Crosman 2100 vs Daisy 901 or 880

[karasu]

Hi all,


I was thinking of getting a cheaper air gun to use when I can't get to the range but would like to have one that's accurate and powerful enough for small game.  How do these three compare? Which is more upgradeable if I need to make improvements? I thought it could be cool to keep it in my trunk and store some survival items in the stock as well.

Thanks in advance!

-Kevin

[Big Bore Bart]

Definitely the 2100.   It 's US made, metal bodied, moddable and reasonably accurate.  I have my 766 (the 2100 predecessor) up to 786 with 7.9 CPHP's at ten pumps.     They do have their quirks, but you get used to them.     I'm also converting one to PCP, and have different plans for another .

[pistolero]

Here is one thread:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=52645.0

This one went 5 pages:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=47291.0

[D14Jeff]

http://tedsholdover.com/index.php?s=Crosman+2100

[AK73]

I've never shot a 2100 but I have looked at one in a store and it felt real nice. I've shot a couple of 880's and for 40$ they're pretty good, but not that good. I'd say the 2100 is probably the best of the 3.

[Rex]

I've got three 880's, two 2100's and one 2200.  The 880's and 2100's are pretty much the same about accuracy and power  when working well.  The 2100's have definite quality control problems.  Metal burrs in the pump tube shred the seals causing leaks and loss of power.  If you don't mind voiding the warranty, a little work with a file and new seals will give you a good 7-8 fpe consistently.  While you have it apart there are other mods (search the internet) to give it a little more power and a smoother trigger.   I haven't found any mods for the 880 and quality issues seem to be "features (what you see is what you get)".

[MikeSSS]

The 2100 I had looked good and had pretty good accuracy but was way too hard to pump, harder than my Benjamin 397.  Cocking effort was absurdly high and so was the trigger pull.  Working on the trigger helped but only a bit.  Loading pellets was an exercise in extreme frustration, they went in backward about half the time.  Accurate shooting was made impossible by the bad trigger.

My two Daisy pumpers are much easier to pump than the 2100 and trigger work actually makes the trigger pull lighter.

You put far too much energy, fpe, into a pumper compared to the energy the pellet has, they are very inefficient compared to a springer.

A while ago 2100s were on sale at Academy for $49, I thought about getting one but passed on it.

The Daisys are cheaper and have more plastic but at least they are usable.  My old Daisy 856, .177, shoots ten shot groups of 1.1" to 1.5" at 25 yards, 8 pumps, with CPHP and the cheapest pellets, Crosman "Competition" wadcutters.

Eight pumps is not difficult with this old $29 Daisy.  Daisy 856, CC pellets, 8 pumps, 7.4 gr, 510 fps, 4.3 fpe.

The Benjamin 397 shot groups a bit larger than the D856, but at higher velocity, CPHP, 7.9 gr, 3 pumps, 549 fps, 5.3 fpe. 

It was less work to pump the 856 eight times than pump the 397 three times.

For comparison, a Ruger Air Hawk is easier to cock than the pumpers were to charge, shot 7.9 gr pellets at 890 fpe and at 13.9 fpe, it was also more accurate than the pumpers.

Hope this helps.










 

[Big Bore Bart]

  I have no problem pumping my 766 to 14-16 pumps.  But then it is modded with a flat-top piston and valve.  I think the one you got hold of needed to go back.   The 2100's that I have my hands on lately, are no stiffer in cocking than my 766 with a new cocking handle and spring.       Loading pellets does take developing a technique, then it's automatic.   The trigger is easily taken care of by bending the safety spring and replacing the sear spring.   

