Just ordered; tuned .22 xs-25.

[Austin E]

After speaking with Mike, and explaining my goals and desires. He recommended this gun. I went ahead and ordered it today with a full tune. Was tired of my two other guns jumping all over the place, or falling apart. Just need to decide on a scope and the pesky ground squirrel that continues to aloud me will be mine.

I considered getting a more expensive gun, but after reading so many good reviews on this gun, I decided to save money on the gun and spend more on glass. There is so many options though it'll take awhile. I have at least til sometime after the 18th to decide, as Mike is closed until then.

I'm excited to try out this gun and hope it is everything I've read it is. I was seriously debating this or the air hawk, but knew I wanted a tuned gun, and felt it was pointless to buy an airhawk, then send it off to be tuned.

[big_o_lar]

good for you i have the xs25s from MM [couldnt afford full tune] and it shoots great.
you will love it

[Austin E]

good for you i have the xs25s from MM [couldnt afford full tune] and it shoots great.
you will love it

Did you scope it?

[big_o_lar]

nope i rock iron sights

[harleyflhxi]

nope i rock iron sights

Me too!  It's so much simpler.

[Austin E]

nope i rock iron sights

Me too!  It's so much simpler.

Unfortunately, my garden and bait station is 30-40 yards out my back window, and I just don't have the confidence in iron sights to make that shot on the ground squirrels that are invading. The chicken coop is about the same distance and sometimes I get invaders in there, too. I have to get a scope. Just have to decide which one.

[big_o_lar]

true not iron sight distances hawke or leapers for the win

[MikeSSS]

When you get your 25 and get a feel for how it shoots, please let us know the details.

The 25 and 26 are very appealing air rifles.

[drewciferpike]

Can't go wrong with the tuned .22 XS25 from Mike. When I was at a benchrest comp, I was just shooting for fun, as I hadn't really gotten used to either of my rifles. I think when there's no pressure, you just relax and let it happen. Offhand, I was hitting cans at 50 yards with the XS25 (seated, I hit a duck egg at 100 yards, but it took something like 8 shots to get the wind and holdover figured out... 2.5 feet of holdover! Haha).

I've got a loaner BSA scope on it with no AO or mildots. I had the CenterPoint 4x16 on it, but I personally feel the scope is too heavy for the gun; sure, it works, but it just doesn't feel right (at least to me). The lighter scope is nice, and the gun hunts much better.

My go-to pellet is the H&N FTT with the 5.54 head. Nothing else did well. The final JSB I need to test is the 13gr RS. Up to now, it hates JSBs of any weight. RWS SHPs are OK, and CPHPs aren't consistent enough to be used for hunting.

Comparison-wise, my XS shoots the same as a fully-tuned D34. I got to shoot a tuned and untuned 34 at a show, and the difference blew my mind. I will always buy fully-tuned from Mike, even if it means saving up for a little longer.

My $0.02...

[Austin E]

Can't go wrong with the tuned .22 XS25 from Mike. When I was at a benchrest comp, I was just shooting for fun, as I hadn't really gotten used to either of my rifles. I think when there's no pressure, you just relax and let it happen. Offhand, I was hitting cans at 50 yards with the XS25 (seated, I hit a duck egg at 100 yards, but it took something like 8 shots to get the wind and holdover figured out... 2.5 feet of holdover! Haha).

I've got a loaner BSA scope on it with no AO or mildots. I had the CenterPoint 4x16 on it, but I personally feel the scope is too heavy for the gun; sure, it works, but it just doesn't feel right (at least to me). The lighter scope is nice, and the gun hunts much better.

My go-to pellet is the H&N FTT with the 5.54 head. Nothing else did well. The final JSB I need to test is the 13gr RS. Up to now, it hates JSBs of any weight. RWS SHPs are OK, and CPHPs aren't consistent enough to be used for hunting.

Comparison-wise, my XS shoots the same as a fully-tuned D34. I got to shoot a tuned and untuned 34 at a show, and the difference blew my mind. I will always buy fully-tuned from Mike, even if it means saving up for a little longer.

My $0.02...

Thanks for the info on the pellets, I use cphp in my hornet but have definitely noticed inconsistencies. Good to have a basis to start out.

I am picking up a used .177 diana 28 on Friday as well, so I'll have another what I believe to be "higher end" gun to compare it to, even if they are different calibers.

I'll post a review here once I get it and have it broken in.