Hi everyone...This may be geared towards new to PCP air folks, but I will be telling you all my tunes and mods.
First I need to thank Steve at AEAC. The primer he provided on the Avenger in his videos saved me weeks of trial and error. I had a bunch to learn about air, and still do, but I am confident in this gun, and I am shooting stupidly small groups with multiple pellets out to 100yds so far. I purchased the water cooled Vevor on Ebay for $230 and besides a few early shut-offs....from a freaky thermal switch, it is working perfectly now. It will pump to the rifles 4350 max, but I usually stop at 3500psi...why hammer on everything right!?
I am REALLY impressed with this machine of a gun. I call it that because of the way it repeats. This is my first PCP, or any air rifle for that matter, and coming from years of building 22LR bench rifles, air is WAAAAY more fun and less dependent on ammo!, at least mine is. I just got SO tired of searching for lots of Eley black box 22lr, and spending $0.35/rnd!
I think I will skip my early "getting to know" stage as we all will go thru it, and go to the mods that made the most improvement, or actually added to the consistency that is inherent in these Rifles.
Mods...
1> I made adapters/air strippers to replace the shroud cap, and to mount my moderator. I studied the Donny's, and turned my own version on my lathe (I have a small machine shop in my garage) Mine goes over but doesn't touch the barrel (harmonics always comes first in small bore!)
2> I purchased a 1-1/8 x 6" "blank" moderator kit for a 22lr, but built it to .30cal specs inside. Bigger thru holes work better in air....I found it's controlling volume of air, not heat and explosion from powder that these rifles like!...see above.
3> I drilled (6) 3/32" holes...3 on each side of the shroud 1" above the rear mount see below. This made a huge difference in settling the gun, removing fliers, and controlling sound. Got rid of the "snap" and now it's a "thump" so to speak. Here you can also see the hammer spring t-wrench that makes adjustments MUCH easier. used electrical shrink tube to fatten up the Allen key I epoxied into the 3.8" turned aluminum bar. Check out the bolt knob, and focus wheel I turned for the SwampFox Patriot 6-24/50 scope. GREAT scope BTW! Steel rings of course!
4> Trigger work....I am not a fan of telling anyone to alter a rifle trigger. I will say this...I used the parts provided by the factory, but not in their original locations to get the trigger smooth, safe, and sub-1lb. If you work on triggers, this will become very obvious after a little observation of the over-travel spring. If you don't work on triggers....leave it be, they actually have a nice trigger from the factory at about 1.75lbs. I am used to triggers in the "ounce" weight class....so.
5> Secured the shroud to the air tube just behind the air fill cap with a rubber spacer (0.040" thick rubber band, yours may be different) between them, and a large o-ring around both to stop them from slapping together under recoil. This was giving me fliers, but an easy fix! It also "quieted" the harmonics. Just DON'T flex the barrel shroud when doing this. It will alter your P.O.I. Yup I turned the fill cap to match...Style and all
6> Crowned the barrel...I know, Steve showed the "no-crown" and it's groups which is great, but mine had a slight crown that was jagged....well not like gator teeth, but it needed attention. and i am way ocd.
Those were the biggies that removed any bad habits my Avenger had from the Factory. Actually, I have done more work to MUCH MUCH more expensive rifles to get them to shoot. This was just following the little harmonic killers and removing them. I am finding what these PCP dudes like, and when you get it right...HOLY FRIGGIN MOLY they repeat! Here are some of the groups, others are still hanging in the yard/range, and some tools I made to make tuning easier. The Alum pc. with the ball bearing is what I use when pellet skirts are funky. Just make em' round, and push thru the hole to size back to specs with the sawed off screwdriver looking thing......228" BTW works for my barrel. Oh, and my new invention on the scope cap...to remember what turn I am on for the hammer spring. Cool huh!? Even tho I count turns in? yea yea I know!
MY Tunes...Basically just do what Steve tells you at AEAC which is spot on, but here's what mine likes anyway...I start all of them at 25yd til one hole, then out to 45yd, then 75yd, (it's how my trees are laid out for targets) I'm at 75yd to this point.
Adjustments are XXXXpsi on reg./number of turns in on hammer spring from all the way out. I'm a benchrest shooter mostly...
1. Air Arms, and or JSB 15.9gn diobolo 1800/2.5 gave me 905fps and best 5 shot group of .385" at 75yd. JSB shoots 1" higher WTH?
2. H&N 21.14 Cuda Match pointy diobolo 2400/3.5 yields 880fps with a 5 shot group at .163" at 45yd. and 8 shot .680" at 75yd.
3. The rifles favorite food is JSB 18.13gn diobolo 2000/2.0 at 865fps and a rediculous group of 12 shots into .285" at 45yd. I didn't want to stop! I lost light tonight and didn't get to shoot these out to 75yd. I usually get a "no breeze" hour in the early morning and again before dark. I shoot out of my garage/shop below into my back yard and can stretch it out to maybe 150yards. 25y on the right wood pile, 45y to the Cherry tree strump center, and way down left is the 75y on another wood pile. Did I mention we have a few trees around here in the Philly farm burbs of S.E.PA.? It's nice tho!
