Meet the Crosman 1740 "Raven"

This is the pistol I have been waiting to build for a long time now. Last week the final parts I needed to complete the project arrived and I was on my way. Here is what I can tell you so far.

My initial impressions of the gun were that it was very well balanced for a pistol of its size. I was afraid it would be a bit too heavy with the long steel breech and 10" barrel, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it felt quite nice in my hand. Not too heavy or off balanced towards the front or rear at all. It actually balances quite well considering. Keep in mind that the shroud is just aluminum tube that is basically empty for the last 5" so it doesn't weigh very much on the front end. I loaded up a CO2 powerlet, fired a piercing shot and then loaded a .177cal RWS Basic wadcutter pellet into the chamber. This breech, bolt and barrel combo feeds pellets better than any gun I own. It is super smooth with no pellet hang up, which the Crosman 22XX and 13XX are notorious for. I took aim at my target and pulled the trigger slowly but deliberately and all I heard was the hammer hitting the valve stem, then the pellet hitting the target. Man, this thing is quiet! It’s perfect for my backyard shooting needs. I could shoot this thing in my bedroom and no one else in the house would hear it, it's that quiet. The trigger pull was very smooth with a crisp release at ~2lbs. I took a couple more shots at the target to get the red dot sighted in and then I shot a couple of groups. One was a 10 shot off hand group at 12 meters that I could cover with a dime. The other was a 5 shot group at 12 meters, with the gun loosely rested on a soft and somewhat shaky rest and it was no more than 1/4" ctc. There are 2 photos of the groups I shot at the end of this post. Needless to say, I was very content with the accuracy of this pistol, especially considering I was shooting my favorite cheapo wadcutter pellet. I have literally thousands of those RWS Basics on hand and all of my .177cal guns love them. They work perfect for punching paper, plinking at cans and whacking the occasional small pest if needed. I consider myself very lucky to own yet another .177cal that shoots cheap pellets, accurately.

I don't have any chrony numbers yet, but I will get around to testing all that out later. My best guess is, on low power with the hdd, I am pushing those 7.0gr pellets in the mid 500-600fps range. That is more than enough power to punch through paper and plink all day long at my 15 meter max distance backyard range. I can increase the preload on the hammer spring with the power adjuster and get more power, but at the cost of fewer shots per CO2 powerlet. I don't have a shot count per cartridge yet either, as I am still on the first one after 40+ shots. It looks like I will be getting quite a few shots per powerlet with this setup, which is what I was aiming for with the hdd, stock valve and power adjuster set on low.

I will get you guys some numbers on the fps and shot count here shortly to confirm what this setup is putting out. I can tell you that I am very happy with the results though. What matters most to me, is that it puts the pellets where I aim at the distance I shoot at. Everything else is
gravy.

I have many people to thank for helping me with this project. I couldn't have done it without you guys! I would like to thank Grant Stace the Kiwi for his incredible breech (good ol' #59) and integrated barrel band with polished stainless steel extended bolt and handle, blued steel power adjuster with his aftermarket hammer spring and delrin guide and last but not least a winged CO2 cap from him as well. All top shelf parts in form, looks and function. Grant’s parts make any gun better and that’s a fact. I would also like to thank Mike Tiehen at TKO Airguns for his 9" Stage V barrel shroud, black anodized target trigger, complete trigger kit with hardened sear and trigger pins, lightened trigger spring and delrin spring guide and the 10" .177cal Crosman barrel on which he custom crowned and polished the lead in for me. Your stuff is terrific Mike! I love the trigger and the trigger kit and it makes a huge difference in performance over the stock configuration. The shroud looks great and performs fantastic. Thanks for all the goodies that you sent me gratis! I owe you big time. I want to thank BigEd aka Ed Stack for making me a custom left handed RJ HDD for my build. He didn't have any of these made and went out of his way to custom machine me a left hander for an RJ breech. I needed the RJ breech type since Grant bores his bolt chamber to the same dimensions as the RJ Machine breeches. It works great Ed, fits like a glove. Thanks go out to Michael Chavka for the beautiful and highly functional black tactical target style grips that he custom made for me. They are coated with truck bed liner for that nice black look and superb durability that I wanted. They are extremely comfortable to shoot with and they look terrific. Lastly, I would like to thank my son Scott for buying me the Walther Top Point II 4 MOA red dot sight that is sitting on top of the gun. Great Father's day gift Scott, it works perfect.

