crosman 2240: airgun customizers favorite

​Okay, who hasn't heard of Crosman? On our topic of air powered surrogates this week, we're looking at a few American manufacturers of airgun greatness in the hopes of inspiring firearm enthusiasts to consider an alternate tool in their perpetual pursuit of range-day fun. You see, it's not always convenient to go to a range, and not all of us are lucky enough to own our own land, and if we do sometimes that land has limitations (like, don't scare the neighbors), or there's factors like sometimes we're not inclined to blow a hundred bucks on ammo, or spend 2 hours afterward stripping all our weapons down to clean them. It's akin to owning a pet, sometimes it's simply less amazing that we'd imagined it would be when we were shelling out $500+ to buy it. Airguns (or APW's as we at the AFD like to call them) may be the solution to that problem. Simply put, 1) they're substantially quieter than their cartridge-firing counterparts, 2) they rarely require cleaning because pressurized air is actually very effective at keeping your breech & bore spic and span, 3) ammo is way cheaper and sometimes only requires a one-time purchase (i.e. using bb's and a pellet-trap target) and 4) the APW's of today are as, or more, high tech and expertly designed as any bullet shootin' gun on the market. Plus you can probably find an airsoft rifle that matches the weight and dimensions of your favorite AR, or a bb pistol replicating the 9MM you keep at your bedside (right down to the blowback action): so for muscle memory training you'll be all set and can shoot happily in your basement without having your door busted down by SWAT and being hauled off in cuffs. The Crosman 2240 is somewhat of a departure from those simulator weapons however, being an old-school bolt action CO2 pistol it really more resembles a single-shot version of the Ruger MK series. Yet it's a great little APW and a favorite for airgun customizing enthusiasts worldwide. Shooting .177 or .22 caliber pellets at around 460fps, you won't feel underserved as you plink cans in your garden. But the real beauty of the Crosman 2240 is the huge aftermarket of upgrades and enhancements that can turn your rather basic looking stock pistol into something out of a Bond movie with a folding stock, scope, muzzelbrake and even a Lothar Walther barrel for those looking to shave a millimeter off their groupings. As someone who likes aesthetic beauty it's immensely pleasing for me to see how well made this pistol is, and and all the available parts. My favorite upgrades are a steel breech replacement (an easy DIY project) which sheds the horrible factory sight and adds a dovetail for the addition of your $13 Tasco rimfire scope from Walmart, and the addition of the Crosman pistol stock which replaces the grip panels and provides carbine stability. Personally I find the pop of firing a little loud so I've just ordered a 1/2" x 28 threaded barrel adapter from Alliance Hobby in Ohio so I can attach my Huntertown Guardian (I'll report back on the effectiveness of this at a later date). Alliance Hobby is one of the only sources here in the states for aftermarket stuff, there is a Canadian store and a couple in the UK where the 2240 is immensely popular (no doubt because of archaic firearm laws...but hey, necessity is the mother of invention) and the Brits have succeeded in making some of the coolest, most beautifully machined upgrades imaginable for this wonderful little weapon. My hope is the bug spreads further here in the US and we can match their accessorizing skill and plethora of performance enhancing parts. Okay, the Crosman 2240 is not a replacement for a MK IV if you need a bullet to do the job, but it and many modern APW's are worthy younger siblings to the guns currently adorning our safes...and let's not underestimate the power of youth! 
US supplier of parts: http://alliancehobby.com
Crosman's own basic customizer: http://www.crosman.com/custom-shop/
GOM