Don't Let This Happen To You Either!

Safety is always important, no matter how experienced we are. Reader Kevin Cuyler sent this email and photos of his own painful safety experience, with permission to publish it to help other airgunners.

I'll say it again: it takes a real man to admit he made a mistake, and even more so to admit it in public. Kevin, thanks for sharing!

Here's Kevin's email:

"Stephen,
 
After reading your blog posts under Safety, and the one on "Don't let this happen to you", I just had to share something similar that happen to me recently.  I call it "Doing Dumb Once".
 
The attached photos will expand on what I now post on the rear wall of my 10M indoor basement air gun range.  I've been shooting both firearms and air guns since 1958. The first thing my father taught me..."THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED!"  I did dumb just once and paid the price.

I was degassing my modified Crosman 1077. I always store the airguns with the clips out and unloaded, so I thought!  The modified 1077 only gets about 24 shots then the pressure falls off quickly. I wanted to know how much was left to be able to unscrew the piercing assembly and release the rest of the gas. I put my left index finger just slightly over the end of the barrel. I forgot to remove the clip. One round was left. There was still enough energy to put it into my finger, only stopped by the bone, otherwise it probably would have went through."

Below, Kevin's bandaged finger and X-ray of the pellet inside the finger. Click to enlarge photo. Ouch!



Will I ever do DO DUMB AGAIN ???  They say, the older you get, the smarter you get ???  Go ahead and post this if you please."

Below. Kevin now has this notice on the wall of his range. Click to enlarge photo.


 
"Would you believe that the doctor who did the surgery, and on the day he took the stitches out, said he had to do another surgery that day on a guy that shot a pellet into his hand ???
 
Sincerely,
 
The Gun is Always Loaded!!!,
 
Kevin"

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Sear Adjustment on the QB57 Air Rifle

Recently we received the following email from a customer who was encountering an issue with his QB57 air rifle. It read...

“Hello, I am wondering if you can give me some advise? I have QB57 airgun that when cocked and lever is completely closed, fires by itself, safety on or off. It only has a few hundred rounds shot through it and has just started to do this. Is there an adjustment that could be made easily?”

Obviously this is a safety issue but it is easy to correct and my reply was as follows:

“The sear adjustment screw (Part 2208) can sometimes work loose due to oil on the threads from manufacture. The screw can then back out a little from its factory setting. If it does this, misfires can result. Simply adjusting the screw should cure the issue.

To do this, remove the rear ‘main’ wood stock by unscrewing the screws 4700 and 4400. The stock just lifts off the action.

Viewing the rear trigger group from below, you will clearly see the slot head screw Part 2208. This can be adjusted in very small increments - 20 degrees rotation at a time or less - until the misfiring clears. Reassemble the gun in the stock each time for testing. Once you find the setting that prevents misfres, the screw can be fixed in place with a drop of Loctite BLUE threadlocker.”

The customer replied:
“Thanks Steve, I followed your instructions. Problem fixed!”

Below is a scan from the QB57 Owners Manual showing the location of Part 2208, the sear adjustment screw.

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QB57 Air Rifle Test and Review by Randall

We recently received the following customer test and review of the QB57 air rifle from Randall. He writes...

“Hello Stephen, I offer more feedback for my QB57 which I've tuned and lubed, including making the trigger pull short, easy and crisp.  I somewhat straightened the rod connecting the front and rear sections of the trigger, which essentially lengthened it. That shortened the first stage.  

I then adjusted the vertically situated screw in the rear section of the trigger mechanism for a shorter second stage and applied blue Loctite (appx. 15 turns in).  It's as close to a target friendly trigger as my gun is likely to get.

Also, I installed an NCStar 2-7x pistol scope, which has very long eye relief (I've got it as far forward on the rail as possible), allowing me to shoot comfortably without having to crane my head forward on the stock.  

The only drag with this particular scope was adjusting the parallax (no OA) to my preferred 10 yds.  It was a tedious battle of adjusting both lenses, as one did effect the other, but now that it's set, it works fine.

