Leaving Blue Streak cocked during storage

[airgunaut]

After shooting the Blue Streak, I cock it and give two pumps. The Sheridan booklet says cocking does no harm and that some guns require cocking before pumping stores air. But if the gun stores air without cocking, is that a better habit to form?

I do it that way to match procedure for my 880, which won’t store pumped air unless the bolt is pulled back.

[avator]

Mine do not need cocked for pumping. I always store them uncocked with 2 pumps in them and I always dry fire them before the next shooting session for 2 reasons.... to see if they still hold air and to make sure I know how many pumps I am putting in them. I also put a couple drops of Secret Sauce in them before starting a session.

[Habanero69er]

Pat, I cock all my pumpers before putting in 2-3 pumps for storage. I have 2 Benji 342s, one Steroided, which you have to cock to get it to hold air. I also have 2 Sheridans. One factory original Silver Streak & a Steroided Blue Streak. Same thing with the Steroided Sheridan.
I de-cock all of them after I pump them up for storage.

[Back_Roads]

 I was just shooting my Crosman 1400, IIR that should not be stored with a charge as the first charge of air is what seals the valve and cocks the hammer. They have what is called a Quad seal that is released vs a hammer spring hitting a valve.
 I have a Webley Rebel that also works similarly.

[airgunaut]

I usually dry fire the Blue Streak before a session, to ensure that the shots start from a full 3 or 4 pumps.

I’m going to just pump twice without cocking it before storing. If it doesn’t need to be cocked there’s no reason to do it.

As for the Daisy 880, I’m reverting to storing it without pumping.

[19Sheridan57]

  I store all my Sheridans, unlocked, with 2 pumps in them. Sometimes a Sheridan has some wear & has to be cocked before it pumps up any pressure . In such a case, I would cock it first, then 2 pumps. All are stored unloaded . When getting ready to use those , cock, & dry fire in a safe direction.

[airgunaut]

  I store all my Sheridans, unlocked, with 2 pumps in them. Sometimes a Sheridan has some wear & has to be cocked before it pumps up any pressure . In such a case, I would cock it first, then 2 pumps. All are stored unloaded . When getting ready to use those , cock, & dry fire in a safe direction.

I tested it by pumping twice first without cocking, pulling trigger (nothing happened, as expected), and then cocking and dry firing. It felt like it did build pressure; the second pump gave the usual amount of resistance.

[avator]

One thing for sure... if your gun needs cocked before it will take pressure then it's not likely to retain any air after the first shot. Which is not a bad thing.

[19Sheridan57]

  Your rifle was overhauled & set to shoot at maximum fps.  It was the hardest shooting one I had in a long time. I have a few others that require cocking first, too. That is not a bad thing. After some use, you may not have to cock it first. It does not hurt it either way.

[airgunaut]

  Your rifle was overhauled & set to shoot at maximum fps.  It was the hardest shooting one I had in a long time. I have a few others that require cocking first, too. That is not a bad thing. After some use, you may not have to cock it first. It does not hurt it either way.

It did not require cocking first to hold air. After the above test, I shot a few pellets, for which some I cocked first and then pumped and shot, and some I pumped first and then cocked and shot. It fired either way.

[bantam5s]

I store mine with 4 pumps in it, not cocked but if that was necessary I'd cock it pump it then dekock by holding the bolt pulling the trigger and slowly letting it close.

[airgunaut]

I store mine with 4 pumps in it, not cocked but if that was necessary I'd cock it pump it then dekock by holding the bolt pulling the trigger and slowly letting it close.

I never thought about decocking. The process sounds a lot like decocking a double-action revolver that has been cocked for a single-action shot and then the shooter decides not to shoot it.

Good thing to know in case the Blue Streak needs cocking before it will hold air. Thank you!

[Van]

 I just do not like leaving any of my airguns cocked in storage as over time I'm afraid of weakening the striker spring.  I store my 71 Blue Streak with 2 pumps uncocked.  Some pump guns will not dump all the air if the hammer or striker spring gets a bit weak and need to be shimmed or replaced.

[Duckfish]

What David said is what I do.  But only 2 pumps.

[Habanero69er]

What David said is what I do.  But only 2 pumps.

+1 Me too. I don’t like leaving the hammer spring binded up for storage.