I amateur observations are it seems louder since I tightened it down and for some reason I feel like it went through more air. 2800 was where I started 2000 is where I ended after 10 shots. Please give me your thoughts if possible.
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Airacuda updates.
- Thread starter Airacuda
- Start date
All,
Spacer arrived today; foam (with sticky side) included, no instructions. Very impressed with quality and design. Three pictures; 1) Action without spacer, 2) Action with spacer in place (Red tape temporarily on spacer to help see.) 3) Spacer and foam, black arrow on red tape points to metal bolt with several exposed threads which slides (no threading) into hole already in action. This hole is next to threaded hole for stock bolt, a well-designed way to lock spacer in place. Gonna have to think about where foam fits in the program. WM
Spacer arrived today; foam (with sticky side) included, no instructions. Very impressed with quality and design. Three pictures; 1) Action without spacer, 2) Action with spacer in place (Red tape temporarily on spacer to help see.) 3) Spacer and foam, black arrow on red tape points to metal bolt with several exposed threads which slides (no threading) into hole already in action. This hole is next to threaded hole for stock bolt, a well-designed way to lock spacer in place. Gonna have to think about where foam fits in the program. WM
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Just installed, had to remove small bolt pictured in spacer, for some reason action would not seat to stock with small bolt installed. Stock feels secure to action and both magazines install easily. Did not use foam but may add between stock and spacer later. WM
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Installed foam between stock and spacer and set-up test firing. POI problem resolved, magazines install and remove easily, gun feels solid. Fired twenty rounds JSB 25.39 grain @ 50 yards in three 2" groups. Chronograph @ 863fps, groups should tighten @ 880-890fps. Will start with 1/2 in on hammer spring and re-test after airing up. WM
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Trueshot,
Pretty good group for 50 yards. Spacer has transformed my gun, very grateful to be able to now fine tune it into real shooter. Looking at my pictures, without the spacer I was tightening down stock screw into an air gap between stock and action, not a good thing. Wasn't able to detect visually but it pinched the gap for magazine and threw POI off 2 feet. My advice would be to determine if you are facing a similar situation, pull the action from stock and inspect. Use pictures to compare, does your stock provide a half-round "cradle" at the place where the stock bolt goes, or is it an air gap, like mine? Install the spacer if needed, even if your gun will shoot without, it's not realistic to think there isn't a price to pay for longtime stress on parts. WM
Pretty good group for 50 yards. Spacer has transformed my gun, very grateful to be able to now fine tune it into real shooter. Looking at my pictures, without the spacer I was tightening down stock screw into an air gap between stock and action, not a good thing. Wasn't able to detect visually but it pinched the gap for magazine and threw POI off 2 feet. My advice would be to determine if you are facing a similar situation, pull the action from stock and inspect. Use pictures to compare, does your stock provide a half-round "cradle" at the place where the stock bolt goes, or is it an air gap, like mine? Install the spacer if needed, even if your gun will shoot without, it's not realistic to think there isn't a price to pay for longtime stress on parts. WM
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Wow that’s great I’m glad you got things squared away. Travis is sending my spacers today. If you don’t mind if I run into problems can I reach out to you?. I just hope I didn’t do any permanent damage to the gun by tightening down already. For some reason mine doesn’t seem to be lasting as long with fill up. I have not shot it too much since these adjustments. I did get suppressor today and took a few shots it is definitely a notable difference. Since I loosened stock shots are way off, but I could only expect that since I was 10 inches off from the first adjustment.
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Trueshot,
Don't mind helping you at all, would be my pleasure. Don't think you caused any damage; I suspect it would take longer under tension for the metal to warp permanently. I've decided filling gun to 3500 psi is acceptable for me since air tube is now properly supported and secured. Can't recommend not following manufacturer's instructions to anyone, but for me, I'm filling to 3500. I'll report new shot count numbers. Head over to YouTube and check out repair videos for the Airacuda Max, they demonstrate how to remove stock from action. WM
Don't mind helping you at all, would be my pleasure. Don't think you caused any damage; I suspect it would take longer under tension for the metal to warp permanently. I've decided filling gun to 3500 psi is acceptable for me since air tube is now properly supported and secured. Can't recommend not following manufacturer's instructions to anyone, but for me, I'm filling to 3500. I'll report new shot count numbers. Head over to YouTube and check out repair videos for the Airacuda Max, they demonstrate how to remove stock from action. WM
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Thank you I’ll be in touch when I receive spacers. I am anxious to see how many shots you get off at 3500.
