GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => American/U.S. Air Gun Gates => Daisy Gate => Topic started by: desmobob on March 13, 2019, 06:30:52 PM
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I have a nice selection of air rifles and do a lot of backyard shooting. After seeing recent posts on the forum regarding Daisy 880 rifles and also recalling a funny story from my youth involving one, I decided to risk squandering thirty-five bucks and grabbed one at Wal-Mart yesterday.
I am impressed. As I mentioned in another post, I now consider the 880 to be on par with the Beeman P17 in fun-per-dollar rating.
I'm not sure who makes the scope Daisy provides with the rifle (Zeiss? Swarovski? Leupold? Playskool? Fisher Price?) but despite all the on-line advice to throw it away, I'm using mine with no complaints. The trigger pull is incredibly heavy but strangely predictable and totally manageable. Loading some types of pellets can be an exercise in frustration. I love the rifle.
My only disappointment is that I also picked up a pack of six thousand BBs when I bought the rifle. I purchased the rifle as a fun backyard BB plinker. And it is. But it's so darn accurate with pellets that I can't bear to shoot BBs with it!
Tight groups,
Bob
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Lots of improvement to be had from that trigger. Mine is light enough to be scary, yet won't misfire.
Pellet loading works best when you kinda eyeball/line-up and then just "drop" the pellet down the leade.
I almost spit Mt Dew when I saw Swarovski. I put a Barska 22 Plinker on mine. Just don't tighten her down too much; plastic rails.
If you like to tinker/hack, you have maybe 2 weeks worth of mods for that rifle as well. Such a fun/cheap project rifle.
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Hey Bob.
I agree on that trigger, it is some heavy, but still manageable, I got used to it.
I personally shot Golfballs at 40 yards with a non AO old Center Point 4x32 Scope and Winchester Domed 9.8 grains 5 times out of 5 with hits. The only mods I have made to it, is the GEO LDC on it, what makes it quiet and also stabilizes the straw barrel pretty good and adds more to accuracy. For the loading part, I use the cheap Dollar Tree Tweezers for it, I got a 5 pack for a dollar plus taxes, it has 5 different ones in the pack, I prefer that clamping one with downpointing noose. That just works fine for me.
Here is a link to GEO's website and to the things you can order from him:
http://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/items-for-sale/ (http://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/items-for-sale/)
that LDC is really a good investment in the 880 for my 2 cents.
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Congrats on your new 880!
They really are great little airguns that grow on you quickly. I wish all pumpers pumped as easily as the 880 lol.
As others have mentioned here, look into the trigger mods and a geo ldc or bbl. tape mod.
It turns an already accurate rifle into a literal tack driver.
I used the little scope that came with it and had no problems for awhile. It finally quit holding zero ,and I put a barska 22 plinker on one, and a winchester 4 power with adj. objective on the other. They have both held up well for thousands on thousands of shots.... so have the 880’s. :D
I love small game hunting with them... squirrels don’t have a chance!
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Hey Bob.
I agree on that trigger, it is some heavy, but still manageable, I got used to it.
I personally shot Golfballs at 40 yards with a non AO old Center Point 4x32 Scope and Winchester Domed 9.8 grains 5 times out of 5 with hits. The only mods I have made to it, is the GEO LDC on it, what makes it quiet and also stabilizes the straw barrel pretty good and adds more to accuracy. For the loading part, I use the cheap Dollar Tree Tweezers for it, I got a 5 pack for a dollar plus taxes, it has 5 different ones in the pack, I prefer that clamping one with downpointing noose. That just works fine for me.
Here is a link to GEO's website and to the things you can order from him:
http://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/items-for-sale/ (http://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/items-for-sale/)
that LDC is really a good investment in the 880 for my 2 cents.
I have the newer CP plastic scope, and although it is not great, it is a VAST improvement over the Daisy scope for sure. Like you stated, the Geo LDC is a work of art and greatly improves your accuracy as well as knocking the bark out of your shots, making the gun very backyard friendly !!
wll
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When I bought my first Beeman P17 and realized what a great value and fun airgun it was, I quickly bought a second one. The first one received some trigger work and a scope. The second one stayed stock. For $29, I could afford to pick up a duplicate.
It looks like I'll follow the same sort of path with the 880, picking up another one and subjecting one of them to the popular modifications. I recently quit smoking and $35 is about a week's worth of what used to be cigarette money.
But getting back to the original reason I bought the 880: having a fun BB plinker. My old Model 25 from my childhood is dreadfully inaccurate. I also have a more recent Model 105 but haven't tried it out paper to see how accurate it is. I'll do that tomorrow.
