Town & Country comparison Senior to Junior

[45flint]

Finally had a clear day at 70 degrees in Ohio!  Was finally out at the backyard range.  Had a few new rifles to finally put to the test.  First I bought out my newly acquired Crosman Town and Country Senior and Junior.  The Senior was been a desire for about two years so interesting to see how reality stands up to what I’ve read.  First need to say that these rifles came out in 1949 the Senior at $24.95 and the Junior, a lot cheaper at $14.95.  The Senior lasted one year but the Junior lasted several before morphing into the 120, and then the 140 with changes along the way. 

First of all the Senior did live up to my expectations, mainly from it’s massive brass metal work, with excellent black finish. Everything is brass, the receiver massive well machined. All the metalwork gives the feeling of very well made gun, over built, you think you are holding a firearm.  Stock is massive as well, like a M-1 Garand, but though nice is not finished nearly as nice as the European rifles I have, here they must have kept on budget.  Though I am happy to have an original finished stock I can see why many of these have been sanded and refinished.

The Chrony Testing.  Crosman Premiers Hollowpoints 14.3 grain

                 Senior.          Junior
pumps
6               588.              603
                 583.              602
                 579.              604
                 578.              595
                 582.              604

3.              445
4.              500
5.              552
7.              607
8.              631

As many have found the Junior actually pumps up quicker even though they are supposed to have the same internals.  I don’t find this that surprising, it’s pump stoke seems different.  Seems quicker? and a little harsher than the Senior?  Also the Senior relies on the precise fitting of the brass to seal the breach.  The Junior has a O ring on the end of the bolt.  The Junior I found straining at 6 pumps and could see some deflection of the tube, did not want to go further.  The old manual actual says 4 pumps is enough for light game. 

I found myself laying the Junior down and shooting with the Senior.  I’m sure both shoot equally well but overall Senior experience makes me wonder if I will pick up the Junior again.  The Senior really is something special.  Worse negative is a heavy trigger.  The Junior looks and feels much more cheaply made in comparison.  But I suspect all pumpers but the Sheridan Supergrade will look a little lightly made next to it.

Unanswered question comparing the Seniors two sighting options, mine didn’t have open sight but order a new one, it’s on the way.

 T&C Senior 5 shots 25 feet, very old eyes, lol
                     

[TerryM]

  Interesting.  I have both the Town & Country "Junior" (model 110) and "Senior" (model 108) myself.  My 110 is also the harder hitting of the two.  I find myself shooting my 110 more often than my 108.  It retains a little air when pumped 5 or more strokes.  I use this to my advantage: after a few shots I am getting near 600 fps with 5 pumps, 640-650 with 6 pumps.  This is with JSB 13.4 grain pellets.  It had a pretty stiff trigger until I replaced the original spring with a lighter one.  Both guns are quite accurate, the 110 a bit more so than the 108.   I have scopes on both of mine.  The 110 regularly groups 1/2" and less at 20 yards.

[45flint]

  Interesting.  I have both the Town & Country "Junior" (model 110) and "Senior" (model 108) myself.  My 110 is also the harder hitting of the two.  I find myself shooting my 110 more often than my 108.  It retains a little air when pumped 5 or more strokes.  I use this to my advantage: after a few shots I am getting near 600 fps with 5 pumps, 640-650 with 6 pumps.  This is with JSB 13.4 grain pellets.  It had a pretty stiff trigger until I replaced the original spring with a lighter one.  Both guns are quite accurate, the 110 a bit more so than the 108.   I have scopes on both of mine.  The 110 regularly groups 1/2" and less at 20 yards.

I think the spring on my 108 is too stiff.  I assume it’s the spring under the trigger guard?  I unscrew the guard and this backs off the spring somewhat.  Where did you get a weaker spring?  I think I’ve probably been tainted against the 110 cause it looks cheap compared to the 108?  Need to give it a chance. Not sure my eyes will ever let me see which is the best shooter?

[TerryM]

  The local Ace Hardware has a large selection of springs.  I just took the spring with me (yes, it's the one under the trigger guard) and found one that was a similar size but softer and a bit shorter.  I also put one in a model 114 for the same result.

  The model 110 is certainly no looker.  Actually it's rather homely.  But it's a great shooter, I consider it my second best pumper after my Sheridan.

  I've posted these pictures before.  The 110 has a Weaver C6, the 108 a Weaver J4.  Vintage scopes on new Crosman 459MT mounts.  I tend to hang a scope on almost everything, to wring out the max accuracy.

[45flint]

Thanks much Terry relaxing the trigger on my 108 will cure it’s only issue I have with it.  You are a shooter. I’m much more of a collector that shoots.  The 108 just fascinates me, the double sight is pretty unique and kind of practical if you use peeps.  In low light they are useless, be cool to go to a open sight.  I want to see if it still holds to target.  I have my Beeman R1 scoped but rarely shoot it since I got into vintage guns.  Back yard is only so long. Lol

That scope on the massive 108 actually looks cool like it belongs on the gun, probably because of its military designed look. It’s also a vintage scope which matches the era, well done. May get me scanning the bay for a J4, already have those mounts. Also bought that original 1960s scope mount and have never used it.

[45flint]

Is this old Crosman mount compatible with those Older Weaver scopes or is it too small?  Looking for diameter can’t seem to find it.

[TerryM]

  Both of those old Weavers are 3/4" steel tubes.  They will work with the Crosman 410 mount in your post.  Weaver made a number of 3/4" scopes early on.  That size was the standard in the old days, even for high powered center-fire rifles.  I got a couple of J4s on ebay, for around 30 bucks each if I remember right.  I have seen them go for considerably more.  It's kind of primitive by modern scope standards.  The reticle will wander around the field if you have to adjust it a lot.  Shims in the rings can compensate for this, I did that with one of mine.  Several other 3/4" Weavers make good airgun scopes, the B4, B6, C4, C6 and others.

  You are right about the 108, it is indeed something special.

[45flint]

Went to Hardware store today and bought some springs after about 5 different combinations, lol  the trigger is much nicer.  Now to snag a weaver scope on the bay, just a Terry wantabe?

[45flint]

Went to Hardware store today and bought some springs after about 5 different combinations, lol  the trigger is much nicer.  Now to snag a weaver scope on the bay, just a Terry wantabe?  Maybe some barn siding for the picture backdrop?

[45flint]

Why can’t we edit any more?