I'm a weak man... Project 2240

[AmBraCol]

A while back I picked up a Crosman 2240 to replace the 2400KT that customs removed from my possession. It was fun and I even wrote a couple of articles about it in my Spanish language blog.  But at the time I'd no access to any decent pellets and there was a 22 caliber 24" barrel and a steel breech in the parts bin and a stock showed up too so the pistol became a rifle and had a cheapo scope installed and a friend liked it and gave me my money back.  The itch was cured, I thought.  Then our local equivalent of FleaBay started piquing my interest and next thing you know - there's  a lightly (hopefully) modified Crosman 2240 sitting there winking at me.  What can I say? I can resist about anything but temptation in certain areas of life!  So, for a substantial cut from the retail price (down here) of a brand new Crosman 2240, I got my hands on one that has had the frame painted with hydrographic "carbon fiber" and a stronger spring installed.  PLUS it came with a half dozen CO2 catridges and a baggie of reportedly Winchester pointed pellets.  "Buy Now" was clicked, funds transferred to the account of the seller (who's in the next city over) and then I get a call to know if I'd like him to ride over on his motorcycle and deliver it personally.  Either that or send another few $$$ for him to send it via our equivalent of the Brown Truck. Tough call, eh?  Two hours later he was standing with me in my office and we were having a friendly chat about the difficulties of enjoying the shooting sports in this country.

So, here she is in all her glory. It'll be interesting to see what she looks like on the inside and what she's doing with the mods already made then take her back to factory for comparison sake. Eventually I'll get my grubby mitts on another steel or aluminum breech and maybe a bit longer barrel.  I've got to talk with a buddy of mine about the possibility of building a riser breech that would allow me to shroud her and give her a more "bull barrel" look. In the meantime, it's fun to have one more project clogging up my limited work space.    Hmmm... there's my old Crooked Barn breech and Melon Air bolt with the 1377 barrel attached...

[45Bravo]

Yes, they are like old girlfriends, they keep catching your attention.

I thought I had outgrown the 22xx platform, and moved to bigger more powerful guns.

But they kept calling me back, eventually I gave in and just went with the flow.

Now have them again in .177 & .22, carbine and pistols.

[AmBraCol]

One never knows what one's getting into with a used (or new, for that matter - although the odds are better) pellet gun.  Messing around with the 2240 in the house I noticed that when de-cocking by "riding" the bolt down while holding the trigger back that when I squeezed the trigger afterwards the striker would move, producing a light strike on the poppet. Hmmm... popped off the grip panels and below is what I found. That is one RE-ENFORCED sear spring!  I'm really not sure what the previous owner was thinking of accomplishing with that behemoth.  Now to see what I can come up with to replace it with. Now I'm curious as to what I will find when I get inside the guts eventually.

[AmBraCol]

Yesterday I took the 2240 along when I went with a friend to check on the progress on the new range our gun club is building. No one was around so I set up the CO2 cartridge swinger target and let my friend try out my Haenel 303 and the 2240.  He's a retired police officer and is a real greenhorn when it comes to airguns. Also, typical of a lot of police, he's not a shooter with ANY kind of gun. Still, it was cool to see his grin when he made the swinger swing with the rifle.  The pistol was a different thing and he thinks I'm some kind of magician for being able to hit a CO2 cartridge with a pellet from a handgun. 

We were shooting the pistol as it came from the previous owner.  This left us shooting way high as the previous owner had moved the rear sight blade up a millimeter or so above the rear of the sight body on the cheesy stock factory 2240 rear sight. I was able to get hits by using "kentucky elevation" and talked another friend into making a hit as well. 

Then last night I got the wild hair to try some Daisy brand wad cutter pellets that were purchased cheaply.  Note to self: just because it doesn't sound loud in the open is no reason to NOT warn the wife before shooting indoors.  This pistol is LOUD!  And it doesn't seem to care for the Daisy wadcutters, although more testing is in order since only two more shots were taken after the initial "Why didn't you WARN ME?" comment...

[Wayne52]

Yes I really like my 22xx's such a versatile and modifiable gun for sure!

