Lost My Mind, Beeman Chief II in 177 Is Coming !

[Ribbonstone]

Modern world Beeman....they really can't get their "snit" together.

Forgot to advertise it as a 'plus" model...which explains the 3 K fill over the regular Chief II and would have avoided all the second guessing.

Box mentions  "..177 12 shots/ .22 10 shots" in one column and "single shot bolt action" on the other...I'm assuming that it comes with a single shot adapter.

Does visually look like a different magazine from the 1085 co2 repeaters...maybe even the Chief II....it's a visually different mag.

For $180..and a buyer that has at least some experience with PCP's...seems a price that would be hard to beat.

[CraigH]

A data point (ad copy) on the box has a statement of (up to) "100 shots in .177", and similarly "80 shots in .22".

The implication is that the tune or set up is to maintain the velocities of the Chief and Chief II (non-plus), and add shot count instead.

That maintains a place for the Commander with its higher velocity.

[Ribbonstone]

We’re having a good time hitchhiking on another guy’s gun buy.

The BS of advertising...some are better about that than others, but what’s printed on the box is often exaggerated to the extreme.

It’s that “up to…” thing. 

I’ve never had the patience to keep shooting, counting, and watching the final pellets  of a fill dribble out the barrel at falling snowflake speeds..but it’s quite possible that it would do that ‘up to” 100 times before one got stuck in the barrel.

[wll2506]

Finally got off work and set the Chief II Plus up, this gun is a monster, the barrel is ~ 15mm and the tank diameter is 31.75mm or 1.25" This gun is heavy and my trigger as it came from the factory was ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, it was a incredibly heavy and creepy 6 lbs. I will take the gun out of the stock after work tomorrow, and see if I can re-work the trigger. The butt section seems light, but the mid section is a brute. This gun may use the QB trigger but the rest of the gun is a brick house. This gun is more than a QB with a 3000 psi tank attached for sure. The gun came with two magazines and two shot trays, a nice feature ;- ) I use a single shot tray 95% of the time

Yes, it is a 3000psi tank, I started shooting at 2900psi. My first shot was 900 fps with JSB 13.43gr Monsters after I had tuned the hammer spring down one complete turn +. This gun when shooting slugs will be an absolute flat shooting tightrope --- eating every pest in its path !

Just about every shot I kept turning the spring power down, at 15 shots I had the velocity down to 845fps with the Monsters. I must have turned the hammer spring down by at least 5 turns.

With some serious testing I'm sure I can get a 20+ shot string of 800+ velocity shooting heavy pellets (15+gr) in this 177 cal gun - BTW: My Nielsen 15gr 177 cal slugs came in today. In reality if I had good tuning skills I would probably get 30+ shots.

I might add the moderator works OK, not the best in the world but it does keep the noise down. At this power, if it did not have a moderator, I'm sure my neighbors would be having fits !!

All in all I'm very happy with this gun, it is a monster and a powerhouse ---- ESPECIALLY at its price point. I'm looking forward to final trigger work and sighting in tomorrow for an outing on Saturday !

Sorry, I could not take pics, hopefully tomorrow.

wll

[Nvreloader]

Hey Will
Throw an SSG in it and do a fine tune, that should change things for the + side..............

That sounds like a QB on steroids' that grew some-----   LOL

Are the mags like anything else around? Mrod?

Thanks for the info.
Don

[mrbulk]

Congrats Wil! Sounds as though there is lots of adjustability.

[CraigH]

Beginning indications are the Beeman Chief II PLUS is the new low end (by MSRP) champion.

That trigger assembly, originating with Crosman in the 1960's, has great potential.    It's current wide implementation, QB's of all flavors (CO2 to the PLUS), and the Gauntlet express its usefulness.   Too bad Crosman is not as wise with their low end rifles.

[wll2506]

Beginning indications are the Beeman Chief II PLUS is the new low end (by MSRP) champion.

That trigger assembly, originating with Crosman in the 1960's, has great potential.    It's current wide implementation, QB's of all flavors (CO2 to the PLUS), and the Gauntlet express its usefulness.   Too bad Crosman is not as wise with their low end rifles.

Yes, I agree, This gun and scope weighs in at 9.37lbs without a sling. The gun is built like a tank, I wish I had a Chief II to compare it to. I will have fun doing a bit more testing later today, I will see if I can get a shot curve but I don't know -  That may take some time !

This gun is no joke, it is a well made gun especially for the price ----- I like it so much I bought another one, that one in 177 also !

Below is a pic of the ammo I plan on using. 12.5gr Nielsen slug on left, Nielsen 15gr slug in the center, and re-designed Monster on the right. The gun is way to powerful for anything lighter IMHO. The 15gr slug in the middle is the one I plan to use most of the time in this gun !



Preliminary test results to come later.

wll

[airpuffhunter]

Good to know about your new gun.
does it comes with hte single shot tray?

[wll2506]

Good to know about your new gun.
does it comes with hte single shot tray?

