The Crosman 2240 has been around for decades while remaining essentially unchanged. But recently, Crosman decided to create a new version of the 2240, the 2240XL, that incorporates some pretty cool upgrades. So what do these two guns have in common, and what are the key differences? Let’s find out.
The “Old School” 2240
The current 2240 has been a mainstay for airgunners for decades. The simplicity and availability of OEM and 3rd party upgrades have been a key factor in its continued popularity. The 2240 provides airgunners with a reliable, fun, and accurate air pistol shooting platform with a lot of room to grow. It ships with open sights and a plastic breach. It’s basic, but it gets the job done.
Most shooters look to perform a couple of key upgrades right off the bat. The first is usually to add the steel breach kit to replace the default plastic breach. This upgrade allows shooters to add any 11mm optic for better accuracy. It’s an easy upgrade that delivers a lot of value.
The New 2240XL
Two significant upgrades to the 2240XL make it a great choice for shooters who want to jump-start their 2240 experience. First, the steel breach comes standard. And second, it now has a 1/2 UNF muzzle for adding accessories. The cost of the new model is a bit more than the original version. Unlike the standard 2240 which ships with usable open sights, the 2240XL assumes shooters will add an optic.
Having these two upgrades already incorporated into the 2240XL means airgunners can just get to shooting, without spending time buying upgrades and rebuilding their airgun.
The rest of the gun, the trigger, weight, feel, function, power, and accuracy, all remain about the same. The grips are slightly different and brown vs. black, but there’s little noticeable difference when shooting.
Which 2240 Is Right For You?
Whether you go with the 2240 or the 2240XL, the fun with the platform is the ability to truly make it your own. There are entire groups of airgunners that get together around this little airgun. In addition, the volume of 3rd party mods and upgrades, highly customized, one-of-a-kind parts and accessories, have spawned an entire sub-industry.
Having spent a little time tinkering with some 2240s, some of our favorite and easy mods start by adding the Crosman Shoulder Stock. This simply replaces the grips and transforms the 2240 or 2240XL into a micro carbine.
From here, you can add various barrel lengths, up to 24”. We haven’t checked recently, but the average airgunner used to be able to call up Crosman and just order a new barrel. We’ve shot 12”, 18”, and 24” barrels and they all bring a different experience to the 2240. Our favorite is the 18” barrel because it’s long enough to maximize the power from the CO2 while not being too long and unwieldy.
There are also upgraded trigger components, custom wood grips, and so much more. If you like to tinker with airguns, then the 2240, or the 2240XL is probably one of the best airguns for the job.
If you pick up a 2240 or 2240XL and work some airgun mod magic, please let us know and send us a photo of your creation. We’d love to see how the 2240 inspired you to build something truly unique and special. And if you have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
