Aircudas long term field testing

[anti-squirrel]

Nice string, Manny.  A tweak to that regulator is going to net you a really nice looooong string.  I also want to know more about ergonomics, though- how does it carry afield and shooting free-hand?


I can live with a pellet-shooter.  Fire-lapping improved the ability to shoot NSAs on several of my airguns, but I agree an unchoked barrel would be sweet.

[Outer_Rondacker]

Anyone know where I can find a list of the changes that have been made since the testers tested the two air rifles?

I thought I had read here changes were made and off to production, but I guess I was wrong. Im still new here and learning to navigate the site still. I'm not losing my mind yet or at least I do not thing so lol.

[PikeP]

Looks like around 1.5~ fpe/ci @ 30 fpe in .25 cal. Definitely noticing the shorter barrel on efficiency, and there is really no working around to that. Smaller air volume availability along with shorter barrel will make this platform more akin to .177-.22. With decreased efficiency also comes increased noise.

.25 cal really needs a bit more barrel IMO to shine. Toss a bottle and 3 more inches of barrel on this puppy, and .25 cal will really shine. (for its intended purposes in this caliber).

Being choked and 18" leaves little to no room for most guys to that want to remove the choke and shoot slugs, a 16" barrel wont suffice in .25 cal.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Nice string, Manny.  A tweak to that regulator is going to net you a really nice looooong string.  I also want to know more about ergonomics, though- how does it carry afield and shooting free-hand?


I can live with a pellet-shooter.  Fire-lapping improved the ability to shoot NSAs on several of my airguns, but I agree an unchoked barrel would be sweet.

So,

The Standard is truly a joy to carry, the stock shape is very nice both grip and forestock ( like I mentioned it feels like I'm handling my Marlin 60 )

the low comb and weaver rail with the magazine that is out of the way gives you the chance to put a scope in as low to the bore as you can, keep the bell small 32mm or less and you can get very, very close.

The MAX has great proportions, a bit heavier and bulkier but the grip is very comfortable and the beveled forestock is a very nice comfortable design, all in all the stock is well designed and the gun has great proportions and balance.

[anti-squirrel]

Thanks, Manny!

That adds to the conversation here:

Looks like around 1.5~ fpe/ci @ 30 fpe in .25 cal. Definitely noticing the shorter barrel on efficiency, and there is really no working around to that. Smaller air volume availability along with shorter barrel will make this platform more akin to .177-.22. With decreased efficiency also comes increased noise.

.25 cal really needs a bit more barrel IMO to shine. Toss a bottle and 3 more inches of barrel on this puppy, and .25 cal will really shine. (for its intended purposes in this caliber).

Being choked and 18" leaves little to no room for most guys to that want to remove the choke and shoot slugs, a 16" barrel wont suffice in .25 cal.

Here's the deal.  It's a dedicated pellet flinger and doesn't cost much; and I've yet to find a lightweight affordable hunting rifle that has a bottle.  Those 3 words don't co-exist.  Pick 2, you don't get a third.

I'll take a shorter barrel for more versatility when carrying in tight eastern woods.  Bottle-guns thrive as bench guns, but I've yet to find any bottle-gun that was ergonomically comfy to carry and still hit the mark on "inexpensive", which is the whole point of these PCPs.  Affordable and feature-rich. 

The very items that make this gun affordable and lightweight would be negated by increasing length and adding a bottle.

Oddly enough, I have a sub-14" barrel on my Leshiy classic in .25 (350mm) and it's without a doubt the best hunting rifle I've found,  Making a claim of 16" barrel not sufficing is inaccurate, especially when taking into consideration the factors involved:
1- pricepoint
2- features
3- weight

[Nomadic Pirate]

My Rainstorms have 17" Barrels,....they have been pretty sufficient for a decade plus

[Lani52]

This appears to be a nicely made rifle.  The threaded barrel has mostly been in the realm of custom single shots like my old XP Ranger 45.  However, I am just not in the market for another PCP pellet shooter.

