Looking for a vintage Crosman 2100/766 or similar; differences; which is best?

[JamesonKelvin]

 I'm new here and just made my intro post yesterday.

I'm getting back into airguns. I got my first Crosman 760 in 1981 (6th variant) so I know the quality and shootability of these old guns. Even with BB's that gun was very accurate and I got really, often times amazingly good with it. Owning and  daily shooting that gun at such an early age changed my life for the positive in many ways and I consider it one of the most shaping events of my childhood. I now own several airguns and many real firearms and have been into shooting sports and introducing many others to it. It's sad how much Crosman has cheapened the 760 and reduced its accuracy with BB's compared to the old ones. I'm worried many kids are being given these new 760's and can't hit anything with BB's in them and then give up on it and have a negative view of shooting and guns altogether.

I just purchased a mint condition LNIB Crosman 761XL earlier today and will  do a report once I get it and shoot it and chrony it. I'm ecstatic about getting it.

I'm now currently  looking at Ebay and elsewhere for a 766/2100/AM77 type Crosman rifle. There are plenty of vintage 766's and 2100's around to be had and I'll eventually find  one in mint or near-mint condition.

My main questions and reason for making this post is -

1) What are the main differences between the 766 and the 2100 when that change happened, if any?

2) Are there any significant differences in quality, power/velocity, and accuracy of those two?

Is there a similar Crosman that's better than the 766 or 2100?


I want the 766/2100 gun not only for vintage reasons, but it will be a shooter used often. A big consideration for me will be 3) which one is capable of being fairly easily and reliably modded to get at least 800 fps with 7.9 CPHP .. if that's possible? I'm good with finding things on the net and can learn and do any mods myself as needed.

Thanks so much in advance. :wavy:

[Big Bore Bart]

  Look around in my older posts for some tips and tricks on the 766/2100.   The 2nd gen 766 and earlier 2100s are the best for modding.  Build quality went down with the later ones IMHO.

[JamesonKelvin]

  Look around in my older posts for some tips and tricks on the 766/2100.   The 2nd gen 766 and earlier 2100s are the best for modding.  Build quality went down with the later ones IMHO.

From looking at the Crosman  product dates page(can't post links yet) it looks like there were 3 766 variants - 1st with plastic barrel housing(75-77), 2nd with tapered steel housing(77-81), and 3rd with straight steel barrel housing(81-82). Then the 2100's started in 1983.

So are you referring to ONLY the 2nd variant 766 with the tapered steel housing, or any of the 2nd and 3rd 766's?

And by earlier 2100's are you saying maybe 1983-1990?


and I will look through your old posts. Thanks!

[Tack Driver 10]

Stay clear of the 766 V1, it has a funky valve arrangement and is a dog.

The 766 V2s with the tapered steel barrel shroud are my favorite.
The 766 V3s are similar to the early 2100s and are good candidates.
 
The main difference is the older guns have brass valves and metal pistons/barrel bands.
Do a search here on "2100 mods" and most of your questions will be answered.

800 FPS is easy with some basic mods:
Adjustable piston, valve mods and sealing the leaks will get you there.

Here's a link to a 2200/2100 I made awhile ago.
The 2100 was made in 2012.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=136879.0

[bantam5s]

They still make the 2100 classic which I own and it's a great gun.
If you can't find an old one in good condition at a price you like the current 2100b American classic is a good gun at $50+/-.

[Tack Driver 10]

You may wish to find a 2100W, 2200W or a Model 1 which have a wood stock instead of plastic.
They are not as easy to find but they are out there.
All the 766/2100/2200/Model 1 versions have a plastic bolt/probe.

If you're handy you can hang a 2100 pump tube on a 13xx gun as done here.
All metal and wood in 22 caliber.

[BrushPopper]

Had what I believe was a V2 766. For years it was my only working airgun; shot it constantly and bagged many, many head of small game with Green-Can Benjy pells for ammo.

