“Excerpt from my CD “Old AirGuns and Memories.”
Hello to all;
In 1967 Crosman introduced the "PellMaster" 700/707 series of Co2 rifles in 22 cal. And .177 cal. respectively, and then made a real blunder in my view dropping the Model 180/160 series Rifles from what I have read. One just has to wonder about such things. Possibly it was the bean counters or just plain nearsightedness?? The 180 and 160 Crosman rifles being far superior Co2 rifles in all respects. The PellMaster series production ended in 1971. For all the PellMaster aficionados out there, no disrespect just my opinion!!! The above time frames were the best I could come up with, I am not a Historian!! Just an old, retired Gunsmith who has a soft spot for Airguns!!
The PellMaster series were marketed as suitable for NRA 333 10-meter competition. Both 700/707 utilized an in-line valving system (valve directly in line with the 12 gm Co2 cartridge). It weighed 4 lbs. and was 36 -3/4 inches in length, hooded post front sight, standard adjustable rear sight. 700 rated at 450/480 fps. .22 cal. 40-50 shots per Co2 cartridge it had a rotary type of magazine (referred to as a tap loading system on European airguns). The safety was actually the cocking bolt itself, that was rotated up in a slot after pushing forward to cock, there were no safeties directly related to the trigger! The stock was as simple as one could get a unique beveled edge flat board!! Looked as though it was cut out of a piece of flat board stock??
The 700 series had an eerie resemblance to the Benjamin M-3030 BB rifle introduced in 1964, in that it had the same type of cocking/safety mechanism, in-line Co2/valve setup. No safeties directly related to the trigger, interesting.
The unit under review here is the M-700 .22 cal. fresh valve rebuild etc. the 700 was charged using 1 -12gm. Co2 cartridge, the rear push type piercing button/plug was unscrewed and a C02 cartridge was inserted large end first and the piercing button/ plug screwed back on, after this the button was hit with the palm of one’s hand, piercing the Co2 cartridge the rifle was now charged.
Loading the 700 required rotating the rotary magazine clockwise which exposed the loading port a pellet was then put in and the magazine rotated counterclockwise this lined up the pellet with the barrel.
The 700 was tested with RWS 14.0 grain. Miesterkugeln Match .22 cal pellets. A series of 40 shots equaled a high of 458 fps. And a low of 433 fps, for an average of, 446 fps /6.19 ft. lbs. with a spread of 25 fps. I have to admit good shot count. The velocity was as advertised not bad!!
I set up initial accuracy testing @ 20 yds. not being much interested in 10-meter shooting, I used 3 pellets Benjamin Discovery 14.3 grain, RWS 14.0 Meisterkuglen and H& N .22 HP 12.65 grain. Let me state that any kind of serious accuracy potential would be hampered by an atrocious trigger pull of 7.5 lbs on this unit!!!
The Benjamin Discovery pellets delivered 1.140 center to center 4 shots the 5th shot enlarged the group to 2.520 center to center. The RWS Miesterkugeln delivered 5 shots into 1.880” center to center. The H& N HP delivered 5 shots at.1.740 center to center. This is pretty poor performance and is basically a plinker at this distance.
So, I set up at 10 meters to see what was possible, the H&N HP 5 shots = .900 " center to center, the RWS M. 5 shots = .465"center to center (hmmm) Benj. Discovery = 1.150 center to center.
Clearly this rifle would not be a serious threat to any real 10-meter Match rifle, but the 700 did deliver less than half inch groups @ 10 meters with the RWS – Match pellets which is pretty good considering the heavy trigger and rudimentary sights. At best it could be considered a training rifle, maybe the .177 could be better I don’t know??
Dropping the M-187 and the M-167 Series and bringing out the 700 series, still baffles me to this day??? To each his own I guess!!!
Garey
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