What happened to the B3 series ?

[singleshotcajun]

It seems the P O L A R    V O R T E X has delayed my shipment until Monday so no tuning joy for me this weekend. Oh well I get to see my Saints try for another road playoff win.

[Stargatesg1]

Thanks Tim...

[2nd RCHA]

One of the reasons why, I got good numbers(along with tons of other stuff like extending the bolt probe, opening up the transfer port, and doing a few other thing's I care not to mention, less I feel the wrath of the Mod's) was tossing the springs that came in the "kit's", and used "Quest 1000" mainsprings,the difference is like night and day.

[lefteyeshot]

Andy, what were the differences with the Quest 1000 spring, fps, accuracy, smoother cycle
 
You're talking about a B3, right?

What is the length and coil count of the spring?

[CFH]

One of my B3's, shoots a little on the lower end of the scale, but a very nice basement paper puncher.



Best,
Tim

[lefteyeshot]

Cool video, Tim.

[TheFrugalTech]

I wonder just how many different configurations they did of the B3.
I have one exactly like this:

And another just like this:

Both are listed as B3-1 on the sites the images came from and the rifles I have are dead on the same as the pics above.
With the exception of the finish on the under lever. That is the one that a previous owner did a REALLY bad job of refinishing.
I have started refinishing it today. Haven't decided on the final finish color yet. I figure I have plenty of sanding time to think about it. Besides, the color I go with is going to depend greatly on the grain pattern revealed once it is completely bare.
Also considering doing something a little different with the grooves on the forward end.
I'll post some before and after pics when it's all done.

[lefteyeshot]

A bunch and I think I got at least one of all of'em. And XS made some with a different trigger assembly and front sights, also some with adjustable AK/SKS like front sights. You said something about the forward groove. Does it have the front sight mounted on an almost 9mm dove tail. I've got one of those in .22.
Had to put a new screw thru it but finally got it tight.

[bubba zanetti]

Thanks for all the info. guys. Looks like a couple B3's will be in my future :-)!

BZ

[2nd RCHA]

Tim, The difference between the 2 are like night and day, even though the "Chinese" springs the same length. coil count, you can see just by wiggling it in your hand the tensile strength is a whole lot weaker. The Crosman Quest 1000 spring is very stiff, and the difference in the gun is about 200fps, So, don't let anyone tell you, A spring's just a spring. I dropped "Quest 1000" springs into my Cometa's, and their pushing 36ft/lbs , It was like dropping a "Rolls-Royce" "Merlin" engine into a Sluggish P-51 Mustang , Cheer's, Andy.

[TooJung2Die]

I dropped "Quest 1000" springs into my Cometa's, and their pushing 36ft/lbs , It was like dropping a "Rolls-Royce" "Merlin" engine into a Sluggish P-51 Mustang , Cheer's, Andy.

Do you have the dimensions of the Quest 1000 spring such as ID, OD, wire diameter?

BTW - I was always under the impression that most P-51's used the Merlin engine.

[2nd RCHA]

I'm not running around trying to find calipers to get Exact measurements for you, but I did take a pic for you, The top spring is from a "Crosman Quest 1000", and the two beneath are from the "Chinese" kits, I believe they were from the QF2 kits used for almost all their guns from the B2's, B3's, and B4's, http://www.dlairgun.com/Maintenance/Industry-Brand/ ,as you can see the lengths for the springs in the "Chinese" kits vary a little to more than a little, I've seen differences of up to 2", while I've never seen such variations with any of the Crosman springs that I've purchased over the years, (roughly 15, or so)
Also, The P-51 was indeed powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine, The Detroit muscle that was originally its power-plant just didn't have the ball's to turn it into the fighter it was destined to become: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-51_Mustang

[TooJung2Die]

I'm not running around trying to find calipers to get Exact measurements for you, but I did take a pic for you...

Good to know, thanks. I have the "cleaning and maintenance kit" with spring ready in case I feel the need for a new spring, but based on your experience I'll add a Quest 1000 main spring to my next Crosman parts order and try that instead!

I got the B3 back together this morning after refinishing the stock. Not a bad looking chunk of wood under the paint it came with. I had more fun working on this gun and I'm not done.

[2nd RCHA]

I love my B-4's, I especially like them in thick bush, I've given both of mine a "Bed-Liner" finish, and you could bring these things through the thickest stuff around, and they'd come out scratch-free, I've kept the .22 optics free as well, and made some pretty incredible shots just using the "iron-sight's", very reminiscent of the Lee-Enfield .303's I fired in Cadets, In fact, 2 yrs ago I took a Mallard with the .22 @ 45yds, using Gamo Hunters(a perfect match for this gun), It was the first chance my dog ever got to get quarry at that far a distance. In all honesty, If you take the time, and have the patience, you can have a shooter, that'll "out-shoot" the best of the pack, In case you're looking for some help w/ tear-downs, and such, here's a link, this guy seems ok, but disregard his use of "WD-40" as the myrical elixir when it comes to airguns,LOL,:  http://air.guns.20megsfree.com/photo4.html

[timinater64]

this is to single shot cajun.  I actually just got a under lever in .177 that looks just like that well sort of i got it from a guy who had it in storage for 2 years i just got it this after noon i oiled it down and whiped it down and cocked it and shot it a few times doesnt seem like the fastest thing in the world , but it will go thur a beer can at 15 yards open sites
the black plastic end cap cracked though and the barrel is all rusted up its going to cost me a $5.00 pizza thats a great deal. I plan on striping it down and redo the stock a darker color and sanding down and re blu the barrel and then re building it I never did anything like that before so im looking for ideas.