I finally broke down and bought a Shooting Chrony Alpha and did some testing of the 57 using 12, 8.2 gr., Stoeger X-Match pellets (it likes those and H&N Sport - same pellet?).  The average velocity for my gun was 632 fps.  The attached target was my first shot after the trigger work.  I hope to do better with further practice.  
  
All in all, I think the QB57 a sensational airgun that is a joy to shoot.

I hope to be consistently shooting 200 point targets with several X's to sweeten the deal; the gun is more than capable of doing it given the right pellet and a patient shooter.

PS. The part of the QB57 throwaway scope consisting of the ocular lens, with 4x20 printed on it, makes for an excellent magnifying eye loupe, superb for close up work.”

Randall, thanks for your comments - that’s great shooting from your QB57!

SAFETY NOTE: Always keep your arm between the cocking lever and body of the QB57 when loading pellets to avoid this happening to you.

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The QB57 Air Rifle - A Customer's Review

Kent from Virginia recently purchased a QB57 Deluxe airgun from Archer Airguns. He sent us an email with his review of the new air rifle and has kindly approved its publication - unaltered - in this blog post.

Above, the QB57 in factory configuration.

"I received my QB 57 last Friday.  I really did not expect much considering that I spent less than $100 dollars for it. Boy was I pleasantly surprised!  This is a hefty rifle. It is a little heavy but the short design makes it very comfortable to shoot.  It certainly has a lot of power.  I bought the .22 version and it has enough power to embed a pellet into a piece of plywood at 50 feet.

I own several air rifles and this QB 57 is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  I really like the carbine, bull pup design.  Once I sighted it in I am able to hit a 3" circle at 50 feet with the iron sights.  I would recommend this air rifle to any adult, this gun is not for children.  It must be treated with respect for sure.  I've had 1 misfire and the anti-bear trap devise missed latching once or twice.

I would like to recommend that you advise buyers to wear hearing protection in the ear next to the stock.  I'd also like to recommend that you advise buyers to tighten the screws after about an hour of shooting.  My sear screw loosened and I was unable to cock the gun.  It took me about 5 minutes to find Mr. Archers post about the sear screw. Easy fix but I almost didn't figure it out.  Once I fixed that and tightened the screws it shoots like a dream.  
This really is a fun gun to shoot.  I'm so impressed, I think my next purchase will probably be one of your custom QB 78's

My other air rifles are a Benjamin Titan, a Crosman 760, a Crosman 2300T, a Benjamin 312, and an Air Force Talon."

Kent, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the QB57 with us! As you say, this is an airgun that must be treated with even more than the usual respect, but which pays off in shooting fun.

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New Silent Pellet Trap Range for 9 x 7-Inch NRA Airgun Targets

A complete new range of "silent" airgun pellet traps is launched by Archer Airguns today!

Above. The Premium (left) and Classic Mini Pellet Traps.

The Classic Mini Pellet Trap and Premium Mini Pellet Trap are designed specifically for use with 9 x 7-inch targets, particularly NRA air rifle and air pistol targets AR-5/5, AR-3 and TQ-5/1. They also can be used with smaller targets such as the NRA AR-5/1, B-40/1, and TQ-6 targets. Gamo paper airgun targets can also be used with these traps, as shown below.

These new Archer Airguns Mini "Silent" Pellet Traps are far superior in performance to any other pellet trap of this size: there's no annoying "clang" when a pellet strikes the trap, they don't move when hit and they're safer than other traps because pellets do not ricochet or fly back out of the trap. Plus, they are the only airgun pellet traps of this size that are made right here in the USA!

Suitable for airguns with a maximum muzzle velocity of 1,000 FPS in .177 caliber with lead pellets, or 750 FPS in .22 caliber with lead pellets at 10 yards range, the Mini "Silent" Pellet Traps are also capable of handling higher muzzle velocities than traps from Beeman, Crosman and Gamo.

The Classic Mini Trap is solidly constructed from poplar and features a 16 Gauge steel back. In conjunction with 5 lb of electrician's duct seal, this makes for a very substantial trap. The Premium Mini Trap is built from selected Red Oak for "cabinet quality" appearance and includes a handle and felt feet. This is a trap that has the quality of a piece of furniture!

