Hello everyone,

Review of the Crosman Challenger 2021 .177cal 10-Meter Competition Rifle

First of March I purchased a new Crosman Challenger to shoot Wadcutter pellets at 10-Meters and have now shot over 1,000 rounds of various Wadcutter and Domed pellets with it.

I will start by saying that I would buy another Challenger without any hesitation for shooting 10-Meter targets and using domed pellets it is extremely accurate at 25-yards. It is an excellent choice for shooting 10-Meter competition. I will also state that I like everything about the rifle except the Safety mounted in front of the Trigger. I prefer a larger easy accessible side mounted Safety.

I took the rifle out of the factory shipping box, read the owner’s manual and gave it a complete review of the rifle itself. Then I cleaned it throughly and oiled all of the required areas and filled the air cylinder. Here is where the real pleasure began for me, this was the ONLY new PCP air gun that I have ever purchased that performed perfectly “right out of the box”. I haven’t even adjusted the factory setting on the two-stage match grade Trigger! I was able to shoot one hole, five shots at paper targets from the get-go. Needless to say that the Lothar Walther barrel is extremely accurate.

Over all looks and esthetics: I give it a 10-score. I like the clean simple design, the Gray and Black color scheme of the Stock material and the contrast to the metal parts.

Over all construction and fit and finish: I give it a 9-score. All machining of the metal parts I found to be very well done and a functional design. Sidelever cocking is very smooth and easy to use. The synthetic stock is very ridged and keeps the overall weight down making it very easy to handle. Cheek Riser and Butt Plate are really easy to adjust and very comfortable ( Butt Plate comes with two different length extensions ). An adjustable Shoe is also standard equipment with a long rail on the bottom of the fore arm of the stock.

The rifle comes from the factory with Crosman Diopter Sight System and uses a Dovetail rail for mounting, but I opted to install a Vector Optics scope. I will shoot it 100% of the time from a bench so a scope is more suitable for me. A big feature for me is the rifle has a Foster fitting to fill the 144cc air cylinder. Crosman states that you can get over 200 shots on a 206 bar / 3000psi fill.

The rifle is not real picky about the pellet choice ( either Wadcutter or Domed ) at 10-Meters, but it excels with the following:

Wadcutter: H&N Finale Match Heavy 8.18gr, H&N Sport 8.18gr, QSY Sports Diabolo 8.18gr and several more, go to Post #34 on this link to see all the Wadcutters that I tested:

Domed: Air Arms Falcon, 4.52mm 7.33gr, Crosman Hunting Pointed 7.4gr and others, go to Post #1 on this link to see all the Domed that I tested:

I only have one Con on this rifle and that is, I wish it had a magazine system or at least a Single Pellet Loader. When you add a scope it restricts the access to load a Pellet straight down into the breach area. Loading a small .177 pellet from the side, under a scope and between the rings becomes challenging, especially for an old fart with big fat shaky fingers.

Bottom line, I love this rifle, it is extremely accurate, very easy to handle, easy to fill the cylinder and a complete enjoyment to shoot.

@Struckat and @igolfat8 let me know if you have any questions.

ThomasT

I am not wanting to know which is best. They both have a prominent place in their specific market area.
What I am wondering or hoping to get from people who have or had both, is what is the Panthera to a person like me who hunts small game as their main activity with an air gun?
I understand that the Panthera is a purpose designed gun but does it have any attributes that would make it a superior tool for say ground squirrels or chucks?
I have been fighting buying a Panthera because to date I have not been able to see any large improvement in accuracy over an M3 that is properly tuned and it suffers some detriments like low shot count and long overall length.
I am stuck on the idea that maybe I just have a bad case of the newest shiny object syndrome.
enlighten me if you would please

AEA HP ss .22. Only 2 mags through it. Comes with 4 mags. AND a threaded endcap. Missing an 8mm fill probe (ordered) $375 shipped or if you pay shipping $350. If you want any of the accessories please let me know. Deals on: Vortex 3-9 x 40. Leupold dovetail rings. UTG Dovetail to pic rail still in box. I have too many other responsibilities at this time..it is just sitting and ready. Thinning my herd. Thank you.

