My only airgun

[whyzee]

i have just one airgun. My Beeman R1 carbine in .20 caliber. 

Until today, I have never taken pictures of it, ever. Seemed like the proper way to document it as well as share with others. 

I purchased it new, in 1997. After shooting it for a bit with the iron sights I bought a Beeman Blue Ribbon SS-2L scope for it. At a later date I wanted a more powerful scope and (foolishly) sold the Beeman scope on eBay for 610$. Now it sports its’ second scope, a Weaver V-16 with the fine crosshairs. 

By now you can tell I am a lefty. If I remember correctly this added 100$ to the price, to have ordered. I also paid the extra 9$ for all three ‘select’ options from Beeman. 

Forward to five years later, I got a buddy of mine into airgunning. I talked him into going over to the Airgun Guys’ house to look at Beeman airguns instead of the Gamos of the day. He purchased the Goldfinger combo, thus partial reason I wanted a higher power scope than the SS-2L. This is also the time that I decided to have Tony (the airgun guy) send my R1 back to Beeman to have a Theoben gas spring installed. And, that is its’ current configuration today. 

Also installed is Beeman muzzle break, Beeman forearm screw cups, Beeman rear sight blocking plate and Beeman scope rings with stop. I still have the rear sight but no longer have the front aperture sight. I assume Tony kept it when the muzzle break was installed. Always kept in the 48” Beeman soft case

I really enjoy this gun!! Still in perfect condition too. 

 

[stoti]

What a beautiful Beeman and accessories. I'm a lefty too and the Beeman R1 was also my first quality air gun back in the 80's. The Santa Rosa showroom was only an hour from my house growing up and we went there often. That's a big part of what got me excited about quality air guns all these years ago. Up until then it was the Crosman pumper for me, I had never been introduced to high end break barreled guns.

My best friend's dad bought him a Beeman R1 to kill woodpeckers that shoved acorns under his shake roof when we were about 10 years old. We took turns shooting that gun, with the Beeman Silver Jet pointed pellets all summer and every day after school. When I turned 11, my parents bought me an R1 for my birthday too, I'm not sure of the magnification but I remember mine having a blue ribbon scope as well. I think it was a 3x9? I loved that gun, it looked exactly like yours, exactly as I remember it, except mine wasn't left handed. I have so many great memories of my buddy, Doug and I walking the hills around our houses with nothing but our Beeman air guns and a pocket full of pellets!

When I went away to college, I didn't take it with me and obviously didn't shoot it much. I also always seemed to be in need of money, so I sold it. I figured I'd be shooting powder burners and not air guns in the future anyway, so it was no big deal. WRONG! Probably the gun I regret selling the most, and I've bought and sold a lot of guns over the years! I sure miss that gun but didn't realize how much until I saw the picture of yours. What a beautiful air gun!!! I'm totally jealous and wish I had mine back! If you ever decide to sell it, which I know you won't, you know where to find me! LOL Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!

Stoti

P.S. I was just looking at the picture that has all the accessories in it. The pointed pellets I was talking about that we shot all the time were called the Silver Jet. They came in a blue and silver square box with a hollowed out piece of Styrofoam inside. In your picture the Silver Arrow pellets look exactly the same. I've never heard of a Silver Arrow and never seen a yellow box like that either. Do you know if they're the same pellets rebranded/repackaged or something? Just curious.

 

[sonny]

nice gun. That dark stalk is beautiful.

 

[intenseaty22]

Love it! That’s a very classy looking rig. I still regret not picking up a .20 Beeman R9 that was available a year or so ago. Looked very similar to that gun. 

 

[whyzee]

Thank you guys, much appreciated and I am happy to share now that I have recently found airgun comrades via the internet. 

Stoti I am saddened that you don’t have your lefty R1 any longer. Unfortunately, I won’t be parting with mine as it will be my Daughters’ when I pass. At 33 years old, She is also a lefty!

i am unsure of the history of the Beeman pellets. I just googled and read that Silver Arrows and Silver Jets are different pellets, but I cannot discern the difference without having them side by side (and don’t have a SJ to do so). The yellow label on the tins of pellets I have simply meant that they were .20 caliber. I’ve not purchased pellets since 2003 and have never had any In styrofoam holders. I do have 1750 H&N Barracuda match (13.58gr) coming once they’re in stock, and I would also like to try some JSB pellets. 

I have never had the opportunity to chronograph my R1, and would jump at the chance to do so. I know it is much more difficult to cock now that the Theoben spring is in there! So many members quote FPS and energy levels with different pellets but have no idea what my gun is capable of. 

 

[whyzee]

I wish I would have had the opportunity to visit any of the Beeman showrooms, as I could only imagine what one might see pertaining to guns, optics, pellets and accessories. Does anybody have any personal pictures of the place?

 

[socaloldman]

Stoti I shot Silver Jets all the time in my HW55. Thats all I would buy. I remember waiting weeks for a new supply to come from Japan.I think one of the Japanese mfg still makes them but with a different name. Betcha Beeman would know the place. I remember the box silver and blue I think a big BEEMAN SILVER JET blazed across the front. Damn I miss that gun! Great memories!!!

