RTI Arms Priest 0033 Ongoing Review

[anti-squirrel]

no offense, but I think most of the problem is the shooter, compounded by the manner in which the gun is being rested. that little bipod thingy, right in front of the trigger, isn't a very stable platform. it's too far back, allowing too much wobble of the barrel. also,those things were designed as a vertical foregrip /  field expedient rest, appealing mostly to the armchair commando. they fall short on both counts, in my book.
if you really want to see what your gun is capable of, ( the rest of us would like to see, as well ), get it on some solid footing, like front and rear bags, or better yet, lock it down in a gun vice. and, try some different pellets. the jsb's may not be the hot ticket, for that gun.

You didn't look at the album did you?  I mean I know it is my sons in the picture, but I used the same setup.  Bagged up front and in the rear.  I completely understand the mechanics of that bipod and where it must mount on this gun.  I think it is a little fast to say that it is appealing mostly to the armchair commando.   I got that grip pod before I went to Iraq, issued to me, and I later used it during my time in Afghanistan.  It is a fine piece of equipment for its intended purpose.  Maybe I should also add that while I was in the Marine Corps I had the secondary MOS of 0933 Marksmanship Coach.  I qualified as a rifle and pistol expert every time I shot for qualifications at our ranges, totaling 7 times over my 7 years in.  Not wanting to be boastful but maybe I should let you guys know where my experience comes from and that by that standard I would hope you would trust that I am a capable marksman.  I really felt that I was giving the gun a fair shake here and instead of trying to inflate its performance I just shared what I got, for better or for worse.  This case wasn't great.  I definitely need to try some other pellets.  That is a given at this point.

Impressive quals, brotherman. 

For those who may not be aware, Expert is the highest level of general qualification with small arms.

I'm still of the opinion this is a tuner's platform.  I'm not sure it is worth the asking price for that size grouping, but I'm still interested in the platform.  Knock $200 off, maybe.  Knock $300 off certainly.  But for ~ $1100 I'd expect 1.5" groups tops.  It might be worth slowing things down to 850 FPS with your lightest .25 pellet and then seeing what happens.  At 890 with the Kings you might be destabilizing.  If you get time, scoot forward then back 5 more yards, shoot ten at each and see where they cluster. 

[oldpro]

 This is only one review Id wait till we see many more before passing any kind of judgment.

[Hunt4dinner]

This is only one review Id wait till we see many more before passing any kind of judgment.

I agree. There are too many variables to base an opinion on one rifle and one shooter. If every review comes out this way then a general opinion can be made.

[rkr]

3 Inches at 100 yards for a .25 cal shooting KINGS @890 fps ..... In light winds no less.

IMO it needs to do a whole lot better than that to be a serious contender in the compact Carbine / Bullpup wars of late.
+/- 1 MOA accuracy is very common place these days ( That's +/- 1" at @ 100 yards ) out of like guns.

Not wanting to sound like an A Hoe here saying this ... just is what it is and stating the obvious.

I would say it's the wind. If the gun can print sub 1/2" groups at 50 yards it has potential for 1" groups at 100 yards. Reading the wind is a PITA at long range and pellets are affected in a bad way by even slightest wind at that distance.

[oldpro]

3 Inches at 100 yards for a .25 cal shooting KINGS @890 fps ..... In light winds no less.

IMO it needs to do a whole lot better than that to be a serious contender in the compact Carbine / Bullpup wars of late.
+/- 1 MOA accuracy is very common place these days ( That's +/- 1" at @ 100 yards ) out of like guns.

Not wanting to sound like an A Hoe here saying this ... just is what it is and stating the obvious.

I would say it's the wind. If the gun can print sub 1/2" groups at 50 yards it has potential for 1" groups at 100 yards. Reading the wind is a PITA at long range and pellets are affected in a bad way by even slightest wind at that distance.

Couldnt agree more and to be honest FEW air rifles can print 1 inch groups at 100 yards even in dead wind conditions.

[skorec]

So far only kings. 

Which type of kings ?
Heavy  ?

Heavy King MKII  should be better for CZ barrels at 300m/s.

