Author Topic: New-to-me .25 Kalibrgun Cricket testing (Read 3976 times))

mcoulter · « **on:** December 25, 2019, 03:20:42 PM »

I'm picking up here on a thread that was started in the CZ / Russian gate by MikeGB that was moved over here. My apologizes to the OP for hijacking I did there:

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=162855.0

So this is a "new-to-me" .25 cricket BP. As far as I can tell, I'm at least the third owner. Through the SN, Kalibrgun confirmed that it was first sold to AOA in fall of 2014. I had little information from the previous owner other than he had hunted with it about 20 times and it was power-tuned. It came to me with a kind of funky and problematic hammer weight and spring adjuster. Another very helpful airgunner sold me a more traditional HS adjuster that did not include the extra weight. Swapping this part really fixed the inconsistent valve hits.

Fast forward to today, and I have cracked open the gun and inspected the huma regulator. It was showing a set point of 120B. Per Motorhead's suggestion, I lowered the regulator setting. I decided to drop it 10 bar. Oh, I should also mention that it does have a 4.5 cm plenum extension on it. I don't think I mentioned it before.

So with the reg turned down, I decided to find a baseline for the hammer spring settings. I found that by screwing the HS adjuster out (ccw), that it did hit a hard stop. Two full turn in (cw) was my starting point in chrony testing. Here are the velocities (rough average of 3+ shots each) with Air Arms 25.4 grain pellets:

2 turns = 743 fps
3 turns = 787 fps
4 turns = 836 fps
5 turns = 898 fps
6 turns = 955 fps
7 turns = 978 fps
8 turns = 983 fps
8.5 turns = 982 fps

And here is how that graphs out:

In this testing I shot from 210 bar down to about 105 bar. This was 52 shots. The shot sound started to change and velocity started dropping right at 115 bar.

Next up will be some full strings at 6.5 turns on the hammer spring (965 fps / 52 fpe). :-)

Oh, and some pretty pics just for the fun of it:

ranchibi · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2019, 03:38:04 PM »

Matt, beautiful Cricket, nice tune and nice history research on it! LOL..As I read your post and saw your tune as you adjusted the HS I was thinking a little over 6 turns would be my set point! Merry Christmas! Enjoy your wonderful Cricket!

zx10wall · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2019, 05:10:40 PM »

Very nice. Glad to see you are working out a good tune on your Cricket. They are very good PCPs. Enjoy Matt.

mcoulter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2019, 06:17:27 PM »

Thanks! And a Merry Christmas to all!

mcoulter · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2019, 06:17:28 PM »

A few updates... I had a mag indexing issue which I resolved with a drop of 2-part epoxy. This changed the angle of the indexing arm enough to rotate the mags enough for the next shot. Ernest had a video where he used a hammer and punch to change the angle of this or he used a glued-on brass shim. I find this epoxy to be very hard when cured and easy to file down to the right height.

And here's a full shot string with the lower (110 bar) reg setting. These are at 5 turns on the hammer spring. I think the reg still need to come down a bit for this pellet...

Omit the 5th magazine and I have 48 shots with about 3.6% spread (926 fps / 48 fpe).

Oh, I have been meaning to log this in a post since my 1st disassembly:

Valve port diameter = 5.97mm

Barrel port diameter = 6.25mm x 4.97mm (first oval port I have seen)

zx10wall · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2019, 10:17:51 PM »

I agree, you could turn the reg down another 5 bar. That should knock that rise at the end of your string off. With the added plenum and the low profile Huma, you have a large volume of regulated air to work with.

Take it to 105 bar and tune for 920 - 925 fps and I think she will be happy.

Kerndtc · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2019, 01:31:41 AM »

Beautiful gun!

I have one in Walnut, and love it. Unlike almost every other gun I own I haven't modified this gun.

The reg is around 100-105bar.

From a 250bar fill I was getting almost 90 shots at 920-930fps. I haven't touched it because it was amazing to see that from factory.

Cam

mcoulter · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2019, 05:56:56 PM »

Hello Cam, thanks for that information!

It has been "interesting" figuring out this rifle and the modifications that have been done to it. I did set my reg back 5 bar to the 105 point on its label. While in there I also replaced the o-rings on the outside of the reg. The gun came with a huma rebuild kit. I still want to tighten up the velocity spread (and rise) that I'm seeing in my strings...

