Well, I jumped in. Need info on my Sheridan Blue Streak C Series

[Mark@]

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.  Actually, if anyone has advice on that.  I've posted dozens of pictures in forums and ads before.  I used to use Photobucket, but for some reason it only comes up a phone app now?  I opened an account at Image Shack and non of the URLs or links I use seem to post pictures.  If I get that resolved, I'll post some pics.  My other questions are at the bottom, if you want to skip the editorial 

Anyway, I grabbed a 1978 Blue Streak today.  I got a good deal, but it was a weird scenario when I picked it up.  I met the guy in a mall parking lot.  Of course, when you pull a rifle, any rifle, out of a car in a mall parking lot you attract attention.  This didn't really occur to me until I pulled the rifle from his car right in front of Sears!!  We are all so accustomed to such things, but ignorance can spread panic quickly.  Add to all this the fact the on Dec 26th there was a huge brawl at this suburban mall.  I was there with my teens and it wasn't pretty.  And just last week someone left a fake grenade in the flower pot inside the mall...I felt like I was holding a time bomb. 

So it looked clean, I handed him cash and as the local ordinances regarding air guns, of which I am not entirely familiar, running through my head, I sped out of there like I just stole something.  In all fairness, I have been trying to find ordinances on our town and county web site and have been striking out.

I got the Sheridan home and decided to test fire it.  I checked the barrel and it was clear and shiny.  I spread a .117 pellet, pumped the gun 6 times, and loaded her up.  Rocker safety off...or on, I didn't know which was which yet.  Pull the trigger...nothing.  Hmm...the trigger didn't really move.  Change safety position.  Still a hard trigger.  WTH, did I just get taken    Well, for the price, how hard can it be to fix.  But let's take a look.

I take off the stock.  Hmm...aint really too much goin on in there    Long story short...too late I know but it's snowing here today..  I didn't bring the bolt back far enough to actually cock the dang thing!  I wondered why it was such a challenge holding the bolt back, while seating a pellet.   I learned long ago not to force things, so I babied the bolt a little and just didn't pull it back far enough.

It fires fine and seems like a darn good rifle.  i'll wait for some 20 caliber pellets to test it out.  What I really like is the light weight and good balance.  I have tendonitis, but with the leverage you get this might make more sense than the, um, well, springers I just bought    I am ok with various types of airguns, but I'm not sure I need all three of the springers.  But  I digress...

If you're still awake, and have 10 more minutes of Sheridan experience than I do, kindly let me know your thoughts on the following:

1 - where can I find the manual for the vintage series guns, with rocker safeties?  I have found some sites, but most are not the rocker series.

2 -  The bluing is excellent.  All I really see is some rash starting on the rear sight assembly - must be a different metal than the rest.  The wood had normal handling marks, but there is some white paint scrapes on the butt of the gun.  Not a big deal at all, but I wouldn't mind trying to bring out the figure of the wood.  I've had good luck with Weiman's polish in the past.  What can I do that hurt the value of the gun? 

3 - I would be using this mostly for target, but also for hunting when out of state.  Any recommendations on pellets for either, etc.

4 - If this was your gun what would you do?  Lube, modify, just shoot the dang thing, etc..

Thanks...this is a great forum!

[Smackey54]

I picked one up recently from as pawn shop advertised as a "parts gun" for $20. They also did not pull the bolt back far enough to cock it. I brought it home and put a couple of drops of oil in it and let it sit over night. I pumped it up the next day (7 pumps), and it ran across the crony at 710fps. So...the parts gun is a shooter. It even had an old rusty "TV View" 4X scope on it.
The stock was in terrible shape. I am in the process of refinishing it. I will post some before and after pictures when I am done.
The barrel and chamber on mine are brass...and I think most of them are. The rear end plug and the front compression tube plug are white metal. I intend to strip the old "bluing" from it and try some brass black on it. Also my bolt is pretty rusty. Haven't decided what to do with that yet.
The "rash" you see on the rear sight is probably rust. The rear sight assembly is steel and pinned to the barrel.
There are parts diagrams available for download from the crosman site. Also, Mac1 Airguns offers tuning and finishing services.
 http://www.mac1airgun.com/steriodags.html

As-is pics of the ugly one I got are here: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,22901.msg207455.html#msg207455

[RedFeather]

Spreading a .177 won't tell you much.  I tried a .20 in a 392 (.22) to see if it would work but it hardly made it out of the barrel.  Get yourself a can of the new Benjamins.  Seem to do right well.  Have fun with it!  You will see that, before "magnum" airguns, there were actually some that hit hard enough to get the job done!

PS - Since this is a post-72, you probably have the later style rear sight.  Be careful scoping it since this sight puts pressure on the barrel and bottom tube.  Some folks have seen separation and it's not worth it to fix.  I would shoot iron sights for now and, if you do scope it, take off the sight.  FWIW, these can be a lot of fun if you find an old 7/8" scope like a Weaver B4 or B6.  Usually come with tip-off mounts and are found cheap.  Good quality, though.  If you get the old, two-piece scope mount (not the current ones that are front/rear, two pieces each), it will give you more than enough clearance for the bolt.  Plus it looks good, too!

[Mark@]

Thanks.  I only put the one 177 in, just to test it.  At 10 meters and 7 pumps, it actually whacked the plywood pretty "dang" hard. 

I can believe an older Weaver would look real nice.  I am actually thinking about a Williams peep as well.

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

"I am actually thinking about a Williams peep as well."

Do so---by all means, The Sheridan/Williams # 64 aperture sight is the optimal sighting system for the Model C Sheridan. But even if you have to delay getting the Williams take the standard rear sight in the pics you published in a thread above off ASAP. That is the late model rear site that exerts spring pressure on the wedges between barrel and pump tube on either side and will eventually cause the solder joint to fail and the components separate.

Two great finds BTW!!!!     Tom

[Mark@]

Where is the best source for that Williams site?

I didn't look close, but when i looked at that rear sight, it looked as though it can just be carefully pryed off??

Also, is there reason to leave a couple pumps in it for storage?

Thanks

[aack73]

i would put couple drops of pure silicone oil on the piston every time i shot it or every other time if you dont shoot it much. will help prevent corrosion of the internals. and shoot it.

[Mark@]

i would put couple drops of pure silicone oil on the piston every time i shot it or every other time if you dont shoot it much. will help prevent corrosion of the internals. and shoot it.

Thanks.  Especially for the shoot it part.  I'm not much of a collector and I was almost thinking "don't shoot the thing."  But then why do I have it?