Crosman C31 air pistol - powerful and fast-firing

Today we have another branded feature about one of the most famous companies in the modern airgun market - Crosman (USA). I propose to get to know the company itself a little, as well as evaluate the interesting Crosman air pistols and other examples of Crosman pneumatics. So, let's go.

Crosman has been on the market since 1924. The company's first models for sale were multi-compression rifles. Further, in 1930, experiments began in the field of CO2 pneumatics. Interesting innovations attributed to the company include the use of a gas spring in a rifle, the introduction of 12 gram CO2 cylinders, and the creation of an 88 gram cylinder.

Since about 2002, the company has launched a wide range of affordable air pistols, revolvers and rifles, securing its place in the global economy. Crosman supplies the US biathlon team. There are also references to the training of their special services on the basis of Crosman pneumatic weapons, but no facts have yet been found about living American “hardball players”.

Next, we will look at only the most interesting models of this American manufacturer. By the way, the company sometimes sins by producing weapons based on “general” Taiwanese technologies, so you come across models that are also found in other manufacturers. Also sometimes the spelling comes across. A representative office of such a company was not found, and many Grossman air pistols are terribly similar to their counterparts with a different letter, so we will consider them one and the same.

Crosman C31 Air Pistol Review

Getting to know the pistol, what is good about it and what is not so good. This device, produced by the famous US company Crosman Corporation, shoots using carbon dioxide contained in a standard twelve-gram canister. Which gives the metal ball quite a decent speed - more than 150 meters per second. Thanks to the plastic body, the weight of the pistol is light, so you can shoot for a long time without getting tired.

Let's note the attractive qualities of the model:

• Quite reasonable cost (about 4 thousand rubles).

This model has a very economical consumption of carbon dioxide - you can easily fire up to a hundred shots from one refill.

• Lightness that does not leave your hands tired.
• Not the smallest muzzle energy for such a “baby” - three and seven tenths of a joule.
• High initial speed of the flying charge.
• Volume store.

Let’s not ignore the shortcomings of the Crossman s 31 pistol:

• Due to the smoothness of the barrel, bullets are not placed very tightly over long distances.
• The plastic body, although of very high quality, is inferior to metal.
• Aiming devices are fragile and easy to lose.
• Over time, the clip no longer holds the balls tightly.

Photo of the Crosman C31 air pistol

Crosman air rifles

Crosman's airguns are clearly not limited to pistols. The company has a huge number of rifles in its arsenal; perhaps this is its main production. Since rifles are still not the cup of tea for most consumers, we will focus only on the most interesting models, and will update the article as necessary.

Crosman 2100 B

A multi-compression rifle that shoots two types of bullets - classic lead and BB balls. Hopper for 200 balls, magazine for 17 balls, lead supply - one per window.

• The declared initial speed is 230 m/s.
• Price – approximately 5300 rubles.

Crosman 1077

The most common Crosman gas-cylinder air rifle with a drum for 12 bullets.

• The declared initial speed is 190 m/s.
• Price – approximately 5000 rubles.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of the air pistol Crossman s 31:

Summary

As a conclusion, let’s try to collect all of the above in one place and highlight the pros and cons of the pistol.

Advantages

• Price - stores ask only 2900 rubles for it
• Power - initial speed of 150 m/s makes it one of the most powerful cheap pistols in the class of CO2 ball-spitting pneumatics
• Low gas consumption - 100-120 shots from a cylinder, legends say that the limbs of an unprepared novice shooter get tired
• Weight is a subjective factor, but still this pistol is lighter than many others
• Compatible magazines – suitable from C11 and C21
• Holster included - a unique selling proposition on the market

Device

As already mentioned, the Crosman c31 pistol copies the famous Beretta firearm (the old Beretta 90two model). Only its body is made of weapons-grade plastic. The barrel is a movable type, made without rifling, made of steel. Steel and a magazine located inside the handle (but its lock is plastic). Eighteen copper-plated metal balls can be placed in the magazine.

The power source - a gas canister - takes its place in the handle, like the magazine. To insert it there, you need to slightly move the pad on the handle by pulling it back. And to pull out the clip you need to move the lever of the bracket located on the trigger hook. To the right of this hook is the safety (non-automatic).

In the photo there is a place for a can of carbon dioxide

Open type sighting devices are a front sight with a rear sight, which are also made of plastic. They have special fiber-optic thread-like inserts (colored). If you want to experiment with laser sights, please do so. There is a place for them.

Upgrade

If you wish, you can make a Blowback yourself in Crosman C-TT. You will need to purchase an original gasket for the bolt carrier piston or make one yourself. To make it, you will need a 5-cc syringe with a rubber seal. You need to cut off the conical part and sand it, remove the gum, cut off about 0.05 mm from the back, pierce a hole and put it on the piston needle. The retaining ring is not removed.

To obtain an increase in speed, you can drill out the valve hole. Having received increased speed, side effects from this procedure will appear:

• gas consumption will increase;
• its accuracy will decrease.

It is precisely because of the appearance of excess gas at the barrel outlet that such tuning is not welcomed and not recommended.

Equipment

In addition to the weapon itself, the blister (this is the form the pistol is supplied in) contains:

• Manual printed in several languages. This is a leaf folded several times.
• A holster made of synthetic material with a pocket for a spare clip.

Crosman C31 air pistol and holster for it

Principle of operation

So, let's start - press the trigger. At the same time, the trunk slowly moves forward. As a result, the iron ball, which is pushed by the spring of the clip and clamps the spring cone on top, comes out onto the axis of the barrel channel. The barrel carries it along, then a blow to the valve and the release of a powerful gas jet. She goes all the way into the trunk, taking the ball with her.

