In this post, we take a first good look at the Crosman Challenger 2021.
Although most of us have heard of the Challenger and despite the fact that a TON of them have been – and are being – sold, most average airgunners do not have detailed knowledge of this air rifle.
This is because the Challenger is used specifically for Three Position (3P), 10 Meter target shooting by JROTC and similar clubs. Sadly, there’s very little carry-over in airgun terms from the tens of thousands of kids who take part in 3P competitions every year and the “broader” airgun community. It seems that most of them either drop airguns or move to 22LR shooting once they graduate from school.
It’s important to understand that the Crosman Challenger 2021 is a very unusual air rifle in that it is designed to fit into the extremely rigid specifications for Sporter-class 10 meter 3P shooting. So the gun’s designer cannot just do what he wants with the design.
Even in Sporter class, that is relatively unrestricted competition, 3P air rifles must have a limited Muzzle Velocity (maximum 600 FPS), weight, length and more. It’s .177 caliber only.
Sighting is by peep sights only. So the Challenger is bundled with a dedicated set of diopter rear and tunnel front sights.
There’s other limitations too, including a maximum “club buy” price of $650.00 for the gun. (And if you think that Sporter-class restrictions are tight, check-out those for Precision Class, there the rules go as far as to specify the types of shoes and underwear that are acceptable)!
To keep safely within that 600 FPS Muzzle Velocity limit, Challengers are set to 580 FPS. means 5.9 Ft/Lbs maximum Muzzle Energy – assuming heavy 8.2 Grain wadcutter pellets. So that leads to unusual design features such as a 900 PSI regulator set pressure and a hammer that’s largely fabricated from high-tech polymer, rather than steel.
Below. Here’s a close-up of the Spring Stop Guide (SSG) polymer hammer assembly of the Crosman Challenger 2021. Photograph by John Solpietro, the gun’s designer. Thanks John!
Some parts of the Crosman Challenger 2021 are strongly reminiscent of the Benjamin Marauder. After all, it’s just good design practice to re-use design data, tooling and/or parts from previous models, as the same design team did with the new Crosman 3622.
So you’ll find the same diameter HPA tube and a very similar trigger assembly. The tube cap is exactly the same as for the Marauder.
That means that the Challenger can be used as a platform for some interesting customized airguns. Indeed, most of the 2024 Benjamin Shooting Team were shooting Challengers that they had modified themselves with Marauder hammers and other parts to provide 20 Ft/Lb (in .177 caliber) Field Target rifles.
Below, that’s John Solipietro campaigning with his own “Field Target Challenger”.
It’s important to note too that Crosman became a key player in the 3P 10 Meter club and competition scene by surrounding the Challenger with a variety of services and support packages. So the company runs official armorer’s courses for the Challenger, helps clubs with extended payment terms and more.
It also means that every Challenger 2021 is test-fired and supplied with a 10 Meter target as we see below. All 10 shots must go within the 10 ring to pass. I believe that testing is done with RWS R10 pellets.
Those strange circular black parts you can see in the photograph above are interchangeable diopters for the front sight. The long rectangular part is a stock extension. All are included with the Crosman Challenger 2021. It’s sold as a complete package.
We’ll find out more when Hard Air Magazine reviews the Challenger in more detail soon with one of our industry-leading, comprehensive reviews.
Psssttt… If you’re not in an affiliated 10 Meter club and want a Challenger, you can redeem HAM Airgun Points for a 20% discount when you buy from the Crosman online store.
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The post Let’s Look At The Crosman Challenger 2021 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.