Umarex Jelous Zelos twins

I have written elsewhere that I ordered my first .25 Zelos from Dack's Outdoors. A day or two later I read a bunch of horror stories about Dack's, so purchased another .25 Zelos elsewhere while I waited to see how Dack's would play out. The second Zelos arrived in a few days - nothing from Dack's. DO NOT ORDER FROM DACKS! Dacks did eventually provide a refund, but it took some doing. I dealt with them for 50+ days. I found another low price using "not just guns", @$415 - and ordered another Zelos in .25. I received this one 4 days from date of purchase. Did I mention, don't order from Dack's ;).
On to the good stuff - the goal is to have one set up for plinking with pellets, the other to get serious using slugs. Much to my delight, everything has turned out as I had hoped.
Zelos Pair-2.jpg

I made the valve bodies, and found different springs to use in the valves, and hammers (based on pieces I wound myself). I am using softer springs than stock, with less preload required.
Zelos-valve1.jpg

Slug-Valve1.jpg


Fooled with both Hammer spring, and valve spring rates - both are softer than stock -
new-springs1.jpg


These are what I think everything spec'd out to - (used an online spring design software)
Valve-and-Springs1.jpg


My pellet action is set to spit the 26.54gr Hades pellets at 910fps, while the Slug action is spitting 40gr Zan slugs at 1008fps. The pellet action is factory bore, the slug gun is a 700mm FX liner. I used a kit for the barrel conversion instead of making parts myself, being the first time I worked with an FX liner. It was not a perfect experience, but not far off - and understandable dealing with different brand tolerances. It did not take much to fit everything up. I will most likely eventually make a few new parts for the breech end. I also added a few grams weight to the hammer for the slug rifle. Still using the lighter/shorter hammer spring, too. It does shoot very well - I was surprised to tickle @80+ft/lbs out of the action, thinking it might top out at @70 without adding a plenum of some sort. I've backed it down to shoot 33gr Zan slugs, but am still testing ammo... I'd like to keep the slug gun shooting 35-44gr slugs depending on what I find works well. I have mostly been using H&N and Zan. I do have a few hundred RMR SLAP .25's (FX Hybrids) that shoot lights out from the liner, but am looking to carry a little more weight.
Using the stock valve in the pellet version, I had to crank in some additional spring tension to hit mid 900's with the Hades. I changed the valve to my own, and dropped to the softer hammer spring with no preload to hit 905's -910's with the same pellet at the same reg setting.
Of note - the second Zelos has a different tube clamp, picatinny deal. It goes around the barrel, too - and needs to be loosened in order to unscrew the tube. The action also has "regulator gauge" printed on it where the 1st one didn't. I had read someplace that they were altering the but plate to allow hammer spring adjustment, but this one is the same as the first. I drilled a hole to access the screw adjustment.
2nd-Zelos-2.jpg
 
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I have written elsewhere that I ordered my first .25 Zelos from Dack's Outdoors. A day or two later I read a bunch of horror stories about Dack's, so purchased another .25 Zelos elsewhere while I waited to see how Dack's would play out. The second Zelos arrived in a few days - nothing from Dack's. DO NOT ORDER FROM DACKS! Dacks did eventually provide a refund, but it took some doing. I dealt with them for 50+ days. I found another low price using "not just guns", @$415 - and ordered another Zelos in .25. I received this one 4 days from date of purchase. Did I mention, don't order from Dack's ;).
On to the good stuff - the goal is to have one set up for plinking with pellets, the other to get serious using slugs. Much to my delight, everything has turned out as I had hoped.
View attachment 559736
I made the valve bodies, and found different springs to use in the valves, and hammers (based on pieces I wound myself). I am using softer springs than stock, with less preload required.
View attachment 559740
View attachment 559737

Fooled with both Hammer spring, and valve spring rates - both are softer than stock -
View attachment 559738

These are what I think everything spec'd out to - (used an online spring design software)
View attachment 559739

