Steyr Steyr Hunting 5A

Racing said:

Not exactly new is it.
That being said though i guess most have never seen the innards of these things and as evolution of our dear pcp´s push on.. Well let´s just say the 5A is limited in todays market.

This then a 22 flavor. The Steyr is no doubt a top tier gun and spoiler alert.. it shows. From a pure design point of view there´s in my mind absolutely nothing to come down on. In true German fashion (although Austrian but from this respect, same same really) it´s designed and made 100% sans any flaws. It really is that simple.

No. Barrel is not threaded and i believe Steyr offered a similar collar setup to be able to install a moderator. Ie; a 1/2"-20 UNF thread out front. No matter, i made my own from steel and brass thinking it might be a nice blend for the rifle. Thing is set with an o-ring within and is in turn held in by 3pcs of M4 allen stop screw, thereby being able to be adjusted for linearity vs the barrel (zero runout on the moderator).

In contrast to most pcp´s the amount of machining going into this piece isn´t to shake a stick at. In essence the machining needed has been been regarded as such that a minimum of parts to a degree and in turn on three given "lines" on the main receiver.
In pic the valve assy, as you can see out of stainless steel. The poppet on a 1.5mm shank with an aluminium hat that has an o-ring set into it. The bearing surface on the actual valve housing is a tad limited but this is again catered to in that the "top hat" there (which is part of the anti bounce system) holds the end of the poppet shank and that top hat is set with minimal clearance vs the valve housing.
Note the a´la Hatsan multiple exhaust ports, which in turn are rather large seeing the caliber.

These are offered in an array of power levels. From the German "frei" 7,5J and upwards, ending in 40J/29,5fpe. Transfer port carries an end plug that´s a M6 allen stop screw and as M6 is threaded on a 5mm dia hole it stands to reason that the transfer port is on that, 5mm dia.
Power is adjusted by an allen stop screw that sports a through hole and this through hole is what varies power output. The transfer channel is the sealed off by yet an allen stop screw, sealed with Loctite.
That being said then if you remove the "power insert" what sets the limit on these units is twofold. First up the valve seat is on a mere 4,3mm and in turn - if my calculations are on the money - approx 17cc´s of plenum volume.
In other words to make a Hunting 5A reach more modern levels these are the two things to adress.

Poppet return spring is a rather stiff proposition. In turn it at one end sits on that plastic guide rod, and this rod runs the length of the plenum volume. Note the green colored o-rings used through out, these are harder than the regular Buna 70 ones we encounter, why i presume they´re 90s.?

The mags. Might look a bit peculiar but nor is the setup new by any measure and nor is it especially stupid. So called "harmonica" mags were at one time all the rage back in the later 1800´s and i guess Steyr took it from there.
These fit into a mag well, of course, and the fitting of them is minute to say the least. However, end shake is really set by how you install the barrel, as that pushes directly on them. In short end shake is "variable" , as it were.
This particular gun i picked up used and as i got to try it out with a moderator out front it soon enough became evident that she leaks at the rear of the mag well setup, so need to adress that.
I know from previous that when stunts like this are pulled the actual "leak" induced by the clearance between the mag and the mag well they can be set REAL tight and thus the setup become real silent too - spite that clearance.

Hammer then. A very short very light offering. If memory serves on a mere 21 grams? (will have to double check that figure). Hammer rides on two "rods" running the outside of the receiver, which brings that the hammer can´t really but run in a very linear fashion. Small spring in turn, part of the anti bounce as you can figure.
Rods are screwed to the hammer on two points for each side.

"German efficiency". Indeed. That there is the regulator and the tube/tank threads directly to it. By altering the belleville washers within base regulator pressure is varied at will. In turn that small screw ya see there is where each setting can be dialed.
On that note i find it a bit peculiar there´s no reg pressure gauge really.? Dunno why that is, these days there certainly would be one present. (Gun was made in 2018 btw)

So.
What gives?
Well. As the opportunity presented itself with this semi i thought it´d be a neat gun to use on the rats. That´s mainly what i keep all my pcp´s for so, yeah. This brings that the piece will see a rather elaborate moderator out front, noone appreciates a high note airgun.
Still compact, REAL compact even (this is the shorter Scout model) and as such.. Would 40J suffice for the task at hand? I guess, but why risk it really as i´m then and again presented with shots that can extend a bit.
Thus i will make power jump a tad on this unit. Nope. No fire breather by any measure, just jump.

