Looking for opinions on Drozd Blackbird

CZ Shooter

CZ Shooter

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Hi folks.
Never posted in airgun forum before.
I will soon be in posession of the Drozd Blackbird with aftermarket chip, full auto capability and integrated hopper, that takes about 900-ish pelets.
It also comes with couple of big paintball Co2 tanks, hoses and fittings (not sure about the exact numerical capacity size as I don't play paintball...assuming these are some standard size).

Is there anything I should be looking out for with these?
The seller told me to use non copper coated pellets, so the barrel doesn't get fauled up.
I never heard anyone saying this in refference to Co2 guns before.

Could anyone offer any words of wisdom as far as the Drozd maintenance is concerned..etc

I'm not new to guns, but Im new to air guns.
Any advice would be aprecciated.
Thank you.
 
I have a Drozd for the last 20 years and another dozen airguns. It works flawlessly. Correct that copper plated BB's will jam up the gun or fowl the barrel up. Stick to Daisy or better Umarex brand.

Cheers
Moe
 
First mod that should be done is the BB centering within the mag valve head. It prevents BBs pinging against the inside rim of the barrel chamber and causing a barrel failure. You can also order replacement heads that are already done for you. Second mod would be to convert it to HPA and remove the CO2 filter. Your shot consistency and accuracy will improve dramatically without any issues from CO2 freezing up the gun. Mason Dawson has an excellent Youtube channel that talks about all of that stuff and will help you out greatly. There are all kinds of parts and mods you can do with the gun but remember to keep in mind that it has to stay under a certain velocity/energy level in order to stay legal. It is an excellent gun that will last more then a lifetime of shooting without issues.
 
Moe said:
I have a Drozd for the last 20 years and another dozen airguns. It works flawlessly. Correct that copper plated BB's will jam up the gun or fowl the barrel up. Stick to Daisy or better Umarex brand.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Thank you...I have to admit, I have never seen non-plated pellets before, but then again I had never really looked.
Where would be the best place to pick up some of the non-plated variety...does Canadian Tire carry those or do they have to be special ordered?
 
I haven't seen non-plated pellets before either but then again I haven't been specifically on the lookout.

I have learned just recently that some Canadian Tires are pretty well stocked with guns and ammo. None of the ones by me are.

Some of our sponsors have pellets for sale, and a variety. Maybe try these out and see if they carry any.


https://www.gotenda.com/product-category/firearms/airguns/ammopellets/

https://www.nordicmarksman.com/AMMUNITION-177.html

https://ellwoodepps.com/catalogsear...&limit=100&order=relevance&q=pellets&x=0&y=0]

https://tillsonburggunshop.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=170_184

https://www.bullseyenorth.com/ammunition-airguns-pellets-bb

https://store.prophetriver.com/air-gun/
 
You can pick up Daisy and Umarex BB's at any reputable hardware store or sporting shop.

They will cause far less trouble than copper plated ones.

Cheers
Moe
 
Moe said:
You can pick up Daisy and Umarex BB's at any reputable hardware store or sporting shop.

They will cause far less trouble than copper plated ones.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Thank you....I will try Crappy Tire first, then maybe Sail or Home Hardware.

Love your sig btw....I'm pretty sure you also heard of Vasili Arkhipov, the Soviet submariner whom saved the world at the height of the Cuban missile crisis? (if not, dead man's secrets has an episode on him).
 
CZ Shooter said:
Thank you...I have to admit, I have never seen non-plated pellets before, but then again I had never really looked.
Where would be the best place to pick up some of the non-plated variety...does Canadian Tire carry those or do they have to be special ordered?
Click to expand...

FYI pellets are different than BBs. A Drozd will not work with pellets, only the .177 steel BBs.

Hopefully you live close to a place that can fill C02? Because they can be air hogs. I had a blackbird and ran it on HPA, emptied that tank fast.
 
CZ Shooter said:
Thank you....I will try Crappy Tire first, then maybe Sail or Home Hardware.

Love your sig btw....I'm pretty sure you also heard of Vasili Arkhipov, the Soviet submariner whom saved the world at the height of the Cuban missile crisis? (if not, dead man's secrets has an episode on him).
Click to expand...

Yes Vasili, Stanislav, and many others on both sides of the cold war were instrumental in ensuring we exist today. There is probably 20-30 similar cases throughout history. We have been lucky many times.

Cheers
Moe
 
OkayShooter said:
FYI pellets are different than BBs. A Drozd will not work with pellets, only the .177 steel BBs.

Hopefully you live close to a place that can fill C02? Because they can be air hogs. I had a blackbird and ran it on HPA, emptied that tank fast.
Click to expand...

Good to know...177 is the same as 4.5..correct?

I was told that I can get them filled at any place that sells paintball...but that is a good point, I better start making some phone calls.
 
CZ Shooter said:
Good to know...177 is the same as 4.5..correct?

I was told that I can get them filled at any place that sells paintball...but that is a good point, I better start making some phone calls.
Click to expand...

Yes 4.5mm is the same as .177. You would want ones that are silver in colour. Some hardware stores fill C02 as well.
 
OkayShooter said:
Yes 4.5mm is the same as .177. You would want ones that are silver in colour. Some hardware stores fill C02 as well.
Click to expand...

