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Jaxom · Senior Member

Okay....without getting a planned ebay sale done, I came into some cash ($250). I'd really like to add to my rather small collection of air rifles. Especially since I could really use a better grade of working/hunting gun.

Since I don't want to end up with another piece of junk, I'm going to stick with basically two different weapons. Both are excellent and highly reguarded pieces.

The first gun actually has two different options. And that is the Crossman 2300 custom rifle.

Options for the rifle are:

1)14.6" crosman barrel in .22 cal.
2)no site (I'd buy a barrel break from joe)
3)no scope (could use suggestions for ceterpoint or such)
4)Black trigger shoe
5)Camo Stock

Total: $110.93 + s/h

To this I would buy Joe's bulk co2 adapter and break. Along with a good scope as recommened. (preferably one that's camo in color). I only created this one in the custom shop because I'm not sure if the adapter from the bulk are needs the stock to protect it or not. One thing I did notice is that the rifle version doesn't mention what sort of breech it comes with... <sigh>

Second option is the pistol version of the 2300

1)again with the 14.6" .22 cal barrel
2)Standard front site (would replace with joe's muzzel break)
3)long metal breech (that'll give me more options for scopes)
4)no included scope (still need a suggestion)
5)Black trigger shoe
6)plastic stock

Total: $86.88 + s/h

If I go the route of buying a 22xx, this would be my prefered choice. By adding After buying and installing Joe's bulk conversion, I could easily stuff this in a back pack. Question is, would I be putting excess pressure on the tank/mount point?

Final note about either of these first two options. In my state (Illinois) .22 caliber air rifles require an foid card. Mine's expired. Some of the mail order houses will still ship .22 caliber rifles to me. some won't. I've read just about every drop down screen I could find on the Crosman website and cannot find anything about their shipping policies. About all they do ask is if I'm over 18yrs old or not.

My next option is to just stash the money away and pretend I don't have it. Do my ebay sale along with some stuff to large to ship on craigslist as well. Adding both of those to the kitty, and buying a basic Airforce Condor that uses Co2. I can always upgrade that as budget permits.

Of these three options I'm leaning most towards the custom pistol version of the 2300. Reasoning being that it would be compact, giving me the ablity to take it into the field and using it without being blatenly obvious. Going this route heavily depends on whiether or not the Co2 tank can be used as the stock and not put excess pressure on the connection.

I do realize with $250 already in hand, and the potential to have more before I make a purchase that their is many other viable options. Most however are either break barrel or pump. Taking either into the field would in my estimation be very obvious and draw too much attention. Same goes for hunting at home. I don't think my nieghbors would be too upset if I set up a target and shot paper in my back yard, but if they were to realized I was using it as a hunting ground, this may cause to much attention. Honestly, if I had my own property, I really would concider a higher end break barrel or pump. (Benj super streak or rws 52/54 in .22 cal).

What I really need to do though, is to avoid the temptation to get up tommaro morning and run over to Sports Mart and buy the Ruger "elite" that I seen mispriced there. Just because it's $60 below suggested retail, doesn't make it a great deal. Same could be said for anything else I could buy locally, since I would be restricted solely to .177 caliber.

In the long run, what I'm looking for out of all these options is a quality gun that I can count on to consistantly put meat on the table. And one that I can do so without drawing much attention to myself.

Thanks,

Jax

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

My personal opinion is get the custom scope. It is a very good one. I got all the options so the only option I would not do is the longest barrel. It makes it feel flimsy. I shortened the barrel 6 inches and it made all the difference in the world.

yourdaddyjoe · Supporting Member

I got two extreemy different 22xx projects going on right now... & so many options... & so little money... here too...

I feel for ya brother... some decisions are tough...

cliffspot · Veteran Member

B26 tuned from Mike Mellick at Flying Dragon Airguns. Everyone I turned on to him is STOKED! Put on a Leapers scope in Accushot rings and you can't go wrong! I shot wasps at 10m with mine...tuned it myself but that was before I heard about mike's beauties! Put it this way.....look at the classifieds on the forums. How many Crosmans and RWS 34s and Daisys do you see for sale? Now how many B26's? Because they are easy to cock, good power and accurate.
http://www.airgunartisans.com/flyingdragon/
I sold mine to my cousin in Hawaii...and regret it!!! So another is on the way. Gonna put MORE effort into this one! Got a few tricks up my sleeve now! hahaha!

Jaxom · Senior Member

So, after weighing in the various options. Comparing the pro's and con's of all three. Along with a few private messages with advice from Joe about his DI system, I've decided to go with option #2.

I'll get that order out tommaro. Once I know the custom 2300 has been shipped and will be recieving it soon, I'll then order the parts that joe has suggested that I use.

