GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Vintage Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: Wayne52 on January 25, 2021, 05:11:41 AM
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I think this gun is right towards the top of my favorites for my vintage pistols. I've stuck only with the vintage guns that are made here in the U.S.
https://youtu.be/RgZYb05kqBk
(https://i.imgur.com/9txMgJo.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/kvSWaao.png)
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Wayne, that's a very nice AG so now I have another one to add to my wish list. Are the grips wood?
I have S&W 41 in .22 LR which one of my favorite .22's. The 78G looks the same. What years where these made?
You are a bad enabler and I love these US made oldies.
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Thanks Bob !!! I've thought about getting a S&W model 41 but they're very expensive these days so for now I'll settle for the 78G which indeed is a fantastic airgun, I just got done putting a slug through it into a 2x4 and was really surprised how hard it hit, also dug the slug out of it and it mushroom pretty darned good for being a co2 gun. I'll be looking for the red squirrels this summer out in the woods and I may even buy a nice holster for it because I'll be out on that 400 acre's this spring with my metal detector after the squirrel season (for the big squirrels) closes. The grips aren't wood but you can buy wood grips for it.
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I agree with the comments on the 78G. Over a period of time, I have found the Crosman Mark 1 the most accurate of my vintage pistols. However, the Crosman 150 and the S&W 78G are right behind the Mark 1. It is really a toss up between the 78G and the 150. Of course the S&W 78G with the adjustable sight along with the Mark 1 having adjustable sight make it a little easier to sight in the guns if you shoot at different distances on occasion. I also have two S&W 79G and a Crosman Mark 2 in .177. The .177s are accurate, but not as accurate as the .22s in the other guns.
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Lionel my Ted Williams has an adjustable rear sight on it and in reality it's basically a Crosman 150 type 2, that gun is very accurate and nice to shoot too.
(https://i.imgur.com/XaP2xOe.png)
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Wayne52, Yes, my 2nd variant 150 has the sight from one of my 2240's on it giving me better sight adjustment than the original 150 sight without the vertical slide. The 2240 sight helps a lot on the 150, but the actual sight adjustments of the Mark 1 and S&W are just easier to use.
My Crosman 112, 115 and 116 all have the adjustable sights and are also a lot of fun to shoot. Some people feel the 2240/2250 pistols are more accurate than the vintage pistols. However, even though I have adjustable sights on the 2240/2250 pistols and have modded them back and forth with barrels running 6" up to 14" and other lengths in between, my vintage guns are more accurate overall.
Of course, these are just my opinions and my experiences. Others may have different experience and opinions.
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Wayne and Lionel, you guys have nice toys. I never realized now nice and simple these vintage AG's where made.
I'm now looking at a 78G to complement my MK II restore which is still awaiting parts.
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Bob I've been going hog wild on the vintage stuff, just put in a bid on a Crosman 600.
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I've been looking for a .177 79g, but it seems they command more than I would like to spend on a co2 pistol.
I'm continually looking though, so hopefully the right one comes along.
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Bob I've been going hog wild on the vintage stuff, just put in a bid on a Crosman 600.
Wayne, it looks like another winner.
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For those of you interested in the 78g and need more information about it I attached a link for a really detailed write up. I also attached another link to the used gun section of Baker airguns. I have seen 78g's listed there before. They also sell an oring kit for repair jobs if you need it. I own one and it's one of my favorite to shoot. If you read the write up and the original manual (which I have) it recommends leaving the gun charged, so that is what I do and it's ready in case of need for pest control.
Steve
Sorry I had to condense the link because I'm not allowed to post links so hopefully I left enough to lead you to the article
pyramydair.com/blog/2020/02/the-first-smith-wesson-78g-air-pistols-part-1/
bakerairguns.com/shop/airguns/used-airguns/
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I just put new seals in a 78G I found in an antique shop a year or two ago. Haven't had a chance to shoot it much, to cold outside, but it seems to be a good shooter. They sure are made differently from any other airgun I have worked on. This one has very shallow rifling, barely visible. Anyone else seen this?
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Bob and David... would you be interested in powerline 780 and 790S? if so give me a couple of days to pull them out and run some Co2 through them... both got their boxes...
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bantam5s,
Check your pm.
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Wayne, that's a very nice AG so now I have another one to add to my wish list. Are the grips wood?
I have S&W 41 in .22 LR which one of my favorite .22's. The 78G looks the same. What years where these made?
You are a bad enabler and I love these US made oldies.
Bob -
The model 41 was one of the best 22LR ever made. Had a chance to buy one many years ago but passed. Dumb mistake. Now they go for $1,000+
Here's a picture of my 78g. $100 Craigslist find a few years back. Does have one advantage over the 41. I can shoot in my basement and it's a clone.
