Tuning NEW FX Wildcat Mk3 Sniper (.22) - NEED HELP, NEW GUN NOT SHOOTING

[bwessling]

Hello all,

I am new to PCP airguns, and just finally received my FX Wildcat Mk3 Sniper edition that I ordered back in November from PyramidAir. I'm not sure if I am missing something here...but the gun will just simply not fire. I have charged it up full to 230 bar, and when I cock the gun and pull the trigger, nothing happens. The hammer springs engages and makes a "click" when I pull the trigger, but no air fires out of the gun. I do hear something clinking around inside the breech block, it sounds like a spring bouncing around. Not sure if that's normal or if something got damaged during shipment.

At any rate...I could really use some help here to maybe fix this issue, if its something simple. I'm very mechanically minded and can take apart whatever I need to, to troubleshoot. I just don't know where to start. I do have the option to exchange the gun but, I won't be able to get an exchanged rifle until April because they are out of stock everywhere. As you can imagine, I definitely don't want to wait another 3 months if I can potentially get some help to fix this.

Thanks in advance!

Brett

 

[ladwict]

Safety switch engaged at the back of the gun ? What pressure is at your regulator gauge ?

 

[bwessling]

@ladwict, I wish it was that simple. The safety switch on this gun won't even engage, until you cock the rifle. Once the rifle is cocked, it does allow me to switch it into safe mode, which does prevent me from pulling the trigger. But when I switch it into "Fire", the trigger actuates and hammer spring fires/clicks, but no air comes out or fires out. Just the trigger click, that's it. Oh and the regulator is set to 125 bar.

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Hearing something clinking around on the inside of a gun is never a good sign. Does it do it when the safety is on, off, or both?

 

[bwessling]

@Corvid_hunter - The gun only makes the noise I described, when the gun is uncocked. Once the rifle is cocked, the noise is non-existent; in both safety and fire mode. On that note, I believe the clinking noise is likely not part of the issue here. And now that I recall, the customer service rep I spoke with did say this "In regards to the noise you describe, that is normal. This rifle is equipped with a free-floating slingshot hammer system. You will hear this noise will all FX airguns."

 

[xyon]

There is no pre-load on the hammer spring when the rifle is not cocked, in fact there is a gap between the spring and the hammer. So when you shake the action front to back you will hear the hammer rattling around.

If the rifle cocks correctly, there won't be any rattling any more. Does this happen?

When you pull the trigger the hammer should fly forward and make a clunk noise even if no air came out. If this is not the case then I suspect the rifle is not cocking due to the trigger and or safety not being adjusted correctly.

 

[ladwict]

The free-floating slingshot hammer system is indeed a fx specific feature taht makes a “clinck” when you move the the gun up and down .

can you degas the tube , hence check if indeed air is in the cylinder ? ( You can use a slim wrench on front of the gastube when you remove the cap you see the bolt you can turn loose slowly and gas will start escaping )

also can you decock the gun when you have cocked it by puuling the cocking lever backwards again and whilst holding the cocking lever backwards pull the trigger and simoultaniuosly release the cock lever slowly ?

 

[bwessling]

@xyon - When the rifle is cocked, there is no more rattling. So that seems to be functioning correctly. And when I pull the trigger after cocking it, the hammer does appear to be flying forward because I can hear the clunk noise. There is just no air coming out...I think that's the only issue here. 

 

[xyon]

I see from you last message that the rifle seem to be cocking ok. So either the valve is stuck, or the hammer adjuster is set so far towards minimum that it is not opening the valve when striking it. Usually from the factory, it should have been adjusted to shoot around 910 fps with 18 gr pellets.

 

[makincheez]

You mentioned the gun is filled to 230 bar. What does the regulator gauge read?

Never mind, just saw you said it was 125. Carry on

 

[bwessling]

@ladwict - Are you referring to the brass bolt underneath the air cylinder manometer (see pic below)? If so, loosening or unscrewing it slightly is how you degas the cylinder then? I was wondering how to do that...for when its in storage and not being used. And there is no danger to doing this slowly? Just don't wanna explode my face haha.

and yes...I can uncock the gun by doing as you described.

 

[bwessling]

@xyon - How do I fix a stuck valve lol? And when I adjust the hammer adjustment to full power, or 7, the hammer spring does clink a lot harder and audibly louder...so I'm not sure that is a matter of it being set to low...it does clink pretty hard on max setting.

 

[ladwict]

Yes that is the correct bolt. Just loosen it slowly till you start hearring a hissing sound. It mght take a while ( minutes ) before you tube is empty. You can loosen the bolt a bit more during the course. By the way always store the gun filled with a fair amountt of air. Not empry. Better for the seals and whole system ....

 

[Odoyle]

Increase the HST power adjusher to the maximum and try shooting again but remove the magazine first when you cock it you may have double or triple or quadruple loaded pellets and your guns likely constipated.

FIRST Remove the shroud so you don't damage the baffles.

If it still doesn't fire put it on SAFE then remove the barrel liner to unstuck the pellets or leave it and use a wooden or fiberglass or carbon fiber dowel to unstuck the pellets while the safe lever is in the open position.

 

[bwessling]

@ladwict - The rifle is now degassed. It was full...lots of hissing and whooshing of air during the process...so definitely is holding air. What next lol?

 

[ladwict]

First of all things are safe now. Very importan before looking for various solutions. Could it be like Odoyle said that you congested the barrel by multiple loading ?

by the way did you tighten the bras bolt again after de gassing ? Don’t forget.

 

[Odoyle]

From now on its best to make it a habit to always put it on SAFE right after cocking io avoid double or triple or quadruple loading pellets.

ALWAYS check to see if the gun is on SAFE BEFORE cocking it again to avoid constipating your gun with pellets.

 

[makincheez]

May not be entirely safe yet; reg gauge show pressure?

 

[Odoyle]

If you don't want to use the COCK IT AND IMMEDIATELY PUT IT ON SAFE TRICK then buy a Taipan Veteran or HW100 or HW110 that have the anti double load feature.

 

[ladwict]

You are correct Makincheez !!!! Please check