Author Archive
Issue #52 – An interview with Robert Beeman, founder of Beeman Precision Airguns: Part 2
This is part 2 of my interview with Robert Beeman, the founder of Beeman Precision Airguns. If you missed part 1, click here to listen.
In this part, Dr. Beeman discusses his favorite airgun in the Beeman line and how the guns were designed. If you’re a collector or just want to know more about how airguns get their final configuration, you owe it to yourself to listen to part 2 of the interview.
Issue #51 – An interview with Robert Beeman, founder of Beeman Precision Airguns: Part 1
Dr. Robert Beeman changed airgunning in America more than any other person. If he hadn’t started Beeman Precision Airguns, this entire site wouldn’t exist and most airgun dealers, including Pyramyd Air, might not have come to be. His interest wasn’t just to start a business. He had a personal love for airguns, and he wanted to share that with others by importing and selling the best the world had to offer.
Listen as Robert talks about how he and his wife, Toshiko, founded the company, learned the ropes of airgun distribution, met with the European manufacturers, designed guns, got his airguns into gun stores…and built one of the most successful airgun importation and distribution networks in the world.
Issue #50 – An interview with airgunner Earl “Mac” McDonald
If you read Pyramyd Air’s blog on Airgun Academy, you probably already know about my good friend Earl “Mac” McDonald. He’s been a shooter and airgunner for many, many decades. Mac and I have been close friends and airgun trading partners for about 20 years. I thought you might be interested to learn more about Mac, his airgun collection and the guns he values the most.
Tune in with Mac and me!
Issue #49 – My vintage 10-meter air rifles
My collection of vintage 10-meter rifles seems to have grown recently. I wanted to tell you about them, as some of these are not just great shooters but they were Olympic-quality guns in their day…and some are still being used in competition.
Ten-meter airguns were imported by Robert Law, who owned the original Air Rifle Headquarters. But Robert Beeman was the one who really made headlines with these guns, making them a household word, showing people how they work and giving pictorial tours of the factories in his catalogs.
I became interested in 10-meter rifles long ago but was often not able to afford a high-quality gun. These days, vintage 10-meter guns are more readily available and I now have five of them in my gun closet. In this month’s blog, I’ll tell you about the HW55 (and all its many variations), the Walther LG rifles, the FWB models, Anschutz and Diana air rifles with the GISS Contra-Recoil System.
If you’re in the market for new 10-meter rifles, check out Pyramyd Air’s site for the latest technology: Anschutz 9003 Premium S2 Precise, Feinwerkbau 700 Alutek and the Walther LG30.
Issue #48 – Airguns are similar to black powder guns
Vintage airguns have an unusual similarity with black powder (BP) guns. Listen as Tom compares some of his favorite vintage airguns (FWB 30, Walther LG 55, BSF 54 and FWB 124) with collectible BP guns, such as the Marlin Ballard, trapdoor Springfield and Pennsylvania long guns.
Ammo, loading, build quality, lock time and barrel length are just a few areas where airguns share a lot with BP.
Issue #47 – Pellet tutorial
Pellets may seem like they’re not that complicated, but they are. Besides having to decide which shape is best for your airgun or your discipline, you have to consider weight, widths of the skirt and head, how hard it is and what type of gun you’ll be using.
This month, Tom Gaylord tells you which pellets might work best in the powerplant of YOUR gun…whether it’s CO2, spring-piston or pneumatic. Find the best pellet and commence to shootin’!
Issue #46 – New Daisy No. 25 BB gun
The Daisy No. 25 BB gun has been a favorite for millions of boys and girls over many decades. Daisy has a reissued this gun for a whole new generation of kids. Tom tells you how this gun compares to its predecessors. If you’re a Daisy collector, this is a must-have for your collection. Tune in to get the full scoop!
Issue #45 – Celebrating Women in Shooting and facts about collecting airguns
Pyramyd Air Celebrates Women in Shooting November 6-12, and Tom talks about the contributions of women to the shooting sports. Also on the docket is a look at some surprises about collecting airguns.
Issue #44 – Youth airguns
Got kids? They like guns, too. And airguns are the perfect way to introduce them to the shooting sports. But, which gun? Tom Gaylord tells you how to select a gun and what you should — and shouldn’t — give a kid who’s learning to shoot.
Issue #43 – Hunting with airguns
Traditionally, airguns have been used to hunt small rodents and medium-size pests. But a new day is on the horizon, where airguns can take large game, including deer and wild pigs. Over the past 10 years, big bore airguns have been making headway into the airgunning mainstream. Listen to this month’s podcast as Tom Gaylord tells you more about hunting with airguns. You just might discover the hunter in you.
