Umarex Gauntlet

[msurf]

Yep, pre ordered a .22 about 3 weeks ago from PA.  Still says in stock date is Oct 5.  I believe the .177 is a bit later, Oct. 12 if I remember correctly.  I am thinking it is possible finally.  Fingers crossed!

[Mosin Marine]

Do most of you still have your pre-orders in? I just ordered one in .177 last night! Only two weeks away!

I ordered through SG, the projected ship date is December 1st.  After discounts, I only paid $206 and some change, so yes, I'm willing to keep my pre-order and wait it out!

That is one heck of a discount!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Do most of you still have your pre-orders in? I just ordered one in .177 last night! Only two weeks away!

I ordered through SG, the projected ship date is December 1st.  After discounts, I only paid $206 and some change, so yes, I'm willing to keep my pre-order and wait it out!

That is one heck of a discount!

Yep, couldn't pass it up.  I got the .22 SG had listed for $242 and change (Member Price) with a 15% off code.  I figure it'll be worth the wait at that price!  Also, using their CC they don't charge till it ships!

[stalwart]

Put Umarex at the bottom of the pile?  This product could take off like wildfire; I'm guessing there just aren't that many cost effective quality HPA tank makers...dang...

This is why you should avoid single source parts in your product, whenever possible. Having to rely on outside sources is it's own kind of quicksand. Trust me, this one time.

I get that Umarex isn't ready to produce their own tanks... and we have to wait for those who do. I'd love to know what it would cost to use Ninjas instead of whichever supplier has hung this all up (I'd love to know who they are).

[anti-squirrel]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

[anti-squirrel]

I already got my .177 home-brew Gauntlet.  MRod magazines, cock on open, Ninja bottle, wood stock, and very accurate.  Even has a hushemupper.

[WesBob]

Certainly is fun making one, I agree! I don't have a qb79, just a 78d but would enjoy doing one of those as well. Mine is on HPA with reverse small tank. Nothing like the shot count of a 79 with 13ci tank though!
Meant to add those gauntlet sure are tempting though if they ever are in stock!

[Mosin Marine]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

I have shot one of those before, very nice gun, very nice. Its not regulated tho.

[Wayne52]

Would be really nice if they came with an adjustable regulator rather than having to take the regulator apart to adjust like on the Ninja tank/regulator.

[anti-squirrel]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

I have shot one of those before, very nice gun, very nice. Its not regulated tho.

The Ninja bottle itself is regulated.  And it is not hard to rebuild the regulator to either greater or lower pressure.  Even a standard 850 PSI regulator will offer ~ 10 FPE, and the Ninja SHP V2 regulator set at 1100 can give you a really nice long shot-string before you start tuning.  And of course, you can rebuild the Belleville washer stack for significantly more power if desired.  Jason (NervousTrigger) and Bob (rsterne) both have impressive threads on these marvelous guns.

[Mosin Marine]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

I have shot one of those before, very nice gun, very nice. Its not regulated tho.

The Ninja bottle itself is regulated.  And it is not hard to rebuild the regulator to either greater or lower pressure.  Even a standard 850 PSI regulator will offer ~ 10 FPE, and the Ninja SHP V2 regulator set at 1100 can give you a really nice long shot-string before you start tuning.  And of course, you can rebuild the Belleville washer stack for significantly more power if desired.  Jason (NervousTrigger) and Bob (rsterne) both have impressive threads on these marvelous guns.

Thanks for the information, never knew the bottle had a regulator on it!

[anti-squirrel]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

I have shot one of those before, very nice gun, very nice. Its not regulated tho.

The Ninja bottle itself is regulated.  And it is not hard to rebuild the regulator to either greater or lower pressure.  Even a standard 850 PSI regulator will offer ~ 10 FPE, and the Ninja SHP V2 regulator set at 1100 can give you a really nice long shot-string before you start tuning.  And of course, you can rebuild the Belleville washer stack for significantly more power if desired.  Jason (NervousTrigger) and Bob (rsterne) both have impressive threads on these marvelous guns.

Thanks for the information, never knew the bottle had a regulator on it!

That's what makes the QB-series airguns such a treat.  You can take one, slap on a Ninja 13 cubic-inch bottle and start shooting.  Of course there's more to it, but that's the starting point.

