I am writing this for I guess two purposes, the first is to attempt to help others, and secondly in search of support for this problem.
I am not sure when, FX dreamline switched to the "new" thinner shroud, what on the crown is called the "superlight" barrel. The change was forced when they released the bottle version of the dreamline, the bottle and larger shroud would not fit.
“See the end of the post for clarification on terms used to describe components in this post.”
I purchased a FX dreamline saber tactical in .25 caliber. After shooting ~900 pellets through the gun, I removed the shroud and found the barrel end liner support had been blown back towards the action about half way down the shroud, almost contacting the middle liner support.
After doing some research I found other people having problems with these liner supports, some of the reports on here in the airgun nation forums. I found users using various terms to describe the liner supports (this is why I painstakingly added the terminology section of this post).
I added tape to the action side of the liner supports to stop them from sliding down the liner. I was not, am still not very happy with this design, with harmonics, this is not a secure and consistent way of holding the liner. After another shooting session, I noticed the liner supports have been pushed up against the tape, the tape is working, but this is not a very effective design.
I started researching this problem, and found other users having problems, the most extreme example I found was one person had unnoticed to him, the supports had pushed so far down the shroud, the liner end was allowed to whip allowing pellets to strike the inside of the shroud ruining the shroud.
Another had one of the liner supports come off the end of the liner and was between the end of the liner and the end of the shroud, the pellet hit the support damaging the shroud, destroying the support and making a mess of things.
I wanted to get an STX heavy liner, but with all of the liner support problems, taping them into place etc. I wanted another complete set up. I sent in an order request to FX USA, after receiving the wrong parts, it took several attempts, but I was able to obtain o-rings, liner nut, and supports to be able to set up another liner without having to tear down one to outfit the other. I talked with FX support, and they were dumbfounded same as I was, for they do not have a drawing to reference part numbers for the "superlight" barrel either.
I have contacted FX USA, and FX support with this concern, replies send me to the wrong parts, when I reply with more details, the emails go dead and unanswered. This is the story I have read over and over again in airgun forums.
I am attempting an experiment but have not had a chance to attempt testing so far. I have added a carbon fiber barrel sleeve with one liner support taped into place at the end of the liner. I will update this post with results of either my experiment, or if I make contact with FX in any meaningful manor, or a drawing is released.
I think this design sucks! With all the talk about tuning harmonics, FX has put out this design with liner supports that move all over the damned place, and if an owner doesn’t take their gun apart to discover this problem can have pellets contacting the shroud, destroying their gun.
I think one fix would be to add the compensator back to the end of the shroud to allow the end of the liner a solid place to rest and maintain alignment. Ans something needs to hold the liner supports in place.
I would like to hear from anyone that have experienced problems with this design.
I would be curious to know what others are doing to address this problem.
Writing all of this has been exhausting, I hope what I’ve written without drawings makes sense.
My goal at minimum is to obtain part numbers for the liner supports and o-rings, second goal is to get FX to release the damned drawing showing the part numbers, thirdly would be to have contact with a technician or engineer to discus these problems and attempt a resolution.
The results I’ve gotten out of this gun are amazing, ½ inch groups @ 50 yards in .25 cal, still tuning for consistent results @ 100, but I have shot 1 inch groups @ 100 yards.
I have another story about hammer weights in .25 cal, and changes FX has made, but I will refrain from that story now.
Be well all
Chuck Bradford
I want to specify terminology from FX to better identify exactly what I am talking about. I have found many others on internet forums calling these parts various names, I am using the descriptions from FX drawings.
I am not sure when, FX dreamline switched to the "new" thinner shroud, what on the crown is called the "superlight" barrel. The change was forced when they released the bottle version of the dreamline, the bottle and larger shroud would not fit.
“See the end of the post for clarification on terms used to describe components in this post.”
I purchased a FX dreamline saber tactical in .25 caliber. After shooting ~900 pellets through the gun, I removed the shroud and found the barrel end liner support had been blown back towards the action about half way down the shroud, almost contacting the middle liner support.
After doing some research I found other people having problems with these liner supports, some of the reports on here in the airgun nation forums. I found users using various terms to describe the liner supports (this is why I painstakingly added the terminology section of this post).
I added tape to the action side of the liner supports to stop them from sliding down the liner. I was not, am still not very happy with this design, with harmonics, this is not a secure and consistent way of holding the liner. After another shooting session, I noticed the liner supports have been pushed up against the tape, the tape is working, but this is not a very effective design.