I'm thinking about buying one but a little hard.
What do y'all think is it good, okay, or great.
Thank you for the time.

Purchased several years ago still in great shape. $75.00 plus shipping

As per title. I'm the first owner. Comes with all mounts, also includes an Immersive Optics specific screw in front flip cap I imported from england.

In great shape with two minor caveats:

I dropped the the windage cover once and the paint is slightly chipped.

I sanded a couple thousandths off of the face of one of the picatinny mounting screws. You can see this in the photos. Fortuneately, there are a whole bunch of extras

$250 shipped.

Just too lazy to get out of the chair after crawling around the floor all day to fix my subfloor. Still hit a two inch spinner this way two out of three times at 26 yards.

So after reading reviews of all the different makers and finding reviews all over the place, I just couldn't justify spending over 1/3 of what I spent for my gun on a moderator, aea 30/32" standard. So, seeing some good reviews, a few not, I decided to give buck rail a try. I mean, it's not gonna get you pissed if it doesn't perform right?

With that being said, I don't have a decibel reader or anything like that. All I can say is that the end results were 1) I no longer have to wear ear protection. 2) The loudest part of the shot was the impact of a 61.5 gr slug going at 1050fps and 100gr slugs or 875fps on some wood backed up by metal. So my fpe's were in the neighborhood of 145-170fpe. I can finally hear the impact of that slug and dammit it's loud! Prior to that, it was just a loud BOOOOOOM, much like a PB, and that's all I heard. Oops, I forgot about ears ringing. I reckon the sound is like slapping a table with fat heavy fly swatter. NOW, I no longer have to wear ear protection. I'm sure it would still be good practice but, it doesn't hurt my ears anymore not having them on.

Buck Rail's moderator is 100% worth the money AND more all things considered. We'll see about longevity as I literally just put it to use today.

Ataman M2R 22 cal. I got in trade with Wylie shroud 2 mags and fill probe....selling to buy compressor 700.00 shipped

Today I received an Allen Zasadny Steyr LG100. It’s a fantastic, and beautiful piece of airgun wizardry.
Only problem is I have to wait until the weekend to put it through its paces.

Stock FX M3 .25 cal comes with stock mag and aluminum side shot mag....gun is like new!
1800.00 shipped

This Teslong USB borescope was a bit of an impulse purchase from Amazon, but boy it's pretty cool. Here is my very first attempt using it. I fed it down the barrel of my Cricket II Tactical 60.


As you can see around minute 3:08 my transfer port alignment seems to be off and I'm probably leaving a few fps on the table until I correct it. I'm already thinking this is going to be a very good investment!

Dont worry or hesitate like I did. I fretted for several months and then decided to take a chance.
Ordered the mag and single shot tray on March 21
Arrived on April 3, 13 days.
Price with shipping, 47 bucks
Mine are top notch, load easy and cycle flawlessly.
Great service and answers e-mail questions post haste.
You can thank me latter,

Rainstorm in a beautiful thumbhole stock, 85 FPE gun

700 Bucks shipped



Will Piatt tuned 100 FPE, loves both the 44gr and the 51gr JSB

700 bucks shipped




Custom Storm Mini-Carbine, Will Piatt tuned 70 FPE

700 Bucks shipped







If you buy 1 gun you can have a free JTS Airacuda MAX .25,...just pay shipping

if you buy 2 or more you can have a JTS Standard .25

Full disclosure, the MAX has a leak, the Standard does not leak

Hi,

I remember 10-15 years ago, Air Arms would be considered the holy grail of PCP air guns, everyone wanted to have one, just like before FX took the storm with the Impacts.

I believe the newest gun is the Galahad? and it wasn't a big success, because it really didn't sell well, their best rifles are the S410/S510 rifles i believe.

Is it the lack of innovation? because the guns are still very accurate and good looking, but we didn't see a new gun for a long time. The only thing they did was a another stock series of their rifles.

