Air gun practice help

[old sparky]

Another Air Rifle Question for smallbore practice. Maybe someone can help? I am looking at air rifles. I am interested in the Air Arms 400 - 410 There is not a store in Arizona that has one, I guess I would have to order one off the internet without holding one. I went over to Airguns of Arizona and they have a FX Cyclone that looks comparable to the 400 and close to the same stock as a Anschutz 1700. Anyone know anything about the FX, Or can compare the two guns?

thanks for the help

[Bob259]

I'm sure the FX Cyclone is a great rifle, as all in this class are. Myself I prefer my Air Arms 400. No particular reason other then you never seem to hear of any problems with AA rifles.

[BCloninger]

I really like my Air Arms - better rifle than expected.

[daisy]

I use a FX Excalibre (Tarantula over there) as my silhouette gun,in Australia there is only one class in air. Mine is in 22 cal and makes the chickens fly.
It will shoot moa at 100 meters when the conditions are right. Best I shot in silhouette was a 35.
What ever you get use good pellets my air guns all shoot JABs well.

Daisy

[Bob259]

Talked to a friend and he has a FX Timberwolf. He said it is very accurate. But, it only likes particular pellets though and JSB's are what it likes best.

[old sparky]

BB and BC I have heard the 400 can be hard to load? Or is it just a learning thing then no big deal. Would the extra 100 or so dollars make it worth buying the 410? Do you know if the choice of beech and walnut stocks have the same dimensions just different wood? The FX,s I handled at AZ airguns had different combs on the stock the beech was more of a ambidextrous. Oh do you use a air pump or tank.

Anyway thanks for the advice so far, Sparky

[Bob259]

BB and BC I have heard the 400 can be hard to load? Or is it just a learning thing then no big deal. Would the extra 100 or so dollars make it worth buying the 410? Do you know if the choice of beech and walnut stocks have the same dimensions just different wood? The FX,s I handled at AZ airguns had different combs on the stock the beech was more of a ambidextrous. Oh do you use a air pump or tank.

Anyway thanks for the advice so far, Sparky

I use a tank. I think my TX is the hardest to load that I've encountered. I believe the stock configuration is the same with the beech and walnut, only the type of wood and additional accent forepiece on the walnut one is difference. While sometime I'd like to have the multiple shot loader like on the 410 I still prefer the single loading for target shooting.

[BCloninger]

Filling the air tank is ackward since it is fixed to the rifle, but pellet loading is pretty typical. The only real complaint is that its power limits it to open class.

[Shandy]

The power on the Air Arms S400-410 is fully adjustable. There is a dial on the side of the action with a +/-, you can adjust the power to whatever you want. The bonus of turning the power down is you get more shots between fills. If you want to change power often it's handy to have a chronograph so you can get your rifle back to prior settings, but you can set and forget or just re-sight after adjusting.

No difference in stock dimensions, but the walnut is really nice and you stand a good chance to get some great wood. Air Arms puts some lovely pieces of timber out there.

The magazines can be fiddly to load, but you get used to it and a lot of people end up buying after market magazines for them from RC Machine just because they work better than the OEM's. You get used to the loading of the mags though and can also get a single shot loading tray for the 410's although those are a little fiddly to load then. The S400 is very easy to load. For silhouette single shot is best because you aren't fumbling to load a magazine, but it depends how fast your matches run and if you want a repeater.

And finally, personally I prefer filling the cylinder on the rifle than screwing them on and off. Personal preference but I much prefer a fixed cylinder. And extra lastly, if you want to shoot silhouette matches I'd get a scuba tank over a pump unless you are Lance Armstrong. All my opinion of course.

Have fun.

[ter]

The power on the Air Arms S400-410 is fully adjustable. There is a dial on the side of the action with a +/-, you can adjust the power to whatever you want. The bonus of turning the power down is you get more shots between fills. If you want to change power often it's handy to have a chronograph so you can get your rifle back to prior settings, but you can set and forget or just re-sight after adjusting.

Have fun.

Newer manufactured rifles have adjustable power feature. Older models do not have the feature, but they can be upgraded/retrofit. The power adjust is the spring tension on the hammer. In my 22, it ranges from 7 -33 FPE. On the low setting I get an easy 100 rounds before fill. On High, I think it is limited to 30 rounds or so. I only use low power for indoors. I am going to use it outside on 1/2 power and see how it groups.
As Shandy said, mine are in walnut, and they are really fancy rigs.

[BCloninger]

Mine is beautiful! Nice walnut, and the checkering is very sharp.

[Hawk-1]

never shot air gun but interested. Could you guys put up some pix of the different rifles you are talking about. I'd love to see what the walnut looks like also. thanks

[Trent]

I am in the market for an air rifle for training, but the decision is sooooo complicated!

So far I have found an excellent condition FWB 300SU for $525, but it doesn't come with the sights. If I can get him down to $450 I may jump on it.

On the other hand, for $525 I can get a Marauder and hand pump and go the PCP route.

Then there are all the other air rifles to consider. It is a complicated world within air rifles!

[daisy]

never shot air gun but interested. Could you guys put up some pix of the different rifles you are talking about. I'd love to see what the walnut looks like also. thanks

Top FX Excalibre / Tarantula 22 cal
Mid Beeman R9 177 cal
Bot FWB 300s 177 cal

[Dee]

I am in the market for an air rifle for training, but the decision is sooooo complicated!

So far I have found an excellent condition FWB 300SU for $525, but it doesn't come with the sights. If I can get him down to $450 I may jump on it.

On the other hand, for $525 I can get a Marauder and hand pump and go the PCP route.

Then there are all the other air rifles to consider. It is a complicated world within air rifles!

You want to train for silhouette with a airgun using open sights or a scope? I have shot the 2 rifles you mention and the 300S is a nice classic 10m spring rifle. With the Marauder and a hand pump you will feel like you do more pumping than shooting as each shot on average will take about 3-4 pumps worth of energy. Also I am not sure if you have ever shot a Marauder but it is very lacking in the stock design IMO and the trigger is just ok.

*Shameless self promoting plug coming in 3, 2, 1............ I have a complete rifle setup for silhouette in the Marketplace I just reduced my asking price. If you want one pump one shot self contained rifle with zero recoil that doesn't feel like your shooting a rifle strapped to a stick with a true Olympic Match grade trigger and fully adjustable laminate stock check it out.



Dee