Goodbye Atomic XR. You punched above your weight but it's time to move on to something else...

[Erdb]

Loved the Atomic but I got an offer that made me whole on it and decided I want to upgrade to something bigger. Looking at a BRK Ghost Plus or Ghost HP (weighing size vs versatility right now - plus AoA won't have them in till the end of the month).

Thought about an M3 but I really don't have the time to tune that I see others have put in to make them work.

My Atomic in it's final iteration before I sold it.

 

[MongooseV8]

Dont want to talk you out of another Ghost, but if you build an Impact the right way tuning can be pretty easy. Looks like your pictured setup was pretty light weight and compact I like it.

 

[Erdb]

Thanks @MongooseV8 - I'm pretty new to airguns but my take on M3's is they do pretty well with either pellets or slugs (assuming tuning/barrels are setup right). However, I have the perception the Ghost may not handle slugs as well. I'm shooting pellets now but I like the idea of stretching out with slugs IF I want to (versatility is important as I don't want to create a safe full of specialized airguns)

Oh and low maintenance is important...

 

[L.Leon]

You did keep it in the BRK family though, am looking forward to your impressions of the BRK Ghost…

 

[L.Leon]

Dont want to talk you out of another Ghost, but if you build an Impact the right way tuning can be pretty easy. Looks like your pictured setup was pretty light weight and compact I like it.

The OP did say it “punches” above it weight. That and the light and compact size is why I love mine.

 

[Erdb]

Thanks. That Atomic was a solid performer and if I had to nitpick it would be the safety. I've just been shooting too long to get comfortable with my trigger finger doing something inside the trigger guard except squeezing a trigger. .

 

[MongooseV8]

Well I dont know of anything that is better at on the fly changes than an M3. Very nice hammer spring adjuster and valve stop adjustment. You can setup one rifle to shoot slugs and pellets without changing any parts, just a quick setting adjustment. I built my Impact the way I wanted after doing lots of research and shot waaaay under moa with literally my first group with slugs.

 

[rsfrid]

All I know is I doubt I will ever get rid of my Atomic. It is one of my two best shooting airguns.

 

[Redtick12]

All I know is I doubt I will ever get rid of my Atomic. It is one of my two best shooting airguns.

I have the Ranger, basically the same gun, I feel the same way, I am not getting rid of it. For backyard plinking and small game hunting at short to moderate distances it is absolutely perfect. Superb combination of light, compact, accurate, smooth, and fun.

 

[Erdb]

“All I know is I doubt I will ever get rid of my Atomic. It is one of my two best shooting airguns.”



If I had “mad stacks“ I would have kept the Atomic and picked up another airgun but.. budgets

 

[Redtick12]

“All I know is I doubt I will ever get rid of my Atomic. It is one of my two best shooting airguns.”



If I had “mad stacks“ I would have kept the Atomic and picked up another airgun but.. budgets

Being a responsible person should never get in the way of spending too much money on guns.

 

[MongooseV8]

All I know is I doubt I will ever get rid of my Atomic. It is one of my two best shooting airguns.

There is a lot to be said there. Plenty of rifles I regret selling over the years.

 

[madeintheuk]

I would keep it in the family and go with a ghost. They do well with both pellets and slugs. If you have any question about them, derick wall is on this forum, and tunes them very well he has a good knowledge of what the gun is and isn’t capable of.
The impact is a complicated rifle. Lots of adjustments, which can be a help and a hinder. I’ve owned 3, and sold them all. The fx crown and dreamline platform for me is much easier for both tuning, and holding tune.

 

[L.Leon]

I have the Ranger, basically the same gun, I feel the same way, I am not getting rid of it. For backyard plinking and small game hunting at short to moderate distances it is absolutely perfect. Superb combination of light, compact, accurate, smooth, and fun.

Same here, my Atomic XR just fulfill so many roles that mine is also a keeper. I get so many more opportunities on pests that I would have to pass up with even a 30 fpe PCP…

 

[Erdb]

I would keep it in the family and go with a ghost. They do well with both pellets and slugs. If you have any question about them, derick wall is on this forum, and tunes them very well he has a good knowledge of what the gun is and isn’t capable of.
The impact is a complicated rifle. Lots of adjustments, which can be a help and a hinder. I’ve owned 3, and sold them all. The fx crown and dreamline platform for me is much easier for both tuning, and holding tune.

Thanks @madeintheuk for the information. It’s timely because I just pulled the “trigger“ on a Ghost HP from @AtlasAirguns. I’ll post more details on that and the scope I chose to go with it later.