I kinda compare it to Nokia, lack of innovation and design but keeps selling the same guns, over and over again. I believe there are now air rifles that match the accuraccy, and cost way less, maybe it's that.

What do you think?

I don't see alot of posting on Air Arms rifles. I've only been around a little over three months and am relatively brand new to PCPs. I just recently figured out Daystate electronic rifles and bought an older Air Wolf MTC in .22. Wow, what a great rifle. So now, I just started looking at Air Arms rifles and have fallen in love with the:

Air Arms S510 XS Xtra FAC Regulated with Walnut Stock​

Per Pyramyd Air:
"If you value accuracy but don't want to sacrifice beauty, you're in luck. The Air Arms S510 XS Xtra FAC Regulated air rifle with walnut stock is a remarkably accurate airgun, and it gives away nothing in the looks department. While single-shot air rifles tend to be more accurate than repeaters, the Air Arms rifles have proven that's not true if you follow high-quality manufacturing practices. This airgun is an XS Xtra, which means it's the full-size version. You get slightly more power with the same legendary accuracy as the carbine version, and more shots per fill thanks to the longer air cylinder, making this rifle well-suited to hunting and offering superior benchrest shooting performance.

"Made in England, this Air Arms S510 XS Xtra FAC Regulated airgun with walnut stock is part of the decades-long tradition of exquisite air rifles from Air Arms. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing plant consistently produces superior air guns that are the gold standard for sporting air rifles worldwide. Bluing, triggers, stocks, mechanical function, and more are the envy of airgun manufacturers worldwide. With a Lothar Walther barrel, adjustable trigger, 10-shot magazine for fast follow-up shots, and 5-position power adjuster, this airgun is another winner. Whether you're plinking, or target shooting, or small-game hunting, this tried-and-true, durable air rifle does it all in style. If you want one of the best sporting air rifles made today, Air Arms is your ticket to shooting satisfaction, and the S510 XS Xtra will be in your family for years to come."
For those who own this rifle what is your personal opinion and which caliber do you own. It comes in .177, .22 and .25. I am trying to decide where this rifle would fit into my upper tier of rifles along side the Daystate Air Wolf MTC in .22 and my Crown Continuum in .177, .22 and .25. - This thing looks gorgeous. I'm thinking .177 or .22 mainly for backyard friendly shooting. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

First up is a Rainstorm set into a Winchester stock that give it that classic look, I put a longer shroud on this gun

loves the H&N Baracuda at 55 FPE and of course loves all the JSB pellets

600 bucks shipped.



Next is a Will Piatt tuned to 60 FPE Rainstorm Carbine set in a foldable tactical stock, at the moment I'm shooting the 29.5gr NSA bullets and she likes them a lot, loves the JSB 34gr
Can have a spare wood stock for 100 bucks or if prefer just the wood stock

600 bucks shipped







Last is a MAX-ML will piatt tuned at 65 FPE, currently shooting the 43gr EunJin Nomad, but really loves the JSB 34gr

600 bucks shipped




Now, if you buy 1 gun I will give you a free JTS Airacuda MAX .25,.....just pay shipping.

If you buy 2 or more you get a free JTS Airacuda Standard .25

Full disclosure, the MAX has a leak the Standard does not leak

We had a huge ice storm in February that brought down a lot of trees. I repurposed this cedar branch, a small piece of plywood, and 5 deck screws.



It's a little wobbly, but that makes it more challenging!

Hello everyone. As the title states I’m fairly new to PCP air rifles. My uncle passed and I got one of his PCPs. It is a Kalibrgun Cricket Carabine. I have been trying to gather some info as far as how to tune it and adjust it without much luck. If anyone has any info I’d greatly appreciate it. Don’t want to start screwing and unscrewing things without knowing what I’m doing. I’m gonna be looking for another rifle as I’ve caught the bug. Looking foreword to learning from you all. Duane

My new Maveric VP 600mm .25cal incoming from SPAW has a 13g weight as per an email from Ken. I'm fine with this I guess since I intend to use 33gr slugs or so but isnt the stock weight 11g? What is the weight of the power kit [hammer] then or are there other differences in that? No extra spring of any difference comes with that I don't see.
Many Thanks,

Famed YouTube channel IraqVeteran8888 and FX Airguns have teamed up to release a very limited edition rifle for a good cause. This is Eric & Chad’s favorite FX Rifle, the FX Crown MKII Arrow in a limited edition engraved GRS Rifle stock.