While not totally surprising that velocity went up, it am surprised by just how much it did go up. I only had time to shoot a mag over the chrony so I don't know if this velocity jump is an indication that the replacement o-rings are bad, but I saw my velocity go from about 930 fps to 978 at the same hammer spring setting (5 turns in). I tested a few more shots at 3 turns in and got 886 fps. (With jsb kings.)

I'll hopefully have some time tomorrow to shoot a full string with the kings to see where I am at now. OH, I have been using a fill of 215 bar (3118 psi) as my starting point.

wiely · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2021, 01:23:40 PM »

Anymore updates?

Sorry for his off topic question:

What is the logic behind the stock codes or shortcuts of Kalibrgun? Wb is with 4 magazine holders,
Wsa has 1 holder,....

mcoulter · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2021, 02:30:45 PM »

Quote from: wiely on January 02, 2021, 01:23:40 PM

Anymore updates?

Sorry for his off topic question:

What is the logic behind the stock codes or shortcuts of Kalibrgun? Wb is with 4 magazine holders,
Wsa has 1 holder,....

Hi Wiely thanks for asking! The Cricket .25 has ended up being one of my all time favorite PCPs. I have it shooting JSB MKIIs (33.95 grain) at about 850 fps (55 fpe) and it's really accurate and consistent there...

I'm able to get a 50 shot string from a 220 bar (3190 psi) fill with an extreme spread of about 14 fps.

I know there's a lot more power to be had in the gun, but I am not in any hurry to bump up the reg with how well it's shooting now!

Man, I wish I could offer some insight into what the stock abbreviations mean. Maybe they make more sense in the Czech language? I'll do some digging and see if I can get that answered :-)

I'm currently getting to know the Cricket II in .22 cal. It's pretty nice too!

wiely · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2021, 04:54:46 PM »

Would you recommend the cricket 2 over an veteran long both in .25?

mcoulter · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2021, 05:43:03 PM »

Quote from: wiely on January 02, 2021, 04:54:46 PM

Would you recommend the cricket 2 over an veteran long both in .25?

I wish that I could give you an informed opinion on that. However, I have never shot or held a veteran airgun. I've heard nothing but great things about them though. Honestly I don't think you could go wrong with either of them!

Kerndtc · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2021, 01:18:19 PM »

Quote from: mcoulter on January 02, 2021, 05:43:03 PM

Quote from: wiely on January 02, 2021, 04:54:46 PM
Would you recommend the cricket 2 over an veteran long both in .25?

I wish that I could give you an informed opinion on that. However, I have never shot or held a veteran airgun. I've heard nothing but great things about them though. Honestly I don't think you could go wrong with either of them!

The cricket two seems to be everything I wish my original cricket was. I ended up buying a Maverick just because it had more features and the option to easily expand. Bottle is big, easy to adjust everything etc.

I have a soft spot for my cricket, I'm not sure if I'll ever sell it. I just dislike the cocking, it's fine for a couple of mags. But when you shoot one to two tins a day when hunting it gets tiring ticking my ear evey time I cock the cricket

mcoulter · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2021, 06:17:17 PM »

More info on the Cricket II...

And a shooting video...

Luis Leon · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2021, 11:29:33 PM »

Enjoyed the videos Matt... sweet shooting with that bull pup.

tefloncoated · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2021, 12:37:01 PM »

Gents, does anyone have specs and info on the hammer spring for the 25 cricket? Thank you in advance

mcoulter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2021, 02:08:51 PM »

Quote from: tefloncoated on February 03, 2021, 12:37:01 PM

Gents, does anyone have specs and info on the hammer spring for the 25 cricket? Thank you in advance

Next time I have it out I'll measure what's in mine. But if you have any questions about what's best, reach out to https://georgiaairguns.net/

mcoulter · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2021, 02:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Luis Leon on January 04, 2021, 11:29:33 PM

Enjoyed the videos Matt... sweet shooting with that bull pup.

Thanks!

BTW, you think there was snow in those videos above? Check out how it looks today! I never had to use snowshoes to get around my yard before. But I did today!

Nomadic Pirate · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2021, 05:56:32 PM »

Great Picture !!!!!!!!!!

mcoulter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2021, 12:19:01 PM »

Quote from: Nomadic Pirate on February 03, 2021, 05:56:32 PM

Great Picture !!!!!!!!!!

Hey thanks and I'm not sure how I missed your reply here! I only have a *little* snow left in my backyard now. Spring will get here, someday

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New-to-me .25 Kalibrgun Cricket testing

Author Topic: New-to-me .25 Kalibrgun Cricket testing (Read 3976 times))

Nomadic Pirate