Going with Air

[JEFFPPC]

My Hawke is in the 5500 shot area with no problems on a springer. Air max 30 mm 6x24x56 ill.reticle on Dvoir for 397.00.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Well the 22 cal AV Avenger Bullpup finally got here and man does it seem like I got a good one!

But being me, I had to make some mods before i shot it. Didn’t like the cheek weld at all, it was way too high. So I removed the cheek piece and cut it down to lower it. Had to modify the rail it slides on as well. Was a very easy task and I dropped the cheek weld height by about 3/4” so I had perfect scope eye alignment using Tall rings. Installed the DonnyFL Shogun moderator and also added a rear support bracket for the picatinny rail then checked all screws for tightness.

The Vortex PST G2 5-25 only focuses down to 25 yards which wasn’t gonna work very well so I threw on a little UTG 4-16x44 scope I had laying around which will focus down to a little less than 10 yards.

It was really windy so I just grabbed the heaviest thing I had which is currently the Baracuda 21.14gr match pellets and went to work on my target set at 26 yards. Nothing touched on the regulator or hammer spring from the factory. All settings were straight out of the box. Shooting from bipod and Gamechanger bag.

Fired two rounds quickly just to get an idea for sighting adjustment. Dialed the scope from point of aim to point of impact and hit dead on the bullseye. Continued to fire a total of 5 rounds to see how she would do and get a feel for the trigger. To my amazement I could pretty much cover all 5 shots with a dime. So I figured ok, let’s see what she can really do straight out of the box. I got her rock solid and fired another 5 shot group. All I gotta say is WOW! I haven’t even touched the reg settings or done any other kind of tuning and this thing is driving tacs straight out of the box with the first pellet I grabbed!

Very impressed with this Avenger Bullpup. I have a bunch of other pellets to test but if this is gonna be the norm, I’m gonna have to stretch her out to 50-100 yards or this 26 yard target is gonna get boring pretty quick.

My wind flag ripping along in a 15-20 mph crosswind. Didn’t seem to affect the big Baracuda pellets at 26 yards.


The 22 cal Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup with Shogun moderator, UTG Accushot 4-16x44 scope, Atlas imitation bipod, Gamechanger bag.



First two sighters and first 5 shot group



First 5 shot group when I got serious about aiming carefully

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ran a quick test at 26 yards with some other pellets in a “Hunter” pellet sample pack I had from H&N.

Still have not touched the regulator or hammer spring from how it came out of the box. Running everything at 2600 psi. The trigger is very smooth and doesn’t seem to hinder my shooting at all. It doesn’t have a break which is weird but it is light and the pull is a consistent weight all the way until it goes off. Side charging handle is super smooth and easy to operate. The stock is pretty flimsy but has not affected accuracy as far as I can tell.

I fired another 5 shot group with the Baracuda match as a control then proceeded to shoot 5 shot groups with all of the pellets in the sample pack. Seems to shoot everything pretty dang good considering a lot of these pellets are probably going faster than what is ideal for optimum accuracy. The H&N Hornet is the only pellet that didn’t shoot very well and it is the most radically different design in the bunch so not surprised. Really liked the Baracuda Hunter.

Very impressed with this rifle so far considering the price point and the fact that I haven’t touched anything on it yet for tuning.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Nice targets, your going to have fun. No brass to clean up, anneal, and size.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Nice targets, your going to have fun. No brass to clean up, anneal, and size.

Yeah that’s the best part. No reloading ammo! Lol

 

[JEFFPPC]

Well no cleaning comes to mind but I don't know if that holds true with pcps. I was advised no need to clean unless accuracy goes haywire.

 

[MikeT49]

My experiences with PCPs show they will go a long time before they need cleaning. Typically thousands of shots. Finally you will notice your one hole groups are no longer possible. Cleaning is easy. Saturate two cleaning pellets with Kroil, chamber them, add two dry pellets. Turn the power down on the gun if possible. Shoot the pellets. Repeat. Let the gun sit for 20 minutes or so, longer is OK. Let the Kroil work. Now shoot dry pellets 2 or three at a time. Look at the dry pellets after you shoot. I usually shoot dry pellets until they come out fairly clean. Viola! You are done. You will need to shoot a few real pellets to season the barrel, then your accuracy should return.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

By the looks of that flag the wind is awful. You did good

 

[dantiff2]

Good shootin ; ) The barracudas come in three different diameters as well. Mine like the 5.51 and 5.52 mm heads much better than the 5.50mm.

Dan

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Set up my target board at 53 yards.
Pretty dang windy at my house today but I was able to get off a good 3 shot group in between wind gusts with the H&N Match 21.14gr. Was hoping to get off 5 but wind picked back up pretty good after the 3rd shot. She’s a shooter for sure!

 

[MikeT49]

Nice shooting. FYI: The BC of that pellet is .033. Don't know your MV but, that pellet at 810 fps, with a full value 10 mph wind, will be pushed 4.10 inches sideways at your 53 yard target.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Nice shooting. FYI: The BC of that pellet is .033. Don't know your MV but, that pellet at 810 fps, with a full value 10 mph wind, will be pushed 4.10 inches sideways at your 53 yard target.

