AA S510 vs. S200 Sound Level?

[Mtl_Biker]

Have any of you personally tested the Air Arms S510 and S200 rifles?  Can you comment on your impression of the sound level of each?

I've never heard either, but PyramydAir rates the S510 sound as 2-Medium-Low and the S200 as 4-Medium-High.  Really?

I really like the S510 but geez it's expensive compared with the S200.  Even though I'm able to shoot on my property I'd like a quiet gun in order to minimize making anyone feel nervous.

[96720]

I believe the it's because the S510 has a fully shrouded barrel.

[sactargetshooter]

I have regretted selling my CZ200 (same as the S200) even since the day I shipped it. With a good LDC, it is as quiet as any PCP with the same muzzle energy. Mine shot at 12 FPE, and the muzzle end is about as loud as a TX200. The shooter will hear more from a TX200, but that mechanical sound is insignificant compared to muzzle report.

The AA 510 is shrouded and baffled. However, I think an external LDC still makes it much quieter.

The CZ200 is also lighter, shorter, and easier to shoulder. The CZ barrel is absolutely awesome.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  I shoot my S510 in the basement of my house and the wife can hear nothing but she can hear me shoot my springers and Benjamin 392

[elh0102]

I don't know if this will help, but I have a AA510 Ultimate Sporter, and I measure its sound level in the mid 60's db. It has the permanently bonded moderator, so it may be quieter than the standard AA510. My RAW HM1000, with the largest moderator is around 55 db. My HW 97 is low 70's.

[Dockey 454]

     My son owns the S 200FT in 177. The gun was loud from the start. After adding the air splitter it got louder.
        Tom

[Mtl_Biker]

I believe the it's because the S510 has a fully shrouded barrel.

I wonder if the S510 available in Canada has that "fully shrouded barrel" because anything that modifies the noise of the gun is very illegal here.  Many of the guns commonly available in the States with some kind of shroud or silencing mechanism are simply not available here.  And others are specifically modified for Canada.  SIGH

If it IS shrouded AND available here then that's a strong plus in favor of the S510, in spite of the much higher price.

[Mtl_Biker]

I have regretted selling my CZ200 (same as the S200) even since the day I shipped it. With a good LDC, it is as quiet as any PCP with the same muzzle energy. Mine shot at 12 FPE, and the muzzle end is about as loud as a TX200. The shooter will hear more from a TX200, but that mechanical sound is insignificant compared to muzzle report.

The AA 510 is shrouded and baffled. However, I think an external LDC still makes it much quieter.

The CZ200 is also lighter, shorter, and easier to shoulder. The CZ barrel is absolutely awesome.

Forgive me, but I don't know what LDC refers to.  I'm trying to determine if the 510 in Canada comes with the shrouded barrel of if it's been removed as a special for Canada version. 

I really do like the CZ200 (AA S200) for the size, accuracy and very importantly, the price.  But if it's a noisier than the S510 I probably wouldn't be happy.

[Mtl_Biker]

I shoot my S510 in the basement of my house and the wife can hear nothing but she can hear me shoot my springers and Benjamin 392

That "sounds" good.    Thanks.

[Mtl_Biker]

I don't know if this will help, but I have a AA510 Ultimate Sporter, and I measure its sound level in the mid 60's db. It has the permanently bonded moderator, so it may be quieter than the standard AA510. My RAW HM1000, with the largest moderator is around 55 db. My HW 97 is low 70's.

When you say "permanently bonded" moderator, have you any idea if that's the same for S510's sold in all countries?  Here in Canada any sound suppression system is quite illegal (SIGH) and some guns that usually include some sort of suppression are modified specifically for Canada and others are simply not available here.

But hearing that it's quieter than the HW97 is a good measure because a friend shoots with one and I don't think it's all that bad/loud.

[Mtl_Biker]

     My son owns the S 200FT in 177. The gun was loud from the start. After adding the air splitter it got louder.
        Tom

Darn, that's not good news.  Looks like the PyramydAir specs are correct then about the S200 being quite a bit louder than the S510.  Gonna cost me more money.

[Ribbonstone]

AA 200's are bare-barrel.  If you ant them quiet, are going to have to add on a device.

AA 510's are shrouded (they come with a built in device).

So if you were to head-to-head compare the noise, even with the 200's shooting slower, they'd be louder by quite a bit.  Compare them with good devices, the 200's would likely be quieter (being lower powered).

[Mtl_Biker]

AA 200's are bare-barrel.  If you ant them quiet, are going to have to add on a device.