My gun came with two magazines and two single shot trays, I have one of the single shot trays installed. If you get this gun it may not what you expect if your a QB78 guy This is a PCP QB on steroids !

wll

[Nvreloader]

Will

You say that the psi tube is 1.250" in diameter, that's about the same size as an Mrod?
How long is that psi tube?

I'll be waiting to see just how much room is inside that tube, in ref to the hammer/spring area etc,
for fitting an SSG............

Thanks,
Don

[Ribbonstone]

Should be an airgun-sin to sell a repeater with just one mag  (listening Gamo Urban?)….removes ½ the real use of a repeater.  Single shot try is also a plus, esp. when adjusting/shoot/adjust/shoot.

At least they’re advertising spare mags (out of stock)….they are visually represented as the same for the Chief II and the Commander. (and reported to work with the co2 1085).

Assuming it’s the valve I expect to be in there….it’s a good design (except for old one’s poppet material) for power….larger diameter than the skinny QB valve,  better factory air flow, valve port size for a .177….it should make power if that’s a goal.   A bit of adjusting, no mods, could see +900 fps from those 15gr….would be a bit of a “Korean Cliff” type tune.

DSCN2228 by Robert Dean, on Flickr

(that's the valve I expect in a Chief's 1.25" tube.)

You almost have me reaching for the buy-button….but there are too many PCP’s about the place already.

[nervoustrigger]

Sounds like a good candidate for an absolute firebreather of a .177.
 
A few months ago I set up a QB79 with a 1500psi bottle and it managed ~850fps with the 15gr Sniper Magnums (24fpe).  Almost no plenum volume and much lower pressure compared to the new Chief.  So with a little porting work, you can surely get those Nielsen slugs going faster than they have any business going.
 
Like Robert, I’m tempted but I’m going to hold off.  Frankly I’m more curious about the journey than the destination.  Even the QB I mentioned above proved to be more of an icepick than I had any need for so I backed it down a bit for happiness with stuff in the 9 – 11gr range.

[Nvreloader]

Ribb

Thank you for that photo of your herd...............quite impressive arrangement,
nice to see them side by side and named etc.

I am just about in the same boat, as for the buy button, have the rat hole funds built back up...........  
I need want a good HD 177 cal for pushing the heavy weight ammo.
I have been looking at the Mrod, but something sticks in my craw, about that bolt hanging out the back etc.

This is the reason I have been following Will on his Chief II 177 saga etc.
Just maybe I can kill 2 birds with one stone, a 17 for indoor pesting (with the right tune),
and then the HD end...... balls to the wall (with the right tune) etc.
If I can get it to work with both fuels, so much the better, even if I have to wait till May/June for the Co2

Tia,
Don

[Ribbonstone]

Don:

Confession of an old airgun-nut.


Probably bought 2-4  ariguns a year for about 17 years, and sold few of them.  (yes, they made PCP’s way back in 2003)

That’s &^^& load of air guns.  Really got back into pistol shooting just to save space...but that’s another clutter of airguns.

A few  I gave away, very few I sold off, and some I just gave up on as “turds” and consigned to the parts box, some “tinker toys” I combined,  some I boned picked for spare parts.

Even gave away a few as przes to forum members who guessed a quiz right.

Some of the mega-turds I pounded into the ground as tomato stakes...one I beat to death with a dull ax in a fit or rage.

Lets be kind and say there are 44 of them still around...so the pictured “cheap PCP “ is a significant percentage.
   

TOO MANY...either your passion/hobby  is shooting….or your hobby is fixing….and they all need fixing/adjusting sooner or later. 

With that many, there is always one or two non-turds that need fixing or adjusting….you’ve reached your personal limit when the choice is between spending a day fixing or spending a day shooting.
 
(ever watch Jay Leno’s garage….were I rich, I’d have someone else to rebuild/fix them and I’d just “drive” them)

Which is why I’m a fan of “simple” unregulated PCP.s ….they aren’t hard to diagnose and fix...so I can fulfill both time constraints (fixing and shooting).

------

If this doesn't make sense to you now...check back in in 2031...maybe it will by then.

[wll2506]

Leave home from work early to do some testing, fill the gun to 2900psi and let her rip.

Monsters coming out at 885fps, turn two complete turns down, ( now that makes about 7 turns I think) now Monsters at 844fps --- that's OK cause velocity will only rise for this early test.

I put in a 15gr slug get 775fps and 12 more shots it climbs to 795fps and I stop. The 15gr slugs fit in very easily I might add into the bore. Manometer is at 2500psi, so I got about +-14 shots with this early test and as I mentioned an average of 785fps running from 2900psi to 2500PSI

I could have very easily bumped speed up another 75++fps but why bother ---- at this speed and with that 15gr slug I have over 16fpe at 65 yards and when sighted in at 40 yards I have about a total of 1/2 inch variation in height to about 45 yards and at 50 yards I'm an inch low :-) I can live with that, my initial energy is about 20.5 fpe ---- the slug does the rest.

I filled the gun after sighting in to get ready for tomorrow.

I will have this gun and my QB78s HPA, both in 177, both are sighted in with slugs,  the QB with 12.5gr'rs not 15gr slugs.

I will have a pic of the gun tomorrow for sure along with the lowdown on the mornings shooting.