1740 "Raven" Specs:

Crosman "2240" stock airgun purchased on the Yellow Forum Classifieds
8 1/2" long steel breech with integrated wide barrel band by Grant Stace
Polished stainless steel bolt with extended probe and bolt handle by Grant Stace
Steel power adjuster with custom hammer spring and delrin guide by Grant Stace
Winged steel CO2 cap by Grant Stace
10" Crosman .177cal barrel, both crowned and with lead in polished by Mike at TKO Airguns
9" Stage V barrel shroud with carbon fiber covering by Mike at TKO Airguns
Black anodized aluminum target trigger by Mike at TKO Airguns
Complete trigger kit including hardened steel sear and trigger pins, lightened trigger spring with delrin guide by Mike at TKO Airguns
Tactical/Target grips coated in truck bed liner by Michael Chavka
Left hand RJ HDD (hammer debounce device) by BigEd aka Ed Stack
Walther Top Point II 4MOA red dot sight
B-Square 1" medium profile rings for 3/8" or 11mm dovetail
Black allen head screw upgrade kit from Joe McAllister at MuzzleMack
Stainless steel flat head front breech screw from Jeff Schock
90 durometer urethane bolt probe o-ring from Tim McMurray at Mac1 Airguns
Stock 2240 valve and transfer port

Hope you like it, I know I sure do. Happy shooting!

1377 "UltraCarbine"

Last week I ordered myself a Delrin detachable stock from Joe McAllister at MuzzleMack. It came yesterday and I was eager to try it out so I immediately opened it and installed it on my 1377 to create what I call the 1377 "UltraCarbine".

I love it. It's extremely functional, well built, looks incredible and feels perfect! Once I had it installed I went out in the back to shoot a few rounds and I was sold. It places the red/green dot right where I need it and the LOP is perfect at 12". I was able to easily hold well under 1" at 15 yards shooting offhand without trying very hard. It just makes the gun plain comfortable to shoot. Absolutely worth the money IMO and I think it looks great. What do you think?

I got out and shot it again today and I like it even more. Seems like the more I shoot it the more I like this setup. Today I was shooting 1/2" groups offhand at 15 yards with ease. It's lightweight, compact and accurate as all get out. This gun has all stock internals aside from a Mac1 bolt with extended probe and steel handle. I have a Crosman steel breech installed to mount the Leapers red/green dot. It has a full trigger tune with TKO pins and trigger spring with guide all polished and molyed and topped off with a MountainAir trigger shoe. Makes for a very smooth crisp trigger pull at under 2 lbs. Grips and pump arm are Walnut ambi grips with Walnut super pumper arm made by Ralph Brown at RBGrips. This was the very first set of aftermarket grips I had purchased. I find the ambi grips to be very comfortable for my size hands(large). Next addition will be to replace the stock trigger blade with one from Grant Stace like I have on some of my other guns. Just waiting for him to finish the next batch.

This is the perfect little backyard hunter/target gun if you are shooting under 20 yards. If I needed more range I would get a flat top piston setup for more power. But at 15 yards, it's not necessary. This gun loves RWS Basic pellets at 7.0gr. They are perfect for close range hunting of small game and even better for punching paper and plinking at tin cans. Not to mention they are inexpensive pellets as well and all my .177 guns like them.

If you are looking for an aftermarket wire type stock for your 13XX/22XX project, I highly recommend Joe. At the time of me writing this post he's the only one making these types of stocks for sale for the Crosmans as far as I know. Get one, you won't be disappointed.

Until next time, keep on shootin'!

Lots of tinkering today

I finally got around to installing some of the goodies I have gotten for my guns in the last few months. I am extremely pleased with the way the triggers feel now with Grant's wide brass and alloy triggers installed, along with TKO trigger kits. It is a perfect combo that makes for a very smooth, light pull with no slop. The pull is somewhere under 2 lbs. now. The roller trigger is especially nice and you can certainly feel a difference in how smooth the trigger feels compared to the others. Of course the roller triggers are based on Grant's wide blade design, so you get the nice comfortable trigger surface without the need for a trigger shoe. With the TKO kit and Grant's trigger all of the slop from the stock trigger group is now gone.

These were just prototypes that he made of the roller and I think they need to go into full production now. I believe many would agree with me that these are a huge improvement over a stock Crosman 13XX/22XX trigger. I told him that I would like the roller triggers on all of my Crosmans.

