MM B26

[imadogman]

Hi everyone,
I just received my Mike Melick B26 .22 cal. with a Maccarri Merlin XL spring.  I must tell you that I am very pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of this weapon.  I am new to modern springer airguns, but I have spent all of my life around modern firearms, and my late father was an incredible stockmaker.  I have been spoiled with beautiful Walnut and Maple gunstocks, etc.
While I wasn't expecting anything fancy regarding the stock on my new B26, I must say that it was  nicer than I expected it to be, and it is far more than just "serviceable".  
I suppose that I am writing this for others to read, who may have questions about whether they should part with their hard earned cash for a gun that was made in China. Well, as you can tell from my first impressions, I am pleased, and I think that most people who purchase a B26, will not regret it.
I plan on putting a few hundred pellets through it in the next few weeks, and then it will be a gun for walkabouts, and plinking in camp during hunting and fishing trips.
I was also one of the fortunate people who guessed correctly what MM did in the Navy, so he included a D-18 Canadian Hunter in my order....Thanks Mike!  
I am sure that this new B26 will be a good shooter, as I have read only good reports regarding this model, especially when tuned my Mr Melick.  
Well, it's time to go buy some components to build a pellet trap.
Happy Shooting,
Imadogman

[longislandhunter]

congrats on the new shooter,,, you got a fine shooter there.....

Jeff

[TCups]

Dave:
Welcome to the GTA and thanks for your comments.  A surprising number of folks join and start by asking about the "one gun" that they should get.  I was one of them.  Most often, if you come to like air gunning, then one gun is never enough.  That said, a MM B-26 is an excellent place to start.  Good quality, good performance, and very good price.  Did Mike polish the trigge for you, too?  Your B-26 will come to be a benchmark by which you judge any other air rifles you may come to own.  I have two MM B-26 rifles, one in .177 and the other in .22.  I really like both and I really think a lot of Mike, too.  Congratulations on your new air rifle.  Send us some pictures and let us know how well it is shooting.

[imadogman]

Tommy,
Thanks for the welcome.  
As you mentioned, choosing a first airgun is complex due to the variety of designs and price ranges available.  I think that the biggest factor for me, was deciding what I was going to use it for, with the price being only secondary.  The many positive threads about MM and his reputation certainly steered me in his direction (not to mention the fact that he is always on here trying to help people, without selfish reasons).  
I don't believe that Mike polished the trigger, but I like messing with those anyway.  He did a lube tune and added the Maccarri Merlin spring.  Per other posts that I have read, I expect a very solid and smooth shooting rifle with this combination.  I will send pics after I get it sighted in.  
As for getting more guns...well, as you all know, you can't have too many, even if you have to buy a couple just for your better half.  My ex owned 2 shotguns that she hardly ever shot, but I made certain that they were always ready and shooting properly in case she did want to shoot them from time to time.
Since I have gotten interested in airguns, I find myself drooling over AirArms Prosport, and also the AA 410 PCP guns.  For me, a gun has to have a certain look, and the ProSport is one of the most attractive.  Since I have been spoiled with fancy wood, it would at least have to be Walnut (although a custom Maple stock would take a pound or two off of the overall weight) < I guess you can tell what I have been thinking, eh?
I also think that an IZH 46M might find its way into my fun safe (no, I didn't misspell gun safe).
As soon as I get as many guns as PeakChick, then I know that I have made it.  
   :emoticon:
Later,

Imadogman Dave

[shawn67]

Hi Dave, welcome I'm new here to and like you I ordered a Mike (a great guy!) tuned B26 and he put in a maccari merlin spring for me too, but he ended up taking it out and puting the stock spring back in and spacing it because the merlin slowed my gun down by 40 or 50 fps, I know the merlin would make the gun smoother but I was wanting it to hit as hard as possible, I was wondering if you have shot yours through a chrony yet and what kind of results you got, also what kind of pellets yours likes best. Are you going to scope yours? Thanks

[imadogman]

Shawn from Illinois (Where the White Tailed deer grow large).  ;-)

I did want a gun with smooth recoil.  When I ordered this gun, I had already decided that I would most likely get a Magnum springer or a PCP later, and that would give me all of the speed that I wanted.  I have a CenterPoint 4-16x40 Wallyworld scope for it.  http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10248654  Forum members have suggested that this is a rebranded Leapers scope, but I am not sure if it is or not.  I am thinking of putting a 4X scope on the D-18 if it is a fairly accurate gun.
I also purchased a one piece mount from a seller on e-bay that was mentioned in a post here at GTA.  In the past, I have always used one power scopes, but as my eyes are aging, I find that the higher powers are helpful.  I will probably shoot my new B26 without the scope for a while (assuming I can see well enough to hit within my pellet trap)  ;-)
I haven't shot it yet, but intend on doing so later today.   No chronograph to shoot through, but if this becomes more than just a casual hobby, I may purchase one.
You probably have more squirrels to shoot in your area.  I have only ever seen on in my yard in 30+ years, and my Golden Retriever had it treed ;-)
We do have ground squirrels in the mountains that are fun to shoot, but not for about 3 or 4 more months (after the snow melts).  Lots of Starlings, but I can't shoot them here in my yard.
Shawn, did you get a .177 or a .22 cal?
Later,
Imadogman