The questions on my mind now: Is there an off-the-shelf Daisy that is accurate with BBs? And, what would be considered "accurate" as far as BB plinking goes? What is the accepted range for accurate shooting with BBs? I need to put things in perspective because the accuracy I'm getting with the BB guns I've shot recently is nothing like what I remember (mis-remember?) from my childhood...
Tight groups,
Bob
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I bought one about 10 to 12 years ago. It was kinda fun to shoot, but not very accurate for me. Pellets are definitely more accurate than the BB's, the BB's are kinda all over the place. I bought it for backyard pesting, but I had more misses than hits. I tried the black tape mod on the end of the barrel, but it didn't seem to help much. Finally bought a break barrel last year, then moved to PCP a couple of weeks ago. I'd sell the 880 but it's probably not worth much of anything to anyone.
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It looks like I'll follow the same sort of path with the 880, picking up another one and subjecting one of them to the popular modifications. I recently quit smoking and $35 is about a week's worth of what used to be cigarette money.
Congratulations on quitting. I'll do the same sometime (yeah, I know). However, I am in a similar situation since I quit drinking two years ago. Having that extra $$ is what has led me to now have almost 40 airguns (need to add some to my sig list). If I quit smoking on top of that, I may someday end up with an FWB. :D Although, my Baikal MP532 is an extremely close match to an FWB 300. It was definitely in that price range.
My 880 ownership started with that $21 ebay deal last year, and I have since bought two metal ones that needed rebuilding. They all shoot the same, that is, tack drivers.
I tried the black tape mod on the end of the barrel, but it didn't seem to help much.
The last Geo ldc I bought fit tight and eliminated the need for the black tape. I think that was actually intended as part of his design evolution. They are well worth the small amount that he charges for them.
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Way to go, you'll only get happier with it.
I bought mine the beginning of last year and love it.
I'm no a scope user so I left mine in the box and went with a Daisy 5899 peep sight and diy extended front sight, never looked back.
I did the basic trigger mods explained by members here and the trigger is really great now.
I know there's lots of trendy popular mods you can do to these, but in my opinion all they really need is a better trigger pull and better way to aim.
I don't understand why they need a week's worth of modifications, they're pretty accurate have plenty of power for what they are and are really quiet on 3-4 pumps.
Do yourself a favor and stick with the basics and see where it gets you, no need to put a week's worth of mods and time for a $35 gun if it can easily satisfy you.
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Here ya go David.
Geo ldc's -
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145133.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145133.0)
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Great advice from David, keep it simple and shoot the !!!! Out lot it. Mike
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I have a few AG’s but my all time favorite everyday shooter is my ’71 model 880. By far the easiest to pump & a tack driver in the truest sense, & the lightest trigger pull of all my AG’s.
Its hideous factory trigger has been mentioned several times & rightfully so. It is probably the worst out there which shouldn’t come as a surprise given its intent as a kid’s entry level gun. The overall design reeks child entry level gun which becomes increasingly apparent given all the recommended mods; adding additional weight, straw barrel mod, etc.
My recommendation is to spend time modifying your 880’s trigger. My first attempt was on a off the self Wal-Mart gun like yours, then on a more recently purchased ’71 880 (metal). The ’71 is now my all time favorite shooter & here’s why; no need to add additional weight to the stock & clam shell forearms. The gun is much heavier than the late model featherweight. No need to modify the floating barrel, no need for any additional mods other than the trigger. If your first attempt at this mod fails so what, you can pick up another trigger & sear for pennies on the dollar & try it again. Once you master this mod you'll wonder why you hesitated to give it a go.
Here’s a link to this mod…
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=118906.msg1146951#msg1146951 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=118906.msg1146951#msg1146951)
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Last of the trigger mod is streamlining the trigger. Here are a couple of before & after pix. You can see how much meat was removed...
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Here ya go David.
Geo ldc's -
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145133.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145133.0)
Ok, now I can't say I don't know what it is ;D
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The questions on my mind now: Is there an off-the-shelf Daisy that is accurate with BBs? And, what would be considered "accurate" as far as BB plinking goes? What is the accepted range for accurate shooting with BBs? I need to put things in perspective because the accuracy I'm getting with the BB guns I've shot recently is nothing like what I remember (mis-remember?) from my childhood...
Tight groups,
Bob
Yesterday, I got out the old Daisy lever gun that was in my basement. I had always thought it was a Model 105, but it turns out to be a 111-B
I did some casual accuracy testing in the back yard, plinking at some little branches sticking out of the snow.
