I'm thinking about buying a FX M4 in .30 or .35 caliber for small game hunting and would love to get the thoughts of actual owners. Do you shoot slugs or pellets? How accurate is the rifle out to 150 yards? I've watched a few videos from Utah Air guns on prairie dogs hunts and they seem pretty awesome. Thanks for the input.
FX FX M4 owners, are they worth the cost?
- Thread starter Chuckd_Retired
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There are other high end, reliable, accurate and powerful airguns besides FX, do some research before committing to the lego, straw barrel gun.
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Got one and love it. HOWEVER: it’s a tinkerer’s gun. And a temperamental one at that. She’s like the crazy/hot girlfriend that drives you nuts almost every day but boy oh boy is she a joy when she does not. I would never take her hunting though, she might shoot you in the shoulder just to see whether it’s funny or not. For hunting, you want the reliable girl you know since Pre-K, the one most moments feel like déjà vu with because she’s so predictable that you know exactly what she’s going to do next, every single time. Like an AGT (any) for example. There are also other FX that would be fine and many others if you are ok with carrying some weight around.
Also, you said “small game”. What do you plan on hunting exactly? A .30/.35 would be overkill for squirrels and a couple of bunnies
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Owning an me impact this is the best analogy ever. My dreamline 25 compact is "enough gun" bone stock to reach a little past 100 yards and take anything in going to be shooting at. The impact is a fussy tinkerer's gun but I love it. Going down the slug route with my impact took a lot away from the fun of it, but in your caliber choices it would be fine.Got one and love it. HOWEVER: it’s a tinkerer’s gun. And a temperamental one at that. She’s like the crazy/hot girlfriend that drives you nuts almost every day but boy oh boy is she a joy when she does not. I would never take her hunting though, she might shoot you in the shoulder just to see whether it’s funny or not. For hunting, you want the reliable girl you know since Pre-K, the one most moments feel like déjà vu with because she’s so predictable that you know exactly what she’s going to do next, every single time. Like an AGT (any) for example. There are also other FX that would be fine and many others if you are ok with carrying some weight around.
Also, you said “small game”. What do you plan on hunting exactly? A .30/.35 would be overkill for squirrels and a couple of bunnies
The impact isn't a great choice for walking around either(mines 700mm) . It can be done but it isn't as fun as the dreamline is for my tastes buy sniping from afar off a bench or tripod it EXCELLS.
Ya there's other brands but op mentioned what he's currently looking at. I have other brand rifles capable of doing what I need but I always take an fx when I need more than 12 fpe because they are calculator guns.
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If primarely hunting about 150 y is in your mind, get a LR22 for a decimal cost.
If you enjoy sleepless nights and well mechanical minded - get that M4 you gona love it
If you enjoy sleepless nights and well mechanical minded - get that M4 you gona love it
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Too much gun for hunting, IMO. I would buy an FX Wildcat because the stock would make it easier to carry. The Maverick/Wilcats have the same power potential as the M4 without the complexity. It is easier to tune as well. Save yourself $700. You could use that to add a nice springer to your collection.
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I love my FX Impact 22 sniper . I make my own slugs and really like to fiddle . Great out to 200 yds [ scope would have to be fiddled with to go further but I draw the line at scope fiddling ] I will own no more PCPs .This one does it all for me !
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My Impact MKII with a 500 mm barrel is used as a bench or truck hood gun. Way too heavy for carrying in the field. When she's on target it is pure joy to behold, and when she's off - well that is the beginning of a very frustrating period. When I upgraded and rebuild my Impact this past winter, it was a real relief to be able to locate any and all the parts needed. Very few other guns can offer that kind of support.
Think about your intended use and then find the airgun to fit that purpose. Most of us own several airguns because of the variety of shooting being undertaken at any given time. There are a huge number of air gun reviews on YouTube but a judicious eye is needed to get beyond the sales hype and pick up the real nuggets of knowledge. If a hunter my vote is for the Wildcat MK3 and if a bench gun the sky is the limit: RedPanda, Impact, Epic, BK Ghost, etc..
Think about your intended use and then find the airgun to fit that purpose. Most of us own several airguns because of the variety of shooting being undertaken at any given time. There are a huge number of air gun reviews on YouTube but a judicious eye is needed to get beyond the sales hype and pick up the real nuggets of knowledge. If a hunter my vote is for the Wildcat MK3 and if a bench gun the sky is the limit: RedPanda, Impact, Epic, BK Ghost, etc..
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I would try to find a nice gently used original owner Impact MK2 in 25Cal. Less than half the cost and you will likely even get some extra upgrades and save even more money. The Wildcat and Maverick are also crazy cheap right now so take a look at them before making a final choice.
30/35Cal are some heavy hitters and really only good for bigger pests like coyotes etc. 25Cal has more ammo choices, its cheaper, and safer.
30/35Cal are some heavy hitters and really only good for bigger pests like coyotes etc. 25Cal has more ammo choices, its cheaper, and safer.
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I am an FX fan. Own more than a few and two M3 Impacts in the herd. They are not a beginner or entry level gun. Never were designed or intended as such. Look around and beware YouTube influencers. They are doing their job and selling. Non biased air gun reviews are almost nonexistent on YouTube.
