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

[Back_Roads]

 The heavier slugs will need to get up to the speed the lighter ones were shooting good at to be of any worth IMO From my experiences alos 
 I was out pesting with my DAR .177 and 12.5 NSAs dropped a possum at 50 yards , and no it was not just playing
 I think the dar is in the higher 20 fpe range IIR , need to do more trials with some cronys, q Lab Radar is on my bucket list.
 Keep playing you will get there or take what it will give you!

[wll2506]

The heavier slugs will need to get up to the speed the lighter ones were shooting good at to be of any worth IMO From my experiences alos 
 I was out pesting with my DAR .177 and 12.5 NSAs dropped a possum at 50 yards , and no it was not just playing
 I think the dar is in the higher 20 fpe range IIR , need to do more trials with some cronys, q Lab Radar is on my bucket list.
 Keep playing you will get there or take what it will give you!

Good idea  I'll push it a little more and see what happens :-)

wll

[wll2506]

Set up the C II + with another 1/4 turn up for more power,(Back_Roads suggestion) first shot was 763 fps as was the last shot of a 27 shot string --- high was 789 at the 16th shot. I can live with this shot count at the velocities using this heavy 17gr slug in 177 cal. This set up is giving me 18fpe at 75 yards !!!

The changed velocity and air strike on the slug may have helped a bit with accuracy as the gun "Seemed" to be shooting a bit better, not great but "Doable" ---- 32 yard group was ~3\4", thanks Back_Roads.

Soon as I can find a ~ 17-18 gr slug that will shoot in this gun well I'll be in pig heaven ! I do think the issue is the slug needs to be .1778+, .1773 does not cut it. .178 or .1782 would probably be perfect !!

I got to say I love this gun, the good shot count using heavy 177 cal slugs with their high BC giving me great trajectory and down range energy makes this a long range pest gun for sure --- 18 fpe at 75 yards is more than awesome for my use.

I have seen YouTube videos where they talk about the gun being loud, Well in 177 and at the velocity I'm shooting with the main spring turned back at around 4 + complete turns the gun is quiet, not Donny FL quiet, but quiet.

I might add at this price point of $179.99 IMHO this gun is just awesome, the 3000psi tank, the adjustable hammer spring to tune to your liking, getting a good shot count or more power or whatever you want --- an adjustable trigger and a LDC --- lots of features for a great price !

So much my musings on this Easter Sunday -- Everyone stay well , till next time.

wll

[Back_Roads]

 Good to see positive results, nothing like a .177 ice pick to a pest thinking process. Now where did that rabbit go 

[wll2506]

I have Griffin 17gr hollow cavity slugs arriving on Friday, along with some Seneca 16.1gr dome pellets. So far she shoots the NSA 15gr slugs just great and the JSB Monsters are terrific also. I'm hoping the 17gr Griffin hollow base shoot better than their 17gr cup base do in my gun. From all reports the Seneca domes shoot very well in PCP guns so I'm excited to see how they do in the C II +

wll

[Ribbonstone]

Spring time….have done the .177 power-PCP in the past , but no factory ready swaged slugs at the time.  +30 foot pounds wasn’t hard to set up with a couple of PCP rifles...but the pellets of that time resented being pushed that hard.

Come early Fall….if God permits….will set up the  same .177 test rifle (Bam 51) with  a selection of slugs and see what will happen with “modern” .177slugs.

[wll2506]

Spring time….have done the .177 power-PCP in the past , but no factory ready swaged slugs at the time.  +30 foot pounds wasn’t hard to set up with a couple of PCP rifles...but the pellets of that time resented being pushed that hard.

Come early Fall….if God permits….will set up the  same .177 test rifle (Bam 51) with  a selection of slugs and see what will happen with “modern” .177slugs.

I just contacted Steve (AVS Slugs) to see if he had any 177 slugs coming out, and that I wanted ~.1785 OD .177 are not cutting it, .1778 are pretty good, but still can stand for some improvement !

wll

[wll2506]

Set my gun up at 2700psi and cranked my power wheel 3/4 of a turn up from my 15gr NSA Slug starting point.

For 10 shots I averaged 801fps and 18 yard accuracy was   ~ 1/2+ inch. If I was steadier I could have done better.

Also shot my new Griffin 17gr Hollow Base slugs and they shot like  #*>×₩€<(.  I think a few were starting to go in sideways.