My new 880 showed a lot of dispersion with BBs, enough that I was not interested in using it as a BB plinker. The little 111-B showed a lot less; about half as much. It seems like it would satisfy my desire for a cheap little BB plinker. The only problem is that its POI was about four inches to the right at 10 yards and the sights are not adjustable for windage.
I took it inside and examined the plastic piece at the muzzle that centers the barrel in the shroud and serves as the front sight base. I took it out and attempted to alter it to correct the rifle's POI error. After testing, it seems I have corrected most of the windage error, but the rifle is now MUCH more accurate than it was previously! :)
It looks like a little work on the rear sight blade will turn the 111-B into the BB plinker I was looking for! And in my quest for a casual BB plinker, I stumbled onto the 880. I'm very happy about that! Win-win!
Tight groups,
Bob
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My $35 walmart 880 Is giving me dime size groups at 33 feet, standing with the cheapest Center point 4x32 scope ($29)
After I brushed out and swabbed the barrel.
It does like beeman pellets a bit more than the Crosmans.
Knocking a few pine cones out of the trees at a much greater distance is fun.
Iron sights set as far left as possible just, almost, kinda line up so they are not much good.
I'm betting the trigger will lighten up a bit soon as I get 500 shots through it.
I fill the bb tank, shoot a few pellets and some bb's.
BB groups at 33 feet are, well, 1 to 2 Inches, sometimes better, sometimes worse.
I can hit a pine cone at 65-75 feet now and then with a bb.
The Gun likes 4 pumps for bb's
and 5 pumps for pellets.
7 pumps is noticeably more powerful but above that is not much diff.
bb's seem to loose it above 5 pumps.
For $35 I am not the least bit disappointed as this gun Is far more accurate in my hands than both my springers.
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Martin,
My 880 shoots pellets very, very well (it likes the heavy ones... Crosman Premier Ultra Magnums, for example). I cleaned the bore before shooting the rifle. BBs just won't group well. I'm using good Daisy brand ammo, too. I haven't bothered to even shoot a group on paper to measure, judging by what I've seen by shooting at small twigs, etc. sitting on top of the snow. My little 111-B is much more accurate with BBs.
The 111-B needs to have the rear sight altered so it can be adjusted for windage. It could also use a larger stock. Unless the new Model 35 I have en route shoots BBs better, I think the little 111-B is going to be my go-to BB plinker.
I do love the 880 though. Even though I haven't done any trigger work to it and am using the supplied Daisy scope, I find I can shoot that little plastic air rifle as well OR BETTER than some of my nicer air rifles when shooting off-hand in the yard. I'm thinking the 880's stock must have the perfect geometry for me; particularly the pistol grip area. My trigger pull does not seem to upset my hold at all. I have other rifles that are more difficult to keep on target during trigger pull despite having much nicer triggers.
Tight groups,
Bob
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Hello, Bob.
Yes the Daisy 880 is a great little gun and gem. I think it was much underrated, I find I perfect too, in some ways better than my $200 Benjamin Trail NP2 and shots almost the same in the accuracy department, not of in the power department, but that's expected with the differences in the powerplants. But for the money it is a real good and reliable and accurate Plinkinggun.
I don't shoot any BB's with it, it is a rifeled barrel and I don't want to put that in peril, I haven't even tried yet. If I want to go with BB's I take out my Red Ryder, I shot that one in the past out up to 20 yard on tin cans, and with the right looping technique there was almost 99% out of all 10 shots and 10 hits. And that was with it not modded for any power gain. The only thing I have added to it is the LDC from Geo Shoonmaker, what I realy believe added to the gun in the accuracy department, cause It does in basics the Barrel tape mod for you installing it and stabilizing the barrel. But I shoot it right now in my limited shooting arrangements up to 17 feet and pellets with 1 to 2 pumps and it is still much fun, so with the LDC the mechanics of the gun are louder then blast when shoot. So that's a big plus on it. Right now i'm shooting mostly for that distance the Daisy pointed, you can get at evert Walmart for cheap. And they will do just fine for my gun on that short distance. When I was in the past and was going over 30 Yards, I was shooting the Winchester Domed 9.8 grains, and they proofed for me at that distance more accurate than the Daisys. I was shooting with them Winie Domes Golfballs at 40 yards dead on with at least 9 out of 10 hits. So that is almost on par with my Benjamin Trail NP2. I enjoy my 880.
Sorry for getting away with this subject from the original post. But if the 880 would be better I would buy a second one for $35 at Walmart and only shoot BB's out of that. Well maybe I try that, or one of that Daisy No. 35, I would like to hear how yours is working out with BB's. That will be interesting, so I wait for it.
