Point of impact with my Impact.

By Trooper on Tuesday, 28 July 2020

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Hi every one hope you are all well, here's a poser for you all. I have treated my self to an FX impact Mk2 in .22, and added a .177 barrel kit to the set.

Zero'd the rifle at 20m with really nice tight groups. Then put the .177 barrel in and POI was so far to the right the scope could not compensate.

The RFD I bought it from sent it back to Sportsman Gun Centre (the UK's importer) who said the regulator wasn't set properly, re set it and had good results and sent the gun back. Then lockdown happened.

The problem however, remained. So with no gunsmiths available I stripped the .177 barrel down to the liner and rotated it within the barrel. This had the effect of rotating the POI around a centre point. Bent barrel liner I thought, so I took it out and rolled across a glass table..... smooth as silk. Checked the crown at both ends, they are fine, put it all back together and in my 28 foot back garden shoots 2" to the right of the .22 barrel.

As soon as the RFD's opened I took it back they sent it back to the Sportsman Gun Centre who have returned it having found irregularities with the regulator which they re-built with excellent results. SIGH! You'll never guess what, yeah you probably have POI is exactly the same.

I would expect to have to make some adjustment with the scope, but at 20m the POI still isn't on the target with the scope (Hawke Airmax 30 6-24X50) windage fully adjusted.

I love this rifle but a little frustrated at the moment.

Any ideas from all you sages would be very welcome and appreciated.

Regards,
Trooper.

Couple of questions....

When it shoots to the right, does it group.....is it for example 3 under a 5p. If you rotate the liner and it goes low does it group? Basically if it groups and is consistent if shooting off target then it's good info, if it scatters then that is also good to know...

G

Airgun Gear

4 years ago

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#1002

Hi Giles, regardless of where it hits the target groups are pellet on pellet.

Trooper.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1004

So its not clipping, not the crown.....

Some thoughts

Over tightening of the thread at the dangerous end....can cause accuracy issues, squeezes the liner....maybe try one turn back if safe. Don't shoot it loose though.
You have O rings on the liner, move them towards the top / muzzle - does that affect it.
A deformed O ring would create a consistent group which moves when you rotate it.

Its not unusual to have a small POI change, few clicks, half a turn....but not being able to dial sounds a bit much....if its hole on hole its not the reg.

The above is just a suggestion, always be safe.

If rotating the liner rotates the impact point - its not the main barrel housing.....at a guess. Has to be how the liner seats.

Assume you doing this moderator off.
Assuming mounts and scope are all lined up to start with.

Airgun Gear

4 years ago

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#1005

The only thing I haven't tried out of your suggestions Giles, is the liner O rings. I did look at them and they appeared OK, but I think I'll change them any way and see what happens.

Watch this space.

Thanks for your input mate, much appreciated.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1006

Ok, Got a couple of hours on the range soon after posting the above and found that there had been an improvement, (closer to the target but still not on it) so I rotated the liner so POI was 12 o clock and compensated with the adjustable scope mounts. That solved that problem.

However, when I put the .22 barrel back in POI was all over the place. I learned later that the RFD had several impacts returned with the same problem.

My conclusion is that the act of changing the calibre messes with the regulator. I have no doubt that with enough time the gun could be retuned using the hammer spring tensioner and the valve adjuster but is a lot of work for just changing calibre. The regulator cannot be adjusted on UK sub 12 ft/lb models.

My advice therefore, is if you are thinking of buying an FX stick to one calibre and it will be deadly accurate, you will still have the flexibility of tuning for different purposes and distances but it will remain pellet on pellet. I cannot speak for FAC models.

Thank you, Giles, for your input and I wish you every success in your current ventures, (waiting for the element Titan to arrive in the 101 shop)

As for my Impact it is now in .22 flavour and will stay that way.

