Sig Sauer ASP20 Shootout: .177 vs .22

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Ok so I'm going to preface this by saying I probably shouldn't post this. The wind is howling and pushing 20mph here at the moment and my groups definitely suffered for it. I was just so excited to finally be able to shoot my new .177 ASP20 that I couldn't wait until next week to do so. This whole weekend looks like rain and wind so at least I got to shoot with some day light today. Anyway, let's go...

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First up was the .177 cal. Its new so it got the honors. I'm thoroughly impressed to be honest. It managed to average 1.6 MOA over 5 groups which I am very happy given the conditions. I was able to hold off for lulls in the wind for most of my shots but by group 5 I just couldn't any more. It was non stop.

The .22 wasn't so lucky. I actually expected this gun to do much better in the wind AND IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD I LOOKED AT MY NOTES. I knew it liked the 15.9gr pellets, the problem is I thought it preferred the Normas which is what I shot here. Turns out, its a JSB gun. Oops. I also can't count to 5 apparently because only shot 4 groups. That wass probably for the best though because 👎

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EDIT:

Out of fairness to the .22, I shot 4 more groups with the right pellet. Much better and probably would have improved a bit more with a real POA instead of just a general one.

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I love the idea and build of these rifles and would grab one if given half a chance. My only concern is the availability of replacement parts down the road. They weren't made very long or in very high production numbers. Is the gas ram rebuildable? Are spares available?
I bought a second of this gun specifically to tear it down and see what can be rebuilt and what cannot. Not sure when I will get the opportunity to but I will sooner or later and will document/video what I come across.
 
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Thanks for posting...you won't get too many responses because people don't own them... rare gun for sure.

Like to see u stretch it out to 50 yrds.

There is a great write-up on these guns and how they came about.

Keep up posted


I have 2 NIB...
That is a great article if its the one I think you're referring to. I've probably read it 5 times now, including once a couple days ago. It just amazes me how much effort they put into making something so great before throwing in the towel.
 
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Any chance for a link?

Yeah, building a new high-end springer from the ground up and then deciding to just build handguns after all is a baffling move. I guess the numbers (meaning money) did it in, and in the end that's all that matters to a business.

 
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View attachment 454935

Ok so I'm going to preface this by saying I probably shouldn't post this. The wind is howling and pushing 20mph here at the moment and my groups definitely suffered for it. I was just so excited to finally be able to shoot my new .177 ASP20 that I couldn't wait until next week to do so. This whole weekend looks like rain and wind so at least I got to shoot with some day light today. Anyway, let's go...

View attachment 454941

First up was the .177 cal. Its new so it got the honors. I'm thoroughly impressed to be honest. It managed to average 1.6 MOA over 5 groups which I am very happy given the conditions. I was able to hold off for lulls in the wind for most of my shots but by group 5 I just couldn't any more. It was non stop.

The .22 wasn't so lucky. I actually expected this gun to do much better in the wind AND IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD I LOOKED AT MY NOTES. I knew it liked the 15.9gr pellets, the problem is I thought it preferred the Normas which is what I shot here. Turns out, its a JSB gun. Oops. I also can't count to 5 apparently because only shot 4 groups. That wass probably for the best though because 👎

View attachment 454942

EDIT:

Out of fairness to the .22, I shot 4 more groups with the right pellet. Much better and probably would have improved a bit more with a real POA instead of just a general one.
View attachment 454935

Ok so I'm going to preface this by saying I probably shouldn't post this. The wind is howling and pushing 20mph here at the moment and my groups definitely suffered for it. I was just so excited to finally be able to shoot my new .177 ASP20 that I couldn't wait until next week to do so. This whole weekend looks like rain and wind so at least I got to shoot with some day light today. Anyway, let's go...

View attachment 454941

First up was the .177 cal. Its new so it got the honors. I'm thoroughly impressed to be honest. It managed to average 1.6 MOA over 5 groups which I am very happy given the conditions. I was able to hold off for lulls in the wind for most of my shots but by group 5 I just couldn't any more. It was non stop.