[mikeiniowa]

Poor Shawn is still waiting for his, Fedex didn't deliver on Friday do to "bad" weather, he has a scope ordered and it didn't get here so it will have to go out Monday, it's been a week or waiting for deliveries to get stuff out. Missed the window at the Post Office by three minutes this morning, had it all timed out but ran into a problem with a rifle and had to make a run to the big city to get parts so that shot the heck out of my timing. I did get a delivery of an RWS 34 today from a dealer, no paper work with it so who knows who it goes to....if it's yours let me know, have at least two of them coming so I want to send it to the right customer....oh boy what a week...........

[shawn67]

Hey it sounds like you have been to illinois on a deer hunt, lol we do have some monsters here no joke, I had a huge 12 point buck close enough to touch the other day, a couple of dogs were chasing it and me and my son were walking towards a trussel down a old railroad tracks where we go shoot sometimes and the buck stopped right in front of me and my boy, no kidding I could have layed my 12 gauge out and touched him right on the nose he was that close, I only had birdshot in my shotgun and I didn't apply for a tag this year, so I just stood there thinking God why didn't I get a tag this year!!! He looked at us for what seemed like 3 or 4 minute probably more like 30 seconds and bolted off my son just stood there with his jaw open, he sad dad that was a Big deer! I said yeah that was a big deer, I wish I had it on video tape I'm sure we looked stupified, but I got it the 26 in .22, I should get it sometime early next week the weather has delayed my scope getting to Mike so it postponed my delivery by a couple days. I ordered a leapers 4x when I ordered the gun.

[imadogman]

FedEx couldn't deliver a box to me at work (due to bad weather)...so I walked down the street (about 1/4 mile) to the FedEx facility and picked it up myself.  That "due to bad weather" is a pretty good cover story...even if it is BS.  When I picked it up, they said that it was actually being held because they didn't know which business to send it to at the airport.  I then pointed out the phone number on the label that would have solved that problem.  Oh well, it was only a cell phone, nothing really important like a new airgun.   :emoticon:

When it absolutely, positively, has to be there overnight....or within 10 days (whichever works for them, eh?)

 

[moon]

Hi Mike, it's good to be busy this time of year.    It is cabin fever time and this white stuff can just go away.  

Dave, for true appreciation, you need to buy a cheapie gun and play with it.  When you go back to the nicer one, you'll be impressed all over again.   I think the favorite pellets in mine are .22 jb express and superdomes and crossman hollow points.

[shawn67]

Mike, my luck always runs like that buddy, I think I'm paying for my raisin'. Lol. My dad always told me I would pay for it!

[imadogman]

It may not be legal, but that load of birdshot at that range would have put Mr WhiteTail down in his tracks.  I have never been hunting in Illinois. Actually, I have only been in IL one time, and that was just through the NW corner of the state on my way to Oshkosh, WI to the airshow (may years ago).
It sounds like you have a nice place nearby to go shooting.  It used to be that way around here (when I was just a youngster), but it is far too urban now.  I can drive for 20 minutes and be in the country, but I hope to someday have a place where I can shoot in my backyard without concern.  8-10 years until retirement...and I may start looking before then.
Have fun with your new shooter too.  

Dave

[shawn67]

Thanks, you too. Just the other day a guy hit a big old mountain lion with his truck about 35 miles south of us, and they aren't even supposed to be around here according to the deptartment of fish and wildlife. I think they go where the deer are, it made the 6 o'clock news.

[imadogman]

Hey Moon,

Yes, there is a bad case of cabin fever going around.  We have lots of snow here too, although it is supposed to be severe clear for the next few days.
I have some serious remodelling projects, but they have to wait until it is nicer outside.  Any higher end guns will have to wait until the remodelling is done, but in the meantime, I will try my hand with the new B26.  I expect it to be a fun learning experience.

[bcshooter]

Welcome Dave, to our world of airgun addiction, Yes Dave I am a airgun addict. I purchased a couple of air rifles from Mike also and am very content with his service and ability to lube tune an airgun you buy from him. They turn out to be one of the smoothest shooters you own.I believe he has one pair of magical hands, a gift from the Gods........Shoot Safe....Shoot Straight and Enjoy......Bill