Crosman’s Icon is a new precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
This report covers:
- The test
- Sight in
- Group 1
- Group 2
- Why not the Meopta scope?
- Rotary magazine
- Summary
Today I scope the Crosman Icon and shoot it for accuracy at 25 yards.
Scope
I selected the UTG Bug Buster 3-12X32 scope, as it seemed a good match in both size and price. Of course you don’t have to spend that much on a scope but I really think that this scope compliments the Icon.
I mounted the scope in BKL one-inch low rings, and they are a model that Pyramyd AIR doesn’t stock. I only used one of the rings on the rear tube of the scope because the double strap holds the scope tight and the high magazine of the Icon gets in the way of the second mount. When you see the test results I think you’ll see that it worked.
The test
We learned in several tests that the Crosman Premier 10.5-grain dome is a very accurate pellet that this Icon likes a lot. So, why waste time with other pellets?
I shot 10-shots groups at 25 yards. I didn’t put the DonnyFL on because in Part 4 it lead to slightly larger groups. I did shoot from the 12-shot rotary magazine because of the convenience, even though in Part 4 we saw that loading single shot is a little more accurate.
There were no thrown shots in today’s test.
Sight in
I shot the first pellet at 12 feet to make sure I was on paper. Then I backed up to 10 meters and shot again. From there I adjusted the scope to the right and moved back to 25 yards.
It took two more shots at 25 yards to get into the bull. I was careful to avoid hitting the center of the bull so my aim point would be preserved, but at 25 yards on 12 power the scope is about maxed out for precision. I can see the center of the bull but not the 10-dot.
Group 1
I know from previous testing that there are about 25 good shots on a 3000 psi fill, so two groups seemed like a good idea. The first group is 10 pellets in 0.331-inches at 25 yards. That’s not bad for a rifle at this price point.
In the first group the Crosman Icon put 10 Premier Heavys into 0.331-inches at 25 yards.
Group 2
I refilled the magazine and shot again. This time ten Premier Heavys went into 0.366-inches at the same 25 yards. That’s pretty consistent.
The second time the Icon put 10 Premier Heavys into 0.366-inches.
Why not the Meopta scope?
I had planned to mount the Meopta MeoSport 3-15X 50 scope but the high rotary magazine got in the way. I’m not saying that it can’t be done, but I didn’t want to spend all the time figuring it out.
Also, the Bug Buster seems priced more reasonably for a rifle in the Icon’s class. And it fits the rifle well without taking either the front or the rear sight off.
Rotary magazine
There were no failures to feed in today’s test. I think the magazine is now broken in.
Summary
This has been an interesting test. The Crosman Icon performs very well, despite a few quirks. It’s accurate, powerful and gets a good 25 shots on a fill.
The single-shot tray has feeding issues that were discovered and addressed in Part 3. The rotary magazine is very easy to load, but does require a little break in.
The trigger isn’t crisp, but it’s something a shooter can get used to. And a couple times I thought I cocked the hammer but didn’t. When that happens, remove the magazine, cock the rifle again, close the bolt and fire. You don’t want a double feed.
The bottom line is — the Crosman Icon is a PCP that’s worth the price. If you are getting into precharged guns, put it on your list to consider.
“I selected the UTG Bug Buster 3-12X32 scope, as it seemed a good match in both size and price.”
B.B.,
Actually, I’m glad you picked that scope for this test; since they no longer make the fixed 6X version, I have been eying that BugBuster as my next scope; it certainly performed well here within my intended-range-of-use (25 yards). Thank you. 🙂
Take care & God bless,
dave
Dave,
I like the BugBusters. At first, I did not like the heavy reticles, but when you are in the woods trying to line up on a fuzzy tailed tree rat, it makes it easy to find. The Meopta scopes would be great for target shooting or long-range open ground shooting, but fine reticles do not work well in the woods. Neither does high power in your optics. I would like to get my hands on a good 4X and 6X BugBuster. The BugBuster line is perfect for sproingers. You really do not need anything more powerful, they are tough, and they are affordable. I give the BugBuster line the coveted 3R rating.
