Developments in the BARREL LOTTERY ??

[Parrotculler]

Hi All,

Take a look at this picture of my new barrel (close to the breech):

Does anyone know what this stands for ? I presume the manufacturer of the barrel, and perhaps its length in inches ?

This is the .22 barrel of a newly acquired Kral, manufactured June 2020 based on the cylinder imprint. The thing is a laser at 70 meters. Haven't tried further, but 100m should not be a problem if it performs like another recent Kral.

Now for the surprising thing: the same etching (bar 19 instead of 20) shows up on the .25 barrel of a recently purchased Artemis p10. Again, laser accurate at longer distances.

What's going on here ? Could it indicate a sharing of barrels between those competitors, or is it simply a mark of the Czech Republic where I got both guns? Only one thing is abundantly clear to me in this story: there is a marked improvement in barrel quality for those low-cost manufacturers. Gone are the barrel lottery days where a mere recrowning job was the best one prayed for. 

Do you have that same experience ?

 

[MBG]

I would assume SPA / ARTEMIS is making some barrels for Kral, as I know they make their own barrels for the P10 , Since they are by volume the largest airgun manufacturer in the world, they also make some of Diana's products...

 

[Hapo]

...that would explain a lot...

 

[thammer]

As far as I know Kral makes all their own barrels. Not sure why yours are marked. I asked them so hopefully will have an answer. I'm very intrigued. 

 

[thammer]

Kral verified that's not their marking on the barrel. Even more curious now. 

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

There is an outfit in Trinec, Czechia called RWO that deals in fireworks, air rifles and firearms importing and exporting. 

Perhaps that is an import mark of some sort?



Who or where in Czech land did you get them from? 

 

[Parrotculler]

There is an outfit in Trinec, Czech Republic called RWO that deals in fireworks and firearms importing and exporting. 

Perhaps that is an import mark of some sort?

That would explain it! Thanks to all who have weighed in ...

Got those guns from Balistas, a great Czech based e-commerce outfit that also sells the full range of JSB at a very compelling price. Unfortunately Balistas does not ship beyond the EU -- a real pity!

The Czechs have a glorious weapons manufacturing and engineering history by the way. There still are some huge Czech built cannon barrels to be seen sticking out of WW2 German bunkers on Omaha beach as we speak. Built by Skoda, a now defunct engineering conglomerate. Someone told me that CZ, the barrel maker goes back to that firm. Of course the Turks also have a long gun building legacy. They hired a Hungarian gunsmith to help them build the most powerful cannons ever seen (at the time) to attack the thick Constantinople city walls around 500 ...

Anyhow, Kral is doing a super job on their barrels. I now own 5 and was only once disappointed -- by my otherwise gorgeous 2016 built Puncher Pro .25. That 58 cm barrel lacks a tight enough choke and throws fliers at 50m+. (It's fine for shorter distances.)

I also have good experience with the SPA Artemis / Onix / Zasdar / SMK barrels. P10 (in .25), pp800 pistol, M16, pr900w (stormrider) and M22 (.25, an incredibly underrated long-distance shooter) -- all very accurate. The crown and leade on the older ones required some attention. But even that now seems to be a thing of the past. 

In other words, the barrel lottery is threatened with extinction as far as I can tell ...

Do you feel differently ?

 

[Odoyle]

A gunsmith can enhance the choke on your barrel.

 

[Parrotculler]

A gunsmith can enhance the choke on your barrel.

Thanks -- if I only could find one in my neck of the woods. Perhaps I need to go pay the FN factory a visit  Who knows, perhaps they are willing to look beyond powder burners ...