Plastic?

[45flint]

May hatred of plastics probably stems from how it seemed to overtake America airguns over time, especially Crosman. It’s probably why my collection now is focused on prewar. But even then the rare Tell 3 pistol grip just doesn’t make it for me. Thus the Haenel 28R is held in higher esteem in my camp? (Forgot it’s my emoji)

[ogilkes]

I quite like ABS or synthetic stocks for specific use purposes, but plastic sights and especially plastic triggers (shuuder) are abominations. That said I do own a few cheap rifles encased in plastic, mainly because I wanted to see how they worked. Particularly fond of a Stoeger silencer model, but overall nothing beats nice wood and steel - and a bit of alloy.

[Garvin]

especially plastic triggers (shuuder) are abominations.

This is so true. When I bought my FWB Sport Mk1 new I was dismayed to find it had a plastic trigger, although fortunately it didn't break. I replaced it 25 years later with a lovely wide alloy Jim Maccari one and it transformed the gun. What a stupid decision that was in the 1970s by a company famed for its careful choices!




The company made a similar choice later on the FWB 90 pistol, though it's more of a plastic shoe than the complete trigger and it rectified the mistake quickly, apparently.

[Hsing-ee]

Ideally an air-rifle or pistol would be made of BLUED steel, wood and maybe as Garvin suggests, a small amount of horn or mother-of-pearl. Ideally it would go together without any bolts pins or screws like a Mauser 1896 pistol.

Even if it is structurally sound, like with the polymer Glocks etc are made of, plastic gives the thing a 'disposable' impression.

Modern plastic stocks are OK, I have one on my BSA Scorpion. The one on my old Hammerli 420 is fragile and has cracked in some places.

[Geezer]

I think I too dislike Zamak more than plastic (at least good plastic). With use, it has the robustness of a Pringle.

[45flint]

Have issues with castings as well. I know the love out there for the Crosman 600 but castings just doesn’t make it for me.

[ogilkes]

So what we mostly want is an old guy in a brown coat with half moon glasses, beautifully cutting bar stock into marvels of the machinists art, while his almost identical colleague hand finishes walnut stocks all to make a rifle costing a couple of hundred quid?

[mrto]

So what we mostly want is an old guy in a brown coat with half moon glasses, beautifully cutting bar stock into marvels of the machinists art, while his almost identical colleague hand finishes walnut stocks all to make a rifle costing a couple of hundred quid?

I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head! Certainly a better image than someone in a far away country in a faded and worn Coca-Cola tee shirt, fake Levi's and flip flops flicking the switch on an injection moulding machine!

[Josie & John]

I think synthetics have their place when it comes to AR style tactical rifles but not on vintage arms, where quality and style are beautifully shown off in wood and steel.

John M

[ggggr]

MILBRO COUGAR

[Geezer]

Have issues with castings as well. I know the love out there for the Crosman 600 but castings just doesn’t make it for me.

It’s fine except where it obviously will break when used for stress-bearing parts. Which is sadly too true with many guns. The 600 appears not to be one of those.

[ptdunk]

It’s fine except where it obviously will break when used for stress-bearing parts. Which is sadly too true with many guns. The 600 appears not to be one of those.

Hear hear,
If it makes something affordable without compromising on durability I’m all for it.
When it comes to air pistols it’s not all about polished milled forged steel (although that is lovely)

Matt

[Robert j]

Woven carbon could be the ideal material right now that can only be appreciated over a long period of time. It is lightweight, many times stronger than steel, black through and through and does not rust.