These guns will be very competitive and it is a nice stock on the unregulated rifle as I have stated before, but for this old bullet caster it is just another short magazined, choked pellet shooter of which I own too many now.

I have had a few nice single shot slug shooters and still own a Texan LSS 257, but longer magazine slug rifles like the Benjamin Bulldog and the Kral Bighorn, once the choke was removed, have spoiled me with those longer magazines that work well with my cast bullets.

Basically if it is not suited or designed for cast projectiles, I am intrigued, but not interested at the same time.

Luckily for the manufacturer of these potentially value packed rifles, I am in the minority.

Good luck,

Roachcreek

[Nomadic Pirate]

The MAX is really a beautiful gun, you don't see guns that aesthetically pleasing in this price range.

[brewbear]

The MAX is really a beautiful gun, you don't see guns that aesthetically pleasing in this price range.

Enough already Manny! Take my money and send me that rifle!
Not kidding either!

[Outer_Rondacker]

The MAX is really a beautiful gun, you don't see guns that aesthetically pleasing in this price range.

Looks come second. I dont have safe queens. Those days have sailed. If I own it I am going to use it. I care about function over form. Form is the icing on the cake.

[Nomadic Pirate]

The MAX is really a beautiful gun, you don't see guns that aesthetically pleasing in this price range.

Looks come second. I dont have safe queens. Those days have sailed. If I own it I am going to use it. I care about function over form. Form is the icing on the cake.

Fare enough, but what if you cab have both ?

I don't have safe queens and treat my guns all the same, a tactical or a nice wooden stoked gun.

I wouldn't get a gun just because it looked good if it didn't perform, but I also couldn't get a gun that performed but I didn't like the looks.

One example, I turned down a free 1500 bucks gun a company offer to send me because I didn't like the looks of it

[Nomadic Pirate]

OK so I changed my mind again 

Decided to keep my Winchester as my low power gun, so I maxed out the spring on the MAX and this is the string I got,

200 BAR 28gr Benjamin pellets :

848
851
852
850
851
852
852
851
848
849


848
847
849
849
850
851
848
847
847
848

852
849
838........Off the regulator

45 FPE for 22 shots and can get more if fill to 240 BAR

this is also the best string yet, guess the gun is also breaking in or she just really like this tune 

[Spacebus]

OK so I changed my mind again 

Decided to keep my Winchester as my low power gun, so I maxed out the spring on the MAX and this is the string I got,

200 BAR 28gr Benjamin pellets :

848
851
852
850
851
852
852
851
848
849


848
847
849
849
850
851
848
847
847
848

852
849
838........Off the regulator

45 FPE for 22 shots and can get more if fill to 240 BAR

this is also the best string yet, guess the gun is also breaking in or she just really like this tune 

That's awesome consistency! Looks like the regulator has settled in and you are in the sweet spot.

What is the weight on the standard and max? I must have missed where you posted them. The Standard might be a nice replacement for my SPA PR900 (Stormrider) if the weight is very low. I'm hoping I can get my wife to shoot the Stormrider with me since it is so light.

[TroyHammer]

Haven't weighed the MAX but the standard weighed 7lb 2oz before scope.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I still forgot to take a scale from work, I hope I remember tonight so I can get the exact weight of the guns all set up with a full mag in.

[Nomadic Pirate]

So, I'm on a holding pattern waiting for the Hammer weight to finally tune the Standard.
The MAX is where I want it now, she's gonna stay like this.

What am I going to do now ?

In the next couple days I will work on the stocks, some steel wool and then some Tung oil to finish them up 

[avator]

What? No hog hunting?

[Nomadic Pirate]

What? No hog hunting?

Not until I get the Standard up to -/+ 60 FPE

also I'm working so much at the moment with the surf contests on on top of everything else that I really have no time to hunt, by next month I should have some time to go chase them

[bear air]

Can't wait to see how those stocks come alive!

[Firewalker]

Can't wait to see how those stocks come alive!

I agree! I wasn't very impressed with the wood when I saw the ShotShow pix, it will be nice to see what Manny does to the MAX!