Whats the good, bad, and ugly on the AA S500 FAC carbine?

[TheBman]

Howdy! Studying the S500 in .177, contemplating buying one. What can you guys tell me about them. The S510 doesn't interest me, not a fan of the rotary magazines.

On the power adjuster, is it 3 indents for low, med, and high or can you set it anywhere within the range? How is your accuracy? Shot count?

Shot string data? Etc, etc, etc.

Blah, blah blah, blah :-)

Thanks guys,
Brent

[Tweeter]

Don't worry, somebody (nobody) will be along shortly (never) to tell you all about the s500.

Whenever someone asks about Air Arms on here you can just hear the crickets chirping. 

Chirp chirp, chirp chirp. 

[elh0102]

My experience is with the S510  Ultimate Sporter, but regarding the power adjusment, no detents, just a rotation, like a rheostat. As an editorial comment, I bought a Daystate Regal XL that I prefer over the S500/510. Partly because for field use, the Regal's handling dynamics are much the same as rimfire sporters. The Daystate is also a bit more accurate, but that could be just individual rifle performance.

[Sfttailrdr46]

Brent the S500 is just an updated S400 as far as accuracy the S400 is as accurate as my S510 meaning at 25 yards small ragged hole capable and tight groups at 50 yards. I have been a little behind on my daily shooting but I know that any time I pick up either they will hit where I aim with great dependability. The power adjuster is good for playing with light vs heavy pellets so you can use pellets based upon what you are doing. Light for plinking or heavier for hunting

[ssbn617]

I have never shot a S500 but have held a S510 in a local shop. When the ducks are in a line I want one.

[UCChris]

The downside of Air Arms is that most guns in that price range come regulated these days.

[Smaug2]

Don and Chris are on the mark.

S400 = bolt action, single shot
S410 = bolt action, repeater
S500 = side lever, single shot
S510 = side lever, repeater

Aside from the action, they're all about the same.

I have an S510; I like repeaters. Settling for an S500 will save you a couple hundred bucks, and it is a good way to save money without losing quality.

I went for the S510 over the Regal because of the adjustable power, but having shot Regals, I like the Air Arms action better, as well as the fill probe.

To Chris' point about many guns these days in that price range being regulated, he's right, and it's nothing to sneeze at. FX Streamline is one example, but they're not the same quality as Air Arms.

On my S510, I get about 35 shots at full power. But I don't shoot at full power, usually. I shoot at med-high, where I get more like 45 good shots. Every shot goes where I want it to go. The action is very smooth.  The shroud is not as effective as the Marauder's. (keep in mind, it was designed with < 12 FPE in mind, and we're shooting them at 30+) For it to be properly quiet, you need to adapt for a moderator or somehow find an Air Arms one, and then the gun is QUITE long. This won't be an issue for you, but the magazine will only reliably hold 9 rounds in your pocket. The one ready to be chambered will fall out.

Reviewers often complain about the safety being built into the side of the trigger, saying it is unsafe. That's BS. Pushing sideways on the rear part of the trigger is totally different than pulling back on the front part. Also, Gun Handling 101 says not to even have your finger in the trigger loop until we're ready to shoot, right? ..and it keep it pointed in a safe direction. Therefore, if you have good gun-handling habits, the safety is superfluous anyway.

Don't buy one JUST for the accuracy, though. My tuned PCP Hammerli 850 is just as accurate, it's regulated for about double the shot count, and the action's just as nice. But the stock's not as nice, it doesn't look or feel as nice, and the clips aren't nearly as nice as the Air Arms ones. Buy an Air Arms (or Daystate) for The Complete Package: beauty, smoothness, accuracy, fit & finish, etc.

[limbshaker]

The bad:

They use a lot of air and are fairly inefficient.
They are unadjustable other than the transfer port via the power wheel. No hammer spring tension adjustment at all.
The power adjuster has no "steps". It just moves freely, so not very repeatable as far as adjustments go.
The barrel band and the way the action sits in the stock can cause a POI shift depending on temp and outside conditions.
Fairly loud and the shroud doesn't help much.
Hard to install a regulator since there are no built in adjustments. You gotta cut and machine stuff.

The good:

Usually have very VERY good accuracy within the "sweet spot".
Lightweight and shoulders great. Good feeling guns.
Good trigger.
Extremely good shot-to-shot consistency.
Respond extremely well to installing a regulator provided you do the extra work to get it right.
They look awesome.
Really easy to load since they are dedicated single shot. Wide open breech is effortless to load.

The best part:

They are DEAD NUTS reliable. One of the simplest PCP guns on the market. I beat the &^^& out of mine for 3 years and it never blinked or needed a thing.
Very simple and straightforward design.
I'd venture to say they are the most reliable PCP out there, and the only competition in this statement would be a RAW or Rapid.


I had an S500 Carbine in .22 and used it as my dedicated hunting rifle. I fitted a Lane regulator, lightened the hammer, clipped the hammer spring, cut and ported the firing pot, free floated the barrel, and locked the power adjuster. It was scary accurate and held POI indefinitely. I got 50 shots at 26fpe after the mods and the first shot hit the same hole as the 50th. Much quieter too. I've had some nice guns since I sold that one, but none have been as day to day accurate and reliable.

I know I pointed out some bad points, but they are still a very worthy rifle to own in my opinion. And if you really like single shots, the S500 is perfect.

[TheBman]

Thanks guys for the input.