Top 25 Pumpers

[Yng@hrt]

I started a thread on “Vintage Air Gun Gate” to discuss member’s top pix. The response was well received; over 1700 hits in 5 days or 340 hits per day so the interest is there. However, we hit a snag, many fine examples had to be excluded from the list due to my failure to address this gates requirement for pre-1985 models; hence moving the thread here.
 
Conditions;

1.   Selections are based on Quality, Collectability, & Performance
2.   Any pneumatic that has an onboard pump to charge its reservoir
3.   No Springers, PCP’s, Co2’s, or mods
4.   No limit to age although earlier models would be appreciated
5.   Rifles only

Here are the Top 5 pix (these will remain in place because a lot of folks put a lot of time & effort into this selection & I believe each one is warranted of their respective positions.)

1.   Sheridan; Model “A” Super Grade & Model “B” Sporter
2.   Sharp Ace
3.   Kessler
4.   Sheridan; Model “C” (Pre-1990, including Benjamin-Sheridan C9-Racine production
5.   Benjamin; 392P (Racine production) & Benjamin 342 ('78-up)

Here are all the remaining selections up to date from the previous thread. For those members not familiar with the previous thread we will give everyone until this weekend (4/09) to make your selections to add to this list & then we will select the next 5 (6 thru 10). Here is a link to the first thread; http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=124302.0

Remaining list for Top Pumpers;

Crosman; Prewar 101 & 102, T & C 107 & 108, 110, 120, 140, 760 (1st version Pump Master), 766
S & W 77a
Benjamin; 312, 397c (carbine), 347
Rochester
Daisy; 822, 922
1st break barrels?
Daystate Sportsman Mark II
Sheridan; 397
“Tootsie Roll” (variant 1 or 2, variant 3 or 4 Racine)
J.C. Higgins 1400
Titan Mohawk
1987 Benjamin Centennial
50th Anniversary Sheridan

Thanks in advance for participating.

[bantam5s]

In no particular order
Crosman 1377 and 1322 pistols as well as 1389 and 2289 backpacker carbine versions.
Crosman 2100 and 766
Metal receiver Crosman 66 powermaster
Crosman 761xl
Sheridan H series pistol
Metal receiver Daisy 880
Collectability may be debatable, but all are great guns and are / we're extremely popular.

[Yng@hrt]

Thanks for getting this 2nd thread started David & those are all great pix but reading through your selections I realized I left out another important condition; "Rifles Only". 

I think that would be a great topic for another similar thread.

Thanks

[WECSOG]

I agree with the 766 and 3100 (same gun, different names) and the Backpackers. Not the 1377/1322 kit that comes with a stock; those are still pistols. But the 1389/2289 true Backpackers that had a longer barrel than the pistols, and didn't even come with pistol grip panels. At least my 2289 didn't.

And I'll add the 392PA/397PA back in. I've got two of them and they're great rifles, I don't care what anybody says.

[longhunter]

actually, ALL crosman 101's and 102's should be on the list. not just the prewar odels. the 1949 model 101 is considered to be the finest incarnation of the series.

[Yng@hrt]

Updated list;

Crosman; Prewar 101 & 102, T & C 107 & 108, 110, 120, 140, 760 (1st version Pump Master), 766 & 3100, 1389 & 2289 (backpacker carbine versions), 2100, 66 Powermaster, 761x1, 392PA & 397PA, 101 (1941), 101 & 102 (postwar)
S & W 77a
Benjamin; 312, 397c (carbine), 347
Rochester
Daisy; 822, 922, 880 (metal receiver)
1st break barrels?
Daystate Sportsman Mark II
Sheridan; 397
“Tootsie Roll” (variant 1 or 2, variant 3 or 4 Racine)
J.C. Higgins 1400
Titan Mohawk
1987 Benjamin Centennial
50th Anniversary Sheridan

[Yng@hrt]

Daisy 140 Defender & Model 40 (military model). Not sure if any of these will make the cut but I thought they were kinda cool.

http://user.pa.net/~the.macs/DAISY3.html

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/04/daisy-no-40-military-model/

[WECSOG]

Now I'm gonna throw a doozy in there. Daisy/Avanti 753/853/953. They are pumpers; they have a piston that pushes a charge of compressed air into a reservoir to be released upon firing.
Actually it's not off the beaten path since someone already mentioned a single stroke pneumatic in the other thread.

[Yng@hrt]

Those are impressive! This thread has me going insane wondering where to dump spare change first. That's after I take a look at another Silver Streak. Should be ready to look at in the next week or so. Problem is, the owner has no idea what year it is.

[Flint]

Sorry for not contributing sooner or more constructively to the original topic. 

I'll try to make amends on this one.

ok, for quality, collectability, and performance:

I think your top five is pretty darn good, though I don't have any experience with the Kessler (but it sounds pretty great). 

I might add the benjamin Sheridan H9 pistols (in any caliber), while performance isn't mindblowing primarily because of the smaller size, they certainly have quality and collectability going on.  They are built every bit as solidly as the benjamin and sheridan rifles in their prime, and their performance is better than any of the previous versions of benjamin pump pistols.  Their going price has gone through the roof lately.  If you had one to sell, you could make stupid money on it - particularly the nickel finished ones. 

I guess unless you are specifically and intentionally ranking .22 cal versions over .177 cal (due to a performance edge), I might advocate for lumping the racine 347, 342, 397 and 392s all together (you already have the .22s lumped).  also, just as a housekeeping thing you have sheridan 397 listed somewhere below.  that's not a thing.  The 397 is a benjamin (though the differences blurred more and more in later years). 

[Yng@hrt]

Sorry for not contributing sooner or more constructively to the original topic. 