Soooo, this now means I need some accesories! Woohoo! First and foremost I'm going to want a good scope for this hunting pistol. Peferably one that is camo colored, in as much I'm going to do a camo paint job on the whole thing. Having one that's already camoflaged would prevent me from mucking up the lenses and such.

For a scope mount, I've already decided on a high rise one. Joe suggested that and I like the way it looks on the examples he's posted here abouts in the forums.

Pellet wise, I'm gonna add some Premier Hollow Points to my custom order. I know, I KNOW! I'm probably going to be charged more for these via Crosman then have to pay shipping as well. But due to state regs, you don't normally see .22 pellets anywhere other then my local gun shop, or I have to drive an hour one way to BassPro shop, Gander Mountain or Cabela's. Besides, I've had some pretty good luck with these in .177 cal using the 1077.

Next I'm still debating wheither or not to get a bipod for this "pistol". With a Co2/HPA tank attached to the back and a 14.6" barrel in front, it's gonna be rather large for a being a pistol. Part of the issue is, I haven't deciced which is the best method to get game. "Walk n Stalk" or "plant n wait". What would be really nice is if I could find a bipod that can be easily removable.

Later on, I may or may not add a lazer and flashlight, but for now I just want to get this up and running for some good spring hunts once the polar express releases it's grip on my area.

Jax

Jaxom · Senior Member

I swear if I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all! Power steering pump I replaced back in October blew out. There went most of my money for my custom job!

Well, new pump is in now and I manage to save enough so I can at least order the custom pistol from Crosman. Might be a while longer before I can afford the bulk parts and other accessories.

I'm really, REALLY confused about scopes. I know I want something better then the Gamo scope I mounted on my 1077. But I don't think this pistol warrents a $300+ Leopald either. Ideally, I'd like a scope that comes in camo color, or has a camo "sock" for it. Suggestions?

kanyon · Silver Status Member

Jaxom · Senior Member

If that's not aggrivating enough. I had to rent a tool to pop the pully off the old pump. I did that last thrusday at 1pm. Returned the tool Satruday morning. I used my debit card to do this with. The rental transaction is still "pending" and the return credit isn't even showing on my online statement yet!

I wanna order the custom 2300 before anything else happens!!!

Anywho...gotta run. Have a few things I wanna sell on craigslist so I can order the bulk kit.

kanyon · Silver Status Member

Why don't yer just buy a real gun instead of pi$$ing around with one of those dam 22xx things.
Theres nothing custom about them as the parts you are buying can be bought by any one don't seem very custom to me more kit set gun.

thepaladin · Senior Member

Lost my transmission...I know how you feel.

If you are interested in co2 and get another chance..have you thought about a RWS Hammerli 850? Good all round co2 rifle...a little more money. (Sorry if I just confused things.)

Jaxom · Senior Member

Yes I know there's many many other air guns that would be much better then the 22xx's. However, shades of grey here. I'm hunting in an areas where I don't nessarily want anyone to know that I'm hunting. A custom 2300 with the 14" barrel can be easily be stuffed in a small back pack.

FYI, I do actually read EVERY post on the forums. Well, except the target shooting forum. But everything else I do read. From reading all these posts I've actually made a short list of rifles that I will eventually add to my collection as budget permits.

My "wish list" so far includes

Benj Super Streak .22

Diana RWS 34 .22

Diana RWS 52 .22

RWS Hammerli 850 .22

Crosman Tac 1 .22

Airforce Condor .22

yourdaddyjoe · Supporting Member

That RWS 34 sounds good to me... One of my customers droped in with his new one the other day and damn... very accurate. He was shooting smaller than dime size groups at 35 yards.

Then today he sends me photos of a 113 yard take down of a starling... No BS... he had a witnesses and a measuring wheel...

kanyon · Silver Status Member

Jaxom · Senior Member

I seen that evanix. If I recall right, that's the one made in England. Said something about it's limited by regulation to 5 foot pound of engergy and that you couldn't shoot it without the rear stock attached?...

$900+ seemed awfully pricey to me!

Doesn't matter anyways... after waiting 5 days for the parts store to debt then credit my account for a tool rental, I FINALLY got to place the order for the 2300KT today! Wooohoo!!! Now I gotta save for the bulk kit!

fritz · Silver Status Member

Jaxom, I noticed you said you wanted a Super Streak. I have one (.22), it's not all that accurate. The gun CAN put out some serious power though. Overall the gun isn't worth it. I have had to get new stock screws, new stock, will need to get a new spring. It's a cheap copy. If you want to get a TH stock high powered springer, get the B26. If you want to get a high powered, accurate, well made, good looking springer, get a D350 feurkraft.