Mark2, just as soon as I have it in hand, and get a scope on it, and have something to say. 😉
Dave
Post here but also post on the current days blog incase I miss seeing it for some reason.
“Post here but also post on the current days blog incase I miss seeing it for some reason.”
Gunfun1, will do! 🙂
Dave
Guess I should post my comment here from today’s 6/18/2022 blog.
“Gunfun1 June 18, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Dave
Got mine today. The Dragonfly 2.
A long silence here. Where to begin. First off I’m not BB so I’m going to compare. And with what. But of course the Crosman 362.
Right off the 362 is it. The Dragonfly 2 pump system is not easy. It’s hard to break loose from the closed position. The swing open is long. The effort to open is not even easy.. I already see the pump handle not aligning with the gun stock. The 362 is more precise to open and close. The 362 is easier to open and pump and close.
The gun almost is a go back but I’m gong to keep it.
Next it got accurate after I figured out what was going on. The front post sight was moving side to side. There is 2 knurled pieces up there.on the muzzle end. The knurled piece closest to the front sight post was loose. Before tightening I could move the front sight side to side about a 1/16th of a inch. No more movement after tightening up the knurled piece. Now I’m getting 1/2″ groups at 25 yards.
And of course I’m going to scope the Dragonfly 2. And that knurled piece I talked about that holds the front sight in place. Well it needs to be tight even if you use a scope. It will allow the barrel to move if not tight also.
Out of the box the only thing I see better for the Dragonfly 2 compared to the 362 is it has dovetails to mount a sight like a scope and such. And that could even be a problem with the Dragonfly 2. The way the rear sight is mounted and not much room on the breech for scope mounting.
Going to put a red dot sight or scope on it tomorrow before the kids come over. Not sure which yet. Probably a scope.
But I’m going to say this before tomorrow. The Dragonfly 2 is not a kids gun. It’s too hard to manipulate the pumping of the gun. More so than the 392’s I have had.
More to come is all I can say for now.
Reply
Gunfun1 June 18, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Here is some more of the to come.
Was shooting the Dragonfly 2 now and when I was pumping the gun I was bumping the rear sight around. It’s not solid at all in windage and elevation.
Got to get a dot sight or scope on it.”
Thanks Dave and there was no place to reply to your comment below so it posted here.
RR
Yes with the butterfly pump.
And will have to see how the Dragonfly II goes when I get one.
And thanks about the pumper experiments.
Gunfun1, as you requested, I am posting this comment that I made on B.B.’s 6/17/2002 report here as well:
The lighter side of the Dark Side
Greetings Fellow Airgunners,
Today, I promised to work on my wife’s truck; but a mysterious package from PA showed up.
Hence, I had to take a bit of time to test my new Dragonfly Mark2 Air Rifle!
It’s well over 100 with the heat index, so I just did a quick test: for 5, 10, and 15 pumps, I got 583 fps (10.1 fpe), 673 fps (13.5 fpe), and 699 fps (14.55 fpe) with the JSB 13.43 grain .22 pellets. Using the same 5, 10, and 15 pumps with the H&N FTT 1.4.66 grain pellets yielded 564 fps (10.34 fpe), 640 fps (13.32 fpe), and 674 fps (14.77 fpe.
Considering that this gun’s not even broken in, I am well-pleased!
Especially nice is that it was no harder to put in 15 pumps than it was to put in 5; this gun is crazy-easy to pump; basically, it’s giving me Sheridan power, but without the associated muscle to get it…exactly what I wanted!
My first shot, at only 20 feet, hit the “hornet” on the can of hornet spray; and at just 5 pumps, the pellet exited the back of the can as well. Even with the big glowy thing on the front sight, I was able to plink down a row of cans on the 15-yard range. Tomorrow, I shall dig out my scope mounts from RidgeRunner, and find the old 4X UTG scope, and see how easy this rifle is to pump with a scope in place, as well as see what kind of accuracy she has. 🙂
Wishing a blessed Father’s Day to all Dads,
dave