Today I’ll be conducting a chronograph and accuracy test on the current Daisy no. 25 model pump action carbine. This is a new Chinese produced gun that holds 50 rounds of b.b.’s, wood(ish) stock and pump handle, painted black metal (sheet metal) and plastic trigger assembly. Some folks have complained about painted barrels and plastic parts but I have actually grown to appreciate them. I own many vintage “blued” barrel guns and it can be very laborious keeping them all oiled and holding the vintage rust at bay. The plastic trigger works fine and will not require much in the way of maintenance. Of course not all triggers will behave the same on the new production models. I purchased 4 for this test and 1 of them had a very tight crisp break. The other 3 were pretty much the same – probably about 4 pounds of pull but still not a bad trigger. Not at all like my Benjamin NP Trail Pistol. That trigger is horrible.
Remember your American history? Although Jamestown Virginia was the first (British) settlement – Plymouth Michigan (Plymouth Rock) is erroneously granted the title. The same holds true of Daisy. They advertise themselves as “the first in air guns” but they certainly were not the first. Names like Quackenbush and Markham come to mind and I’m sure there are others. Daisy may have come out with the first Winchester style lever action in 1901 (maybe designed by Hamilton) and the first pump action in 1914 (designed by Lafever) but these b.b. guns were modeled after the Browning designed firearms. We must not leave out the Atlas air gun company that was acquired by Daisy very early on.
OK enough waxing historically. On with the test. -“CaliAir”
This new and “CaliAir” tested Daisy No. 25 model b.b. gun has been seasoned with 1000 rounds and is ready to go. Perfect working order take-down pump carbine. Rifle comes assembled in box new but tested condition as seen in photos and YT videos search “CaliAir”. The “Blue Book” describes this carbine as such: “BB/.177 cal. elbow-slide pump action cocking, MV to 350 FPS, stained solid wood pistol grip stock and forearm grip, steel construction, smooth bore steel barrel, decorative engraving on receiver, blade and ramp metal front and flip-up peep or open adj. rear sights, 50-shot internal spring-fed magazine, crossbolt trigger block safety, 36.5 in. OAL, 3 lbs. Mfg. 2010-current. 100% condition value = $45”
- FPS = avg. 283.3
- Grouping at 16 feet = 1” – (see target image)
- Condition = like new, tested, small scratch from shipping (see photos)
- Comments = This is a great quiet plinker. It hits a shovel head out at 50 yards with some Kentucky windage. Shoots better than any of my vintage Daisy no. 25’s. To take-down the gun you must remove the retainer screw and pull the trigger. Easy to shoot and maintain. Perfect for adults but kids like them too. The upper receiver has a scratch on it from the wire that contains it during shipping (as shown). Very slight wear from testing use. If you don’t own a Daisy no. 25 or Red Ryder you are missing out on the #1 staple in every serious air gunners arsenal. Advice: buy lots of b.b.’s and a tube of pellgun oil!
- note: there have been various internet posts regarding the quality of Daisy’s current line of guns coming out of China. I have purchased over the past 3 months at least 8 currently produced guns and they have all performed flawlessly. However I’m sure production mistakes occur.
View Complete List of Pump Action Guns
The Marksman pistols came out in the early 50’s and are unique in that they were not absorbed by Daisy like many other bb gun manufacturers in the US. There are several variants of the gun including the Morton Harris LA25, LA, Beverly Hills, Huntington Beach and Torrance models. The pistol is still being produced over seas but thus far has not tested very well for quality.
