2026: Year of the Pumper

[PapaT]

Backstory: During 2025 I found that of all of the powerplants available, I find the most peace and joy with Pumpers, single or multi. So, the urge came to me to declare 2026 "The Year of the Pumper". My plan is to add to my Pumper collection with a "new" gun each month to spend some time, focus, and testing on. At the end of the year/beginning of next year perhaps I will even rank them.

Current collection, coming into the year, is: 100th Anniversary Crosman 362; 100th Anniversary Crosman Legacy 1000; Daisy 880; Daisy 840; Beeman P17; Umarex Strike Point; (Benjamin 397P lives at my house, and access to standard 362 and 1322)

First question for the crowd, what kind of testing usage would you be interested or otherwise think good for standardizing my battery on each gun?

Second, what is your favorite pumper? Or most curious about? I will probably drop the list I am currently pulling from into the comments, but I haven't even come close to finalizing the list of shalls.

 

[Dogowski]

Nice set of rifles brother! Pistols too.

 

[PapaT]

Nice set of rifles brother! Pistols too.

Thank you, they did the job of making me fall in love with pumpers very well.

 

[FL22]

@PapaT I remember you saying something about a blue streak, but I saw a silver streak at AOA used. I think they had two blue streaks, but they were sold.

 

[PapaT]

@PapaT I remember you saying something about a blue streak, but I saw a silver streak at AOA used. I think they had two blue streaks, but they were sold.

Thanks for the tip. I had a previous offer for 392 and blue streak, going to see if they are still available soon. Next month will be my classic gal hunt/focus. Less classic, but I suspect that finding a wood Dragonfly available is going to be my real struggle.

 

[dunz]

I suspect that finding a wood Dragonfly available is going to be my real struggle.

Came across the following and thought of you

Seneca Dragonfly Multi-Pump .177

Seneca Dragonfly Mk2 Multi-Pump Air Rifle .177 Caliber (4.5mm) - 9 Round Magazine and Single Shot Tray

www.newenglandairguns.com

 

[PapaT]

Came across the following and thought of you

Seneca Dragonfly Multi-Pump .177

Seneca Dragonfly Mk2 Multi-Pump Air Rifle .177 Caliber (4.5mm) - 9 Round Magazine and Single Shot Tray

www.newenglandairguns.com

Oooo, thank you! I missed this when I was on their website just the other day.

 

[Dogowski]

Came across the following and thought of you

Seneca Dragonfly Multi-Pump .177

Seneca Dragonfly Mk2 Multi-Pump Air Rifle .177 Caliber (4.5mm) - 9 Round Magazine and Single Shot Tray

www.newenglandairguns.com

Only 200 bucks! Christmas spending still got us all down money wise.

 

[dunz]

Well, I've been on the look out for a quality pumper and after seeing the wood-stock Dragonfly I couldn't stop thinking about it and ordered one. Unfortunately, just 20 minutes later, I received an email stating it was unavailable.

Since I’m not a fan of synthetic stocks, my hunt for a wood-stock pumper continues. Hope your search goes better.

Spoiler: Email

As a heads up. We are out of the Wood stock version of the Dragonfly MK2. We currently only have the Synthetic stock available. There was a mistake on receiving. Also we are out of the Particular moose targets you have purchased. Let us know if there is another target you would like instead. Or we can place it on special order for you. Please let us know how you would like to proceed ASAP

Many thanks
Lou and The NEAG Team.

 

[PapaT]

Well, I've been on the look out for a quality pumper and after seeing the wood-stock Dragonfly I couldn't stop thinking about it and ordered one. Unfortunately, just 20 minutes later, I received an email stating it was unavailable.

Since I’m not a fan of synthetic stocks, my hunt for a wood-stock pumper continues. Hope your search goes better.

Sorry to hear it didn't pan out. I currently have my 362 100th Anniversary, and a 397 that lives at my house. I have, and will, be buying several synthetic stock versions, but I am not willing to settle on the Dragonfly. Good luck to us both.

 

[PapaT]

January: Crosman M4-177

Weight: 3lbs 9.4oz
Dimensions:
- 7.25" High (9.25" with sights installed)
- 30.5" with 10" LOP (minimum)
- 34⅞" with 13¼" LOP (maximum)
- I am calling LOP end of buttstock to trigger, if this is wrong I stand ready for upgrade

The gun comes in 2 configuration options. The version I purchased has removable front and rear sights, sight adjustment tool, and a single magazine. There is also a kit version that comes with removable front sight, removable carry handle rear sight, sight adjustment tool, and 3 magazines.

The front sight is adjustable for yardage with the included tool. As a reminder, when adjusting a front sight you adjust in the opposite direction you need your shot to move. Clockwise rotation raises the sight, and counter-clockwise to lower. The rear sight is adjustable for windage, and the opposite side of the tool is supposed to be able to accomplish it. Plastic versus a stiff metal screw does not do well however, and so I now make my adjustments with my edc multi-tool.

The gun comes with a faux magazine that stores the sight adjustment tool and can hold 2 pellet magazines. The magazines are 5 shot, loaded from the back, and are deep so that even a long pellet would fit. After fully inserting a magazine into one of its slots, I need my multi-tool to remove it again. However, all of the slots prevent rattling noises which is nice.

First round of accuracy:
- 10 yards, indoor, about 60°F, front rest, 5 shot groups, factory irons. *Crosman Domed data is skewed because I have no idea where 2 of the shots went.

I was going to do velocity per pump from 2-10 pumps, and 10 shot velocity stability at 5 pumps, but my Natechrony has abandoned me. After the first 2 shots, it began restarting with every shot instead of recording. But you can see the results for the 2 pump shot and 3 pump shot with 7.9gr CPHP. Anyway, more testing and usage to come!

Papa T

 

[PapaT]

I've been slacking y'all. I will have February (Crosman 130) and March (Crosman Vapor Max) gun data soon. Both have me very happy, for different reasons.

 

[OhoPlinker]

Love my M4-177s! It's a battle between them and the 362s.

 

[PapaT]

Love my M4-177s! It's a battle between them and the 362s.

You have multiple of both? I saw you are contemplating a 3rd 362.

 

[OhoPlinker]

You have multiple of both? I saw you are contemplating a 3rd 362.

There are people who don't?!?!?

 

[PapaT]

There are people who don't?!?!?

I have one of each.

 

[OhoPlinker]

I have one of each.

1 scoped, 1 "iron" sights. And for many models, need a 3rd with receiver sight. Or a red dot as well as scope.

 

[VMC]

I too have a long running affection for pumpers. I began shooting them as a young teen back in the 1960s with a Binjamin 342. I now have a 1971 Sheridan rescued from junk shop that I resealed with Mac1 seals and adjustable pump piston that hits 690fps on 8 pumps. That is my favorite and they took $35 as it did not hold air and needed a refinish job. I also like to put them together from collected parts as these three latest ones. Top two are built on 2200 tubes. The bottom one is built on a 362 tube. I inlet the stocks from shaped blanks with my router table on bottom two. I used a 342 stock on the top one. All have flat-top pistons/valves.

 

[PapaT]

Long live the Pumper. And that is some fantastic work on the custom built pumpers, they look great. Great steal of a deal on the Streak.


I shall make my February and March write ups this weekend. And I started my initial shots with my April gun today.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

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