Stoeger XM1 Bullshark .177

[Dairyboy]

So it's been quite some time but last time I shot it I had new 3d printed mags. But still had issues. Ok I then really started paying attention to how things felt when loading and sure enough I could basically call when I would have a flyer. I could feel the pellet going over the TP and I'd say 50% of the time I can feel it being rough and the other it was smooth. So I'm going to need to pull the barrel and see what's going on with it.

 

[Joedirt199]

May be a burr in the chamber depending on when they drilled the transfer port, before or after drilling the chamber. Polish both just to be on the safe side.

 

[JimD]

My P35-25 had a burr in the barrel port when I got it. I did not see an accuracy change when I removed it but I gained about 10 fps. So I think it is credible the barrel port or possibly the pellet pusher is damaging pellets. I used a diamond ball to remove the burr and polish the port.

 

[Dairyboy]

That's what I'm assuming is a burr on the TP. Been catching up on somethings and organizing things I've fallen behind on due to a rough couple months of weather but weather this week has given us a break so hoping in the next week or so I can see what's going on with it.

 

[Perle]

That stinks I hope you get it sorted out

 

[nobody1]

That's what I'm assuming is a burr on the TP. Been catching up on somethings and organizing things I've fallen behind on due to a rough couple months of weather but weather this week has given us a break so hoping in the next week or so I can see what's going on with it.

If we chose this hobby we better be good at quality control and fixing things

 

[Dairyboy]

So found the issue. The TP on my .177 is .164". Way larger than needed and causing the pellet heads to dip down into the TP. Not entirely sure how to fix it besides redrill the TP myself.

 

[pat585]

Glad to hear you found your problem, but why not give Stoeger a ring & see what they have to say? Let's see how good their 5 yr warranty is? I hate sending things back but if it's their fault then why not!!

 

[TnCnDn]

So I received it today.

The good: it actually feels really nice in the hand, the cocking is surprisingly nice for a gun in this price range, the reg is working extremely well, mags are nice and metal which surprised me and trigger is actually pretty nice. Working shroud from the factory which is nice, and shot cycle is very much "dead". Sweet shooting little gun.

The bad: barrel was extremely dirty, one of the dirtiest I've seen. Accuracy is not good. Actually it's very bad so far with JSB 8.4gr and CPHP 7.9gr at 25yds I'm getting 2"+ groups. Scope is new so I will be throwing on a known good scope just to check but think it's the barrel. Or it's just that picky and need to try different pellets. I'm shooting at 800fps so not like it's throwing them crazy fast.View attachment 503326
These were the JSBs. The weird part is it seemed like every other shot would be a flyer then others go in the clover leaf.

Rule out the crown?

 

[Dairyboy]

Well I flipped the barrel over and drilled a smaller TP. Solved the rough loading and getting caught up. Accuracy hasn't improved much at all if any. Crown looks fine but might need to touch up and see. I'm pretty unhappy with this gun at this point.

 

[Contndr35BB]

Well I flipped the barrel over and drilled a smaller TP. Solved the rough loading and getting caught up. Accuracy hasn't improved much at all if any. Crown looks fine but might need to touch up and see. I'm pretty unhappy with this gun at this point.

Dairyboy , sorry to hear of your issues. I have a Stoeger Bullshark as well as a Ranger , both in .22. I have had zero issues with either. I have a CARM mag as
well as a BIG AIR mag for the' Shark . All of the mags give good accuracy with all ammo tried. I would reach out to AR , good people .

 

[Contndr35BB]

So doing more investigations into what's happening is the pellet is getting smashed between the stopper and the revolver part of the mag. It's not only smashing them to be oval, it leaves a line down one side on the head and skirt. Tried with some 10.3gr i just got and does the same thing. Definitely makes sense why its not consistent with a mag. So far without a mag the little I've shot shows very good potential. Will be trying FX 10.3gr and 10.3gr MK3 knockouts whenever i have time.View attachment 504958View attachment 504959

After looking at the picture again ,I'd like to see that pellet pushed through the barrel and observe what the pellet looks like after engaging the barrel rifling.
I'm skeptical of the tiny groove seen here causing issue as the rifling ,I believe, will have wiped the groove away. After years of cast bullet shooting in PB hand
guns & rifles , I think to much is put into soft/ pure lead pellet sizing. If 1500- 2300(?) psi is thrusting a soft skirted pellet through a rifled bore , a lot of imperfections are cured before the projectile leaves the end of the barrel. I believe , just my 2 cents, that is why some pellets shoot better at higher speeds than low ones, the air pressure seals the bore better by "squishing" the pellet (sizing) as it is propelled outward. Same logic as hard cast vs. soft cast bullets for target or magnum/hunting loads. Think MInie' bullets of Civil War era.

 

[JimD]

I've heard that the typical "fix" for the bullshark is a new gun. SPA is bad about making parts available so that solution fits.

 

[Joedirt199]

Could find a tube smaller than your transfer port and shim it.

 

[MDStroup]

Oh goodness. This just does not fill me with confidence. Today i found out Etheruemtothemoon on reddit basically had his break down and not work right again after fixing So he cant recommend them any more. An now this being the first thread on here i see after logging in.

I dont think i should have thrown the box away so soon on this one. So far my 22 bullshark hasn't given me any issues, yet. Hopefully it doesnt.

 

[Dairyboy]

Sadly I'm not expecting much out of it now. I will try to do what I can with the barrel but if it keeps up I think I'm SOL. I definitely voided warranty. I have a different gun coming to take its place but hopefully I can get this one working so it's not a complete loss and can give it to a family member or something.

 

[JimD]

I ordered a barrel for my P35-25 from Krale. It took most of a year to get it but it was less than $100. I added a bigger plenum and that really improved the original barrel so I'm still using it. Newer one is OK but it's favorite pellet is different.