This was originally published in "Shotgun News" in 2006.Military airgun trainers: Part 2The U.S. Air Force purchased several hundred .22-caliber Crosman 160 CO2 rifles for marksmanship training in the 1960s. Many were never used and were later sold in the 1990s as surplus. The rifle is not martially marked, though some may have the impromptu marking of local commands.The USA -- Crosman 160Let's begin with a relatively recent military trainer -- and a trainer with a real difference. In the 1960s, the U.S. Air Force bought several hundred Crosman 160 CO2 target rifles for marksmanship training. This is a departure for military trainers, because they usually looked more military, and accuracy is secondary. With the Crosman 160, it was the reverse.The rifle was totally civilian, and it was nearly as accurate as any .22 target rifle of the period -- certainly good enough for target shooting at 50 feet. All the Air Force did to make it their own was specify a Crosman (Williams) S331 aperture rear sight and a one-inch leather sling with swivels. Both items could be purchased by the general public, but relatively few rifles ever had both unless they were trainers. Clearly, the Air Force wanted a three-position target rifle -- not a realistic battle weapon.This model is very much a military trainer because it was actually inventoried in the Federal Stock System and had a Federal Stock Number. It did not have any Air Force markings on the actual rifle, however.This label is all that positively identifies an Air Force Crosman. Without it, you have a good story and nothing else.