Caiman B-Type

We were toying with the idea of a bottle-type Caiman, and this is what we came up with:



Our new toy's got a 15-inch .22 cal brass barrel and is currently spitting out JSB's at 860fps for roughly 65-70 shots. I'd consider it a carbine, 37 inches OAL with moderator on, and 30 inches off. That's just a 3-9x40 Leapers scope on top, so you can judge the relative size of it.

It's got a pretty unique gauge position:



A simple tilt up will give you a look at the reading. There's a foster quick fill on the other side:



We found it was much easier to recharge while holding the rifle firmly about the middle, instead of fumbling with something at the muzzle end of the reservoir.

Accuracy?

We've only tested it at our 20 yard range so far as we haven't had time to hit the 50 yard one (which is quite a ways away from the shop), but I'm pretty satisfied that it meets our standards. Those are .22 cal pellet-sized targets...



And it comes complete with video. You may note I'm fumbling the 2nd shot because I noticed I stuck a JSB pellet in with a bent skirt (that's the nice thing about the Caiman's direct loading function), so I was trying to pry it out. I was aware the camera was running so I gave up on it, hehe.



You may also note the new thumbhole stock style, with a big indent for those who prefer a thumbs up position, and easier access to the hammer. Nice thing about it is, lefties like me can still shoot it comfortably.

I sure wish we had more time to get into this, but we're too busy at the shop right now. I do think it's got future potential. I like it, too bad Noli called dibs on it first.

Code name: Caiman B-Type, because I'm imaginative like that.

Gunshow season again!

Friends please visit us at the Defense and Sporting Arms Show.

Information is available here,

July 12 (Thursday) - 16 (Monday), 2007
Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong, Philippines

EVENT FACT SHEET
Host & Organizers : Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. (AFAD,Inc.)


Event Dates : July 12 (Thursday) - 16 (Monday), 2007

Venue : Megatrade Halls 1 & 2, 5th Level, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, M.M., Philippines

Exhibit Hours : 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM


SHOW DATES start from Thursday (July 12)
and ends on a Monday (July 16).

Figures and Grain....

For those wondering how the Caiman might look like dressed in walnut, look no further:



That's the client's own walnut blank, he was very lucky to get the nice figuring on the forend.

The Export Saga Pt 2

Continuing on from Pt 1, we then witness the shop run out of space. Partially assembled and completed airguns were everywhere, some overflowing onto the visitors benches in the office. These are the export orders post-tuning and right before boxing.













Pt 3 will cover my own experiences after receiving this shipment...stay tuned.

Breakin' Fifty....

I'd like to draw your attention to Noli's latest project gun. Seems after our blood pressure raising export order run, he needed to do something to relax.

This Caiman started out with a standard tank and a 17 inch shrouded barrel. It now sports an extended Mid tank and reworked internals that help propel 21 grain .22 caliber Kodiak pellets at 1,050 ft/sec, giving it more than 50 Ft-Lbs. The 600cc, 3,000psi reservoir supplies enough air for 40 balanced shots. The new 24 inch HW barrel is still wrapped in a T3 aluminum shroud, and the black/pepper laminate stock was redone to take the medium tank. I believe the proud owner will be using it to compete in the local airgun benchrest competitions that are growing in popularity lately.



Here it is compared to a standard length shrouded Tornado.


A closer look at the butt plate...


The Mid tank it uses is 40.5mm in diameter, which puts it squarely between the standard (32mm) and the Bigboy (48.25mm). This new size reservoir looks promising as it offers a compromise between the size of the standard tank and the capacity of the Bigboy.

The local benchresters better watch out, this monster is the one to beat =)

The Export Saga Pt 1

Since Noli has finally gotten his buggy digital camera working (kinda), I can now partially relate the loooooong journey we've had in making our first export order a reality. I didn't want to start this essay without pictures, so I waited and hoped that somehow we'd be able to provide them. As our modern technology has provided instant gratification with digital pictures, it has also made sure we suffer the extremes of sorrow by making sure they can be gone in an instant via a hardware failure. So friends, the word for the DECADE is...BACKUP!

All great journeys start with the first step, so they say. Ours was much more complicated. As with most handmade components go, please excuse the mess, hehe.

First, the individual internal parts were turned and assembled.





Note our advanced tracking method: masking tape. =)




These are the one piece T6 aluminum receiver assemblies of the Caiman.


Reservoirs:


Barrels:


And, finally the single greatest feat accomplished by ONE fellow:



That's right, one guy made all that. I'm making sure he gets a big bonus.

So as you all can see, it wasn't easy. Some might be surprised at the seemingly rudimentary ways our rifles are created, but don't let that fool you. Most parts are CNC machined, with great care and precision given to their tolerances. Each airgun is then hand assembled and tuned to spec.

More pictures and the finished products on Pt 2. Stay tuned.

Deluxe Stock

Quick update:

Here is the prototype deluxe stock on a Caiman with a CF shroud.




We're considering offering a deluxe stock as an upgrade option. Here's a prototype we're playing around with, thanks to Keith W who consulted with the design.

Targets and Tocino...

Ok the title of this post is an inside joke...but here's a Caiman rifle with our new batch of stocks in silhouette style. New owner is Mr. Hizon who test fired a few groups for us at 37 meters.







6 shots at 37 meters.

Skeletons In Our Closet

Here are a couple of Bigboy tanked Caimans that were made to order with "military" style folding stocks. Please don't let the flowers on the furniture distract you from their cool, rugged para-military looks, hehe.

These are special order only, check this post to see our standard folding-stock models with the full wood butt stocks.

Some encouraging news for Filipino Airgunners

I was initially worried that airguns will be included in the recent Comelec imposed gun ban, filed under RESOLUTION No. 7764-A. Now, thanks to the keen eyes of our good friend Gerald, it seems that we may have a reprieve.

In the following link, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. makes it abundantly clear that our "pellet guns" are exempt from the gun ban, so I'm hoping that our safe and legal silhouette competition activities can continue on.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/26795/Comelec-helpless-vs-pellet-guns


The whole article is quoted below (highlight mine):

Comelec helpless vs pellet guns
01/14/2007 10:14 AM

Pellet guns are not covered by the firearms ban during the election period, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. admitted Sunday.

Abalos made the admission on the first day of the election gun ban, even as he reminded owners of “real" guns not to bring their weapons outside their homes.

“Pellet guns ’di kasama ’yan. Pero sa shooting competition, [’yung] totoong baril talagang ban ’yan (Pellet guns are not included in the ban, but those in shooting competitions are included because they are real guns)," he said in an interview on DZXL radio.

Abalos warned gun owners against violating the ban, saying they face imprisonment of up to six years and perpetual disqualification from voting or seeking election.

He said those who feel they are threatened and want to be exempted from the ban should apply for proper exemption.

“Pag nahuli ang penalty one year to six years. Perpetually ’di kayo mag-okupa ng public office at bumoto (Offenders face up to six years’ imprisonment and will be permanently disqualified from seeking public office and voting)," he said.

Meanwhile, Abalos said he expects the Comelec to come out with a list of the voters and precincts added for this May’s elections.

The list will take into account the “new" voters who registered between September and December 31 last year.

“Next month or March lalabas ito pagkakataon (By February or March the list will come out)," he said. - GMANews.TV