RidgeRunner,
I’m with you, man! As soon as I got my first 6X BugBuster, I liked it so much that I went to get another one, then found they were discontinued. I called the manufacturer and “cried” to them over the phone about it, but apparently, the fixed-power BugBusters were not selling as well as the variable-power BugBusters, so they dropped them. Fortunately, I found one more 6X BugBuster languishing on the shelf of a military warehouse store, and I snapped it right up. One was all they had; but if they’d had a few more, I’d have bought them, too! 🙂
“I give the BugBuster line the coveted 3R rating.” Yepl they deserve it!
Take care, good shooting to you,
dave
Funny thing, Mrs. FM asked yesterday what her Worser Half wanted for Father’s Day – you and RR may just have provided the answer to her question. 🙂
FawltyManuel, I think you’ll be very happy! 🙂
FM,
Go with the 3-12X32. You can set it to what power you like and it does not yet have that multi-colored illuminated reticle.
I personally find that I am not fiddling with the power adjustment on scopes. I usually set them in my spot, zero them and never touch it again.
TDM,
I like my 3-12×32 bugbuster, but it does fisheye quite badly at the higher magnifications. That doesn’t bother me too much since I generally use it at the lower magnifications, but there are times I wish it was clearer turned all the way up. Having said that, I do still like it. Small, light, side focus, all things I appreciate. And for the price, I can put up with the fisheye at high magnification.
CB
Hey Captain,
You might try this one out.
/product/hawke-sport-optics-hd-ir-series-2-7×32-ao-rifle-scope-illuminated-mil?a=3864
This is a nice scope. The optics put the BugBuster to shame. The only downside of this particular scope is they used to warn not to mount it on magnum sproingers. Apparently, they have fixed that issue. The only “problems” I have with it is it is longer than the BugBuster and the AO is up front. It gets the coveted 3R rating also.
Thanks, CB,
I would likely just use it at 6X, or maybe 7X, so it would likely work fine for me. 🙂
Take care,
TDM
I swapped out 2 of my bugbusters for vector veyron scopes. Ffp, and clean reticle. Just a bit more expensive.
Edw, those do look cool, and they have excellent ratings; thank you. 🙂
BB,
The Icon seems to be made for the market created by the Marketeers. Affordable price point, multi shot capability, semi-tactical stock and accurate enough. It’s a good thing for them to shift their attention from spring piston to PCPs. Hopefully somebody can change the marketeers shift also from velocity in spring pistons to accuracy. I’m not going to hold my breath though.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
There is one sproinger company that has listened. Weihrauch. Their low powered sproingers are superbly accurate. They do cost, but the quality is top shelf. I have never met a Weihrauch I did not like. No matter which model, it will have a place at RidgeRunner’s Home For Wayward Airguns.
Second that, after experiencing/enjoying the .22 HW95 for over a year. The only problem FM has with it is not shooting it enough.
I cannot say I am sold on the Icon. I could use a real accurate .177 PCP right now, but I think I will hold out for something else. An Edge maybe. I have recently acquired a whole bunch of pellets and would like to try them in something that will take a scope. I find myself sadly lacking in .177 along that line. They old gals around here do not like optics.
RR
I am quite pleased with my Gamo Urban in .22 caliber. I like the 10 shot magazine and the sweet spot starts at 2900 psi so hand pumping is okay for me. I’m getting 1/3 inch 10 shot groups at 25 yards and sometimes sub 1/4” groups. I have the hammer spring set for maximum shots per fill. All at a popular price and supposedly made in UK. Hope you find something that’s a keeper.
Deck
Deck
What is a 1/3 inch group?
GF1
0.33
Deck
Deck
Ok. Not a bad group.
Deck,
In PCP I have a .22 Maximus. Now I wish I had one in .177 also. I am seriously looking at the .177 Gamo Arrow.
