Author Topic: What happened to the B3 series ? (Read 41723 times))

singleshotcajun · « **on:** January 05, 2014, 08:09:02 AM »

It seems the only current source for Bam,Xisco,Industry,SAG ....whatever B 3 series rifles now are Amazon and South Summit. South Summit used to have a few different variants from plain to deluxe.About four years ago I bought four of the deluxe ones and gave away three,still have my .22 B3-3,good luck getting it away from me. I still have my trusty B3-1 bought from toolsnow, it wears a Williams GRS peep and never fails me. All three I currently own have been tuned by me and two are great and one is just a dud with a bent barrel.
I would like to "build" up another using a Williams FP target peep.
Trying to find(does not have to be a B3 or a "cheap" rifle) a springer under 750 fps fixed barrel under lever or side lever with a grooved receiver for the peep sight and a metal post front sight(hate fiber optic sights) for Silhouette practice in my back yard.
I currently use my AR2078B most of the year and my old B3-1 in cooler weather.
Anyone have a line on B3 rifles other than the ones offered on Amazon or South Summit.Apparently the B3 series is still being manufactured in all variants but does a US distributor import them?

avator · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2014, 08:35:51 AM »

DP Wholesale.com has some of the break barrels. You have to spend $100 minimum and you are supposed to be a dealer. That wasn't hard to get around and I bought 5 of them at $21.xx each.

2nd RCHA · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2014, 02:56:07 PM »

I've also been looking for another B4, I have 2 now, one in .177, and the other .22, both are modded. I did quite a bit of work on the .177, and it now shoots like a dream, and w/ close to 900fps w/RWS Hobbies, The .22 not so much, but I did manage to get it up past 600fps(610fps w/ Hobbies), They are an extremely durable, and solid gun, ordnance grade steel, and beneath the krappy finish is actually a nicely grained "Chinese" hardwood, I think it's beech. There are lots of "Industry" rifles around, but I think if you specifically want a B3, then I think you may want to try "Compasseco" http://www.compasseco.com/ ,they have almost all of the products sold under the "BAM" name, although I think they're all called "TechForce" now, In the U.K. they're sold under the "SMK" brand-name, I think that there are quite a few Chinese factories all making the same gun, I think there was also a factory that put these guns out with the brand-name of "Snow Leapord" as well, I'm sure it would take you a while trying to figure out what comes from where,LOL, Cheer's, Andy.

If I find any on-line dealers for the B3 series, I'll post it,,,Come to think of it, Doesn't "Cummins" still sell B3's?

singleshotcajun · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2014, 06:38:04 AM »

Compasseco is now called Pyramid Air . I think the Techforce line is what Compasseco/Pyramid calls the Industry line of air guns. I have not seen a Cummings air rifle in quite a while. Cummings used to run traveling tools sales company they sold the B3 at these sales and on their website. My B3-1 from Toolsnow.com was marketed as American Camper
B3-1 American Camper from Tools now.This series of b3 has a steel pin that the cocking lever rides on so coking the rifle places zero stress on the stock.Later versions have a plastic "bearing" in the stock for the lever.

B3-3 from South Summit

avator · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2014, 07:53:07 AM »

Did a little customising on some of my B2-1s. I've shared these pics before but, thought they may interest you. They are all .177 @ 550 fps. They were $21.xx each at DP Wholesale. Here are: 1) Harley 2) Frog 3) Sleezy and 4) Woody

avator · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2014, 08:03:27 AM »

I also have 2 of the B3-2 underlever, 1 in .22 and one in .177. I'll snap some pics of them and share them later today. I picked those up at our local flea market for $35.xx each but, I know for a fact that the vendor got them from DP Wholesale as well. He has a break barrel pistol in .22 that I've been considering. I don't mind paying a little extra by going thru him because , as I said, DP Wholesale has a $100.00 minimum on orders. Had I thought about this when I bought the 5 B2-1, I would have gotten 1 of each model.

2nd RCHA · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2014, 08:47:49 AM »

I've always liked the B4 series over the B3's, Especially the ones that i got all those yrs ago, the XS-B4-2A's,,much better than the B3-2's, and they're roughly the same price,,If you have a chance, take the B-4's over the B-3's any-day. Cheer's, Andy.

I'll also post pictures of mine later on today, I'll even try and find a pic of an XS-B2-2A, that I owned a few yrs back, It was a tack-driver, I dropped a Crosman Quest 1000 spring into it, and I was getting 750fps in .22 w/ Daisy Field Point's,,,Alas, It was ripped off on one of my deployments,,,Man, I must of killed 50 Huge Norwegian Brown Rats in Kosovo,.Great gun, very easy to tune,,If I had a chance, I'd pick one up in a heartbeat.

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:12:58 AM »

I've got a bunch old chinese guns. I bought two B3-1's (one in each cal.) six or seven months ago at a local flea market. That guy keeps several in stock as well as B2's and 1's. They all have a small red "R" and made in china on them. I later got a couple of B2's and a B1 from him (all $25-$35). The only other place I've found I can buy them individually is lostworld.com thru Amazon. I got a .22 B3-1 with the front sight mounted on a 9mm dove tail($35 + shipping) and a new type of B3 in.177 with a trigger safety and molded plastic trigger guard along with a .22 B1(didn't have one in .22). They were $45 and $30 and $25 shpg. The Amazon guns had no markings. A few weeks ago I bought three old B3's totally disassembled from a fella in N.C. All the parts along with my parts bucket is enough to get them all shooting. Two of'em turned out to be XSB4-2's(look like B3's, different inside).