Both Classic and Premium Mini Traps are available with or without Duct Seal. Some customers want to buy their duct seal locally and save on shipping costs. Others want to be sure they have the correct material and prefer a bundled approach. It's your choice, but duct seal MUST be used in these traps - that's the way they work.

Above. Classic Mini Traps shown with Duct Seal installed (left) and before doing so.

And for the first time, the Classic Mini "Silent" Pellet Trap is available in a 3-pack at a price saving: this is expected to be attractive to shooting clubs looking to add high quality pellet traps to their air rifle and air pistol ranges. In this case, the duct seal must be purchased locally.

Below, the "Club Pack" of three traps.

These traps are in stock as from today!

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How to Get the Best From Your Ruger Air Hawk Air Rifle

Just released today is a new Archer Airguns video. The subject is the Ruger Air Hawk air rifle, featuring five ways to maximise your enjoyment of this popular airgun.

Just click in the frame below to view:



As always, my video aims to educate and inform airgunners on how to gain maximum success with their air rifles. This video covers often-overlooked points such as keeping stock screws tight and holding the gun correctly.

An easy method for optimizing the muzzle velocity of the airgun is covered, using the Archer Airguns XMV Tune Kit for Ruger Air Hawk, together with an illustrated explanation of how to choose and use a better scope.

Pellet choice makes a big impact on airgun performance, so a guide to selecting the most suitable pellets is included, together with details of the very impressive performance of Stoeger X-Speed lead free pellets in the Air Hawk. A muzzle velocity of well over 1,100 fps was achieved by the test gun using X-Speed Pellets, in conjunction with the Archer Airguns XMV Tune Kit.

Most of the tips included in this video also apply to the Ruger Air Hawk Elite and Blackhawk air rifles.

I hope that you will enjoy this new video!

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In Fall, Pellet Traps Spring to Mind!

Now that Fall is here, many airgunners start to make plans for indoor shooting ranges at home - in the basement or garage. And, of course, one essential requirement is a pellet trap to safely catch the pellets and prevent them from bouncing back out towards the shooter.

Archer Airguns has the best pellet traps available. They're craftsman-made right here in up-state New York from Oak and Poplar and there's a range of ready made and kit versions. These traps have a long history of satisfied users and are officially-licensed versions of Dr Joe Matusic's original design.

Below we see the Premium Silent Pellet Trap made of oak.

And here's a Classic Kit. It's supplied with full instructions and you can also follow along with the video instructions that are posted on YouTube.

Below we see a couple of assembled pellet traps made from Classic Silent Trap Kits. One is finished in black and has a handle added. The other is is "as assembled" and unfinished form.

All Archer Airguns pellet traps use electricians' Duct Seal as the material to actually stop the pellets. The Duct Seal stops the pellets and prevents that noisy, irritating "clang" that you find with metal pellet traps. That's why they're called "Silent" Pellet Traps. You can buy the Duct Seal from us, but it's usually cheaper to obtain it locally from the electrical aisle of Home Depot or an electrical specialist store. It's commonly sold in 1 lb bricks looking like this.

It's important to know that there's several types of material called "Duct Seal". There's also a Plumbers' Duct Seal. DON"T USE THIS!!! It's useless. Unlike electricians' duct seal, plumbers' duct seal is water-based. It warps the traps, doesn't stay in place and doesn't stop the pellets. But Lowes often tells customers this is what they need. It's not!

The wooden trap structure holds the Duct Seal and targets in place. As an insurance, many customers also like to add a solid steel backing plate behind the duct seal. This is intended as a "back stop" and is not a replacement for duct seal as the primary method of stopping the pellets - but it does add a considerable confidence factor in stopping the pellets, particularly if you're shooting a high powered air rifle.

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Silent Pellet Trap Torture Tested

We're often asked about how long the Duct Seal will last on an Archer Airguns "Silent" Pellet Trap. So, here are some photographs of a Premium "Silent" Pellet Trap that has been in use for about 7 years now - and which continues in use every day.