I tried a few slugs from FX, NSA, JSB but just no luck yet. Rifle gets upset every time I try em'
So, that's my first month in the PCP World. I try to shoot every day for my "no--wind" Chrony data, and then to learn what these guns like in a breeze...which can be like a friggin whiffle ball! Thanks for reading, and ask away if I wasn't clear on anything. Have fun,
Gerry
First I need to thank Steve at AEAC. The primer he provided on the Avenger in his videos saved me weeks of trial and error. I had a bunch to learn about air, and still do, but I am confident in this gun, and I am shooting stupidly small groups with multiple pellets out to 100yds so far. I purchased the water cooled Vevor on Ebay for $230 and besides a few early shut-offs....from a freaky thermal switch, it is working perfectly now. It will pump to the rifles 4350 max, but I usually stop at 3500psi...why hammer on everything right!?
I am REALLY impressed with this machine of a gun. I call it that because of the way it repeats. This is my first PCP, or any air rifle for that matter, and coming from years of building 22LR bench rifles, air is WAAAAY more fun and less dependent on ammo!, at least mine is. I just got SO tired of searching for lots of Eley black box 22lr, and spending $0.35/rnd!
I think I will skip my early "getting to know" stage as we all will go thru it, and go to the mods that made the most improvement, or actually added to the consistency that is inherent in these Rifles.
Mods...
1> I made adapters/air strippers to replace the shroud cap, and to mount my moderator. I studied the Donny's, and turned my own version on my lathe (I have a small machine shop in my garage) Mine goes over but doesn't touch the barrel (harmonics always comes first in small bore!)
2> I purchased a 1-1/8 x 6" "blank" moderator kit for a 22lr, but built it to .30cal specs inside. Bigger thru holes work better in air....I found it's controlling volume of air, not heat and explosion from powder that these rifles like!...see above.
3> I drilled (6) 3/32" holes...3 on each side of the shroud 1" above the rear mount see below. This made a huge difference in settling the gun, removing fliers, and controlling sound. Got rid of the "snap" and now it's a "thump" so to speak. Here you can also see the hammer spring t-wrench that makes adjustments MUCH easier. used electrical shrink tube to fatten up the Allen key I epoxied into the 3.8" turned aluminum bar. Check out the bolt knob, and focus wheel I turned for the SwampFox Patriot 6-24/50 scope. GREAT scope BTW! Steel rings of course!
4> Trigger work....I am not a fan of telling anyone to alter a rifle trigger. I will say this...I used the parts provided by the factory, but not in their original locations to get the trigger smooth, safe, and sub-1lb. If you work on triggers, this will become very obvious after a little observation of the over-travel spring. If you don't work on triggers....leave it be, they actually have a nice trigger from the factory at about 1.75lbs. I am used to triggers in the "ounce" weight class....so.
5> Secured the shroud to the air tube just behind the air fill cap with a rubber spacer (0.040" thick rubber band, yours may be different) between them, and a large o-ring around both to stop them from slapping together under recoil. This was giving me fliers, but an easy fix! It also "quieted" the harmonics. Just DON'T flex the barrel shroud when doing this. It will alter your P.O.I. Yup I turned the fill cap to match...Style and all
6> Crowned the barrel...I know, Steve showed the "no-crown" and it's groups which is great, but mine had a slight crown that was jagged....well not like gator teeth, but it needed attention. and i am way ocd.
Those were the biggies that removed any bad habits my Avenger had from the Factory. Actually, I have done more work to MUCH MUCH more expensive rifles to get them to shoot. This was just following the little harmonic killers and removing them. I am finding what these PCP dudes like, and when you get it right...HOLY FRIGGIN MOLY they repeat! Here are some of the groups, others are still hanging in the yard/range, and some tools I made to make tuning easier. The Alum pc. with the ball bearing is what I use when pellet skirts are funky. Just make em' round, and push thru the hole to size back to specs with the sawed off screwdriver looking thing......228" BTW works for my barrel. Oh, and my new invention on the scope cap...to remember what turn I am on for the hammer spring. Cool huh!? Even tho I count turns in? yea yea I know!
MY Tunes...Basically just do what Steve tells you at AEAC which is spot on, but here's what mine likes anyway...I start all of them at 25yd til one hole, then out to 45yd, then 75yd, (it's how my trees are laid out for targets) I'm at 75yd to this point.
Adjustments are XXXXpsi on reg./number of turns in on hammer spring from all the way out. I'm a benchrest shooter mostly...
1. Air Arms, and or JSB 15.9gn diobolo 1800/2.5 gave me 905fps and best 5 shot group of .385" at 75yd. JSB shoots 1" higher WTH?
2. H&N 21.14 Cuda Match pointy diobolo 2400/3.5 yields 880fps with a 5 shot group at .163" at 45yd. and 8 shot .680" at 75yd.
3. The rifles favorite food is JSB 18.13gn diobolo 2000/2.0 at 865fps and a rediculous group of 12 shots into .285" at 45yd. I didn't want to stop! I lost light tonight and didn't get to shoot these out to 75yd. I usually get a "no breeze" hour in the early morning and again before dark. I shoot out of my garage/shop below into my back yard and can stretch it out to maybe 150yards. 25y on the right wood pile, 45y to the Cherry tree strump center, and way down left is the 75y on another wood pile. Did I mention we have a few trees around here in the Philly farm burbs of S.E.PA.?
It's nice tho!I tried a few slugs from FX, NSA, JSB but just no luck yet. Rifle gets upset every time I try em'
So, that's my first month in the PCP World. I try to shoot every day for my "no--wind" Chrony data, and then to learn what these guns like in a breeze...which can be like a friggin whiffle ball!
Thanks for reading, and ask away if I wasn't clear on anything. Have fun,Gerry
