Benjamin New guy here! Just ordered my first "grown-up" air rifle
- Thread starter Racer88
- Start date
Did you even order a case? Btw I got a kratos from them years ago. Paid for the 10$ leak test. Got the gun and it leaked 1k psi overnight. There were a few minor defects in stock too like this may have been someone else’s return. Replacement gun was perfect but still a hassle to return and wait again.
Upvote 0
The case is required if you have them mount the scope. It won't fit back in the original box with the scope attached. So you "sacrifice" the original box. The scope mount and 20 shot test (with chrono printout) and leak, function testing is only $20. So I had them do it all.
The stock looks to be pretty good in my case. Considering the price of the gun, I'm impressed with the quality of the build.
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
Just got back from the range and first shots. Here's the "After Action Report!"
Learning some of the quirks of air rifles. With this particular rifle, I learned that there are two stages to the bolt-action. I found out that if I don't pull it back ALL the way, past what amounts to a "detent," that it will chamber a pellet, but it won't charge the plenum (? not sure if that's the right term) with air pressure to fire the pellet. Then when I racked the bolt again, I inadvertently / unknowingly chambered a SECOND pellet and then fired.... two impacts (low). Whoops!
A few times I apparently didn't pull the bolt back far enough to charge the plenum.... and got a dead trigger. But I got smarter and realized it. So I removed the magazine to avoid a double-pellet situation in the chamber. Re-racked the bolt. Then fired the chambered pellet. Then re-inserted the mag. I will say the bolt action is pretty stiff and requires a very deliberate / hard pull to the rear past the detent to make sure everything works as designed.
I also tried a few different pellets. I started with the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum 14.3-gr at 25 yards. Got it dialed in. Sometimes I'd get shots touching. Other times, flyers.
So, first target is a bit of a "mess".... This includes a couple of those "double-pellet" loads before I figured that out!
On to Target #2! Getting better. The Crosman Premier ammo did not seem super-consistent. But I wasn't sure if it was also me and / or the wind.
Target #3! Getting a few weird "flyers." Again, not sure if it's me, the ammo, or the wind.
Target #4: Time to change to some heavier ammo! JSB Jumbo 15.89-gr. Better! I fired two shots at each bull. Some 1-holers!
Target #5. I continued with the JSB Jumbo 15.89 and then for the last 5 targets, I went heavier to JSB Jumbo Heavy 18.13.
Based on my limited experience, it would appear that the rifle likes the 15.89 weight better.
By this point, I've had about enough. It was hot outside.
Target #6. I stuck with the Jumbo Heavy pellets and pushed the target out to 50 yards to see what I could do.
I shot 30 rounds at the center bullseye. The low shots on the center bull were me figuring out the holdover. After 30 shots, I fired the last ten at the other bullseyes while also trying to hold for wind.
.
At 50 yards I could actually see the pellet and trajectory through my scope. The rifle is exceptionally quiet. All I heard (wearing ear pro at the rifle range) was the "boing" of the rifle action and the "thwack" of the pellet hitting the target.
I used a bipod to support the front of the rifle. I forgot to bring my rear "squeeze bags," so I had to support the rear with just my shoulder and left hand.
All in all... a fun morning at the range! Very different than powder burners! 200 pellets fired total. I have been duly initiated into air rifles!
Learning some of the quirks of air rifles. With this particular rifle, I learned that there are two stages to the bolt-action. I found out that if I don't pull it back ALL the way, past what amounts to a "detent," that it will chamber a pellet, but it won't charge the plenum (? not sure if that's the right term) with air pressure to fire the pellet. Then when I racked the bolt again, I inadvertently / unknowingly chambered a SECOND pellet and then fired.... two impacts (low). Whoops!
A few times I apparently didn't pull the bolt back far enough to charge the plenum.... and got a dead trigger. But I got smarter and realized it. So I removed the magazine to avoid a double-pellet situation in the chamber. Re-racked the bolt. Then fired the chambered pellet. Then re-inserted the mag. I will say the bolt action is pretty stiff and requires a very deliberate / hard pull to the rear past the detent to make sure everything works as designed.
I also tried a few different pellets. I started with the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum 14.3-gr at 25 yards. Got it dialed in. Sometimes I'd get shots touching. Other times, flyers.
So, first target is a bit of a "mess".... This includes a couple of those "double-pellet" loads before I figured that out!
On to Target #2! Getting better. The Crosman Premier ammo did not seem super-consistent. But I wasn't sure if it was also me and / or the wind.
Target #3! Getting a few weird "flyers." Again, not sure if it's me, the ammo, or the wind.
Target #4: Time to change to some heavier ammo! JSB Jumbo 15.89-gr. Better! I fired two shots at each bull. Some 1-holers!
Target #5. I continued with the JSB Jumbo 15.89 and then for the last 5 targets, I went heavier to JSB Jumbo Heavy 18.13.
Based on my limited experience, it would appear that the rifle likes the 15.89 weight better.
By this point, I've had about enough. It was hot outside.
Target #6. I stuck with the Jumbo Heavy pellets and pushed the target out to 50 yards to see what I could do.
I shot 30 rounds at the center bullseye. The low shots on the center bull were me figuring out the holdover. After 30 shots, I fired the last ten at the other bullseyes while also trying to hold for wind.
.
At 50 yards I could actually see the pellet and trajectory through my scope. The rifle is exceptionally quiet. All I heard (wearing ear pro at the rifle range) was the "boing" of the rifle action and the "thwack" of the pellet hitting the target.
I used a bipod to support the front of the rifle. I forgot to bring my rear "squeeze bags," so I had to support the rear with just my shoulder and left hand.
All in all... a fun morning at the range! Very different than powder burners! 200 pellets fired total. I have been duly initiated into air rifles!
Last edited:
Upvote 0
When you pull back the bolt, you are pulling the hammer rearward until it sets against the sear. At that point (at least once the bolt is returned) the gun is ready to fire. Nothing about cocking the gun impacts the internal airflow - the plenum refills as soon as the shot is taken and the valve closes. By the way, if you ever want to "decock" the rifle you can pull the bolt back, remove the magazine (to prevent a double load), and while holding the bolt back pull the trigger and slowly let the bolt move forward - if you had already loaded a pellet into the barrel it will still be there, but the rifle won't fire after that.
You'll eventually get the feel of the cocking stroke and it will be come second nature. We all double feed a few times when new to this, but it goes away fast.
Nice shooting for the first time out. It looks like you are hooked!
You'll eventually get the feel of the cocking stroke and it will be come second nature. We all double feed a few times when new to this, but it goes away fast.
Nice shooting for the first time out. It looks like you are hooked!
Upvote 0
Here is a vid , shows you how the hammer works. Need to pull back bolt far enough so it locks to trigger
Upvote 0
So, by not pulling it back all the way, the sear was not resetting, and that's why nothing fired (even though a new pellet was chambered)
Is that correct? Still learning... thanks! I honestly have no idea how air rifles work. I DO know how powder burners work.
Upvote 0
You have it correct . . .
This animation is not of a Mararuder, but will give you a better idea of what is going on in your gun:
Upvote 0
Thanks! I've just got to make sure I pull that bolt all the way back each time.
So the part the contains the "working pressure" to push the pellet is called the "regulator," right? I mis-used the word "plenum," which I had seen but didn't really know what it was.
So the part the contains the "working pressure" to push the pellet is called the "regulator," right? I mis-used the word "plenum," which I had seen but didn't really know what it was.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
No - you have it correct. The part that holds the working pressure is called the plenum. That is the space after the regulator.
Upvote 0