FX at Airguns of Arizona

[Stacker]

I decided that I really needed an FX Indy. However, the only source in the US that I'm aware of is AofA. I've read several bad grumbles about them and was sort of on the fence. Since I'm in Tucson, only a two hour drive to their location in Gilbert, I thought I would be cautious and give them a try. I called ahead and told them I was coming up to take a look at the Indy, and please pressurize one overnight to insure it didnt leak.

They are located in a readily accessable light industrial park, (95% of their business is from their on-line website). The store is not a vast layout, but more than adequate for their business style. The guy I spoke with on the phone the previous day did indeed pressurize an Indy for me. He was very accomodating, knowledgeable and low key. When I tried to operate the pump on the Indy, it was more than I could handle ... much to my dismay. I'm not a whimp, however at age 84 things start to slow down!!

So, Daren suggested a Royale 400. A little more compact and lighter than the Indy, but still the same barrel and capable of about 40 to 60 shots per refill. I was told 40 shots, FX site says 60 shots .... When I indicated my interest in the gun, I was then offered a choice of 4 different wood stocks. They were not fancy walnut, but I didnt expect Turkish, English, Claro, etc! After he mounted my scope for me, (free), and had me verify that the eye relief was OK, he sighted in the rifle and had me shoot a 12 shot group. When I saw the bug-hole group developing, there was no way that I was going to let tht rifle get away from me. Daren was never high-pressure or domineering. He answered all of my questions and offered positive suggestions; never an attitude of "boy that was a dumb question". Or "I just told you that a minute ago". My experience was very pleasant and positive. I'm very satisfied with the whole transaction.

The only sad thing is that we've had very, very little rain here in Tucson since last fall ... until today. It rained all day long!!! There was no way I was going to take this beautiful piece out onto the patio and shoot today. 

[Jay]

Nice gun Joe!!! An take on AoA, but you know we got to have pic.'s when you get it out shooting.

[Addictedtoair]

Sorry the Indy didn't work out for you Joe. I know the independent hunts you envisioned but it is what it is. I hope the 400 Royale does everthing you are hoping for. Keep  us informed on your new acquisition. Good luck and congratulations. A Carbon Fiber "Guppy" tank from Joe Brancato, of airtanksforsale.com, can extend your prarie dog hunts. Give him a call.

Brett

[aack73]

good to hear you had a pleasant buying experience from a good retailer and you got a shooter too.

[patton1]

Yep, nothing wrong w/ AOA and congrats on your new Royale 400. I too will be owning one soon...can't wait.

[gene_sc]

One of several thing that bothers me about AOA is they sit on the pricing. As long as they are only distributors there will never be a reduction in price from them or any other gun they sell with exclusive distributorship. Competition makes for a better life for us air gunners....

[Stacker]

Gene, when I look at some of the competitors to the Rapide, I find airguns like the Theoben Rapid MK2, Theoben Sporter and The HW100. In my opinion, this is the top-of-the -line group of PCPs. There dosent seem to be a great range of prices .... they all range from $1400 to $1985, with the Royale w/walnut at $1695, (composite stock model is $1495). I think they are priced fairly in comparison to their competitors based on the features and accuracy that FX offers. Also, please consider another fact: if FX thought that high/monopolistic pricing by AoA was impacting their sales in the US, I'm sure they would address that problem.

I looked at and evaluated, but do not have hands-on knowledge, all of these alternate choices before I bought. Many hours of searching/following on-line forums, promotional literature, etc. were involved in my decision. This was a LOT of $$ for an old, retired guy living on a fixed income for 24 years!     I feel that I got the most "bang for the buck".     Just my thoughts and opinions ....

Joe.

[patton1]

There are other online stores that sell the FX line ??

[JohnnySweden]

Happy you liked your new rifle..

[gene_sc]

Joe, I did not mean to come off like it sounded. Before AOA was the US distributor for FX, Straighshooters was the sole distributor for the US. I own a beautiful FX Cyclone which when I bought mine it was from Straightshooters. Cost was right about $800.00. That was a few years ago but since AOA took over the prices have done nothing but go up.. I buy from allot of air gun vendors but what really pisses me off is when I see a gun I like and want to buy, most of the time AOA is the only choice I have. See AOA has made it a point to wrangle as many direct distributorships as possible. BSA, and FX are two of my very favorite guns and they hold the line on prices. I think it is sad that there cannot be more than one distributor in the US for these company's.

Happy that you found what fits you best. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do... Lets see some pictures Joe.

[amb5500c]

It sounds like you got really good service on a really cool gun. Congratulations. But for that kind of money, IMO, the service had BETTER be good. Hurry up with those pics. I wanna see that bad boy.
Richard

[Rico14]

Congratulations on your new shooter. I'm sure you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

[gearsnguns]

I'm glad you had a different experience with them than I did, they were the most worthless group of people I have ever did business with. Darren dropped the ball with me three times with one purchase of a Daystate. Maybe they have pulled their heads out of their butts and are doing good now, I will never deal with them again and I have saved up some cash over the past year....pyramyd air will get my business from now on.

[Rocker1]

12- Personal attacks on individual airgunners, dealers and tuners are strictly forbidden. If you have issues with them, then they should be addressed one on one.  Do not create a “war zone” on your forums. Take your issues up directly with them and do not launder them here on the GTA forums.      rule  number 12 in the GTA POLICYS.   David