RR
Except for the stock and the glowy thingy things it looks similar to the Urban.
PS: Got a .20 group at 25 yards yesterday with my Urban. That 10 shot group is my all time best with anything.
Again, hope you find something that deserves a place in your home.
Deck
Maybe I will stumble across an all original Disco in .177. That would work here.
BB,
Do you think it might be a good time for the part3 of the report “what do YOU want?”
After seeing the Crosman 362 Multi-Pump, I start to think someone is listening.
Lexi,
I’ll look into it.
BB
B.B.,
Is this a good thing? Seems that MyServivalTool.org is hijacking your blog to another site. Is this for real or is it a web hack. Let us know what you know.
Mike
Mike in Atlanta,
This blog attracts attention from small and medium-sized businesses all the time. I deal with dozens of them every week. Some get through, like you saw but I watch for them as well and block them when I find them.
BB
Thought I would mention this for the pcp people out there.
Have you had a pcp that holds air then all of a sudden it don’t.
This is something I have had happen.
When you fill the gun to the pressure you want and it’s time to release the air and unhook the fill fitting do it abruptly when you open the pressure release knob.
It seems that seal inside needs to be closed hard. If you open the release valve slow the valve doesn’t seat hard.
I have had good sealing gun’s turn into leakers because of what I just mentioned. Then release like I said and they don’t leak anymore.
How about all these things you think you know and then something else comes up to watch for.
Something like that happened to the .177 Maximus you had given me – filled it up to 2000 PSI, went outside, took a shot and then no pressure, gauge on rifle went to zero. FM was hovering between panic and calm, fortunately calm prevailed. Tried to fill rifle again – this time, pump not working. Saw the pump tube was rotating on the base and seemed loose; out came the tools, tightened everything needing tightening. Filled the rifle reservoir, it was holding air – released pump-to-rifle pressure as you said, not that FM knew what he was doing. As if by magic, everything was working as it needed to and no trouble with pump or rifle since then.
Just to be safe, very lightly oiled the pump shaft with silicone chamber oil and added a couple drops into the Maximus’ foster port – dry fired the rifle several times as well per B.B.’s recommendations, in case there was some dirt needing blowing out of the valve. FM believes this fix was due more to luck than skill but the good advice from the experts here surely had something to do with it. Remembering the advice is of course necessary.
FM
My Gauntlet did it about 2 weeks ago and I did what I said above and it’s still holding air. Then my .177 Marauder did it about 4 days ago. Did the same and it’s still holding air now too.
And to note. Both guns have never leaked before. Not even a slow leak.
Esteemed felow shooters,
RANT RANT RANT. DECLARATION!
IF you choose to continue reading and don’t like what I have to say it isn’t my fault.
You have been WARNED!
Today’s activities have driven me beyond the point of being able to hold my thoughts out of respect to the families of the dead. Read the following and notice specifically the OPINION of one Sarah Thompson, M.D.
“Hoplophobia (pronounced /ˌhɒplɵˈfoʊbiə/), from the Greek hoplon, or weapon, is defined as the “fear of firearms”[1] [2] or alternatively, an irrational fear of weapons in general, and describes a specific phobia.
Firearms instructor and writer Colonel Jeff Cooper coined the word in 1962[3] to describe a “mental disturbance characterized by irrational aversion to weapons”.[4] [5] Although not a mental health professional, Cooper employed the term as an alternative to slang terms, stating: “We read of ‘gun grabbers’ and ‘anti-gun nuts’ but these slang terms do not (explain this behavior).” Cooper attributed this behavior to an irrational fear of firearms and other forms of weaponry. He stated that “the most common manifestation of hoplophobia is the idea that instruments possess a will of their own, apart from that of their user.”