It has been claimed that these ain´t "slug guns" and be that as it may nor is THAT a first either. As i checked 30 grain pills fit the mags no issue, it miiiiight be there´s room in there for a 32. Dunno as of this writing.

This being said the Hunting 5 has become slightly of age, and i guess it shows. To cope with customer demands i have a real hard time seeing how anyone would pick a 40J stonewall pcp up today, and especially at the hang tag these one carries.
In essence, to large degree, it was put into market together with other similar guns, like the BSA R-10 and what not.

Yeah well, one of them came through my hands as well, again a puff claimed not to cater to slugs. This then an "export" version. Well, hogwash. It toss´s slugs like noones business and does so the north side of 1000+fps all day. Yes, it now sports a stand alone plenum. Very very accurate with slugs and an absolute delight to use.

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Racing said:

Well... we´re getting there. Don´t get me wrong, some will find that plenum to stand out like a sore thumb but at the end of the day an increased volume is simply needed to get this thing going like it or not.
No.
Something bolted between the regulator and the receiver will not suffice, at least not if ample volume is what we´re after.

Where we´re at that thing is set to ride REAL close to the receiver and is hooked to it at that minor cutout on the stock. That hole is threaded M10*1 and sports a countersunk flat to take an o-ring.

These pics were the last thing before closing shop today so the scope is just on there for the pics. Got the picatinny adapter for it too but at that rate it raises the scope to a point where a comb riser would be needed in my opinion.

Power wise we´ll have to hold off a little, as stated.. last thing of the day. But suffice it to say that she´s back together in one piece again and it seems we´re all systems go.

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Racing said:

Have spent a few days working on this thing, or more to the point figuring it out.

In doing so i believe i´ve got it to a point where i´ll hopefully see more reasonable muzzle energy. Where it´ll boil down is anybodys guess as of current but...

What i would really like to get across is the build quality of this thing cause it´s nothing short of insane. Really.

Whatever you bring the tools to, the thing is just "there" for lack of better words. Yes. Color me impressed.

Now. Idea here, from a practical POW, is to be able to toss regular Knockouts @ 25,4 grains. Out of a few different reasons really, so.. please bare with me here...
Again. No. This is not an exercise in creating yet another "fire breather". However, i do feel that the stonewall 40J from these things is selling it short.
Know well enough that if i can push them 25,4´s well into the thousands i´ll be content right there.
Yes.
Aware that the mags are "really" thought to work with pellets, but truth be told having tried them out with modern day slugs of the right diameter.. seems to work too all said.

A while back i came to fool around with an Evanix Hunting Master 6.
Yes.
The "revolver" gun. This holds pills in a similar fashion, just the mag is a revolver drum. Thus the pills are to the letter shot out of the drum in case, and there´s a lead up vs the rifling, and this is where it all went to hell in a handbasket.
Point being that i expect absolute accuracy out of my pcp´s, there´s no two ways about that. Trust me when i state that i really really flipped the coin in case every way you can think of, but.. result the same.
I even got to using a Teslong to observe the action doing its thing as you worked the hammer.. no ills. None the less, i couldn´t get that unit to hand me better than around 15mm at 30 meters.
If i on the other hand inserted the pills into the actual rifling, presented it as such.. one ragged hole and truth be told i never figured out why that was.

Is the Steyr in case different?
Remains to be seen i guess, but these days there´s at least a handful and then some pcp´s that "shoots" the pills right out of the mag where they sit and do so well.
Never figured that Hunting Master out as far as that.

It´s been said that the Steyr is a "pellet only" gun. Might be, have had that said to me before and apart from that Hunting Master those that have claimed all have had one thing in common.
They´ve all been wrong.

Rifling twist?
Yes. Of course, hence why a shorter 25,4 grain slug (for the caliber) might be the trick for starters.

Last couple of days have been loads about details. Have fooled around with the different "puzzles" as far as the belleville setup on the reg, and in turn have learned what that adjustment on the reg can and will hand. It´s in all honesty a rather well designed piece of kit in my book, again.. build quality whatever you touch on this thing is right up there.

