FX Verminator MKII Extreme in .30

[Lex]

Hi guys,
I just received my new FX Verminator MKII Extreme in .30. I haven’t found much online at all on this particular version, so I wanted to share a few first impressions.

Fit and Finish: Outstanding. This is my first high end rifle and it really feels fantastic.
Dimensions: Overall length 38.5 inches without shroud extension, 44.5 inches with extension; barrel length 19.5 inches
Reservoir: 0.5 liter (max pressure 250 bar)
Magazine: 9 shot
Optics: FX Optics 6-18×44 SFIR, and Hawke Crossbow Optics 3×32 MAP, both with quick change system
Weight: 7.5 lbs
Power setting: 1
Pellet used (unsorted) for tests: JSB Diabolo Exact 44.75
Velocity: 804, 804, 806, 808, 807, 807, 808, 809, 805 (starting from 220bar)
Velocity for arrows that come with the kit: 240 fps (at 150 bar). I will have to test at higher pressure levels again.
Decibel Test with Shroud Extension (measured with iPhone app 20 inch away, directed towards the muzzle, at an 11 o’clock position): 85 dB
For comparison I did the same test with
- Marauder Pistol (.22, H&N 14.6, 670FPS): 84 dB
- Hatsan BT 65 QE (.25, JSB 25.39, 950 FPS): 86-87 dB
Accuracy (5 shot groups), unsorted pellets, center to center: 0.4-0.6 inches at 50 yards, 1-1.7 inches at 100 yards. I am sure it (and I) can do even better. I will update when done more tests.
Accuracy with arrow: very good up to 50 yards. Destroyed 1 arrow through “Robin Hood” at 50 yards.

Overall this is a fantastic rig. I am a bit disappointed with the low velocity, as I was expecting it to be more in the 880 FPS range. I talked to Travis from Wicked Air Rifles (WAR) and he thinks he can bring it up to 900 FPS. Can anyone comment on the tune-ability of FX rifles, and places where to tune them? Would WAR be a good place to turn to?
Thanks.
Lex

[PlanB]

Great review, I would talk to Steve at aoa about the fps. He said he could get my r 400 from 870 fps average up to 880 but he said it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

[Lex]

I will talk to Steve and see what he thinks.
In the meantime I enjoy the overall usability of the FX for the household (e.g. trimming the ice off the roof  ).

[travels4fun]

Lex


That is one awesome toy you got there! Thanks for posting your mini review. I don't think I have ever come across a review of the .30 cal version of the MkII Extreme. as PlanB suggested, Steve should be able to tell you if he can get more energy out of the gun. They did great work on my .30 Bobcat. Anyway, sweet gun!


Scott

[KnifeMaker]

Sounds like the makings of a real Winner!

The Robin-Hood -I still remember an episode on "Myth Busters" where they came to the conclusion that it was just that. A Myth.

Guess they have never spent any real time around any highly skilled bowmen. LoL.

Robin-Hood's sure make shooting expensive though and exactly why we switched to 5 spot targets . 

Knife

[Lex]

Just sent it out to Travis to get it tuned to 900FPS range for the JSB pellets. Will report back once done.

[oldpro]

 Thanks ALex for entrusting me with your rifle. FX air rifles are not very user friendly for tuning with its mono block design. You nearly have to take the gun all the way down to do any kind of work and that alone can be a real pain due to the over use of thread locking compound. FX suggest heating the gun to loosen thread locker and that's still no guarantee. Anyway with the right tools and know how it's not all that bad. Have fun shooting your Verminator it is a very nice and well balanced air rifle I'm sure you will enjoy the new tune.

[Lex]

Hi guys,
As promised, here are the results from the "Travis tune"

Starting point after I played around with the settings and made it even worse than before:

Distance to Chrono(FT): 1.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 44.75
Temp: 74 °F
BP: 30.11 inHg
Shots:
#     FPS / FT-LBS
9     781 / 61
8     788 / 62
7     785 / 61B
6     781 / 61
5     785 / 61
4     791 / 62
3     793 / 62
2     790 / 62
1     799 / 63
Average: 788.1 FPS
SD: 5.9 FPS
Min: 781 FPS
Max: 799 FPS
Spread: 18 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.1
True MV: 788 FPS


After Step 1 tuning (preliminary test), i.e. modifying spring, settings, regulator adjustments etc:

Distance to Chrono(FT): 1.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 44.75
Temp: 74 °F
BP: 30.12 inHg
Shots:
#     FPS / FT-LBS
9     853 / 72
8     849 / 72
7     853 / 72
6     856 / 73
5     852 / 72
4     854 / 72
3     850 / 72
2     851 / 72
1     855 / 73
Average: 852.6 FPS
SD: 2.3 FPS
Min: 849 FPS
Max: 856 FPS
Spread: 7 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.1
True MV: 85

After step 2 tuning, i.e. Including port modification:

Distance to Chrono(FT): 1.00
Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000
Bullet Weight(gr): 45.00
Temp: 67 °F
BP: 30.26 inHg
Shots:
#     FPS / FT-LBS
20    888 / 79
19    887 / 79
18    888 / 79
17    892 / 80
16    892 / 80
15    897 / 80
14    900 / 81
13    898 / 81
12    887 / 79
11    894 / 80
10    898 / 81
9     894 / 80
8     895 / 80
7     892 / 80
6     898 / 81
5     896 / 80
4     893 / 80
3     893 / 80
2     893 / 80
1     891 / 79
Average: 893.3 FPS
SD: 3.9 FPS
Min: 887 FPS
Max: 900 FPS
Spread: 13 FPS
Shot/sec: 0.0
True MV: 893 FPS

Travis truly is an air wizard. He completed the modifications within less than 2 days and kept me continuously  in the loop via text updates and over the phone. That's what I call outstanding customer relationship management.
Typically, adjusting the hammer spring is an absolute nightmare on the FX. Travis has set it up so that I can adjust it by myself now (in case I want to dial it down again).

Thanks again for the great work, Travis.

[Tonycalves]

WOW Travis reinvented that gun! Why is the price tag so high for a gun that isn't even close to it's potential? The onlt thing you should have to adjust is the trigger pull when you spend that much for a gun. That is 1 of my biggest problems with those "high end" guns. It's like spending 250,000 on a Ferrari and then having more $$$ to get it to go fast.

[oldpro]

It is a costly gun that isn't very user tunable BUT it is very light and well balanced plus it is quiet and very nice looking to boot. Not for everyone but I appreciate its design and function. Glad I could help Alex it was a pleasure.

[KnifeMaker]

I like the FX Guns, but it must be remembered that they are not really a Hi-Price gun. Only a High-Priced gun.

Here in the States, they bring a premium. But in their country of origin, they are considered a medium priced, and quality gun.

We can thank the U.S. distributor for the hugely jacked up price. By a WIDE margin! Grrrrr!!!

Knife 

[ancient1one]

I like theFX Buns, but it must be remembered that they are not really a Hi-Price gun. Only a High-Priced gun.

Here in the States, they bring a premium. But in their country of origin, they are considered a medium priced, and quality gun.

We can thank the U.S. distributor for the hugely jacked up price. By a WIDE margin! Grrrrr!!!

Knife

It would be nice if FX had at least one more US distributor same goes for Daystate. Having one distributor charging exorbitant prices has to hurt sales.

[QVTom]

Michael and Sam, please be careful not to derail this thread with anti-vendor sentiments. We have members that are reluctant to post FX threads because they always end up about the importer. This type of hijacking won't be tolerated.

Thanks
Tom