FX Airguns USA is giving back and making a difference with this release. $100 of each rifle will be donated to the Special Operations Wounded Warrior charity. That’s $10,000 donated to help the life of a Special Operation Forces service member who has suffered personal injury while defending our freedoms.



These IV8888 limited editions rifles are special in many ways. First they are paired with a limited brown laminate GRS stock (right hand only). Laser etched on the right forearm grip is the IV8888 logo. These are also each individually numbered – an engraving that can be found under the adjustable cheek rest.



The FX Crown arrives with the FX Arrow barrel installed and four arrows are included (with field points). A .30 caliber 500mm FX STX Barrel and moderator are also included allowing the quick and easily swap of the barrel to shoot either .30 cal pellets or slugs with a simple adjustment to the power wheel.



Lastly, these are not standard stock FX Crown MKII rifles. Famed airgun smith Ernest Rowe has upgraded each action with a slug power kit, a tungsten hammer, and fully tuned the rifle to maximize the power and accuracy of the rifle for airbow hunting. The 250gr FX Arrow that normally fires at speeds of 310 fps from a standard FX Crown, now allows the same arrow to shoot as high as 400 feet per second! That’s over 120 ft lbs of Kinetic Energy. Combined with the right broadhead, you can take almost any sized game you can legally hunt (please check your local hunting laws for your states rules). We highly recommend the Steel Force 225gr Fixed Blade heads over standard mechanical broadheads as they shoot and fly like field tips and will have no trouble punching through the toughest game. Check out the video of us reviewing and showing off the accuracy of this rifle:

Note that his product is a special one off only rifle setup for North and South America only. Overseas customers will need to contact a dealer within the US if you’re interested in obtaining this limited-edition setup.

This is something I don’t know about, but has crossed my mind on occasion. Has anyone practiced shooting air guns (pellets or slugs) from a covered position out into the rain? If so were you shooting targets or game? Which caliber were you shooting? From what distance(s)? How did the rain affect your shots (POI)? Did you have to compensate for any additional resistance? Please describe the downpour i.e. heavy, light, constant, intermittent, with wind, ect. I would think rain drops would make reading wind a little easier, at least closer to the muzzle.

Wondering what bags people are using when not using a bipod. I don't shoot competitions and am not a fan of shooting paper, outside of sighting in. Most of my shooting is offhand. I am done with getting in the prone position, unless somebody is invading the country, or a rodent is costing me money, I don't bother. I really don't like having the weight of a bipod hanging off the front of the gun on the off chance that I will use it, but if I take it off and need it I'm kinda screwed if I am out and about. I am thinking that one of the new bags that they use for prs shooting would be pretty fast to use in a pinch. Is there any in particular that I should be looking at? Thanks!

After some experimenting with my customized Taipan Veteran Long .22 and finding what she likes to eat...I've settled on the FX Hybrid slugs at about 985 fps. This is just under 50 fpe but more importantly these things are really accurate out of my setup. The Hybrid's are absolute carnage on every bird I've hit with them so far...I'm talking bird parts flying everywhere. It sounds like a .22 rimfire when I center punch unfortunate fat fowl.

Since I've got these dialed in so well I'd like to stay with them if possible but I'm concerned about larger tougher critters...do these Hybrid's stay together well enough to penetrate a groundhog skull at 75 meters? Has anyone tried the .22 Hybrids on tougher critters than just birds?

