fx Royal 400 regulator question

[Grandfather]

Guys, i’m a “new” guy here and I need some help. I’m looking at a Royal 400 that’s for sale and i’m not sure if it has a regulator. Is there a way of telling just looking at it ??
If it does not have one, is it worth getting one installed, or should I just go buy a gun with the regulator already installed. This gun is selling for 1400.00 and is a new walnut stock demo gun. Thanks for your help, Tom

 

[Dirte]

All the Royale's imported to the US in the last several years have one. It is hard to visually check from the outside. There is a little 2mm hole next to the gauge that is drilled all the way through if it has one. Pic above from this link. http://www.airgunnation.com/topic/need-instructions-for-installation-of-regulator-in-fx-royale-400-22/ FX install Link http://www.fxairguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Regulator-assembly.pdf 
If it is a demo gun, will they let you shoot it under a chrono? If it has a regulator the fps will drop suddenly when the bottle gets below what the presumed regulator is set at.
Lastly...... Yes it is worth having one. But for $1400 plus a regulator you might as well get a new gun with one.

 

[terrymc]

Keep in mind if it does not have a regulator you will spend $200 just for the regulator, then you have the labor to install.
I just did this on a Royale 500, it was worth it since I got a great deal on the gun.
At $1400 I would only buy it if the regulator is in there.
Otherwise you will spend more than a new one.

 

[sweron]

Note that the little hole that Dirte is referring to is also visible in non-regulated Royales. The difference is that it's a shallow hole on the non-regulated, that only works as a guide if you want install a regulator (in that case you need to drill further into the gun, following the pre-drilled "guiding hole").

 

[jking]

There was a fellow shooter (Brett) that bought a really nice laminated, CF air bottled 400 probably last year used, that was a newer model and come to find out after he got it that it was unregulated. Maybe you'd have to special order on without the regulator if that was your cup of tea. 
jimmy

 

[Menttaliist]

As sweron said, that hole is pre-drilled from factory in all Royales, the difference between one with a reg an another without is that that hole is drilled all the way through to work as a vent hole, it's always drilled to make easier the process to install a reg if you want to. Keep that in mind

 

[Grandfather]

Could it be checked to now if the regulator was in there by gently putting a thin piece of brass wire into that hole to see if it is drilled out all the way ??

 

[Menttaliist]

I don't know how much difference in depth is between the drilled hole and the one that isn't so i don't know how reliable that would be. If the difference is minumum you won't come to solid conclutions

 

[Centercut]

I'm nor sure if the Royale/Boss is like the Bobcat, but unscrewing the pressure tube on the Bobcat Mk2 takes a few minutes, and from there you can actually see if there is a regulator or not. Not sure how easy that is with the bottle, or if the bottle can be removed with pressure in it (I think it can, but that would be best answered by someone that has a Royale/Boss). The actions of both the Royale/Boss and the Bobcat are almost identical, so the regulator is located in the same place for both rifles. In the photo above, the regulator is located right behind where the "Y14-M01" letters are located.

 

[Grandfather]

The bottle can be removed with air in it. If the bottle is off, should the regulator be visible ??

 

[Dirte]

"Grandfather"The bottle can be removed with air in it. If the bottle is off, should the regulator be visible ??

You have to unscrew the valve bracket (the piece that the bottle attaches to) also to get a decent look. Which is easy if they want you tearing their gun apart.

 

[Menttaliist]

It can be removed with air in it but you won't be able to see it without removimg the bottle adaptor/filling port. There's a simple way to figure out if it has a reg or not tho, i've no time to explain it now but i'll do it as soon as i can

 

[Grandfather]

Thanks for all the help, Tom

 

[Menttaliist]

Look, there's a simple way to figure this out. In a regulated Royale, when you take the bottle out, the filling port/bottle adapter won't be able to turn because it would still have air on the other side of the reg. O.t.o.h in a rifle without a reg, there's no more air so that adapter can be finger twisted without effort.
So, remove the bottle and check if that piece can be twisted.
If no, then you have a reg 100% sure. If it moves there's still a little chance that it has one but it's not retaining the reg pressure, but in that case i would say it's more likely a non regulated rifle. Hope you got me, if not let me know

 

[Grandfather]

Thank you for that info. Much appreciated !!