Taming the bark of an Avenger

[TorqueMaster]

I got the new plume design installed yesterday for my .25cal Avenger. I had to remove 2 barrel bands, loosen a tri-rail and unscrew my shroud to get the Haji stack pack out. Got it all back together installed the plume and was prepared to sight it in. I like to draw a vertical line and a horizontal line in my pellet trap then start with windage, I took aim and fired and to my surprise I hit the line first try, shot a second time at the same line, hit it again so I moved on to elevation, took a shot and I'll be darn, I hit it first try, then shot the bullseye and bam, dead center! I can't believe I removed all this stuff and I didn't even have to move my scope not even one click! WOW! That's unheard of with these shrouds moving around so much. Fantastic work you guys! As for sound, Id say it's as quiet as a Tanto at a fraction of the price! As a bonus I got a few fill probe plugs, now I can fill without removing the plume, Nice touch guys! 5 stars all around, form and function! I am very happy with this setup, a tack driver!   

Don,
Very glad it's work well for you!  Sorry about the earlier issues (clipping) -- that should be a thing of the past barring any wildly malformed pellets.

I went through several tests to try the re-create the clipping on my Avenger -- I never got any but came close.  Ultimately, I found that the LDC needs to fit fairly snugly into the shroud to reduce any angular misalignment between the barrel and the LDC.  On some of the earlier models, I could wrap several layers of masking tape (0.13mm thick) around the LDC, and still fit it into the shroud.  Doesn't sound like much, but it was enough to potentially cause clipping.  On a loose fitting LDC, I also found that snugging it down to the end of the shroud could change the pellet's exit location relative to the LDC muzzle for the worse, and loosening it just an 1/8 turn got it back in the center.  Masking tape over the LDC muzzle, while shooting wadcutters was quite useful in diagnosing.  All my tests were with a .22 Avenger tuned to about 29FPE.

Working with Subscriber, several improvements have been made.  Obviously, close attention to the OD of the in-shroud cylinder is critical -- we're working for a design that -- whoever prints it -- will need minimal or no sanding or tape to get an acceptable fit. 

Rub strips are now on this inner cylinder -- they will allow conformance to the ID of the shroud, wearing away slightly if necessary, and reducing friction during installation.

The tail section has been extended to capture a bit more of the barrel, aiding in alignment.  Rub strips are added in there as well, also to reduce friction during installation. 

The tail section was also beefed up, allow it to be stronger and more key in LDC-to-Shroud alignment.  The extra length there also reduces any angular alignment error due to gaps between the LDC and the shroud.

My 3D printer recently bombed on me, I took this as an opportunity to make some upgrades.  Soon will be recalibrated and working with Subscriber to release some (hopefully) final Avenger designs.

[swingin]

I noticed the first one I installed kinda hung up on the barrel, like it had to push it to get it into place. This new design went on smooth and I didn't even feel it touch the barrel at all. Smooth as silk with a good tight fit. Thanks again, great work!

[Dbez1]

A friend and I both ordered Plumes for our Avengers. He got the 2” model and I got the 4” one. Both fit perfectly and there is now absolutely NO clipping. The 4” is reasonably close in quietness to my long Neil Clague LDC and the 2” isn’t that much louder. Neither one affects accuracy as you can see from the photo below.  My friend was shooting for groups and there are a total of five .22 pellets through that hole at 20 yards, indoor from a bench with the 2” Plume.  I want to add my word of thanks to Subscriber and TorqueMaster for taking the time to design and make these very affordable Plumes available.

[TorqueMaster]

Wow, that's a crazy good group!  Can't credit the Plume, but clearly it isn't hurting precision!!!

Any mods made to the Avenger that did this you'd care to share?  Indoors/no wind surely helps, but...
What ammo/reg/spring settings?  Thanks.

[Dbez1]

Wow, that's a crazy good group!  Can't credit the Plume, but clearly it isn't hurting precision!!!

Any mods made to the Avenger that did this you'd care to share?  Indoors/no wind surely helps, but...
What ammo/reg/spring settings?  Thanks.

He’s at 1800 on the regulator, hammer spring is at 2.5 in, shooting jsb 18.13’s. He put front legs on instead of a bipod, a bag in the back, and he’s done trigger work including longer screws. He’s a legitimately good shot but, being honest, he hasn’t quite duplicated this group since then (but usually comes close), and has won 5 out of 7 of our matches in our little club competition. I’ll post a photo of the Avenger with front legs later. The reason I’m posting for him is that he’s not computer literate and has a flip phone. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Dbez1]

He did it again this morning with the Avenger and 2” Plume. The target below is the second like it in a week and a half. It’s 20 yards indoors with legs on the front an a bag at the rear. What you are looking at is a five shot group.  The Avengers can shoot!
PS:  I wish I had shot these!

[subscriber]

Impressive!

[swingin]

Very impressive! I've gone 19-0 on rodents since I installed the plume on my .25cal. I may have to try to see if I can match him 🤞 Id like to see the legs your talking about too.

[Dbez1]

…Id like to see the legs you’re talking about too.

Thanks for the reminder Don.

