Daisy Powerline 1200 Review

Overall Rating

For a CO2 BB pistol, this is an accurate "plinker," it is easy and inexpensive to shoot, has a fairly descent trigger that is wide and grooved, quiet enough for use in a basement, garage, or backyard, and can still be found used for $15 to $40.

Like most CO2 tube pistols, the last 10 or 15 shots are very slow and inaccurate, and some will find the plastic grips do not always have a nice fit and tend to look and feel cheap.

My research shows the Daisy Powerline 1200, a .177 caliber smooth bore BB Pistol, was made by Daisy from 1977 to 1995 and probably sold new for $25 to $35. It weighs 1.9 pounds, is a gravity feed and holds 60 BB's, about a 5" steel barrel, overall length is 11", cross-bolt trigger block safety, blade and ramp front sight, open adjustable rear sight, supplied with plastic molded checkered grips and for-end, has a claimed maximum velocity of 420 fps, powered by 12 gm CO2 Cylinders, will shoot a maximum claimed distance of 253 yards, has a trigger pull of about 3.25 pounds, and was made in Rogers, Arkansas.

My 1200 used to be my father's who purchased it new, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, to scare away cats (he never did). He probably fired less than 10 BB's through it. I received it in 1987, fired it 10 to 12 times, did not care for the CO2 arrangement, and put it away. In October of 2006 I came across it and decided to try it again. It is in like new condition. I'm still not fond of CO2 but I set up some milk cartons and a few targets at about 15 yards. For a plinker, I was impressed with its accuracy. 1.5" groups were easy to do shooting "off-hand." I did get a couple at 1.25" using a patio chair for a rest. Daisy claimed you could get 100 shots from a CO2 tube. I don't think so, perhaps 60 to 75 and the last 10 or 15 come out so slow you can watch the BB's glide to the target. However, the first 30 or 40 roar out the barrel and may very likely hit 400 fps. It is necessary to tilt the barrel down at about a 45 degree angle when operating the cocking piece, within the bottom cavity of the forearm, that cocks the pistol and moves a BB into the chamber. Once cocked the BB will stay in the chamber until the gun is fired--it does not roll out the end of the barrel when pointed down.

Critics will say the fit and finish leave a lot to be desired. Based on the selling price and its accuracy, I would say this is a great plinker and the fit and finish are just fine. Yes, it would be nice if the grips and forearm were wood, and all the parts were machined and not stamped, but this air pistol was never intended to compete with high-end pellet target pistols or upscale plinkers like Beeman air pistols.

If you see one at a fair price and don't mind CO2 guns, pick it up. It is fun, a little on the light side, and people with small hands can hold it just fine. Never put the gun away, even for a few hours, charged with CO2. It destroys the seals and in time will no longer hold pressure. While Daisy no longer supports this model, they did email me a schematic with part numbers and some suggested people who service, repair, and have or will make parts for it:

Mr. John Groenewold
PO Box 830
Mundelein, IL

Mr. Ron Sauls Telephone Email: Bryanandac@aol.com
2504 Poplar Lane
Anderson, SC 29621

Jim or Ann Coplen
PO Box 7297
Rochester, MN 55903

For Refinishing and Reblueing:
Mr. Jim Day
12322 East Oak Drive
Claremore, OK 74017

It's a fun, light, and accurate plinker. If you can't find one, check out the Crosman 1377 .177 pellet pumper - much more accurate, longer barrel, easy to pump, quiet, and sells new for $39 to $69 and yes, the grips and pump handle are plastic, but, you can order nice wood ones from Ralph at RB Grips for under $50.

Happy safe shooting,
Milrose