2016 SHOT Show: Crosman Benjamin Pioneer Airbow

[tootall]

One of the really intriguing itens seen at Media Day and SHOT is the Benjamin Pioneer Airbow.

It is based loosely on the Crosman Bulldog magnum air rifle. (Benjamin, Sheridan, and Crosman used to be separate companies. Benjamin and Sheridan combined years ago, then Crosman bought up both. The names still live on, but are under the Crosman banner.)
The Crosman Bulldog is a bullpup style PCP airgun that fires a 145 grain .357 cal bullet!
It needs a 36" barrel to develop suffient velocity, hence the bullpup design.

The brand new Benjy Pioneer Airbow is similar in style to the Bulldog, with some important differences.
The barrel is replaced with a long thin hollow tube. A special arrow is then slid down over this tube.
The special arrows need to be open at the rear end in order to slip over the tube, but as no bowstring is used, this is no problem.

The claimed velocity is ~450 fps.
For a gun, this is not very impressive, but is is wildly fast for an arrow!
And it is accurate as well. During the day, at least two "Robin Hoods" (one arrow impaled into the back of another) were shot.

More info here:
http://www.crosman.com/connect/introducing-the-benjamin-pioneer-airbow/

Buddy bottle shown also.

Bulldog, on which the Pioneer is based.

Crosman's Chip Hunnicutt

 

[Slowbalt]

Canadian availability?

 

[9mmGunGuy]

Should be non-restricted, right? Maybe you don't even need a license?

 

[ceriksson]

What is the sound/noise like when firing? Similar to an airgun or louder?

 

[chisholm]

Interesting... Should be interesting to see what provinces will allow it for hunting, if they allow it, and during what seasons it can be used.

 

[plinker 777]

What happens if you were to aim down when loaded, like in a tree stand? If the deer were under your stand would the arrow fall out like an undersized round ball without a patch in a smooth bore ML?

 

[neoconfection]

Should be non-restricted, right? Maybe you don't even need a license?

If it's below 495FPS, it's an unrestricted firearm, so you won't need a license.

 

[kevin g]

Wowsers, that's awesome !!

....maybe I WON'T have to get a crossbow to be hip. This thing should do the trick nicely !!

 

[ceriksson]

I take it you load it by sliding the arrow up the rear? That way it doesn't bugger up the fletching.

 

[Daver_II]

cool.

 

[ceriksson]

I take it you load it by sliding the arrow up the rear? That way it doesn't bugger up the fletching.

Apparently not actually. Found this video

 

[David L]

Wow. Can we Hunt big game here with it? Will it be considered in the bow classification or air gun?

 

[fenceline]

How long until some one puts an arrow through there head looking at the air gauge on the front of the cylinder? Any bets?

 

[H Wally]

I can see the RCMP disliking this and prohibiting it, but I like it in design. The air gauge being somewhere other than at the muzzle would be nice.

 

[fenceline]

I can see the RCMP disliking this and prohibiting it....

And how pray tell would they do that?

Full auto? Nope

Converted from full auto? Nope

Variant of a prohibited firearm? Nope

Easily made full auto? Nope

Bullpup stock? Nope, integrated into the design.

Shoots under 500 fps... not regulated by the Firearms Act, so prohibited doesn't come into play.

 

[Aries-]

And how pray tell would they do that?

Full auto? Nope

Converted from full auto? Nope

Variant of a prohibited firearm? Nope

Easily made full auto? Nope

Bullpup stock? Nope, integrated into the design.

Shoots under 500 fps... not regulated by the Firearms Act, so prohibited doesn't come into play.

Blow gun

 

[gdawg]

Coming to an action flick soon

 

[fenceline]

Blow gun

I'd be curious to see where you'd be blowing into it for it to fire.

 

[Scruffie]

One of those will go very nicely with my collection Mr. D. Gotta little extra room in your suitcase? Know your having a great time, but try not to Drool too much on all the exhibitors cool looking hardware.

 

[Gatehouse]

Interesting... Should be interesting to see what provinces will allow it for hunting, if they allow it, and during what seasons it can be used.

It would be legal in the BC general season. Not legal in bow season.