[birdmove]

   I would get the Crosman. I don't have one, but I have a Remington Airmaster 77, which is made by Crosman and is a bit different looking, but the same guts as the Crosman. I've had mine about 6 years. It is as reliable as the day is long. Never even a hint of a problem. The trigger is decent. Better than most of my air guns. Accuracy is very good. Good enough to put a good scope on it. I have a Leapers 4x3mm AO scope. The combination works well. The Daisy's are all plastic exterior, while the Crosman has a metal receiver. Mine will give me a good number of tiny one hole groups, and quite often, these measure 0" center to center,just like the benchresters measure. This, at 10 yards off a rest. Hard to pump? Not mine. I'm 60, but do work out 4 times a week at a gym. It's a little tricky to load pellets, but so are the Daisy's. I have a Model 35 Daisy, and it lasted 11 months when it quit pumping air. The only air rifle I have that may be slightly more accurate is my Crosman Custom Shop carbine, and it may be too close to call. My Remington is a tack driver even at 3 pumps, and loves Crosman Premier hollow points and wadcutters. If a truck ran over my Remington, I'd buy the Crosman (the Remington isn't made any more) that day!

    Check out Tom Gaylord's blog. He tested the Crosman and did a 4 part test. Interestingly, again, at his blog, a gent made a pcp conversion to the Crosman rifle. The Model 35 I have is a smooth bore, and I bought it so I could shoot BB's without having to worry about damaging the rifling (since it has none). I would never shoot a BB through the Crosman or my Remington for that reason. My first Model 35 was pretty accurate with pellets. My warranty one not so much. Amazon had the Crosman at $39.99 about 5 month ago, but they went up a bit.

    I consider the Crosman a best buy. Easy to shoot accurately. Reliable. Inexpensive. Metal receiver.  Easy to mount a scope on. It's not hard to pump in my opinion.

[avator]

I have 2 of the 2100. I recently picked them up from Crosman as refurbs for $39.00 each and I couldn't tell they were refurbs if not for the sticker they put on the box, (which BTW, also looked pristeen). The breech is steel and the gun is bigger than the 880 which makes it feel more adult freindly. The pumping is harder but accuracy is there. I did have to bend the rear sight slightly back into shape on one of them but, that was no big deal. At 5-7 pumps we punch 5 shot nickels with open sights at 15 - 20 yds. The pellets can be somewhat difficult to put in right but, I just drop them in and adjust them into place with a small peice of wire coat hanger. I haven't explored what mods are out there for them yet but for now, we are just going to shoot them. GTA member Egilman (spelling) can make wooden stocks and forearms from walnut for a very good price. I don't feel at liberty to discuss his business in the open forum so just contact him. I plan to replace both of mine as soon as I quit finding things that I want more, ie... the FDAR-PCP I ordered today and the fill station I plan for it. I have 0 experience with the Daisy 901 so I won't comment. Which ever you choose, I hope you enjoy it and much as Betty Lou and I do the little pumpers.

BTW... Welcome to the GTA.

[Trigg603]

I had a 2100 ( I probably still have it, melted in the remains of my workshop somewhere.... ) and it is a good air rifle.  My only real complaint is that it is hard to load and the bolt is hard to pull back.  I've had an 880 and while it is easier to load, it doesn't SEEM to have the power of the 2100.  I haven't had a 901 yet, but it is on my list of airguns to get someday.

Good luck with whatever you get!

[stonykill]

  I really like my 880. My go to AG. With a little work I got mine to shoot accurately out to 30 yards.
Here are 2 18 yard groupings on a cold, near Zero F morning.
   

   A few things to make the 880 a great shooter. Stabilize the straw barrel. I filled my stock with caulk. Decent scope. And only oil it with 30 wt ND motor oil. I have found Pengun too thin for Daisy's and Daisy recommends ND motor oil anyway.

   The 880
 

[K.O.]

As far as modding well the 2100 makes a great base for (pump tube and valve) a extra long tube 13xx.  So far mine is up to 15.9 fpe at 15

pumps and 17.4 fpe at 22 pumps as a  1325XLT.

I would keep  the older 2100/2200/766 models intact  but as far as the mods to the power plant the Crosman wins...

[DavidS]

First to let you know I do not yet own a Daisy 880.

