AIRGUN SNOBBISM REVENGE

Some of my earliest memories are of airguns. To be specific, they are of spring airguns made of steel and wood.

The early memories led to a lifelong snobbish attitude that put metal and wood springers on top, above all other types of airguns. Except for two target pistols, a single stroke Pardini P10 and a CO2 Tau7, all my other air guns (and there have been dozens) have been springers. Till recently that is.

Some weeks ago I was asked to present a multi stroke pneumatic rifle, the Daisy Powerline 901. I hate to admit it but over decades of presenting shotguns and airguns I had few experiences with multi stroke pneumatics. Single stroke target grade guns, yes, multi strokes very few and those were old classics like the Sheridan. The 901 is a modern air rifle made of synthetic materials. The experience was a bit of a revelation.

Initially I intended to fire a few dozen shots to test the basics. Velocity, penetration, accuracy, along with the ergonomics like trigger pull and the like.
Several hundred shots later I realised that this multi stroke pneumatic was a handy fun little air rifle. We are heading for a thousand shots now.

Yes, it can be pumped to ten strokes for maximum power. Ten strokes over a few dozen shots can be exhausting for an afternoons plinking. It can be pumped twice, with minimal effort and very quickly, for plinking at ten meters. So I limited myself to two strokes and enjoyed target practice with no hint of spring twang or recoil. No fear of dieseling, with an a rifle weighing less than two kilos (four pounds), I got to enjoy plinking in a way that rivals the thrill of using springers.

Yes, there are the inevitable drawbacks found in almost all modern factory products. The plastic, the barrel sleeve, the dinky sights, the square section synthetic pistol grip. It is easy to crticise these details. Till you compare price: less than one hundred Euro compared to several hundred for a steel and wood spring rifle.

Looking more deeply into the mechanics of multi shot pumpers I grudgingly have to agree with what was written some years ago about multi shot pneumatics being the most suitable survival and homestead air guns.

There are no complex spring mechanics involved in pumpers. The system is simple and easy to maintain, repair and renovate. Changing a few cheap “O” rings is all it takes. There is none of the complication of piston head regulation and spring stabilisation. And there being no spring to retain, the trigger work is simpler.

Inevitably someone will ask about the suitability of pneumatics for hunting (in the countries where it is allowed). At 20 meters, with six pumps of air, the 0.177 (4.5mm) pellet went through both sides of a steel soup can. I did not have a  chrony so as to give velocities in FPS. What is indisputable is that no small game skull is tougher than both sides of a soup can.

The more I use this simple air rifle the more I want to use it. The handiness, the light weight, the comfort make it a delight to shoot. You start intending to shoot a dozen shots and you go through a 200 pellet tin. Soon I will need to read the instructions on maintenance.