FX Impact .30 regulator setting issue

[marcella69]

I recently purchased an FX Impact .30 from AOA. It came with the regulator set at 150 bar. Yet the FX owners manual states to NEVER set the regulator above 143 bar. (There is a sticker with this number affixed over the original number.) The manual also states that the default regulator setting is 140 bar. I spoke with Brad at AOA and he said that since the Impact is designed to accommodate multiple calibers and the owners manual is generic, inconsistencies occur. Any thoughts?

I might add that she shoots like a champ. I ran a full bottle over my Chrony and she averages 76.88 ft-lbf @ 45 shots shooting JSB 44.75 gr Diabolo Domeds (250 bar - 150 bar). I ranged her out to 100 yds and she shoots as per the charted physics with regard to hold-off, with tight groups. I couldn't be happier with her performance. (And the utility of valved bottles for swap-out in the field is freakin' amazing!)

 

[RENVAL]

A lot of gauges on the Impacts are way off, mine is 10bar off, you might need to get an external gauge and get the right regulator pressure, but if I see your Impact is shooting perfectly I will let her alone.

 

[JasonW]

For the $ simple things such as gauges shouldn't be off...one would think.

 

[marcella69]

My thinking as well, Regarval; I tend not to monkey with engineered systems, and I generally operate on empiricism. Thanks for that

 

[marcella69]

One would think, right Jason? When I start my own airgun business, that will be first on my list.

 

[Tominco]

I've heard it said "You can have accurate or you can have small, you can't have both" I think it's a line from the movie "Valkyrie". Makes sense to me. 
Personally, I wouldn't mess with the reg. I did a lot of experiments with mine and I ended up right back at 150.
Others would disagree. Ernest recently had mine and he dialed the reg to 135. He also changed his gauges to more accurate (and slightly larger) gauges. I have no idea what ones he used but, maybe a PM to him would answer the question. 
Tom

 

[marcella69]

Tom:
What does your owners manual say the max regulator pressure should be?

 

[fe7565]

My FX Impact gauge is off by 10-15bars. I am just working with that number. I did not test my reg gauge yet. Wika gauges are good quality, may need to factory order them. I think Ernest uses them on his Impact.

 

[marcella69]

Thanks, fe; my independent numbers are consistent with FX's marketing pitch, so I'm good to go, performance-wise. I should have narrowed my inquiry. My real question is: What do others' owners manuals state is the max pressure for the reg?

 

[7deuce]

Mine said 143 on the sticker and 150 under the sticker. I spoke to AOA and they said 150 was fine but don't go over. 

 

[GQ]

Mine show 160 bar. I am sure it is not accurate. When my tank gauge show 150 bar, the regulator show 145. So I presume my regulator is set to 145.

 

[marcella69]

Thanks for that, deuce; I have a hard time getting a straight answer from AOA and FX corporate is nonresponsive.

 

[7deuce]

"marcella69"Thanks for that, deuce; I have a hard time getting a straight answer from AOA and FX corporate is nonresponsive.

When I called AOA I told them about the 143 sticker and the 150 bar underneath when I was complaining about not enough power. That's when he said 150 is fine but don't go over because I might void the warranty.
I used my big tank gauge to compare readings after I adjusted the regulator. I shoot until I start losing power and regulator needle starts moving lower. As I fill, I watch the big tank gauge and see when it hits 150 bar and see where the needle is at on the regulator gauge. I marked that spot on my regulator gauge as 150 bar. 

 

[marcella69]

Thanks for that, 7deuce.

 

[gkelley]

I have mine set at 148 which is where it was out of the box (tip of gauge pointer just touching the left side of the 150 line). For .30 cal I have power set to max and get <1/4" groups @ 50 yds. For the .25 cal I turn down power to 4. I use heavier 50g .30 and 34g .25 pellets. Have not tried out to 100yds yet.

 

[GQ]

gkelly, what fps do you have with the .30 and .25 caliber ?

 

[7deuce]

GQ- I just tuned up my Impact and did some chronographing today on .30 cal on MAX and regulator on 150. I tighten power wheel screw again and moved the valve just over the 4th line. 

.30 JSB 44g 
max 863
min 854
avg 858
SD 2.6
16 shots

.30 JSB 50g
max 834
min 825
avg 830
SD 2.4
15 shots

 

[marcella69]

7deuce, thank you for those helpful numbers. They couldn't be more timely! I am just about to run a proper string in my new tricked-out set-up I made with the help of this forum. I initially ran a string at a public range, but I couldn't get a good set-up. I managed to get only 16 measured shots over the Chrony before I packed it up. I averaged 879.6 fps w/ JSB 44.75 gr Diabolo Domed through my Impact .30 w/ reg set at 150 bar as well. My SD was rather high at 6.54 (MIN: 860.9 fps; MAX: 888.4 fps). I want to run an entire bottle over the Chrony to see how many shots per fill I get, and also to get an idea of where my Impact goes off regulator. I will post my results here. 

 

[GQ]

7deuce thaks a lot for your informations.

 

[7deuce]

GQ- No problem

marcella69- Those numbers are very strong! I don't think I can get those speeds at .30 without going over 150 Bar. How much did you adjust your valve?