Multi-pump hunting

Jump to latest Follow Reply
airgunner53

airgunner53

Member
Jun 5, 2023
248
403
Riverside, California, USA
When I first got into this sport I started off with a daisy 880 bone stock and it was used on rats. Later on I got the idea to hunt with airguns and moded my 880 to shoot harder and faster to the point I could take out squirrels to 30 yards reliably and had taken rabbits too. I later got the p-rod and disco and never looked back at pumpers for hunting although I still love them. I realized that with a pumper I would be more precise as I only had one shot or pump it and when the pcp came into the picture shot placement was still vital however the confidence in multiple shots available reduced my accuracy at times. I've considered taking one of my highly modded pumpers and taking it hunting this coming season for the thrill but still ethical kills. I'm talking 17ftlb .177 pumper, 20ftlb .22 pumper, or .25 pumper (no fpe data yet since mods). How many people here have, or still hunt with their pumpers? What has been your success rate and what are you using?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: crittahitta, beerthief, maxtrouble and 2 others
i have a 1322 from before getting into pcp airguns. i’ve taken out many squirrels between 15-20 yards with the 1322 paired with a 20$ 4x scope.
i agree with your statement about being subconsciously forced to be more accurate with the pumper vs a pcp. i sometimes find myself missing sub 20 yard shots that i would never have missed prior to having a pcp. we are spoiled old brats.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: crittahitta, beerthief, maxtrouble and 2 others
Upvote 0
I've hunted with all my pumpers at some point. A 1377 with a disco barrel took many a squirrels. My benjamin 392 is deadly out to 40 yards with just 6 pumps. It uses a 2moa red dot and 14.3 cphp's. My latest pumper is a 1322 carbine with just a 14.5 inch barrel but has a pinned and modded valve with a flat top piston with adjustable metal pump piston. It works great when shooting inside and around my uncles barn cause it compact and easy to move around with in tight spots. I've even killed house sparrows off my wife's bird feeder with a Daisy SSP 747 using the factory sights. And I do agree, using any of my pumpers over my pcp's kinda forces me to be a better shot, cause in the back of my mind I'm thinking I only got one shot so it's gotta count .

Thx
Ray
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
airgunner53 said:
When I first got into this sport I started off with a daisy 880 bone stock and it was used on rats. Later on I got the idea to hunt with airguns and moded my 880 to shoot harder and faster to the point I could take out squirrels to 30 yards reliably and had taken rabbits too. I later got the p-rod and disco and never looked back at pumpers for hunting although I still love them. I realized that with a pumper I would be more precise as I only had one shot or pump it and when the pcp came into the picture shot placement was still vital however the confidence in multiple shots available reduced my accuracy at times. I've considered taking one of my highly modded pumpers and taking it hunting this coming season for the thrill but still ethical kills. I'm talking 17ftlb .177 pumper, 20ftlb .22 pumper, or .25 pumper (no fpe data yet since mods). How many people here have, or still hunt with their pumpers? What has been your success rate and what are you using?
Click to expand...
A number of years ago, I used a crosman 1377 for pesting. Had no problem dispatching pigeons at 30-40 yds. Then the same issue. Got into PCP and forgot about the others. Yet recently I purchased a crosman 392 to get back to the basics once in a while. Haven't used it for hunting yet, but definitely want to try.
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
Just decided to let someone else buy the Silver streak .20 @ AOA used guns , almost bought it , had it m my cart . but really do not need (want yes ) just took a Squirrel this AM with my Sheridan blue streak .20 about 75 feet 4 pumps . iron sights .
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: crittahitta and airgunner53
Upvote 0
When we were young, we hunted the neighborhood woodlots with our pumpers. Parents could almost always tell where we were because they could hear us pumping like little madmen. I bought a Webley springer when I was 15 and never hunted with a pumper again. But I still occasionally take out a chipmunk or starling with one of the two pumpers I still own. But that’s not hunting and a lot of pumping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
I agree that the pumping is the biggest issue. Have it charged for the first shot is great like a low powered pcp. The slight shake from an 8-10 vigorous pump follow up is enough to make you miss the second shot if you get one. Not to mention the pumping can scare away any additional game. Never got into springer but I figure that at that point the accuracy would be the same recoil vs pumping effort.
 