Possible breakdowns

Since the device body consists of two plastic halves fastened with screws, the connection cannot withstand long assemblies and disassemblies. The grooves become larger and the screws dangle in them. There is a simple repair method: you need to take polycarbonate or PVC and mix it with plastic. Heat until melting and strengthen the grooves. And at the same time the place (also weak) where the cone spring rests.

After numerous reloads, the spring that holds the balls in the magazine begins to weaken. And then the ball, which turns out to be the outermost one, does not reach the barrel channel. However, if you turn the weapon over with the clip facing up, you can fire a shot.

Often the plastic latch with which the magazine is equipped also breaks. It is poorly repairable, so you need to treat this part with particular care and attention.

Another trouble that happens quite often: carbon dioxide begins to “poison” as it comes out of the can. It happens that everything goes away if the gun lies idle for a long time. The reason is the gasket of the cylinder. Perhaps it is crooked or needs to be replaced.

Well, if something more serious happened, you need to take your pneumatic gun to the master - let him “cure it.”

Disassembly

Disassembly (incomplete):

1. Move the bracket down and remove the clip.
2. Remove the plastic handle plate.
3. Having cocked the hammer, we move the bolt frame back and up, trying not to lose small parts (in particular, the spring).
4. The barrel will be removed after removing the pistol from the safety catch.
5. Now you can clean the dust and dirt that has accumulated in the bore and the area for the cartridge. And then lubricate all parts made of metal.

Assembly:

• Let's start with the barrel - insert it.
• Time to put the spring in place, as well as the small part it should rest against.
• After installing the shutter, put on the casing.

All is ready! The video shows a partial disassembly of the Crosman C31 air pistol:

Appearance

The Crosman C31 air pistol itself is made of black plastic, all important mechanisms, the barrel and the magazine are made of steel. The operating pattern is a movable barrel (similar to our Anixes), it is this solution that contributes to the greater power of the pistol. Shooting is carried out only by self-cocking, the owners note a soft descent.

The model also has a movable trigger. He just has nothing to do with shooting here. Using the trigger, the method of “squeezing and pulling the bolt up” is used to partially disassemble the pistol. Here it is interesting; you can even remove the barrel without tools (better study the video below).

Pseudo trigger and sights Crosman C31

There is a standard two position safety switch on the right side. Its main difference from many other models: in a safe position, it does not block the travel of the trigger, but opens the trigger, while the hook itself can continue to freely work out its full stroke.

If in the C11 model a special button was used to remove the magazine, here it was decided to replace it with a moving element of the bracket (again, our Anix A-3000 comes to the first association). By pressing it down, the magazine separates from the pistol under its own weight.

Safety and magazine release levers on Crosman C31 clip

The Crosman C31 air pistol has a slim magazine that holds 18 4.5mm BB balls. It is worth noting that the magazine is compatible with pistols of the series (C11 and C21). Again, it makes me think about the serial similarity of the Anix 101-111-112 stores.

To equip the pistol with a regular 12-gram cartridge, you need to move the handle, insert the cartridge and tighten the clamping screw with the swivel that appears. For some reason, the general shift of the handle again reminded me of the disassembly of Anix 111... oh, this paranoia.

Providing “target” shooting is represented by a non-adjustable open sight with fiber-optic inserts, traditional for Crosman. For those who don’t like this, there is the opportunity to find some nanotechnological replacement device for the bar.

Improving your pneumatic

Of course, many owners of the Crosman c31 would like to increase accuracy. Craftsmen have figured out how to do this - there are detailed instructions on the Internet. Let's briefly say that you need to put a bushing machined from steel into the false barrel. Or rather, even two bushings: one with an internal diameter of 6 millimeters must be screwed into the bolt frame from the outside, the second (with an M10X1 thread inside) must be screwed into the first bushing.

Now about increasing power. In the place where the barrel hits the valve there is a small part that looks like a weight. It needs to be ground down a little - about a millimeter (on the side that is thicker).

Disassembly and care

To service the Crosman C-TT, it must be properly disassembled and reassembled. To do this you will need:

1. All plastic linings are removed, the gas cylinder is removed, and the gun is unloaded. After removing the magazine, you can begin disassembly.
2. The plug is held in place by 2 pins that need to be knocked out; they are located on the front of the weapon.
3. Pull the frame back as far as it will go; to do this you will need to hold the plug. Thanks to this, the plug can be easily removed along with the spring. The rear of the slide lifts up and is removed through the front of the pistol.
4. On the inside of the bolt frame there is a piston and a firing pin. They should be unscrewed with a screwdriver.
5. On the right side of the gun there are 7 retaining bolts that need to be unscrewed and the halves removed. On the same side there is a trigger held by a spring. Carefully remove the trigger, rod, and axle pin.
6. The barrel and valve are also bolted, but there are already 3 of them. The first is located outside, and the other two are inside. After removal, you need to disassemble the part into the valve, barrel and feeder, which does not need to be disassembled further, although it consists of two parts.
7. After the valve chamber is unscrewed, the valve with spring, seal and washer are removed from it.

Attention! When removing the spring located on the axis and holding the trigger, you should be extremely careful, since it is this part that is most often lost due to its small size.

The inscriptions on the barrel can be easily erased with fine-grained sandpaper; the main thing is to rub carefully to avoid damaging the body paint. After disassembling the gun, you need to remove all the debris inside and excess lubricant. The thread can be reinforced with FUM tape in places where it is necessary.