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the 79g was the most accurate vintage pistol ive owned .. Effortless accuracy , smooth trigger.. have a 600 and had a mark1 , bboth pretty good also but nothing like the 79g
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Wayne, that's a very nice AG so now I have another one to add to my wish list. Are the grips wood?
I have S&W 41 in .22 LR which one of my favorite .22's. The 78G looks the same. What years where these made?
You are a bad enabler and I love these US made oldies.
Bob -
The model 41 was one of the best 22LR ever made. Had a chance to buy one many years ago but passed. Dumb mistake. Now they go for $1,000+
Here's a picture of my 78g. $100 Craigslist find a few years back. Does have one advantage over the 41. I can shoot in my basement and it's a clone.
Quasar, I picked up S&W .22 LR with target gripes and 4 magazines quite a few years ago for short money. It is very nice to shoot.
I just purchased a very early 78G # 0001837 and hopefully I should be receiving it soon.
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Congrats on the low number 78G Bob !!!
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Congrats on the low number 78G Bob !!!
Wayne thanks for introducing me to it I'm still waiting for the shipping notice.
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TerryM, yes I my 78G also has essence of rifling and I've heard that that is pretty common. I figure when these were designed they marketed for target practice. Mine behaves very well at 5 meters (5 shots), if I do my part, using RWS Hobby's or Meisters. The only major mod to mine is a Mac1 valve.
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Congrats on the low number 78G Bob !!!
Wayne thanks for introducing me to it I'm still waiting for the shipping notice.
Congrats.
I'm hoping I can find a 79g in decent ( as long as it's not totally trashed ) cosmetic condition for a max of $100 shipped if I can, don't need a box or paperwork or anything like that.
I don't know if that's a realistic expectation though, it's probably just another one of those guns that commands more than I'd want to spend.
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Congrats.
I'm hoping I can find a 79g in decent ( as long as it's not totally trashed ) cosmetic condition for a max of $100 shipped if I can, don't need a box or paperwork or anything like that.
I don't know if that's a realistic expectation though, it's probably just another one of those guns that commands more than I'd want to spend.
I saw some in the $150 range but where pretty beat up. My prerequisite was original paint with minimum chips and low numbers.
I did find one but it cost me $200 plus shipping which is more than I wanted to pay but I could not pass it up.
We will see when I receive it. :o
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Bob,
You are right, a 79G in good condition not needing a reseal will be closer to $175 with shipping. Not saying that is what they are worth, just what the guns are bringing now days.
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Bob,
You are right, a 79G in good condition not needing a reseal will be closer to $175 with shipping. Not saying that is what they are worth, just what the guns are bringing now days.
That's what I figure, and am happy to reseal one if I have to.
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I finally just got the Tracking number for the 78G that I ordered a week ago. I was getting a little concerned that I got scammed. :o
With the oncoming NE storm it will add a few more days to the delivery.
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Bob USPS has been extremely terrible at their operations for over a year now around here, I think all them crooked sobs are using this covid garbage to blame everything on. I see it as all politics, when I get transactions for Fedex and UPS it's pretty much all spot on but when it's coming from USPS it's 99% of the time just fake bull. Bottom line is they're not being honest about our government mail system. I laughed my butt off a while back when David (Rocker1) posted in a thread that he had recently been kicked out of his post office . . . times are insane today.
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Congrats.
I'm hoping I can find a 79g in decent ( as long as it's not totally trashed ) cosmetic condition for a max of $100 shipped if I can, don't need a box or paperwork or anything like that.
I don't know if that's a realistic expectation though, it's probably just another one of those guns that commands more than I'd want to spend.
I saw some in the $150 range but where pretty beat up. My prerequisite was original paint with minimum chips and low numbers.
I did find one but it cost me $200 plus shipping which is more than I wanted to pay but I could not pass it up.
We will see when I receive it. :o
I've got three of the 78G's and the one that was most inexpensive is going to end up being a parts gun unless I can find a couple parts for it at a half way decent price. The rear sight on it was toast. I'm tempted to take the valve assembly I have in it for my most pristine looking one because the poppet in that one didn't hold up but I did finally order an aftermarket one for it and that's another good example of how lame USPS has been because the poppet has been in limbo for quite a while now.
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I've got three of the 78G's and the one that was most inexpensive is going to end up being a parts gun unless I can find a couple parts for it at a half way decent price. The rear sight on it was toast. I'm tempted to take the valve assembly I have in it for my most pristine looking one because the poppet in that one didn't hold up but I did finally order an aftermarket one for it and that's another good example of how lame USPS has been because the poppet has been in limbo for quite a while now.
Wayne WOW! You got three 78G's and I'm still waiting for one.
Since I have been waiting for mine I have been doing a little research and I found that there are a few improved peek design 78G's poppet available.
I will probably go this route if I find the poppet leaking after a reseal. I already have the reseal kit.