Andy mention the B4-2. I rebuilt another one way back along with the two AK's. They all seem to group better than most old chinese guns. I wonder if XS's have just got better barrels?

TheFrugalTech · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:34:29 AM »

I have a B3-1 and B4. Both are probably around 10 years old. I am currently working on going over the B4 since it has a &^^& refinish job on the stock. The B3-1 however is like new and has been fired maybe 5 times. I may be looking to part with it but it would cost as much to ship as what it is worth.

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:42:18 AM »

As you say, shipping is more than they're worth. That's why I keep'em and I like'em anyway. Anyone can hit targets with a $600 gun and a $200 scope. This is a fun challenge to me.

avator · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:49:27 AM »

I've done some research on all these guns we are talking about, They are made in China by the Shanghai company for the most part. I love these cheapies. The underlevers are surprisingly durable and accurate to about 20 yds. Summit sells the rebuild kits (QF-2). The break barrel still have the leather barrel seals (weak link). It's hard to find one without filler putty in the stock. We have 2 indoor flea markets within 25 miles from my hous, each hase a booth in it that sells all the stuff from that DPWholesale site. They both have these guns. There is a .22 pistol with wood grips. It boasts 400 fps. $25.00 might be worth a look.

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:19:58 AM »

I've got two of those pistols. One off amazon and one from the flea market. They're S2-1's according to the SAG catalog. The .177 averages 316.09 fps.(high351.4/low276.2). The .22 240.1(high 249.4/low220.5). Big spreads. At first at 21 meters I could hit a sheet of copy paper more times than not. With a little practise and sight adjustment off a rest they would shoot 3-4" groups with a couple of flyers now and then. Take care, that front sight will cut you.

avator · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:28:46 AM »

Quote from: lefteyeshot on January 06, 2014, 10:19:58 AM

I've got two of those pistols. One off amazon and one from the flea market. They're S2-1's according to the SAG catalog. The .177 averages 316.09 fps.(high351.4/low276.2). The .22 240.1(high 249.4/low220.5). Big spreads. At first at 21 meters I could hit a sheet of copy paper more times than not. With a little practise and sight adjustment off a rest they would shoot 3-4" groups with a couple of flyers now and then. Take care, that front sight will cut you.

Yep, I noticed the sharp edge on it when I was playing with it at the flea market. My first thought was to make a cocking extention for it like the Benjamin Trail NP pistol. Just so happens, Betty Lou and I are going to the flea market today because I have the day off and it's something to do inside. It will be hard to walk past that darn thing again without picking it up. Stay tuned for how that works out.... lol. Speaking of cold, (apologies to those up north) I went out to the shed and set up a 20' indoor range and took the Powermaster 66 out for a little paper punching. I was shooting those plastic skirt pellets that Chuck at Crosman sent me as a gift. I had forgotten that I left a pump or two in the gun and added another 4 pumps. Bad idea. The steel bb stuck in the wall but the plastic skirt found it's way around the shed a landed on my makeshift shooting bench. The next 4 shots at 3 pumps punched a jagged hole in the paper That's when I realized that the shed didn't provide must shelter from the cold.

Stargatesg1 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:40:44 AM »

I bought a B3-3 from amazon last march 2012. I haven't done anything to it at all.
I just take it into the backyard shoot it, and have fun. I had to crank the rear sight
up all the way, but it it is pretty accurate, and so far, reliable. No complaints here...none at all!

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:48:32 AM »

Mine hit a couple of inches high with the sight all the way down. Bent it per Barrel bending 101 in the Home projects (tricks&tips) gate.

Stargatesg1 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2014, 12:37:34 PM »

Yep, there's always a way if you put your mind to it.

I have a old scope that's just laying around. I might mount it to the B3, and see how it works. If it works out...good, if not, no big lose. The scope is an NCstar compact. About 8 inches long, so it won't cover the loading port. I also mounted a scope stop on the rails so it won't slide back.
I had this problem on it when I previously tried mounting a scope. We'll see what we'll see!

Stargatesg1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2014, 12:58:45 PM »

BTW Tim. Since you mentioned the barrell bend trick....I might give that a shot. Can't hurt,...might help!

avator · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2014, 01:23:41 PM »

LOL.... Look what followed me home from the flea market.... I ran some googone thru the barrel and a few drops of lube down the port. Put a 16.20 Gamo Master Point in it and popped my 15yd. target a couple times. I was surprised how quiet it was. No twang, it reminded me of the feel I get from the gas rammed Nitro Venom. I'm sure that's due to the short stroke and wood grips and steel. No plastic on this little jewel. Daggonit, I need a chrony. (on the list) The sun makes it look warmer that what it is but, I might have to brave the elements and play with this thing some more.

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2014, 01:41:58 PM »

John, when you bend the barrel read the barrel bending in the tricks &tips gate first. Little steps at first.
The jig is easy to build.

Bill, Wal-mart chrony $85, free shipping. It's a simple one, you got to do the math.

avator · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2014, 02:06:19 PM »

Quote from: lefteyeshot on January 06, 2014, 01:41:58 PM

John, when you bend the barrel read the barrel bending in the tricks &tips gate first. Little steps at first.
The jig is easy to build.

Bill, Wal-mart chrony $85, free shipping. It's a simple one, you got to do the math.

Yeah, I seen em. I'm savin my pennies cuz I want the ProChrony Digital. I like the USB connection to the laptop.

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What happened to the B3 series ?

Author Topic: What happened to the B3 series ? (Read 41723 times))

Stargatesg1

Stargatesg1

Stargatesg1