[AmBraCol]

The fun continues.  I shot it down to zip (no idea of shot count as we were just plinking yesterday) and proceeded to the next step - seeing a bit of what the previous owner had done to it.  So pulled the end cap and removed the spring. He gave me the OEM spring, so below you can see them together.  The one in the gun measured as follows:

2.30" OAL
0.280" outside diameter
0.032" wire

The factory OEM measured as follows:

1.960" OAL
0.285" outside diameter
0.032" wire

I've got a MelonAir RVA sitting here doing nothing and a couple of other springs as well. This should give me a chance to try different springs and different rates of precompression and see what the effect is.  That should keep me out of the pool halls and off the streets for a while.  The other two springs are:

1.68" OAL
0.305" outside diameter
0.047"

and

1.94"
0.285"
0.029"

Plus I've got some 1.985" OAL, 0.315"outside diameter, 0.048 springs that I tried in the Discovery and had problems with.  We'll see if they work OK with the MelonAir RVA.  Trial fit indicates they just might.  Time will tell!

[45Bravo]

Decreasing the hammer weight will increase shot count also.

[BrokeWinger]

I am planning to replace the breach on my 2400KT with a BNM. Once I do if yer still looking for one yer welcome to it.

[Gertrude]

yeah, you might say they can be a little addictive.
certainly fun to tinker with too.
here's proof in the theory of evolution,
 (and this is only 3 of the 6(?) I think I have now)
 Hahahaha

[AmBraCol]

I am planning to replace the breach on my 2400KT with a BNM. Once I do if yer still looking for one yer welcome to it.

Let me know how much you want for it.  I'm also on the lookout for a take off barrel from a 1322 or something of similar dimensions (around 10-12").

[AmBraCol]

Ever have one of those "Ha!" moments where you realize your rememberer misremembered?  Yep, happened to me.  The original owner told me he'd changed out the main spring on the 2240, but he included the factory spring.  While messing around with the pistol it was observed that the hammer didn't return all the way forward when decocking the gun and riding the bolt down.  Afterwards one could squeeze the trigger and it would fall the rest of the way.  Pulled the grip panels off and the sear spring is WAY heavier than on the old 1377 grip frame I had on the bench.  Hmmm... why would he replace the sear spring with such a heavy piece of steel? Turns out, he didn't.  Today I was messing around in the spare parts box and voilá!  there was the original sear spring from the 1377 - that I'd changed out for a lighter spring when installing the spring guide.  Duh!!! So now the search for a replacement begins (OK, it had already begun, but now I'm not muttering under my breath at the previous owner)...

[AmBraCol]

Today finally took the time to run her over the Chronograph.  Crosman Premier from the can. Got the Ballistic Coefficient from Chairgun.  Running the Mellon Air RVA at zero preload, just bumped up against the spring.


Created: 10-10-2016 11:12:31 AM
Description: 2240 Melon Air RVA No preload
Distance to Chrono (FT): 2.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.019
Bullet Weight (gr): 14.300
Altitude (FT): 4650.0
Temp: 24 °C
BP: 25.37 inHG
Shots
#     FPS        FT-LBS     PF
10    414        5.44       5.92     
9     416        5.50       5.95     
8     410        5.34       5.86     
7     412        5.39       5.89     
6     414        5.44       5.92     
5     420        5.60       6.01     
4     421        5.63       6.02     
3     416        5.50       5.95     
2     416        5.50       5.95     
1     407        5.26       5.82     
Average: 414.60
StdDev: 4.25
Min: 407
Max: 421
Spread: 14
True MV: 419.58


Then I cranked the RVA around three full turns and here's the results.



Created: 10-10-2016 11:21:38 AM
Description: 2240 Melon Air RVA 3 Turns preload

Distance to Chrono (FT): 2.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.019
Bullet Weight (gr): 14.300
Altitude (FT): 4650.0
Temp: 25 °C
BP: 25.37 inHG
Shots
#     FPS        FT-LBS     PF
10    405        5.21       5.79     
9     399        5.06       5.71     
8     409        5.31       5.85     
7     411        5.36       5.88     
6     416        5.50       5.95     
5     411        5.36       5.88     
4     416        5.50       5.95     
3     419        5.58       5.99     
2     423        5.68       6.05     
1     426        5.76       6.09     
Average: 413.50
StdDev: 8.20
Min: 399
Max: 426
Spread: 27
True MV: 418.47


Didn't seem to do much, so cranked her in another five full turns for a total of 8.



