Airgun Depot's Airsenal News

Airgun Depot works hard at staying on the edge of what is new in the airgun world. And true to form, Airgun Depot is putting together great packages for the American shooter, featuring the newest American-made break-barrel gun on the market, the Crosman NPSS.

NPSS stands for Nitro Piston Short Stroke. Instead of a coiled spring, the powerplant of this new offering from Crosman is a nitrogen-filled gas piston. There are some advantages to this platform, so let's take a look at it, even though we don't have it in hand.

Gas-piston rifles aren't new to the market. Theoben has been offering several gas-piston guns for some time now. I've owned a few of them, and currently have one in my stable of airguns at the time of this writing. Having shot gas-piston rifles against factory-condition spring-piston rifles, I always enjoy shooting the gas-piston gun more. The recoil is different, and as a hunter, I really enjoy the ability to cock my gun and leave it cocked for extended periods of time without fear of inducing any spring fatigue to my gun's powerplant.

Gas-piston guns feature a shorter, more linear recoil in my opinion. There is no double-bounce that one experiences in a spring-piston gun, and straight from the factory, there is no comparison in the two types of guns. Sure, if you have the spring-piston gun tuned to the max, you'll have very similar firing behaviors. But the vast majority of spring-piston guns do not come from the factory in this condition, costing the owner additional funds to get the smoothness and performance that a gas-piston offers from the outset.

Looking at the new Crosman NPSS above, one can see some of the features mentioned in the product description.  There is the cut-away view of the gas-piston as the powerplant, a bull barrel, the carbon fiber stock, and an all-metal trigger group. The action is held in place with three screws, two in the forearm and one in the trigger guard area. Here is the product description for you to more closely view: (note...the NPSS will be available in both .177 and .22 caliber).

Features:
Carbon Fiber body
Nitrogen gas system
%25 quieter than other Crosman spring rifles
Centerpoint 3-9X40 Scope and one piece mount included ($85 Value)

Specifications:
Caliber: .177
Ammo Type: Pellets
Body Components: Carbon Fiber
Power Supply: Nitro Piston (Nitrogen Gas)
Overall Length: 43.875
Barrel Length:
Fire Mode: Single-Shot
Gun Weight: 6lbs 15oz
Muzzle Velocity: 1000 with Lead 1200 with Alloy
Front Sight: N/A
Rear Sight: N/A
Scope: Centerpoint 3-9x40 AO with one piece mount

Package includes:
Crosman NPSS .177 in Carbon Fiber with Nitrogen Piston, Centerpoint 3-9x40 AO and one piece mount.

A lucky few have been able to try out the new NPSS, and I read through a first-hand review of a camo-dipped NPSS. The new owner was very happy with it, and gave a very nice review of their initial impressions of the gun. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one so I can update this blog entry with an additional one after I've had the chance to play with the actual gun myself. The one I want looks like this:

Please note that these guns as they come from Airgun Depot will also feature a Centerpoint 3-9x40 scope and a one-piece mount. This is added value to a new airgun that has already garnered plenty of interest from airgunners everywhere. The current price on these guns is $324.90. I'm looking forward to getting mine....aren't you?

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am fortunate to own several airguns, and have enjoyed each one that I have decided to buy. I buy them for different reasons and purposes. Recently, I read an article on varmint hunting written by a good friend, and it made me think about the airguns I have and how they are used by me for different purposes.

At the time of this article, I have a couple of guns that I plan on keeping. Here is a list of them and why I have them. Hopefully, you will find a useful nugget of information or thought as to why you chose the airguns you did, other than "that was what was available."

Benjamin Marauder

I own serial #77 of the new Benjamin Marauder. I opted for the .22 version of this gun so that I have a wider possibility of prey that I can hunt with it. I bought if specifically for hunting, and the power level of this gun allows me to take every small game animal from rabbits and squirrels up to possum, raccoon, and groundhog-sized animals.  The adjustability of the gun helps me "tune" it for the level of power I want.....for instance, if I go on a rat hunt in an enclosed barn at night, I can turn the power down, get lots more shots, and not have to worry about filling up with air as often. But for squirrel hunting, I turn up the power a little, since I don't need as many shots available to take the limit of 6 squirrels.

Beeman R10

I like having a good, quality spring-piston gun available at all times. This one is a .177 caliber gun that I bought used on the classified adds on the internet off one of the forums. The quality and craftsmanship that went into this gun makes it a joy to shoot. It is my plinker and fun gun, doing double duty for pest control and small game hunting when I'm in the mood to use something besides a PCP. For a quiet walk through the woods, shooting at targets of opportunity like sparrows, starlings, twigs and dirt clods, and small game, there's nothing like a self-contained air gun and a pocket full of pellets. And in the event I ever get to try Field Trial competition, I feel confident this airgun would be a good candidate for the Hunter Class.

Crosman 101

Everybody needs a good pump-up gun.....and my 70-year old Crosman 101 has been refurbished and meets all the demands I have of a pump gun. Accurate with its peep sight, classic in appearance and function, it makes a great hunter/plinker/backup gun for nearly every occasion. And the history behind the gun just adds to the enjoyment for me as a shooter. My particular model was only made for one year, 1939, and is hard to find. 

QB-78

A good CO2 gun is a wonderful tool for teaching youngsters how to shoot. The power level is lower than a PCP, and the classic bolt-action method of loading and shooting that this gun features lends itself to teachable moments of gun safety and general shooting skills. A very accurate gun, this little gem has quite a following among airgun enthusiasts, and comes in several variations such as a sporter-style stock, a target stock, a thumbhole version, and various levels of trigger and barrel configuration. There are several "tuners" on the web who take this gun to some serious levels of power and reliability, and you'll find quite a few custom versions of this gun floating around out there!