[rkr]

3 Inches at 100 yards for a .25 cal shooting KINGS @890 fps ..... In light winds no less.

IMO it needs to do a whole lot better than that to be a serious contender in the compact Carbine / Bullpup wars of late.
+/- 1 MOA accuracy is very common place these days ( That's +/- 1" at @ 100 yards ) out of like guns.

Not wanting to sound like an A Hoe here saying this ... just is what it is and stating the obvious.

I would say it's the wind. If the gun can print sub 1/2" groups at 50 yards it has potential for 1" groups at 100 yards. Reading the wind is a PITA at long range and pellets are affected in a bad way by even slightest wind at that distance.

Couldnt agree more and to be honest FEW air rifles can print 1 inch groups at 100 yards even in dead wind conditions.

There's also a big difference from 5 shot groups to 10 shot groups. Over 10 shots the wind is bound to change a bit and 1 m/s (2.2 mph) 90 degree wind speed increase or decrease will cause 3.6" POI shift at 100M with regular JSB Kings.

[Jman2311]

So far only kings. 

Which type of kings ?
Heavy  ?

Heavy King MKII  should be better for CZ barrels at 300m/s.

Plain kings. 25.39 grains. I don't have any other pellets besides polymags at the moment.

[anti-squirrel]

1/2 " at 50 yards, 3" at 100, by somebody with clear and obvious skill, using a pellet renowned for ballistic coefficient in a caliber that bucks wind relatively well with almost no wind present.    Maybe it's the wind, but yeah, seeing more results from other shooters would be nice.

Maybe I'm being ridiculous to expect ~ 1 1/2 " groups, but factoring in the aforementioned, I think it needs to be slowed down a bit.  I'd jump to 105 and back to 95 and pop off 2 more 10-shot groups and see how things handle.

And at the same time, I think the Priest is a good platform to start with.  I am fond of the ergonomics.

[Jman2311]

Other than using a different pellet I intend to pull the barrel again and see if the pellets are getting shaved going into the chamber. There is that resistance that I talked about in the last bit of the forward motion of the cocking.  That could be an explanation. A guy on tag said my 100 yard groups shocked him and that tells me he did better but I have yet to see targets from his gun. He too has a .25.  I am also thinking that if the issue is me it is that I have the scope setup to give proper eye relief while shooting off hand. It was awkward to get behind the gun trying all the while to keep it shouldered properly and have correct eye relief. The little bit of recoil was noticeable through the scope. Whatever is going on on my next outing I will be doing things differently.  Those 50 yard shots weren't even bagged. I hadn't yet bought them so the gun was basically just resting on the ground and I made it work digging in a bit.   

[anti-squirrel]

Well, Jeremy, in that case I'll keep my mouth shut and let you keep on testing.   Sounds like you got a good plan in place.

[Jman2311]

Well, Jeremy, in that case I'll keep my mouth shut and let you keep on testing.   Sounds like you got a good plan in place.

i

*(&^ no.  Keep it coming. You may mention the obvious that I missed.  The only reason I felt the need to provide some credentials earlier wasn't because I felt offended by someone saying I was the issue. It was to let everyone here have an idea of what I am doing and the process that I am trying to address the problem. It is very strange to me to see how tight things are at 50 and not so at 100. If I move to 35 though my poa isn't different for me than it is at 50 but they tend to hit to the right about .25inches l. So I'm thinking pellet wobble from shaving on loading.  I guess I have 2 options. Scope cam (which I don't have) or staging my distances at the recommended 5 yard interval.  *(&^ it could just be more practice to get the trigger and recoil under full control.  I'll post up more as it come but I have a feeling this will be a lengthy process. For now the ninja piston is en route so I am hoping to work out the squelch first.  I rarely shoot past 50 because I am a field hunter and I don't target shoot often.  At least I am having a lot of fun with the gun.  In the end I'll just be better with it all around.   

[robertr]

 Never had the need to do this but you could try shooting when it is dark out, place a bright light facing towards the target, the light will reflect off the back of the pellet so you can see the flight of the pellet. you might be able to spot the wobble if there is some.

