Crosman Vigilante

CO2 as an airgun power source continues to flourish, and the sheer choice of models now available is a testament to its popularity. American brand, Crosman, now produces an array of CO2-powered hardware, and given their reputation for no-nonsense fun airguns, this is hardly surprising, as they are obviously a perfect fit for the medium.
On test here is the Crosman Vigilante, and whilst it is undeniably a straightforward design, it’s hard to fault considering its RRP.

Dual feed
The Vigilante is a boldly styled revolver, only available in .177, and it is designed to shoot pellets or BBs. It comes complete with a 10-shot rotary magazine for pellets and a 6-shot one for BBs. If you’re new to this game, all you need to know, as far as I’m concerned, is that BBs are far less accurate, and with their propensity for dodgy ricochets, they are best ignored! Stick to pellets, and the Vigilante’s performance can be exploited to the full. Here endeth the lesson!

Sorry, where was I?
Open the box, and the packaging is about as simple as it gets—just the pistol, both the mags, and the usual Crosman instructions. Scrutinise the details, and there’s actually a fair bit of information included, covering filling and installing the magazine, inserting the CO2 cartridge, adjusting the sights, general maintenance, and safety. Comprehensive and reassuring to anyone new to our sport.
First impressions of the Vigilante, I would say, are very favourable, despite the copious use of plastics in its construction, keeping the weight down. The entire front section is composite, with a steel barrel liner running inside, and the grips are also composite. However, with the main block, trigger, hammer, and dummy revolving chamber all metal, there’s sufficient weight for the Vigilante to sit with poise when aiming. So, yes, it’s a balance here, and I reckon Crosman has got it about right.
Versatility comes with the inclusion of two Picatinny-style rails. One sits just underneath the muzzle, allowing for a laser or such like to be fitted, and the other sits on top, for an alternative mini sight to be utilised. I wouldn’t rush to take either option, but it’s nice to have them.

Standard 12g
Before any fun can start, we need to load up the CO2. To do this, one side of the pistol grip needs to be removed by getting a fingernail into the groove on the base. The grip then just pulls off. A bit fiddly on test, but I’m sure over time, the grip will loosen up. Insert a standard 12g CO2 capsule into the empty chamber, and use the tension bolt at the base to gently add pressure. You’ll probably hear a small hiss as the capsule is pierced and the system is pressurised. Snap the grip(s) back into position, and it’s job done.
Next, press the release catch at the top of the revolver’s frame to break open the action. The magazine then just pulls away from its spindle. Insert a pellet into all ten chambers and ensure they are flush for smooth operation. Drop the mag back on the spindle and close the action. The Vigilante is now ready to go.

Double action
This pistol is designed with a double-action trigger, which means we can either just pull through the trigger or pre-set the hammer by pulling it back. Take the latter route, and the trigger has far less work to do, so the release weight is reduced. It’s therefore easier to be more accurate this way, but again, it’s also fun to have the option. For the record, the Vigilante’s trigger is a little rough and angular on the finger, but its function is perfectly acceptable. For those who appreciate a safety catch, there is a manual safety which takes the form of a small cross-bolt. This works best when the hammer is pulled back slightly, allowing clearance as the safety bar moves across. A small red flag shows on the left side when the pistol is effectively live, and it’s all very neat.

Sighting up
On test, the Vigilante proved fairly loud, but a whole lot of fun. The open sights work fine, with a fixed front blade and an adjustable rear sight. Windage and elevation are both dealt with via their respective small screws, so have a screwdriver handy. Adjustment is a bit fiddly, but once set, it’s done. Regarding the sight picture itself, with a black front blade and black rear sight notch, it’s not the clearest, and I found it a bit of a challenge. However, this is easily remedied with either a brightly coloured sticker, nail varnish, or Tippex (white correction fluid). A small dot applied to the front blade and some dots around the notch soon accentuate the image, and it makes a massive difference, believe me!
Where accuracy is concerned, over ten yards, I managed 2” groups as standard, but once I had doctored the sights, and from a rest, sub-1.5” is easily attainable. The shot count was reasonable too, with 70 shots on offer from a 12g capsule. Admittedly, the velocity spreads dramatically as pressure drops, and looking at my logged velocity figures, it’s clear the first 40 or so shots are a lot more consistent. Don’t forget that in extreme cold, it’s a characteristic with CO2 power that velocity and shot count will go down somewhat, but this type of pistol isn’t made to impress over a chronograph, and to expect it to do so is to somewhat miss the point. Over the relatively close quarters this pistol is designed for, a change of velocity has less effect in any case. So, relax and enjoy.

Verdict
The Vigilante is easy to use, straightforward, and rewarding. It’s good value too, retailing for between £90 and £110 depending upon the dealer. When all’s said and done, the Vigilante is about fun shooting, and to that end, I’d say Crosman has a winner on their hands.
Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this pistol.