N/A My biggest aggravation in PCP guns ..so far..

[DaleR]

Bumping the barrel /shroud and having impact changes....

My first PCP was a simple Marauder. I noticed no issues with POI changes when handled. I bought a Diana storm rider for fun just to shot invasive birds close to the house. I noticed it would shoot a few inches left or right at 50 yards for no apparent reason. I finally realized if I bumped the barrel, it would go wacky. I got the band to attach to the tube and barrel. It was worse since it would bind and lock the barrel in whatever position it was bumped. Now realize. I am NOT taking a hammer to it. just leaning it up against a window frame or laying it on the carpeted floor. I bought a Avenge X next. Same aggravating issue.

Some will say, just shoot it to confirm zero. BUT, the main reason for an air gun is to shoot invasive birds off my purple martin housing at about 30 to 50 yards. I need it dead on at all times. If I shoot my sight in steel (near the martin housing), I will scare off the poop bird. If it is too far off, I might damage my martin housing which is worth 3x the air rifle!!

With my Aveng X; It was suggested to take off the band connecting the barrel/shroud and the tank. This works...BUUUUT eventually the recoil made the shroud slide past the little detent screw that hold it to the barrel!!! The *&%^ shroud is tight and I need to get it off some day with heat and more force. I am currently using a aftermarket band on the shroud and tank. It is ok, but I still am not confident on it holding zero.

I am looking to upgrade from the AVeng X. It is VERY accurate. need to shoot the 30 yard challenge. I think It could do ok. If I spend $1500 buck or so for a higher quality rifle and I end up with the "don't touch the barrel" bs I will throw it in the creek!!

Believe it or not I DID do a search on this topic. I see it appears to be a "thing" and I am not crazy. I would THINK a bullpup design that supports the barrel more would not have this issue...but I don't know if I like the looks of a bullpup. The RAW and guns like it with a skinny barrel hanging out there forever just worries me.

So my search is for a dead nut accurate .25 (.22 2nd choice) at 50 yards that can take a bit of bumping around. I would like it to be right up to or close to being used in accuracy competitions. I have won a few bench rest matches in the past with a powder burner, so I am drawn to the crap like a moth I could pound the barrel with a hammer and not worry about it shooting 2 inches left/right for no reason....

I am fine with a used gun (leak free) looking at the FX Wildcat 2-3, FX Maverick. The huntsman but the barrel band scares me for bumpies. The FX DRS is intriguing, but I have not seen a lot of reviews yet.

Free for opinions.. Thanks

 

[L.Leon]

@DaleR, for what you’re describing checkout the BRK lineup. They are all field ready and can take bumps and bruises and still perform. No barrel bands or other juju necessary… Good luck… My Pathfinder is murderous on small pest birds…

 

[DaleR]

@DaleR, for what you’re describing checkout the BRK lineup. They are all field ready and can take bumps and bruises and still perform. No barrel bands or other juju necessary… Good luck… My Pathfinder is murderous on small pest birds…

View attachment 574477

those are the bastard birds!!!! Researching BRK it now!!!

 

[mercado]

Just buy a taipan, for the kind of shooting you described..a .22 taipan standard will work flawless and sometimes it could be found here at a $1,000 or less, I purchased a mutant standard. 22 for $700 shipped ridiculous good deal superb accuracy. Got one of the last. 25 standard n they come with unchoke barrels, another awesome shooting no drama no poi shift gun .

 

[greg1978]

Dale, if you get anywhere near Custer let me know. I have a Delta Wolf and a Krait L both in 22 you could try out. Shooting Redesign's out of the Delta Wolf and FX 18's with the Krait. Both are better than me and solid gun's.
Greg

 

[Motorhead]

Yup a 15-16mm heavy barrel fully floated stay put for POI.
If said barrel is shrouded and remains floated your good to go ... attach barrel or shroud to air tank/bottle, not so much

 

[Scotay42]

To answer your question. Yes, a used maverick or impact in compact form will be just fine, the longer barrels are a bit more finicky. I have zero issues with a 500mm maverick in .177 and a 600mm impact in .25. Dead nutz everytime i grab them. I spent much less than 1500 on both of these. This is my mav, I dont have a current pic of my impact.

 

[CoyoteGod]

700mm barrels on FX seem to alway be a pain. Handling with kid gloves gets old pretty quick. For FX I stay with 500mm for hunting and have been pretty safe. Been riding my jeep back seat and doesn’t lose zero. My 700mm FX don’t go on the same “road trips”. My RTIs don’t have any POI issues with the barrels so far that I have been able to notice. Hunt with them quite often on jeep trails. But I also haven’t banged one around…yet. My Uragan 2 is pretty stout, have had it in the field may times in coyote blinds or rocky hills carrying it on my backpack. Still holds zero just fine.

