FX reveals the "Crown" and the Smooth Twist "X" barrel system!

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"zebra"
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Does that mean the new barrels are rifled over the whole length instead of just the last inch like the regular ST barrels? 

If it does mean that, I'd love to hear from FX what the thinking is behind the change. I know the LW polygon barrels are the latest fashion in certain circles but it would be great to see if FX's testing found a meaningful advantage over traditional rifling and their ST design.



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Zebra,
Yes the rifling is full length of barrel.

Some explanation: Because of differences in weight and velocity and therefore momentum, different pellets skid through original ST "rifling" to leave the barrel at different spin rates. None conform to the actual barrel rifling which is 1:16". In the original research done by Dan Brown and myself, we measured spin rates between 1:64 and 1:160 with different wt pellets and calibres.
When Fredrik himself then repeated our tests he observed 1:44 approx. All from 1:16 barrels.
Now the new STX barrel liners with full length ST rifling will result in all pellets leaving the barrel at the barrel's twist rate regardless of pellet dimensions, as is the case with ordinary barrels. 
OK so what is the advantage gained? We should be able to select a liner that optimizes pellet spin rate for best accuracy for that pellet and possibly those of somewhat similar weight, length and design. Think what is the case with your centre fire rifles which long ago optimized twist rates from 1:14 to 1:7 depending on bullet dimensions, profile and wt. Other air rifle makers are not producing barrels with a selection of twist rates and if they did, you would be up for the cost of each complete new barrel.

FX has optimized the normal .22 ST barrel for best accuracy with 18.1 gr Heavy JSB Exacts. They shoot other quality pellets very well too, 15.9 gr JSB, Baracuda H&N, Eunjin etc. But optimized for the JSB Heavies. Now when I get an FX Crown I will be able to optimize for my favourites including Polymags, and Piledrivers with their extraordinary long range ballistic coefficient.
This is exciting as I may have only a few years of shooting left - turned 80 yr a week ago! ...
I hope this makes some sense. ... Best regards, Harry.
 
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I think I will save myself some effort if I ignore this thread and all of the guessersizes for at least, say, 6 months. Time enough for them get delivered into the hands of real users, get debugged etc. THEN if all of the hype converts to reality maybe I can get excited about adding one to the collection a year from now. My best wishes to the early adopters who will lead the way!
 
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"Yrrah"
"zebra"
Click to expand...

Does that mean the new barrels are rifled over the whole length instead of just the last inch like the regular ST barrels? 

If it does mean that, I'd love to hear from FX what the thinking is behind the change. I know the LW polygon barrels are the latest fashion in certain circles but it would be great to see if FX's testing found a meaningful advantage over traditional rifling and their ST design.



Click to expand...
Zebra,
Yes the rifling is full length of barrel.

Some explanation: Because of differences in weight and velocity and therefore momentum, different pellets skid through original ST "rifling" to leave the barrel at different spin rates. None conform to the actual barrel rifling which is 1:16". In the original research done by Dan Brown and myself, we measured spin rates between 1:64 and 1:160 with different wt pellets and calibres.
When Fredrik himself then repeated our tests he observed 1:44 approx. All from 1:16 barrels.
Now the new STX barrel liners with full length ST rifling will result in all pellets leaving the barrel at the barrel's twist rate regardless of pellet dimensions, as is the case with ordinary barrels. 
OK so what is the advantage gained? We should be able to select a liner that optimizes pellet spin rate for best accuracy for that pellet and possibly those of somewhat similar weight, length and design. Think what is the case with your centre fire rifles which long ago optimized twist rates from 1:14 to 1:7 depending on bullet dimensions, profile and wt. Other air rifle makers are not producing barrels with a selection of twist rates and if they did, you would be up for the cost of each complete new barrel.

FX has optimized the normal .22 ST barrel for best accuracy with 18.1 gr Heavy JSB Exacts. They shoot other quality pellets very well too, 15.9 gr JSB, Baracuda H&N, Eunjin etc. But optimized for the JSB Heavies. Now when I get an FX Crown I will be able to optimize for my favourites including Polymags, and Piledrivers with their extraordinary long range ballistic coefficient.
This is exciting as I may have only a few years of shooting left - turned 80 yr a week ago! ...
I hope this makes some sense. ... Best regards, Harry.
Click to expand...

It makes sense to me. 

I can think of one additional potential benefit that would be at least as important (if not more) for me. If you happened to get unlucky by receiving one of the less accurate barrels (all guns come in a range of accuracy), it would be easier to switch it out for a more accurate one. It reduces the risk on an expensive purchase a little. 

Obviously you can pay to get a new barrel blank machined for any gun but it's such a PITA as well as being expensive and time consuming for air guns. 

I am intrigued by the potential to tailor twist rates for the pellet although it's just marketing speak until we see it in practice. 

I haven't see any test results showing that the best twist rate for a JSB 25gr is x while an H&N Barracuda needs a twist rate of Y to be optimal. That sort of testing seems beyond the resources of most of us. Even if I had two barrels with different twist rates, I wouldn't know if the more accurate one was due to the tr or it was just a better barrel sample. I would need help to be able to benefit from this feature.
 
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"aa_limited"hmm mabe a take out choke for the twist or rotate the barrel?
​ or interchange a barrel. if twist is due to barrel change.. it will cost us 500 bucks to do it.
crazy hey
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aa_limited:
The exchange barrels are liners for the main barrel.
Looks as though you could get 5 different liners for your price estimate of one. $99 has been mentioned.

This is a real move forward and if it proves out, I predict Daystate, AA and other top makers will be attempting something similar; or making spare barrels with twist rates copied from FX after FX has already optimized for our best few pellets of various weights. Cheaper competitive barrels may be the outcome.
I have not acquired a new rifle in over 4 years as I already have the most accurate ones, excepting a Thomas.
I will get a Crown . ... Kind regards, Harry in OZ.
 
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A few more pics of the new FX Crown at IWA for you guys. 
Personally theres a few things I dont like.. the over sized 18 shot magazine is one.. Why.. just why? I sure hope there is a smaller one to fit or a single shot tray. It is just way too big for many reasons. The height alone means you cant fit low rings to keep your scope centered close to the bore line.. cheek placement with a scope that high would simply be wrong unless you opt for the "Optional adjustable cheek piece" and finding quality super high scope rings to fit that 11mm dovetail would be a challenge, its a good thing that the FX also make those massively over height Zero Limit rings huh?
What does all this mean? Loads more $$$ in FXs pocket after the initial rifle purchase.. and dont forget the optional "match trigger"... dont you feel a $1900 should already have a match trigger? All very clever up selling marketing on FXs behalf but I'll pass thanks.

All be it a very pretty little rifle, unless it fits a smaller mag that doesnt require a ridiculously high scope fitment and over extended cheek piece, I would rather a different platform to test the new X barrel so I sure hope they extend that across the FX range. 





 
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The barrel in the video looks the same as an impact barrel. I mean around the air port and the diameter 
looks similar. No one has said yet if there interchangeable. Was thinking if I where to buy a crown and I have an impact I could end up with a bullpup
hunting rifle and a traditional rifle. A new calibre for the impact. I suppose if you can swap you could do it
both ways as my .22 impact barrel is very accurate it could go on the crown. I'd have a second carbon 
bottle if I planned a day hunting. Also the magazine looks the same that would be a bonus. If I where to 
buy for my impact a new barrel kit, second carbon bottle and another magazine it would be around 
$1000 bucks. So it's a cheap gun. 
Talking myself into it slowly....
 
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