I started researching this problem, and found other users having problems, the most extreme example I found was one person had unnoticed to him, the supports had pushed so far down the shroud, the liner end was allowed to whip allowing pellets to strike the inside of the shroud ruining the shroud.
Another had one of the liner supports come off the end of the liner and was between the end of the liner and the end of the shroud, the pellet hit the support damaging the shroud, destroying the support and making a mess of things.
I wanted to get an STX heavy liner, but with all of the liner support problems, taping them into place etc. I wanted another complete set up. I sent in an order request to FX USA, after receiving the wrong parts, it took several attempts, but I was able to obtain o-rings, liner nut, and supports to be able to set up another liner without having to tear down one to outfit the other. I talked with FX support, and they were dumbfounded same as I was, for they do not have a drawing to reference part numbers for the "superlight" barrel either.
I have contacted FX USA, and FX support with this concern, replies send me to the wrong parts, when I reply with more details, the emails go dead and unanswered. This is the story I have read over and over again in airgun forums.
I am attempting an experiment but have not had a chance to attempt testing so far. I have added a carbon fiber barrel sleeve with one liner support taped into place at the end of the liner. I will update this post with results of either my experiment, or if I make contact with FX in any meaningful manor, or a drawing is released.
I think this design sucks! With all the talk about tuning harmonics, FX has put out this design with liner supports that move all over the damned place, and if an owner doesn’t take their gun apart to discover this problem can have pellets contacting the shroud, destroying their gun.
I think one fix would be to add the compensator back to the end of the shroud to allow the end of the liner a solid place to rest and maintain alignment. Ans something needs to hold the liner supports in place.
I would like to hear from anyone that have experienced problems with this design.
I would be curious to know what others are doing to address this problem.
Writing all of this has been exhausting, I hope what I’ve written without drawings makes sense.
My goal at minimum is to obtain part numbers for the liner supports and o-rings, second goal is to get FX to release the damned drawing showing the part numbers, thirdly would be to have contact with a technician or engineer to discus these problems and attempt a resolution.
The results I’ve gotten out of this gun are amazing, ½ inch groups @ 50 yards in .25 cal, still tuning for consistent results @ 100, but I have shot 1 inch groups @ 100 yards.
I have another story about hammer weights in .25 cal, and changes FX has made, but I will refrain from that story now.
Be well all
Chuck Bradford
I want to specify terminology from FX to better identify exactly what I am talking about. I have found many others on internet forums calling these parts various names, I am using the descriptions from FX drawings.
- Superlight barrel = the newest barrel design on FX crown and dreamline to accommodate bottles versus tubes, the design uses plastic wagon wheel shaped spacers called liner supports spaced down the liner, the supports are grooved on the outer parameter to accept an o-ring that contacts the inner diameter of the shroud. The end of the liner is centered in the shroud and is approximately 1 inch from the end of the shroud to allow air discharged from the end of the liner to back flow in the shroud as a means of moderation.
- Barrel = The shroud, liner, and any and all inner workings that hold the thing together, from the 1/2x20 fitting on one end, to the brass port at the other end.
- Shroud = I think this is obvious, the outer most tube of the barrel.
- Liner = the riffled tube traditionally called the barrel.
- Liner support = plastic wagon wheel looking spacer with o-ring in the otter parameter that slide over the liner to support the liner inside of the shroud (this is the problem part/design and the reason for this post).
- Barrel house = the metal tube that holds the liner centered with o-rings on the liner. (old design)
- Carbon fiber barrel sleeve = an additional part that can be added, a carbon fiber tube that can be slid over the liner taking up the space inside of the barrel house.
- Liner nut (old) = externally threaded bushing used to tighten the liner into place, also this threads into the compensator inside of the shroud.
- Liner nut (new) = a swage style nut that tightens the liner into the action (main block), it uses a series of 5 o-rings stacked for alignment.
- Compensator = a bushing in the end of the shroud that the liner nut goes into to support the end of the barrel house, this bushing allows air to move into the shroud to moderate noise and to strip air from the pellet before leaving the "barrel assembly"
Enough of this for now, this is exhausting.
View attachment F10061-Dream-barrel-eng.1640544169.pdf
View attachment F10265-tube-kit-superlight-cpl-ENG.1640544169.pdf
