ATI Nova Freedom .177 "no warranty parts gun" (pic heavy)

[avator]

Bill mine will be a true Freedom because I don't even have to buy my pellets, I'll just cast them

Wayne.... I envy you but, if I had to rely on my lazy butt to cast my own pellets I would be out of the shooting game before it even begins. I trip over unfinished projects regularly.

[AGEnthused2]

It must be the bargain hunter in me, I read this post and called ATI and placed an order. Only the .22 airguns are left. That's fine with me.

[avator]

Derek..... so glad I could help..... no charge, Brother

[avator]

Ok, let's wrap this phase up...
You'll notice that I'm breaking this up into short posts..
So many times I've lost interest in reviews halfways through it because it was crammed into one post that went on for light years.
And I walk away with nothing.
Could be my short attention span... 

[avator]

See... I just lost my place..

After the 10 round mag on the low setting, which is what I will normally use, I checked the pressure gauge.

[avator]

If I'm figuring that right... and I'm not the best at gazzindas, I see a possible 35 shots down to the yellow before possibly 35 stroke to top it back off. I'll most likely pick up one more mag and shoot the 3 before pumping it back up.
Of course, this all depends on the bell over this range and accuracy. That is yet to be determined.

[avator]

So, here is where we are...

I took this gun out of the box and looked it over for visible bumps, bruises or flaws. I loaded a mag and pumped it up. I have not even so much as pulled a patch or opened the oil bottle.
I think those things should be next. This is obviously a preowned gun. Who knows how many rounds it was shot, by whom and how they treated it. I need to check out o-rings for nicks and bolts for tightness.
You know.... all the other stuff that make air gunning fun.
I will say this.... so far..
I happier than a punk in boy's school..... wait, can I say that here?
I don't think that is neither political nor religious.

[avator]

Unless the gun leaked off or cooled down during the hour that I was in the house, I may have been a bit generous with that projected shot count. I went back out and failed to look at the gauge before I began shooting. I got another mag and a half before I heard a distinct change in in the shot sound. I looked at the gauge and it was just into the yellow.
So, now I'm thinking 25 shots and 35 strokes to refill.
Still not an "oh, bummer" but not a "WAHOO !!" either.
And still, I haven't gone over the gun. Never know what i may find.
I put 4 drops of Secret Sauce in the breather and pumped it almost back to the red... 35ish strokes and put it in the glass case. If I can keep my hands off of it I'll check it in the morning. No sense in eating the whole cake in one sitting.

[avator]

One thing is for certain.... it sure would be nice to have a fill probe for tuning and sighting in.
But for hunting and pesting.... it's not unreasonable to shoot five shots and give it 6 or so strokes to top it back off.
And it's comforting to know that if I were in the woods and a squad of 25 zombie squirrels went into attack mode I would have one shot for each.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Bill, have you tried the fill probe from your Urban?  I recall previously reading that an Urban Fill Probe may work.  I’m going off memory, so no guarantees!  Lol!

[Back_Roads]

  Fun to watch your excitement !
 BTW remember this is a PCP, use silicone oil in the pump.

[avator]

Fun to watch your excitement !
 BTW remember this is a PCP, use silicone oil in the pump.

James.... is it a PCP? Or is it a pumper?
It has seals in the pump piston and there ain't much better than Secret Sauce.
Think about it.... your pumping 1200 or so psi into a valve on a pumper.

[avator]

Bill, have you tried the fill probe from your Urban?  I recall previously reading that an Urban Fill Probe may work.  I’m going off memory, so no guarantees!  Lol!

Paul.. I'm gonna check that right now.... thanks

[avator]

Nope, Urban probe is a no go.

And FYI, neither does the SPA Varmint probe.

Only two probes I own.

Oh well, I posted in the classifieds. We'll see if anything shakes out.
I'm not equipped or knowledgeable enough to make one. I've gained a respect for HPA and I don't trust myself for trail and error.
Maybe someone with a probe and the means to repop a few.....

[only1harry]

Way to go Bill!  I am glad you are enjoying your new Freedom and I appreciate the info so far.

A couple of questions, how hard is it to pump it, and how "backyard friendly" would you say the Freedom is?

When you have some time can you provide a 10 or 20-shot Chrono string starting at 3k psi?

Thanks!
Harry

PS.
Watch out for those large groups of zombie squirrels!!

[Thane]

I found it very easy to pump placing the butt on the ground, left hand on end of foregrip, right hand pumping downward.

Using the 2 handed accordion method did a number on my elbows and wrists.

[Madd Hatter]

Robert..... one thing is for certain.... "keeping up with the Jones' " takes on a whole new monster when it comes to airgunning. There are a heck of a lot more out here than just the Jones'.
You either get on the bus or you're left on the corner waiting for "Uber".

OH Taxi!!!  I've been able to pump it up putting the butt of the stock on something but found it was messing with my poi. Found out the bushings in the shroud were loose. Tightened them up but haven't really used that method of pumping again. I found after I really lubed up the pump that even my old weak arms could pump it up but I'm only doing 5 pumps then shoot, 5 pumps then shoot.

[avator]

Yes Sir, Harry.
This will be a full review. I'm just doing it in phases. This stuff is as enjoyable to me, if not more, as plinking. I want to take my time and enjoy it.
I haven't dragged my chrono out in months. I'm sure it'll need cleaned up and new batteries.
I think I also want to have a look at the works of the gun and clean it up before I shoot alot more. If something is amiss I don't want to make it worse.
On pumping effort.... off hand, once you get up over 35 strokes I might compare it to strokes 6,7 or 8 on a Sheridan. I would have to pump them side by side to confirm that. It ain't even close to the effort that a hand pump takes and no where close to as easy as an 880.
I find it very reasonable to lay it across my lap and pump it with one arm. A healthy man with two good arms could just pump it like any other pumper with medium effort.
That said... 6ish strokes for five shots at full power is very doable.

[avator]

I found it very easy to pump placing the butt on the ground, left hand on end of foregrip, right hand pumping downward.

Using the 2 handed accordion method did a number on my elbows and wrists.

That's true Thane. I know guys that hold a Sheridan to their chest and pump with two hands. But, many Sheridans don't wear scopes. Not sure a scoped freedom would be as comfortable.

[avator]

Harry.... BTW... I have the next 5 days off work. You can bet this thread will get many updates with my thoughts and findings, including pellet testing, and open sights vs. red dot vs. scope. If I have to pump this thing for all of that I'm either going to have one Popeye arm or a tube of hamburger hanging from my shoulder.