An important note for everyone: buy the rifle with starter pack rather than the cheaper option, it is worth it. I will now give a short summary of my opinion and then elaborate in a bit. The summary is that this is air rifle is definitely worth the cheap price. No matter how you look at it (unless yours comes with a defect then contact Crossman) this air rifle has many pros with few cons. Please read my update near the end.
Pros list: 1. Price. For a price of 70 dollars for the bundle kit when I got it, it is significantly cheaper than the competition.
2. Cost of usage. This air rifle can shoot both copper coated steel BBs (do not recommend any other as gun will not function correctly) or 0.177 pellets. Given that a pellet is only a penny a shot for a reasonable round, and a BB is 10 for a penny, no matter how you look at it, the price is low. There are no costs for gas or pumps like a PCP, nor CO2. The only extra cost is the airgun oil to keep everything running smooth. Even that is used in such small quantities that it is negligible.
3. Accuracy. I am not a person who has shot all that much. My first time shooting guns was with a Lee Enfield, and later I used a Swiss K31. Because going to the range was difficult, I ended up getting this gun while thinking about my accuracy with the actual rifles at a 100 yards. For those of you who want to know the result, I am a poor shot and struggle to keep the projectiles on the center of the target. I should note that I am shooting while standing, so no arm supports. However, at 30 feet, where I am much more stable I can put 3 pellets in the same hole. So smaller than a 1cm cluster. I should note that I said pellets for a reason. BBs go all over the place in comparison to Pellets, so good luck to anyone doing target shooting with BBs. Pellets however are very stable and true to where you aim. I use the sights that come with the rifle, as I have never used a scope in my life.
4. You can shoot at home. I live on a large 10 acre piece of land, so technically I could shoot a low caliber pistol at home, but the risk of a stray bullet is still there so I will never do that. The nice thing about this air rifle is that you can adjust the power with the number of pumps. 10 pumps makes the BBs go through thin sheet metal like it is a joke. I did a test with them and a BB can go through 5 1mm sheets of steel before bouncing of the sixth. At the low end of 1 pump, regular old cardboard is strong enough to catch the BB. As a side note, because BBs are smaller than the bore size, you can shoot the gun with only 1 pumps with little risk. Actually removing the bolt can result in a loaded BB just rolling out of the barrel without pulling the trigger, which is kind funny to see. Pellets however are the same size to slightly bigger than the bore, which allows them to catch on the rifling. This also means that less than 3 pumps can result in the pellet getting stuck inside the barrel. My point is that the power of the projectile is very adjustable, allowing for usage even in some places besides a gun range. I would recommend you check local laws before attempting any shooting at home.
5. Noise. The gun is rather quiet. One of the loudest sounds is the pumping, since the grip snaps back into position making as much sound as the gun firing. It is quiet enough that your neighbors shouldn't be too annoyed, and there is no major need for hearing protection.
6. The starter kit comes with everything you need to start. The only add on was extra ammo, and airgun oil.
Cons: 1. You need to pump for each shot. This takes a lot of effort and makes you look away from the target to do so. Also it is not quiet. It kind of takes a little bit of the fun out of shooting due to all the pumping, but after shooting several thousand rounds by now, I am more or less use to it. However, when pumping 10 times for each shot, the snapping movement of the grip really takes a toll on the elbow. This is only an issue with 10 pumps, as it takes a lot more force to pump it, which makes the snap a lot worse.
2. Most of the components are plastic. This is not a major problem per se, as it can take some beating, but it still does not have the same appeal as metal and heavy usage can result in breaks. It is recommended to shoot a whole tin of pellets within the first month, if not more. If the gun survives the first month, then it will last a long time, if it breaks, contact customer support.
Overall, I think that these are all the major points about the rifle. I would say that this is a fun gun to shoot or just to get comfortable around firearms. This can be used for pest control (can pierce steel so it can pierce an animal), or for target practice, but at slightly closer distances. I would recommend it just for the price though, nothing else good beats this price.
Update: After about 1500 rounds shot, I ended up having a plastic piece near the front of the gun that holds the barrel and pump together break. This resulted in slightly poorer accuracy, but that was about it. I contacted Crossman, and the experience with the technical support was very pleasant. After sending an email with pictures of the break, I was informed that they are giving me a new gun for free (and I could keep the old one). Upon getting the new gun I realized something important, which many questions are often asked. The stock gun (no starter pack or other options) comes with the two sights. The front sight covers elevation, and the rear sight covers windage. Also, there is no carry handle. The M4-177 with starter pack comes with a non-adjustable font sight, and a rear sight that adjusts for elevation and windage. Also it has a carry handle. The starter pack also comes with two extra clips for pellets (each costs about $10 to buy normally) along with other goodies for only $10 more which is honestly a steal of a deal. The sights for the minimum version are honestly not that great, as the adjusting tool broke on my first attempt of using it, and even at maximum right correction, the gun shot several inches to the left at 10 yards. When I switched to the old sights (from the starter pack version) the gun became very accurate, being able to hit the center of the target. I am very pleased with the gun (as even the broken one is still a joy to use) and Crossman is very helpful if anything happens to the gun. For anyone who wants a bb or pellet gun, I would recommend it. Unless you are very rich and have no better place to put your money, this is definitely a gun to add to your collection.
| Brand | Crosman |
|---|---|
| Rounds | 6 |
| Caliber | 4.5 |
| Item Weight | 0.01 Ounces |
| Team Name | Crosman M4 177 |
| Air Gun Power Type | Battery, Electric |
| Barrel Material Type | Alloy Steel |
| Frame Material | Plastic |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 32.6 x 7.5 x 2.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 2 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | Crosman |
| Warranty Description | LIMITED 1 YEAR WARRANTY |
| Model Name | M4-177 |
| Material | Blend |
| Suggested Users | "" |
| Manufacturer | Crosman Corporation |
| Part Number | M4-177-N |
| Style | Frustration Free Packaging |
| Size | Frustration Free Packaging |
