Crosman 177 Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Gun

Critics of this gun point out that it’s plastic and has several weak points – and I can’t dispute that. It can and has for some people broken at the extendable stock, at the plastic Picatinny/Weaver rails, or at the cocking lever. So, just treat it gently.

Reputedly, this is an upgrade to the venerable Crosman 760, and to some extent it is, but I first got a Crosman 760 PowerMaster four decades ago, and it had a walnut stock with all steel construction. You could definitely abuse it, but you can’t do that to this gun. So, don’t expect to. I’m sure Crosman could build it that way, but then it would be much heavier and cost twice as much.

Assorted comments:

– Noise: This gun is the quietest one I own with a sound about the same as snapping your fingers. Since I like to fire mine in the middle of the night, that’s great since I won’t annoy the neighbors.

– Weight: Some consider this to be a flaw, but I love the fact that it’s light in weight. My Crosman Vantage and Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk are heavy air guns, and that makes them harder to control.

– The Picatinny/Weaver mount on the cocking lever is useless – just cosmetic, and the mounts on the barrel are limited in usefulness. However, I did mount an NcStar red dot laser sight on the top mount and a UTG tactical bipod on the lower one. The laser sight is a bit pointless since I really just use the scope, but it’s below the level of the scope, and it takes a bit of finesse to cock the gun with the bipod attached, but it’s not much of a problem.

– The trigger pull/action is outstanding. It’s very smooth – better for accuracy than the stock triggers on any of my other guns. [The triggers on my Vantage and Nitro Venom will be replaced by GRT-III triggers from Charlie Da Tuna.]

– Attachments: I put on a Center Point 4X32 scope (which I took off of my Vantage), a $15 NcStar red dot laser sight on the rail above the barrel, and a UTG tactical bipod (which I also took off of my Vantage since the “artillery hold” works better). A compact 4X30 scope from NcStar is only $19, it’s well-reviewed, and I’d recommend getting one. I did not install or try out the “iron sights” since I have “old eyes”, but they might work fine for you.

– Extra magazines: I bought four extra magazines, and after cutting the “fingers” off of the foam in the fake/hollow magazine, all five of them fit in there just perfectly.

– Cocking the gun: Because of the reputed fragility of the extendable/adjustable stock, I place the index finger of my left hand on the “T” that is right behind my scope with my thumb approximately next to the BB fill hole. It’s a comfortable position and places no strain on the weaker part of the gun. Because of the bipod, I rotate my right hand downward as I pump it. It’s mildly inconvenient but not a big deal.

– Following a tip from another reviewer, I put a few self-stick felt pads (the kind used for cabinet doors) on the “U” of the cocking lever, and it quiets down the “slap” of the lever against the barrel.

– Accuracy: Here is where this gun absolutely shines (and where I was quite pleasantly suprised!). On my “short range” of 25 feet (with a scope, a bipod, and five pumps), I can often place five [Crosman Field Hunting] pellets into a single hole 1/4″ in diameter – and I’m not even all that good! I have other guns for power or semi-auto can plinking, but this is a great target shooter. The gun is more accurate than I am.

Don’t expect this gun to be something it’s not or more than it is, but if you want a cool-looking, very accurate target shooter that is quiet and cheap to fire, I highly recommend it.

-TJ