My first pcp!

EDIT: I don’t want to open a new thread but would like to direct you to the bottom or close to the bottom of the page for my latest question :)
Today I opened my first pcp (since it didn’t fit into the trunk of our car when driving out to PA) and had a very long and convoluted day with it.

In my $360 package I had a pump, the Nova Vista Liberty in .22, the 3-9xAO Sonicking Scope, a $33 Chinese pump (yep - and that’s including shipping), a bigger air filter, the Patchworm kit, Hill Hand Pump Grease, and UTG scope rings. The first thing I did was taking the gun and pumping it up to 2,800PSI. That went fairly well with no issues from the pump.

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I then took it outside for a run, and keep in mind that this was without cleaning the barrel. Here are some 40 meter results with Baracuda pellets:


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And with FTTs:

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So clearly it likes the Baracuda pellets - and FTT could work for just casual plinking. Sadly, my ply-wood backstop failed at 28ftlbs so I will have to replace that. These groups were shot like this

:
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Yeah... I did that in a very quick pinch. So, these groups could be way better if a good shooter was at the bench. But no, it was I ;)

Anyway, I then took it inside to clean it. This was my first time to clean any barrel and after watching some videos I tackled the “challenge”. Taking a ballistol-soaked patch, I ran it through the barrel. The results were disgusting, though I did not take pictures :(.
Then, my first adventure started. I was using the .20 collar for 8 patches and then decided to switch it to the .22 collar. After a quick tug, the patch and collar got stuck right at the action. Me, not knowing what to do, turned to the four s for help, and from that I took a wooden dowel and hammered the patch and collar out. I am really hoping that this did not damage the rifling. 
I go to shoot again and pump it from 1,000psi to 2,000 psi for a quick session. 40 meters, Baracuda and the results were not good. I don’t have pictures, but I think that 1” group (that I repeated a few times before) turned to a 3” group. Next I try the FTT, and here are the results. *By the way, that shot that went low was just from the regulator going off, as this was before I pumped it again

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That 2” group turned into a 1.2” group! Though it may look bigger then the other Baracuda group, it’s actually almost the same. I then continued to go out to 66 yards, and with field target trophies the results were... well, let’s just say sad. With the Baracuda I got a 3” group and this was from the vertical change and not horizontal from the wind. May be the regulator breaking in - we shall see. 


I then proceeded to disassemble my pump since it stopped working and the intake valve was most likely damaged and after fixing that with some silicone grease everything was fine. Until I started hearing a circus noise coming from the ball which turned me to believe that something was wrong. After disassembling and reassembling after taking off that black grease and replacing it with hill hand pump grease things seemed fine - until the pump got stuck in outtake mode and would not take air in or something else happened because pulling and pushing was effortless. So since I thought I put too much grease on the ball and because of that it would not go up and down I did what I did before and put less grease on it. If seemed to do the trick and I was done. It occasionally gets into that outtake mode but by just shacking it a bit it stops doing that. 
Also, it’s not fun being a thirteen year old and pumping those pumps...

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Update 1/1/10: 
New magazines came but somehow they sent me one .177 and one .22, not sure why. Got these groups with H&N excite spike pellets @40 meters. Was a bit windy. First is a 10 shot group and then is a screaming 3 shot group under 1/2”, looks like under 1.35cm. 
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Thanks



Antoni
 
WAIT! You're 13! Dude! You did great! The gun still needs to be broken in and though it looks as if you spent a lot of time and effort on the shooting "bag",😉 grab an old pillow or a roll of paper towel and see what you and the Liberty can do. I bet those groups will just keep shrinking as time goes on and you try other pellets. Congratulations on your 1st PCP and have fun!
 
WAIT! You're 13! Dude! You did great! The gun still needs to be broken in and though it looks as if you spent a lot of time and effort on the shooting "bag",
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grab an old pillow or a roll of paper towel and see what you and the Liberty can do. I bet those groups will just keep shrinking as time goes on and you try other pellets. Congratulations on your 1st PCP and have fun!

Thanks! I fortunately do have some old pillows to use so we will see how that goes tomorrow. I left it today at 3,000psi and hopefully it will stay like that for a while. I also tested the H&N Excite Hammer pellets and those at 40 meters were a mess. Tomorrow I will try some more pellets but I want to see how well I can shoot freestanding with it.



Thanks,



Antoni
 
PCP at thirteen I wish I could have done that. You did well just remember you are holding a pipe bomb if anything goes wrong. So NEVER take it apart with any pressure inside. ALWAYS REMEMBER to bleed all of the pressure before any disassembly and do not modify your gun. 

This guy modified his gun but had no idea what he was doing and did not secure the valve in the gun properly. You can see the holes in the valve but no holes in the tube for the screws that are supposed to be there. That is why the gun exploded. He could just as easily be dead right now but he was lucky or blessed depending on the way you want to look at it. That is a huge hole in his thigh! Like I said you are holding a pipe bomb if you misuse or mistreat it. So long as you respect it for what it is you are safe.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilM7gHYI0x8


 


Also, it’s not fun being a thirteen year old and pumping those pumps...

I also falls short on weight while pumping to 300 bar, but when short on weight use momentum, velocity will help, try this:

Divide a full stroke in two parts, use your body weight to press down the pump handle as far as it will go in one quick motion, use the compressed air as a spring to bounce you back up and then ad some velocity to to bottom the last stroke, works for me 
 
Thanks for the safety reminder and pumping tip! Checked the pressure just now - still at 3k! Forgot to mention - the FTT liked being shot at the low power setting. Probably because they were going supersonic when on high :). Must admit though, the gun is very silent. Also, I am stuck to shooting with the single shot tray because the magazines are broken. I tried to fix one to keep the warranty on the other but something really weird is happening. 

Antoni
 
Barracudas do shoot well in many Liberty's, but in general JSB 18.1 and 15.89g feed smoother and shoot better in most. At least give them a try.








I will - in a loong time though. I have no JSB's at hand and it will take a while to convince my parents to spend a few more bucks :)

Just kidding - but really I will have to wait a few months till the next pellet purchase. Also, FTT work great - got 8 shots in 1.3" at 40 meters with 2 flyers, and since they are the cheapest pellet from all the options given (other then crossman premires) I think I will hold them off for now. 



Antoni
 
Well, today was fun. I gave my best shot at offhanding and attempted to split a playing card freestanding @32 meters. Got it on my third try and will post a video soon since I recorded it as well. Not too pleased though because I can’t hold the gun steady - might be because I am not used to the height of it. Last time I shot a 4” group at 40 meters freestanding and with open sights from my springer and today I could barely do a 3.5” group at 30 meters with a scope and pcp. That other group was most likely pure luck but I held it very steadily and can’t hold it that way with this one. Any tips?

Anyway, here is the first shot and the results (because the two other shots did not want to upload here):

Shot #1: 

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Results: 

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Antoni