Tuning FX Panthera Hunter slug jamming fix.

[oregondude]

I have hunter in 22cal. that jammed constantly. Irritating!!! Ted, in his review pointed out the issue with the void in the thicker lids. My take is he under stated the problem. Understandable. FX has represented the Hunter as a PELLET shooter, not a slug shooter. Perhaps. On the other hand, my be that disclaimer wasn't about performance , but rather function. The thicker top is needed to account for the deeper mag well of the Hunter as compared to a shallower mag well of the models it was intended for. Since the video by Ted proves the Nielsen 20.2gr. slugs in .216 group really well, performance is not the problem: it's a jamming problem due to a poor design. FX can respond that they didn't represented the Hunter as a slug shooter, so we're using the gun for a purpose it was not intended for. Perhaps. The magazines do work great with pellets. So here is my hack to fix the magazine to run the 20.2gr slugs perfectly. Someone should 3D print these spacers that allow for the thinner lids. Simply use a solvent based cement or epoxy to attach. Bill and Addi.

 

[GA_LeadHead]

I've also got the .22 "Hunter Compact".
I could never get it to group the slugs Ted mentioned. I was cautious to get my speeds to 900fps as he mentioned.
It shoots pellets GREAT, but for the life of me I cannot get it to shoot either the .2160 20.2g NSA's nor the 17.5g.
Is yours shooting them well?

 

[oregondude]

I've also got the .22 "Hunter Compact".
I could never get it to group the slugs Ted mentioned. I was cautious to get my speeds to 900fps as he mentioned.
It shoots pellets GREAT, but for the life of me I cannot get it to shoot either the .2160 20.2g NSA's nor the 17.5g.
Is yours shooting them well?

Hi. Only shot a few at 25yds and pretty much a 1/4" hole for four shots. Jammed so much I didn't shoot more. Just finished the magazine so I'll test some more today. Reg at 150bar, macro at 17, micro at 4. I'll get back to you after some 50yd targets. Too much wind now, usually calms down in the late afternoon. Hopping. Bill and Addi

 

[GA_LeadHead]

Hi. Only shot a few at 25yds and pretty much a 1/4" hole for four shots. Jammed so much I didn't shoot more. Just finished the magazine so I'll test some more today. Reg at 150bar, macro at 17, micro at 4. I'll get back to you after some 50yd targets. Too much wind now, usually calms down in the late afternoon. Hopping. Bill and Addi

Awesome. Please do. Love this "mini" Panthera as a backyard pester. I won't mind if it only shoots pellets, but if we could find a slug that works, that would be icing on the cake. Thanks.

 

[oregondude]

I've also got the .22 "Hunter Compact".
I could never get it to group the slugs Ted mentioned. I was cautious to get my speeds to 900fps as he mentioned.
It shoots pellets GREAT, but for the life of me I cannot get it to shoot either the .2160 20.2g NSA's nor the 17.5g.
Is yours shooting them well?

Hi. Just ran FX Hybrids, Zan .217, Impulse. 217 and NSA 20.2 .216. At 30 yds. Not real impressed with results. About 1/2" group was the best. That was with the Zans and the Impulse. NSA @ 275mps all others in the 264mps range. My shot count is not close to the 60 Ted reported. My tuning may not be balanced, so I'll go back and returned tomorrow. How is your shot count? Reg pressure and macro hammer pre- load? Thanks, Bill and Addi

 

[GA_LeadHead]

I can get that many shots with his tune, with a 480cc bottle, I just can't get it to group either of the slugs he recommended. At 30 yards, they were 2" groups at best. Not acceptable.
It will stack pellets, which is great.
I have not been able to replicate what he advertises in both the Wildcat BT or this compact Panthera. Realizing that is setting the bar high, lol. However, he clearly shows his tune for slugs and I mirrored it. Also realizing that each rifle will be minutely unique, I varied the speeds up and down a little and it only got worse.