Pre-chrony times (for me), the manual listed a MV in the 660s, but it seemed to shoot a bit hotter, at least in my mind. It made some long kills on crows and such.

One of the more handsome Crosman designs IMO

[unionrdr]

I just got a 761XL (3/76) delivered from a fellow member yesterday. Cleaned it up and mounted an old Centerpoint 3-9x32 scope. Needs a reseal, bluing and re-plating the receiver halves.

And my 66AB Powermaster (6/86) I also got from a member here is a good shooting rifle too. Not sure about like mods, but it can be done. It also has the straight barrel sleeve;

[JamesonKelvin]

Lots of excellent info here. I love this forum.

I'd love to find a 2100W but I've done several searches and haven't found one yet.

I'm thinking right now that I'll look for a 2nd/3rd variant 766 if I can find one in excellent condition. One with the nicer looking multi-tone stock. I'll reseal/rebuild/mod it as needed to be a shooter.

I will probably still also buy a new 2100 while they still have the metal receiver. I'm hoping they don't ever change that.


My have and want lists look like this so far-

have: 2008 Crosman 760, 2017 1377, 1972-75? 761XL(will be here this week), 2018 Daisy 880, 2018 Daisy 415 and 426, 1990 Daisy 1911 CO2, Beeman Silver Kodiak times two

want: Crosman 5th v 760, 6th v 760,  766/2100/77, 2200, 1077, Daisy 880 older with metal receiver and pump arm in great shape, Umarex Glock 19


The LNIB 761XL that I just bought may not get much if any use. I'm thinking about it right now. It's in such pristine condition and it's so hard to find one of them in that condition that I may keep it that way. The brass/gold coatings on those receivers seems to be rather fruhgeeelay.

[unionrdr]

The brass plating on the 761XL's does seem to wear off easily? Cheap metal plating I think? Being a zinc die cast receiver (allegedly), Idk why the halves weren't copper plated first, as usual? My 761XL (3/76) receiver needs replating. It definitely looks the worse for wear.

[Goose]

There's a 766 near Hickory...

https://hickory.craigslist.org/spo/d/2-air-guns/6689599208.html

Luck,

J~

[bantam5s]

Good deal, but that's a recent 2100b.

[Tack Driver 10]

Another item to look for is a full metal piston.
Some had them, full metal is best.
Here they are:

[wolfnman]

Lots of great information here.  I would like to add some information regarding the 2100/AM77 side of this question, if still of use to anyone.

There are currently three air rifles, built by Crosman, on the 2100 platform.  Those are the Crosman 2100B, Crosman Legacy 1000, and Remington AirMaster 77.  The key differences at present, based on the Crosman website and speaking at length with Kevin at Crosman customer support, is that the Legacy CL1000 and AM77 have several pieces of upgraded internals, such as a metal compression piston rod, that produce a slightly more powerful air rifle.  The trade off is that they both have a plastic receiver.  At this time, the Crosman 2100B is still produced with a metal receiver.

I have two AM77s.  One is the pre 2012 version with plastic compression piston rod and metal receiver (just like the 2100B), and I have a newer post 2016 model with metal compression piston rod and plastic receiver.  I bought the post 2016 model new a couple months ago.  I have polished the hammer, sear, and trigger engagement points to fix the gritty trigger.  I also completely took apart the piston and compression valve assembly.  Sitting in the box since its production in 2016, the pump cap material had dried out some.  I cleaned all parts, gave it all a good lube with Silicone chamber oil (based on the Crosman recommendation).  I also took J&B Non-Embedding Bore Compound and the J&B Bore Bright to the barrel.  I average about 830 FPS with 7.4gr Crosman Wadcutters.  The 7.9 gr pellets experience a marginal speed loss off of that.

I found a metal receiver on Ebay as well to replace the plastic receiver.  Good thing too, since when I was taking my gun apart, I found the middle receiver screw to have been over-tightened, breaking the threads of the receiver apart.  At least that was the diagnosis of Crosman on it.