Crosman Model 66, or 664GT multi-pump

[birdmove]

    I decided recently to buy a new Crosman Model 66 air rifle. I like multi-pump air guns. I am not big on all plastic air guns, but I got this one new from Amazon for $39.99, with a $20 discount for buying $100 or more. I was unsure if I was making a good move, as my last two all plastic air guns, both Daisy Model 35s, did not last long. I have been shooting the 66 a lot since I got it. The cheapo 4x20mm scope that came with it actually worked ok. But, I decided, due to this guns accuracy, to install a Winchester 2x7 AO scope I had bought for my Crosman Phantom. I believe my Phantom may have done some damage to this scope. Or maybe not. The scope windage and elevation adjusters feel like they have some stripped "teeth" or something, and will give a few good clicks, and then get all gritty. But, the optics are pretty good.

    I had heard that the Model 66 would need the barrel shimmed due to excessive clearance. But my rifle shoots so well, that I have not done this mod. The open sights were really quite good on this gun. And though the gap between the front post and rear sight cutout seemed to small, I was still able to get some great groups. I wish my 1377 and 1322 had sights this good.

    The 66 also has a rarity on a cheap, plastic air rifle.....a really decent trigger. It has a lot of travel, but the pull on mine is quite light. Unlike both Daisy Model 35s, this one has a very predictable and even pull. The 35s had terrible triggers due to a very hard, heavy pull, and, to make it worse, they were not consistent, and were very gritty feeling. It may be the trigger on my 66 that makes it pretty easy to get excellent groups. I don't have any real premium pellets, as you can't find them on the big island of Hawaii, and shipping from Pyramid Air is way high. So, I buy Crosman, some Daisy, and some Winchester pellets when I can find them freight free from Amazon. This gun does very well with Crosman Field Hunter, and Crosman Premier wadcutters. The wadcutters are up to like $13.50 a tin these days. it also does pretty well with Crosman Premier hollow points, and Crosman round nose pellets. I do have some RWS Hobby pellets that I brought with me when we moved here, but it seems to do better with the Crosmans.

    I did some shooting today at a paced off 26 yards. I don't shoot that far often, and don't have the best targets to use. Best groups were 3/8"-to about 7/8". It was a windy and rainy day, so it wasn't the best shooting conditions. But I can get groups at 25 yards about as good as I can get from 10 yards shooting my Phantom with open sights. The 26 yard groups were all using 5 pumps. This air rifle is much more consistent than my 2 Model 35 Daisy's. Of course the Daisy's were smooth bore guns, and the 66 is rifled.

    I can only hope the 66 will last me for years. I am always careful when pumping so as not to break a stock. I lube my multi-pumps often. I can't say that the 66 will outshoot my Remington Airmaster 77, or my Crosman Custom Shop CO2 carbine, but for a $40 air rifle I am vaey happy. I like the Crosman 5 round magazine, and it works well. I think, if I wanted to load this thing singly, I would have to get a pair of tweezers, as it's hard to get to, especially withy the scope. The Winchester 2x7 scope is a bit too big looking for this gun, but the optics are much better than the stock scope, and this gun shoots well enough to deserve a good scope. I wish the receiver was metal, like my Remington, but, it seems the way thing are going with inexpensive air guns.

    I don't know if my 66 is a better shooter than others, but I sure like the way it shoots, and the nice trigger.


    5/18/14    I've had time to work with a selection of pellets in my 66. I don't have any "premium" pellets though. But, that hasn't kept the rifle from telling me a story about what it likes to shoot. I have pretty well settled on the Crosman Field Hunter pellets, followed by Crosman Destroyers, and Crosman Premier wadcutters. I think, should I try shooting some rats or something, I'll go with the field hunters. I've had some fine groups with Gamo Match and Crosman Premier Hollow Points, but am not happy with the amount of uncalled fliers. I do have a tin of RWS Domed pellets , that I haven't tried yet, as they have to be shipped from the mainland at a large expense to me. I can only buy a few Crosman and Daisy pellets here. I order what I can freight free through Amazon, but still, mostly Crosman, Winchester, Gamo...and that's about it. The very good trigger, and a scope that I can really see through very well, are contributing to the guns accuracy. I took out my Crosman Custom Shop CO2 carbine yesterday, and it was amazing how I couldn't see through the Centerpoint 4 power without AO. I was literally trying to shoot round target that looked like a figure 8, and the crosshairs were out of focus and would not improve. It's a mean woman getting old, and what can happen to your eyesight. The Winchester 2x7 scope with AO is clear as a bell for me, and I love it. Except for the windage and elevation adjustments, which feel stripped out and are inconsistent.

[DavidS]

Yes the Crosman 66 is a great little rifle.    I am sorry that you had tryed the Daisy 35, the Daisy 880 or Daisy 901 are the multi pump Daisy's to try.

The Crosman 66 is a fairly accurate rifle that is easy to modify for better power.    Thanks to the powerplant and valve it is easy to use most of the 13xx mods with the Crosman 66.   I like mine as well, though mine has been converted to ACP now .

[lillysdad621]

davidS... i got my 66 shooting ridiculously accurate but only shoots 510 fps with 10 pumps and 7.9 grainers...what do you recommend to get this gun into the 6s?

[DavidS]

davidS... i got my 66 shooting ridiculously accurate but only shoots 510 fps with 10 pumps and 7.9 grainers...what do you recommend to get this gun into the 6s?

Simple:

• Stuff the piston (with steel rod like people do with the 13xx guns)
• Weaken the valve spring
• Strengthen the hammer spring.
• Carefully bore out the transfer channel to the barrel just a little
• Port the valve in the same way as is done with the 13xx guns

And that should do it.

Though mine was shooting somewhere in the 600 plus range at ten pumps stock.    Does yours hold air overnite??   If not there may be a bad seal (either the check or the outlet poppet).

Hope that this helps.

[lillysdad621]

thanks... i'll check. looks like i'm doing surgery tonight...lol

[Badgerfan]

Birdmove, thanks for taking the time to write this detailed review.  I appreciate it.