TX200 with Vortek PG3 HO Kit: Has Anyone adjusted the power?

[Fred J]

Four months ago I installed a vortek PG3 HO kit in my TX200. After 500 shots the rifle was shooting JSB 10.3 gr pellets at 800 fps. On a calm day, I can shoot dime-size groups ta 50 yards. The shot cycle is real smooth.

My question: Has anyone with this kit in their TX200 adjusted the power with either the supplied spacer or the adjustable top-hat? What was your experience with adjusting the power? How much increase in power did you see, and did you loose any smoothness in the shot cycle?

Thank you!

[Fred J]

I know that I am answering my own question, but here it goes: I installed one power washer that came with my PG3 kit, and these are the results:

The velocity increased about 10 fps. I am currently using JSB 10.3 gr pellets in my .177 TX200. So the velocity increased from 800 to 810 fps (15 fpe).

Accuracy was unchanged. That is: Excellent as always! I shot two consecutive nickel size groups at 50 yards, on two different days.

The rifle was no harder to cock.

The rifle seems to shoot smoother, with no buzz at the end of the shot cycle, just a satisfying 'thud'. I suspect that I had a bit of piston bounce without the power washer.

[s500]

What was the velocity with the original spring?

[Fred J]

The original factory spring produced 15.5 fpe, which translates to 825 fps for JSB 10.3 gr pellets. With the original spring, there was a definite twang and recoil. When I shot a 30 yard target, the sight picture would flip up about 2 inches by the end of the shot cycle, no matter how I held the rifle.

To correct this problem, I put a 12 fpe Vorkek PG2 in the rifle. This kit worked fine at first, almost like a low power PCP, but the power at the muzzle dropped to 9.5 fpe after 2,000 shots. Since I use this rifle for Field Target competition, I needed to get more power. I tried a Macarri spring that gave me just under 14 fpe, but the twang returned and the power dropped to 12.5 fpe after 5,000 shots: Too low for shooting the rifle's favorite pellet (JSB 10.3 gr). I couldn't live with a trajectory that looked like a rainbow.

While I was shooting at the Pyramyd Cup last Summer, I ran into Tom Gore from Vortek, and told him about the various TX200 tuning I had tried. He had just come out with the PG3 kits and suggested that I try the High Output (HO) PG3 kit in the TX200. So I ordered the tune kit and put it in my TX200.

After only 500 shots, I used the TX200 with the PG3 HO kit at the National FT competition in Baton Rouge. I came in 4th place in the Spring Piston Hunter division, and was only one point away from 3rd.

Since that time I have noted no loss in power. It just stayed at 800 fps for JSB 10.3 gr pellets (14.5 fpe). I definitely need to to use the artillery hold, but there is no barrel flip by the end of the shot cycle. The sight picture stays put. If the sun is to my back, I can actually see the pellet in flight if I am shooting out to 50 yards.

I thought I would give a try in putting a power washer between the top-hat and piston, which brought the power up to an even 15 fpe. There was no increase in recoil with this extra 0.5 fpe, and accuracy is still very good.

Today I used the "Pellet on top of the scope turret" test, twice. The pellet stay on the scope turret both times through the shot cycle. This is remarkable, since I shot the test using a bucket 'n sticks (Bogpod), and not a bench rest. I am satisfied with this tune.

[Fred J]

One other thing: When I took apart the TX200 to put in the power washer, I noted that the clear tar that I had applied migrated to the back piston bearing and to one side of the external Vortek spring guide, and even into the trigger itself. "This is not good", I thought. So took several paper towels and Q-tips, and wiped off the excess clear tar on the spring guide and rear piston bearing, and anywhere else where it was building up. If I could see the tar on the surface, I wiped it off. I also clean out the trigger and relubed the trigger pinions and sears with a little RWS spring oil.

Now the gun is actually easier to cock than before, even with the power washer installed. The trigger, which had become somewhat vague and heavy, is now light and crisp (breaks at about 7 ounces).

The lesson I learned is use the Vortek-supplied clear tar very very sparingly.

[s500]

I also have the tx200 mk iii in 177 cal. Mine is factory with no twang and I love it. I am always looking for ways to increase accuracy. I will be following this to see what you decide .

[Jason_Garvin]

What piston seal are you using? I like the ARH seals in mine, regardless of the kit.  I have also seen, the lighter lubes like the Vortek grease will migrate down if you store you rifles upright.  But good news is, they are easy to work on.  And if you shoot a lot, you are probably going to service them more often.  If you haven't already, try running some milspec o rings.  I run th standard soft seal on the bottom, and the tougher Viton 75 on the top touching the barrel breech.





Jason

[Fred J]

I am using the Vortek moly seal in my rifle. Seems to work fine. It was a bear to get onto the piston, but it seems to be holding up well after about 20,000 shots. The last time I looked at the seal (a week ago), it still looked brand new.

I am using the high performance breach seals from ARH, as well as the over-sized cocking shoe from ARH: The combination of the ARH breach seals and cocking shoe give me great lock-up between the piston and breach. This seems to make the breach seals last longer.

Could you tell me which size O ring seems to work best in the TX200 breach? I would like to give them a try.

[Jason_Garvin]

Don't recall the size, but the bags above from the o-ring store are all the same size, just different materials.  The Viton 75 seem to be doing a good job.  I am running the green one right now, and have never changed it.  They are real cheap from that place.

Jason

[Bodacious]

I have close to 1500 shots with my TX200 .177 PG3-HO using Vortek's piston seal. 5 shot group average about 870 with 10.3 AA.

[Fred J]

I thought I would follow-up on my post (asking for input on power washers to increase the power of my .177 cal TX200 with a Vortek HO PG3 kit installed). Even though I saw a 0.5 fpe increase in the rifle after installing the power washer, I couldn't get the accuracy I wanted. The sight picture moved around a wee bit during the shot cycle. So I removed the power washer and put a 10 shots through my TX200.

Today I shot four 5-shot groups at 50 yards with a 4 mph cross win. The results are attached.

1. The upper right group was my first group, aimed 1.5 mildot high: 1/2" ctc. Good start. 
2. The lower right groups was shot when the wind picked up, aimed cross hairs on bulls eye. 5/8" ctc. Not bad. 
3. Then I got gutsy with the upper left group and held over for the wind and trajectory. 3/4" ctc. Not bad, since I was holding with the cross hairs having not point of reference (1.25 mil high, 0.75 mil upwind, and the wind was still gusting a wee bit. 3 shots went into the elongated hole on the '9'. 
4. The last target (lower left), I waited to shoot between gust, and aimed between the horizontal 5 to the left of the bulls eye: 7/16" c-t-c. Four shots went into a 1/4" hole. 

The shot cycle was incredibly smooth. The sight picture at 16X simply did not move!

This is a testimony of how well my TX200 shoots with the PG3 HO kit installed, and not to my shooting skills, which are somewhat OK.
All shots where done off bucket and sticks. Temperature was 27F and a 4 mph crosswind.

[Nitrocrushr]

Outstanding shooting Fred!!

Steve