The .22 wasn't so lucky. I actually expected this gun to do much better in the wind AND IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD I LOOKED AT MY NOTES. I knew it liked the 15.9gr pellets, the problem is I thought it preferred the Normas which is what I shot here. Turns out, its a JSB gun. Oops. I also can't count to 5 apparently because only shot 4 groups. That wass probably for the best though because 👎

View attachment 454942

EDIT:

Out of fairness to the .22, I shot 4 more groups with the right pellet. Much better and probably would have improved a bit more with a real POA instead of just a general one.

View attachment 454953
Reading that tour on the Sig factory was impressive. It seems to be a really well thought out design and a nice air rifle as the result.
Does it live up to the hype?
 
Reading that tour on the Sig factory was impressive. It seems to be a really well thought out design and a nice air rifle as the result.
Does it live up to the hype?
I didn’t buy a second because it doesn't! The one complaint you'll see on the ASP is the trigger and 9 out of 10 times it will be from people who have either never even used it and just think "oh no plastic bad" or from people who have never adjusted it. The gun came from the factory lawyer proofed. You set the the weight screw to the lowest setting and then turn the first stage adjustment in or out some to set the wall. Like ANY trigger if that screw is adjusted incorrectly, the trigger won't be up to its full potential. It the ASPs case, its full potential is just as good if not better than other high end gas ram triggers, except reinforced "plastic" instead of metal.
 
I didn’t buy a second because it doesn't! The one complaint you'll see on the ASP is the trigger and 9 out of 10 times it will be from people who have either never even used it and just think "oh no plastic bad" or from people who have never adjusted it. The gun came from the factory lawyer proofed. You set the the weight screw to the lowest setting and then turn the first stage adjustment in or out some to set the wall. Like ANY trigger if that screw is adjusted incorrectly, the trigger won't be up to its full potential. It the ASPs case, its full potential is just as good if not better than other high end gas ram triggers, except reinforced "plastic" instead of metal.
I've never shot or owned a "rammer" so I don't know about those. The trigger could probably be tuned I would think. It sounds like a nice air rifle.
The groups look to be good shot in the wind as well.
 
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I've never shot or owned a "rammer" so I don't know about those. The trigger could probably be tuned I would think. It sounds like a nice air rifle.
The groups look to be good shot in the wind as well.
I was never a ram guy because my only experience with them had been Gamos and Umarex. Then one day I stumbled into a great deal on a Theoben Evolution and realized what I had been missing. I still prefer a coil spring for most guns but well built gas rams definitely hold their own especially once you start getting up there in power. The ASP is 20-23fpe depending on caliber and pellet which doesn't really make it a beast but its absolutely no slouch either. To top it off, they're as easy to cock as an HW95 and on a calm day they are a solid 1.5 MOA gun out to 50yds.
 
I have set of ASP twins, in .22cal. When friends come over and are inquisitive about my hobby, I bring those two out, and we enjoy some target time together. They are set up identical to one another, with triggers fine tuned to 1 lb, 2oz. , and same scopes. So much fun !! With little practice, I can best my results shooting my TX200, or my Pro Sport. It's that good !!
 
Been shooting the .177 on and off today and finally settled on a benched hold. Front bag, no rear bag, very light cheek pressure, light-ish shoulder, with a medium firm thumb down trigger pull. Shot 6 groups at 32yds in some pretty interesting winds still.
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I'm calling the .22 the winner though, at least in these conditions. Once I got my hold and pellet choices down for that one it held a 1.2 MOA average over 3 groups. It's amazing how much better .22 does in the wind. The other groups pictured here are the .177 ASP pellet tests. As a side note and friendly reminder, check your stock screws 😆 Those 2x shots on the edge are a 2" POI shift when I realized my stock screws were all loose. I snugged them down and my next 2 shots were nearly off the paper.

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I have a wood 177 and a synthetic 22 cal. I've never compared them in a head-to-head.
If you're feeling up to it at some point I'd like to see another perspective of it. I'm willing to bet they're close with a slight edge to the .22 cal. I just think its a better fit for the powerplant. My .177 seems to be a bit underpowered at 18.5fpe (895fps avg) with the JSB 10.3s but it should make for a great HFT gun