Remembering My Old 760

[ShadowShot]

I remember my first air rifle I bought. It was the old Crosman 760. I think I had this back in the mid to late 70's. The reason it sticks in my mind so well was its accuracy. I know they all shoot well with the pellet of choice but what always amazed me was how well it shot BB's.  I'm sure it had a riffled barrel, to long ago to remember. All I know is that it would shoot the BB's just about as well as it did with pellets.

Power, not bad for my first pumper. I can remember the old tin trashcans being full of BB holes. 
Needless to say, this was one I wish I could get back or one like it. It was always my standard from that point forward in getting new rifles to replace my old ones. I remember being broken hearted when I over pumped her one two many times and she quit working. Oh well, lesson learned. She was replaced with my next favorite rifle, the Daisy 880. Now that was a good shooter. Many critters were laid to rest due to her precision. She didn't shoot the BB's well, she more or less threw them, but she was my second favorite hunter.

Thought I would share the memories. If anyone knows more about this old classic, or knows of ones availability, let me know.

Shadowshot

[larspawn]

All wood stock I presume. Rolled and grooved forestock?  Or the squared off wood?

I have one that is amazing as well. Then picked up a currect vintage plastic one for a build off.  It was so flimsy I feared modding it. By the way the unruffled barrel shoots like a shotgun at 10yds!  POS

[northern lights]

GO to gun broker an look them up I see them for sale all the time . I just bought a 761xl from a memmber here. A good used one might cost less then the new m 417 . They get some nice ones once in awhile.

[supertech77]

heck i think the old 760 i had was [ riffled ] too.i know there was no plastic in the gun,and that the for stock was wood and had slots and i think it was a 25 pumper,or that's what i was told to pump it too,very accurate with bb's and pellets,but back then i used almost always bb's,was a lot of fun to shoot;and had good power,yep,remember when'' boy am i getting OllllllllllllllllllllllllllllD.lol

[Lonegunman]

I own about 25 of the 760's including ones from all eras. 1967 thru 1997

They were / are great guns and of course the cheapo ones are still for sale.

  The very earliest 760's did not have rifled barrels but did in fact have the wooden stocks. The first design featured the pop off valve.
These were considered self cocking.  They had the brass bolts.  On these models - the valve is different and it makes these more expensive to seal.  They typically have the solid metal pump head.

On the later versions with the plastic bolt knob, by operating the bolt - one is cocking a hammer with a spring which
opens the "knock off" type valve, similar to the current Benjamin designs.   These typically have the rubber cup type pump head and are usually easy to fix.

  Once serial numbers were included, the month of mfg can be determined from that number.

  Cr went back and forth as far as rifling these guns. Some version they did and others they did not.  I have not found any literature on the subject, but I have carefully inspected around 30 varieties.  The interesting thing is that even on the rifled ones, ( including the 761's and the 760 XL) the screw hole for the rear sight went all the way thru into the rifling.  I don't know what effect that had on accuracy but I was truly surprised by this discovery. One can push a pellet thru the barrel and notice a distinctive stopage on passing these rough spots.  This explained something that I had observed about the current Cr Discovery.  The rear sight is screwed onto a plastic sleeve which sits over the barrel.  I surmise this is so that they do not repeat the former 760 design practice.

  Strangely, the "best" barrels would be on the later ones ( 1990') with the welded on sights. They were rifled but they were not compromised as the rear sight was also welded on.

  I also became interested in the 760 's  cousins the Daisy 880.  I have several of these.  I thought that all the 880's were rifles, but the first ones were in fact smooth bore.  Daisy offered the 881 as the rifled version and then later on they were all rifled barrels.

  I collect and restore these old models, 760's ,  880's,  and some vintage Crosman, Benjamin, and Daisy -so if you want to discuss these, please don't hesitate to contact me.  I would be happy to share what I know about any of these.

  I am new to this forum and look forward to learning a lot and sharing the few bits of info that I have collected.

  Mark - San Antonio

[larspawn]

Mark, good to have you and your expertise here!  Is it true millions sold?  Is the 760 the highest volume pellet gun?  Not counting Daisy model 25 or Red Ryder.

I'll have to post a pic of my mid year 760. Might be late 80/early 90 model. I do know it must not have has many bbs through it because it's still very accurate.

Andy

[Rasmuth]

still have my 761 xl that I bought used in 1977/78....can't remember which. Still a great shooter. You can see it in my avatar pic.

[Lonegunman]

I think the 760 is the most successful in terms of number sold.  I can't really back that up.  The Daisy 25 ran from 1915 to 1979. About 65 years.  But in those days, there were not as many sold.

    I also collect the Daisy 25 and have 15 or 20 of these.  I rebuild them as well.  Interesting guns.

    The 761 XL is sweet.  It was the premium attempt at the 760 line.  Brass plated receiver and then lacquer coated to keep from turning dark.  I have a couple. but they are not perfect as they could use a replating.  Expensive I bet.

  There was also the 760 XL with brass plated receiver and plastic stock.

  A 760 from the 80's 90's period may or may not have the metal receiver.  Metal receiver is pre 1984, I think. would have to refer to my notes.

   thanks all.  Happy to be here amongst the airguners.

Mark

[vadalejrfan]

I am currently redoing and old 760 I have had around for years, cant even remember when I bought it or why. It has the metal receiver and wooden stock with the rounded and grooved forearm and brass bolt handle and knob. I live in the country now but when I lived in town I used to shoot starlings and a couple of piegons that were making a mess under the overhang on my back porch. They really are fun little pumpers to shoot.

[Crosshairs]

This is my 760 collection the 760 with the wood wood stock and pump arm was my 2nd air rifle 1969.
                                                            Mike

[vadalejrfan]

Great looking bunch of 760's, I am in the process of restoring my old 760 with the wooden stock and forearm and the metal receiver.    jrfan

[Motorhead]

760's ... dang, forgot having one all together 
As I strain my brain a few others PG's come to mind as well.

O'those days of Fly & die, Run an gun in the home town fields !!

[Crosshairs]

Great looking bunch of 760's, I am in the process of restoring my old 760 with the wooden stock and forearm and the metal receiver.    jrfan

Thanks ! You have a real classic there don't ever get rid of it. I got mine in 1969 then just started buying any different one i saw. Also bought a few that were broke and fixed them up just gives me something to do.
                                              Mike