I also installed the wide alloy barrel band that I got from Mr. Stace on my 2240. I must say it looks great on my gun, i'm really happy with the looks. It's also so beefy that it really does a great job of supporting the barrel/breech. Top notch airgun bling, thanks Grant!

I bought a DPH(dual power hammer) from Ken Amos at CrustyBs around Christmas that I hadn't installed yet. I put that in my 2250 today and it looks and seems to work just fine. I had no time to run it over a chrony yet to see the numbers or to get the shot count with it installed. I will have to give a more detailed review of it when i get a chance to shoot it instead of just dry fire it. You can definitely feel the seperate sear engagements for low and high power. I also like the fact that the act of cocking the hammer and opening the bolt are now decoupled. It's just easier to cock the hammer with a rear handle and it's safer as well since you don't have to cock the hammer until after you load the pellet. It is supposed to dramatically improve shot count per CO2 powerlet. This is because there is no longer hammer bounce with the DPH so it conserves air that is normally wasted when the stock hammer repeatedly bounces the valve open after you fire each shot. It should also affect the noise level, again this is because there is no more wasted CO2 from hammer bounce which creates a lot of extra "pop" so it should be quieter. It looks great and if it does what it's supposed to do then I will be very happy with the results. More to come...

Here are a few photos of the newly installed parts.

Got some good shooting time in today

My brother stopped by today and we had a nice shooting session in the backyard. He is pretty new to airguns and is still trying to figure out which kind of guns he likes to shoot the most. He's decided that out of springers, pumpers and CO2 that he likes the CO2 guns best. So, he spent most of the day shooting my 2240 "poor man's" match rifle. Before you know it, he was getting so comfortable shooting with it that he was stacking pellets. Pretty damn good for a guy who hasn't shot guns much in his lifetime.

We have my usual 12-15 yards to shoot within so, it's not too much of a challenge if you shoot rested. Offhand and sitting positions proved to be more of a challenge for such a short distance.

We spent over 3 hours slinging lead as fast as we could load and pull the trigger. Him feeding my 2240 with Beeman FTS and me slinging Beeman Bearcubs with my open sighted Crosman Quest with GTX trigger installed.

I started off with the cheap Centerpoint 4x32 scope that comes with the Quest, but after watching the POI change all over the place with each shot, coupled with the fact I couldn't get the cheap scope to focus I eventually removed the scope and just went with the open fiber optic stock sights. That is when I actually started having fun shooting the Quest. I was amazed at how tame the gun has become once it is broken in. It took about 250 rounds through it before it finally settled down and started to group really well. I found that my Quest shoots Beeman Bearcubs the best, lucky me since they are a cheapo pellet that I have tons of. I was shooting .25" groups CTC with the Quest rested at 15 yards using the stock fiber optic sights. The POI was consistent and I couldn't ask for much better from a $100 Chinese made springer.

I must say I am extremely pleased with the GTX trigger I have installed in my Quest. I bought the trigger from Skyler at PSP Airguns back when they were still selling the aftermarket parts(HDDs and GTX triggers). This one modification will make your Quest or Gamo shoot like a different gun. The stock triggers on these guns are VERY stiff at over 5lbs of pull. The GTX reduces that down to around 2lbs with a true 2 stage design. You can easily feel each stage as you slowly squeeze the trigger. First a nice easy, short pull with the 1st stage and then a slight resistance as you hit the 2nd stage. Once you hit that 2nd stage the slightest squeeze of the trigger causes the sear to let go with a feeling that can only be described as breaking glass. Very crisp and consistent each time. I really love this trigger design and the difference it makes in these cheap springers is unbelievable, you truly have to experience the difference yourself to believe how nice it is. If you have a Quest or Gamo that can use the GTX or MicroGTX trigger mod, GET IT. You don't know what you are missing out on.

Overall, it was a fun day punching paper in the backyard with family while at the same time, helping to get another person into this great sport of airgunning. I have to think I was successful in recruiting my brother into the airgun world since by the end of the session he was talking about "building his own" CO2 gun. :) I love it!

Sorry for no pics today, but we have all seen holes in paper before and I was just having too much fun shooting to be bothered snapping pictures in the middle of it all hehe.

Until next time, happy shooting!

P.S. I will be posting some new pics of my guns soon with some of the new aftermarket goodies I have purchased but haven't installed yet. That alloy roller trigger from Grant is gonna be SWEET.

My Custom Crosman 2250

Well, here it is finally in it's completed form and ready to provide many years of fun. I hope you all like the photos and the info about this gun.

