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

[mikeyb]

[There's a degassing screw a little ways back from the from of the tube where you fill the prepressure chamber. Just noticed it yesterday when I pumped up my freedom to 3600 psi.

There are actually 2 screws near the end of the air tube which HOLD the brass end piece (parts 12 & 13, page 14) in the tube against the air pressure. If you loosen one of these screws it "may" act as a degassing vent, but I think the screws main purpose is holding the air tube parts together. BE CAREFUL turning these screws if there is ANY pressure left in the air tube in EITHER front or rear sections!

I have no intentions of removing either one of the screws. I didn't know they held the end piece on.
You know, looking at the assembly drawings it looks like the pre gasing (?) end of the pressure tube screws into the pressure tube. I still will not be messing with it right now as I don't have the probe that fits it.

The first brass piece (12) is held in the air tube by the 2 small screws(13). There is a second brass piece (6) with the fill port hole which screws into the first brass piece (12). In between the two is a simple check valve (18+19+20). The air tube does not have any threads at the pre-fill end. If you remove the 2 screws with NO PRESSURE in the air tube, and then swing the pump handle a couple times to ADD pressure to the air tube, both brass pieces AND the sliding piston(9) will ROCKET across the room and you will have to find them and hope there was no damage to the parts or the objects in their path. Don't ask how I know that.

[mikeyb]

My . 22 freedom arrived on the 29th after 2 weeks. I pumped it up to 3000 PSI and it's  still there 2 days later. The only issue is the shroud is bent about 1/8 inch just after the barrel (which is straight). I believe this is the reason the gun was returned, maybe clipping pellets. All the previous owner needed to do was remove the end cap and the problem is solved. I will buy a 25.4 mm by 600 mm carbon fiber tube and use it as a shroud if I can't straighten the stock one. I just need to buy 2 magazines and some .22 pellets.

The Gauntlet mags I got are still on Amazon for $10
 
but you may be able to get a better deal from another source.

I've had really good luck straightening and removing "dents" from thin wall metal tubing using deep-well impact sockets. I've been able to find ones with an OD just a hair smaller then the damaged tubing ID. I add a little axle grease and gently tap the socket through the damaged tube with a wooden dowel. That has worked surprisingly well so far.

[UlteriorModem]

The Gauntlet mags I got are still on Amazon for $10
 
but you may be able to get a better deal from another source.

I've had really good luck straightening and removing "dents" from thin wall metal tubing using deep-well impact sockets. I've been able to find ones with an OD just a hair smaller then the damaged tubing ID. I add a little axle grease and gently tap the socket through the damaged tube with a wooden dowel. That has worked surprisingly well so far.

Thats a good idea, I put a dent in my Aspen's shroud when I dropped it. I will have to try this.

[Jonnie]

Question, how do you bleed the pressure from the front pre-charged portion of the tube?

Remove the hex screw from the front then push a 1/6" drill bit in the hole, flat end in.  I started tapping it with a piece of wood at first then slowly push it in further.  Just remember to put the hex screw back in first before refilling.

Thanks for letting us know. This information may prevent someone from getting injured!

[Jonnie]

My Freedom started leaking back into the pump. It's almost impossible to move the pump lever if the rifle sets for any amount of time with more than 2500 psi. The pressure on the gauge will drop way down.
Once I force the pump open and closed several times, the pressure is back up and the pump operates as it should.
As long as I'm shooting and pumping, it works as designed.
I think the check valve may have some crud keeping it from seating.

[mikeyb]

My Freedom started leaking back into the pump. It's almost impossible to move the pump lever if the rifle sets for any amount of time with more than 2500 psi. The pressure on the gauge will drop way down.
Once I force the pump open and closed several times, the pressure is back up and the pump operates as it should.
As long as I'm shooting and pumping, it works as designed.
I think the check valve may have some crud keeping it from seating.

I had the pump lock-up problem also. Forcing the lever worked, but be careful you don't "bend" something critical. I replaced my disintegrating piston seal with 2x -006 Buna 90A o-rings. Leak-back from the check valve would have been likely since it looked like tiny bits of the original piston seal were in the check valve. Cleaned and re-lubed everything during re-assembley. Smooth pumping and no more lock-ups since that repair.

[Madd Hatter]

[There's a degassing screw a little ways back from the from of the tube where you fill the prepressure chamber. Just noticed it yesterday when I pumped up my freedom to 3600 psi.

There are actually 2 screws near the end of the air tube which HOLD the brass end piece (parts 12 & 13, page 14) in the tube against the air pressure. If you loosen one of these screws it "may" act as a degassing vent, but I think the screws main purpose is holding the air tube parts together. BE CAREFUL turning these screws if there is ANY pressure left in the air tube in EITHER front or rear sections!