I checked the rifling on the slugs and it was visible but not grabbing the slug, don't have this issue with the 15gr NSA's I have been shooting. I will be powder-coating the Giffen slugs to see if the added diameter helps.

Griffin slugs are very nicely made and are very consistant, but this gun may have a bigger bore and that's the issue !!!

Much more testing to come !

PS : Does anyone know the BC of the Seneca ( Eunjin) Domes ?


wll

[Ribbonstone]

EunJins can work...doubt the BC is all that high, but I’ve not tested it.  Need two working chronographs to shoot over.

Are a bit slower than I expected….likely because of bore friction (a lot more of the pellet actually touches rifling).

Different rifle...but the same idea of a fast .177.

These had been pushed though the bore to see check the fit...EunJins were “fat heads” but shot OK.

f93148e1-0cc1-4ba7-91d2-0898059c7d93 by Robert Dean, on Flickr


Turns out, nothing LONGER than the JSB’s would shoot...the two on the right showed tipping and never made it to a longer range test.  Turns out, for that rifle, anything over .31” in length wasn’t stable.


1d00f6bd-0459-49c3-a9ca-c0a9c8fb2072 by Robert Dean, on Flickr


Various ones dropped out by 50 yards…..moved the 3 winners to 75 yards.


fbf6556b-79dd-4f81-99cd-06e6bb72fa83 by Robert Dean, on Flickr

Sure looks like the 13.4’s made more of a rip than a clean hole at that range….stability is a bit suspect.


No idea what your barrel will like or hate….or how fast you want to try to push them.  Bumping the above from “soft tune” to “hard tune” kicked speed/energy up to about 30foot pounds...but the only result was that the lite pellets shot worse/shot count shorter.

[wll2506]

Would have been fishing if I didn't get lost and had to go back home, but that is another very, very disappointing story.

So I'm out to test out Seneca 16.1gr domes this am, instead of wetting a line ---- I have my power set 1/2 turn up from my NSA 15gr slug setting.

Hoping that starting at 3000 hope I get 775 fps so it climbs to ~800+ish and back down after 25 + shots.

I will make power adjustments after the second shot if things are not right. Let the show begin :-)

Well I took two shots after I adjusted the wheel 1/2 turn, 800+ fps, to much in the beginning so I un-turned it a quarter of a turn--- velocity in the 782fps mark, I left it alone. After 10 shots she is shooting 798fps at 2800 psi, and I know she will start to climb.

At my test target steel plate it is apparent this gun loves the Eunjin 16.1gr pellets, easy ~1/2" accuracy at 26 yards. At 43 yards my elevation is good (a touch high) as much as I can tell.

I checked and checked for a BC on this pellet, and the best I could find was from years ago a guy shooting 1000fps and got a BC of .035. Well since I'm shooting ~200 fps slower and BC decreases with an increase in speed near/at the speed of sound (I believe) I gave this pellet a BC of .037. I think I should be close but BC is often different in gun to gun, atmospheric conditions and bla, bla, bla.

Anyway, saw rabbits and song birds so far, nothing I would go after, so I start to shoot at some small rocks and twigs at a lasered 54-56 yards away (depending on what side of the hill I shot at) and I smacked everything in sight, I have NEVER shot like that before at those (to me) very long airgun ranges. I might add it hits with authority too !! I have shot 19 shots and the gauge reads 2400psi+

I shot to 31 shots total today and the gauge read 2000 psi and my last shot was 789fps, so I stopped. My average velocity was 802fps, with a low shot of 779fps, and a high of 820fps. Most shots were in the 800fps zone for sure. My average muzzle energy was 23fpe !

I was absolutely amazed today at the accuracy of these Seneca (Eunjin) heavy domed pellets. Honestly, without exaggeration I was hitting targets the size of medium size walnuts at 54-56 yards, something I have never done at that range -- and it was smacking those targets with authority !!!! ----- What a sensational Starling, Pigeon, Jack Rabbit, Ground Squirrel gun this is !! At around the 55 yard zone I get about 15.5 fpe, more than enough for all those critters !

Going home to put this gun away ---- again I'm very impressed with this gun, I may have just gotten a good one, or just tuned it right through the guidance of experience from the guys on this forum - I'm happy.