The big East Coast storm turned out to be a farce. My Town, only got a lot of rain but 5 miles inland the got 12 inches of the white stuff. :D
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Bob that's fantastic that you didn't have a big storm to deal with there. We got about 6 inches of snow on the previous day and that was probably the part of the storm moving through here that was supposed to hit you guys out east. Tomorrow I'll be going to the secretary of state's office for an appointment that I finally got scheduled for a Ford F150 I recently got a good deal on to transfer the plate from my present truck (ready for the bone yard) and registering the one I recently bought.
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I just received my 78G that I purchased 2 weeks ago and so far it looks good and 100% complete. I believe that it was only shot a couple of times.
I am planning on resealing and lubing it before I try to shoot it.
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Bob that's a really nice early one you've got there, that one has the adjustable trigger probably by the looks of the serial number. I have a poppet coming for one tomorrow 8)
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Nice 78G! I recently picked one up in nice cosmetic condition, but needed a reseal. After receiving the reseal kit from Mac 1 and installing it, ran some pellets through it without issue. A very nice feeling gun to shoot. Wish I had a low S/N as yours. :o
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Thanks Guys, this weekend I will be out of town so I won't have time to reseal or play with it.
Thanks again Wayne for introducing me to it and getting me addicted to these oldies. Did you order the new design of the original poppet?
After 50 years I would expect that the poppet would be all dried out.
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Bob the poppet that came with the gun that I'll be putting it in appeared to be in great shape however after sealing it up with new o rings only after putting a couple cartridges through it the original poppet failed. I would put an original in it if I had one that had never been used and still in the package however I'm getting the aftermarket one in the mail today that I'm sure will work very well. The one that I'm putting it in I haven't even shown on this forum yet, it's one of the more recent ones built with a high serial number but it's a great shooter nonetheless 8)
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I just ordered a holster (LH) for my Smith & Wesson 78G
(https://www.americasgunstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/00754_lh_157-5.5-01.jpg)
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I just ordered a holster (LH) for my Smith & Wesson 78G
Good choice, it looks like a very nice quality holster and a asset if you take it with you on your hunts.
Let me know how it fits the 78G.
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The holster was delivered this morning, it fits decent too, there's even a cutaway on the front of the holster for the front sight blade on it and it fits like a glove.
(https://i.imgur.com/02TR5Nu.jpg)
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Wayne, where did you get it? It looks like it was made for it. Nice find.
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Bob I got it at "Americas Gun Store" out of Ohio, I found it doing a search for S&W Model 41 Holster, I got the last left handed one.
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Wayne, thanks. They have a great selection of holsters and
now I see why if fits so nice....it was made for the model 41.
I will order one as soon as the dust settles.
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Here's ten shots for the day I just did a little while ago with my first variant S&W78G, I'll be heading out to the state land soon with my metal detector for some morning detecting and also bring along my Xisico Sentry for a big ground hog I seen the other day by his burrow. The Hide I'll be sitting in is about 40 yards from where its burrow is.
https://youtu.be/bPR-5PLN-hg
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With open sights it is very hard to top those targets. Great shooting.
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Just remember Wayne,widow Jones next door isn't a target 🎯. LoL
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With open sights it is very hard to top those targets. Great shooting.
Bob I've REALLY noticed how nice the sights are on these guns in comparison from my other airgun pistols, I really like them because when I draw up on a target it's like they fit me perfect for shooting a pistol. Being out in the woods isn't the same as just shooting at a target because the background colors seem to drown out my sight picture with some guns but that's not the case for me with the 78G. I admit that I don't see close up like I did in my younger years but with the right open sights, good pistol sights still work fantastic for me.
Here's a video I did for metal detecting and shooting it out on the state land. I was probably 10+ yards from the can when I was shooting, I hit it good first shot but missed on the second shot and then three more shots were right in the can, I think with more practice out in the field with this gun I'll definitely improve. One thing that I can say about being an old fart is that my eye's are still 20/20 from arms length out which really helps for open sights on a pistol.
https://youtu.be/jOZFVNZrxss
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Wayne, I agree 100% in that the 78G sights are great and have nice adjustments.
You are very lucky that you still have 20/20 vision. I use +2.75 reading glasses which give
me a nice sight picture but the target is blurred out so I use +1.00 readers which is a
good happy medium. I'm assuming that you are using your new holster which could
also help in keeping the CO2 cartilage warmer on cooler days. I'm still waiting for it to
warm up in my neck of the woods to bring out my 78G, with hopefully, a new holster.
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Bob I haven't really been able to use mine up to it's potential yet in the woods, the video shooting that can it was mid-day about 60 degrees but I did have my coat over the gun to keep it warmer.
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Here's a little more in door shooting 8)
https://youtu.be/MDR7ba-ohDM