FX Advice on getting deeper into FX impact

[JayWill]

I'm pretty new to PCP rifles, but I've been lurking around forums for awhile reading. I have a Flashpup QE, but I'm looking for something a lot more capable (it's fine but feels like a starter rifle). The FX Impact and the platform in general looks extraordinarily appealing to me, but I don't understand it all yet and have a few questions on how to get started.

I have some interest in the flexible aspects of the M3 and the ability to change barrels, setups, etc. but I'm curious what some of the true "best practices" have yielded regarding this flexibility. I get the impression that while it's flexible, many still prefer to have multiple rifles instead of constantly changing setups. Is this a correct impression on what most of you do? Is it a big deal to swap back and forth between pellets and slugs of the same caliber on one rifle or does it get cumbersome? I've gathered it might not be worth swapping between calibers, but it's not as clear to me how feasible it is to often swap between pellets and slugs on the same gun on 1 caliber.

I'm asking because I have some interest in dabbling in slugs to explore shooting some longer ranges. It seems like it's definitely a capable slug gun, but I wouldn't expect to only want to shoot slugs.

What are your experiences on the FX M3 platform and the true practical side of its flexibility?

 

[Trucker3573]

You don’t have to fix them every six months nor spend a dime on extras to make them shoot straight ……

 

[Vana2]

The M3 is not a simple plug and play PCP.
They are not the spawn of Satan that some people paint them to be.
If you are not willing to learn to tune and don’t have above average mechanical aptitude the M3 is not the gun for you.
Learn the gun, learn to tune and understand the tuning process and the M3 will deliver.
Both of ours are 600mm 22 cal. Shooting slugs at 58 fpe. The only modification to both are the slug liners.
Neither gun has been back to the factory and Neither has required a repair. Not one O ring, not even the breech O ring has given out. Between the two guns we have shot over 4000 slugs this year.
The beauty of the M3 is that you can take a gun right from the factory, tune it to shoot pellets. It will shoot them with the best of the rest. Then pick a slug under 28 gr, retune the gun and you are shooting slugs at over 50 fpe accurately well past 100 yards. Record your tunes and you can switch back and forth in less than 10 minutes.

Well said!!

The only thing that I would point out is that the Impact (and the other 3 FX PCPs I own) right out of the box, with the factory tune, shoot as well as or better than many untuneable (tune set by the manufacturer that requires disassembly to change) airguns.

My thoughts are that if someone is not mechanically inclined, does not have the knowledge or tools to tune an Impact they can still enjoy one IF they don't mess with the settings themselves. The airgun will be fine as is.

Like a vehicle, should you decide that you want it tuned (to a specific pellet/slug) have a knowledgeable friend help or send it to a professional. Though I'm very comfortable tuning airguns, I never tune my cars ...I have a mechanic do that

Cheers!

 

[JayWill]

In case you want to learn all the tinkering you need to watch

AEAC Impact tuning video, its 1h+ and it tells you alot

Thank you for the video recommendation. This video looks like a good crash course on the impact.

 

[Jasonmc]

Ever build a hot rod as a kid .. knowing just enough to get yourself in trouble... Rip out the rear end, burn up a transmission, drop a valve...blow a motor. End up walking until you get the cash to fix it yet again...Or buy a decent factory built car that's quick just enough to have fun in. That's reliable and wouldn't be afraid to drive anywhere you wanted to go..
Kinda like owning a impact... Hot rod it knowing just enough to get in trouble and it will be setting more than getting used... Leave it as it was ment to be and enjoy it every time you pick it up.

 

[Bigragu]

I so very much disagree with any comments saying impacts are a cake to tune, or any gun out there that comes with a regulator coupled with switches, buttons, or knobs. I say this because for sure not everyone will have knowledge or the savvy to tune. I see enough threads where folks don’t even know what a knee is when tuning, or by the questions being asked, the workings of a regulator. I see questions asking what type of lube to use on the HPA innards, and to those folks still learning, I guarantee an impact isn’t a piece of cake. And get this- just because it’s shoots accurately doesn’t mean it’s tuned correctly, either. That goes for any make of gun like I mentioned, that’s regulated, and has buttons, knobs and switches.

I think people take skill level and working knowledge of a pcp for granted and assume all who signed up here on AGN and frequent the pcp section share the same skills.

I would offer to the OP this- if you have a good knowledge of inner workings of a pcp, have some good hand/tech skills, and (most importantly with an impact) have the patience and are willing to put the time in, no matter at what cost(lots of ammo to test), then for sure, go get you an impact. If you’re none of the above, and just want the quick answer, you will get frustrated and within a short time you will be in search for another gun to replace the impact.
I had a recent discussion with a friend who tuned his Panthera strictly for PRS competition, and he told me to get it to the perfected state that it’s finally in, took a lot of time. Weekend after weekend, tuning and testing. Hundreds of $$ in ammo to finally find the right combo.

My point- If you put in the time, you will be rewarded with an outstanding platform in the impact

 

[7Green]

I so very much disagree with any comments saying impacts are a cake to tune, or any gun out there that comes with a regulator coupled with switches, buttons, or knobs. I say this because for sure not everyone will have knowledge or the savvy to tune. I see enough threads where folks don’t even know what a knee is when tuning, or by the questions being asked, the workings of a regulator. I see questions asking what type of lube to use on the HPA innards, and to those folks still learning, I guarantee an impact isn’t a piece of cake. And get this- just because it’s shoots accurately doesn’t mean it’s tuned correctly, either. That goes for any make of gun like I mentioned, that’s regulated, and has buttons, knobs and switches.

I think people take skill level and working knowledge of a pcp for granted and assume all who signed up here on AGN and frequent the pcp section share the same skills.

I would offer to the OP this- if you have a good knowledge of inner workings of a pcp, have some good hand/tech skills, and (most importantly with an impact) have the patience and are willing to put the time in, no matter at what cost(lots of ammo to test), then for sure, go get you an impact. If you’re none of the above, and just want the quick answer, you will get frustrated and within a short time you will be in search for another gun to replace the impact.
I had a recent discussion with a friend who tuned his Panthera strictly for PRS competition, and he told me to get it to the perfected state that it’s finally in, took a lot of time. Weekend after weekend, tuning and testing. Hundreds of $$ in ammo to finally find the right combo.

My point- If you put in the time, you will be rewarded with an outstanding platform in the impact

Well put. I know I often take for granted my own mechanical skills and assume others can do the same.

 

[DesertSilver]

Just remember, he said he's a engineer. He's been trained for critical thinking and how to solve problems. There's plenty of videos on utube that will give him the info he needs to work on and tune his rifle.

 

[Jlowe]

Always remember, buy what you want, not what someone else wants you to buy. I took a 5 year break once and when I came back there was some negative feedback on here concerning FX. For some dumb reason I listen to these people, because I had been out for a while, even though I had never personally had a problem with any FX I owned, even to this day. So I made a mistake and bought a Taipan Veteran long 22cal. Nice gun, shot pellets great, but built like a square block, and I didn't like it. So I sold it to someone who did and bought 6 more FX air guns. You don't need to be an engineer to tune and Impact. FX is not the only airgun maker I own. I really like Daystate, have owned several of them, and would highly recommend them as well. I will say this, it is much easier to tune FX airguns if you own a good compressor.