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Trueshot,
Got a solid three mags (and then some) today with the Airacuda, now I know where all those "35-shot per fill" reports came from. I'm skeptical that even the most finely tuned Max .25 could ever get 35 shots "on the reg" with a 3200psi fill. Gun accuracy has improved from 2" to 1" groups but still think another hammer spring adjustment is in order. My gut tells me this platform is a shooter, just need to find the formula. WM
Got a solid three mags (and then some) today with the Airacuda, now I know where all those "35-shot per fill" reports came from. I'm skeptical that even the most finely tuned Max .25 could ever get 35 shots "on the reg" with a 3200psi fill. Gun accuracy has improved from 2" to 1" groups but still think another hammer spring adjustment is in order. My gut tells me this platform is a shooter, just need to find the formula. WM
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Just Sharing Info..
JTS AIRACUDA, One of the Best PCP Air Rifles for the money? "Full Review" by Airgun Detectives
Dec 2, 2022
JTS AIRACUDA, One of the Best PCP Air Rifles for the money? "Full Review" by Airgun Detectives
Dec 2, 2022
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I just wanted you all to know that there is another design problem with this generation of the MAX.
This vent hole allows the hammer to strike the poppet pin, the displaced air escapes through this hole. Well... it WOULD allow the air to escape but the vent hole aligns perfectly with the stock wood buffering the vent air, causing all sorts of issues with consistency and choking speeds from the 860 FPS it shoots when the assembly is out of the stock down to 620 FPS when assembled but the FPS varies so wildly as the stock warms or cools and rises to about 750 FPS.
I went ahead and stuck my thumb over the vent hole and shot a pellet, it dropped to 300 FPS! I took the hammer spring, hammer and guide out to look at the assembly and found that indeed, it's flat walled with no air bypass on the hammer. By this time I was so annoyed that I drilled a hole through the stock, allowing the hammer to vent and allow all of the bleed air to escape.
Had I been of a cooler head, I would have run groves on the sides of the hammer (Travis, this is what needs to be done to the next gen) on the mill to bleed off the air instead.
So, if you have a MAX, you will have to either drill a hole in the stock or mill slots in the hammer to get full use of the hammer or it will be buffered on every shot but you will not know how much buffering you will get...
(Pic stolen from GTA)
This vent hole allows the hammer to strike the poppet pin, the displaced air escapes through this hole. Well... it WOULD allow the air to escape but the vent hole aligns perfectly with the stock wood buffering the vent air, causing all sorts of issues with consistency and choking speeds from the 860 FPS it shoots when the assembly is out of the stock down to 620 FPS when assembled but the FPS varies so wildly as the stock warms or cools and rises to about 750 FPS.
I went ahead and stuck my thumb over the vent hole and shot a pellet, it dropped to 300 FPS! I took the hammer spring, hammer and guide out to look at the assembly and found that indeed, it's flat walled with no air bypass on the hammer. By this time I was so annoyed that I drilled a hole through the stock, allowing the hammer to vent and allow all of the bleed air to escape.
Had I been of a cooler head, I would have run groves on the sides of the hammer (Travis, this is what needs to be done to the next gen) on the mill to bleed off the air instead.
So, if you have a MAX, you will have to either drill a hole in the stock or mill slots in the hammer to get full use of the hammer or it will be buffered on every shot but you will not know how much buffering you will get...
(Pic stolen from GTA)
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Firewalker,
How about hollowing out an air gap by hole inside wood stock (Dremel Tool) and then grooves, either side of hollow air to vent? Rather not drill hole in stock. WM
How about hollowing out an air gap by hole inside wood stock (Dremel Tool) and then grooves, either side of hollow air to vent? Rather not drill hole in stock. WM
Trueshot,
More testing today, still getting 35 shots per fill. Took 2 1/2 turns in on my hammer spring to average @ 870 fps. Searching for 880+ fps, so more turns in and testing to follow. Wondering why my regulator gauge has never passed 1900psi, I know the Max .22 regulator is set @ 1900psi, but the .25 should be @ 2100psi. I'd considered gauge was faulty, now having to increase the HS tension just to get a 25.39 grain pellet @ 880, make me wonder if a regulator adjustment is in my future. WM
More testing today, still getting 35 shots per fill. Took 2 1/2 turns in on my hammer spring to average @ 870 fps. Searching for 880+ fps, so more turns in and testing to follow. Wondering why my regulator gauge has never passed 1900psi, I know the Max .22 regulator is set @ 1900psi, but the .25 should be @ 2100psi. I'd considered gauge was faulty, now having to increase the HS tension just to get a 25.39 grain pellet @ 880, make me wonder if a regulator adjustment is in my future. WM
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Take it out of the stock and see what speeds you are getting. This sounds exactly like what I was experiencing.
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Now I know why my fps dropped over 100 fps when I put Travis's pillar block in my rifle. Have a feeling it may be blocking this vent hole. Put my smaller aluminum block back in and viola fps came back.
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