Seneca Dragonfly MK2, 22 Caliber

[MontanaMarine]

So I recently ordered this multi-pumper from Pyramyd Air.  I went with the 22 caliber, and also ordered a Mantis 3-9x40 AO optic, and some UTG high rings.

I went with high rings to leave plenty of room for loading with either the single-shot tray, or the 7-round magazine.  The magazine works well, but after running a few mags, I went back to the single-shot tray.  With the high rings, the scope center is 1.75" over the bore.





Before shooting the rifle, I cleaned the bore with some Bore Tech Eliminator.  It was a good decision, as the bore had a lot of grease and machining gunk in it.  I ran about 10 patches to get it reasonably clean.

Before shooting, I also used blue thread-locker to secure the cross screws in the forearm that attach it to the pump arm.  I've heard they can come loose and fall out if not secured with some thread locker.

Pumping the rifle is very easy with the butterfly pump arm mechanism.  It really is about the same effort all the way up to the max recommended of 15 pumps.  Make sure you cock the rifle before pumping or it will not hold the air.  The pumping felt a bit rough at first, but it smoothed out real fast, maybe after 40-50 shots.

I noticed the rifle makes a low hissing sound as it takes on the air with each pump.  I give a momentary pause when the pump arm is fully open, until the hiss stops.  I think if one were pumping too fast, it might not take in the full air of each pump.

Also, you don't need to close the pump arm fully between pumps.  You can feel when it releases the air into the reservoir just before the pump arm is fully closed.

The trigger leaves a lot to be desired.  It is a single-stage trigger with a lot of travel before the break.  When it was brand new, it had significant drag also.  Now with 100+ shots, it is starting to smooth out a bit.  I think it will be better in another few hundred shots.

After I had put 100+ rounds through this rifle, I did some chrono testing with two common pellets,

Crosman 14.3gr HP,
5 pumps -   582 fps, 11 ft-lbs
10 pumps - 690 fps, 15 ft-lbs
15 pumps - 736 fps, 17 ft-lbs


JSB 18.13gr Diabolo,
5 pumps -   539 fps, 12 ft-lbs
10 pumps - 650 fps, 17 ft-lbs
15 pumps - 685 fps, 19 ft-lbs.

689 fps/19 ft-lbs with the JSB 18.13gr, and 15 pumps.  I was really impressed with this much power out of the gun, especially at 4000 ft.,


I though this was excellent power.  And this is at 4000 ft elevation, so the air is a tad thinner than down by the sea.  I suppose I could add a pump or two if I wanted to make up for the thinner air, but these speeds are good enough, and I've found I mostly shoot it at 10 pumps anyway.

Here's a target I shot at 26 yards with the JSB 18.13gr.  Accuracy is about the same with the Crosman 14.3gr.  I had zero'd with the Crosman 14.3, at 10 pumps, so the POI is off a little, but you can get an idea of relative accuracy, and POI change with different power.  There was a 5-10 mph breeze from L to R.




So overall I'm really liking this air rifle.  The trigger is the only thing that is a little annoying, but I think it will continue to smooth out, and those groups will probably reduce when that happens.

[HOSPassassin]

I have almost the exact same gun and scope combo except my scope sits only 1 1/8" above the bore. Yours also shoots a lot hotter than mine. My best numbers are 550 on 5 pumps, 610 on 8 pumps, and 680 on 15 pumps with a JSB 15.9 at 1000' elevation. It consistently shoots 1" groups to about 35 yards.

The trigger is... something. I think I actually prefer the trigger on my Daisy 901.

I almost never go above 8 pumps. It does everything I need it to at this velocity and it cuts the wear on the pump mechanism almost in half.

[MontanaMarine]

I have almost the exact same gun and scope combo except my scope sits only 1 1/8" above the bore. Yours also shoots a lot hotter than mine. My best numbers are 550 on 5 pumps, 610 on 8 pumps, and 680 on 15 pumps with a JSB 15.9 at 1000' elevation. It consistently shoots 1" groups to about 35 yards.

The trigger is... something. I think I actually prefer the trigger on my Daisy 901.

I almost never go above 8 pumps. It does everything I need it to at this velocity and it cuts the wear on the pump mechanism almost in half.