As you can see, this trap is certainly battle-scarred, but it's still serviceable and in particular the original Duct Seal or "impact putty" as it's often called is still in use and has not been replaced, in spite of many thousands of pellets fired into it. The duct seal is still pliable and has not dried out at all with age and use.

As most pellets land in the center of the trap (behind the target bull), they eventually clump up as shown in the second photograph. When the trap is full - like now - the lead clump can be carefully dug out of the duct seal and the hole filled by either pushing around the remaining duct seal, or simply by adding some additional, new, duct seal.



The design of Archer Airguns "Silent" Pellet Traps allows for the inevitable target debris and spent pellets - that bounce off the lead clump - to land harmlessly in the bottom of the trap. This means that they don't fly back out of the trap, as often happens with pellet traps of other types. The photo below shows the huge amount of such debris that can accumulate in one of our traps before it requires emptying.



Of course, the "Silent" trap design stops that annoying, loud "clang" that accompanies the use of all metal pellet traps and - as you can see - it catches all of the dross that tends to litter the space in front of other traps. This is a great safety feature, particularly if pets or small children ever venture onto the range and take a close interest in all that stuff lying around other traps.

It's still "the best pellet trap on earth"!

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Airgun Safety. Don’t Let This Happen to You!

By Todd Halpin

"A couple weeks ago I purchased a TF58 side lever-cocking pellet rifle from ArcherPelletGuns.com. I was pleased with the gun and ran several hundred rounds down range. I own 3 shot guns and two AR-15 platform rifles. The air gun was purchased to shoot with a friend of mine and I was amazed at the accuracy! I bought some Federal bulk 22lr for my S&W M&P15 22 and the air gun was more accurate at 50 yards with this round. That’s impressive in my book.

But then I had an accident while loading the air rifle. The bolt slammed shut trapping my ring, middle and index fingers in the breech. The cut was from the corner of the nail bed at an angle to the back of the finger.

I have never thought of myself as a sissy but for the first time in my life I nearly passed out after freeing my finger from the breech!

Todd took this photograph in the ER.

There are a great deal of nerve endings in your finger and the pain was astounding. I went to the emergency room and had 8 stitches put in the tip of my ring finger to reattach the tip. Several of my coworkers are hunters like myself and thought it was only a flesh wound to a finger, that is until I took the bandage off! Everyone makes “the face” when they look at it...

After cleaning up the blood on the back porch, I tried to recreate what happened in my mind. I had been pretty good about following your safety protocol up to that moment. I don’t think there was a catastrophic failure of the bear trap lock system. Rather I think I became lax in my safety practices after working to get my groups tight and depressed the release while loading and the unlocked bolt slammed shut on my fingers.

Fate was with me because without three of them in there I’m sure I would have lost the end of one. Unfortunately I did not have my elbow against the side lever like you advise in your videos on YouTube.

8 stitches. Ouch!

I’m not trying to scare anyone and the failure was just a failure. My lax safety was the reason of the injury. Your informational YouTube videos correctly demonstrate the proper safety practices for loading a side lever air rifle.

The injury is now healing and the feeling has returned to the end of my finger. I would estimate that approximately 40 % of the diameter was cut through. The doctor didn’t seem very impressed until he pulled it apart to clean and examine the wound. Then he wanted x-rays to determine if it had broken the bone!

Everyone makes “the face” when they look at it...

I look forward to shooting again with much greater respect for pellet rifles! As you know, I’m changing to a break-barrel air rifle and will be sure ALWAYS to follow the safety instructions you show on YouTube.

I’m sharing this story to help others.

Please learn from my experience and always be careful when loading an air rifle. Check out Stephen Archer’s videos on YouTube where he demonstrates how to load spring air rifles correctly and safely. You can see them here:
Let's Look at the QB57 Air Rifle
Spring Air Accuracy

Note from Stephen Archer:
It takes a real man to admit he made a mistake. And even more so to share it with others. Todd, thanks for your post. Like you, I hope that people will read this and always load their air rifles safely.

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