JTS Airacuda vs Air Venturi Avenger?

[10Gauge]

The Airacuda looks pretty good.  Especially the Airacuda Max package with the compressor at Pyramyd 👌

I don’t even know what to think about these guns.  I know they are probably Chinese but the temptation is too strong to gig them for that. 

So, who can weigh in with his or her experience?  With both the Avenger and the Airacuda and/or Airacuda max? 

[Flatpicker]

Let me start by saying I have neither BUT I do have a couple DAR Gen3’s and an AvengeX Bottle gun.  The DAR’s are very similar to the Airacuda Max as they share many of the same parts and are regulated but the regulator can only be adjusted by disassembling the rifle (as far as I know).  The Avenger (and Avenge X) have externally adjustable regulators.  I did not buy one of the original Avengers because I just didn’t like the looks of them (too plasticy looking). The Avenge X just has enough of a different look that I took the opportunity to buy a refurb when PA had a decent sale on them recently.  One thing about the DAR (once again- I don’t know about the Airacuda Max but they are very similar) is the limited shot count.  With the rifle tuned to about 34 FPE I get three full mags and then another three rounds for a total of 33.  I can get slightly more shots at the same energy output with the Avange X at the same 3000 psi fill, but the bottle allows me to fill to 3500-3700 and get slightly over 80 shots.  If I filled to the 4350 psi mark, I’m sure you could easily get well over 1000, but I figure its less wear and tear filling to 250 BAR.   I’m just an hour north of you (just west of Hamilton) if you would want to try either a DAR or an Avenge X out to see if you like either one. Shoot me a PM.

[naptemp]

I have the Air Venturi Avenger in .22 and .177.
Great shooter, but not so great build quality.
It can be easuly adjusted for more/less power with the externally adjustable regulator and hammer spring.

I also have the JTS Airacuda Max .22.
It leaked in the first week and spent a few hours fixing the leak by burnishing the valve and valve stem.
Build quality is much better than the Avenger.
It comes regulated around 1800-1900 PSI.
Regulator is not externally adjustable, and adjusting it is not for amateurs.
Hammer spring can be adjusted after removing the stock.

The Avenger is more accurate with a variety of pellets.

I also have a Unarex Zelos .22 which is far better than the Avenger or the Max.
The Umarex Zelos can be bought for a about $410:
https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/umarex%20zelos

Buy the Zelos, better than anything in the less than $500-$600 range.

[avator]

Quite happy with my .25 Avenger. I've had it for a few years, I guess, and just recently had to chase down and fix a leak.
Instead of buying a new gun to cure the "I wants" I bought the Buck Rail tactical conversion kit. Just put that on yesterday so the jury is still out on it. The plan is to take it to a buddy's farm today for Starling patrol so I guess I'll know later. But I agree.. the gun is not pellet picky at all and that's a good thing because it loves my NOE 250 27 RF cast pellets without alot of pellet weighing and sorting.
I forgot to weigh the gun before and after.
Never really had the desire to own the Max but I have considered the Standard but it wouldn't fill a niche that I don't already have covered.

[BadFishHagDog]

I have an Airacuda Max in .25. It is a robust and simple build. Out of the box it is tunable from sub 20ftlbs with lots of shots, to about 60ftlbs with 2 mags worth of shots. The shot cycle gets pretty harsh at the higher tunes. It is annoying to degas every time to adjust the reg, and tends to blow out the oring on the front of the brass valve body easily (degassing very slowly minimizes this). Best at med-high tune with a Short Stiff Spring instead of the stock hammer spring. Smoother shot cycle, more shots. The stock is a nice shape and a nice piece of wood, with a terrible spray on stain. I enjoy refinishing wood so this was not a big deal to me. The adjustable cheek rest is lacking. It wobbles a lot unless you really crank the bolts tight, then it only wobbles a little. Left unreinforced, it would likely crack the stock at the lower cheek rest bolt over time. The finish on the metal components is quite nice. The mags are quite nice. As with most lower end PCPs, replacing all of the orings with better quality ones will make a difference. Captain Oring sells a kit. It shoots JSB and JTS pellets very well and likes some slugs too.

No experience with the Avenger line but I suspect the metal parts and machining are a step below the Airacudas. External reg adjustment is nice. I think you still must degas to lower the reg setpoint though.

I have not shot a Umarex Zelos but I too would choose it over the Airacuda or Avenger/AvengeX.

All 3 are Chinese, like most of the world's airguns.

Jared

[avator]

IINM you should degas any gun before you lower reg setting. Increasing is not a problem.
As far as build quality.. wasn't there an issue with the breech closing up on the Max that made the mags not fit? There was a fix for that by adding a support part provided by JTS. My apologies to JTS if I'm wrong.

[CK]

I have experience with the standard Airacuda. I've had it apart and it is a nice build and easy to work on.  It's a handy form factor and lightweight.

The trigger is nice and has a bit of adjustment for the fake first stage and the sear engagement, but it's not as nice as a Marauder trigger.

I did suffer a broken poppet after about a year and I'd guess a few thousand rounds.  JTS sent me a new poppet upon my request.  The broken poppets sounds like a common failure point on both the Standard and the Max based on the amount of them showing up on the JTS Facebook groups.

I think they are pretty quiet as is, with their internal baffle stack.  I have not played much with moderators so really cannot comment on the clipping issue so many report.  But clipping is a common complaint.

The only other beef I have with the Standard is the drop on the stock which doesn't allow a good cheek weld for me (had to build up a pad for a riser).  The Max stock has the adjustable cheek riser though.

[BadFishHagDog]

Avator, IIRC the mag fitment issue was a problem with the stock inletting or stock standoff spacer. Simple to fix a few ways and I'd like to think JTS corrected this oversight a while ago, though I can't say for sure.

I fill my Max to 3400-3600psi with no issues. Not recommended of course, but the tubes are heavy walled and have well designed mating threads/seals. I personally have zero doubt about the safety of this (over)pressure in the Airacudas. It must stress the reg some more, but so far, so good.

That Airacuda aluminum chassis Travis had at SHOT show looks pretty slick. The Zelos will likely end up with more available aftermarket options though.

Jared

[Rocker1]

 doubt the jts has the shot count the avenger has. David

[Flatpicker]

Let me start by saying I have neither BUT I do have a couple DAR Gen3’s and an AvengeX Bottle gun.  The DAR’s are very similar to the Airacuda Max as they share many of the same parts and are regulated but the regulator can only be adjusted by disassembling the rifle (as far as I know).  The Avenger (and Avenge X) have externally adjustable regulators.  I did not buy one of the original Avengers because I just didn’t like the looks of them (too plasticy looking). The Avenge X just has enough of a different look that I took the opportunity to buy a refurb when PA had a decent sale on them recently.  One thing about the DAR (once again- I don’t know about the Airacuda Max but they are very similar) is the limited shot count.  With the rifle tuned to about 34 FPE I get three full mags and then another three rounds for a total of 33.  I can get slightly more shots at the same energy output with the Avange X at the same 3000 psi fill, but the bottle allows me to fill to 3500-3700 and get slightly over 80 shots.  If I filled to the 4350 psi mark, I’m sure you could easily get well over 1000, but I figure its less wear and tear filling to 250 BAR.   I’m just an hour north of you (just west of Hamilton) if you would want to try either a DAR or an Avenge X out to see if you like either one. Shoot me a PM.

EDIT:    Sorry about the excess "0".  that should read 100 shots NOT 1000 (wouldn't that be nice!)     That's what I get for typing whilst reclining!