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?

 

[Airgunmann]

Impact M3 is good for slugs swapping back and forth between calibers is ok but you have to tune it each time you swap back which with the ballpark numbers it not hard it's easier just to use a caliper and get them alot closer to same tune most now just dial in a gun and leave it after its good but I'm one that likes to tinker as well and that is what's nice about the impact they make almost everything under the sun for them and can get quite expensive just remember you probably are not going to get the money out of that you put into it

 

[Keyman62421]

Here I Go Again. Do you want a gun that doesn't need to be retuned every time you pick it up? Do you want a gun that doesn't break down every 6 months? Do you want a gun you have to throw another $1,000 into to make it shoot straight or compete with another gun? These are just questions you need to ask yourself. Yes you'll love it. Ever owned a Porsche or Lamborghini? I had a Porsche. If this hasn't hit home yet, it will. OTHER OPINIONS MAY VARY!

 

[efem09]

If you don't know the basics of tuning and regulator settings, dont touch the impact.

There are tons of out of the box shooters, that are very good

Daystate, Brocock, Air arms etc

 

[starlingassn]

actually,the impact is literal cake to tune,
but only if you have a chronograph.

with my impact m3 .25 i can retune for a different pellet in a magazine or less,
15 - 20 min?

slugs can be a bit more time consuming.

but once you retune for something different,
there will still be the matter of resighting at your prefered zero distance,
and figuring out your holdovers.

i have found that the chairgun app
is outstanding in that capacity.


myself,i only change pellets if the gun is changing roles
(such as going from a high fpe tune with a heavy pellet,
to dropping to a lighter pellet at reduced speeds so as to not punch through barn/silo roofs)

 

[MongooseV8]

Its been my experience you can easily swap between slugs and pellets......with a lot of stipulations. If you want to try both in the same barrel assembly without swapping parts; I use light slugs and the standard Superior liner. So in 500mm 22Cal I use the Hades and the Nielsen 17.5g tiny slugs. POI/POA is almost identical for me at 50-55yds, but will need dope closer or further. Accuracy is stellar with both.

In 25Cal I primarily use Nielsen 34.9g slugs in a Heavy Liner, because I also have some big boy H&N slugs that need the faster twist. This liner has done pretty well with Hades also, but we have noticed the Heavy liners are more sensitive with pellet choice (which is expected).

I think the Impact is a great platform to figure out what you want, and what is going to work best for your situation. You can buy/sell/trade for different barrel assemblies/mags to play around and pick your favorites. I dont think its really meant to routinely swap around parts, so I choose not to. You can do well by pairing the correct options using a single setup with the Impact. But if you want to shoot multiple calibers, or a wide variety of ammo weights I would buy a second rifle.

 

[JayWill]

If you don't know the basics of tuning and regulator settings, dont touch the impact.

There are tons of out of the box shooters, that are very good

Daystate, Brocock, Air arms etc

That's good advice. There's definitely a lot to learn on tuning, but that's what I want to start learning first hand. I'm an engineer by trade, so I love to tinker. Getting into the more complex tuning is what I'm looking forward to vs. out of the box shooters.

Keyman's point of view is a good one and a little different than some others. If you really have a shooter dialed in, I can see the reasoning in not constantly reworking a good shooter.

 

[L.Leon]

@JayWill, engineer by trade and “love to tinker? Your choice of the Impact is sound as you have the background to tinker and engineer. Good luck in your search.

 

[efem09]

That's good advice. There's definitely a lot to learn on tuning, but that's what I want to start learning first hand. I'm an engineer by trade, so I love to tinker. Getting into the more complex tuning is what I'm looking forward to vs. out of the box shooters.

Keyman's point of view is a good one and a little different than some others. If you really have a shooter dialed in, I can see the reasoning in not constantly reworking a good shooter.

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

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

 

[bigHUN]

"the impact is literal cake to tune, but only if you have a chronograph"

You need to be sharp mechanical minded, not scared of challenges and have your own high quality tools as well for many years.
Anything of these missing you must have deep pockets for shipping it to your tunner. Google cannot fix all we capable of ruining.

