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natenkiki2004 · New Member

Hey everyone. I did a google search and came across this forum and there seems to be a fair amount of knowledge here so I'm hoping for some advice Smile

About 2 years ago I purchased a Crossman Airmaster 77 from Walmart. It worked great and did everything I needed. Lately it's just gone downhill. This is my first bb gun and I mostly stored it upgright by the door and we had a cat that knocked it over several times (cracking the scope). I've put about 2000 bb's through it. I bought some pellgun lube and lubricate it more frequently than the manual says. This might be a no-no but I also put some lube in the bb chamber and inside the area where you put pellets (thinking if it coats everything, it will last longer).

The problem: it's not close to accurate. Lately, I've been shooting at small gophers 30 feet away and I know I've put through at least 100 bb's shooting at them and I don't have a single dead body. I might have hit 1 or 2 in the foot but they ran off. 30 feet and something that's about 4 inches long. I got frustrated and printed out some targets and shot at them 30 feet away and I found out that I could have a 3-5 (sometimes more) inch spread at that distance. I tried and tried to sight the scope, occasionally getting a shot close enough that would kill and I got frustrated again so I took the cheap scope off. Using the ironsights was better but still, even after trying to align them as per the manual, I cannot consistently hit a 4 inch target at 30 feet. I'd be more accurate and deadly just throwing the bb's at them.

I know I'm not that bad of a shot. When I first got this, I could take these little critters out at 40-50 feet while standing and using a fence as support. Now I can't take them out at 30 feet sitting with a support. I'm wondering if the cat knocking the gun over messed with the alignment inside or something. Maybe it needs a good tuneup/cleaning? I thought I would ask here for help before opening my first bb gun and breaking something.

Thanks!

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Clean the oil out of the BB chamber and wherever else you put it that the pellets sit- it will just collect dirt and gum things up in those areas.

The seals in the gun have probably deformed/dried out and if it's been knocked over a number of times, something may be out of position.

Also, and don't take this the wrong way- but using an AM77 to give gophers is bad news, it's not powerful enough to do a good job, and BBs won't kill anything but might knock a small bird out- use pellets for any sort of hunting.

natenkiki2004 · New Member

Thanks for the reply Smile

Today, it kind of hit me that doing that wasn't such a good idea as it probably does attract dirt. One thing I did was push some knotted up cotton string through the barrel with some nylon weed whacking string (how ghetto am I? :P) and a lot of the pieces came out black, I did that with about 8 pieces until I noticed the string getting less gunk on it. I didn't clean out the chamber though, I'll try and get that. I also didn't test the accuracy after cleaning the inside of the barrel, I'll see if I have time tomorrow to do that.

I'd say it's been knocked over half a dozen times. Like, set it upright on the floor with the butt touching the floor and let it fall over. That kind of knocking. Would it be a good idea to disassemble the bb gun and check for something? I've never opened one but I've seen videos on this model and it doesn't look difficult.

I do want to get pellets but the bb's have been perfectly fine for killing these things... at least when the gun was accurate. These aren't regular gophers, I heard once they're called "pocket gophers". They're about the size of a small field mouse. Still, I'm going to get pellets if I get this gun working decently again.

*EDIT*
One thing to mention, the barrel can twist about a millimeter in either direction. I don't recall it doing this when it was new but I can't remember. Does this indicate what my problem might be?

Is it worthwhile to put time into this gun or is it considered low-end? I want something accurate and since this was my first gun, the next I'll treat better. But if I can fix this one simply, I'm all for it. I'm also curious about scopes but one thing at a time Smile

AirGunEric · Site Admin

The barrel rotating is likely your entire accuracy problem- the sights keep changing position. If you are feeling ambitious, you could take it apart to see why the barrel is moving, and clean the oil out of the BB compartment.

The AM77 is not a bad gun- it is essentially the same unit as the Crosman 2100 with a different appearance- but it is by no means whatsoever "high end"- so if you try your best and cannot get it right, you won't be out much in any event- although I think you will be able to fix it without too much difficulty if you have a reasonable amount of mechanical aptitude.

natenkiki2004 · New Member

Well I took the gun apart, I think I could get it back together too. There is lube everywhere though, it's turned brown and gotten on everything. I pulled the barrel out and proceeded to do what I did yesterday; push cotton string through with some stiff nylon. I guess I used too much string and now it's stuck in the barrel -_- Inexperienced newbie mistake. I put some pellet gun oil down there so hopefully the cotton will absorb it and I'll be able to push the wad through.

