Air Arms TX200 (.177) Chrony Data, after 12 FPE Vortek installation

[Smaug]

By now, it is well broken in, with several hundred rounds downrange. 

Air Arms Diabolo Field (8.4)
Average: 713
Extreme Spread: 14
Standard Deviation: 3
Foot-lbs of energy: 9.5

Crosman Premier Heavy (10.5)
A 572
ES 25
SD 7
FPE 7.6

RWS Superdome (8.3)
A 682
ES 21
SD 7
FPE 8.6

RWS Supermag (9.3) (wadcutter)
A 578
ES 19
SD 6
FPE 6.9

Predator Polymag, 8
A 734
ES 13
SD 5
FPE 9.6

Air Arms Diabolo Express (7.9)
A 745
ES 15
SD 4
FPE 9.7

JSB Exact RS (7.3)
A 782
ES 13
SD 4
FPE 9.9

Air Arms Falcon (7.3)
Ditto ^

JSB Exact (8.4)
A 722
ES 20
SD 6
FPE 9.7

H&N FTT (8.6)
A 690
ES 34
SD14
FPE 9.1

CPL (7.9)
A 714
ES 12
SD 3
FPE 8.9

RWS Basic (7)
A 769
ES 20
SD 6
FPE 9.2

JSB Heavy (10.3)
A 620
ES 19
SD 5
FPE 8.8


Notes: After the kit was fresh in the gun, it was shooting a little harder, 10-11 FPE on average. Now, the spring has taken its set, it's down a couple FPE. I think I'm going to take it apart and put one of the power washers in, to try to bring it back up close to 12 FPE. It's already enough of a challenge being the only spring gun shooter in my club's field target matches, without being at half the energy level too.

Conclusion: The cocking and shooting cycles are MUCH better. In stock form, I felt kind of ripped off, it was so buzzy, it keep shaking its screws loose. Now, it's smooth, but a bit wimpy. Hopefully the washer will fix that. It was accurate in stock form ( when the screws held) and I think it MAY be just a smidge more accurate now. It's less hold-sensitive, even though it was not hold sensitive to begin with. Now, it's just wonderful. May as well be recoilless.

 

[ajshoots]

Very good info Jeremy!!

 

[Smaug]

The kit came with two "power rings" (washers) I *think* I read somewhere that adding one will add about 2 FPE. That's my plan. I just want to get it to about 12 FPE. Jim Macarri says that the set of a new spring reduces uncompressed length by 1-4". In that case, I shouldn't be surprised or worried that I've lost a couple FPE in break-in. He also says there's no such thing as a free lunch in spring guns. For max power, run a hard, undersized piston seal, little or no lube and accept the buzziness. Tight-fitting, smooth-shooting parts cost some velocity.

I also may order some Macarri piston seals (softer material) and see if those boost velocity any.

 

[gamyrick]

Excellent standard deviations. I truly believe that the quality of a top-notch springer is reflected in its consistency. Granted, you need the right pellets but try to get numbers like these with the"big box" store guns.

 

[EMrider]

My vortek 12fpe kit did the same thing in my pro sport. Power dipped to about 9-9.5fpe.

I switched to the vortek SHO kit with their o-ring piston seal. That setup gives me 12-12.5fpe with excellent accuracy and a very nice shot cycle. 

R

 

[Smaug]

...but the SHO is supposed to be near factory power, which is 16 FPE.

I just finished putting in a "power washer." From reading your post, I don't think that's gonna get me near 12 FPE. If not, I'm done with Vortek and will be trying Maccarri next time. That'd be 2 for 2 from them that didn't do what they advertised.

 

[EMrider]

"Smaug"...but the SHO is supposed to be near factory power, which is 16 FPE.

I just finished putting in a "power washer." From reading your post, I don't think that's gonna get me near 12 FPE. If not, I'm done with Vortek and will be trying Maccarri next time. That'd be 2 for 2 from them that didn't do what they advertised.

Correct. Using the oring piston seal, the vortek 12fpe kit gave me 9-9.5fpe and the SHO vortek kit gave me 12-12.5fpe. 

Both had excellent accuracy and shot cycles. After 3,000 or so shots, the SHO kit is holding power quite well.

IMHO, tune kits are a bit random on power. I recently tried a JM "deluxe power kit" in my R1k. It only gave me about 11fpe. Very odd. The vortek SHO kit with no tophat gives me an ideal 14.5-15fpe. Once I get a setup I like, the rule is to leave it alone!

R

 

[Smaug]

Thanks for the data points, EMrider. I'm glad to know it's not just Vortek.

Since I plan to use this as a field target gun, I'll probably write to them about the "Super High Output" spring. (I don't need the whole kit, just the spring. The regular PG2 kit came with the O-ring to go under the piston seal. I feel like 12 FPE is a reasonable compromise between power and accuracy.