I'll try to make amends on this one.

ok, for quality, collectability, and performance:

I think your top five is pretty darn good, though I don't have any experience with the Kessler (but it sounds pretty great). 

I might add the benjamin Sheridan H9 pistols (in any caliber), while performance isn't mindblowing primarily because of the smaller size, they certainly have quality and collectability going on.  They are built every bit as solidly as the benjamin and sheridan rifles in their prime, and their performance is better than any of the previous versions of benjamin pump pistols.  Their going price has gone through the roof lately.  If you had one to sell, you could make stupid money on it - particularly the nickel finished ones. 

I guess unless you are specifically and intentionally ranking .22 cal versions over .177 cal (due to a performance edge), I might advocate for lumping the racine 347, 342, 397 and 392s all together (you already have the .22s lumped).  also, just as a housekeeping thing you have sheridan 397 listed somewhere below.  that's not a thing.  The 397 is a benjamin (though the differences blurred more and more in later years).

The Kessler was brought to my attention by a ranking member who is my go to guy for anything concerning this site. Needless to say, extremely knowledgeable. After he described the Kessler, which BTW is hand made down to the nuts & bolts, he made this statement; If I had a mint Sheridan & a Kessler to choose from & they were both a grand I'd sweep up the Kessler with out blinking an eye. I don't know much about the Kessler but I'm very familiar with the Sheridan's. I was sold.

As for lumping all the .22 Benji's together I'd have to say no based on the information given on the previous thread. the 392 was by far the best choice (by the information given) but the 342 was so close behind that we decided to lump the 2. However, my go to guy for the Benji's is Tracy & if you folks decide this is the case then I'd be happy to make the change.

Thanks for alerting me on the 397.

In addition, I made the mistake of not excluding pistols, although I did contact one of the moderators to see if he can make a note of that up top. I would like to see another thread pertaining to these as well. My apologies.

Thank you for your input & your opening sentence. 

[rsterne]

If they don't have to be production models, I would respectfully submit my .25 cal Millenium Pumper.... Based on a Disco tube, with a 392 Billet linkage, it would deliver three shots of 40 FPE with 25.4 gr. JSB Kings before needing to be repumped.... Alternately, it could be tuned for two shots of 45 FPE, or a single shot at 50 FPE....

If I'm out of line, then I apologize, but remember the gun was made with primarily Crosman/Benjamin parts, and intended that if Crosman had so desired, could have been produced with a minimum of fuss and bother.... The only special part required would have been the addition of a check valve inside the Disco tube.... Food for thought.... 

Bob

[WECSOG]

I agree with Billy on ranking the .177 versions of the same rifle with their .22 brethren.
Racine .177s (397P and '78-up 347) with 392P and late 342; 397PA with 392PA; 317 (and 310 if you include smoothbores) with 312, etc.

[WECSOG]

If they don't have to be production models, I would respectfully submit my .25 cal Millenium Pumper.... Based on a Disco tube, with a 392 Billet linkage, it would deliver three shots of 40 FPE with 25.4 gr. JSB Kings before needing to be repumped.... Alternately, it could be tuned for two shots of 45 FPE, or a single shot at 50 FPE....

If I'm out of line, then I apologize, but remember the gun was made with primarily Crosman/Benjamin parts, and intended that if Crosman had so desired, could have been produced with a minimum of fuss and bother.... The only special part required would have been the addition of a check valve inside the Disco tube.... Food for thought.... 

Bob

It's an awesome design, Bob. Certainly no need to apologize.
I wish Crosman would produce something like it, even if it just had a standard 392PA valve.

[Yng@hrt]

If they don't have to be production models, I would respectfully submit my .25 cal Millenium Pumper.... Based on a Disco tube, with a 392 Billet linkage, it would deliver three shots of 40 FPE with 25.4 gr. JSB Kings before needing to be repumped.... Alternately, it could be tuned for two shots of 45 FPE, or a single shot at 50 FPE....

If I'm out of line, then I apologize, but remember the gun was made with primarily Crosman/Benjamin parts, and intended that if Crosman had so desired, could have been produced with a minimum of fuss and bother.... The only special part required would have been the addition of a check valve inside the Disco tube.... Food for thought.... 

Bob

Wow Bob that one is way over this guys head. Maybe we can get some input from others who can better evaluate it for this thread.

Much thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[Yng@hrt]

I agree with Billy on ranking the .177 versions of the same rifle with their .22 brethren.
Racine .177s (397P and '78-up 347) with 392P and late 342; 397PA with 392PA; 317 (and 310 if you include smoothbores) with 312, etc.

Billy & Tracy, basically the same response from two savvy Benji members. I'll make the change per Billy's post.

Thanks guys!

[39M]

Since the 1377 and 1322 have been disqualified, I'll suggest the 1300KT.

About double the price. But comes with choice of barrel length, 3/8 grooved steel breech, and shoulder stock.

[rsterne]

NT

[Yng@hrt]

Since the 1377 and 1322 have been disqualified, I'll suggest the 1300KT.

About double the price. But comes with choice of barrel length, 3/8 grooved steel breech, and shoulder stock.

Sorry 39M. No pistols or customs (mods).

[45flint]

In my role as the great disruptor the FX Independence may be the holy grail of pumpers.  Of course it's not cheap and not collectable but performance blows all guns on your list away.  The gun has PCP charging as an option but it is not necessary.  65 pumps takes you up to your staring power after that 3 pumps is necessary after each shot to maintain power.  That is revolutionary, a precharged pumper. Here is full description, there is also a shorter bullpup design, the Indy.  Here are full stats.

http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/blog/2010/06/independence-day.html

And UTube:


And UTube of smaller Indy: