Precision Air Rifles

[Jager]

So I posted my inquiry here a week ago. Spent a bunch of hours last weekend contemplating all y'all's advice... and late on Monday I placed an order. The UPS truck showed up yesterday.

This morning I borrowed a QD Atlas bipod from one of my battle rifles, mounted the scope I ordered along with the airgun, and wore my sorry ass out with the hand pump I bought getting 250 BAR of air into the thing. Yeah, that pump thing definitely ain't gonna work long term, less'n someone was wanting to replace their gym membership.



It's an FX Impact M3 Sniper, in .22 cal. The "sniper" means that it comes with a 700mm barrel instead of the 600mm standard; and a slightly larger air bottle.

I've been shooting for a very long time. But when looking at scopes on several airgun sites, they all had these brands I had never heard of. I wasn't quite sure what to make of that. Originally thought I'd spend $5-600 on something. Eventually went a bit higher, and for a brand - Element - that, again, I'd never heard of. But between needing closer-distance parallax adjustment and a robust enough build that an "airgun" spec can be attached - airgun-specific scopes are apparently a thing, at least for springers.

I'll say that the glass on this model is very, very nice. And after running through my normal scope-mounting drill it only took a half-dozen shots to get it zero'd at 50 yards.

Ran one magazine, which amounted to 28 rounds of 25.39 gr. pellets and maybe 35 BAR of that precious air that I worked so hard to get into it.

I didn't find the trigger to be nearly as good as most reviews suggested. It's okay. It does have a fair bit of adjustment, so I'm looking forward to playing with that. But a Jewell it's not.

The two big things that attracted me to the FX were its solid reputation for accuracy and its ability to modify the pressure curve behind the projectile with its rather sophisticated regulator adjustments - something we do all the time in the centerfire world via the loading bench.

I'm fortunate to be able to shoot any kind of firearm I want just outside my door. It's hard to overstate what a blessing that is.

But even that requires a fair bit of effort. Walking out target stands, setting flags, setting up my bench, carrying out my stool, setting up and aligning my front rest and rear bags, bringing out the tripod for the chronograph, pulling out hearing protection and eye protection... there are a lot of back and forth trips to collect things and get them set up. And then when you're done, you have to break everything down and put it away. And then clean whichever guns you shot.

My thought with the whole airgun thing was to have a "lighter footprint" option to go to when I don't want to go full monty with my powder burners. Based on what I saw out of those first couple dozen shots today, I think this airgun will do that very, very well.

Once again, I really appreciate all y'all's help in getting there.View attachment 1427127

 

[Adam in WI]

Was the reservoir empty when you started? I usually only shoot down to 2000 psi before pumping back up to 3000. That usually around 36 shots. It takes around 100 pumps to top it off. I don't love pumping, but I do love how quiet the gun is and being able to get off 9 shots without breaking position.

 

[bobm]

Nice choice, Jager. I'm OK with you not going the springer route.
Ain't going to ask the price, either. Love the black and white photos.

How much?

 

[7315br]

Jager,

I'm really impressed with your final decision on both the air rifle and the scope. Optics are where most people go cheap. You didn't. Beautiful set-up!

I got this SCBA tank recertified last year for $35 bucks. It will now make another four years until the tank manufacturer date of fifiteen years is out. These tanks refill my FX Wildcat .25 in about a minute. I've timed it out in the field. On my air rifle I let the air tube go down to 2000 PSI (150 bar) than refill to 3300 PSI (230 bar). Works slick! These tanks are available on ebay, but usually are out of manufacturers or recertification dates....sooo kinda look them over on the dates carefully if you decide to get one.

John at AIRHOG makes a nice hose and attachments for the SCBA tank to the air rifle.

Again, nice job!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Everytime.....more than once...offhand....Doubt it. I'm calling BS. You would fit it well with lots of guys I shoot with. Now I will give you a chance too call me out.

I would be happy to, Jeff. But, let's keep this civil and short.

I've been a metallic silhouette rifle shooter for more than 40 years. In case you are unfamiliar, we shoot standing up, no support offhand. I have an NRA AAA class ranking in High Power centerfire, and a MASTER class ranking in smallbore .22 rimfire. Those rankings are well above general expert or master ranking of other rested type shooting. Rest? don't need no stinking rest. I am a rest.

As for airguns, been using them for decades for inexpensive offhand practice at home. I started off with Diana models for their feel, weight and decent accuracy. I went through a half dozen of them until they self destructed beyond repair. They were not designed to last forever. In fact, I now put all Diana RWS and Umerex products in the made in China category. Will not buy another one.

I will retract my every time starling hit to NINE out of TEN.

Best shot I ever made? Too many to list here. I do have a standout shot, though. My HW80 .22 when Leupold 6.5-20x was on it. Head shot on a prairie dog, lights out. 128 yards.....OFF HAND.

Sure, I will gladly toot my own horn. With years of dedicated practice I have developed extremely good off hand rifle shooting skill.

An airgun is hands down the best tool available to develop those skills

Ok, I'll take 9 out of ten. We have similar backgrounds. I was AAA or Master in both rifle and IMHSA in both SmallBore and High power. In handgun I only shot the standing classes and for years only shot offhand rifle matches......that is why I called bs.......I have been there and done that. For the most part all that went away, bringing on the bench rest game . Only problem I have with those games were too many classes. Our local off hand matches went away 20 years ago, 40 or more shooters at a match down to the same 4 or 5. I tell guys about matches where a half dozen guys shot 20 shots each at 100 yards and 90 percent of them made the 1 inch 10 ring. Those days seem to be past. Head shot prairie dog at 128 is a memorable shot. We had it easier, groundhogs are bigger. Our rule was only off hand up to 200 yards or they did not count, but not all head shots. The sad thing is at 75 when I shoot some offhand....it's not like it use to be. I'm glad you have had a good shooting career , I have also and enjoyed ever shot. We should write a book, " One Hundred Plus Years of Competitive Shooting". I enjoy talking with those who have been there and done it. And now it's Springer Airgun mostly of the bench but I do shoot a target offhand most days. That 11 pound Airgun shooting extended arm wears me out pretty quick now days, lol..

 

[bobm]

Jeff, I had been after that dog for weeks. Real wary and wise one, watched a number of his kin get whacked then holed up. Got a few at him close but missed. Always went for the head for a clean kill, not a body shot slow death in his hole.

I finally connected when he was only shoulders out for a look around. First shot was a hair touch and he reacted like a bee went by. He was facing away when that 14.66 HN entered the back of his skull on the second try.

There are some grain silos 155 yards down the road from me. That HW80 gets them there very quick with a solid hard smack on the steel. I would not want to be hit with one even that far away. That 80 hits hard. You have five years on me.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I'd sure like to try a Edgun Leshiy 11 but they are just so darn expensive. I just can't quite talk myself into it.

 

[Jager]

Was the reservoir empty when you started? I usually only shoot down to 2000 psi before pumping back up to 3000. That usually around 36 shots. It takes around 100 pumps to top it off. I don't love pumping, but I do love how quiet the gun is and being able to get off 9 shots without breaking position.

Thankfully, the bottle had about 165 BAR / 2400 psi when it arrived. I just had to bring it up from there. Definitely got my workout in!

Nice choice, Jager. I'm OK with you not going the springer route.
Ain't going to ask the price, either. Love the black and white photos.

How much?

Thanks, Bob. LOL... yeah... a bit over two grand for the rifle, another fifteen hundred for the scope, two fifty for the pump. Throw in scope mounts and a thousand pellets and it all came to a bit north of four grand. Definitely a shake-your-head moment.

Jager,

I'm really impressed with your final decision on both the air rifle and the scope. Optics are where most people go cheap. You didn't. Beautiful set-up!

Thanks. And Roger that on glass. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that a rifle is never going to be any better than the sights you put on it. I've regretted a few things. But I've never regretted good glass.

 

[JSH]

I'd sure like to try a Edgun Leshiy 11 but they are just so darn expensive. I just can't quite talk myself into it.

A buddy bought one year before last. I shot a few through it, they are everything he says they are accuracy wise, this was a 30 caliber. Any Russian connections, I get concerned with parts availablity now and future.

I am still leaning towards the FX, some what more traditional than the Leshiy has a fair bit to do with it.

 

[markT]

I've not tried these but a lot of guys like them and the prices seem reasonable.

FX

Orion Iguana Hunter

orioniguanahunter.com

 

[JSH]

I've not tried these but a lot of guys like them and the prices seem reasonable.

FX

Orion Iguana Hunter

orioniguanahunter.com

Looking for parts for my side shot scope camera adapter. Interesting they had some FX magazines, but wayyy more pricey.

 

[beemanjohn]

Wow! If you hand pumped that thing, you da man! I bought a 25 cal Marauder several years ago at an auction knowing nothing about air rifles. It came with a hand pump. I think I used it maybe 4 or 5 times before I bought a cheap 12 volt pump. (mine is a Hatsan, but I'm not sure that matters) I just take it to the range with me, hook it up to the truck battery and fill the gun when it gets low. Takes about 4 or 5 min. Been using it for a couple of years, and so far, so good. (but a good air tank and compressor in the garage is better)

 

[Iowa Fox]

A buddy bought one year before last. I shot a few through it, they are everything he says they are accuracy wise, this was a 30 caliber. Any Russian connections, I get concerned with parts availablity now and future.

I am still leaning towards the FX, some what more traditional than the Leshiy has a fair bit to do with it.

How quiet was the Leshiy that you had the opportunity to try?

 

[JSH]

It was quiet, had the suppressor on it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The leishy is one of the very best

 

[Mark611]

Air guns can be made extremely quiet with a can especially a PCP, springers also benefit if tuned correctly,

 

[Jager]

Air guns can be made extremely quiet with a can especially a PCP, springers also benefit if tuned correctly,

My new air rifle came with a "moderator." Albeit, the "cans" on airguns don't appear to have any baffles and aren't an NFA item. I screwed mine off yesterday, trying to get the gun to acoustically trigger my LabRadar, and honestly couldn't tell much difference with the moderator on or off. The LabRadar couldn't tell any difference either (failed to trigger).

It sure is a different experience shooting a gun where most the sound is from the projectile's impact downrange!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have a donny fl and a zero db and both of them make a huge difference

 

[markT]

My new air rifle came with a "moderator." Albeit, the "cans" on airguns don't appear to have any baffles and aren't an NFA item. I screwed mine off yesterday, trying to get the gun to acoustically trigger my LabRadar, and honestly couldn't tell much difference with the moderator on or off. The LabRadar couldn't tell any difference either (failed to trigger).

It sure is a different experience shooting a gun where most the sound is from the projectile's impact downrange!

Wait to slap a JSB ( assuming you went that route) into a sparrow.. I really can't think of a better sound..

 

[dgeesaman]

My new air rifle came with a "moderator." Albeit, the "cans" on airguns don't appear to have any baffles and aren't an NFA item. I screwed mine off yesterday, trying to get the gun to acoustically trigger my LabRadar, and honestly couldn't tell much difference with the moderator on or off. The LabRadar couldn't tell any difference either (failed to trigger).

It sure is a different experience shooting a gun where most the sound is from the projectile's impact downrange!

Yeah I can’t get the LabRadar to pick up unless it’s with radar only or the airgun mic trigger in a very quiet place.

But since you have it, a good way to tell how tight the pellet is rotating (No wobble) is to calculate BC using near and downrange LabRadar data. I’ve found one pellet actually outperforms the published bc in one of my guns. Most pellets underperform the published BC in my airguns and I don’t waste time testing them at long range at all. A lot of shooters just compare published BC and never measure their own data. Dangerous assumption. For longer range (50y+) that’s really helpful to know.