True clinical specific phobias about weapons are uncommon, and are distinct from Cooper’s usage, as actual specific phobias necessitate the patient’s recognition that their fear is unreasonable. According to psychiatrist Sarah Thompson, MD, “Col. Jeff Cooper, who coined the term “hoplophobia” to describe anti-gun people, most anti-gun people do not have true phobias. Interestingly, a person with a true phobia of guns realizes his fear is excessive or unreasonable, something most anti-gun folks will never admit.”[6]”
Today on the Mall in the District of Columbia, USA a simple shout of GUN SHOT caused CHAOS as reported and shown by the LIBERAL violence loving biased Media!
I rest my case.
shootski
Shootski,
I do agree that a lot of unwarranted media attention had been given to irrational beings. Then again the media will focus on the sensational to sell their news and their views. Although newspapers have decreased in sales the internet especially social media panders to people who think alike and have given them a forum to vent their shrill voices. They may be a minority but they have the megaphone which makes them look like a majority. I just hope and pray that rationality will return to your country soon. Your politicians tend to pander to the loudest population though.
Siraniko
“…the media will focus on the sensational to sell their news and their views.”
shootski,
To what Siraniko said, I say, “Amen!” He nailed it.
As to your Colonel Cooper quote, “the most common manifestation of hoplophobia is the idea that instruments possess a will of their own, apart from that of their user.,” well, all I can say is that I have been keeping an eye on my guns, and it appears that, unless I pick them up, they do nothing…absolutely nothing; they have no will of their own. Guns only do evil in the hands of those bent on evil; in the hands of those with good intentions, they defend our loved ones, defend our homes, defend our nation, and also provide a lot of fun backyard plinking.
I join Siraniko in his prayer, ” I just hope and pray that rationality will return to your country soon,” especially in regard to people getting some common sense about guns; in and of themselves, they are nothing but tools, and mine have hurt no one…although they have taken down quite a number of feral tin cans. 🙂
Blessings to all,
dave
It should not escape rational people’s attention that some of the worst, most egregious and unreasonable lockdowns which have taken place around the world during the unfortunate Covid pandemic, have taken place in countries where the citizens are essentially disarmed and are seen by their government minders not really as citizens, but as subjects. That is all FM will say on the subject, otherwise this could turn into a runaway train-type thread and B.B. will have to shoot it down. As FM’s good buddy and cardio doctor suggests to him often, “control yourself!”
B.B. and Readership,
To re-rail the Blog back to airguns I’ll respond to a RidgeRunner reply to a blog from a few days ago.
I have been working with my two SIGs and since I’m from the Dark Side airguns Religion I try things from my experience with PCPs. I think the SIG barrel is one of the two prime clues to the high level of accuracy for a Sporter along with the Whiskey 3 ASP Scope. The dead blow style Gas Spring and the lack of torque and vibration seems to be the other pair of clues to the 2 MOA groups out to at least 70 for the .177 and almost out to 100 with the .22 caliber. I wish the ammo supply was more stable because it makes testing really frustrating shooting to a plan with big gaps of NIS pellets and slugs (I really dislike that term) not allowing learning the pattern ,if any, of form factor: head/skirt diameter, length, Ogive, and Mass ratios. I do have one new item that will help to see if a “better” Scope will have an effect on group size.
My Father’s Day gift arrived early! A MEOPRO OPTIKA6 5-30×56 RD FFP and FX NO-LIMIT 34mm rings. The scope is intended for my AR-15 but since the SIG SSG ASP20s have PICATINNY Rails I’m going to try the scope to see if it makes a difference in my groups. I ordered a 4″ sunshade with it since I was unable to find a Killflash (ARD) in the right size and thread; I’m really glad I got the Sunshade since that 56mm Objective Lense allows a great deal of light to enter the scope from outside the usable optical axis, the scope flares at some angles, and washes out the image badly in bright Sun light at any angle I would recommend at least a 4″ (102mm) long sunshade to counteract that image degradation and resulting eyestrain.
You can use a piece of black paper and rubber band(s) on your scopes to see if a Sunshade will make a difference in your scopes performance.
I’m looking forward to running this new toy through the wringer to see if The Godfather of Airguns is correct about this line of optics.
shootski