AA 510's are shrouded (they come with a built in device).

So if you were to head-to-head compare the noise, even with the 200's shooting slower, they'd be louder by quite a bit.  Compare them with good devices, the 200's would likely be quieter (being lower powered).

Thank you for that.  But since any device that reduces the sound is very illegal here in Canada, it looks like the S510 is the way to go.  Particularly since it's available for sale here.  I'm trying to find out if (like other guns such as the Marauder) the gun available here is modified in any way over what's available in the States or Europe, regarding sound or shroud.

[LDP]

Have you tried asking this question in the air gun forums from Canada? Have you asked the dealer in Canada if the AA rifles they sell still have a shroud that moderates the muzzle report?

[scrane]

AA 200's are bare-barrel.  If you ant them quiet, are going to have to add on a device.

AA 510's are shrouded (they come with a built in device).

So if you were to head-to-head compare the noise, even with the 200's shooting slower, they'd be louder by quite a bit.  Compare them with good devices, the 200's would likely be quieter (being lower powered).

Thank you for that.  But since any device that reduces the sound is very illegal here in Canada, it looks like the S510 is the way to go.  Particularly since it's available for sale here.  I'm trying to find out if (like other guns such as the Marauder) the gun available here is modified in any way over what's available in the States or Europe, regarding sound or shroud.

If you are in Canada and limited to 500 fps I don't think you will find the s200 very loud. I have the target (low power) version of the s200 and it is not very loud.

[Mtl_Biker]

If you are in Canada and limited to 500 fps I don't think you will find the s200 very loud. I have the target (low power) version of the s200 and it is not very loud.

I've got a PAL (Possession and Acquisition License in Canada) so I'm not limited to under 500 fps and 4.2 fpe.  So it would be the full-power S200 I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure that I've taken the S200 off my list of potentials.  Right now I've got two guns left on my list... The AA S510 Xtra FAC Carbine and the (slightly more expensive, but seemingly much more versatile) FX Biathlon.  The FX Biathlon would allow me to do 10-meter with a Gehmann sight and lower power setting and field target (even pest control) at a higher power with a scope.  The S510 would not be usable for 10-meter because it doesn't have sights and you cannot use a scope.

[scrane]

FYI:
http://www.a-s-i.co.uk/Documents/fx%20biathlon%20agn%20feb.PDF

[Ribbonstone]

HAve often wondered about laws like that.  It's not like you can't take the factory shroud off an AA510 and still have a functioning airgun.   Are some airguns where the shroud (or LDC) are impossible to remove without destroying them....but the AA 510 ain't one of them.

[Mtl_Biker]

FYI:
http://www.a-s-i.co.uk/Documents/fx%20biathlon%20agn%20feb.PDF

Thank you for that link.  I'd already seen it and it only whetted my appetite for that gun.  But I've received an answer overnight from FX about how the power range is adjusted and it seems it is ONLY done at the factory and once set, the gun stays that way.  So my idea of dialing down the power for 10-meter shooting with a peep sight and the raising the power and putting a scope on for weekend field target just isn't going to happen.  Pity, as it looked like it might be the ideal do-it-all gun to have.

Now I'm back to picking a nice new PCP (probably the AA S510) for weekend plinking and field target, and trying to find a good used 10-meter gun for use at the club.  My budget won't permit buying a new gun for each purpose.  Unfortunately.

[elh0102]

I don't know if this will help, but I have a AA510 Ultimate Sporter, and I measure its sound level in the mid 60's db. It has the permanently bonded moderator, so it may be quieter than the standard AA510. My RAW HM1000, with the largest moderator is around 55 db. My HW 97 is low 70's.

When you say "permanently bonded" moderator, have you any idea if that's the same for S510's sold in all countries?  Here in Canada any sound suppression system is quite illegal (SIGH) and some guns that usually include some sort of suppression are modified specifically for Canada and others are simply not available here.

But hearing that it's quieter than the HW97 is a good measure because a friend shoots with one and I don't think it's all that bad/loud.

I'm sorry, but I don't know. I assume the Q Tec suppressor is used only on the Ultimate Sporter, but I can't find any information on the AA web site that is helpful. In fact, it doesn't even show the Q Tec suppressor on the Ultimate Sporter. And I don't know how it is" permanently bonded". I have not tried to remove it, so I don't know if they just used a thread locking substance, or some type of epoxy that would be more permanent. My guess, the application of extreme temperature might allow its removal, but it works great so I haven't tampered.