It's really hard to tell how many readers we have of this little blog. With 100 to 600 visitors every day I would hope that a few of you out there are reading and finding it at least worth the time it takes to read these little meanderings. I'd really love to hear more of your comments, your take on the subject matter and even a few pointed questions.... or suggestions.
So this reaching out does have a motive! I really love all these air guns. I hope you do, too. I am always thinking of what needs to be better or different or improved. I just bet you fine folks do at least a bit of the same now and again. So, with that said I would like to invite YOU to share what you WISH were available but is NOT (yet).
I'll go first with a four of my dearest wishes... just to maybe get the collective synapses firing:
1. The "holy grail" part on my wish list is a metal grip frame plate (now discontinued) for less than half the price of a new gun. It is SO frustrating to me that I can plate or powder coat or polish and clear an entire frame, but there is that little triangle of black plastic to deal with.
2. I wish to have replacement options for all the Crosman plastic parts. High on that list are the pumper (including Backpacker) barrel bands. I do not like to be able to twist the barrel and tube laterally with little effort. For some reason I do not have a problem with Delrin or properly engineered 3D printed plastic (the reason being is they are not bent easily at all... are very strong... take finishes well... yet are not brittle and do not shatter or break easily). Metal is good, but the offerings out there are pretty dang pricey. The Crosman plastic bends and distorts. It Is very tough, but hardly "serious" gun worthy. That is perhaps why the metal breeches are so popular as an upgrade. I am NOT knocking Crosman for using it! I will repeat that I am amazed and thankful that Crosman makes these fine guns for so little of price. I acknowledge that if they made them all metal and wood, then the price would be much higher and we would have less fun transforming them into what we want them to be.
3. I wish for some rear sight options (besides the LPA MIM or the standard rear sight). I know there are more, but they cost MORE than the price of a new gun. The Crosman rear sight is in my opinion a superior design (albeit that non-rigid plastic). Maybe we can improve on that. I also like the rear sight to be mid-gun on the guns we put longer barrels onto. Whether LPA MIM, stock rear or other, the visual resolution is terrible when a long barrel is added and the distance between the two sights (front and rear) is lengthened without changing SOMETHING. How can I hit the spinner at 20 meters if the front blade completely covers it up? The stock Backpacker setup is pretty crude in my opinion. These guns are more accurate than the sighting allows. Maybe its just me!?
4. I wish for some inexpensive yet durable accessory mounting "helpers" that make it really easy to add a bi-pod or torch or laser to our guns without hanging metal adapters (scratch makers) all over our blued metal tubes and barrels.
That's four. Your turn.
Have fun shooting (and wishing).
So this reaching out does have a motive! I really love all these air guns. I hope you do, too. I am always thinking of what needs to be better or different or improved. I just bet you fine folks do at least a bit of the same now and again. So, with that said I would like to invite YOU to share what you WISH were available but is NOT (yet).
I'll go first with a four of my dearest wishes... just to maybe get the collective synapses firing:
1. The "holy grail" part on my wish list is a metal grip frame plate (now discontinued) for less than half the price of a new gun. It is SO frustrating to me that I can plate or powder coat or polish and clear an entire frame, but there is that little triangle of black plastic to deal with.
2. I wish to have replacement options for all the Crosman plastic parts. High on that list are the pumper (including Backpacker) barrel bands. I do not like to be able to twist the barrel and tube laterally with little effort. For some reason I do not have a problem with Delrin or properly engineered 3D printed plastic (the reason being is they are not bent easily at all... are very strong... take finishes well... yet are not brittle and do not shatter or break easily). Metal is good, but the offerings out there are pretty dang pricey. The Crosman plastic bends and distorts. It Is very tough, but hardly "serious" gun worthy. That is perhaps why the metal breeches are so popular as an upgrade. I am NOT knocking Crosman for using it! I will repeat that I am amazed and thankful that Crosman makes these fine guns for so little of price. I acknowledge that if they made them all metal and wood, then the price would be much higher and we would have less fun transforming them into what we want them to be.
3. I wish for some rear sight options (besides the LPA MIM or the standard rear sight). I know there are more, but they cost MORE than the price of a new gun. The Crosman rear sight is in my opinion a superior design (albeit that non-rigid plastic). Maybe we can improve on that. I also like the rear sight to be mid-gun on the guns we put longer barrels onto. Whether LPA MIM, stock rear or other, the visual resolution is terrible when a long barrel is added and the distance between the two sights (front and rear) is lengthened without changing SOMETHING. How can I hit the spinner at 20 meters if the front blade completely covers it up? The stock Backpacker setup is pretty crude in my opinion. These guns are more accurate than the sighting allows. Maybe its just me!?
4. I wish for some inexpensive yet durable accessory mounting "helpers" that make it really easy to add a bi-pod or torch or laser to our guns without hanging metal adapters (scratch makers) all over our blued metal tubes and barrels.
That's four. Your turn.
Have fun shooting (and wishing).