Snow Peak Air Guns

[sandog1]

I have two of these now and wouldn't rule out getting a couple more. For $200 guns, they show much better workmanship and attention to detail than most Chinese products we come in contact with.
My first was the Stormrider Gen II, love the light weight and accuracy. Sure, shot count could be better, but then it wouldn't be so trim and lightweight.
 A few weeks later I was ordering a Seneca Dragonfly Mk2. I was in the market for something more updated than old Sheridan pumper I have, and the fact that the Dragonfly would use the same ammo and magazines was a big plus. The Dragonfly MK2 does not disappoint.

Some of the other models that Snow Peak sells are pretty cool. Like the M30, where the barrel runs down the center of the air tube/shroud.
Beautiful rifle, the only one I saw for sale was on a South African airgun website and was 14,000 rand which is around $800.
Really clean & simple lines. There is the standard bolt M30, and the M30A which has a small side lever.

The M30s look like they have actual checkering, but for that much money they should.
My Stormrider and DF MK2 have "cosmetic only" checkering, just a laser imprint but nothing to help the grip.
The faux checkering is my only gripe so far with either gun.
Pics of M30 and M30A:

[sandog1]

My Gen II Stormrider has a 3-12x Bugbuster with side focus, with Sportsmatch medium rings. I tried lower rings, but the scope had to be just so or the magazine wouldn't clear. The long aluminum moderator that came with the rifle does surprisingly well for a cheap unit, the Stormrider is backyard friendly with it, and almost .22 LR loud without it. I recently bought a Huggett Belita for the Stormrider. Adequate sound moderation and still compact, I like it.

I removed the Stormrider factory barrel band and ground off the protruding wing from it, and moved the band out near the end of the air tube.
On either side of the band are carbon fiber sleeves, 12mm on the inside (perfect fit) and 16mm on the outside.
Whether they can be tensioned enough to help accuracy is questionable, but accuracy is maybe a bit better since doing the CF tubes.
Groups with any of the middle weight JSB's still boringly go thru the same hole at 15-20 yards.
I think the fatter barrel profile looks much better, and the tube weighs maybe 3 ounces, not a whole lot.

The old moderator from the Stormrider went on the Dragonfly. The Dang thing was really long though and had about seven chambers in it.
I shortened it nearly two inches, lost 2 chambers but it does well enough making the Dragonfly quieter.
I settled on 8 pumps for the DF Mk2, but if I had to shoot a big pest in the yard I might use 10 or 12.
A Konus 4x scope is being used on the Dragonfly, I had it on hand and it has worked out well on the DF Mk2. Really clear and compact scope.
When I photograph both SPA guns together, the Dragonfly looks huge no matter how they are positioned. They are both the same size until you get forward of the breech. Same buttstock, same pistol grip and trigger guard, same barrel profile.
Only the longer air tube and fore arm (pump handle) makes it bigger than the Stormrider.

When the Stormrider runs low on air, as it inevitably will, I always pick up the Dragonfly and keep on shooting.
It's an easy transition, what with both rifles having the same buttstock, similar triggers, etc.