Created: 10-10-2016 11:30:36 AM
Description: 2240 Melon Air RVA 8 Turns preload
Notes 1: Obviously at the end of the useful life of the CO2 cartridge...
Notes 2:
Distance to Chrono (FT): 2.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.019
Bullet Weight (gr): 14.300
Altitude (FT): 4650.0
Temp: 26 °C
BP: 25.37 inHG
Shots
#     FPS        FT-LBS     PF
10    293        2.73       4.19     
9     317        3.19       4.53     
8     336        3.59       4.80     
7     354        3.98       5.06     
6     369        4.32       5.28     
5     383        4.66       5.48     
4     396        4.98       5.66     
3     401        5.11       5.73     
2     414        5.44       5.92     
1     416        5.50       5.95     
Average: 367.90
StdDev: 42.12
Min: 293
Max: 416
Spread: 123
True MV: 372.32

OK.  In  a hurry since have other things gotta do... forgot to get all the relevant info in, but the only thing that's changed from the above is the CO2 cartridge.



Created: 10-10-2016 11:47:28 AM
Description: 2240 MelIon Air RVA 8 Turns Preload
Notes 1: New C02 Cartridge
Notes 2:
Distance to Chrono (FT): 0.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight (gr): 0.000
Altitude (FT): 0.0
Temp: 25 °C
BP: 30.09 inHG
Shots
#     FPS        FT-LBS     PF
5     431        0.00       0.00     
4     437        0.00       0.00     
3     437        0.00       0.00     
2     444        0.00       0.00     
1     452        0.00       0.00     
Average: 440.20
StdDev: 8.04
Min: 431
Max: 452
Spread: 21
True MV: 440.20

Well, the velocity is up a bit, but it seems to me that about all I'm doing is wasting a lot of CO2.  There's only so much you can expect from a 7" barrel, and efficiency together with velocity is  NOT one of the things to expect. I'm still curious about the lack of results from the 3 turns in, so will run that one again one of these days.  But going from 5.5 FPE to 6 FPE just doesn't seem like it's worth the cost in CO2...

[OP]

I have a number of Mountain Air Custom Airguns with the 2240 platform.  Gotta love them for just pulling out and shooting 20 rounds at the spur of the moment when the mood strikes.  One of them is the .25 that I still have a hard time believing can go up against my RX 2 in the .25 within 50 yards.  I make that gun one of my best purchases ever.

[BrokeWinger]

Well, I got the new breech, so if you still want the long steel breech from the 2400KT it's sitting here on my desk waiting for a home. Will throw in the  front blade sight, tube cap/cartridge stop, fore grip and barrel band (with set screw and fore grip mount screw)  as well. The screws for the breech (3 one set screw for the barrel, one small screw that goes through the bolt tray and main rear screw) come with it. Will also include the safety shaft, ball and spring. All you need is the tools to do the swap and you have a short barreled 2400KT minus the trigger adjuster.

$35 and an address, it's all yours, I'll even pay for the ride. The steel breech by itself sells for $40+.

BrokeWinger@gmail.com for PayPal.

[AmBraCol]

Well, I got the new breech, so if you still want the long steel breech from the 2400KT it's sitting here on my desk waiting for a home. Will throw in the  front blade sight, tube cap/cartridge stop, fore grip and barrel band (with set screw and fore grip mount screw)  as well. The screws for the breech (3 one set screw for the barrel, one small screw that goes through the bolt tray and main rear screw) come with it. Will also include the safety shaft, ball and spring. All you need is the tools to do the swap and you have a short barreled 2400KT minus the trigger adjuster.

$35 and an address, it's all yours, I'll even pay for the ride. The steel breech by itself sells for $40+.

BrokeWinger@gmail.com for PayPal.

Email soon on its way.

[AmBraCol]

It's been a while since I've added to this post.  Just want to say at this time that BrokeWinger sent the parts described above to my son in CA who came down for a couple of weeks recently.  There's been no play time for a while so the parts are in the parts bin waiting on yours truly to make the time to keep up the project.  The pistol is sitting there in pretty much stock form at this time - other than the nifty carbon fiber style hydrodip from the previous owner. 

