I think I found a TX200 MK3 unicorn...

[Tackdriver76]

I've owned several TX200s over the years and all of them except my .22 HC have been sold for one reason or another. Fast forward to three weeks ago and me getting a urge to own another .177 but in walnut this time. I won't say i wasn't bit hesitant at first as I've read numerous threads regarding Air Arms current quality particularly regarding accuracy and power levels. I decided to bite the bullet, take my chances, and order one from PA. Well, it's been here for about a week and this is my experience so far.

The walnut stock really doesn't knock my socks off but I guess at the end of the day it's wood and there are good pieces... and some not so good pieces. Regardless, I'm in the process of giving it the full RLO treatment and it is what it is.

The only thing mechanically I did to it was strip it down, clean all the factory grease off and regrease with a normal amount of grease, pull a few cleaning patches through the barrel, burnish some moly in the compression tube, and shine up the spring ends.

On to the range and this is where things take a serious departure from the norm. I ran about 50 pellets (I know it takes more than that for a full break in) through it at a steel target to get it somewhat settled in before I even looked at groups or chrono numbers. I settled in at 25 meters and started feeding the usual suspects down the tube. Of course first was H&N FTT 8.64s which rewarded me with 10 shots through one ragged hole. Wow... okay I'll take it. Next up was JSB Exact 8.44s, I know usually TXs love either the H&Ns or the JSBs but seldom both. Well I was wrong, it did the same thing again and drove 10 shots through a ragged hole. Albeit slightly larger than the H&Ns but still "dang" good. At this point I just started stuffing everything in my bag in it and there was nothing it didn't like, AA Field Diabolo, AA Field Heavy, AA Diabolo Express, Crossman Premiers of all flavors, and even RWS Superdomes and Meisterkugeln... it ate them all and gave very good to excellent results with everything. Now at this point I'm obviously happy but also quite confused. I've been shooting for 25 years and have NEVER seen an airgun eat ANYTHING i fed it without a hiccup. Now I'm sure somewhere there are pellets it won't like but they weren't in my bag the day!

Now at this point I have maybe 200 shots through it and I know better but I have to see what the chrono says! First through was the H&N FTTs. Ran a 25 shot string without looking at numbers and then look at my phone...

H&N FTT 8.64
Average 887fps
Extreme Spread 7fps
Standard Deviation 2fps

WHAT?... I've never seen numbers like that and this gun isn't even broken in. Ummm okay... moving on. Lets see what the JSBs can do.

JSB Exact Diabolo 8.44
Average 901fps
Extreme Spread 9fps
Standard Deviation 3fps

Moving on to some "crappy" pellets

Crossman Premier Hollow Points 7.9 (Walmart in the tin garbage)
Average 936fps
Extreme Spread 12fps
Standard Deviation 4fps

At this point the rain moves in and further testing is suspended until another day. Now I know the first question I'm probably going to be asked is about my chrono and it's accuracy. It's a ProChrono DLX and I've shot side by side with LabRadars and far more expensive chronos, and it's always been spot on. As unbelievable as some of those numbers are I have no reason to doubt them.

I guess the point of this post is several things:

1. I guess AA has seriously gotten any quality issues with power, accuracy, or other out of their systems because this thing is an absolute beast and by far the best of the four I've owned.

2. To get some opinions on those chrono numbers. Has anyone ever seen numbers like those on an unbroken in stock TX200? I sure haven't!

3. To get some opinions on doing what airgunners always do... tweak, tweak, and tweak some more. Of course I have dreams of aftermarket springs and Delrin parts but it's the most consistent shooting springer I've ever owned and I'm a bit hesitant about changing ANYTHING. Over 15 FPE, single digit ESs, and one hole groups... should I just leave the "dang" thing be?! LOL

Thanks all for taking the time to read this and I appreciate any forthcoming opinions! As for me... time to go rub another coat of RLO on this ugly stocked unicorn!

Dave

[DanD]

Congratulations, Dave. It's great when you get an above average example of a high end gun.

[Motorhead]

How is the spring buzz and shot cycle noise ?

[Tackdriver76]

Motorhead the shot cycle and spring buzz isn’t too bad. Obviously it’s worse than the one I had with a 12 fpe spring and Delrin bits but not near as harsh as some full power examples I’ve shot. Even with only the 200 or so shots I’ve put through it I can already notice it settling down nicely. With how’s it’s performing so far any parts I decide to put in it will be purely to quiet it down and improve the overall shot cycle.

[AmBraCol]

Welcome to the forum, David.  Sounds like you got a real decent rifle.  My ProSport has been a great gun from the beginning as well.  Had it for about 4 or 5 years now. Just wish I'd put out for the walnut, but it shoots great and that's more important than just the looks.

[Nitrocrushr]

Sounds like you got a good one Dave, congratulations Lets hope that Air Arms has acted upon the feedback they received during the not so distant past.  I know I personally had numerous emails and phone calls to them on the various issues I experienced.  Does yours have one of the newer “blued” barrels?

Steve

[Pierre Toutant]

This is really good to hear. I have wanted a TX200 for a while now. Really badly!! But, I have held out because I have been afraid of it. There have just been too many issues that I have heard people having with them.....accuracy, rusty barrels, power, etc. I'm really happy to hear about your awesome experience.

[Pierre Toutant]

Seems kinda appropriate to ask in this thread. I don't want to hijack Dave, but reading your experience has gotten me a bit excited. To all you experienced TX owners. Would you have reservations on purchasing a new TX........is it really kind of a "crapshoot"?

[Frank in Fairfield]

I know I have 20,000+ shots through my TX200 MKIII.
Scott put a DELRIN spring guide in it.
I know cause I watched him do it.
He massaged the trigger.
After those many shots....
897fps with 8.64, 4.2mm H&N...15 fpe...