610 fps on 8 pumps seems like a good middle ground considering performance and wear/tear on the pump.

[Roadworthy]

Thank you, Shane, for your in depth review.  I found it quite informational answering many questions I had about this particular rifle.  I'll stick with my break barrel springers.

[Lt. Dan]

Thank you, Shane, for your in depth review.  I found it quite informational answering many questions I had about this particular rifle.  I'll stick with my break barrel springers.

Yep, me too.

[MontanaMarine]

I had a 20-cal multi-pump many years back, it was a Sheridan C Series.  I should have kept it, but I let it go. 

So, I've kind of been wanting another multi-pump for a few years.  I like the fact the power can be controlled so easily, and the recoil is not hard on optics. 

Speaking of optics, this Seneca is set up nicely to take an optic, if that's what is wanted.  At 63y/o, my eyes just aren't much good with open sights anymore, so I was glad this rifle has the receiver set up with the grooves for scope rings.  I've seen the scope mounts out there for the Benjamin/Sheridan rifles, and they look like they work, but not really optimum.

Now my little collection of air rifles includes break-barrel, PCP, and multi-pump.  No CO2 gun, but I likely will not pursue that.


Glad the info was useful to some of you,   Shane

[Psipumper]

Nice. I just bought a used MK 1 in .22   I guess it’s all the same but with a conventional pump mechanism.
Your write up led me to it.

[MontanaMarine]

Nice. I just bought a used MK 1 in .22   I guess it’s all the same but with a conventional pump mechanism.
Your write up led me to it.

Good deal, I somehow missed the MK1 generation, but it should be a nice air rifle as well.

[MontanaMarine]

I have a 7" circular saw blade hanging from a fence wire 77 yards from the house where I have the shooting bench set up. 

Yesterday I was trying to hit it with the Dragonfly, at 10 pumps.  I had the SFP scope set at 5X, holding two mildots over (so roughly 3.75 mils, or so??), with no luck after four or five shots.

So I hung a long piece of cardboard from the fence, and fired three rounds holding top edge/center on the cardboard. 

All three pellets (JSB 18.13gr) struck the cardboard.  Group was 2.75", and centered 19 inches below point of aim.  That equaled three mildots at 5X.  Knowing the correct holdover, I then was able to make several consistent hits on the saw blade from 77 yards.

Long way of saying, this gun shoots pretty darn good.

[NorCal David]

Impressive at that distance. What range did you zero at, and with which pellet?
Thank you for sharing your experiences with the DF2.

[MontanaMarine]

Impressive at that distance. What range did you zero at, and with which pellet?
Thank you for sharing your experiences with the DF2.

That was zero'd at 25 yards, JSB 18.13gr, at about 650 fps.

[splitbeing]

I enjoyed your write up.

On one or two pumps with an mk1, the trigger has a crazy two stage phenomenon. At least my heavily broke in one does.

[HPP-Mechanic]

I got my Dragonfly trigger down to 1.5lbs. Polish the hammer ramp & sear to 1000grit & lighten up the hammer spring.Coat hammer w/moly.

[HPP-Mechanic]

I got my Dragonfly trigger down to 1.5lbs. Polish the hammer ramp & sear to 1000grit & lighten up the hammer spring.Coat hammer w/moly.

Also, dont use silicone oil anywhere; the pump will seize. I use synthetic motor oil. Pumps very smoothly.

[MontanaMarine]

Good info on the trigger, guys.  Thanks!

[Back_Roads]

 One can still get the DF1 from another distributor But I find the DF2 a better gun.
www.knivesdist.com/Defender-LR700W-55mm-Caliber-Multi-Pump-Mechanical-Pneumatic-Wood-Air-Rifle_p_15233.html

[Psipumper]

One can still get the DF1 from another distributor But I find the DF2 a better gun.
www.knivesdist.com/Defender-LR700W-55mm-Caliber-Multi-Pump-Mechanical-Pneumatic-Wood-Air-Rifle_p_15233.html

LR700  I didn’t know they made those. The used one I ordered has Dragonfly wrote on it. I thought it was a rare find but maybe not so much now . I wonder if it was made at the same factory as the LR700 or the current Mk 2 dragonfly? Chinese?

[splitbeing]

Snowpeak makes them and a lot of other guns that get branded by various companies selling them.