There are lots of good guns out there from several makers. I like to tinker and each of my guns serves a specific need. Therefore I tune them. But, once tuned they don’t get messed with. My M3 600mm 22 slug shooter is still running the same tune I developed for shooting NSA 27.5 gr slugs just under 3 years ago.
Beware the Utah Air Guns prairie dog videos. Hitting these squirrels at 3 and 400 yards is not a common thing and misses are rule rather than exception. They are trying to sell air guns so you get the highlight reel minus the misses and wounded animals. Anyone who has been at this for a length of time knows how hard it is to hit a target that size at 200 yards. Wind and up or downhill angles make long range air gun work dicey business with any gun.
There are lots of good guns out there from several makers. I like to tinker and each of my guns serves a specific need. Therefore I tune them. But, once tuned they don’t get messed with. My M3 600mm 22 slug shooter is still running the same tune I developed for shooting NSA 27.5 gr slugs just under 3 years ago.
Beware the Utah Air Guns prairie dog videos. Hitting these squirrels at 3 and 400 yards is not a common thing and misses are rule rather than exception. They are trying to sell air guns so you get the highlight reel minus the misses and wounded animals. Anyone who has been at this for a length of time knows how hard it is to hit a target that size at 200 yards. Wind and up or downhill angles make long range air gun work dicey business with any gun.
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In todays market of high end pcp guns I would say yes worth the money. I would strike 35 cal from your options though. While powerful I personally don’t think the impact has quite enough umph for heavier 35 slugs that would make it capable of deer sized game. The niche for the lighter 35 ammo is narrow and ammo cost puts you really close to might as well go powder burner. Like others have said, in that price range I would expand your horizons and not just focus on the impact. For example in that price category you can get a like new daystate electro. Good bang for that buck. They are great and the electronics take tuning complexity out. Just one alternative example.
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I was thinking about buying a M4 compact. I used to have an M3 and sold it. There was not enough time to tinker with it. I thought maybe M4 is better in that regard but surprisingly my search didnt confirm that. Now I am looking at Brocock Ghost Carbine. They say they make guns specifically for hunting. Most people like the quality and accuracy of their guns. And I agree with the person who said .30 or .35 is overkill. 0.25 or 0.22 gets the job done, and in a hunting setting I wouldnt want the low shot count of those large calibers.
That or an FX Dreamline lite, which I have and works fine. Honestly, I think the Impacts are over hyped, by aggressive push through competition shooters. I never liked their barrel system. My RTI P3 is very accurate with LW barrel, which is the same brand that Brocock uses. P3 though is too heavy for hunting and is more of a benchrest shooter.
BTW, I would never buy a used airgun. To me the most important parts of a gun are the barrel and the trigger. You never know how many shot were fired and how it was maintained and how much wear are on those parts. Specially with a gun like Impact that has more O rings than any other brand.
That or an FX Dreamline lite, which I have and works fine. Honestly, I think the Impacts are over hyped, by aggressive push through competition shooters. I never liked their barrel system. My RTI P3 is very accurate with LW barrel, which is the same brand that Brocock uses. P3 though is too heavy for hunting and is more of a benchrest shooter.
BTW, I would never buy a used airgun. To me the most important parts of a gun are the barrel and the trigger. You never know how many shot were fired and how it was maintained and how much wear are on those parts. Specially with a gun like Impact that has more O rings than any other brand.
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No, new there are far too many low and middle tier rifles with less complexity and the same or almost the same performance.
Used, previous version, same gun just a few less tweaks for 1/2 or less the price.
Used, previous version, same gun just a few less tweaks for 1/2 or less the price.
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Interesting comments. I think the M4 is a little more than I would want to get into. I did look at the FX Wildcat several months back. The bullpup design would make it easier to carry.
Thanks for all the input.
Thanks for all the input.
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If this gun would have existed when I got into pcps I would have got this one
Karma EQ https://share.google/DoQMGZDfJKBJPfVZm
Karma EQ https://share.google/DoQMGZDfJKBJPfVZm
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Impacts are for tinkerers that is soooo true. Great gun, but you have to want to tune and tinker.
If I were you, depending on what power you're looking for, I'd look at:
FX Maverick/Wildcat, plenty of power for pellets and slugs and not as many problems as an Impact
FX Crown, same as above.
Brk Sniper, is a bit heavier, but a rock solid rifle that will never let you down, ever. You can slash weight by going to the Pathfinder or other similar action rifle. I've also heard good things about the Compatto.
If shot count isn't a problem, then a DRS looks good, is light and normally laser accurate.
If I were you, depending on what power you're looking for, I'd look at:
FX Maverick/Wildcat, plenty of power for pellets and slugs and not as many problems as an Impact
FX Crown, same as above.
Brk Sniper, is a bit heavier, but a rock solid rifle that will never let you down, ever. You can slash weight by going to the Pathfinder or other similar action rifle. I've also heard good things about the Compatto.
If shot count isn't a problem, then a DRS looks good, is light and normally laser accurate.
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I was in that boat too. Then it released and I did a lot of reading. Horrible trigger, regs that don’t seem to regulate, mag easily knocked out of place. At basically 1k so glad I waited. I was going to even sell my wildcat BT for one. For a grand buy a used fx, get proficient at changing orings in the amp reg you will be good to go.
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