Remember, this is a sports car and you need to learn first how to drive it before you go to tracks.

 

[starlingassn]

"the impact is literal cake to tune, but only if you have a chronograph"

You need to be sharp mechanical minded, not scared of challenges and have your own high quality tools as well for many years.
Anything of these missing you must have deep pockets for shipping it to your tunner. Google cannot fix all we capable of ruining.

Remember, this is a sports car and you need to learn first how to drive it before you go to tracks.

you make it sound about 1000000 times more difficult than it is in reality lol

 

[Vana2]

I have a .22/700 Impact MK2 (amongst many other PCPs) and absolutely love it.

The airgun itself is versatile and capable. Contrary to many opinions, I think it's an ideal airgun for people (relatively) new to PCPs or someone who (at the moment ) thinks they only need one good airgun.

It's an airgun that a new shooter can grow with and an airgun that can be changed (power and caliber) to suit a totally different duty if necessary. Keep in mind that a caliber change (liner, shroud, probe and magazine) is not exactly cheap.

The Impact shoots well right out of the box but can be fine tuned to a specific pellet (or slug) if desired. My recommendation is to clean the barrel and then shoot with the factory tune until the gun is broken in (at least 500 shots).

Tuning is fun, just note the factory settings before making changes. Treat it well and you shouldn't have any problems.

There's no shortage of accessories if you're inclined to customize things.

The Impact is a high-tech airgun, lots of parts, lots of o-rings but in my experience it's reliable and I haven't had to do any service to mine. If you do need to fix something then there's many videos available to help.

Good luck with your choice!
Cheers!

 

[killen1956]

Don’t like changing if it is working

 

[bigHUN]

you make it sound about 1000000 times more difficult than it is in reality lol

I am just pointing it out that there are a number of people every week, that looking for tunners or to return it to FX USA for troubleshooting.
My very strong standpoint is if you cannot service yourself and retune - it is not for you
Just check it out if you want to buy a Ferrari - you cannot get it to drive home without a Resume, they can maybe deliver it to your address and you go from there on your own.

 

[Pysiths]

Swapping caliber is a pain in the ass. The quick tune get you close but if your stickler . It's not close enough but that just me.
If you need to change your reg pressure. It more time needed for tuning!

When I tune my impact. I'm looking for a reg pressure that would sult my caliber changes given it's close in enoough in projectile weight. A big different in weight you need to adjust the reg.

But If you got the time for the tune. It awesome platform. I own 4 impact so I can switch bewteen caliber with less effort given it within the initial projectile weight at was tuned for.

 

[dens228]

"the impact is literal cake to tune, but only if you have a chronograph"

You need to be sharp mechanical minded, not scared of challenges and have your own high quality tools as well for many years.
Anything of these missing you must have deep pockets for shipping it to your tunner. Google cannot fix all we capable of ruining.

Remember, this is a sports car and you need to learn first how to drive it before you go to tracks.

Or a good set of hex wrenches and a chronograph....oh, and a couple of wrenches.

 

[starlingassn]

only takes 1 cheap allen key to tune the impact m3

 

[starlingassn]

heres my........
"impacts are a piece of cake to tune"..........tune.

1. start with the valve adjust out past the 4th line,and leave your wheel on 16,

2. shoot and keep turning up your micro till your velocity stops rising.

3. click the wheel down 1 number at a time,
-or-
turn the micro down a few clicks at a time till velocity drops about 15-20fps

(since the macro and micro adjust the same thing,but do it in different increments,
you can choose to do either,
on my m3 it seems one click of the wheel = 4 to 5 clicks on the micro)

4. slowly turn the valve adjust in till velocity drops another 10fps or so.

5. enjoy your tuned impact or fine tune more if you wish.


do the same thing any time you increase or decrease regulator pressure,
to find a decent balanced state of tune.

 

[7Green]

The sky is nearly the limit for the Impact in regards to tuning and various setups. You can go simple or go over board and start messing with various internal parts like hammers, springs, and regulators. It all depends on your end goal, as long as it is realistic. For instance, it will never be a 300 ftlb gun. However, it is an accurate platform and a lot of fun to mess with.

 

[Chukar60]

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.