Air Arms S400E

[CurmudgeInn]

Hello everyone.  I met up with some guys from a Air gun club close to me on Sunday.  I went to just check everything out with them.  They were having a match shoot.  I was invited to shoot using another members gun.  It was a Mrod .177.  I had a blast with that gun.  out of 42 target shots I hit 31.  I felt it was pretty good seeing I had never used that gun or scope before.  The fella how's gun I used has a Air Arms S400E that he is willing to sell so I can keep shooting with the club.  I can not find any real info online for the S400E.  Does anyone know anything about them?  Please let me know.  Thanks.

[cactusrat]

If I remember right the “E” stands for the old bolt action guns. Now days the Air Arms 4xx and 5xx series  have side levers to cock them with.

[cactusrat]

SL stands for side lever.

Xtra stands for longer air tube. (about 10 shots more)

FAC stands for Firearms Certificate, meaning you will need a license in some places. 

C stand for Carbine.

And for the life of me, I haven’t been able to find out for sure what the “E” stands for. I’m not very good at google.

The owners mannal from Air Arms show the S400E  XTRA FAC as a bolt action.

http://www.air-arms.co.uk/PDF/S400EISS7.pdf

[CurmudgeInn]

Some one also offered me a Air Arms 200.  The one that has a two piece stock.  I am just looking at these for FT only.  I am still researching the high power PCP that I want as per my other post I made a while back.

[cactusrat]

The S200 is a smaller gun (shorter and lighter). The shot count is higher, but has less power, but still plenty for FT work. A big plus for some people is that it is cheaper (money wise) way to get started into PCPs.

My S200 is more accurate than the S400 and S500 out to 30. Pass that, it works hard keeping up with the other big boys.

I would say get a S200 to start with. After shooting a few matches, you have a better ideal on what you want and can sell the S200 and up grade to something bigger.

If you are going to use a hand pump to charge a PCP, the S200 will take less effort.

If I had to pick one of my guns (what a silly thought) and get rid of all the rest, I would keep the S200. No, wait I would keep the…………….Daystate, no the……….. 

Hope I never have to pick just one gun.

[CurmudgeInn]

I think I am going to shoot them both and see which I like best.  I think our targets got placed between 10 and 50 yards.  That Mrod was out standing.  Very light on the trigger.  I know that the guy with the 400 works on his guns and from what I was told he is very good at it.  If he has tuned it to the level or higher than he did the Mrod I think it would be worth it to get the 400.

[kelly1]

I t

SL stands for side lever.

Xtra stands for longer air tube. (about 10 shots more)

FAC stands for Firearms Certificate, meaning you will need a license in some places. 

C stand for Carbine.

And for the life of me, I haven’t been able to find out for sure what the “E” stands for. I’m not very good at google.

The owners mannal from Air Arms show the S400E  XTRA FAC as a bolt action.

http://www.air-arms.co.uk/PDF/S400EISS7.pdf

I thought I read somewhere E was for export..kelly

[cactusrat]

Maybe so. Why don’t they all have E for export? Being made in England they are all exported. 

[kelly1]

Maybe so. Why don’t they all have E for export? Being made in England they are all exported. 

You got me on that,for some reason I thought it was only the big fully shrouded gun also,time to do some digging on the hard drive..kelly

[Tpatner412]

Nothing wrong with the S200 for a starter rig, but if you can get the S400 I think you will be a lot happier.  It really depends on how much you are willing to spend.  I have yet to meet a group of FT shooters that will not let you use their guns while you save up for something you want.  That is what I did before I got my Steyr.  I'd recommend a 20 FPE gun over 12 to start with purely because they are easier to score with.  With the 12 FPE rigs your mastery of the wind has got to be top notch.  I'd recommend you keep shooting and see what you like, if you have to pick up something like a Marauder to shoot for a bit, then grab yourself a nice scope like a Bushnell Elite 8-32x and save up for the rifle you really want.  You'll already have the scope and once you get the gun you will be ready to go.  If the Air Arms is what you see yourself using then go for it and get a nice scope and set the gun up for you.  It all comes down to what you are comfortable with and what you like, don't feel pressured to buy a gun that you are not 100% comfortable with

[CurmudgeInn]

I picked up the AA S400 E XTRA FAC today after shooting it for 2+ hours with it's prior owner.  The trigger pull is about 2 ounces. The scope is a 8-32X50 Swift.  Loving this AA so far.  :-)

[cactusrat]

Great! That looks like a one hole shooter for sure.

Okay, lets move on to your next gun. LOL!

[CurmudgeInn]

Great! That looks like a one hole shooter for sure.

Okay, lets move on to your next gun. LOL!

The person I got the AA from had a older Daystate Huntsman .177  It took me a bit to get use to it but that rifle is amazing.  I am have been researching for a larger Caliber PCP and made a post on here to that has gotten a lot of good response on what to look for..  :-)

Next purchase will have to be a Chrony though.

[cactusrat]

Great! That looks like a one hole shooter for sure.

Okay, lets move on to your next gun. LOL!

The person I got the AA from had a older Daystate Huntsman .177  It took me a bit to get use to it but that rifle is amazing.  I am have been researching for a larger Caliber PCP and made a post on here to that has gotten a lot of good response on what to look for..  :-)

Next purchase will have to be a Chrony though.

I have a Huntsman in .22 and they are some sweat shooter.

[CurmudgeInn]

Well, the AA got it's first kill tonight.  My stepson went out side to feed the cats when he ran back in upset about a big raccoon trying to smack the cats around to get to the food he was trying to put down for them.  Flicked on the Garage light so the light would shine through the window above the location raccoon.  Went out the side door and at 12 yards got a clean kill to the back of the head.  Fell forward and never got back up.  I would never of tried that with my Gamo Whisper .22.  I do not think I would of gotten a clean kill with it.  Do any of you?

[CurmudgeInn]

You shooting with desoto airgunners? If so Cliff should be there for the Jan. match, loves his TX rifle that fellow does, you might be a springer guy & dont know it yet? No matter, FT folks are the best.
What class are you looking at? The 200 may well be a "12fpe" rig which is great tho if you may be shooting hunter class you are allowed 20fpe. I shoot hunter with a 12fpe rig, it can be done.
Also depending on price & budget, nothing wrong with a marauder, add $100 for a reg and you really have a good FT rifle.
 I actually had to go check what Tammy's AA410 was stamped, "S410 ETRA FAC" and it is the old (I like better) 16mm shroud-per shouded were good also- and no safety modle.
 Fun to test them before buying eh?
John

Cliff Was at the Match I went to.  I did speak with him for a bit about different guns.  I have been wanting a PCP for a while now and have been doing a lot of research on .22 and .25 guns.  After shooting Jims Mrod .177 I knew I wanted to get a nice .177 for FT if I could find a good priced one and I did with the AA S400.  I will most likely get a spring in the future as well.  The sickness has stricken me.  :-)