I have no intentions of removing either one of the screws. I didn't know they held the end piece on.
You know, looking at the assembly drawings it looks like the pre gasing (?) end of the pressure tube screws into the pressure tube. I still will not be messing with it right now as I don't have the probe that fits it.

The first brass piece (12) is held in the air tube by the 2 small screws(13). There is a second brass piece (6) with the fill port hole which screws into the first brass piece (12). In between the two is a simple check valve (18+19+20). The air tube does not have any threads at the pre-fill end. If you remove the 2 screws with NO PRESSURE in the air tube, and then swing the pump handle a couple times to ADD pressure to the air tube, both brass pieces AND the sliding piston(9) will ROCKET across the room and you will have to find them and hope there was no damage to the parts or the objects in their path. Don't ask how I know that.

Lol

[superchikn]

Both of my Freedoms were warranty returns and the hammer spring adjuster was set different on each one therefore i do not know what the factory setting was.  I have read 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 turns from stop, but is that from full out (counterclockwise) or full in (clockwise)?
Thanks
 

[Wayne52]

Ray mine was only 3/4's turn out, it was too much hammer so I backed it out another half turn, it's now slinging my cast 19.6 grainers at 900fps on high.  I haven't tried any 14.3 grainers in it yet, maybe I'll try some on low today and see what they're doing.

[avator]

I had been filling the Freedom with the Vevor compressor almost conclusively during the testing process. After reading some of your issues I wanted to see if mine had possibly developed any problems with the onboard pump. I got the gun out and typically the gauge read well down into the yellow. 50ish strokes took it to 3k.... no issues.

[UlteriorModem]

Ray mine was only 3/4's turn out, it was too much hammer so I backed it out another half turn, it's now slinging my cast 19.6 grainers at 900fps on high.  I haven't tried any 14.3 grainers in it yet, maybe I'll try some on low today and see what they're doing.

Fired a few 13.6 grain pellets (H&N FTT) through the Aspen. On high It was averaging right around 980fps. I only fired a few shots though as it was pretty noisy! On low it was around 760fps.

[Madd Hatter]

Mine was 1 and a half turns out from as far as it can be tightened.  Turned it in to 1 half turn out and at 3000 psi got 1027 fps with a 14.3 Crosman.

[Wayne52]

I had been filling the Freedom with the Vevor compressor almost conclusively during the testing process. After reading some of your issues I wanted to see if mine had possibly developed any problems with the onboard pump. I got the gun out and typically the gauge read well down into the yellow. 50ish strokes took it to 3k.... no issues.

I use the on board pump all the time cause I don't have a probe, I might even give it another couple drops of silicone, it's working really well.  Even if I had a probe I'd probably still exclusively use the pump on it, it's just that kind of a gun.   Really nice when I took off this morning, no worries about airing it up and I had only used 3 pellets hunting yesterday.  I also brought a small tin of pellets with me out in the woods.  The gun is living up to it's name no doubt.

[Airspace]

If anyone with one if these fantasies freedoms would like to know how to quieten them down, send me a PM. I've got a great method, but can't post it here due to GTA rules I dont want to violate.

[avator]

Mine is plenty quiet. Just a drop of the hammer and the plink of the target. The .22 guns may be louder.

[Madd Hatter]

[Wayne52]

That's the first time I seen that video of Jim Chapman shooting the Seneca Aspen.  I was wondering the other day why I hadn't seen Jim shooting one of these guns and now I have.

[avator]

Kinda like the ultimate small game tool , huh Wayne?

Robert.. thanks for posting that vid here.

[Back_Roads]

 Teds Holdover was supposed to do a review on it also, but have not seen any more from Ted on it.

[Jonnie]

My Freedom started leaking back into the pump. It's almost impossible to move the pump lever if the rifle sets for any amount of time with more than 2500 psi. The pressure on the gauge will drop way down.
Once I force the pump open and closed several times, the pressure is back up and the pump operates as it should.
As long as I'm shooting and pumping, it works as designed.
I think the check valve may have some crud keeping it from seating.

I had the pump lock-up problem also. Forcing the lever worked, but be careful you don't "bend" something critical. I replaced my disintegrating piston seal with 2x -006 Buna 90A o-rings. Leak-back from the check valve would have been likely since it looked like tiny bits of the original piston seal were in the check valve. Cleaned and re-lubed everything during re-assembley. Smooth pumping and no more lock-ups since that repair.

Thanks, good to know.