I think our local Tractor Supply has here a No. 35 on sale the Camoflaged one for around $40.
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I know some of you guys really like BBs. But with todays quailty pellets and the accuracy you can achieve with them forget BBs glue the BB door shut. LOL
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I know some of you guys really like BBs. But with todays quailty pellets and the accuracy you can achieve with them forget BBs glue the BB door shut. LOL
Not to mention that pellets don't cost that much more.
I never shoot BB's strictly because they ricochet too much......I could shoot my eye out!! :o
I have three 880's and only shoot pellets. When I bought my Sig P226 I had the option of a BB/pellet version, or pellet only. I went with the pellet only.
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No I own only one 880 and I shoot only pellets out of that. If I want to shoot BB's there it goes out of my Red Ryder.
I also don't shoot BB's out of my Crosman Vigilante, even if I could, besides it has a rifeled barrel and I don't want to ruin that either with BB's. So if I wanted to shoot BB's out of a Pistol, I would propably getting me a BB Pistol for it.
Nothing wrong with shooting once in a while a Red Ryder, it's a fun little gun, and quite accurate for what it is, in the range limits and power limits, and really cheap to shoot and to maintain. Easy to handle and to cock too, so if you got a lasso scope rail on it, and a red dot sight a cheap one it is quite a little short range plinking machine. LOL
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After reading post several months ago about the P-17, I just had to have one and dont regret it.
Looks like the same thing is going to happen after reading this thread! you guys are destroying my nest egg.
I need to stop reading so much.
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After reading post several months ago about the P-17, I just had to have one and dont regret it.
Looks like the same thing is going to happen after reading this thread! you guys are destroying my nest egg.
I need to stop reading so much.
If you didn't regret buying a P17 for thirty bucks, I bet you won't regret buying an 880 for thirty-five. :)
Guys joke about having to eat ramen noodles for a while to recover from a new airgun purchase. You'd have to eat ramen for years to make up for a new Weihrauch... you can recoup 880 money by skipping a lunch at a restaurant one or two times, or passing up one happy hour with the guys at work one time, etc. It's the kind of money that's fairly easy to fit into even a tight budget.
Tight groups,
Bob
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I know some of you guys really like BBs. But with todays quailty pellets and the accuracy you can achieve with them forget BBs glue the BB door shut. LOL
But BBs are the connection to my shooting past that got me into airguns! :)
I have a accumulated a nice selection of airguns that I really enjoy (all springers or pumpers) and that I'm happy with. There are not too many models I'm really interested in adding. I have no desire to purchase a PCP. I do a lot of shooting with powder burners, too, and am satisfied with my collection of pistols, rifles and shotguns.
That leaves BB guns. I still need a few more of those!
Tight groups,
Bob
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Guys joke about having to eat ramen noodles for a while to recover from a new airgun purchase. You'd have to eat ramen for years to make up for a new Weihrauch.
I made that very comment last week about buying an HW35E. While it wouldn't take me a year to recoup, it would definitely take a couple months.
However,.......This week I'll be picking up a sliding breech 1377 for $35. Don't ask me why. I have one modded 1377, three 1389's, a 2240 and a sliding breech 1300 in .22 cal., so why do I need another something similar? Because this one is a slider in .177?
No.
The real answer is that, as you said, $35 is easily recovered and I do have an addiction to these guns. I like restoring them as much as shooting them.
And this is not off topic because I've done the same thing with 880's, which is why I have three of them. One new one and two steel ones that I restored.
Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
You better shout for help in a different direction... your words will fall on deaf ears here. ;)
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
After you starve to death can I have your 880's ;- )
wll
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
After you starve to death can I have your 880's ;- )
wll
Somehow I knew that was comin'!!
You guys.....you're so loyal (to the guns that is). ;)
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
You better shout for help in a different direction... your words will fall on deaf ears here. ;)
Ok, i’m Curious lol,
So what’s the funny story involving an 880 from your childhood that you mentioned in your first post??? :D
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
You better shout for help in a different direction... your words will fall on deaf ears here. ;)
Ok, i’m Curious lol,
So what’s the funny story involving an 880 from your childhood that you mentioned in your first post??? :D
Buddy - I think you mean for that question to refer to this quote:
I have a nice selection of air rifles and do a lot of backyard shooting. After seeing recent posts on the forum regarding Daisy 880 rifles and also recalling a funny story from my youth involving one, I decided to risk squandering thirty-five bucks and grabbed one at Wal-Mart yesterday.