That said if the choice is between the Crosman 2100 Clasic and the Daisy Powerline 880, I would go with the Daisy 880 any day.   There are a few reasons for this:
1: The Daisy Powerline 880 chronies much higher with realistic weight lead pellets, OUT OF BOX.
2: The pot metal of the Crosman 2100 receiver does not where as well as the resin of the "Plastic airguns", sometimes "Plastic" resin is better.
3: From what I have seen the Daisy 880 is more accurate than the Crosman 2100 (heck it looks to be more accurate than my 2289 with 24 inc barrel  ).
4: The daisy 880 has a lower retail price than the Crosman 2100.

Though if you want a Crosman Air Riffle with a shrouded Riffled Barrel that can easily be modified for good power go with a Crosman 66 (The current riffled barrel version is the Crosman 664GT).  The Crosman 66 has a longer pump stroke than the Crosman 1377/1322/2289, or 760 (all of these guns use the same pump arm), and the 66 has a good high quality plastic reciever.  The 66 is also more accurate than the 2100 (almost as accurate as the 2289).

I am looking into getting a Daisy 880 myself.

[Swedge]

I have owned both and liked the 880 better... one of its BEST points is the the pump mechanism has a handle!!  makes pumping it MUCH MUCH MUCH  easier and makes it harder to smash you fingers!! if you are a cyclist its like using clipless pedals vs open pedals..  also have you looked at the crosman Mk-177?  accuracy wise i personally thought the 880 was slightly better... 

[boomer92266]

my vote is the 901, i've owned an 880, 901 and 2100 too. the 2100 is metal but accuracy wasn't good, the trigger wasn't good either. the 880 had a decent trigger and ok accuracy. but the 901 has been a better gun, its trigger is good and accuracy is great out to 30yds. thats as far as i've tried it so it may do as good longer range too. i like that the barrel on the 901 has a support inside to stabalize it, that might be why its more accurate. also the polymer the 901 is made of is tough not cheap plastic.

[birdmove]

  My Remington Airmaster 77 is accurate. My trigger isn't bad either. It does have a lot of travel, but is not too stiff and the pull is consistent.

[K.O.]

Since you indicated a willingness to work on it the 2100 would be the clear winner in my opinion.

It has the most potential fpe wise and for small game that is a factor,

also the higher the fps the flatter the pellets arc so less holdover and windage.

If some one could show me mods that get a 880 or 901 shooting hot as a modded 2100 I might change my mind.

the 2100 is suffering some qc issues but are easily fixable and a piece of tape can fix the accuracy issue.

[Petey]

Welcome To The GTA!


2100/ AM77 Too Fun ....

[DavidS]

Since you indicated a willingness to work on it the 2100 would be the clear winner in my opinion.

It has the most potential fpe wise and for small game that is a factor,

also the higher the fps the flatter the pellets arc so less holdover and windage.

I have to agree with the potential FPE of a modded Crosman 2100.   Though the Crosman 66 has the most potential of the current Crosman Air Riffles.  Even though the 66 has a pump stroke volume half way between the 13xx and the 2100, the 66 has the same valve type as the 13xx, this gives more potential to work with, not to mention that using the same piston as the 13xx provides some help.  Since the 66 has a greater pump stroke volume (and thus greater pump effeciency) and can take most of the 13xx power mods it has more potential with out spending a ton of money.

Though that is just my opinion on that one, based on my work with Crosman MSPs.   I could be wrong, there may be a 2100 that can beat the power of a 66 shooting 923FPS with Crosman Premier 7.9 grains.

If some one could show me mods that get a 880 or 901 shooting hot as a modded 2100 I might change my mind.

And you speak of the challenge that I have set for my self.  I am going to get a Daisy Powerline 880 (or three) for myself and I am going to go to town modifying it (them) for maximum power.   With the little bit of research that I have done thus far I believe that I can get it shooting past 900FPS with 9.6 grain pellets.  I may be wrong though I think it will be fun to find out .

I believe that the Daisy 880 is in line with the Crosman 2100 and 66 in that the barrel needs to be better braced in the shroud to get the absolute best accuracy out of it.