Upvote 0
Well, it's decided. I'm going to take my .177 pumper for squirrel this year. It's a tack driver at 25 yards and I will see how far it stretches. I will mod it for reduced valve volume for less pumping and optimal fps. I plan to redo the stock too.
1000004654.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steve Milbocker, beerthief, crittahitta and 1 other person
Upvote 0
airgunner53 said:
Well, it's decided. I'm going to take my .177 pumper for squirrel this year. It's a tack driver at 25 yards and I will see how far it stretches. I will mod it for reduced valve volume for less pumping and optimal fps. I plan to redo the stock too.View attachment 548808
Click to expand...
This build can launch a 7.9 grain .177 over 1000fps thanks to the huge valve volume at if i remember right 12 pumps. It's a 1400 tube modified to a hammer based valve instead of the blow off valve. Not hard to pump and extremely light. Same build as my .25 pumper. I believe the swept volume is slightly more than a 362.
 
Upvote 0
DLNE0 said:
I have a 15 year old Benjamin 392 . That produces 670's fps with 14.3 Crosman premier HP and is squirrel head accurate at 25-30 yards using a Williams aperture sight . I have a 397 set up and sighted in exactly the same it does about 100 FPS faster with Crosman 7.9 premier HP pellets
The do it with 8 pumps
Click to expand...
Nice sight set up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Back_Roads
Upvote 0
airgunner53 said:
Well, it's decided. I'm going to take my .177 pumper for squirrel this year. It's a tack driver at 25 yards and I will see how far it stretches. I will mod it for reduced valve volume for less pumping and optimal fps. I plan to redo the stock too.View attachment 548808
Click to expand...
I would lengthen the cocking handle back to the trigger if your rebuilding .
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
airgunner53 said:
Well, it's decided. I'm going to take my .177 pumper for squirrel this year. It's a tack driver at 25 yards and I will see how far it stretches. I will mod it for reduced valve volume for less pumping and optimal fps. I plan to redo the stock too.View attachment 548808
Click to expand...
super nice build. Wonder how hard it would be to source these parts to build one like it? How hard was it to get the valve and breech to mount onto the 1400
Thx pressure tube?
Ray
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
The older variant 140 will not work with a hammer with cocking pin and would need a rear cocking nob hammer like the old 1377 which I used in my 1425, or a completely and newly designed hammer. The 1400 late variant is fully closed in the back and needs to be inlet for the hammer pin guide but you only get one chance to mill/grind it right. The front and rear of the 14xx is longer than a 13xx and needs to be trimmed down. Use the 1400 front half with a 13xx rear for the valve. Line up mark drill and tap the breech 4/48 screw. If using a pistol grip drill the front grip hole larger for the 14xx larger front valve bolt as it is larger than the 13xx valve screw hole. Fabricate or buy a front barrel band. Other than those mods the transfer port and rear breech mounting bolt line up.

Or... start with a 362 and add all the mods to it including the flat top piston. I've yet to dig into my 362 but all the parts are ready for the chopping block to include the longer barrel.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ray1377
Upvote 0
airgunner53 said:
The older variant 140 will not work with a hammer with cocking pin and would need a rear cocking nob hammer like the old 1377 which I used in my 1425, or a completely and newly designed hammer. The 1400 late variant is fully closed in the back and needs to be inlet for the hammer pin guide but you only get one chance to mill/grind it right. The front and rear of the 14xx is longer than a 13xx and needs to be trimmed down. Use the 1400 front half with a 13xx rear for the valve. Line up mark drill and tap the breech 4/48 screw. If using a pistol grip drill the front grip hole larger for the 14xx larger front valve bolt as it is larger than the 13xx valve screw hole. Fabricate or buy a front barrel band. Other than those mods the transfer port and rear breech mounting bolt line up.

Or... start with a 362 and add all the mods to it including the flat top piston. I've yet to dig into my 362 but all the parts are ready for the chopping block to include the longer barrel.
Click to expand...
Good explanation, sounds like it would be easier to just order some 362 parts and build one from that.
Thx
Ray
 
  • Like
Reactions: airgunner53
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu