I ordered an Avenger 22 from PA that was scheduled to come in tomorrow. There was a bench rest shoot scheduled today at noon, but at 10:45 it was pouring down rain and pretty cold, so I told myself to stay in and be cozy. Then at 11, my wife walked in to my office with a box shape that I'm familiar with. The new Avenger had arrived!
I popped it out of the box and my first thought was "Wow, this IS light". I knew that it was a light gun, but I was still surprised at how light.
My air tank is off being hydro tested, so I figured I could throw a scope on it and get to the club. Maybe someone showed up for the bench rest shoot with an air tank. So I grabbed an Aeon 10-40x50 that I had laying around. The medium picatinny rings were to low for the scope to clear, so I had to add a riser. So now I have a very heavy scope sitting way up high on a very light gun. Not ideal, but let's power through. Ran 10 patches through the barrel and got most of the gunk out.
Also in my box from PA were some pellets. I went with the Air Arms Fields at 16 grains, the Air Arms Heavies at 18 grains and the H&N FTTs at 14.6 grains.
Grabbed my hand pump (just in case) and headed to the club. Club was deserted, as it should be because other people are smarter than me.
Since I didn't have an air source and I knew I would be hand pumping, the first thing I decided to do was apply a hand pump tune. The gauge was showing about 1000 PSI in the gun, so no big loss to go ahead and bleed it out. Turned the reg all the way down, pumped to about 2,900, waited until my vision cleared, then turned the reg up to about 1,250 PSI (ish). Checked the striker and it was backed all the way out. I thought that was weird, I was under the impression that they come about 3 turns in from the factory. Oh well, went ahead and turned it in about 1 1/2 turns.
Moment of truth, time to start slinging some pellets. And sling them I did. Took about 20 shots to get on paper (scope was set crazy low from previous gun), then another 5 shots to get somewhat zeroed. This is all at 25 yards with a 5 mph quarter tail wind.
Then I shot a 5 shot group with the FTTs, little over 2 inches. Well, this is horrible. I decided the barrel needs a little more seasoning and I'm probably close to shooting off the reg, so more pumping.
Then I shot about 5 shots to zero the Air Arms Fields and shot a group. About .35", one ragged hole. This is more like it.
More pumping (yay), zeroed the Air Arms Heavies and shot a 5 shot group. About .49" with a flyer, fairly strung out but everything was touching.
Then shot another 5 shot group with the FTTs. A very tight one hole .25" group with a flyer.
I think there's enough air in the gun for 5 more shots, so I went to the 50 yard range. Shot the 16 gr Air Arms and shot a very tidy 3 shot group at .40", and then 2 more shots (on the right side) that I could tell were off the reg. Decided to take my frozen fingers and wet feet home.
So first impression, best $300 I've ever spent on an air gun. Until someone comes out with a better stock, I'll need to add some weight. Probably put some duct seal in the butt stock and put a bipod on the front. I have a 10 oz barrel weight that would fit on the air tube, but adding weight to the tube so close to the barrel band seems like a bad idea.
I've put a much smaller scope on it, so it's less top heavy. Here are some group photos. They aren't great because everything was soaking wet.
Air Arms Field 16 gr 25yd
H&N FTT 14.6 gr (flyer top right) 25yd
Air Arms Heavy 18 gr (Strung out, flyer top right) 25yd
Air Arms 16gr at 50 yds (two shots on the right were off the regulator)
I popped it out of the box and my first thought was "Wow, this IS light". I knew that it was a light gun, but I was still surprised at how light.
My air tank is off being hydro tested, so I figured I could throw a scope on it and get to the club. Maybe someone showed up for the bench rest shoot with an air tank. So I grabbed an Aeon 10-40x50 that I had laying around. The medium picatinny rings were to low for the scope to clear, so I had to add a riser. So now I have a very heavy scope sitting way up high on a very light gun. Not ideal, but let's power through. Ran 10 patches through the barrel and got most of the gunk out.
Also in my box from PA were some pellets. I went with the Air Arms Fields at 16 grains, the Air Arms Heavies at 18 grains and the H&N FTTs at 14.6 grains.
Grabbed my hand pump (just in case) and headed to the club. Club was deserted, as it should be because other people are smarter than me.
Since I didn't have an air source and I knew I would be hand pumping, the first thing I decided to do was apply a hand pump tune. The gauge was showing about 1000 PSI in the gun, so no big loss to go ahead and bleed it out. Turned the reg all the way down, pumped to about 2,900, waited until my vision cleared, then turned the reg up to about 1,250 PSI (ish). Checked the striker and it was backed all the way out. I thought that was weird, I was under the impression that they come about 3 turns in from the factory. Oh well, went ahead and turned it in about 1 1/2 turns.
Moment of truth, time to start slinging some pellets. And sling them I did. Took about 20 shots to get on paper (scope was set crazy low from previous gun), then another 5 shots to get somewhat zeroed. This is all at 25 yards with a 5 mph quarter tail wind.
Then I shot a 5 shot group with the FTTs, little over 2 inches. Well, this is horrible. I decided the barrel needs a little more seasoning and I'm probably close to shooting off the reg, so more pumping.
Then I shot about 5 shots to zero the Air Arms Fields and shot a group. About .35", one ragged hole. This is more like it.
More pumping (yay), zeroed the Air Arms Heavies and shot a 5 shot group. About .49" with a flyer, fairly strung out but everything was touching.
Then shot another 5 shot group with the FTTs. A very tight one hole .25" group with a flyer.
I think there's enough air in the gun for 5 more shots, so I went to the 50 yard range. Shot the 16 gr Air Arms and shot a very tidy 3 shot group at .40", and then 2 more shots (on the right side) that I could tell were off the reg. Decided to take my frozen fingers and wet feet home.
So first impression, best $300 I've ever spent on an air gun. Until someone comes out with a better stock, I'll need to add some weight. Probably put some duct seal in the butt stock and put a bipod on the front. I have a 10 oz barrel weight that would fit on the air tube, but adding weight to the tube so close to the barrel band seems like a bad idea.
I've put a much smaller scope on it, so it's less top heavy. Here are some group photos. They aren't great because everything was soaking wet.
Air Arms Field 16 gr 25yd
H&N FTT 14.6 gr (flyer top right) 25yd
Air Arms Heavy 18 gr (Strung out, flyer top right) 25yd
Air Arms 16gr at 50 yds (two shots on the right were off the regulator)