Crosman 760

If you have kids, you need one of these guns. It has been made by the millions, and has brought generations of shooters into the fold. A simple, easy-to-use pump-up gun that so many kids have received as their first gun, it bring asmile to the face of a youngster who knocks over that aluminum can for the first time. Shooting BB's or pellets, it is a must have for the serious airgun owner, even if it is one of the most economical airguns to buy these days.

Diana 34

Perhaps the best selling model that RWS currently has in their selection, this classic spring-piston gun meets so many needs of the shooter that nearly everyone who shoots airguns recognizes the contributions of this gem. It features a power level that is just right for pest control, small game hunting, and plinking. It comes in the two most popular calibers, .177 and .22, and has been used for decades by airgun shooters around the world. My local police department even has one they use for pigeon control!

Now I have other guns, such as a custom .50 caliber muzzleloader that I use for big game hunting, but not everyone uses airguns to the extent I do. But for the average airgun owner/shooter, the above list is what I currently own and use often in my enjoyment of this sport of ours. If you are new to the airgun scene, take a minute or two and consider just why you are buying your airgun, and enjoy making your purchase here at Airgun Depot. They have a great selection, good service, and will strive to meet your airgun needs.

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 07:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Not only is the Benjamin Marauder a great concept, it is also a great reality! I have the fortune of owning the 77th gun made, one of the first 100, and it is a sure winner.

I opted for a .22 caliber in my Marauder, since I think it affords me a wider range of game to take. The .22 will take all the small game a .177 will, and allow you to move up to larger game with the greater energy the .22 delivers on target. And this gun certainly delivers pellets "on target". It is very accurate with Crosman Premiers and Beeman Kodiaks, but as the Premiers are cheaper, I opted to use them for most purposes. Both pellets deliver similar accuracy.

The Marauder is unique to PCP rifles in that the factory makes it very easy for the owner to "tune" the gun to their liking. With 3 separate adjustment parameters, the owner can lower or raise the flow of air into the barrel, adjust the length of the hammer strike, and the power with which the hammer strikes the valve stem. All this adjustability makes this gun a dream to own.....set your parameters, make notes of how many turns each adjustment gets, and you have a gun that one minute can be used for soft paper punching, and the next (after an adjustment or two), is ready to take live game with power and authority.

The Benjamin Marauder has the following specifications to it:

Features:
10-shot repeater with auto-indexing feature
Uses compressed air (only 2,000 psi) OR bulk-fill CO2
Internal shroud makes this a VERY quiet gun
Choked barrel delivers superior accuracy
2-stage adjustable match trigger...and the trigger is metal!
Raised aluminum breech for easier loading of 10-shot clip
Accepts 2-piece scope mount (does not come with sights)
Hardwood Monte Carlo stock with dual raised cheek pieces and checkered grip & forearm
Built-in pressure gauge
Quick-disconnect Foster fittings for fast refills

Specifications:
Max Velocity: 1000 fps
Loudness: 2-Low-Medium
Weight: 7.50 lbs
Overall Length: 43.00"
Capacity: 10 round(s)
Barrel: Rifled
Front Sight: None
Rear Sight: None
Scopeable: 11mm dovetail
Trigger adj.: Two-stage adjustable
Buttpad: Ventilated rubber
Suggested for: Small game hunting/plinking
Action: Bolt-action
Powerplant: PCP and CO2
Safety: Manual
Repeater: Yes/Multi-shot

There is a wealth of features on this gun that very few other air rifles, if any, can approach. There is quite a cottage industry on the internet of folks who take new guns from manufacturers and improve them with little add-ons, custom adjustments, etc. This air rifle comes with so many bells and whistles already there that the vast majority of folks will not need to do anything except "tune" it to their desired performance parameters.

The Marauder is filled via a quick-detach foster fitting, just as the Benjamin Discovery. You can even use the same pump if you want to. 

There is an easily accessible safety located inside the trigger guard. Right at hand, a common feature on many other guns in terms of its location, so it will be familiar to most shooters.

A handy gauge lets you know the level of pressure you are at when shooting, and allows you to fill to a desired level without guessing. 

The magazine is a 10-shot rotary magazine that has so far worked flawlessly for me. Clear instructions are included in the owner's manual, as well as tips and explanations on how to tune to a desired level of power and air consumption.

Out of the box, the Marauder delivered Crosman Premier Hollow Point Hunting Pellets down range in the mid-800's....which is plenty of power for small game hunting. I tuned mine with a few adjustments so that I gained quite a few more shots, less air consumption, and roughly the same velocity. 

On my first outing in the woods for spring squirrel season here in KY, I managed to take the daily limit (6) with just 7 shots. In fact, the first 3 squirrels fell in rapid succession, 1,2,3 within 30 seconds of each other. The bolt action loading was smooth and quick, and I shot all 3 squirrels out of the same tree. This gun can hunt, and I am really looking forward to using it for some time to come!

For the Field Trial shooter, this gun represents a wonderful addition to the sport. In .177, being as adjustable as it is, I feel certain you will be seeing quite a few of these Marauders at shooting events in the near future!

Now the good part.....this gun costs about 1/2 of what a European gun would be, only $499.00....and it's made in America! Crosman has scored once again, following the debut of their first PCP, the Discovery, with this fine addition to their PCP inventory. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you....the Benjamin Marauder!

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)