SPA M25 30 caliber

[sculbert1]

I bought one of the SPA M25's in 30 caliber off the deal posted in the "bargain gate".  I had been looking for something in 30 for "urban" coyote hunting.  I had made my mind up to buy a gauntlet in 30, but bought this instead on an impulse 🤣.

I'm pretty impressed with the fit and finish,  but this is a BIG GUN... but so is the gauntlet 30.  I played with it in the garage a few nights with the chronograph dialing it in a little.  It was terribly inefficient as delivered, but I've got it serviceable now.

As delivered with a 3.35" hammer spring and 50.46gr snowpeak pellets the shot string was this.
1070, 1050, 1023, 1006, 985, 971, 954.

It was like an unregulated gun and VERY loud. I cut the hammer spring back to 3.00" and tried again.
1066, 1056, 1040, 1020, 998, 962, 955

That was better, but still loud and not very consistent. I cut the hammer spring again to 2.80" and tried again.
998, 1007, 993, 1004, 1003, 1001, 1005, 989, 970, 963.

I can live with that for sure. It's still a little hot for pellets,  but I'm planning on shooting slugs in the mid 50gr range, so I'll leave it like that for now. It's also MUCH quieter. 

I saw the pics @nervoustrigger posted of his barrel crown and decided to check mine. I almost wish I didn't 😪.  The rifling at the end of the barrel is TERRIBLE. I've added a pic below.  Even though the barrel didn't give me much hope, I took it and shot it at 30yds today with what 30 caliber pellets I had available and it wasn't too terrible.  I'll do another reply with those results.

[sculbert1]

Here's another Barrel pic.

[sculbert1]

Here's some initial 30yd 5 shot groups from today. I'm going to try and shoot 50yds tomorrow. I have 2 different slugs from NSA that will be delivered Monday to try.  I still haven't decided what to do about the barrel crown and damaged rifling yet.

[sculbert1]

5 shots 30yds

[sculbert1]

Polymags

[sculbert1]

Hades

[Back_Roads]

 Dang still seems to shoot ok considering the crown, but will do better with that fixed. I had a run of bad luck on my purchase from https://www.knivesdist.com/Defender-M16A-PCP-Air-Rifle-635mm-Caliber-Wooden-Finish-With-Metal-Barrel_p_15234.html . First they sent the wrong gun Ordered a M18 got a M16, 2nd I was hoping for a fixer upper, and got a near perfect gun LOL.
 

[nervoustrigger]

Wow.  Yeah, groups a little over 2 MoA is a great start.  That's about all I've managed to squeeze from my .35 cal (at 50 yards) so far, even after pretty extensive barrel work.

I cut the hammer spring again to 2.80" and tried again.

Any idea about where your regulator is set?  E.g. where the velocity begins to taper off?  You ended up with the hammer spring at a close match to mine (2.7" vs 2.8") so I'm guessing the setpoint is similar at around 150 bar.

[smythsg]

Almost pulled the trigger on one of these in .30 cal but decided to go back to another AEA Challenger .30 cal. I sold my previous one to another member and started missing it almost immediately. Yep, the addiction is strong...

[bear air]

My barrel crown on my m25 357 looks very similar. James and Steve your posts make me feel right at home here!

[rkrr20307@comcast.net]

After all this barrel talk I removed screwed on mod and cleaned barrel. It was dirty but not the dirtiest one I have cleaned. Inspect crown and may have a good one. Need the crown done but inners look ok. What do you think ? I wonder if an AIRFORCE barrel will fit this thing. Any one have an AIRFORCE CONDOR that they can measure the barrel to let me know ? Thank you in advance.

[rkrr20307@comcast.net]

More images

[sculbert1]

Wow.  Yeah, groups a little over 2 MoA is a great start.  That's about all I've managed to squeeze from my .35 cal (at 50 yards) so far, even after pretty extensive barrel work.

I cut the hammer spring again to 2.80" and tried again.

Any idea about where your regulator is set?  E.g. where the velocity begins to taper off?  You ended up with the hammer spring at a close match to mine (2.7" vs 2.8") so I'm guessing the setpoint is similar at around 150 bar.

Mine seems to be at 150 bar as well.