[Mosin Marine]

Build your own Gauntlet    It won't cost too much more.  Repeater breech, QB-79, and Ninja bottle... figure on ~ $330-ish but you get to actually hold it and shoot it, not experience vaporware-angst.  Plus, unlike the Gauntlet, it will have a real wood stock

I have shot one of those before, very nice gun, very nice. Its not regulated tho.

The Ninja bottle itself is regulated.  And it is not hard to rebuild the regulator to either greater or lower pressure.  Even a standard 850 PSI regulator will offer ~ 10 FPE, and the Ninja SHP V2 regulator set at 1100 can give you a really nice long shot-string before you start tuning.  And of course, you can rebuild the Belleville washer stack for significantly more power if desired.  Jason (NervousTrigger) and Bob (rsterne) both have impressive threads on these marvelous guns.

Thanks for the information, never knew the bottle had a regulator on it!

That's what makes the QB-series airguns such a treat.  You can take one, slap on a Ninja 13 cubic-inch bottle and start shooting.  Of course there's more to it, but that's the starting point.

What velocities are you getting out of it with hpa.

[Dbez1]

Well, they did it again!  PA just changed the “in stock“ date from 10-5 to 10-26.  Not PA’s fault I’m sure, but still frustrating. I’m going to hang in there though, it’s costing me nothing.

[WesBob]

What velocities are you getting out of it with hpa.
[/quote]
Jason/Nervous Trigger was getting 34fpe with his 79 build here:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=85896.0
He had the regulator set to 1500psi.

[Mosin Marine]

Well, they did it again!  PA just changed the “in stock“ date from 10-5 to 10-26.  Not PA’s fault I’m sure, but still frustrating. I’m going to hang in there though, it’s costing me nothing.

I got that knot in my gut when i read this, not sure if it will ever be out at this point.

[anti-squirrel]

Brandon, my regulator is set for 800 psi, so strictly low power plinking.  But with a different Belleville stack, there's the potential for much more oomph.

[Mosin Marine]

Brandon, my regulator is set for 800 psi, so strictly low power plinking.  But with a different Belleville stack, there's the potential for much more oomph.

Sounds like you can turn it into one powerful air rifle with the right tune. I know the one i shot was super accurate.

[anti-squirrel]

Brandon, my regulator is set for 800 psi, so strictly low power plinking.  But with a different Belleville stack, there's the potential for much more oomph.

Sounds like you can turn it into one powerful air rifle with the right tune. I know the one i shot was super accurate.

Indeed.  For the money, they're a great platform.  Barrels are relatively inexpensive; I have 3 in .177 now, and though they each favor different pellets, all three are very capable.  MY main complaint with the QB platform- especially in my repeater breech- is they eat probe O-rings without some extra attention to detail on the leade.

[nervoustrigger]

Regarding a tendency to eat the bolt probe O-ring, there are a few ways to improve things.  Peter has already touched on some of it.
 
1.  Smooth the leade and loading tray of the barrel.  The machining is usually pretty rough from the factory.  Polish it like a mirror if you want but just smoothing it with a regimen of 320 -> 400 wet/dry will go a long way without much effort.
 
2.  Check the bolt for straightness.  Lay it on a piece of glass and roll it, looking straight across the plane where it rests on the glass.  Fairly easy to see if it isn't straight.  Of if you have a big enough chuck in your drill press, load it in and see if the nose orbits when it's spinning.  Often the body has a slight bend where the material was hogged out for the cocking pin.  Usually the nose itself is straight where it meets the body.
 
Straightening can be done with simple tools.  Hold it securely in a bench vise, clamping it just below the bend.  Using a wood block to protect the bolt, strike it with a hammer to bend the bolt in the direction needed.  It takes a pretty good strike to do it, start with light strikes and work your way up, checking it often on the glass.
 
This source of reduced O-ring life can easily go unnoticed due to the cock-on-close action.  It's a lot easier to detect when converted to cock-on-open.
 
3.  Use a durable O-ring.  Polyurethane is best for abrasion and tear resistance, and you can go with the hardest available, 90 durometer.  However good old Buna-N will last a long time if your prep work is decent so don't fret if you can't put your hands on a polyurethane.  Buna-N does not stretch as well though so generally I would say go with 70 durometer instead.  90 may tear just trying to get it installed.