[singleshotcajun]

The two from Sharp imports came in today. I think I have a  major tuning job or just a couple of parts guns. Yet another variant, long notch in stock for cocking lever no bearing of any kind for the lever. On the first one the lever touched and started to crack the wood at full stroke. These two are pretty on the outside but ugly everywhere else.I normally clean the bore then shoot on cleaning pellet before doing anything to one. The first one would not shoot out the cleaning pellet. Took it apart cleaned lubed lightly deburred here and there put it back together with a thrust washer(new black spring guide) and still no air pressure. The piston seal is poly and it seem tight enough going back together but it must be faulty. The second one develops pressure but has a single stage trigger. Maybe I can build one out of these two. My last B3 rifles have come from three different vendors and all three are total junk. These used be slightly less of a &^^& shoot. I do enjoy working on them so I now two more project guns but I am officially done buying new ones. My next spinger will likely be a higher end gun.

[lefteyeshot]

All my new B3 have been at least good. Surprised you got some that defective. If there's a screw hole in
the end of the piston try a leather seal. It might produce more pressure. Also try a new breach seal. You can get'em both from a Archie.
 
 A replacement  for the receiver end cap is the top off an AXE travel size spray deodorant. Takes a little trimming. I'm using them in two of my rebuilds. $1.00 CVS. I don't use that brand but I noticed the top.

[singleshotcajun]

 A replacement  for the receiver end cap is the top off an AXE travel size spray deodorant. Takes a little trimming. I'm using them in two of my rebuilds. $1.00 CVS. I don't use that brand but I noticed the top.

I love it. Growing up on a Dairy farm I learned to work with "found" objects,you mostly fixed things yourself or they did not get fixed and the cows did not get milked. It is more fun to make something work than it is to through money at a problem. I'm not giving up on my problem B3s as my personality will not allow it.At nearly forty dollars with shipping and Quality really going down hill I won't be buying anymore B3s.If we could only pay shipping on all the B3 rifles owned buy disgruntled buyers across the country .I agree about the leather seals, seems B3 rifles just do better with them. Did not notice if the face of the piston is tapped but it sure can be. Did the highly technical test of laying some tissue across the breech and firing a pellet,both pass the test.
I'll take the second down tonight and see if a simple tune will help it.

[2nd RCHA]

I really like what you did with the wood on that re-finished stock of yours there  Jon , Nice Grain, When I took my B4's down to the wood, one was really nice with deep, rich grain, the other had a massive gouge that was filled in with "plastic-wood", and then covered with that Brown Stain that'll cover anything up, So, I opted for a "Bed-Liner" coating, came out sharp, very tactical looking, and tough as nails, I've done the same with practically all of my "Chinese" a/g's, with the exception of my .22 QB-57 w/ an optional .177 barrel, QB-78D, QB-18, and my latest "Chinese" acquisition an XS-60c, which has a beautifully grained stock, just begging to be re-done, I'd love to strip it down, but these old hands just don't have what it takes anymore. I enclosed a pic of the very first XS-B4-2A I ever modded, When I was done, It was shooting a 16gr Jumbo Straton @ 625fps, 14.3gr Crosman Dome @ 650fps, and like almost all B4's, it'll place the pellet exactly where you want it. Cheer's, Andy.

[TooJung2Die]

I opted for a "Bed-Liner" coating, came out sharp, very tactical looking, and tough as nails, I've done the same with practically all of my "Chinese" a/g's   ...    When I was done, It was shooting a 16gr Jumbo Straton @ 625fps, 14.3gr Crosman Dome @ 650fps, and like almost all B4's, it'll place the pellet exactly where you want it. Cheer's, Andy.

I've seen a few Bed Liner finishes on airguns. It's a good looking option for bad wood or when you just want something indestructible. Your B4 is a good example. I searched online for B4 for a while last night and could not find any dealers in the USA, only Canada. Where can you get a B4 in the States? Flea markets and yard sales seem like the only options.

What is the edge the B4 has over the B3? Externally they look like the same gun in a different stock but people like you get much higher velocities from the B4.

I was pretty happy when a tune up and piston mods got the B3 to clock 668 avg. with 7.0 gr wadcutters, up from 495 fps out of the box. Then I ran the 2100 and 880 over the chronograph. They both edged out the B3 and the 2100 is a little more accurate. I'm not disappointed with the B3. I got it as a project gun. It has responded to my efforts better than any other airgun I've worked on. I'd call it a success and maybe I can squeeze a little more juice out of it. From just a value perspective I would have to give the other cheap airguns the vote.

Someone wrote, "B3's be what B3's be."