BTT 51 gr in my 257 AF Escape

[Jeremy1982]

Tried BBT with a WW mix to get a little fatter bullet.Worked out great actually cause the drive band dropped at .257 with a .255 rear.Accuracy is awesome even with the undersized nose.The bullet is actually acting like a bullet now too,with pure lead it was explosive but with WW it is uniform and expands perfectly!Shot some milk jugs at 135 yards this morn.Was able to recover a slug in the area.This is 970 fps at the muzzle from a stock Escape valve with the R&L .257 barrel

[Jeremy1982]

Bullet dia

[Jeremy1982]

head size

[Jeremy1982]

top picture

[oneshot61]

Wow, excellent expansion on that and good power too!

[nielsenammo]

That bullet smushed nice!  How does that slug do at 100 yard groups?  That is a great speed too, looks like a great marriage between bullet and gun!!!

[Jeremy1982]

I can get a 5 shot 1.5 inch group at 100 yards with it from a 2900 psi fill on setting /PW 7.I may be able to do better cause I've only shot 100 yard groups a couple times with the new set up and I don't think I was at my best...nor calm winds...or distraction free.lolIm kinda blown away cause this is a stock set up,just a barrel swap.Im waiting on a 380 cc tank for the gun now.The OEM tank is a 213 cc .Once that hits I plan to do some valve mods,a high flow valve,take a little out the spring retainer and a heavier hammer spring,minor ones to try and get a 70 gr in the 900 range.I don't need a 257 cannon,I have other air rifles if I need the power.Im just looking for consistancy with a power boost.Air force should redesign this model with a different barrel.The LW Choked barrel has its place,just not on their high power guns.This gun sucked before the barrel swap.You had to use the heaviest pellet avalible,PW setting at 2 or 3 to get the speed down enough for accuracy and lower fill pressures.Everything had to be exact to get a good group from 50 to 75 yards.Now it is 10xs more forgiving.If I go to setting 5,I can get about 7 shots a inch low at 75 yards.

[nielsenammo]

1.5 is good at 100 yards for coyote and that is nice and compact.  Should be a fun gun.

[Jeremy1982]

I think its gonna be my turkey slayer .I have the 257 putting out 100+fpe..my Recluse pushing 240 fpe...my 909s doing 300 fpe...my soon to be badger (I hope,still on order) doing 400 fpe and my extreme .457 doing 500+!I  think I have the animal kingdom all sorted out.lol.Your right though...I think it will be a good tool for the yotes.Ive used the Recluse in the past but this AF will do the trick for sure.Ive got a few blank turrets waiting for when I get her dialed in for good.Im sure I can get up to 200 yards on one full turn.I usually mark it 50,75,100,125,150.By that point I'm back to my 50 yard setting

[Tofazfou]

Thats really awesome Jeremy.

The 257 is just an awesome caliber.

[Jeremy1982]

Thank you cedric!as you know I've been fighting with this beast for awhile.The 257 barrel made it a new gun.

[aceflier]

Great results!

[Jeremy1982]

Just swapped springs,went to a heavy and gained 40 fps,next step is a hi flow

[nielsenammo]

Just swapped springs,went to a heavy and gained 40 fps,next step is a hi flow

Going to use RL valve or Doug's monster?

[Jeremy1982]

actually thought about making my own.Still wondering if its worth the headache or not,or easier to just buy one.I can turn the stem pretty easy in the lathe and use a factory top hat or make it a one piece which will take a bit longer.My port is is .226 dia.can make one .255 and still have enough wall to be stout and take the hammer blow.I have a lot of ideas just trying to refrain from going for extreme power and keep it consistant.Its crossed my mind to do away with the small spring retainer...bore the back end and go with a different spring/retainer plug,make the valve stem out,a few things

[dyotat100]

The only way to get more out of the valve is to go larger on all the front parts. You can only get so much out of a stem with a .217" hole. No matter what you do behind the stem it won't help until the stem is larger with a larger hole. My stem has .260" hole.

It's like having a fire hose and then putting a garden hose on the end. It can only flow so much.

[Jeremy1982]

Very true.Crosman had always used the small valve ports to restrict the flow and get shot count out of their guns.Thats why I thought about going to .255-.260.Above that would be a waste right beings its gonna direct into a barrel of .257 dia??Is that the same concept?Im thinking after I do a larger valve stem then it would boil down to how long to keep the valve open.

[dyotat100]

To go larger you have to bore the front of the valve and make a larger brass piece that will fit a .308" stem. Right now the stem is only .247" OD on the stock valve. To run a .260" hole in a .308 stem you need to make it out of 17-4 so it won't break. Or you can use 1144 but it will rust if your in a humid environment.

[Jeremy1982]

Yea Doug this is why I say I will prob hand this over to the professional's....by the time I buy material..make a brass valve seat..ect......all the time to do it,I'd be better off buying one.You know what you need..measurments and I'm sure you have materials on hand?What does one of your valve run as far as cost?

[Packy28]

i am definitely going to keep my eye on your progress Jeremy.  I have been thinking about about building the same gun from my escape ul.  what length barrel did you use?   I couldn't find a build thread for your gun.  I would love to see some pics of your escape.  like I said I am going to keep my eye on this one.