 

[leadfoot]

Very nice rifle. I have a Beeman R1 .20 carbine, and a Beeman R7 .177. They are both about 3 years old, and get shot alot. My R1 spring broke a few times and now has a Vortek spring kit in it. It's very accurate and smooth to cock. Of the 7 airguns I have the R7 would be the last one I'd part with, only because I'd be to weak to lift the R1!!!

 

[whyzee]

I still have the spring and internal parts that Beeman removed and returned to me after the Theoben gas spring installation 

 

[stoti]

You know, I was just looking at your gun again and it's really nothing that fancy. However, overly fancy or not, it's just plain old sexy! Everything about it just looks "right". The dark wood, the checkering on the grip, the white spacer between the wood and butt pad, the understated cocking aid/moderator at the muzzle and the dark bluing. Heck, Beeman just knew how to make beautiful guns back then. I sure miss mine!!!

Stoti

 

[whyzee]

Stoti, you are correct Sir. (In my mind) these aren’t fancy guns at all, more like a workhorse. I agree with you in that the overall package just looks ‘right’

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

I always wanted one of these when I was younger. Just was out of reach for me. I can only imagine it shoots as well as it looks! I got a GT600 for Christmas when I was 14. (I still have it BTW) The trigger was so crisp, and the gun just worked. Extremely accurate with Beeman pellets. I still have some maintenance bits from when I had it. A tiny tub of chromoly lube that I use to bore polish now, action, and sear polish all my guns. And some #9 metalpholic oil (rust prevention) That stuff works great.



Anyhow, I think seeing yours, and my past Beeman experience makes me wish I had gotten one. Thanks for sharing!

 

[TiredRooster]

That is a beautiful rifle.......classical springer.

 

[biohazardman]

I couldn't afford an R1 so bought a Diana 45 back in the day. It still shoots some tiny groups out past fifty yards. That is a beautiful gun you have but to think that anyone could have only one gun for all those years makes my brain hurt. There are so many different guns to try in the world and many very good ones as well and they all patiently await you. Come out of the light which has blinded you for so long and embrace the dark side. We have cookies. ;^)

 

[whyzee]

Thanks Friends!!

Biohazardman, perhaps I should change the title to ‘My lonely airgun’ ? LOL

Believe me when I say that now that I have found AGN and the comradeship of other air gunners via the web, I have been gawking at all of the pcp’s.

I would like to have an Uragun. After a purchase of a pcp, how much more money needs to be spent for support equipment in order to shoot it? 

 

[intenseaty22]

@whyzee How much you spend will be up to you. Some guys get an “easy” to hand pump gun & a hand pump & are as happy as a pig in mud. However, PCPs are very easy to shoot, and consequently you will shoot a lot more, so you will spend more. Hand pumping may get old, so you will need a compressor, & the good ones can cost a bit. I think a gun like an Uragan (in the lesser calibers) could let you go without buying a tank. Look into boosters like Shoebox or Altaros and you can fill the gun straight and have enough for a full day. 

 

[leadfoot]

PCP's are nice. I have an Impact X in .22, (and a compressor) but still shoot my 4 springer rifles as much or more. Your R1 is a beauty. I'm a little disappointed that Beeman dropped the handle on it's newer models and is just rebranding the HW. It gives it a sleek look. If I had to hold below the front site to cock, it would be more difficult and could even result in a slip. Another shooter may just love the iron sights, but then there is a choice to get the HW which has sights.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Nice collection! I still have that same logoed soft case.

 

[biohazardman]

Thanks Friends!!

Biohazardman, perhaps I should change the title to ‘My lonely airgun’ ? LOL

Believe me when I say that now that I have found AGN and the comradeship of other air gunners via the web, I have been gawking at all of the pcp’s.

I would like to have an Uragun. After a purchase of a pcp, how much more money needs to be spent for support equipment in order to shoot it?

That depends on where you are going to shoot it and how much you are going to shoot it and what you are going to shoot. You can get by with a hand pump if you choose to pump to 2500psi or less. It's ridicules to try and hand pump to 3000. Some guns only require 2K psi and they are easy to pump for. Other wise if you are going to shoot allot or a higher pressured gun one of the best of the Chinese compressors is the water cooled Yong Heng it's about $300. Get the set pressure model. All you need is the compressor if you are going to shoot at home else you are going to shoot away from home you will need a tank also and that's another 300-$400. 

There is a new China made air cooled compressor out that is around $350 that runs off of 110v or 12v. It is made for filling guns and tiny tanks only. It has only been out a short time so it's longevity is a question still it would save you from buying a tank.

I love my PCP's It's just insane to be shooting 100-200 yards and hitting everything you shoot at. When I am out of air I shoot my springers at like 50 yards. But have a good sized tank, early Christmas/birthday present, in the mail so I should not be running out of air anymore. My springers are going to get lonely. ;^)

Oh, I almost forgot if you have a paintball or welding shop near you can skip the compressor and just buy a tank and have it filled. That would cut the costs down a bit for awhile.

 

[uglymike]

"Beware the man with only 1 gun, he's probably really good with it." Iconic rifle. Wish it was in MY gun cabinet.