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Somebody stop me please before I starve to death!! :-\
You better shout for help in a different direction... your words will fall on deaf ears here. ;)
Ok, i’m Curious lol,
So what’s the funny story involving an 880 from your childhood that you mentioned in your first post??? :D
Buddy - I think you mean for that question to refer to this quote:
I have a nice selection of air rifles and do a lot of backyard shooting. After seeing recent posts on the forum regarding Daisy 880 rifles and also recalling a funny story from my youth :D one, I decided to risk squandering thirty-five bucks and grabbed one at Wal-Mart yesterday.
Yep lol,
I meant it for desmobob’s first post.... don’t know what I was thinking... as usual lol! :D
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I didn't mean to mention the funny story as a teaser... it's just something that comes to my mind every time I see a Daisy 880. It's one of those "you had to be there" kind of things with a long backstory and it involves the most serious of safety violations, so I won't relate it.
But back to the 880...
I picked up my second 880 today. I tore into it immediately and did some smoothing and polishing on the trigger parts. I also removed the flat spring, wetted down the sponge wiper with some secret sauce and thoroughly cleaned and de-greased the barrel. I waited to do some test shooting before I mounted the scope.
I was not just pleased, but impressed, when the rifle shot BBs exactly to the point of the aim of the unadjusted open sights and was shooting them pretty accurately, too; much better than my other 880. But this didn't last long... after about ten shots, the POI started shifting up and left. This had me wondering if it was because the barrel was getting fouled with oil. I brought the rifle inside and cleaned the barrel again. The POI again matched the POA for several shots but then ended up creeping up and left again. Interesting...
After this testing, I put the scope on. This scope explains all the advice to simply toss the scope in the trash when you unpack the rifle. My other scope is surprisingly good. This one has a blurry spot right smack in the center. :( It's functional though; just not nearly as good as the one that came with my first 880. I have a 3-9x32 Optima that came with a Hatsan package that I may mount up.
My Model 35 is due to arrive tomorrow. I'm having a daisy of a week!
Tight groups,
Bob
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Congrats on your second 880... those things are addictive. ;)
I’ve got two in brown and my excuse for a third is I want one in black.
I plan on one of geo’s ldc’s on that one and maybe some power mods.... maybe.
Good shooting with your 880’s.
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desmo - You haven't lived until you have a metal receiver version with a rifled barrel (some came with smooth bores). ;)
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Thanks Buddy.
Don't get me started, Dennis! Two 880s is already one more than I need. Actually, I don't NEED any! I have plenty of springers that get the same job done by cocking them just once. (But darn, those little 880s are fun!)
Tight groups,
Bob
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Thanks Buddy.
Don't get me started, Dennis! Two 880s is already one more than I need. Actually, I don't NEED any! I have plenty of springers that get the same job done by cocking them just once. (But darn, those little 880s are fun!)
Tight groups,
Bob
yeah,...I said exactly all of those words too..........just before I bought my third.
Just sayin' ... ;)
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It's a sickness. I just received a new Daisy PowerLine 35. I cleaned the bore, lubed the action, test-fired it, smiled at the results, came inside, and ordered another one. ::)
Tight groups,
Bob
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I feel like a drug pusher, but I'm an addict myself.
Next step for you.........METAL!
(As in receiver). :D
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It's a sickness. I just received a new Daisy PowerLine 35. I cleaned the bore, lubed the action, test-fired it, smiled at the results, came inside, and ordered another one. ::)
Tight groups,
Bob
Bob - Did you buy the pink one? :-X
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Bob - Did you buy the pink one? :-X
Yes. My second pink one. It was half the price of a brown one. Just sayin'...
Thank goodness for cheap spray paint!
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As a very happy owner of a few 880's, I love this gun .. It is easy to pump, with a barrel tape mod and removal of the flat spring,, you end up with an OK trigger and a gun that will shoot walnuts at 20+ yards all day long.
I'm on a Benjamin 392 kick right now, but I got to tell ya the 880 is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH easier to pump and for plinking tin cans or taking small pest (Starlings, Sparrows) this gun is my choice. IMHO the Benjamin is a hunting gun with some good power, not a plinking gun because of the amount of effort it takes to pump the 392 up ..... yes, after about 6 pumps you do have a serious workout ..... both guns have very different purposes for me.
I got to take my 880 out next week and shoot a few cans ;- ) For $35.00, I don't think you can beat the quality of this gun !!
wll
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+1 agree 100% on that, William.
But I would like to have a 397 myself one day, even if i'm not hunting.
Or maybe a Blue Streak or Silver Streak. We will see.