13th Annual Toys That Shoot Airgun Show Findlay, Ohio 2018

The 13th annual Toys That Shoot Airgun Show happened this morning in Findlay, Ohio.  There were incredible deals EVERYWHERE.  I managed to buy a couple air pistols and another 20 or so tins of pellets.  Had a great time as usual.  Here's a bunch of pics.  Enjoy!

2018 13th Annual Findlay Ohio Toys that Shoot Airgun Show

SATURDAY, APRIL 14  2018

FINDLAY, OHIO

DOORS OPEN AT 9AM

Here's the link for more info:

https://www.flagcitytoysthatshoot.com/

Precharged, spring piston, single stroke, multi-stroke, pellet, BB, big bore, ammo, cap guns, sling shots, vintage, modern, old, new, hunting, plinking, target, and especially fun--this show has it all. 

A Simple Cocking Aid for the Predom Lucznik Pistol

Several years ago, Nick made a cocking handle for his Predom air pistol.  I wanted to make something for mine, but other projects were taking precedence at the time and it was simply forgotten. Shooting my Predom a few nights ago brought the project back to memory and to the top of the project que.

Some inspection of the pistol revealed that the muzzle was deeply recessed--over two inches--and the barrel was counterbored to about 0.265" in diameter. 

I found a 1-3/8" diameter aluminum ball for a machine handle in the McMaster--Carr catalog.   























 The ball and a 2" long 5/16" shoulder bolt completed the parts list.

The ball and bolt both have 1/4-20 threads. 

Cut the head off the bolt...

And turned down the 5/16" diameter to about 0.262" to fit into the end of the counterbore.

Did it in sections--keeping the overhand to a minimum--then polished it with a piece of maroon scotchbrite.





 

















Heat blued the shaft, then threaded it to the ball with some medium strength Loctite.

Cheap, quick and no more hand pain.

More soon...

AR-15 Stock Adapter for a Crosman 22XX -- Part 2

The Crosman project for my wife continued to evolve over the last few weeks.

















I replaced the short 2250 forend with a longer forend from a Benjamin Marauder pistol.  Cut down a 24" Crosman 2260 barrel to 20" and made a carbon fiber muzzle brake.  The grips were also updated to the newest style from Crosman's P1377 pistol. 






















Mounted a UTG hand stop.  A long #8-32 screw holds the hand stop as well as anchors the front of the forend to the barrel band.

This is an AR-15 accessory designed for the KeyMod rail.  The radii don't match, with a gap between the hand stop and the forend, so no modification to either part was necessary. 

Turned a press fit plug from acetal to fill the unused pressure gauge hole.   It actually doesn't look so bad in person.  Think the diameter ended up at 1.025".

A UTG 11mm to Picatinny adapter carries the theme.  I was pushing for a UTG 4-16X scope, but my wife thought it was getting a bit heavy.  A Crosman labeled 3x9 with AO is lighter and should provide all the magnification a CO2 rifle really needs.

MFT stock fully shortened.




















And extended.

We'll need to get some range time before taking it much further.  I'm still debating whether or not to convert it to .177.  I expect that might give a flatter trajectory and a bit more range for those tin cans.

Thanks for checking in.

Zebrawood Grips for a Crosman 22XX

I found a set of well-figured zebrawood grips on eBay a few weeks ago for about $30 shipped.  The finger grooves weren't particularly well defined, nor did the fit look all that seamless to the grip frame.  But the price was right and they appeared to have enough material to work with, so I bought them.  Looked at it as an opportunity to spend only a little more money than the lumber alone and be finished in an afternoon.  

No "before" pics.  Imagine blocky grips with finger grooves not quite fully realized.  They weren't terrible--they just didn't look finished.

After about two hours of screwing around in the garage, this is what I had:

I re-profiled the grips to better fit the frame, deepened the grooves and softened some edges.

A little sanding and they were presentable.  Arrow Wood Finish was rubbed into the grips each day for several days in a row.  Two minutes spent oiling each day, tops. 

Thanks for checking in.  More soon.

AR-15 Stock Adapter for a Crosman 22XX -- Part 1

My wife has been nursing a shoulder injury for several months now. So when we found ourselves about to leave on a vacation that allowed for some airgun shooting, I knew I had to figure something out for her.  Spring piston guns were definitely out.  Single or multi-stroke pneumatics were likewise off the table.  I didn't want to pack the extra gear for a PCP, nor could she handle the weight of our Marauder with her damaged labrum.   Figured a CO2 gun would be the best combination of light, easy to cock and easy to shoot. 

Threw together a Crosman 2250 with an airsoft-level AR-15 M4 collapsible stock and an inexpensive 3-9X Crosman scope.  It was a weird sort of "Frankenstein" gun made up of various airgun cadaver parts that were laying around.  I'd changed it to a .20 caliber to match the ammo selection of the HW97 and R1 we were also taking.  Over the course of the vacation, the Crosman was shot by both of us to the tune of about 300 shots.  Spending that kind of time with it made us appreciate the one-finger cocking, adjustable stock and overall lightweight package.  The range, though, was a bit hampered by the short barrel and we both wanted a bit more quality than the cheap stock had to offer.   After returning home, a plan started to formulate for an upgraded version.






























I ordered up a Mission First Tactical lightweight stock and a mil-spec AR-15 buffer tube extension.

In a weird twist for this blog, I don't think I'm going to show any actual machining pictures this time around.   But I'll walk it through.  I cut the threads off the end of the AR buffer tube.  An unmolested, mil-spec tube is on the bottom for comparison.

Drilled a hole in the bottom.

Then I turned an adapter on the lathe from a piece of 1" diameter pre-heat treated 4140 steel, and drilled and tapped some holes.  

This replaces the gas tube's end plug in the Crosman.

Rebuilt the gun using a rifle length gas tube from a Crosman 2260.  A slightly longer barrel (in .22 cal this time) was also installed. 

Buffer tube slides over the adapter and a single screw solidly locks it in place.  Any AR-15 collapsible stock will now fit.







Stock installs over the buffer tube and has six length positions.























The MFT stock has provisions for a QD sling swivel.  Probably come up with a forward sling mounting point in the near future.  For now, a single-point sling will be fine.

Doubt the red dot sight will stay.   It gives up too much compared to the scope that my wife likes to use to hit those aluminum cans and spinners at 35+ yards.  Also doubt it will remain a .22 caliber.   I find myself wanting a longer forend as well.   So, it's quickly come a long way, but it's still a work in progress.

Thanks for checking in.