S
ShadowChaser
Guest
As the Air Arms S400SL-XTRA PCP precision airgun that I‘ve been working on is in its benchrest stock and is now in the proving stage, the only tinkering it needs presently is the result of shooting it at matches. This means life in the work shop has diminished to a slow crawl while I waste time making a few shooting accessories. Thus enters a new FX Royale into my shop…
Late spring, Jim Stanis at Precision Airguns & Supplies has been talking to me about the new FX Royale PCP airgun that he describes as appearing to be a clone of the Theoben Rapid. No surprise as Ben Taylor of Theoben fame is co-designer of this new FX gun as I have been informed.
Then at the June Holbrook indoor match, Norm Lieber shows up with a new FX Royale and right from the box proceeds to win the match with it. My attention is caught and Monday following the match, I call Jim Stanis back and on the 3rd of July, the afternoon finds me opening a box and inspecting a new .22 caliber FX Royale in the synthetic stock.
Once I had the gun checked out, a Leapers 8X-32X scope mounted, and the gun with a full charge of air, I was off to the test range and using JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy 18.1gn pellets, I shot a 248-12X with the gun just as it came out of the box. My first impression is not that great and leaves me wondering what I’ve got myself into.
Understand this is my first and only rifle with a synthetic stock, also my very first experience with a thumbhole stock, and after 58 years of shooting guns with wooden stocks, I’m simply not impressed with this new gun. it shoots pretty decently but to my way of thinking, ergonomically, it’s a disaster…
However, while shooting that first target one thing was apparent to me, the trigger seriously needed adjusting and that kept my interest in the gun piqued so back to the shop and before I recharged the air bottle on it, I removed the gun from the stock and examined the trigger assembly as well as the page in the manual describing the trigger adjustments. It all looked pretty straight forward and with about 5 minutes of tinkering, I had the trigger working a lot better and more to my expectations and satisfaction. So, with a full charge of air, back to the range…
This time the gun produced a 250-22X target for me and now I’m thinking, this is more like it.
At this point, I decided to take my testing of the new gun a bit further and made several changes to my setup. I want to see chronograph numbers to see what the gun is doing and I also have several other pellets to test in it. So, I set up the chrony, recharge the air, another fresh target, and this time using JSB Exact 15.8gn pellets, target #3 comes up 250-23X. I repeat the cycle, target #4, JSB 18.2gn = 250-22X, Target #5 = 250-23X…
Chrony numbers for JSB 15.8gn, high = 964.8 fps, low = 930.1 fps, average = 949.6 fps
Chrony numbers for JSB 18.2gn, High = 924.3 fps, low = 898.8 fps, average = 913.9 fps
I also shot three targets using Kodiak 21gn pellets however the results were not quite as spectacular, 1st target with Kodiaks = 249-23X, 2nd target = 250-21X, and 3rd target = 249-18X. The velocity during these three targets averaged 875 fps , spread ranged from 10.4 for the 3rd target to 23.6 for the second target and the Std. Dev. 2.8 fps to 6.9 fps. Not too shabby but it does appear the gun likes the JSB pellets better for precision accuracy.
All of this testing was done using the Von Ahrens rest with a modified Pappas type front gun guide which worked fairly well with the factory synthetic stock if a bit tricky to adjust to line up the molded stock so the scope crosshairs were parallel with the grid on the target. This combination led to tracking anomalies and I constantly had to adjust to compensate as the gun proved to be very touchy to my hand position and grip.
After this initial testing over the 3rd-4th of July, I decided that to test the gun properly it would require a better means of fitting the gun to the rest to improve stability and a means to be able to adjust tracking and I spent the following couple of weeks at the CAD system and in the workshop. The end results I’m quite pleased with and think the gun is now at the stage of shooting in matches competitively as a means of testing. A new adjustable butt plate with extension and a sled for the forearm end to ride smoothly and precisely in the front gun guide were the modifications I’d decided to start with.
Here are pictures of my past week accomplishments. The FX Royale is now fitted to the Von Ahrens one piece rest with good stability.
Here is the adjustable butt extension:
This works very well, by tweaking four setscrews, I can now reduce the tracking error at 10 meters to less than 1mm shift of the POA (point of aim) at the target when the gun is slid back and forth 1" in the rest.
Here is the front gun guide sled:
This sled eliminates the rocking of the gun on the radius of the forearm bottom surface and provides a smooth surface for the gun guide teflon buttons to rub on rather than the textured stock surface. It also extends forward of the stock providing a PVC block to hit the gun stop rather than to keep banging the end of the stock into it resetting the position after each shot. You will notice the thin light tan strip of VHB tape holding the sled to the gun along the top edge of the sled against the stock. This VHB tape holds the sled secure and allows the sled to be removed without any modification or damage to the stock should the need arise.
Some of you may notice that my Von Ahrens rest is outfitted with one of Pappas style front gun guides. I find the Pappas type guide to be more positive and adaptable than the original when one shoots a number of different guns in the rest. The rest front gun guides are interchangeable, I can swap to the original Von Ahrens front gun guide when I'm shooting either of the two guns I have that have an aluminum adapter plate mounted made specifically for the Von Ahrens guide. I have also manufactured a front gun guide for my Von Ahrens rest that uses the "ProteckTor" leather front bags which increases the flexibility and versitility of this rest considerably.
And the results:
I should explain, this target was shot while testing the trigger with new reset spring and was shot on a 10 meter indoor range under ideal conditions. The target itself is a CAD generated target scaled down to 44% of the official AGBR target dimensions and is printed on 26lb copier paper. The logic is that a 10 meter range is 44% of the 25 yard distance that normal AGBR competions are shot, the standard AGBR target has a 10 ring that is .130" dia. and this scaled target has a 10 ring drawn at .050 dia with a .008 thick line. The intent is that for scoring purposes, the score should represent how the gun would shoot at 25 yards. Unfortunately, one can not scale the diameter of the pellet to the diameter of the ten ring so the end result is a higher than normal X-count in proportion as a .22 caliber pellet wipes out a .058" ring more readily than it will a .130" ring. However the fact that this gun consistently produces 250 score targets during testing is very promising. The real test will happen in September at the Holbrook Sportsman Club Indoor AGBR match... Until then, this gun is purely an experiment and speculation...
Late spring, Jim Stanis at Precision Airguns & Supplies has been talking to me about the new FX Royale PCP airgun that he describes as appearing to be a clone of the Theoben Rapid. No surprise as Ben Taylor of Theoben fame is co-designer of this new FX gun as I have been informed.
Then at the June Holbrook indoor match, Norm Lieber shows up with a new FX Royale and right from the box proceeds to win the match with it. My attention is caught and Monday following the match, I call Jim Stanis back and on the 3rd of July, the afternoon finds me opening a box and inspecting a new .22 caliber FX Royale in the synthetic stock.
Once I had the gun checked out, a Leapers 8X-32X scope mounted, and the gun with a full charge of air, I was off to the test range and using JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy 18.1gn pellets, I shot a 248-12X with the gun just as it came out of the box. My first impression is not that great and leaves me wondering what I’ve got myself into.
Understand this is my first and only rifle with a synthetic stock, also my very first experience with a thumbhole stock, and after 58 years of shooting guns with wooden stocks, I’m simply not impressed with this new gun. it shoots pretty decently but to my way of thinking, ergonomically, it’s a disaster…
However, while shooting that first target one thing was apparent to me, the trigger seriously needed adjusting and that kept my interest in the gun piqued so back to the shop and before I recharged the air bottle on it, I removed the gun from the stock and examined the trigger assembly as well as the page in the manual describing the trigger adjustments. It all looked pretty straight forward and with about 5 minutes of tinkering, I had the trigger working a lot better and more to my expectations and satisfaction. So, with a full charge of air, back to the range…
This time the gun produced a 250-22X target for me and now I’m thinking, this is more like it.
