Pump air guns, great American classics

[North Country Gal]

Although we have a safe full of very expensive and superbly accurate European air guns, we also have a safe full of classic American pump up air guns. Thought it might be informative to do a spot on these air guns, because there are some notions about pump up air guns in the general shooting world that need correcting.

Benjamin 397P S Nickel, made in 1992


One of these is that because these American pumpers have always been less expensive than the European air guns, they are of lesser quality. This one is easy to dispel. My collection includes all walnut and metal Sheridan Blue Streaks and walnut stocked Benjamin pumpers, the Benjamin versions made prior to when Crosman dropped the quality level after their buyout of Benjamin. These guns don't have the fine triggers of the European guns, but they are extremely rugged and built to last, walnut stocks and metal parts, only, thank-you very much. All of mine have been purchased under $150, with the exception of one Sheridan Blue Streak, which I purchased for $200 from the original owner. Was willing to pat bit more for this one, because the owner supplied all the original paper work and invoice.

Sheridan Blue Streak, made in 1972



Perhaps the most common notion about these guns is that, again, because of their price, they are not accurate. This is also a matter of people having owned these guns and never really putting them to the test to see what they could actually do. Most owners have used these pumpers as garage or cabin guns or even small game hunting guns, but not guns to shoot for serious accuracy.

A couple summers, ago, I set out to really put these guns to the test, way out there at 35 yards and even 50 yards. Her's a sample of what pump up air guns can do. (All 5 shot groups.)

Benjamin 397P, made in 1995



Sheridan Blue Streak, peep sight, made in 1984


Yup, even that 1972 Sheridan, above, with its ultra simple open sights can shoot.



Still think you need to spend big bucks for an accurate air gun? Believe it or not, you don't even have to spend this much, but that's material for another post.

[Sir Henry]

I love my Henrys but these air guns I can shoot in my own back yard.

How would you compare shooting these against a small caliber centerfire rifle? Not about the accuracy but in what it takes to shoot these to the best. What do they have in common and what isn't?

Your shooting and knowledge continues to amaze me.

[CT_Shooter]

I have a lot to learn and you have a lot to share. Thanks, NCG. I really appreciate reading your gun reviews and explanations.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, guys. Glad you enjoyed it.

In answer to your question, shooting a rifle is still shooting a rifle, no matter what the type of rifle. The fundamentals don't change. What does change is the need to adjust some elements of the technique to suit the type of rifle.

For instance, with all airguns, follow through after the trigger break is more critical than with most guns because that pellet is moving so slowly though the barrel. Any break in concentration or focus as that very light pellet is moving down the barrel ruins the shot. On these pump guns, we're talking velocities in the 500fps to 650 fps or so. This need for excellent follow through is the first challenge a shooter new to hit guns will face. Some shooters try air gunning, not aware of this issue and get frustrated with lack of accuracy.

On the spring piston airguns that I posted about, recently, the unusual double shuffle recoil complicates the issue even more. Fortunately, on pneumatics - pump ups, single pump and PCPs, recoil is similar to what you get with a rimfire, so no special technique required to handle the recoil.

Out in the field, the very low B.C of pellets makes them hyper sensitive to wind and air currents. Out to 35 yards, a good air rifle will shoot nice groups even in a slight breeze. This is what I call prime operating range for air guns. It's that extra 15 yards out to 50 and beyond that is the killer for groups. Air guns can compete with rimfire rifles at 50 yards for group size - I have the groups to prove it - but only under perfect shooting conditions with an experienced air gun shooter. Degree of difficulty is much higher. A great air gun group at 50 is akin to a great 22 LR group 100.

I promise you, though, if you can shoot an airgun, well, it will cary over to other types of shooting.

[North Country Gal]

To illustrate what is possible at 50 yards with an airgun, this 5 shot group ties my all time best group at 50 yards with an air gun. It was shot, by the way, with the Blue HW97K that I just posted about in the other thread. I may never shoot another one this good, but, then again, I might. It's what keeps me going back for more.


These are more typical groups for the Blue HW97K, all the better for being shot on a windy day. The secret is patience and waiting for the wind to calm between gusts.

[Henry88]

Absolutely amazing shooting NCG.

In regard to your original post, and Benjamin, it's sad to read on yet another forum how (fill in the blank) guns or scopes (or whatever) were great until GIANT MEGA COMPANY bought them out, and moved the operation south, or west, or what have you............

But please, more range reports and advise

[North Country Gal]

Thank-you. Will do.

Yes, it is sad when these buyouts happen because they are so often not for the better. There are exceptions, though. One of them was the Benjamin buyout of Sheridan in the mid-70s. Rather than shut down the Sheridan plant in Racine, Wisconsin, Benjamin continued production of the Sheridans in that factory and even made their own guns, there. When Crosman bought out Benjamin-Sheridan, though, in the early 90s, they did close down the Racine plant, then moved production to the Crosman plant in N.Y.

Crosman continued to make Benjamins form left-over parts for a few years, with some internal changes added. These transitional N.Y. guns are still quite good (I have one). When the left-over parts ran out in the mid-90s, though, Crosman did the usual Crosman thing and cheapened the Benjamin and Sheridan pumps. The Crosman-ized Benjamins and Sheridans can still be good shooters, but they typically take some work to get it done for lack of quality control and cheapened parts. That's why the vintage Racine made Sheridans and Benjamins are so desirable. Old familiar story with gun company buyouts.

[Les]

NCG, thank you so much for all the information about these wonderful rifles. It sounds like you have quite a collection of airguns.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks for answering my question. I've practiced with the Red Ryder in the backyard. This offhand work has helped me at the range.

[North Country Gal]

You're welcome, guys.

Yes, we have more air rifles than cartridge rifles by quite a wide margin, both in terms of numbers and dollars invested. The air rifles scratch my rifle shooting itch very nicely.

While we do have a nice collection of air pistols (and I will do posts on them at some point), when it comes to burning powder, I am addicted to handgun shooting and handguns of all kinds. Has always been that way for me, but even more so now that we have more time to shoot. Made a lot of range trips to our club range this year, and I actually only shot a rifle, once.

One of the reasons (out of many reasons) I joined this forum was to maybe balance out my shooting with more lever rifle action and maybe a Henry or two. We'll see.