Weekend loot: Crosman 600, Sheridan Blue Streak, some ???s

[Mark@]

After picking up some springers and maybe not scratching the itch, I found these two separately this weekend:



I like shooting targets, but wanted a plinker for tin cans and such.  An auto-loader to be exact.  There had been a 600 sitting at a local flea market for over a year.  They are only open on Sundays and it just sat.  I walked in last Sunday and took notice of it, etc.  My research during the week told me it was Crosman 600.  This forum taught me it was a holy grail of sorts for auto-loaders.  Now, folk's versions of the variants seem to be conflicting.  This is the open-ended cap, therefore I believe it's a version 1.  I realize it is more difficult, if at all possible, to add a tank to this version, but I don't really care about having a tank attached.

Anyway, the story is that this dealer was selling it for a friend.  He actually suggested to sell it on Gunbroker, but the friend didn’t want to get involved with that.  As you can see, it’s clean and came with the rocket box, manual, warranty card, warnings, (2) boxes of Crosman C02 cartridges, and one can of Crosman pellets.  I don’t know yet what the age of those items is.  I had my own cartridges, which are at least 20 years old, and popped on in the 600.  I fired off 30 rounds without issue and she started hissing for a minute and was dead.





Questions on the 600:
 
1 – I realize that as pressure drops, there’s going to be hissing, since the cylinder is no longer “tight” against the seal.  Also, these are good for about 30 shots, before expiring.  So, is the hissing at the end of 30 rounds the normal indicator that the cylinder has passed, i.e, does it need seals or not?  After the 30th shot, it just hissed for about 20 seconds and died.

2 – One smith wrote that even if the gun functions fine, you should send it to a smith and have it cleaned, seals replaced, etc.  The reason was that the grease from the 60s had a tendency to harden, which could rub and push internals out of tolerance, causing wobble, etc.  Good advice?

3 – Why don’t companies still make great guns like this (rhetorical of course)

Now the Sheridan.  I found this on a local gun forum.  Young guy bought it from the original owner, shot it a bit, and just wanted to move on.  Bluing is excellent and the wood has normal handling marks.  Some residual paint from something on the butt, but I didn’t care.  I posted earlier that I thought something was wrong with it at first, but realized I just hadn’t cocked the bolt far enough back.  I’ve learned over the years not to force things, so I babied it a little.  I fired one 177 pellet from it, just to test function, but need some 20s to have some fun. 

It functioned perfectly and more importantly for me it didn’t kill my elbows cocking it.  It’s so darn light, compared to a springer, I fear I might have bought the wrong guns initially.  I accepted the weight of a springer, because I thought my elbows wouldn’t take the pumping action.  I have a Crosman 1300 Medalist pump and I can’t really shoot that too much, but the pump rifle has better ergonomics and doesn’t irritate as I feared.  So, I might end up selling a brand new springer…or two.

I’ll probably just clean it up.  See if I can get the paint off without harming the finish.  Then just give the wood a wipe down with Weinmans.

There's a rash starting on the rear site base.  Not sure whether to address it, or leave it???





Anyway, this is mostly your fault, so thanks for listening 

[dk1677]

Nice finds! yes we should have the warning "abandon hope all ye who enter here "   

[Mark@]

Thanks.  I think I was a little harsh on the Sheridan description.  I just wiped it down and hit the white paint with Greased Lightning.  Cleaned almost all of it off and I haven't even put elbow into it.  The woods is nice and there are not marks that dented or scratched the wood.  I can't wait to give it a good cleaning, oil, then hit the wood with Weinmans Furniture paste.  It's great past that doesn't change the feel or appearance of the finish.  Just gives it a nice clean look.  A dime-size amount or so will cover the entire gun.

[threex4]

your correct about the hissing sound. the 600 was designed to vent when the pressure dropped to a certain level. it keeps the gun from firing and possibly causing a jamb or stuck pellet in the barrel.
and yes why dont companies make more guns this way?

[RedFeather]

You haven't heard about the White Paint Elves?  It is obligatory that all used guns have white paint speckled onto the stock at some point in their existence.  (Just one of Life's Mysteries.)

To make it even easier on your elbows, try pumping your Sheridan like this -

Place your foot up onto a chair bottom, box, fence rail, etc.  (Right foot for right-handers and so forth.)

Flip gun over and lay the barrel on your raised thigh.

Hold the stock in the off-hand and now pump with your right.

Instead of pressing two hands together, as in the "normal" pumping mode, you now have the additional leverage of your weight to support your pumping arm.

I find this technique much less fatiguing when shooting targets.  Not as convenient in the field.

[Smackey54]

Nice grab! Congratulations!

[Mark@]

Thanks.  Just having the leverage of the rifle, vs a pistol is very helpful.  But I'll try your method as well.

Life's mysteries, got it.

Any idea why I only got one sock out of the dryer 

[Mark@]

Nice grab! Congratulations!

Thanks.  I can't say I've been the luckiest guy when it comes to buying guns.  Typically, I'm looking for quality non-polymer firearm pistols, or older rifles.  These are always hard to find and when you find them, they're no great deal.  So, when I found each of these I was pretty happy.  It's a lot of work searching forums, etc.  And the flea market one, heck that place had a major flood a couple months ago and this dealer had 30 minutes to collect what he could.  Thanks goodness he saved the 600!  I believe it was the most expensive piece in his section of the market.

[Crosshairs]

Nice score good luck with your new guns.
                                        Mike

[uncle paulie]

I found your sock at my house! Nice guns BTW!

pv

[Mark@]

I found your sock at my house! Nice guns BTW!

pv

Thanks!  Just don't ask me to explain the sock...

I've fired the 600 a few more times and am thrilled that it feeds perfectly, etc.  I don't fire as fast as I can, but I am firing faster than I can even aquire the bullseye.  I want to retire and start making guns like this!