Tuning Getting to Know the Impact M3

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Al_Miller

Member
Dec 23, 2020
67
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Kansas, United States
Back Story:

After loving my compact .25 wildcat mk3 for a year I decided I wanted more power and bought a .25 700mm Impact M3. The wildcat and I had been through a lot together and I knew it like the back of my hand. I tried some nsa 29.5gr slugs in it and got them shooting EXTREMELY good. But after using my first batch of 29.5s up my second batch of the same slugs left me unsatisfied. They were'nt shooting near as good as the first batch, so I went back to pellets, tuned down the power, and have'nt looked back at slugs in my wildcat compact. The ole wildcat pellet combo killed a lot of invasive species around the farm! Even recorded a 136 yard shot on a sparrow. (that's a good shot for me in Kansas wind)

Fast forward:

I really wanted a slug shooter for longer range hunting and cutting through wind better. So I bit the bullet and got the m3. Bought some more 29.5s because I had some success in the past with them (also I believe Ted mentioned they shot good as well out of a standard superior liner like i have) and I figured with more power and tuning capability I could get them shooting good. When I got the gun I loaded up the leftover 2nd batch 29.5s I had used in my wildcat (that wouldnt shoot) and setup at 30 yards. It really did'nt matter what speed I shot those slugs at. They were just stacking in one hole!!!! 5 and 10 shot groups that were as good as my wildcat pellet groups! With chronograph numbers like ES of 5 and SD of 1! I could'nt believe it! I thought "not sure what these guys on this forum are talking about, this slug thing is easy" LOL. Never got the chance to try them at longer distances because that was the last of the old batch. Just enough to get me tuned to a nice high fps and scope dialed in. Then it all fell apart hahahaha.

Group.1644105572.jpg


Chrony Test.1644105604.jpg


I then loaded up the new 29.5s that came with my M3 and I thought "what the hell just happened?". The groups opened quite a bit. It wasnt spraying them like ive seen some guns do and it was grouping but not good enough to hunt even to 50 yards. So I went on the "tune chase". A box of NSA 29.5s later I still dont have any better results. Now I feel the pain of some of the guys on here haha. Absolutely amazing the difference in batches of the same gr slugs. I had the magic batch for the first 50 shots. 

Tune: 

1st reg: 160bar. 2nd reg: 110bar. Micro dial hammer: 4.5. Macro Hammer: 16. Valve 4 1/2 lines out (max). 700mm Standard Superior Liner. This got me to 970fps with the first batch of 29.5s with extreme accuracy. Ive now been all over with the adjustments trying make the new batch of slugs work. From 1030-860fps. 860 works ok but I want the higher fps.

Just thought Id share my ups and downs of a new rifle and demonstrate how frustrating slugs can be. If you have slug and tune suggestions please let me know.
M3 1.1644105519.jpg


M3 2.1644105544.jpg


Tried more tonight with 2nd reg at 140-145 bar and getting better groups so will continue experimenting and probably bump it up to 150 bar tomorrow. Like I said give me your slug suggestions and tuning advice but I will continue to experiment! Still enjoying this M3. We're just getting started! Amazing how much more power it has than my little wildcat haha. Have a nice day.
 
Those might be the old nsa. Mine like the old nsa slugs. I think their softer. I smash them with small pliers to check. The old nsa shot good. I'll give them a try again since polishing barrel.maby. That's a nice group. I started cleaning the slugs with a Walmart 1.50 plastic mesh strainer. And lubed. I don't clean the knockouts.
 
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When I received my first batch of nsa slugs for my wildcat my fingers turned black after touching just one and the packaging was also black from the grime. I washed those and the water that ran off was black and disgusting. But every other batch I've washed and lubed myself has never washed any grime off other than a few lead shavings. Doesn't matter how many I handle my fingers stay clean without washing. Since washing doesnt appear to clean anything I havent washed this latest batch. Obviously something was completely different in the way nsa handled the first batch of slugs I purchased. 
 
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I have had a terrible time tuning this rifle and I finally figured out why. After a few days of shooting I was seeing my velocities jump all over the place. For example: 950, 954, 944, 928, 967, etc. This was NOT the norm for me. Ive never seen a regulated air rifle with this bad ES and SDs. Even a air rifle with a bad tune. I kept trying to tune it out of it, but no matter what hammer spring tension, regulator, or valve setting I used it never cleared up. Then after I took a shot I heard the plenum refill and it just kept making the sound. Thats when I knew a mechanical issue was to blame and not me being a bad tuner. After about 30 seconds of it continuing to refill the plenum I moved the probe in and out and realized air was coming through the transfer port. Finally after about a minute of leaking air it stopped. I contacted my dealer (Utah Air) and talked to them. 2 guys told me its a valve malfunction and I can send it to them or theyll send the parts out and I can do it. The rifle is now on its way to them. Disappointed that this happened but hopefully it gets fixed and will work well for a long time when i get it back. 
 
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Sorry to hear that. I have had to send mine back previously and was really bummed out about it too. I sent mine to FX and when I got it back it was exactly what I thought it should be. 
Came back with different reg settings and even more powerful and consistent; I have a .35. Was achieving faster speeds at a lower reg setting than I previously had.

Hope you get your rifle back soon.
 
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