Nvreloader .. The main tube from the beginning to end is exactly 24" long ---- Hope this helps.

wll

[Ribbonstone]

Thanks for being the “beta tester”.

Good to have the length number…..with that diameter and length, likely listed as 136cc’s in volume, even more sure the valve itself is going to be as pictured in my last post….really won’t need any valve porting/mods for a .177.

(Yep...could have made a while new set of guts…..but am thinking they used what they already had and world work, exp. at that price point).

Transfer port/gasket would need a looking at….that’s usually (as you found with the 78S) the choke point.  If it stalls at something like 20-22 foot pounds, I’d take a look.

Probably a longish thin solid bolt probe...long enough that you’ll have to lock the bolt back in it’s cock-on-opening slot in the receiver to get the mag in or out...and long enough that it’s fiddly to load the single shot adapter.

Will mention that VISUALLY..the mag looks different  in the PA rifle pics than the ones shown in the accessories...but if you have two, have pretty well covered the reasons for a repeater (practically….if you missed 2 mags worth, a 3rd or 4th  isn’t going to help).

Still thinking….Beeman really hasn’t got their “snit” together:

From the rifle ad:

Beeman Chief II Synthetic PCP Air Rifle | Pyramyd Air

From  the accessory ad:


Beeman 10-Shot Auto-Indexing Magazine, .177 Cal. | Pyramyd Air




-------------

Hopefully, you’ve been out putting the PCP to some critter-use.

Just not my fate today….all I got it paper/swingers/and some old forgotten Halloween milk-duds to shoot.

[wll2506]

Get out to my location it's approximately 6:30 in the morning I put on my FX Chrono, fire a couple shots at 2900 psi and getting about 775 fps first thing in this 45° morning.

I shoot a little bit, time is now 7:30am and have shot 10 shots, the velocity now has climbed to 785fps after the 10th shot, tank pressure is about 2450psi. I will shoot some more to get an idea when she hits the end of at least 775fps, so far at 10 shots I have not seen any major spikes :-)

The LDC works better than I first thought as my initial testing was from inside my house. All I hear is the mechanism moving upon shooting.

I took a couple of 42 yard lasered distance shots and that 15gr slug is there "NOW", I also took a couple of 43 yard shots and again, that slug was on target and there fast ____ The power is very deceptive as the noise is so low.

I'm noticing that I'm starting to shoot higher my tank is reading 2200 psi now, I'm wondering if my velocity is rising. I have 7 slugs left out of the 25 I pulled out to shoot. I turn the Chrono on again and speed is staying in the 775-785 area for the remainder shots and one more----- and then starts to dive.

Bottom line is as I have the gun set up I'm getting 26 shots, all in the ~775 to ~789 area -- starting out at 2900 psi and going to 2000psi shooting 15gr NIELSEN slugs. I can live with that, I don't know if it is good efficiency or not, but it's OK for the power level I want. I'm very happy getting 26 shots and a extreme spread of around 15fps, for me that is just excellent. I'm sure a SSG would be help me be more efficient and get more shots.

On this gun I have seen you can remove the big screw that tightens the mainspring and also remove the mainspring from the back end I do believe. I don't know if that would allow doing a SSG much easier or not --- I need Bob to chime in on that one :-)

Also because you are able to remove the big 12-13mm screw as I saw on YouTube on the Chief, a replacement screw could be made and an indexed knob could be attached to dial in spring tension to change velocity on the go or keep velocity up by tightening after 25 or so shots, possibly to get 40 + shots in your selected velocity zone :-) ? Pretty much like an Airforce Airgun or a Career :-) ---- I'm loving this idea , :-)

As always, anyone with thoughts or questions please ask or add input, we are all trying to advance and we all can help each other.

Pic of gun below :-)



wll

[Nvreloader]

Will
Thanks for the info, that psi tube is just 2" shorter and .260" smaller than the Sentry tube.

Kinda looks like I'll get one for the HD end in 177 cal and I do have a spare 20 bbl laying here..............

I hope it has MORE room than the Discovery, as I am really working real hard to fit my SSG into it,
less than 2" total overall room .......... , but I am getting there.............LOL.

By any chance do you have a diagram of the parts etc?

Sounds as if it has the power, just needs some minor tweaking...... to get the most from her.

Tia,
Don

[Ribbonstone]

Got use to the “attention investment” of another guy’s PCP.;

Just a rough estimate form an outsider’s point of view.

That would be 136cc’s, running from 2900 to 2000, with 15gr. @ an average of 780fps for 26 shots.

Realizing it’s just a ball-park type of estimate….its a good start for using 900psi

For a non-regulated PCP, that’s a nice tight velocity limit ..although not being in a home shop/lab and measuring each shot, you might have missed something.


Something like 1.0-1.1 FPE/cuin on air use (using about 16psi per shot)..which isn’t great air use, but if it’s not your effort going into pumping it back up to 2900psi, many not matter.

COULD drop the mic now...say I’m done...and just go out and kill 25 critters per 900psi  refill.

Suspect you won’t….will get the PCP fever of either more power….or more shot count...or both.