TargetTalk

I'm new to the forum and plan on getting back into the sport. I was wondering the pros and cons (or just the differences) of the 753 and 853CM. I use to shoot the 753 in High School and basically want to get that model due to familiarity. While shopping around I saw the 853CM, which seems to be the same stock just polymer. Other than that, are there any significant improvements with the 853CM?

Another quick question, I know the 753 is a newer model than the 853, but where does the 853CM model come into play?

Any shooters in or around the Savannah, Ga area?

The 853cm was designed for ROTC programs and the civilian marksmanship program. ROTC programs are notoriously hard on their equipment. The polymer stock has the advantage of being impervious to moisture, more durable than wood, and is more consistent in quality than the wood stocks which tend to vary widely in quality of the shaping and finishing. The 853CM also has the drop down pistol grip like the 753 which many shooters prefer in the standing position.

The rifle also comes with double barrel weights for better stability and a quick change sling swivel attach point handle so that multiple shooters can easily adjust the rifle to their preference without tools.

I restocked a 753 with a polymer stock from Daisy and found the following differences. First, the rifle doesn't take the same amount of butt spacers as well as the wood stock. The wood stock has nut inserts and long screws that make it easy to add three butt spacers while the polymer stock uses wood screws that are only long enough to accomodate two spader. While you can insert more spacers in the polymer stock, you have to get longer wood screws to secure them.

The polymer stock also doesn't have the center spacer and screw in the stock that is located just forward of the trigger assembly in the wood stocks. Because of this, the polymer stock tends to pinch inward in the middle and the pump handle has to be forced into its slot when you close it.

The stock is also made from a black plastic material similar to polypropylene or polyethylene. My experience with this type of plastic is that it expands significantly when heated. If you shoot outdoors in the sun, the black stock could heat up and change the aimpoint of the rifle as the stock expands. This isn't a problem if you shoot indoors.

For ROTC programs where the goal is primary rifle training, a plastic stock makes sense. It will last longer, be less prone to damage from neglect and abuse (I've seen the results of an ROTC program using their target rifles as drilling rifles and the results of rifles spun in the air and then slammed on the concrete ground weren't pretty), and be inexpensive to operate. If you are looking for better accuracy for a competitive shooting setting, there are better solutions out there. IMO, the 887 and CH2009 are both better rifles for sporter class accuracy. Of course, you have to deal with the logistics of getting CO2 or compressed air for fuel. For cheap fun, it's hard to beat a single stroke pneumatic.

BTW, maintanence on the 887 is far less than on a 753/853 SSP. Our club has 887s with more than 10,000 rounds through them without any malfunction of the gas system. The 753s that we use to shoot required regular rebuilds to replace o-rings, valves and pump tubes in order to maintain top accuracy. We've had to replace pump tubes in as little as 2000 rounds as grit that got in the tubes scored the inside and resulted in less than full compression. (The range was outdoors in a parking lot that had a regular stiff crosswind that blew up grit from the surface.) The 887 system is sealed, except when changing out the CO2 cylinders, and no grit can get inside.

I don;t see the model "853cm" on Daisy's website.
Does it have the 'Walthar' barrel?

The 853CM is normally sold to JROTC units ... even then, I think the service command purchases them and re-ships to the unit.
I'd be surprised if the CM did not have the Lothar-Walther bbl.
Daisy tried to keep their manufacturing processes very tight to save as much money as they can in these competition rifles ... a different bbl would put one more "kink" in their system.

If that is what you want, a simple call to Daisy Special Markets will probably get you fixed up.

Denise Johnson
Daisy Outdoor Products
National Account Manager Special Market
479-621-4317
djohnso@daisy.com

Personally, I'd recommend the 887 CO2 rifle

No, the Walthars are very good. Crosman also uses them. I was thinking of the 953(?) that I believe uses a Daisy barrel. Looks like a 853 with synthetic stock.

The 853CM is available from retail outlets like Pyramydair.

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Daisy_Avanti_853CM/1000

It does have the Lothar Walther barrel like all the other Avanti air rifles and its potential accuracy is very high.

If you plan to keep the rifle or compete in sporter competition, and you really want a pump instead of a CO2 gun, get the 753. The wood stock is more stable than the plastic one but be aware that quality control isn't the best on the manufacture and finish of the stock. The plastic stock isn't bad, but it has a bit more flex in it than the wood one. You can always order the black stock and an extra barrel weight to convert it to the 853CM. Both are inexpensive.

The plastic stock is the same as on the Daisy powerline 953. The 953 has a Crosman barrel that is not even close to the accuracy of the Lothar Walther barrel. Because of the way the rifle is made, you cannot easily change out the barrel. The 953 is the way to go if you just want a backyard plinking gun, don't want to spend a lot of money, and don't plan to shoot anything smaller than a soda can.

The 753 rifle is being phased out of the JROTC programs and the CMP is offering them to local high school and club shooting programs for very low or no cost. Contact the CMP to see if they are available in your area. The CMP also had some for sale at their CMP store, for a modest price, that were used but rebuilt.

Like jhmartin, I also recommend getting the 887 over any of the other Daisy Avanti rifles for competition. There is a reason that pumped air rifles are rarely seen at National competitions anymore.