Specs:

24" .22cal barrel, polished lead in and recrowned by Tim@MAC1 Airguns
12gram Boss valve with end cap bored out for extra volume by Tim Miller
Long steel breech, stainless steel bolt with extended probe and handle by Grant Stace
Polished brass extra wide barrel band by Grant Stace
Polished brass rear sight by Grant Stace
Polished brass wide trigger by Grant Stace
Stainless steel sear spring adjuster by Grant Stace
Polished brass CO2 end cap by Art Braden
Polished brass power adjuster by Art Braden
6" Ultra Black LDC by Mike Tiehen
Hammer spring guide by Roy Weid@Mountain Air
Centerpoint 3-9X44mm AO mildot scope and rings
SKS cheek riser from cheaperthandirt.com


I finally had an opportunity to shoot it for the first time today since it is finally all together, I was extremely pleased with the results. I haven't even done the poly transfer mod to it and I am getting 675-680FPS using 14.3gr CPs with the adjuster all the way in. With the adjuster turned down I get about 625FPS using 14.3gr CPs. I shot a couple of 21.1gr Beeman Kodiaks at about 570FPS. 14.6gr Beeman FTS were doing about 650FPS with max power. I imagine the poly transfer port mod will put me above the 700FPS mark with 14.3gr CPs on max power. Shot count on max power setting was about 15-17 shots, with it turned down I can get over 20.

Accuracy is excellent, I am printing about 1/2" at 20 yards without really trying too hard. I didn't take any pics of groups yet, but I will in upcoming days.

Next things to do will be a HDD for higher shot count and maybe the poly transfer port mod. Really, 680FPS is more than enough power for my range of shooting, so I may not do it. But I would like more shots though, so the HDD is a must.

This gun is definitely my favorite shooter so far. It's accurate, powerful and looks great(IMHO). I am going to have a very good time shooting this gun for many years. Thank you to all of the guys(Grant Stace, Tim McMurray, Art Braden, Roy Weid) that make the incredible parts that allow me to build such a fine gun. I couldn't do it without you guys.

Here are some photos of the completed gun in various configurations(open sights and scoped with the LDC). Also there are some shots of the chrony numbers I was getting.

Hope you enjoy, I know I do!

Happy shooting!


In it's scoped configuration:




Here it is in it's open sight configuration:






Here are the first 6 shots through the chrony with a brand new CO2 cartridge shooting 14.3gr CPs at max power:







The 7th shot I put a 21.1gr Beeman Kodiak through it at max power:


Not too shabby! :)

Here are some up to date photos of my guns

It's been a while since I have posted any updated photos of some of the changes I have made to my guns. Here are some photos I have just taken to show you some of the changes.

I took the Walnut RB grips and pumper from my 1377 carbine and put them on my 1377 pistol, then I took the set of camo grips and pumper from Rick Andres and put them on my 1377 carbine. I like the looks of this setup better and it is also more practical for my shooting needs.

A little while back I ordered an aluminum and stainless bolt handle from Roy at MountainAir for my 2240. It goes perfectly with the rest of the aluminum accent pieces I have put on the gun thus far. Much nicer than the stock Crosman bolt handle. I have a chrome trigger shoe to add as well to get rid of the blue one that came on the gun when I bought it. Notice you can see the installed HDD in the picture.

The 1377 is going to receive a new LPA mim sight from Crosman. I am just waiting for them to ship it to me(been 2 weeks). I sold the Williams Notch Blade sight I bought since it didn't work well at all with the stock front sight post. This new LPA mim should be just the ticket!

There have been no changes done as of late to my 1322 or Quest. I did purchase a stainless steel spring tensioner from Grant in NZ, but I haven't decided which gun to put it on yet.

Currently I am building myself a custom 2250 that will have a VERY nice breech, a 24" barrel with carbon fiber shroud, a power adjuster and a 12 gram Boss valve with the cap bored out for larger volume. I will probably add an HDD to it to help with excess CO2 waste. I still haven't decided on the type of stock setup I want to use yet. Once I have her all put together I will post some photos and some chrony strings and groups. This one is going to be real nice I think.

Until next time, be safe and happy shooting!

A new custom part for my 2240

I just received this nice new custom machined barrel band made by Greg Schutte at Blue Fork Design. I think it's a nice cosmetic upgrade for my 2240 match rifle. It is machined from aluminum and anodized black. This thing sure is a lot nicer than the painted, cast pot metal band that comes on the stock 2240!

Nice work Greg, thanks again.