When a more power is needed...use a Daisy?

[GoodOlRWS45]

I found this treasure in my Dad's garage.  The research I did tells me that this rifle's velocity is 1150 fps, and I 'm guessing about a 40 grn slug?  I also read that this rifle could also be shot as an air rifle.  Do you guys know if there is any truth to this?   I also found about 2000 rounds of ammo and test fired it into a phone book.  It went through one whole one and about a third of the way through another.  I know that the BATF classifies this as a firearm, since there is propellant that burns, giving it it's power.  I posted this on the hunting forum since I'm dying to hunt jacks and cottontails with it.  Also, this forum seems to be a bit livelier.  Does anybody have any experience with this rifle?  If so, what are it's limitations?

Thanks

[shadow]

Never seen one Jon but very interesting shooter for sure. Ed

[glyconny]

Does it have a model name or model ID on the action anywhere?  Looks like it's in good shape.

[Gene_SC]

This is what I found on another forum:

The problem with using diabolo pellets in a VL is the VL is .22 rimfire
caliber (I know the VL ammo isn't a rimfire cartridge, but the size of the
bore IS .22 rimfire), and .22 rimfire is 0.223".

A .22 diabolo pellet barrel is anything from 0.2165" to 0.218" in
diameter. The pellet is too small for the bore and you will get lousy
velocity, zero accuracy and the spring piston will slam against the
compression chamber end as if you were dry-firing the gun. There is no
faster way to wreck your rifle than to shoot diabolos in it. - unless you
simply dry-fire it.

The reason I know this for certain is I did it and I recorded the results.

[only1harry]

Wow, that is some find!  It doesn't even look rusty or anything and 2,000 rounds is more than enough to keep you busy with this gun for a couple of years.. just in case you can't find this ammo anywhere.  

I must admit, I have never seen anything like this.  You should contact Daisy to see what year these were made and if they still have any ammo for it.  Sounds like it's a .22cal shooting slugs with some kind of powder charge behind it?  I can't see how you can use it as an airgun because there has to be a hammer that strikes the charge or something that makes a spark and ignite the powder?  

I 'm pretty sure there is not that many of these around.  Could be worth a few bucks if only a few were manufactured.

[Gene_SC]

Harry, I would think with the absence of a solid shell for the hammer to strike, and it being a springer that a hollow pellet would not be a problem. Although what I have read is that your average pellet size is to small for the bore. But you are right that is one amaizing design.

[Gene_SC]

Here is a bog on Pyramyd Air. It pretty much tells you the history of the Daisy VL .22

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/01/airgun-makers-that-spawned-firearms.html

[Gene_SC]

Yet another bit of data on the value of the Daisy VL .22

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=Daisy+VL+.22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

[Sc(+)pe]

what kind of accuracy can you get from that gun, it looks very intresting

[GoodOlRWS45]

Thanks guys!  It appears that the gun isn't as rare as I thought.  It also appears that I can still buy ammo for it.  I wouldn't have thought about searching Pyramid's website for info on it.  Thanks Gene.   Mine has a little rust  on the rear sight ramp, but that's it.  I've shot it at 50 yds and it's pretty accurate.  It doen't have a scope rail on it, otherwise I would slap my weaver scope on it.  It's very light, kinda feels like a toy.  It's dwarfed by my RWS 350.  I'm gonna take it out and see how it performs at longer distances.  I wish I had a chrony to see what it's true velocity is.  

Thanks again guys!

[SDale]

Oh man! I haven't seen one of those in YEARS! I used to have one as a kid. GREAT idea for a gun, but LOTS of problems.

First problem is accuracy. Mine was good for anything un an inch and a half at 55 yards. The other problem was that it didn't go BANG all the time. Sometimes it took 2 or 3 attempts to get it to fire.

[dave2288]

there are places you can go to get .223 pellets...the air ranger pcp from daystate needs em too

[GoodOlRWS45]

well, considering the fact that they stopped making this stuff in the 60s, it's a wonder the ammo fires at all now!   hehe.  I've fired about 20 rounds now, and no problems...yet.  it's not as loud as a .22 rimfire, but it's fun to shoot.  Its kind of in between my RWS 350 and my .22 rimfire rifle.  I've got much testing to do...my way of saying lots of stuff to shoot.