No not a 3-month-old baby shooting PCPs . . . I'm a Septuagenarian who has been shooting PCPs for three months. I am a certified rifle looney (firearms) but discovered PCPs and this forum and started down the rabbit hole back in December with the purchase of an FX Crown Continuum in .25 from Pyramyd Air. This is truly a legacy rifle, especially with the ability to change calibers and barrel lengths, while using the same block and stock. I have since purchased .22 and .17 calibers for it.


With days of buying the Crown my next gun was a Benjamin Akela .177 from Airguns of Aizona. There is something about the styling of that rifle that reminded me of the FX Wildcat, which I really liked, but for 1/3 less money. It has turned out to be a very value packed rifle that is very accurate. Only accurate PCPs are interesting to me, and so far, all five of the guns I own are very accurate.



Then a month later on Jan 4 I bought a P-Rod .22 from Utah Airguns. I immediately turned it into a carbine with accessories from Buck-Rail and ebay. It has been one of the most fun backyard friendly guns I own. Deadly on rogue starlings and grackles that raid my songbird feeders.



My next purchase was another legacy quality gun . . . A Daystate Air Wolf MCT .22 . . . this gun shoots laserbeam accurate in my backyard and is the quietest of all my rifles. The epitome of back yard friendly yet deadly to starlings and grackels. It and the Crown just have a feeling that exudes quality, workmanship and accuracy. The Crown is also very quiet. I bought the Wolf from a member here who had it listed in the classifieds. It has just enough electronics to do everything I need it to do, while being simple enough for me to understand.


Just recently I made another purchase last week from Utah Airguns. A Caiman X in .25 . . . This little bull pup is extremely fun to shoot and very accurate. I bought it specifically to take to the field for hunting, mainly, because of its size and weight, as well as the calibers and power. It is not particularly backyard friendly. This would be the perfect backyard gun in .177 I think. Just like the others, I like wooden stocks and the Caiman has a beautifully carved brown laminate stock which is a pleasure to hold and shoulder.



One of the things I would change, if I could, would be to slow my roll in buying airguns after the Crown. I like all of my rifles and they all serve a specific purpose and role in my shooting. However, the two legacy quality guns I bought, the .25 Crown Continuum and the .22 Daystate Air Wolf MCT are head and shoulders above the others when it comes to quality, performance, accuracy, fit and feel and personal pride of ownership. I was ignorant of these rifles when I bought them. But now I see the light. I am happy with my Akela, P-Rod and Caiman, but I could have used those funds on an FX Wildcat Mark III or maybe a Brocock Sniper XR Magnum which are much higher quality rifles and can do everything the Akela, P-Rod and Caiman do with one arm tied behind their backs. But if I did "need" another rifle it could be a .303 Daystate Wolverine R HP which would be potent medicine on longer range coyotes for my jaunts out to western Oklahoma. Again, that woul be another legacy rifle. I guess what I am trying to say is that if I had it all to do over again I would stick with the legacy type rifles, to include an Air Arms S510.

I might add that one of the wisest moves I made was to buy an air compressor (Tuxing) and fill bottle to air up my guns. I actually bought two bottles. This makes rapid refills and more shooting.

Scopes are another bug-a-boo. Fortunately, because of my firearm collection, I have plenty of good glass to choose from, though I have bout a few airgun specific scopes.

My poor wife of 49 years is beside herself over yet another hobby I have started. I get an ear full ever so often, but that is just women. I can afford to spend the considerable money it takes when one falls down the rabbit hole, but she has absolutely zero interest in guns and hunting, so there is that.

Bottom line for newbies starting out like me. Go slow in the buying department and buy the absolute best rifles you can afford. If it is just one rifle, take your time deciding which one rifle it will be. Daystate, FX, Air Arms, Brocock/BRK and maybe the new BSA R12 are the brands I would look at first. If you ended up buying one of each that is five rifles. Not bad, if you spread it out over time. Then there is the decision if you go tactical or stay traditional in stocks and styling. I spent a career in the Marines and Navy, so I got my itch scratched when it came to cool tactical weapons. I prefer beautiful wood, simple operating systems and somewhat traditional styling. To each his own.