.177 barrel kit for sale...........Any one.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1032

Just an update on the above. I have invested in a new "superior smooth twist barrel" in .22 flavour. Once fitted and zero'd I was getting 6 mill groups albeit in my 28ft garden. I was however, only getting 7 ft/lb. It was while I was trying to resolve this issue I discovered that the regulator anti tamper plug was missing, (it had just come back from the UK importers) so I wound out the hammer spring tensioner while on "max" and opened the regulator a three-quarter turn which gave me 10.6 ft/lb and adjusted the spring tensioner until I had a consistent 11.4 ft/lb. Groups remained the same 6 mill.

I are happy bunny.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1103

Just re-read your postings.....I think you may now be the person to go to with barrel questions, while am sure it has been a full on faff to get it right, if your anything like me the journey has been part of the whole thing. Now you know how it works, what to do and what not. That for me is part of the fun - maybe not always fun...

Love the the fact my suggestions were useless...lol...which is what the Wife says to me a lot....pleased you're now grouping.

G

Airgun Gear

4 years ago

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#1106

Hi Giles, On the contrary, your suggestions helped form the thought process. The fact that they couldn't solve the problem helped eliminate them from the process.

The frustrating thing about this whole issue is that this Impact was fundamentally an accurate rifle, it only went tits up when I changed the barrel. When it was doing what it is supposed to I was getting 6 mill ragged groups. The new "superior" barrel
those groups are the same size but a nice neat hole.

My advice to any one wanting an FX in sub 12 ft/lb is, choose a calibre and stick with it. Although I have no evidence to back up my theory I believe FAC level will open up all the versatility that being able to change calibre brings.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1111

This was 10 rounds at 20 metres with the new "superior smooth twist barrel liner" at a steady 11.5 ft/lb.

Happy bunny:D

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1125

A couple of weeks ago I fitted and zero'd my new Element Optics Titan scope to the above Impact. I was ecstatic, as the scope is perfect and the rifle was making the same size hole in the target as the above image.... but from a whole 28 round magazine, I could not have been a happier bunny.

Went home locked up the impact in its case until last week when I excitedly took out the impact at the range and the first 7 rounds didn't even hit the target. I was mortified.

Juggling the regulator, the hammer spring tensioner and the scope I got the POI back on the target but the regulator was all over the place and POI would be three pellets in one hole and next three or four half an inch to the left or right. "Gutted"! This will be the third time it has been returned. When it comes back I am seriously thinking of selling it on or trading it in for something else.

I am back at the range next Monday to discuss where we go from here with the RFD, but I should not be having this much trouble with a rifle that costs close to 1700 quid excluding the two extra barrel liners. I never had this much agro with my SMK CO2 rifle at 10% of the cost.

I shall let you all know what the outcome is.

Trooper

4 years ago

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#1153

Mine was playing up too moving between 9 to 11 FPE and obviously not grouping - so I have had my hammer and spring out to check them and they looked fine - but the spring in the valve housing was "well Rough" and when I tried to open it up to inspect it, I broke it - Ie the I snapped A17 in half.

Turns out the sub 12 "fixed" Valve adj thing (A19) is glued on, I think my spring was binding and causing the erratic power outputs.

now I have the adjustable valve/Rubber Ball - i managed 4X 177 Magazines with a 7FPS spread, at 11.7FPE

Very Happy

FXLover

4 years ago

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#1154

Thought I would take the opportunity to bring this episode to a close. My RFD sent the impact to be tuned with both barrels. The guy who tuned it, replace the valve adjuster and worked some other magic. I can now change the barrel with minimal adjustment to the scope and valve and have nice tight groups right out to 70 metres.

There were times I felt that the impact was a waste of money, not to mention what I have spent on it since purchase. But it is now faultless, and I are happy bunny.

As Giles says, the journey has been an education, and it has taught me a lot.

Despite all the issues, I would still recommend the FX impact to anyone who asks.

Thank you to all who contributed.

Trooper

3 years ago

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#1630