My pellet action is set to spit the 26.54gr Hades pellets at 910fps, while the Slug action is spitting 40gr Zan slugs at 1008fps. The pellet action is factory bore, the slug gun is a 700mm FX liner. I used a kit for the barrel conversion instead of making parts myself, being the first time I worked with an FX liner. It was not a perfect experience, but not far off - and understandable dealing with different brand tolerances. It did not take much to fit everything up. I will most likely eventually make a few new parts for the breech end. I also added a few grams weight to the hammer for the slug rifle. Still using the lighter/shorter hammer spring, too. It does shoot very well - I was surprised to tickle @80+ft/lbs out of the action, thinking it might top out at @70 without adding a plenum of some sort. I've backed it down to shoot 33gr Zan slugs, but am still testing ammo... I'd like to keep the slug gun shooting 35-44gr slugs depending on what I find works well. I have mostly been using H&N and Zan. I do have a few hundred RMR SLAP .25's (FX Hybrids) that shoot lights out from the liner, but am looking to carry a little more weight.
Using the stock valve in the pellet version, I had to crank in some additional spring tension to hit mid 900's with the Hades. I changed the valve to my own, and dropped to the softer hammer spring with no preload to hit 905's -910's with the same pellet at the same reg setting.
Of note - the second Zelos has a different tube clamp, picatinny deal. It goes around the barrel, too - and needs to be loosened in order to unscrew the tube. The action also has "regulator gauge" printed on it where the 1st one didn't. I had read someplace that they were altering the but plate to allow hammer spring adjustment, but this one is the same as the first. I drilled a hole to access the screw adjustment.
View attachment 559742
Very nice mods to both of your Zelos's! And great heads up on "Dacks"....😂👍. You have fantastic machining skills!
 
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I ordered a 25 caliber zelos from Dacks in December of last year shipped within a week. Of coarse since it was during Christmas shipping FedEx took 2 weeks delivering it. I thought it was in the twilight zone. It would come to within an hour of my home then go back to Ohio. I live in Michigan. Finally got it sorted out. After reading the horror stories on here we Dacks. I placed another order from Defense Depot on the 12th of April. For another Zelos in 22 for $437 shipped. Took a couple calls but it arrived today. Hopefully I can play with it. I'm hoping the slap (RMR) seconds I picked up for 10 percent off shoot well out of the 22. Mine won't be the perfection you have built there. I'm jealous of your twin Zelos 😆
 
Sorry you didn't read thier message before you ordered:

"Our near wholesale prices and a very volatile political climate has caused a surge in orders that went beyond our wildest expectations. Unfortunately, this has led to delays in shipping. In some cases, orders can take up to 30 days to ship. The vast majority of our customers are familiar with us and the situation, and are willing to accept a slower shipping speed for our incredible prices.



With that said, if you need an item right away, we regret to say we may not be the best fit for you at this time. We truly hope we can serve you in the future. Our customers enjoy incredibly low prices and are okay with waiting longer than what the big box stores ship because of the incredible deals and personalized customer support they get with us."
 
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Sorry you didn't read thier message before you ordered:

"Our near wholesale prices and a very volatile political climate has caused a surge in orders that went beyond our wildest expectations. Unfortunately, this has led to delays in shipping. In some cases, orders can take up to 30 days to ship. The vast majority of our customers are familiar with us and the situation, and are willing to accept a slower shipping speed for our incredible prices.



With that said, if you need an item right away, we regret to say we may not be the best fit for you at this time. We truly hope we can serve you in the future. Our customers enjoy incredibly low prices and are okay with waiting longer than what the big box stores ship because of the incredible deals and personalized customer support they get with us."
I did read the message, waited the 30 days and heard nothing from them, waited 5 more, got a message that said my order was "being processed, but that did not mean it was being shipped," etc... On the 45th day I finally asked for a ship date, which they could not provide. It took several more back and forths to actually receive a refund. I gave them every opportunity to provide me with information that would indicate that I would eventually receive the product I paid for on day 1, and they just couldn't do it.

While I was aware of the possible 30 day wait, I was also aware that a Google search will show that I am far from the only one that never got what they ordered, and had at least some issue receiving a refund with Dack Outdoors.
 
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I did read the message, waited the 30 days and heard nothing from them, waited 5 more, got a message that said my order was "being processed, but that did not mean it was being shipped," etc... On the 45th day I finally asked for a ship date, which they could not provide. It took several more back and forths to actually receive a refund. I gave them every opportunity to provide me with information that would indicate that I would eventually receive the product I paid for on day 1, and they just couldn't do it.

While I was aware of the possible 30 day wait, I was also aware that a Google search will show that I am far from the only one that never got what they ordered, and had at least some issue receiving a refund with Dack Outdoors.
The message didn’t mention the political climate back in December. Same spiel though. I waited the 30 days, then another 30 to get my money back. Too many people with the same story. Dacks is not worth the risk.
 
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The message didn’t mention the political climate back in December. Same spiel though. I waited the 30 days, then another 30 to get my money back. Too many people with the same story. Dacks is not worth the risk.
I used "notjustguns" to find Kind Sniper LLC - they offered the Zelos for less than Dacks, and had it to me 4 days after purchase. The refund I got from Dacks came the same day, so I not only got the rifle, but a few dollars in my pocket as well. I am OK with how it ended, and will simply tell people my experience with Dacks.

The good is that having purchased a second action at the same time as placing the original order with Dacks allowed me to get my parts made, tested, and ready to install in the newest action. I am very happy with the results I am seeing so far.