New Cricket .25…Taking the Next Step
I decided recently to “bump things up a notch,” and buy a Kalibre Cricket in .25. For the first time I have gotten lucky with an airgun purchase. The Marauder was a bit anemic out of the box and it took adding a hopped up valve to fix that and the Condor has had accuracy issues which, I am in the process of fixing..so all good there. Don’t get me wrong; both are great guns.
But the Cricket arrived after work yesterday, and out of the box…all I can say is, I’m VERY impressed! Solid as a rock…beautiful clean lines…all black tactical look. I think had Borat been here, he might have said: “Great Success…She’s a Nice.”
I cleaned the barrel first thing, (it was filthy), then set it up with the Aeon 6-24X50 that I bought as well. It was chrony’d and checked for accuracy before leaving the retailer and here are their numbers, with JSB 25.4:
969.4; 969.7; 970.1; 970.1; 971.9; 972.7; 970.1; 972.5; 969.5; 974.1
After the set up, I threw a target up at 30 yards. Shot the first shot…right on the bull…held my breath, thinking…please, please, please be a good one and the second shot was right in there too. One flyer or I might have pulled it, then it settled down into grouping like a Mofo-D! :8:
I quickly shot the remaining 5-shot groups (JSB EK’s) before losing the light.
First shots right out of the box….(not sure why I only shot the 3rd bulls-eye once….must have gotten overly excited)
This is looking to be a real “shooter”….good power and accurate…oh, and the trigger? For the first time I understand what people are talking about when they use phrases “crisp” and “breaks like a glass rod.” Not touching the factory setting…works for me. Wonder how this gun will be once broken in. Couldn’t be happier.
For the remainder of the evening I sat on the couch, with it in my lap just looking at it….LOL.
KPinNC
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Coolest thing I’ve done with my Crickets is I shot a white cardboard at 30 yards with my .25, then I shot at the hole the .25 made with my .22. The hole did not change until the 4th shot! I put 3 pellets thru that .25 hole with the .22 and it was still a .25 hole! I just cannot believe how these guns shoot!
😆 what did I tell you.. The more you shoot it the more your going to love it.
Great mods, Zonk! I was just curious about other pellets. JSB King are just fine by me.
And the fun continues……Cleaned the barrel again to try dry pellets and it grouped great with the first group! What? Man, I would have thought that things would have had to season up first, but no. I got it over the chrony and lowered it down to 920…. A buddy invited me out to an indoor range, where the owners swooped right in…they were knocked out…couldn’t believe this gun and that trigger. Got home and had a little light left…shot several one-hole groups at 30 then decided to try things at 50. …..shot three 3/4″ groups and one 1/2″ group. Did I mention I’m impressed with this gun? It’s SICK!…MAN!!! Half inch groups at 50 and it ain’t even broke in yet! SAAA-WEET! :8:
I tried a bunch of different pellets, but it’s hard to beat Kings in .25. If you want to try others, it’ll take a lot of time playing with pellet speeds, adjust and chrony, adjust and chrony. I forget what speeds seemed best for Crow magnum, Silver Bear, but they never shot as well past 40 yds. Benjamin domes used to be really good, but the quality is all over the place. I’d get a pile of Kings, before they switch designs or quality goes in the toilet.
Now when you pull back the lever just push it down into slot and it’ll stay there.
I’ve tried several pellets and all have shot good. My Bobcat loves JSBs 18.1 gr and so does my Cricket so I just stick to them. As far as lube. I’ve tried it and it does feel easier to insert the pellet into the chamber. I’ve never tried any heavier pellet than the 18.1.
:8:
Dave
:8: I thought so. I can change mags with one hand.
Great idea.
Drums, here’s another Mod you can do to make changing mags easier. Take a small rat tail file and cut a notch into the side plate to hold the lever back as your reloading. Side plate is very thin and soft so go slow.
Now when you pull back the lever just push it down into slot and it’ll stay there.
I’ve tried several pellets and all have shot good. My Bobcat loves JSBs 18.1 gr and so does my Cricket so I just stick to them. As far as lube. I’ve tried it and it does feel easier to insert the pellet into the chamber. I’ve never tried any heavier pellet than the 18.1.
Great Googely Moogely…Zonk…you are in airgun heaven!!!!….AZ? MAN, that’s impressive and the o-ring fix is ingenious. gonna tuck that one into “cool things to do once I break this sucker in” list.
Is it advised to lube pellets with this gun or just go from the tin (JSB Kings)? Condor advises to lube. I’ would do it to keep barrel fouling down.
Well kind of a crappy, drizzly day today…tomorrow is supposed to be real nice…ugh…hate the wait. Wanna shoot, shoot, shoot!
Got a feeling I’m going to be doubling my pellet order next time with this one.
What other pellets (heavier ones) does this gun like?
KPinNC
Thanks Zonk
Mike
Do you ever get tired of picking up your mags off the ground every time a mag holder falls open?? Well I did.
You notice how the mags stay in the holder when the rifle is pointed up.
I replaced the two thin O-rings with one that is thicker.
You may have to use a dremmel tool to cut in a small grove where the mag rotates if you feel resistance when cocking your gun. Some people haven’t had to some have. I was one who had to.
Here’s the O-rings that I used…
Only takes a few minutes to do this mod.
Oh and those P-dogs, that pile wasn’t even HALF of what we shot in 20-30 minutes. We got tired of picking them up. The next day everyone of them were gone. Coyotes got them that night.
I checked the speed over the crony earlier this evening and it’s already slowed a bit. Maybe the spring is breaking in a bit. It’s now averaging 947, down from 970. I’ll shoot it some more this weekend and see if it changes more. I don’t have the cool adjuster, nor did I get any extra springs. Man that’s a pile- O- prairie dogs… Wow.
KPinNC
Be sure to ask Zonk about the Orings for the pellet clips, One of the best mods I have done.
Thanks Zonk
Mike
MAN!!! it would be fun to sit and shoot prairie dogs!!! We got lots of critters, but nothing like that in East Texas…
This is the only thing I know how to do…..
and kill more…
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Sweet! 25 to 45 yards the only thing I aim at is the sparrows head. I have to at least make it challenging.