What might present an issue, if any, is hammer stroke. Hammer is REAL short n light and is limited in both directions by them "bars" bolted to it that runs in tracks cut into the outside of the receiver. Cause no matter what spring tension is needed aaaand... again. That is a REALLY short stroke for the hammer to travel.
The poppet in turn, as i´ve replaced that, is supported in two places really (stock).
First up the bearing mid ways within the actual valve housing (which btw is NOT out of stainless but brass) and then this very hardened "top hat" that is sealed vs a bore with an o-ring. That o-ring strikes at least me as semi stiff, and thus (i guess) it becomes semi imperative to see to that it has lubricant at all times. Minute amounts does it i´d say but none the less for the sake of that o-ring it needs to be there at least.
So. This "top hat" registers vs a bore on the valve body, and thus the poppet is supported from a bearing point of view in two places really.
That top hat sets maximum stroke at that, and there´s ample amounts of it for what i´m asking at least (approx 5mm).
One thing that´s still a question mark is how it´ll react as far as its semi auto functioning seeing its new power level. Mind you, the hammer is "cushioned" at both ends via set in o-rings. Ie; no metal to metal contact possible even.
What DOES appear to take to some adjustment though is the spring preload on the actual sear. To little and the hammer won´t hook up. To much and nothing happens as you depress the trigger.
A matter of adjusting for the new found power too i hope. If not, back to the drawing board on that one.

Nah.

We´re there i´d say. Going to spend a few hrs tomorrow finishing that valve assy and hope to be able to assemble and try as that´s done.

As i presume most have never worked on a Steyr, i can´t but take my hat off for the engineering that´s gone into these. This is no doubt a quality piece from the absolute top tier and done deal. Hence their cost.

Worth it?
Well. That´ll be something to answer later on. Cause as i get the power out of it i want the next thing up is the accuracy to go with it and as there´s noone to ask as far as slug use (which would be semi detrimental at 800+fps i guess) i´ll ask for a raincheck on that one. Lastly the semi auto function on it as explained above.

Stoked? Anticipating?
Yeah, for once i actually believe i am.

In short tomorrow can´t come soon enough lads....

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Racing said:

I´ve got limited experience with the 100 and 110 but the little i´ve seen and shot them, there´snone the less a rather vast difference in hang tag vs the Steyr - and for better for worse for a reason.

But as you bring it up let´s dwell on it a bit.
I´ve been through my fair share of pcp´s by now and from what i´ve seen and experienced... i mean the imperative part here is power and accuracy really. Power sans accuracy in turn is rather pointless in my opinion.
But.
Does that elevated hang tag bring that much more performance by default?
For better for worse i´ll have to say no and especially so if you´re not all thumbs.

For instance. As much as i come down on Hatsan, and have done over the years - certainly no fan boy, truth of the matter is that one of the most accurate pcp´s i´ve ever owned and worked was a Hatsan Nova in 22cal. Still got a pic of a 10m intl target shot at.. was it 33 meters? A full mag, 10 shots, ripping the center out at the note of a max opening of 6.8mm i believe it was.
In other words a semi cheap pcp really, which in my book goes to show that.. well.. albeit many more expensive pcp is for a reason but hand on heart... is there really THAT much difference at the end of the day when we´re talking downright performance (read - power n accuracy).? (That Nova btw was souped up to the level of approx 90J and main fudder was JSB slugs.)
I guess most would reply yes to that one and be that as it may i TO A POINT beg to differ.

Now.
This Steyr is no doubt off of the "plush" tier and i guess it shows just looking at it, handling both the design and the parts. Yes. It is of very high quality. Does it shoot as well?
In a word yes. Yes it does, but then again i´d say that´s to be expected for a pcp this price range. The HW-100 and 110.. i mean.. the Steyr is almost three times as much.
Would i have bought this Steyr hadn´t i run into it by chance? No. No i would not. Having owned Impacts, Crowns, Daystates, AA and what have you not over the years.... i´d wager to say there´s pros n cons to basically all brands.
Does this Steyr trumph say my old M3? Nah. Not really. Craftsmanship, for instance on the stock, on the Steyr is however no doubt a couple of climbs up the ladder vs the FX units. Pure performance though.. that´s to be debated as you´ll be aware from this thread.

I guess what i´m saying is that I for one am about value for money. I honestly don´t care what it says on the box (or stock for that matter) a good quality pcp is a good quality pcp no matter where it´s been produced.

To be honest I find that sorts of the name of the game, and here the various forums is of both value and importance as i see it as we get to compare notes, which we ALL benefit from.

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