 

[Bigragu]

700mm barrels on FX seem to alway be a pain. Handling with kid gloves gets old pretty quick. For FX I stay with 500mm for hunting and have been pretty safe. Been riding my jeep back seat and doesn’t lose zero. My 700mm FX don’t go on the same “road trips”. My RTIs don’t have any POI issues with the barrels so far that I have been able to notice. Hunt with them quite often on jeep trails. But I also haven’t banged one around…yet. My Uragan 2 is pretty stout, have had it in the field may times in coyote blinds or rocky hills carrying it on my backpack. Still holds zero just fine.

Glad to see you back on AGN, CG!! Didn’t realize you had RTI’s. I’m gonna ship something back to you RTI related when I ship back your WC

 

[balleforme]

I've also found 500mm barrel for FX to be resistant to POI changes from getting bumped when handling. Longer barrels are too sensitive for my use.

 

[Jay308]

Don’t bother with FX for multiple reasons, including known POI issues. Look at a BRK Sniper or Taipan Veteran

 

[Mr.H]

I've owned a few FX rifles, IMO, pretty finicky, need to handle with kid gloves. Never any problems with my Veteran .25 Compact or my RTI P-2 Basic.

 

[CoyoteGod]

Glad to see you back on AGN, CG!! Didn’t realize you had RTI’s. I’m gonna ship something back to you RTI related when I ship back your WC

Finding I have more time for the things I enjoy lately after the wall fell on me at work. Taking full advantage!

 

[BSJ]

Air Arms .22. Goes for years without needing to rezero.

 

[357cal]

Before you totally give up, have you tried a barrel band from here, they are the only ones I use. https://blackartsdesign.com/ solid solution, especially for your Avenge X. They offer purpose-built bands that are engineered to reduce POI shift from bumps and moderator weight, and they’ve got versions specifically for both the tube and bottle variants of the Avenge X.

What Makes Their Bands Effective​

• TPU bushings inside the band act like soft centering guides—similar to the floating concept you have mentioned They stabilize the barrel without rigid clamping, allowing it to return to neutral after a bump.
• No grub screws—instead, the band clamps securely to the air tube or bottle using internal captive nuts and steel screws. That means less chance of asymmetric pressure or twist.
• Carbon-filled PETG construction gives it a good balance of stiffness and vibration dampening.

For Your Setup​

• If you’re running the tube version of the Avenge X, they offer a $36 band that fits that profile.
• If you’ve got the bottle version, there’s a $42 model designed to clamp around the CF bottle without interfering with the barrel’s natural alignment. I have one on my AEA 357 challenger and I have never had a problem with keeping zero.

These are well-reviewed in the airgun community for exactly the kind of POI stability you’re after—especially when you want to lean the rifle against a window frame and still trust your zero.

 

[SciueraPlumbea]

Buy Czech Guns. Barrel No Move.

 

[DaleR]

Before you totally give up, have you tried a barrel band from here, they are the only ones I use. https://blackartsdesign.com/ solid solution, especially for your Avenge X. They offer purpose-built bands that are engineered to reduce POI shift from bumps and moderator weight, and they’ve got versions specifically for both the tube and bottle variants of the Avenge X.

What Makes Their Bands Effective​

• TPU bushings inside the band act like soft centering guides—similar to the floating concept you have mentioned They stabilize the barrel without rigid clamping, allowing it to return to neutral after a bump.
• No grub screws—instead, the band clamps securely to the air tube or bottle using internal captive nuts and steel screws. That means less chance of asymmetric pressure or twist.
• Carbon-filled PETG construction gives it a good balance of stiffness and vibration dampening.

For Your Setup​

• If you’re running the tube version of the Avenge X, they offer a $36 band that fits that profile.
• If you’ve got the bottle version, there’s a $42 model designed to clamp around the CF bottle without interfering with the barrel’s natural alignment. I have one on my AEA 357 challenger and I have never had a problem with keeping zero.

These are well-reviewed in the airgun community for exactly the kind of POI stability you’re after—especially when you want to lean the rifle against a window frame and still trust your zero.

View attachment 574518

This seems to address the Aveng-x. I am amazed at all the companies out there that make goodies for air guns!! I am on their site right now!

I am a bit confused. Your picture seems to be missing the shroud on the barrel???

 

[Contndr35BB]

Buy Czech Guns. Barrel No Move.

Agreed , my Katrans are tanks. I have Long B versions a .22 & a.25 that is the HP version. 520mm barrels.

 

[JimD]

My Caiman holds zero well as do my P35s and Bullshark but they are all bullpups. For hunting/pesting the first shot is all important. Decreasing the hammer spring even 5% of peak velocity has caused first shot issues. 3% normally is nor a problem.

 

[SciueraPlumbea]

Agreed , my Katrans are tanks. I have Long B versions a .22 & a.25 that is the HP version. 520mm barrels.

They can be picked up by the barrel. They can be jostled, they can be carried by the scope. They can be left in a case for (indefinite), be taken out, and hit the same exact POI first shot. AGT, Airmaks, taipan, Epic, Cricket.

Also more Affordable and competitive price points than {redacted}