Pro-Elite Tapered Compression Tube, Fact or Fiction?

[Lewis]

Was anyone else watching the Pro-Elite on eBay?
It was a good looking gun but it went for 1136.11 plus shipping!

I have been watching the steady incline of the prices but this still surprised me. Has anyone had first hand experience with the "Tapered tubes" these were reported to suffer from?
Anecdotally, I have had 4 of them apart, 2 of which were said to suffer from the tapered tubes. In both cases the seal was welded to the face of the compression tube by grease that had hardened over time. Once cleaned up, they showed no tolerance issues with a bore gauge and both were also more than acceptably round both internally and externally. I have a friend who has also had multiple examples that were reported to have tapered tubes, only to find other causes for the stated issues.

In any case the fear of a tapered tube does not seem to impact prices.

 

[MartyMcFly]

It might be the case that someone once had an issue and said it was due to a tapered tube and then the cause just spread as everyone attributed most internal issues to the tube “defect”. History is littered with such instances in other domains, simply due to the fact that many people can’t be bothered to diagnose and fix something - it’s easier just to blame the popular or “obvious” cause.

Is it worth that much? I don’t know, but I paid a similar price for a Theoben Eliminator/Crow Mag about 3 years ago and I think the ProElite is a more rare gun.

-Marty

 

[willy]

Mine is still going strong"800fps. with any 22 pellet"

 

[Mickshooter]

Wow, that's alot. I just sold one like new a few years ago for like $400-450. I paid $525.00. 15 yrs earlier.

 

[Nico5999]

I just bought one for WAAAAYYYY less than that. Mine does about 18 FPE, which is under powered. Generally that CAN be a symptom of tapered tubes. The owner actually said the tube was tapered and that's why its underpowered.

However, I've had it apart and its using the ORIGINAL piston seal which is probably about 20 years old. It is also using the original spring. I think that refreshing those two parts would bump it back up to where it should be. Other than that, the gun shoots amazingly and is very consistent.

I do believe that there were a few of these rifles that had tapered tubes. I've heard that from several well respected tuners that i have a ton of respect for. That being said, I do NOT think that it is as common as some make it out to be and that some of the issues are caused by other factors.

 

[Mickshooter]

I just bought one for WAAAAYYYY less than that. Mine does about 18 FPE, which is under powered. Generally that CAN be a symptom of tapered tubes. The owner actually said the tube was tapered and that's why its underpowered.

However, I've had it apart and its using the ORIGINAL piston seal which is probably about 20 years old. It is also using the original spring. I think that refreshing those two parts would bump it back up to where it should be. Other than that, the gun shoots amazingly and is very consistent.

I do believe that there were a few of these rifles that had tapered tubes. I've heard that from several well respected tuners that i have a ton of respect for. That being said, I do NOT think that it is as common as some make it out to be and that some of the issues are caused by other factors.

I bought mine new in 2005 and it was a solid 20-21 ft/lb gun. Pretty darn accurate too. Right around 800fps with Crossman Premiers 14.3 grn.

 

[A.G.R]

How did I miss this Lewis ?
Ken Turner designed the gun.
They were limited production run , but what killed them was Air Arms them selves.. not tapered tubes..
It was a FAC built gun that sold very little inn the Uk as they are restricted. Sales here were limited as springers selling for $850 when released was double of what a Hw 80 or R1 could be had. Not to mention PCP we’re taking a fast hold.. Poor sales and poor Design in critical areas.. sadly they said they tested the gun for many years before releasing and still let that piston seal set up go out..



ok, the myth is bigger than the truth..
What was and is , is the tube design in itself.. the cocking slot goes all the way back to the trigger gap which is opened up. Relieving the cylindrical tolerance of the tube
Every PE ,I have owned and tuned had tight initial tube. It’s not tapered. It’s relieved.
The short stroke of these guns,85 mm would be so hard to have a taper that the gun would not shoot.. Now the burnt seals Welding to the breech face was ,poor seal mounting and over sprung guns with under breathing port, And a 400 gram piston ,creating excessive heat melting the seals To the breech face giving the illusion of a tapered tube as heat expands urethane when it melts..

What did transpire Was the horrid seal mounting design. It had zero beam strength and less holding as you had a very little tapered stem to hold a 30 mm piston seal on
Albeit, these are great guns with huge potential if reworked. In stock form the janitor must have designed the piston seal mount.
It also sufferes a tad from restricted port and to short of stroke.. This is not for more power but far superior shot cycle. They will do 18 to 24 ft lbs , anything more it’s harsh and will burn seals.. I know ,I tested more power and it wasn’t worth it..

The piston needs machining to take a HW cup seal , the stoke shortened 8 mm and the port worked as well as the cocking arm and a custom spring and top hat .. Done right you end up with a smooth 22 to 24 ft lb hunting beast that’s deadly accurate and has THE BEST TRIGGER MADE ..