 

[oregondude]

I can get that many shots with his tune, with a 480cc bottle, I just can't get it to group either of the slugs he recommended. At 30 yards, they were 2" groups at best. Not acceptable.
It will stack pellets, which is great.
I have not been able to replicate what he advertises in both the Wildcat BT or this compact Panthera. Realizing that is setting the bar high, lol. However, he clearly shows his tune for slugs and I mirrored it. Also realizing that each rifle will be minutely unique, I varied the speeds up and down a little and it only got worse.

2" @30yds-yikes. My original tune was 145 reg, 13 macro and 3.2 micro, Ted's tune. That didnt make the 900fps he recommended, so I maxed the hammer and started bringing up the reg 10-15 bar at a time. At 150bar, I got a bit over 900fps. Then started backing off the hammer one step at a time. Ended up at 17 macro, 3.5 micro. I understand each rifle will be a bit different, but 2" @ 30yds and 1/2" @30yds is baffling. I'm going to retune tomorrow without the moderator. I have 2 other ones I'll try to compare. I'm hoping to get the Impulse slugs to 890fps. Not sure she can do that, but I'll find out. I think the 25.4gr pellets will have more fpe, so I may go that route. Anyway, I'll get back to you sooner than later. Bill and Addi
.

 

[GA_LeadHead]

I said 2" but realistically, It was sporadic. It would group 3 shots, then pop off a flyer a inch here and two inches there, group a couple more, and then flyers again.
Mine is VERY happy at 125 bar, and hammer is just a nudge over 2.5. Stacking Hades at 915 fps. Very quiet with DonnyFl Tatsu on the front.
This tune still sounds a little "poofy". I may nudge the hammer down a smidge and see if that makes it even happier.
I'm surprised we're not hearing more about the mini Pantheras.
I love my compact Wildcat BT in .22 but having that hammer/spring/etc right under your ear on that one can get to me sometimes. The Pantera puts all that in front of you. I'm also a left handed shooter, so the mini panthera caters to that whereas the WC did not.
I haven't touched my Wildcat since I've had this rifle. I just love how handy this setup is.
I've put the folding stock on it. Makes it a great truck and backyard gun with PLENTY of power.

 

[oregondude]

I said 2" but realistically, It was sporadic. It would group 3 shots, then pop off a flyer a inch here and two inches there, group a couple more, and then flyers again.
Mine is VERY happy at 125 bar, and hammer is just a nudge over 2.5. Stacking Hades at 915 fps. Very quiet with DonnyFl Tatsu on the front.
This tune still sounds a little "poofy". I may nudge the hammer down a smidge and see if that makes it even happier.
I'm surprised we're not hearing more about the mini Pantheras.
I love my compact Wildcat BT in .22 but having that hammer/spring/etc right under your ear on that one can get to me sometimes. The Pantera puts all that in front of you. I'm also a left handed shooter, so the mini panthera caters to that whereas the WC did not.
I haven't touched my Wildcat since I've had this rifle. I just love how handy this setup is.
I've put the folding stock on it. Makes it a great truck and backyard gun with PLENTY of power.


View attachment 367136

Hi. I'm thinking you might be having a regulator glitch. As in creep. At the higher settings, say 145+bar, it would have more affect than at a lower pressure setting. The regulator gauge would hold steady, but could still bleed into the plenum raising the plenum pressure. Have you checked for creep? I leave mine overnight and shoot over chronograph in the morning to see if my speed is consistent with day before. If it shoots hot, the reg is creeping. Bill and Addi.

 

[GA_LeadHead]

Hi. I'm thinking you might be having a regulator glitch. As in creep. At the higher settings, say 145+bar, it would have more affect than at a lower pressure setting. The regulator gauge would hold steady, but could still bleed into the plenum raising the plenum pressure. Have you checked for creep? I leave mine overnight and shoot over chronograph in the morning to see if my speed is consistent with day before. If it shoots hot, the reg is creeping. Bill and Addi.

I don't think so, because even when I originally had it set at "Ted's" tune. It was still extremely consistent with pellets. It was only the slugs that were kicking the flyers. I also was shooting over my labradar. I almost always do. If it were inconsistent or was hot on the first shot, I would have caught it.
Mine just does not like slugs.