[Nitrocrushr]

Seems kinda appropriate to ask in this thread. I don't want to hijack Dave, but reading your experience has gotten me a bit excited. To all you experienced TX owners. Would you have reservations on purchasing a new TX........is it really kind of a "crapshoot"?

Well,,there is never a guarantee that you won’t have problems with any manufacturer, but I personally wouldn’t hesitate to buy another new TX.  I received multiple new TX’s with corroded bores a while ago and can say that Air Arms was actively involved with resolving the issues at that time. 

Steve

[ssbn617]

I have owned 2 and not hesitate to get another.
They are wonderful rifles to say the least.
Mitch

[Pierre Toutant]

Steve,
As far as you can tell, or have heard, has AA gotten a handle on the "bad" barrel issues that they had for a period?

[Frank in Fairfield]

Steve,
As far as you can tell, or have heard, has AA gotten a handle on the "bad" barrel issues that they had for a period?

Not AA barrels...
They are....Lothar Walther

[Pierre Toutant]

Steve,
As far as you can tell, or have heard, has AA gotten a handle on the "bad" barrel issues that they had for a period?

Not AA barrels...
They are....Lothar Walther

Yes I know. I have a Marauder with a LW barrel and it is excellent in the accuracy dept. I just have always wondered why is it that AA had these issues with the LW barrels. Regardless, I think I may just bite the bullet and order a TX right after the first of the year. I've drooled over them for long enough. Thanks for the input.
And congratulations on such an awesome rifle Dave! Hope you enjoy.......I'm sure you will.

[DanD]

Steve,
As far as you can tell, or have heard, has AA gotten a handle on the "bad" barrel issues that they had for a period?

I am happy to have received a .22 HC for Christmas this year. There's a couple little bluing salt blooms around the edges of the front inner receiver, but the breech end of the bore looks good. I really like the gun. This one has no vibration.

[Tackdriver76]

Sounds like you got a good one Dave, congratulations Lets hope that Air Arms has acted upon the feedback they received during the not so distant past.  I know I personally had numerous emails and phone calls to them on the various issues I experienced.  Does yours have one of the newer “blued” barrels?

Steve

Steve,

I've been following this forum religiously for awhile and am quite aware of the issues you had with the rusted barrels and such. I was really hesitant about ordering one with the things I had seen but decided to take my chances and order it. I planned on giving it a very thorough inspection and worst case scenario I'd just keep returning them until I got a good one. I'm not familiar with the newer "blued" barrels. Did they change something with the bluing technique?

[Tackdriver76]

Seems kinda appropriate to ask in this thread. I don't want to hijack Dave, but reading your experience has gotten me a bit excited. To all you experienced TX owners. Would you have reservations on purchasing a new TX........is it really kind of a "crapshoot"?

Pierre,

Don't worry at all about asking related questions on my thread! We're here to help and educate each other, and if we can get some good information regarding current Air Arms production in one place that's all I could hope for. I was in the EXACT same position as you. I had wanted a new TX for probably the better part of a year but I kept seeing the same horror stories as you and was frankly quite worried of the prospect of dumping that kind of money and getting a complete basket case... and then having to go through even more time, money, and aggravation to get a good example. If the one I received is indeed an example of their current builds I would absolutely have zero hesitation about ordering another one! If you have any other questions I'll do whatever I can to answer them.

Dave

[Tackdriver76]

I know I have 20,000+ shots through my TX200 MKIII.
Scott put a DELRIN spring guide in it.
I know cause I watched him do it.
He massaged the trigger.
After those many shots....
897fps with 8.64, 4.2mm H&N...15 fpe...

Frank,

Those are some really nice numbers. I'm sure your shot cycle with the Delrin guide is smooth as butter. I've never heard anything but praise for the work that Scott does. Is that a factory spring you're running in your setup? I'm not going to run out and swap out all the parts in a good shooting gun but a Delrin spring guide is definitely tempting.

Dave

[Nitrocrushr]

Sounds like you got a good one Dave, congratulations Lets hope that Air Arms has acted upon the feedback they received during the not so distant past.  I know I personally had numerous emails and phone calls to them on the various issues I experienced.  Does yours have one of the newer “blued” barrels?

Steve

Steve,

I've been following this forum religiously for awhile and am quite aware of the issues you had with the rusted barrels and such. I was really hesitant about ordering one with the things I had seen but decided to take my chances and order it. I planned on giving it a very thorough inspection and worst case scenario I'd just keep returning them until I got a good one. I'm not familiar with the newer "blued" barrels. Did they change something with the bluing technique?

Dave, During the period of time when there were so many corroded bores coming through, I was in contact with both Pyramyd Air and Air Arms.  The issue was acknowledged and they were working on a fix.  In my conversations with some folks in the UK I discovered that they were not seeing the issue with corrosion, which indicated that it may have been occurring during the overseas shipping (salt air making its way into the shipping containers).  Air Arms was working on a resolution.  That was about a year ago.  Soon thereafter, I received a faulty TX barrel in .22 caliber from TW Chambers.  It was bored way off center.  Air Arms was again involved and sent me a brand new barrel from the latest stock they had from Lother Walther.  This barrel was blued (I assume for added protection).  Prior to this all of the LW barrels were bare metal with no bluing.  I have since confirmed that others were receiving new TX’s that also had the blued barrels.  If you look at the breech end of your barrel it will have either a bare metal finish or it will be blued.

Steve

[Frank in Fairfield]

 “Is that a factory spring you're running in your setup?”

Yep.
It gets lubed every thousand shots...

Scott has a TX200 as well.
He can place a pellet on the scope’s vertical adjustment knob.
When he fires the pellet does not move.....