Although, when looking at the barrel, I swear it's almost bent ever so slightly. Could this happen from the gun falling over? I wouldn't think that this would be enough force but... who knows.

Would it be wise to sell this gun for parts and put that funding towards a better rifle and take better care of it? I'm not seeing any parts for this gun on eBay. I'm still going to try and get the cotton wad out and reassemble the gun but I'm not sure if it's worth messing around with.

*EDIT*
Thank god for my dual action hand pump. I was able to suck enough string out to pull the rest with pliers. Small pieces of string from now on Smile

Off to reassemble the gun!

*EDIT*
Well it's all back together and seems to be working. It's dark out but I shot at some fence posts and heard that thwack of the pellet hitting wood. Tomorrow I'll see if the grouping changed at all. If this thing works decent enough, I'll be posting in the scope section Smile

natenkiki2004 · New Member

I had a chance to fire it today. It seems better but I'm wondering now about the accuracy of BB's and if they're what's causing my large spread. I'm getting decent grouping inside a 3" target. I would say 85-90% or so of my shots at 30ft could nail a soda can. I assume that most people use pellets and I'm just clueless?

Slavia · Moderator

Pellets should definitely be more accurate than BB's. BB's are a little undersized so they feed reliably, and pellets fit the bore better. That, plus the skirt at the back of the pellet drag-stabilizes its flight (like a badminton shuttlecock).

Eric is right about the barrel movement - that can throw you way off.

The Airmaster77 has a rifled barrel to spin-stabilize pellets. Shooting steel BB's through it will ding up the rifling, reducing accuracy. You might consider getting a new barrel from Crosman and then shoot only soft lead pellets through it.

natenkiki2004 · New Member

fritz · Silver Status Member

The bit of lead you will be using is nothing. Although I see your concern. There are no currently available pellets like that.

BUT... lead-free pellets, namely a bit of sharp steel in plastic sabot are available. IIRC they are also rather expensive. No idea how well they shoot.

natenkiki2004 · New Member

Looking on PyramidAir, they do have quite a large selection of lead-free pellets but they're in plastic sabot's like you said. I'd rather have neither and just stick with BB's if I had the choice. I realize I could probably shoot lead pellets all day and not contaminate my well water as long as I live but when there's a choice, I see lead as unnecessary (yea, I do realize the weight is nice). Plastic is about the same for me, I already have enough plastic bb's hanging around from my pistol before it broke. Luckily I found these:

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/H_N_Baracuda_Green_Lead_Free_177_Cal_6_48_Grains_Round_Nose_200ct/842

To me they're affordable as long as I use them for kill shots and they seem to have ok reviews.

Slavia · Moderator

Remember that you can always make a pellet trap to collect and contain lead pellets. Mine is made out of newspaper and a cardboard box. You can also use carpet scraps or plumber's putty. There are lots of cheap alternatives. You could plink/practice with lead and zero/hunt with lead-free.

fritz · Silver Status Member

I would try the Greens you gave a link to, but the price is way too high to justify it. The lower than average weight should work well in your particular rifle (due to its lower power range). In most .177 guns a 7.5-8.5gr pellet weight is optimum.

Plastic BBs are for airsoft guns.

I recommend something more like this design:
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/Skenco_Blue_Arrow_177_Cal_6_4_Grains_Pointed_Lead_Free_250ct/802

coletrain · New Member

I have the AM 77 and I dont feel it shoots BBs accurately. I only use pellets. I have a nice scope and in bright sun I can see the copper of the bb glisten sometimes on its way down range. Once I saw the BB curve in flight (only pumped it a few times). I think the rifled barrel puts a spin on the BB and sometimes the gun throws a "curve ball" I just use pellets.

And go easy on the oil bro!

under500fps · Veteran Member

I only use Crosman Wadcutter .177 7.9 grains pellets in this Remington AirMaster 77 .
And I can put all the pellets within 1/2 inch with it from 33 feet .