At this point, I decided to take my testing of the new gun a bit further and made several changes to my setup. I want to see chronograph numbers to see what the gun is doing and I also have several other pellets to test in it. So, I set up the chrony, recharge the air, another fresh target, and this time using JSB Exact 15.8gn pellets, target #3 comes up 250-23X. I repeat the cycle, target #4, JSB 18.2gn = 250-22X, Target #5 = 250-23X…
Chrony numbers for JSB 15.8gn, high = 964.8 fps, low = 930.1 fps, average = 949.6 fps
Chrony numbers for JSB 18.2gn, High = 924.3 fps, low = 898.8 fps, average = 913.9 fps
I also shot three targets using Kodiak 21gn pellets however the results were not quite as spectacular, 1st target with Kodiaks = 249-23X, 2nd target = 250-21X, and 3rd target = 249-18X. The velocity during these three targets averaged 875 fps , spread ranged from 10.4 for the 3rd target to 23.6 for the second target and the Std. Dev. 2.8 fps to 6.9 fps. Not too shabby but it does appear the gun likes the JSB pellets better for precision accuracy.
All of this testing was done using the Von Ahrens rest with a modified Pappas type front gun guide which worked fairly well with the factory synthetic stock if a bit tricky to adjust to line up the molded stock so the scope crosshairs were parallel with the grid on the target. This combination led to tracking anomalies and I constantly had to adjust to compensate as the gun proved to be very touchy to my hand position and grip.
After this initial testing over the 3rd-4th of July, I decided that to test the gun properly it would require a better means of fitting the gun to the rest to improve stability and a means to be able to adjust tracking and I spent the following couple of weeks at the CAD system and in the workshop. The end results I’m quite pleased with and think the gun is now at the stage of shooting in matches competitively as a means of testing. A new adjustable butt plate with extension and a sled for the forearm end to ride smoothly and precisely in the front gun guide were the modifications I’d decided to start with.
Here are pictures of my past week accomplishments. The FX Royale is now fitted to the Von Ahrens one piece rest with good stability.
Here is the adjustable butt extension:
This works very well, by tweaking four setscrews, I can now reduce the tracking error at 10 meters to less than 1mm shift of the POA (point of aim) at the target when the gun is slid back and forth 1" in the rest.
Here is the front gun guide sled:
This sled eliminates the rocking of the gun on the radius of the forearm bottom surface and provides a smooth surface for the gun guide teflon buttons to rub on rather than the textured stock surface. It also extends forward of the stock providing a PVC block to hit the gun stop rather than to keep banging the end of the stock into it resetting the position after each shot. You will notice the thin light tan strip of VHB tape holding the sled to the gun along the top edge of the sled against the stock. This VHB tape holds the sled secure and allows the sled to be removed without any modification or damage to the stock should the need arise.
Some of you may notice that my Von Ahrens rest is outfitted with one of Pappas style front gun guides. I find the Pappas type guide to be more positive and adaptable than the original when one shoots a number of different guns in the rest. The rest front gun guides are interchangeable, I can swap to the original Von Ahrens front gun guide when I'm shooting either of the two guns I have that have an aluminum adapter plate mounted made specifically for the Von Ahrens guide. I have also manufactured a front gun guide for my Von Ahrens rest that uses the "ProteckTor" leather front bags which increases the flexibility and versitility of this rest considerably.
And the results:
I should explain, this target was shot while testing the trigger with new reset spring and was shot on a 10 meter indoor range under ideal conditions. The target itself is a CAD generated target scaled down to 44% of the official AGBR target dimensions and is printed on 26lb copier paper. The logic is that a 10 meter range is 44% of the 25 yard distance that normal AGBR competions are shot, the standard AGBR target has a 10 ring that is .130" dia. and this scaled target has a 10 ring drawn at .050 dia with a .008 thick line. The intent is that for scoring purposes, the score should represent how the gun would shoot at 25 yards. Unfortunately, one can not scale the diameter of the pellet to the diameter of the ten ring so the end result is a higher than normal X-count in proportion as a .22 caliber pellet wipes out a .058" ring more readily than it will a .130" ring. However the fact that this gun consistently produces 250 score targets during testing is very promising. The real test will happen in September at the Holbrook Sportsman Club Indoor AGBR match... Until then, this gun is purely an experiment and speculation...
