2026: Year of the Pumper

[PapaT]

PAPA T: I have a very nice wood stocked .22 cal Dragonfly with a broken fore-arm stock if you might be interested. Orv.

Mk1? I got a Mk2 a couple months ago from the used rack at AoA.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Mk2. Glad you found what you needed. Like you, I habe no love for plastic rifles.

 

[PapaT]

February: Crosman 130

Weight: 1lbs 9.8oz
Dimensions:
- 5" high
-11.75" long

The gun was produced by Crosman from 1953-1970, and was revolutionary for its time. This was the first gun that "could not be over pumped". With a new valve design, the gun would still fire even if pumped beyond the maximum. Part of the accomplishment in this design is that the trigger pull gets heavier with every pump stroke, as this is how you overcome the pressure to open the valve.

The gun comes in approximately 3 versions over history. In 1953-1954, with the first variant, the gun came walnut grips and pump handle and was not self-cocking. Starting in 1955, the pump handle went to stamped metal vice the walnut, and the gun became "self-cocking". This was achieved by the gun being cocked with the first pump. What I call the 3rd variant is when they ceased production of the gun with walnut grips, although I have not been able to find when this transition was. As you can see, my specimen is what I refer to as 2nd variant. While Crosman had no date coding/serial number system at this time, I tentatively put it in the 1955-1965 range. The model 130 and 137 were the predecessor of today's American Classic 1377/1322.

The pistol is a single-shot .22 cal. There is also a 177 model the Crosman 137. The pellet (Pell as it is listed in the owners manual) is loaded by rotating the breech cover left and then sliding back. You then load a pellet, slide the cover forward and rotate right to lock it back down. The sights are fixed, non-adjustable sights, and there is no rail for mounting an optics. There is no minimum or maximum number of pumps listed, in fact the only thing the manual lists is typically 6 pumps for 25 feet. As a reminder, the first pump cocks the gun so a personal minimum is 3.

I have not done any pellet testing yet, and as I am not great with a pistol anyway I cannot offer expertise on its accuracy. But it is an awesome and beautiful piece of Americana history, and a fun plinker for sure. I still plan to eventually pellet test this model, and perhaps some chronograph testing as well at a future date.

For more on history/my primary source on the model:

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/09/another-oldie-crosman-130/

 

[PapaT]

March: Crosman Vapor Max

Weight: 5lbs 3.8oz (scoped)
Dimensions:
40⅞" with 14.25" LOP
5" high (not including scope)

The Crosman Vapor Max was originally announced as the Gamo Vapor Max. After the Crosman buyout, the gun was rebranded under the Crosman name and finally came to market. It comes with 2 10-round magazines which help to expose its origins, as it is the same magazine as 1st Gen Gamo Swarms and the Gamo Arrow. For those who want to know such things, it is made in China and has a lightweight "composite" stock. The pump arm is metal, and it has an 11mm dovetail rail for mounting an optic. There is a fiber optic front sight, and rear Buckhorn sight adjustable for yardage and windage. The gun can be pumped from 2-10 pumps, and is rated for up to 1100 fps with alloy pellets. It is approximately 14FPE, with a heavy trigger.

Here is pellet testing results, 6 pumps, 10-shot groups, 25 yards, outdoors, 83F with steady 8mph winds. I used the 4x32 scope for my OmniStorm for pellet testing. The first group, CPHP, is a 9 shot group because I couldn't pinpoint the 10th shot. 8th group, H&N Baracuda 10.65gr pellet, is also 9 shot group due to excluding the open-breech shot.

Some final thoughts:
-The gun is extremely accurate, as I got solid grouping from the gun at 93 yards off-rest with 10 pumps using 4x32 scope. I have considered using it for HFT.
-There is flex in the stock, where it joins the breech. This is a weak point, and my original arrived broken there. I hold just above while pumping to minimize stress.
-The optic rail is too flat, and makes scope mounting difficult. I noticed that mine is starting to crack on the left side from stress of the rings. It was suggested this was due to over tightening, but it was tightened to try to keep the scope from moving when the rings/scope are touched. Some have reported success by using a pic rail adapter.
-I like the magazines for ease of 177 pellet loading, but I dislike the lack of single shot tray option.
-The pump stroke is long, as well as the gun length and LOP, making the gun less than ideal for children or small framed people.
-It is a manual safety that can only be engaged once the gun is cocked. Crosman owner manual says to cock and engage safety for storage. I prefer not cocked with safety unavailable for manipulation.

 

[PapaT]

April was Umarex NXG APX Multi-Shot, I haven't gotten to pellet test so don't want to make its post yet. May is the Sheridan Blue Streak . Also, designed and commissioned commemorative coin for the Year of the Pumper/America's 250th birthday..
Flag stripes replaced with pump rifles from my collection. Can you identify what 4 rifles? Back has standing silhouette dressed to look like colonial/revolutionary war look with pump rifle, and more modern squatted down hunter with scoped pump rifle. Maybe harder, but can you identify them? First 250 will be numbered, and then if get past that they will be unnumbered. You can buy straight from the source, and I have coordinated $1 of every coin will be donated to SAR to continue a culture of air guns for another 250 years. Long live the pumpers!

250 Years of Freedom Challenge Coin – “Year of the Pumper” – Air Gun C

A must-have collectible for Air gunners and pump rifle enthusiasts, this limited-edition “Year of the Pumper” challenge coin celebrates both American heritage and the timeless appeal of pump-powered shooting. The front design features a stylized American flag formed from long air rifles beneath...

joyfulgracestudio.myshopify.com

 

[old navy]

as a kid growing up with my daisy red ryder i thought i was in HOG Heaven when i got my benjamin 342 .22 i could get all that power and all i had to do was pump it a few times--now in later years its a little harder to pump it up,
the 342 is the main reason i got my pcp,i just wanted to shoot more than i could pump ,had to do a alcohol flush because it had been in storage, but she still shoots great, this will end up going to my grandson one day
gave it 6 pumps yesterday just to hear that power pop when she fired---old is good

 

[Jaabaa]

It's a important day, like a wedding or something
Nice thread

 

[PapaT]

as a kid growing up with my daisy red ryder i thought i was in HOG Heaven when i got my benjamin 342 .22 i could get all that power and all i had to do was pump it a few times--now in later years its a little harder to pump it up,
the 342 is the main reason i got my pcp,i just wanted to shoot more than i could pump ,had to do a alcohol flush because it had been in storage, but she still shoots great, this will end up going to my grandson one day
gave it 6 pumps yesterday just to hear that power pop when she fired---old is good

I definitely feel more resistance to the force in the old gals, but I can't feel it in me to complain. More and more I find myself grabbing one of my pumpers over pcp though. Hard to beat a can at 20 with 2-3 pumps/shot for a nice cutting session. I do like 50+ yard challenge targets at medium-max pumps just to show that pumpers ain't pea shooters.