On his site, Macarri writes (paraphrased) that there's no such thing as a free lunch in springers. You either get a smooth shot cycle with low recoil and smooth cocking that comes with tight-fitting internals, (as the tight fit robs some of the spring energy in the form of friction) or you get high power, but not both. He then advises that for high power, go with a slightly looser fitting piston seal and a good quality breech seal, use minimal tar/grease and leave everything else loose.


Re. the "Deluxe Power Kit" for your R1, I wonder if Macarri knew this, but was betting that once folks saw how smooth and accurate they shoot, they will forgive the lack of power.

 

[Dirte]

Curious how this turns out. I have a TX with about 1500 pellets that have gone through it. I have the same safety engagement issues and have already broke a cocking shoe. I also think the FAC spring is just too much for the gun. Maybe not designed for it. After shooting PCP guns and going back to this gun, it is just unpleasant to shoot. I like my things in the best working condition possible. I would throw $80 at it..... If it will make it better.
I appreciate you doing some testing for us!

 

[Smaug]

I emailed Vortek yesterday; no response as of yet.

I read elsewhere about someone putting a Macarri kit in his gun and it having "no power." One member suggested it is because the tophat/piston seal is too tight, and needs to be fitted by chucking the piston (with tophat on) in a drill and turning it down little by little against sandpaper, until it is an intimate fit, but not so tight that it slows the piston too much.

If I kept shooting the TX for thousands of rounds more, it might eventually wear down and the speed might come up. 

If Vortek doesn't reply, I will take it down and turn down the tophat until the fit isn't so tight.Or maybe even just go back to the factory tophat. (then place my next order with Macarri )

 

[mrjohns]

I suggest you call Vortek and talk to tom or his son. I don't think they look at emails very often. When I called them, Tom went out of his way to help me.

 

[Dirte]

How did this turn out for ya?

 

[Dirte]

I just installed the SHO kit. I haven't did a chrono yet, seeing how it is -1 degrees outside but....... The gun is much more smoother. The big twang and jerk is gone!

 

[Nueces]

Please excuse this somewhat off topic intrusion but ....

There are many sorts of airgun enthusiasts. They can all find airguns to suit their preferences. I'm becoming a sort of eclectic enthusiast, although will always mostly lean toward plinking and shooting pests. And as a half baked prepper have it in mind that a couple good powerful ( often called magnum ) springers could turn out to be a good idea.

I can see how target shooting can be 'addictive'. It is so challenging and so varied in all its pursuits the satisfaction quotient is near endless. I will dabble there but only dabble.

I would simply like to encourage those who think they might want a springer to jump right in. They aren't just for chasing MOA and under accuracy. My TX is right now good for minute of mouse and the 350 N TEC for minute of squirrel or rabbit and probably a bit larger. Neither of them can reach out like a decent pcp gun but there is a real satisfaction experienced in the freedom of a springer that for some, hard to put ones finger on it, reason that for me is not there with pcp airguns. Plus you can get into this genre a lot cheaper than with most pcps. Less work as well if you pump. %^)

 

[tiptop]

I've been considering buying a TX200HC for awhile and have watched your excellent 30 min. video about your gun. There are extensive velocity tests for this gun on the straightshooters website. I'm shocked to see the huge reduction in your gun after installing the kit. For example, in stock form using JSB Exacts they recorded a MV of 847 and 14fpe while you recorded 722 and 9.7. So you've traded off a large amount of power for smoother operation. Is the gun in stock form really that bad so as to need detuning? If your goal is about 12fpe at the muzzle, I'm guessing you'd lose some of that improved shot cycle. I don't know exactly what the kit you installed consists of - I'm guessing a new spring, plastic spring guide, "hat", and piston seal. I saw an online video that recommended just replacing the spring guide and hat with delrin ones (TbT kit) for smoother operation, keeping the factory seal and spring. Have you tried this? If all one wants to do is close range target shooting then the lower numbers you got don't matter that much but I'd like to be able to use the gun for occasional chipmunk or squirrel and it seems like a bigger deal to me.

Also, this may be a stupid question, but wouldn't the stock spring also "take a set" after initial break-in and end up being around 12 fpe?

 

[coop709]

I am surprised by these results. I was on my second Prosport, the barrel shroud moved on the first. The first one was everything they said, a solit thud with 850 plus on JSB exacts. The replacement was not that. I got a questionable quality finish on the stock, and a rifle with so much spring twang, I didn't want to shoot it. First, I lube tuned it, and it was better, but not what it was supposed to be. So, then I put the Vortek SHO kit in it. The gun was fabulous after that. The cocking effort went up, so I was worried about the cocking shoe and arm. I am a Beeman/Weihrauch man where they are built like a tank. I have a couple thousand rounds in on the Votek kit now. I didn't get a velocity increase, I went from 875 to 850 on H&N FTS, but it's an absolute joy to shoot. I usually shoot at 50 yards off of bags. It's great now, no spring twang now and superbly accurate!