Here is the efficiency of this gun today !

https://photos.imageevent.com/wlleven/k10dtest/downloadphotos/Airgun%20Calculators%20by%20Lloyd%20Sikes%201.pdf

Later boys,

wll

[Ribbonstone]

You’ve got a nice hunting PCP...for cheap.  Plastic stock won’t get AFU….enough shots for an outing...shoots slugs….good energy/trajectory for a .177….simple enough to keep running for years (with a nod to the poppet discussion)...repeater/ 3K rifle.

Your NEXT PCP (and there will be one as you are firmly hooked now) would likely increase one factor over another….different caliber...more power...more volume...more shot count.....prettier…whatever.

This one is getting “it” done….the next one would be to get a different “it” done, even though it might be a less often needed “it”.

[Nvreloader]

Will
Thank you for all the info and test results,

I have been following along and have not found this info about that C II barrel, so far.

Do you know what the twist rate is for the OEM barrel?  It seems to shoot the heavier weight VERY WELL.

As soon as I get my Dar holding air, I'll check the twist rate of the OEM bbl, and hope it is close to the C II twist rate.

I among others here, would be tickled Pink,
if NOE could bring out a 177 cal mold designed along the spec's of the best HW pellets,
like you are shooting, and a 4 base pin selection would be icing on the cake etc.............

Thank you,
Don

[wll2506]

_Nvreloader

I wish I new what the twist was, it shoots 13.43 gr Monsters very well as we'll as the Eunjin 16.1gr pellets.. 12.5 gr slugs are very good and 15gr NSA are OK. The gun has an issue with slugs that are .176.7 to 177.3 in diameter as the Griffins I have are..

I have powder coating material coming to increase the diameter about. 001, and I hope that does it :-)

Of course if the twist is to slow then I'm at a disadvantage with heavier slugs.

I was very happy that the accuracy was good with the Eunjin 16.1gr domes.

Yes,, if you can find the twist rate that would be great..

I have calls into Beeman about the Poppet and I'll call tomorrow and ask what the twist rate is, hopefully they will get on the line..

Thank you again for your response.

wll

[AndyKunz]

 I hope you have better results with Beeman than I had. They still haven't returned email or phone calls from last summer.

Andy

[wll2506]

Called Beeman and told them that folks on the airgun forums have been trying to contact them and no one has heard anything and that I have called twice and have got no response ! Anyone that has a contact let me know and I will call.

wll

[Ribbonstone]

Hard azz,,,but that’s  today’s Beeman PCP’s.

No important replacement parts...if you can’t make it, are screwed as you can’t buy it,

[AndyKunz]

The only reason I still have my 1085 is because of superb knowledge and patience of Ribbonstone for QB78s in general.  Thanks to his teaching, I've got it shooting really well - much more consistency and hitting harder.  Last week I checked it - 6 shots from 571 to 573fps with 10.9gr at the far end of a 14 yard test (ie, NOT muzzle velocity).

And I plan on working on it more to improve performance.  A few weeks ago I put a reflex sight on it and got that dialed in.  So I'm really happy with it - no thanks at all to Beeman for service after the sale.

Andy

[wll2506]

The only reason I still have my 1085 is because of superb knowledge and patience of Ribbonstone for QB78s in general.  Thanks to his teaching, I've got it shooting really well - much more consistency and hitting harder.  Last week I checked it - 6 shots from 571 to 573fps with 10.9gr at the far end of a 14 yard test (ie, NOT muzzle velocity).

And I plan on working on it more to improve performance.  A few weeks ago I put a reflex sight on it and got that dialed in.  So I'm really happy with it - no thanks at all to Beeman for service after the sale.

Andy

Yes, if it wasn't for Ribbonstone and the help of others many of the Chinese guns I have would be in the trash !!

wll

[CraigH]

Called Beeman and told them that folks on the airgun forums have been trying to contact them and no one has heard anything and that I have called twice and have got no response ! Anyone that has a contact let me know and I will call.

wll

Your attempted contact technique is not flawed.   I spent a GREAT deal of time with emails and phone calls to finally get parts to repair my defective Chief (#3) that had to be owner damaged to remove the air tube end cap.   (a story unto itself that was published here on GTA)

[wll2506]

Called Beeman and told them that folks on the airgun forums have been trying to contact them and no one has heard anything and that I have called twice and have got no response ! Anyone that has a contact let me know and I will call.

wll

Your attempted contact technique is not flawed.   I spent a GREAT deal of time with emails and phone calls to finally get parts to repair my defective Chief (#3) that had to be owner damaged to remove the air tube end cap.   (a story unto itself that was published here on GTA)

Do you have a link to that story ?

wll