Somehow a 1322 barrel also got down here so I've got the following plans to play with one of these days.

1.  Chronograph the pistol in stock form to establish a baseline.
2.  Chronograph the pistol with 1322 barrel in plastic breech.
3.  Chronograph the pistol with 1377 barrel in plastic breech.
4.  Chronograph the pistol with 1322 barrel in steel breech.
5.  Chronograph the pistol with 1377 barrel in steel breech.
6.  Chronograph the pistol with 1322 barrel in Crooked Barn breech.
7.  Chronograph the pistol with 1377 barrel in Crooked Barn breech.

That right there's quite a project and should satisfy my curiosity of what the various breeches provide velocity wise and if there's any difference from one to the other.  I suspect there won't be much change in velocity and that it will come down to which breech and caliber make up the package I want to leave the pistol set up with.  The main issue right now is that I've no decent rear sight for the steel breech.  The Crooked Barn setup uses a stock Crosman 2240 sight as of course do the plastic breeches.  Am contemplating what to do for the steel setup.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Paul,  I have a Industry brand Match Grade Rear Sight that I used on my 1377 steel breech before getting a BSA Red Dot.



I liked it, but you will also need a longer front sight because you can not adjust the elevation low enough with out one. It was a cheaper option than the Crosman LPA Mim. I got it from AlchemyAirwerks.com and We have spoke before of the cost of shipping to Brazil. I bet you can get one there for the cost of shipping it to you.
NOW in all honesty, for the same price, the BSA RD30 Red Dot is SO MUCH NICER!

Just something to think about.

[AmBraCol]

Paul,  I have a Industry brand Match Grade Rear Sight that I used on my 1377 steel breech before getting a BSA Red Dot.



I liked it, but you will also need a longer front sight because you can not adjust the elevation low enough with out one. It was a cheaper option than the Crosman LPA Mim. I got it from AlchemyAirwerks.com and We have spoke before of the cost of shipping to Brazil. I bet you can get one there for the cost of shipping it to you.
NOW in all honesty, for the same price, the BSA RD30 Red Dot is SO MUCH NICER!

Just something to think about.

Thanks, Scott.  I've got one of those sights in the parts box, picked it up years ago from some Archery guy who is persona non grata on the GTA now.  I'll have to dig it out and give it a whirl. 

Another thing I forgot to mention is that now I've got a decent little cache of miscellaneous springs to play with, so can see what a 1377, 2200, 2300, etc spring will do for the velocity vs gas consumption equation.  The original owner hot rodded it with a heavy spring, and brought the shot count per CO2 cartridge down to around 20 or so - with not much velocity gain out of the 7" barrel.  We'll see what the 10" barrel will do for the setup and I've got both a Mellon Air and a 2300 RVA sitting in the parts box in case I decide to play with them.  The Mellon Air was on this pistol for a while until I decided to simply see what can be done with the factory setup instead.

Now all I need is play time, which is in short supply around here.  If you're interested in selling that sight, let me know how much you want for it, shipped to MO where I can pick it up next time we're up north.  We've got forwarding system out of Florida, but minimum charge is $10 for the first pound or fraction there of. That adds greatly to the cost of things real quick so I tend to cache things at my brother's place and toss them into my suitcase the next time we visit.   

[AmBraCol]

Yesterday the 2240 went along with me to check out the Hatsan Nova.  After running the Nova over the chronograph a while it was time to check out the 2240 with the 10" barrel in the plastic breech.  It was running around 450 FPS with Gamo Hunter round nose pellets and a new CO2 cartridge.  Was shooting in the shade, believe it was in the mid to high 70's, definitely not as hot as it CAN get out at the range.  The way I've got it set up right this second is the 10" Crosman barrel in the factory plastic breech. The mainspring is the factory one and the front sight is off a Discovery.  The next move will be to use the steel breech that Brokewinger sent me a while back. The rear sight will be one of the above mentioned Industry Brand units. Yesterday one cartridge yielded right at 40 "good" shots with most of them landing in a 1 inch circle at around 21 yards. This is shooting with open sights, through the weeds. There were a few fliers, probably due to Gamo's "stellar" pellet quality.  Also, the group was a few inches low. We'll see if the change of breech and rear sight will allow that group to be raised up to coincide with point of aim.