Yeah that might be what a calculator says but I don’t think this pellet quite drifts that much. But to be fair, I haven’t chronographed this factory tune yet. The Pyramid Air 10 shot test sheet showed an average of 912 fps with an 18.13gr pellet at my current factory setting

I was hit with some bigger gusts while shooting the groups below and they still stayed within about an inch at 53 yards. Wind doesn’t really effect them much at all at 25 yards.

I was shooting some little metal silhouette targets at 100 yards last night in the same wind and I was having to hold 4-6” off at that distance to make hits but definitely did not get that much drift at 53 yards using the Baracuda Match

Wind was coming from right to left pretty steady at 10 mph with 15 mph gusts, maybe a little faster here and there. First group is to the left (3 shots), then made a correction for the wind and shot a second group (5 shots). Not a lot of drift with these heavy pellets and no vertical to speak of in the two groups.

 

[Schutzen2]

Yeah that’s the best part. No reloading ammo! Lol

Do you plan on testing any slugs ? I saw something about a company called Altoros(Czech) making CNC turned lead slugs. They look interesting. Anyone here tried them ?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Is this normal cleaning a pcp rifle the first time? Looks like brown residue from rust coming out of the barrel. At first it was black, and then started turning brown.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Do you plan on testing any slugs ? I saw something about a company called Altoros(Czech) making CNC turned lead slugs. They look interesting. Anyone here tried them ?

I do plan on testing some slugs. The one H&N slug sample pack showed up destroyed in the mail and I was only able to salvage one tube of slugs. Have another sample pack coming in different diameter. Gonna play with some different pellets first but will eventually get to testing slugs as well

 

[MikeT49]

Is this normal cleaning a pcp rifle the first time? Looks like brown residue from rust coming out of the barrel. At first it was black, and then started turning brown.

Yep, most manufacturers apply a storage preservative to the bores of their barrels. Sometimes it's a bitch to get out. For initial cleaning, I usually use Butch's, rod/patches and a bore snake. After that, when it needs cleaning, Kroil with cleaning pellets. When you clean a barrel that has gone a long time, you will find some of the first pellets to be almost totally black.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yep, most manufacturers apply a storage preservative to the bores of their barrels. Sometimes it's a bitch to get out. For initial cleaning, I usually use Butch's, rod/patches and a bore snake. After that, when it needs cleaning, Kroil with cleaning pellets. When you clean a barrel that has gone a long time, you will find some of the first pellets to be almost totally black.

Thanks! Yeah my first few patches were black. Once that was gone they started turning brown. Did a little more research and looks like it might be a preservative called “cosmoline”. Pretty nasty stuff to get out of a barrel. Also found that the best cleaner for the job is “Goo Gone” adhesive removal spray. I’ll keep at it til I get it all out. At least its not rust like I initially thought!!! Lol

 

[PigButtons]

Thanks! Yeah my first few patches were black. Once that was gone they started turning brown. Did a little more research and looks like it might be a preservative called “cosmoline”. Pretty nasty stuff to get out of a barrel. Also found that the best cleaner for the job is “Goo Gone” adhesive removal spray. I’ll keep at it til I get it all out. At least its not rust like I initially thought!!! Lol

Yeah, and even though that initial cleaning takes a lot of patience, it's worth the effort. You may be pleasantly surprised with even better accuracy. After the first time, clean when accuracy starts to drift, or after each tin of pellets.
Try not to become obsessed with perfect accuracy, sorting pellets, washing pellets, lubing pellets, ... The best part of shooting with air should be the simplicity of it. Leave your OCD for the center fire days.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah, and even though that initial cleaning takes a lot of patience, it's worth the effort. You may be pleasantly surprised with even better accuracy. After the first time, clean when accuracy starts to drift, or after each tin of pellets.
Try not to become obsessed with perfect accuracy, sorting pellets, washing pellets, lubing pellets, ... The best part of shooting with air should be the simplicity of it. Leave your OCD for the center fire days.

Funny you say that because I was just watching some videos last night about washing/lubing pellets and thought to myself “Dang, is this gonna become a chore for me to get the best accuracy?” So I’m glad you made that exact statement to straighten me out! Lol. I’ll employ the “KISS” method with pellet rifles and just enjoy it. Plenty accurate enough as it is anyhow!

 

[Mikemontminy]

Funny you say that because I was just watching some videos last night about washing/lubing pellets and thought to myself “Dang, is this gonna become a chore for me to get the best accuracy?” So I’m glad you made that exact statement to straighten me out! Lol. I’ll employ the “KISS” method with pellet rifles and just enjoy it. Plenty accurate enough as it is anyhow!

‘You should still consider lubing pellets. Every shot will leave a little lube in the barrel. Makes cleaning the barrel a lot easier. Also cheap insurance against rust inside the barrel. The lube will help if your air source has any amount of moisture in it.