A "Regular" Person's Thoughts About My New EDgun Standard in .25.

[Jim81]

I wish to preface these observations with the statement I am no PCP Garu and I have only had it 48 hours. During those 48 hours I have shot about 8 magazines through the rifle and got a scope mounted. The magazine holders are stellar. I needed all the length of the Picatinny to get a decent eye relief with my Hawke 4x16. As it should, the rifle becomes a bit more weildly with the scope mounted. It zeroed pretty quickly and in the wind I am seeing pretty much hole-in-hole accuracy off the bench at 50 yards. Interestingly enough I stretched out to 75, never having shot that before with the EDgun, used the exact same hold over as on my Wildcat and hit the steel rat the 1st shot. I think after I have it solidly zeroed at 50yds the same hold overs established with the Wildcat will be the same on the EDgun

Now the not so positive...The bolt cocking mechanism compared to my Wildcat is like the shifting difference between a 5 speed tranny with a 3 speed Brownie on an 18 wheeler and a modern 6 speed sports car. Maybe that will loosen up or maybe I have to do some serious lube work. I have found I do use the dual cocking mechanism and the one on the left side get used when it's sitting in a bench rest. The pellet probe and magazine location is right next to your ear when you get a good cheek weld. Should you not get the bolt TOTALLY closed, almost by slamming it forward, you will experience a loud pop and get a blast of air right in your ear. It's loud enough that hearing protection would be needed if you didn't wise up and really slam the bolt fully forward. The moderator is great. However, the pinging when the hammer falls is like what I have seen on some of the Marauders on YouTube before they were anti-pinged.

I am going to need to talk with Brian this morning. There are some sharp edges to the rifle in a couple of places. I only noticed it when I handled it quite a bit trying to get used to it. One sharp area is where the upward slope of the Picatinny begins at the rear of the mount and the other is where the wood surrounding the trigger guard meshes with the metal. It's nothing serious and a few seconds work with a fine file or a Dremel would take care of it. However I am afraid smoothing the metal will remove the powder coating and leave an ugly silver streak. The trigger as it came would be fine on my Daisy Red Ryder. Way behind what the Wildcat is. I will do some adjusting there. And..the good part is adjusting the Edgun is supposed to not be with the potential to screw things up like on some of the FXs.

In the final analysis so far, I do like the fit and feel on the rifle. It has a serious evil appearance. I do think it will match the Wildcat for accuracy. It's equally or more quiet than the Wildcat which has a Donny FL attached. Right now my go to rifle is the Wildcat but that might change. 

 

[Hookster]

I was wondering about the bolt, seen in videos where it looked rough and sounded like it was metal on metal. Also that ping, the dreaded ping I remember from the MRod in my ear. Well glad you shared your views on the standard. I will do more research before buying to see what can be done to fix these minor issues. 

 

[Dan_Br]

Thanks for the honest report, I am looking at this gun also and am glad to hear that it is quiet. I shot a wildcat at a friends house yesterday and it was wonderful, especially the trigger. I was hitting same hole at 50 a couple of times.

dan

 

[Jim81]

The trigger on the Wildcat is stock. No messing by me. It's wonderful!! Did talk with Brian this morning and the cocking mechanism is on roller bearings and does require some break in. Again...the bolt access on both sides seems superfluous but when benching, and being right handed, not moving your trigger hand and just reaching out and running the bolt is more convenient than I would've imagined. That's a not so obvious advantage. 

 

[h2okenny]

I've been going back and forth between an EDgun standard or long (can't even decide that) Vulcan2 or Wildcat. I've almost ordered the standard several time, then decide to think about it more. Do you think the EDgun is worth the difference in price. I'm have a really hard time spending the extra $$$$ for the EDgun. I really don't mind it if it's worth the money, but is it???? BTW I'm a lefty, which further confuses the issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jim81]

Let me preface this by saying I have only a little over 48 hours with the Edgun. I did go back out and shoot a couple of magazines and it did seem like the bolt action was loosening a bit. Shot placement was good. Basically wherever I pointed it. Penny size group at 50 off bench. Only pinged myself once this time by not having the bolt totally closed. That's operator error not a design fault of the rifle. I can't say it any other way...the trigger sucks big time. I have not tried to adjust it yet and it to may be good but I just don't know yet. If you weren't a lefty I'd say without hesitation to get the Wildcat. I think comparing and Edgun to an FX Wildcat is like comparing a Ford to a Mercedes. Those Sweed people have had a lot more time and experience doing the perfection thing but perhaps have gone overboard towards the complex intricate side. I think resale on either are comparable. At least you get a manual with the FX lol.

I think that at this point the Wildcat is a better rifle. However unless you are willing to have a right hand cocking mechanism being a lefty you better look at one that has the bolt side reversible. More confusion...I am a righty and have found I like the bolt operation on the left side when benching the Edgun. Perhaps you being a lefty might find the bolt action on the WIldcat on the right an OK thing. The Wildcat is so easy to cock and cycle a pellet into the chamber. Keep that in mind. Let us know what you 'pull the trigger' on.

 

[h2okenny]

The only bullpup I've owned was a converted gen 1 Mrod with the Maddog stock. I foolishly ordered it without even considering the bolt location for a lefty. I later modified the breech and moved the bolt to the left but still hated the extreme rear cocking location.

This is pure speculation on my part, but I'm thinking since the Wildcat is both a bullpup and short, as in not much weight at the front, the cocking lever on the right side wouldn't really be an issue and possibly even preferred over time. Sounds like if that's WERE the case the Wildcat might be the better option. I've read of a few issues with the WC, but accuracy sure doesn't seem to be one of them.