Ok found a place near me that does the CO2 fills and found a place that sells steel bb's with no coating.
BUT
From what I recall, the seller told me that the barrel is rifled...now just about every info out there cautions against using steel bb's in a rifled barrel.

As far as I'm aware, the Blackbird is available in both smoothbore and rifled barrels.
So I thought that maybe the Blackbird is some rare case that does allow for steel bb's to be used through their rifling..until I found this:

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/08/the-drozd-a-co2-submachine-gun/

It is explicitely bolded out about half way down the page, that the Drozd should be only using lead pellets:

"To keep your gun working smoothly, use nothing but lead balls in your gun."

I know that the article applies to the first generation Drozd, but knowing the Russian efficiency and knowing that they had no reason to develop a new barrel design for the second gen, it completelly contradicts everything that I was able to find out thus far..

What em I missing here?
 
CZ Shooter said:
Ok found a place near me that does the CO2 fills and found a place that sells steel bb's with no coating.
BUT
From what I recall, the seller told me that the barrel is rifled...now just about every info out there cautions against using steel bb's in a rifled barrel.

As far as I'm aware, the Blackbird is available in both smoothbore and rifled barrels.
So I thought that maybe the Blackbird is some rare case that does allow for steel bb's to be used through their rifling..until I found this:

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/08/the-drozd-a-co2-submachine-gun/

It is explicitely bolded out about half way down the page, that the Drozd should be only using lead pellets:

"To keep your gun working smoothly, use nothing but lead balls in your gun."

I know that the article applies to the first generation Drozd, but knowing the Russian efficiency and knowing that they had no reason to develop a new barrel design for the second gen, it completelly contradicts everything that I was able to find out thus far..

What em I missing here?
Click to expand...

Again, stop calling them pellets ( Airgun world is different than PB/Shotgun ) In the airgun world a pellet is a bullet looking projectile ( seen below ) BB is a round ball. Drozd does NOT use pellets, only BBs. You goto any store and ask for pellets. You are going to get these.

Range_Right_Marksman_Pellet_1.77_Domed_2.jpg

All steel BB have a coating on them, to keep them smooth and from rusting. Unless you get the lead only, or frangible.

Direct from the Drozd manual. No where does it say use lead BBs only. PA is just their opinion, and note the placed advertising. They want you to buy from their store.

Use steel BBs for your airgun. Never reuse BBs. The use of any other kind of ammunition
can cause injury to you or damage to your airgun
Click to expand...

And the EAA manual, just says use 4.5mm/.177 BBs ( Nothing about lead only )
 

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OkayShooter said:
Again, stop calling them pellets ( Airgun world is different than PB/Shotgun ) In the airgun world a pellet is a bullet looking projectile ( seen below ) BB is a round ball. Drozd does NOT use pellets, only BBs. You goto any store and ask for pellets. You are going to get these.

View attachment 511556

All steel BB have a coating on them, to keep them smooth and from rusting. Unless you get the lead only, or frangible.

Direct from the Drozd manual. No where does it say use lead BBs only. PA is just their opinion, and note the placed advertising. They want you to buy from their store.



And the EAA manual, just says use 4.5mm/.177 BBs ( Nothing about lead only )
Click to expand...

Sorry that one slipped out...but in the rest of my post I do refer to them as BB's on numerous occasions.
Hard to make sense of things when you come across contradicting info, such as clams that steel bb's should never be used in rifled barrel and others saying that steel is just fine to use in rifled barrel.

I just want to make extra sure, that I don't hurt the bird by doing something that I'm not supposed to be doing.
Considering how rare this thing is, I'm sure you guys can aprecciate me wanting to go the extra mile in due dilligence?
 
Moe said:
Yes the zinc plating is harder than copper plating. Zinc plating is what is on Umarex and Daisy BB's.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I will then get either the zinc plated or just plain unplated.
Which type would be your choice, if you don't mind me asking?
 
Moe said:
Yes the zinc plating is harder than copper plating. Zinc plating is what is on Umarex and Daisy BB's.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I will then get either the zinc plated or just plain unplated.
Which type would be your choice, if you don't mind me asking?
 
I think the Umarex might be of higher quality but only slightly. I would not hesitate to buy the Daisy brand. I have both and found in some guns the accuracy might be slight better with Umarex but as far as reliability and smoother operation without issues both are equal. I have both and see little difference overall with the exception that the Umarex are considerably more expensive.

Cheers
Moe
 
Moe said:
I think the Umarex might be of higher quality but only slightly. I would not hesitate to buy the Daisy brand. I have both and found in some guns the accuracy might be slight better with Umarex but as far as reliability and smoother operation without issues both are equal. I have both and see little difference overall with the exception that the Umarex are considerably more expensive.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Ok got the Drozd of friday and did some shooting on the weekend.
This thing is WICKED fun!!

Pretty loud for the backyard shooting without attracting unwanted attention, so had to take it elsewhere.

The aftermarket chip allows for 3 different rates of fire once in full auto...I think the 800 rpm is the sween spot.
Hopper fits right around 1000 BB's and I ended up going with the Umarex brand.
However after firing about 2000 rounds (mostly bursts and full auto), the remote Co2 tank frozed up on me.
It came with 2 remote tanks with quick detach....now I'm thinking of converting to HPA in order to avoid the freeze.

Is there anything I need to do to the gun, or is it just plug and play while hooking into the HPA tank?
 
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