[swingin]

Very nice! It sure looks solid. Wooden stock even, bonus! Thanks for the pic Dave. I'm using a Caldwell precision turret, not as solid as your buddy but I sure do like it. I have it on my kitchen counter looking out the window at the kill zone 😉 51ft away, yes I measured, lol. Thanks man!

[Dbez1]

Very nice! It sure looks solid. Wooden stock even, bonus! Thanks for the pic Dave. I'm using a Caldwell precision turret, not as solid as your buddy but I sure do like it. I have it on my kitchen counter looking out the window at the kill zone 😉 51ft away, yes I measured, lol. Thanks man!

There’s going to be a definite lack of rodents in your neighborhood.

[swingin]

HAHA! there already is, I got one last night but haven't seen any for 5 days or so before that under the bird feeder. I use my security cams so I'm doing the lazy mans hunting... 😁

[naptemp]

You guys may have vindicated a statement I made about the tiny holes that are so popular in the sides and rear of commercial LDCs and shrouds:  I said that holes large enough to actually flow air would be louder in the direction of the holes (so possibly quieter towards the front, but louder to the side). 

I also stated that small vent holes would make no difference whatsoever.    Seriously, the small holes are for visual appeal.  Because name brands have them, other brands are expected to have them.  These small holes are nothing but "racing stripes"...

So, you have confirmed what any person with a muzzle brake on centerfire rifle already knew:  That venting high pressure gasses sideways is louder than a conventional muzzle.  You should think of my four stage air stripper as a muzzle brake, rather than LDC. 

I presume you have seen my full length version of the Avenger/Liberty LDC with the dimples?  It is 104 mm longer than the shroud, and has a 30 mm OD.  It is twice as effective as the Shorty LDC:

Subscriber where is the STL for the Avenger LDCs you mentioned?

[naptemp]

So, I went ahead and conjured a Plus 2" Avenger LDC.  The forward two inches are 26 mm in diameter, with the inside the same as the in-shroud chambers.  This increases the wall thickness of the forward section to make it more robust.

I predict a 6 dB sound reduction over the Shorty LDC (not the devices with forward vents).

Images attached.

I will email the STL to Chris (and anyone else who asks for it, with their email via PM).

Subscriber, I just discovered your post.
Can you please send me the STL file?

I have 2 Avengers and 2 Nova Liberty (same shroud).

[subscriber]

Liberty and Avenger are related.  Depth of inserts are different.

Actually, there were many variants of the Avenger design.  I selected one of the latest designs.

[subscriber]

The Liberty insert with dimples in the quoted post above has a file that is 6 mB, even when compressed.   That is larger than can be attached here.  So, you can download it via this wetransfer link (active for 7 days): 

https://we.tl/t-qJnG8E0Cf5

The Liberty STL in post number 514 above may have its threads backwards.  I know the dimple one is correct, because I fixed it.

[subscriber]

If the ".22 Liberty Plume LDC" file in post number 514 turns out to produce the thread counter clockwise, set your slicer to print a mirror of the part, using the front face as the surface to mirror around. 

Actual printing of the part requires it to stand on the platen, on the part's front face.

[Spin]

A friend and I both ordered Plumes for our Avengers. He got the 2” model and I got the 4” one. Both fit perfectly and there is now absolutely NO clipping. The 4” is reasonably close in quietness to my long Neil Clague LDC and the 2” isn’t that much louder. Neither one affects accuracy as you can see from the photo below.  My friend was shooting for groups and there are a total of five .22 pellets through that hole at 20 yards, indoor from a bench with the 2” Plume.  I want to add my word of thanks to Subscriber and TorqueMaster for taking the time to design and make these very affordable Plumes available.

   I sure am pleased with the 2" model you guys whipped up for me. Very quiet, Very accurate. The only trouble I've had was having the threads that engage and seat the moderator had loosened and backed out a little. A quick tightening up and back in business and the poi was back to dead on again. I am Very, Very happy with this printed moderator model and would love to get another one for my .25 Avenger. As I type this I've got a target out on my 70 yrd. stand. The first 3 shots were sighters that all drilled a
small red adhesive dot. The next 6 shots all went into a somewhat rectangular hole that you can cover with a dime. Very soft light intermittent breeze shooting CPHP's .22 cal.
My original .22 cal Avenger shot a 5 shot group only slightly over .8oo in. at 100 yrds  with no modification except a barrel band and in shroud modifier. LaterI put some time and effort and a few mods.Alum mounting bushing at receiver, polished barrel bore, added centering/vibration dampening barrel/shroud bushings, fabricated shims to compensate for loose fit of barrel, shroud. This gun's a shooter as well but I question myself if I want to fool around with it. Even if I don't work on this /22 I still have the .25 Avenger and I'm just about certain that I'll mod that gun. I think I'm going to tune that one "Hot" and see what I can get out of it shooting slugs and some heavyweight pellets
( Maybe if things come together well I'll outfit it for night vision with raccoon and yotes in mind

[Baco]

what settings people prefer to print threads here?

[subscriber]

Baco,

I hope TorqueMaster weighs in.  He is the printer expert when it comes to threads.