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Hey Jim81,

You are being very honest and open about your experience and that is great to see. I have about 100 pellets through my Lelya (described by Brian at EDgunWest as a mini Matador) over about 2 weeks. Am I a regular person? Depends on your definition for your purpose here, but if I may comment.

First time I shot a Glock, the trigger reminded me of a toy gun that shoots darts with a suction cup on the end. The Lelya trigger has fairly long travel with a fairly surprising break, but is not stiff or inconsistent at all. We have all read how nice the trigger is on an FX Wildcat, so one opinion is that a new user of an EDgun trigger probably should not dismiss it until given a good chance over maybe a few thousand shots. How many times have you used the Wildcat trigger? It is a nice trigger for target-folks. Some of us want a hunting trigger and the EDgun does it much better than a number of 'military type' triggers I've used in the past. I like the trigger.

I never looked for sharp edges on my sample and have never felt any in actual use. But the skin on my hands might be thicker than yours, not sure.

Sounds like your breech mechanism needs more break-in. Mine does too but I'll tell you it feels solid (6 roller bearings!) and I am not in a position to compare it with a Wildcat. Your standard is a new gun, built for strength and long term reliability. I use both left and right cocking levers and love having both. Any gun that is not ambidextrous will be a letdown after using the Lelya.

One aspect against the Wildcat for me was the idea that the design is significantly less robust than an EDgun. Once again, target shooters are probably fine with the Wildcat's design as regards to physical durability. It does not seem right for anyone to say one of these guns is better than the other. They have different design goals. And, as you have said, you are just now getting a feel for the EDgun. Hopefully you will give it a chance, and if it does not have a place in your rifles, it should be easy to part ways. One thing to consider is that you have not even broken in your barrel yet. It may become even more accurate. They say to clean the bore regularly and the first few shots after cleaning may not be so great.

Give it some time, don’t you think?

 

[jwrabbit123]

I have both the wildcat and the edgun in 25 , mine is a bolt action it is smooth as far as trigger , Mine was about 3 pounds or so I se it where i like it , it is fully adjustable , roller bearings must be multi shot mine are single shots ,, they are a well built solid gun , much simpler then the fx much more power as well very easy to clean , and much less orings , as for adjusting it is so much easier to change say regulator pressure or adjust hammer spring on this then the wildcat, I am going to odrer a leya from brain over the mk2 w/c I have a mk1

from shooting edguns now for about 6 months I only had a minor issue one of them my wildcat and impact always had issues , I think if both makes good guns , the edguns are more durable with less parts great for hunting ,and as far as the manual , he has it online because he updats things I kind of like this better but to be honest I didnt have to go there yet .

 

[davidsng]

I also have a Lelya 2.0 in .22 (says Matador on the reciever) and have over 2,000 rounds through it since mid may. I am very content with it. 

The only issues I have are very minor. For example, for one one of my magazines sometimes come unseated while cycling, and I have to push it back into place. This happens rarely and only one mag does it. Second, putting a good heavy scope on it makes it top heavy. Third, I need to clean the barrel at about 150 shots.

Some of the other complaints of Jim81 I don't understand. The trigger does "not really suck" by any means. (The Bullmaster' seven pounder "sucks"). The problem with people is that they get familiar with one trigger then they say anything different "sucks". The Edgun is for hunting. The entire gun revolves around the the use in the field (ergonomics, durability, reliability, saftey), not the bench. So a hair trigger in with numb fingers and a padded gloves, is not something I would NOT want. 

As for accuracy, the Wildcat probably better for long range. Edgun is not bad, 10 shot group , straight from the tin, at 50yards are a half inch for me every time. 75 yards just over MOA. At 100yards it gets more difficult, but what do you expect from a 14" barrel and a 23" gun?

All in all, FX Wildcat is a great gun and lives up to most of it's hype, but there is a place/a niche for other makers that too. In reality, the margins between FX and the other makers guns are much thinner than most youtubers make you think. (Expect for the Impact, nobody caught up to that one yet.)

 

[Crank]

Jim,

Great overview without being clouded by "mystique" of a new gun. Unfortunately, I have had a wee bit of a control issue with Ed's products due to a fascination with his engineering and currently own 4 (all .25 cal.). It started innocently enough with a new Leshiy and rapidly deteriorated to include a used R5M Long, a used R3M, a new Lelya and I just made a deal for a used R3 in .30. 

Are any of the Edguns as delicately crafted, with a match trigger and aesthetically appealing as my Theoben Rapid? No, but if I ran out of air, I could certainly beat a grizzly to death with one and not be terribly concerned. As David stated, their triggers do not "suck", but are certainly work ready without tuning. They can be improved, but with limits to keep it safe and functional. I detest the extremes when people become blinded by a brand and either refuse to see drawbacks and/or faults, or at the other end of the spectrum, condemn a design/manufacturer, rather than assess the value of a product. 

Accuracy is such a subjective value, and sometimes the subject of microscopic focus. Simply put, if what you shoot at gets hit where you aimed it, isn't that a satisfactory result?

I have somewhere north of 700 pellets through my R5M and it keeps getting smoother, but I agree that this one is coarse in operation and will likely never get to a buttery smooth level. My Lelya has about 400 through it and was much smoother operation right out of the box. Be patient and continue to stay objective in your assesment. Have fun with your new aquisition and keep us informed.

Mark