[anti-squirrel]

Well, Jeremy, in that case I'll keep my mouth shut and let you keep on testing.   Sounds like you got a good plan in place.

i

*(&^ no.  Keep it coming. You may mention the obvious that I missed.  The only reason I felt the need to provide some credentials earlier wasn't because I felt offended by someone saying I was the issue. It was to let everyone here have an idea of what I am doing and the process that I am trying to address the problem. It is very stage to me to see how tight things are at 50 and not so at 100. If I move to 35 though my poa isn't different for me than it is at 50 but they tend to hit to the right about .25inches l. So I'm thinking pellet wobble from shaving on loading.  I guess I have 2 options. Scope cam (which I don't have) or staging my distances at the recommended 5 yard interval.  *(&^ it could just be more practice to get the trigger and recoil under full control.  I'll post up more as it come but I have a feeling this will be a lengthy process. For now the ninja piston is en route so I am hoping to work out the squelch first.  I rarely shoot past 50 because I am a field hunter and I don't target shoot often.  At least I am having a lot of fun with the gun.  In the end I'll just be better with it all around.

I appreciate that  

If the pellets aren't shaving, they could be destabilizing and starting a slight wobble/spiral.  Hence why I said try at 95 and 105 yards using the same POA.  Maybe shots will track around your 100 yard group.  Given that the Priest has a CZ barrel and it's choked, slow them pellets down if you can to the lower 800s (830 to 850 tops) and see how they fly. 

[jaraxle1zx]

Not sure if it's just me but some days I just can not shoot for the life of me.

Last time out I shot 3/4 at 50 yards. I get under 1/2 with the gun I was using most all the time.
And being honest that day 3/4 was my best. I didn't even try 100 yards that day.

Time before that I was doing really good for me, getting under 1/2 every time and when I ran out of room on targets I shot the numbers out, ran out of targets so I used cardboard and repair dots that came with targets and grouped in that dot until I shot the dot off the cardboard. I did well at 100 yards also that day.

But some days I just can't do it, I'm not a great shooter and I have to practice a lot. Going from 30 yards to 50 is not so bad. Going 50 to 100 yards is more of a change.

I wouldn't worry about 1 day, go out and try a few more times.

[Sfttailrdr46]

I have followed this thread from the beginning and this is an interesting carbine but for a .25 there are several that are less expensive and a few that are not that much more with better looks and performance also better fit and finish

[Jman2311]

I have followed this thread from the beginning and this is an interesting carbine but for a .25 there are several that are less expensive and a few that are not that much more with better looks and performance also better fit and finish

I think you're right.  Part of me keeps saying I should have got the cricket.  The other part loves the ergos of this gun.  Maybe once I get it to come around I'll be in love but not yet.

[anti-squirrel]

I have followed this thread from the beginning and this is an interesting carbine but for a .25 there are several that are less expensive and a few that are not that much more with better looks and performance also better fit and finish

I think you're right.  Part of me keeps saying I should have got the cricket.  The other part loves the ergos of this gun.  Maybe once I get it to come around I'll be in love but not yet.

There's a part of my that knows I can do the rank-and-file thing and get the same gun with the same mods and same tune and be happy.

But I have always preferred blazing my own trail.  Much like in archery, where instead of buying a Hummingbird or other longbow I bought a horsebow that that is tough to shoot well.  It's sensitive to release and follow through, but darn if it isn't about the most fun bow I've ever owned.

Stick with your Priest and keep on plugging away.  Sure there are great guns that are known to be superb performers.  But you're learning the nuances of your own gun, and when all is done and said, you're gaining experience as well.

[Jman2311]

Definitely blazing my own trail here.  I don't mind it one bit but that bug what you "could" have gotten will get into your head.  I should have mentioned where the 0033 came from much earlier in the review.  That is the serial number on the rifle.  Needless to say I will be at least a small part of the refining process.  Following a few threads on TAG the other guys that got their's in .25 really are singing it's praises.

[Sfttailrdr46]

I am not saying that the rifle doesn't have potential just that for the price it seems just a touch unrefined for ~$1,000.00  I expect things like the trigger to need no more than  a minor adjustment. Not a complete tear down and tune