Pistol for survival bag
- Thread starter stovepipe699
- Start date
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- Steel Town and The Peg
an 870 Marine Magnum in 12ga.
I have what's now known as the Crosman Classic in 22. Bought it back in 1992. Still shoots very well and the compression seals seem to still be holding the pumped charges. I've used it for critter control, however, your shot needs to be within 15 feet and preferably a headshot for it to effectively dispatch the critter. Anything farther away and you're more or less just flinging pebbles at it. In a couple of cases, I took some long shot and it seemed to just stun them and when I approached and started pumping to take another, the critter would scramble away.
I bought mine in 1990. Right now it needs a new seal. Over the years, it's been back for service twice, for new seals each time; I need to send it back again.
When you consider that it's 26 years old, I think that's pretty good.
Double check your hunting regs if you intend to shoot an animal with it. Here in BC it's 100% illegal, no gray area at all, if it's a handgun, you can not use it on an animal (including grouse) period.
Also check yourself .. and what you want to do as ALL airguns (pump co2 etc.) are considered firearms regardless of the 495 ft/sec threshold. So tossing one into your backpack could = concealed carry in the eyes of some LEO's and the courts would have to decide the outcome. Not a quagmire you want to willingly jump into ....
Also check yourself .. and what you want to do as ALL airguns (pump co2 etc.) are considered firearms regardless of the 495 ft/sec threshold. So tossing one into your backpack could = concealed carry in the eyes of some LEO's and the courts would have to decide the outcome. Not a quagmire you want to willingly jump into ....
I have a Webley Alecto in 22cal, so it is under 500fps, and I've shot gophers and squirrels with it out to about 15 yards. Beyond that I've never tried.
For a pack 'survival' gun, (as much as I hate to admit it), I like my Chiapa Little Badger. There are a few options for a super small 22LR rifle. One converts to a fishing rod, but I can't recall what it is or if it was junk or decent.
For a pack 'survival' gun, (as much as I hate to admit it), I like my Chiapa Little Badger. There are a few options for a super small 22LR rifle. One converts to a fishing rod, but I can't recall what it is or if it was junk or decent.
CO2 gun will be useless in temps below freezing. Also, Crosman pumps will function in cold conditions, but the seal cup gets hard and it won't build pressure pumping. One of the aftermarket flat tops with the O ring should be fine, but I've never tried it. I just know that as a kid, my 2200 and 1322 wouldn't pump. You would have to freeze your hand to warm up the tube/piston to charge the gun then it would hold. It was purely a hunting thing, not practical for plinking in cold weather.
My favorite pistol is either my HW45 in 22 or my scoped HW40 in 177.
Both would suit your needs, the 40 more so in the cold. I can knock aprecots off our tree by hitting the twigs.
Damn fine pistols for the money. Google will tell you where to find them.
Both would suit your needs, the 40 more so in the cold. I can knock aprecots off our tree by hitting the twigs.
Damn fine pistols for the money. Google will tell you where to find them.
Last edited:
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Less than $100 today on Amazon dot ca. Advertised at less than 500 fps too.
As mentioned earlier, CO2 does not work well in cold weather. The pumpers might not work super, when the seals harden up, but they will not lose the velocity like CO2 will.
Personally, I really like the 1322/Medalist multi pump pneumatic air pistol as a user for the odd squirrel and such. For the BCers, look hard at the 2250 carbine, as about the same thing, except without it ever having been a 'handgun'.
A screwdriver and hand full of spare seals, and you have an air pistol that will run for the next century or so.
Hunt around, find an older one (all metal parts), and you really have a long term using piece for the bag. If you really wanted to, you can find molds and swaging equipment for the .22 cal pellets too, making it a REALLY long term capable air gun.
Pumping one may get old fast, but when I was a kid, it sure beat the heck out of pounding money in to disposable CO2 cartridges! Having to choose between spending money on cartridges, AND pellets, or just pellets, I was a pretty firm believer in more pellets, and mostly steered clear of the CO2 guns then.
Worth knowing, Crosman has been engineering new models out of their parts bins since the beginning. Parts from models that are now made, can be used on fifty year old air guns, and vise versa. The 2250 carbine is essentially a 1322 dressed up with a longer barrel and a stock. Crosman used two basic diameters of main body tube once they moved away from the bulk CO2 charged guns. The larger diameter tube is on the 2240, and fits the 12 gram cartridges, while the smaller diameter tube is used on the 1322 and other pump gun models (like the 760 rifles) with parts fairly adaptable across the lines.
Great aftermarket parts support too, if you really wish to spend some coin, metal to replace plastic, etc., as well as some guys making big bore conversions.
Cheers
Trev
Personally, I really like the 1322/Medalist multi pump pneumatic air pistol as a user for the odd squirrel and such. For the BCers, look hard at the 2250 carbine, as about the same thing, except without it ever having been a 'handgun'.
A screwdriver and hand full of spare seals, and you have an air pistol that will run for the next century or so.
Hunt around, find an older one (all metal parts), and you really have a long term using piece for the bag. If you really wanted to, you can find molds and swaging equipment for the .22 cal pellets too, making it a REALLY long term capable air gun.
Pumping one may get old fast, but when I was a kid, it sure beat the heck out of pounding money in to disposable CO2 cartridges! Having to choose between spending money on cartridges, AND pellets, or just pellets, I was a pretty firm believer in more pellets, and mostly steered clear of the CO2 guns then.
Worth knowing, Crosman has been engineering new models out of their parts bins since the beginning. Parts from models that are now made, can be used on fifty year old air guns, and vise versa. The 2250 carbine is essentially a 1322 dressed up with a longer barrel and a stock. Crosman used two basic diameters of main body tube once they moved away from the bulk CO2 charged guns. The larger diameter tube is on the 2240, and fits the 12 gram cartridges, while the smaller diameter tube is used on the 1322 and other pump gun models (like the 760 rifles) with parts fairly adaptable across the lines.
Great aftermarket parts support too, if you really wish to spend some coin, metal to replace plastic, etc., as well as some guys making big bore conversions.
Cheers
Trev
