Air Gun Home :: View topic

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

I was in Grimsby the other day so I called in to the local airgun dealers to get some pellets, had a chat with the guy who owned it and talked about me making silencers for him and he paying me with Crosman pistols for customising, anyway it came to nothing.

To day I found myself back in Grimsby so I called in to get some wad cutter pellets, in the shop was a young guy serving and an old fellow looking at guns, so while he was being served I just wondered around the shop browsing. The old fellow was asking the lad if he needed a licence to shoot one of the rifles hanging on the wall, no said the lad if it’s under 12 flb your ok, “ do they kick back “ said the old fellow, “some do try this one” said the lad cocking and passing the old fellow an AA pcp rifle which he shouldered and shot, “I like that no kick at all” he said.

By this time I was getting interested as to what would come next. “Now try this one” said the lad and cocked what looked like a Crosman Quest and passed it to the old fellow, who promptly shot it down the shop and replied “ Yes that has a lot more kick than the other one”

Apart from the fact that neither gun was checked to see if there was a pellet in the breach, and they were shot by pointing then down the shop, what surprise me more was dry firing a Springer, I told the lad that what he had just done was totally stupid and had possibly damaged the gun, to which he replied “it won’t hurt it” with that I left the shop and the idiot.

So anybody buying a Springer in Grimsby make sure it hasn’t been dry fired previously.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

That seems to be awfully common over here too. Bottom line is to never buy one not in a sealed package or coming from a known 'expert' airgun dealer who wouldn't be stupid enough to do such things.

It appears to me that anyone who fancies themselves a powderburner expert also believes they know all there is to know about airguns- which is obviously wrong and is starting to bother me more and more as I see the f-ups produced when some "gunsmiths" get near an airgun...

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

My uncle is a gunsmith and he is a pretty good one. I taught him everythihg I learned on here so he does know the basic rules, like never dry fire a springer, no brass or steel brushes anywhere near it unless you are using them on the outside to clean it for rebluing, etc. He can get some pretty smooth triggers with what he works with too. I can't beat his refinishing though. He can take a crosman barrel and get a mirror finish on it. And he gets some beautiful stock designs too. I want him to amke me one, but he won't so far. says theyre too complcater to inlet. lol He's just lazy.

Slavia · Moderator

Same here. When I go to local Cabela's-type retailers there are always clerks that view their employment as proof of expertise in all the shooting sports. (There are good ones too, to be sure.) They also believe that their god-like prowess grants them immunity from criticism, so I vote with my dollars.

bobtodrick · Member

About four years ago I decided to buy my then 6 year old his first airrifle. Decided to try Canadian Tire because they have a lot of inexpensive youth guns.
I asked the clerk if he had any idea which one was quietest, hoping he'd go online to check the manufacturers website.
Nope...he grabbed the nearest display mode in the cabinet, cocked it and fired it at the back wall.
He put it down and started for another when I told him not to bother.
I tried to explain how bad that was for a springer...not to mention the safety aspect and all I got in return was the good old teenage 'whatever' look.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Happens everywhere, always get a gun from an unopened box, have it opened in the shop.

Or just buy used from a trusty person. Wink