crosman 180 pellgun

[jpaulghetto]

Just picked up this crosman co2 rifle. Made in the sixtys. The safety seems to be keeping me from removing the stock.Anyone know how this model comes apart?  Help!!!  Thanks, Jeff

[jpaulghetto]

I figured it out. For those interested, you just insert a small screwdriver or other suitable tool just above the safety and depress the plunger holding the safety in place. Slide out the saftey and the rifle will come out of the stock. Now all I need to do is find parts. Thanks, Jeff

[ZVP]

jpaul,
 You have a good one!
  Search for and contact Mac-1 Airguns or Bryan and Assosiates for parts.
 The 180 came in two versions, a thru the stock safety(early model) and the advanced, adjustable trigger model (yours).
Power and accuracy of the 180 are very good, though it comes at the cost of being a gas guzzler. Mine only gives 18-21 shots per powerlet.
 The rifle has a number of  possible owner adjustments:
 hole in cocking knob is a power control, an allen key inserted thru will find a nut to set the power level. (You may need to rotate the knob to hit the adjuster)
 Some models have 2 clicks on the cocking knob (Hi/Low Power), a gas saver...

 The trigger  housing has 3 screws:
 Top- sear engagement.
 Middle- trigger overtravel.
 Bottom- trigger spring tension.

 Adjustments must be made with the stock removed. Be carefull tho as you can either adjust the trigger UNSAFE, or set it to inoperatitive!
 Start with heaviest contact on the sear, then adjust.
 Overtravel, you need some to keep the trigger from locking, just not too much...
 Trigger spring, leave a little to be safe.
 I think you will be happy with this rifle!
 Mine is an origonal first model, and just this fall, after over 40 years service, the seals went. They are long lived rifles that don't require messing with much at all to function very well!
 These rifles can easilly keep ya fed with small game, and are a joy to just plink with!
 Please b for safety's sake, be conservatitive with those adjustments, till you are very famillar with your rifle, OK?
 Good luck with yours!
 ZVP

[jpaulghetto]

I can't believe the quality of this piece! After reading your post, I took a look at the trigger group. WOW. Everything you stated is true! I was waiting for the owners manual from crosman before I went any further in disassembly. Now that I have it apart everything will be lightly polished. Hopefully new seals will not be hard to find.  This piece was in a garage for the last 15-20 years. rust all over the exterior. Suprisingly, the inside looks pretty nice. ZVP, I'll keep you posted as to progress. Thanks a lot!Jeff

[jpaulghetto]

Well zvp, I finally got around to firing this rifle, or should I say this rifle firing itself? There appears to be damage to the sear. The trigger seemed to release properly without gas in it. It released itself when a co2 cart was installed. Shot a hole through one of the oldladys blouses. No, she wasn't wearing it at the time. Why she insists on hanging clothes in my basement is beyond me. Anyway, I adjusted for more sear engagement and its a lot better, but not perfect. I may need a new sear. The good news is this thing is very accurate! A lot more powerful than my 1377. After I get all the bugs out of this rifle I think I'll look into some sort of sighting system to tap into its accuracy potential. Thanks again, Jeff

[ZVP]

Jeff,
 Glad no one was hurt!
 The sear engagement is definatelly too light!
 Sounds like you are getting there though, just go slow and in fine little tedious adjustments!
 These 180's are usually pretty accurate, they made real good barrels!  The Sears and Wards "Customer Guns" are rumored to have the best barrels.
 Many of the 187's ( the .177 cal versions), have been abused by people shooting BB's and this is a crime, cause they were so good!
 I just bought a  .177 cal Compaseco QB-78 which is a dangerous junker and is giving me fits, cause it is gas locked and  very dangerous at the moment!
 Thank goodness my .177 cal "Prototype" QB-78 was far better made, and I can  still enjoy the attributes of this fine trigger group, on an early (Tim McMurry/Shanghi Airgun factory) re-creation of the Model 167 (two powerlet model)!
 If I were in Kentucky, I would gladlly return this current
"junker" straight back to Compaseco, but I live in Calif, and it is illegal and stupid to ship a charged gun...
 Guess I  just threw my money away on this latest "Buy"!
 I think that once you get your Crosman 180 sorted out and adjusted, you will have a lot of fun with it, I sure like mine, and it has the "Old Style" non adjustable trigger! It's a  CO2 POWERHOUSE that rivals my new Model Benjamin 392!
 Enjoy!
 ZVP