🤔 The Meaning of "FX" == For Xareful shooters only... 🤔

[JungleShooter]

What is the meaning of "FX"...?

After reading some recent posts (cf. below), I've been wondering if there is a hidden meaning behing the brand name....

Could it be something like: "For Xareful shooter only"?



Before I receive a flood of hate mail and hate posts, please allow me to explain.



When I got into airgunning I was considering to buy a Gauntlet.

Due to its price category it had some shortcomings, no surprise there — the big barrel bugaboo.... caused significant POI shifts — because a slight bump to the barrel, or leaning it against a tree. 

That was THE DEAL BREAKER for me — because when I hunt and take my rifle on hikes and the like — I can't use a rifle the is only For Xareful shooters that never bump the barrel.

Just one Gauntlet quote:

The HUGE bugaboo has always been the POI shifts. Shoots tight groups.... you just never know where the next tight group will be. SOURCE:
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/the-umarex-gauntlet-an-exercise-in-frustration-mixed-with-amazing-performance/#post-623774

Now if you would please forgive a gullible, simple-minded airgunner like me for thinking the following:

"If I spend FOUR TIMES as much money on a PCP than on the Gauntlet — in that price category I surely will only get rifles that don't have such fatal problems as POI shifts."





Now just imagine my surprise when I read posts like the following:

Yesterday I would dry fire the rifle 5 times before I started shooting at targets. The POI was off and I had to correct with turret movement.

Got it dialed in and it was darn near hole in hole at 50 yards. I then shifted to another target and guess what! My POI had shifted.



The problem has to be that long unsupported barrel and shroud.

A slight bump of the bottle when using a barrel band or from a slight pressure on the shroud from any source transmits through the mechanics to the barrel and it's anchoring.



One would think FX has heard about this issue and would provide an aftermarket fix, under warranty.



I have learned that lots of folks experience the same calamity. Some are lucky and for some reason it doesn't happen with their same model of rifle.

SOURCE: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/observations-about-my-pcps/page/2/#post-683246

The mentioned thread has more testimonies about the For Xareful shooters only guns. In fact, the other forums I frequent report the same.

One more link: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/fx-impact-x-mkii-unable-to-maintain-zero/





➔ ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔





I really like the looks of many of the guns FX produces, I really do! I'm not an FX-Hater at all!

But I need to realize: High-end airguns get their big publicity not from hunters videoing squirrel kills in the woods or farmers on a pesting drive.

They get their big publicity from reports and posts about winning a competition (EBR & Co) — which are great For Xareful shooters as they can baby the guns there.





Ergo, my personal conclusion from this (doesn't have to be your conclusion, you get your very own, my friend! ): 

My type of shooting does not allow me to baby my guns. So, I won't be buying guns that are only For Xareful shooters — and to be clear — this is not so much about a brand name but about thin long free-floating barrels....





I think we need to warn newbees to our hobby about certain types of barrels...!



Matthias

 

[Blejda]

I had many otherwise great accurate pcp rifles which didn't hold zero from one day to another and that was the reason i get rid of them. I agree with you! 

 

[wyshadow]

The problem Jim81 was having was probably because of FX's regulator creeping and most serious shooters usually replace their factory regs with a Huma regulator. Daystate made a great move by just installing all their PCPs with huma regs from the factory and FX should just do the same.

 

[cea1960]

I don't disagree, but the trend seems to be going toward free floating barrels. Look how many Daystates have them. When I purchased my Daystate Regal XL used, the p.o. had removed the barrel band. Both Precision Air and AOA said I would get better groups without it. I bought it to hunt, so I replaced it because like you stated, in the woods things like bumps and drops happen. I don't think I've ever taken that gun hunting and not banged it or had it slide to the ground after propping it against a tree, and it always holds it's poa to poi.

 

[L.Leon]

I bump the shroud on my Bantam at the dairy sometimes and don’t lose my zero. I grab the gun out of the safe by the shroud which is screwed solidly into the receiver. And it still holds zero, I shoot almost everyday so it’s something I test over and over. I know that FX makes good guns but they’re not for me. This thread has me wondering, which FX model is the most robust model?

 

[tsakula]

i have dreamline classic and its super simple and accurate gun. solving problem of poi is barrel band. 

sad is that FX should do it for free. but they charge 30$

 

[towle]

My older FX models never lose zero, Typhoon, Typhoon Twelve, Cutlas, Cyclone, all with free floating barrels, great simple unregulated guns with great valving, first shot always spot on

 

[Guest]

Your post seems like a blanket statement. 

I am no FX fanboy but they do have different models. I wouldn't be scared to take a wildcat or Impact hunting.

 

[tsakula]

but these x liners are so amazingly accurate

 

[Glem.Chally]

Such a stretch for X to make a C. Do better Matthais, gotta be able to come up with something at least close to clever if you're gonna troll a brand.

 

[biohazardman]

I usually waste the first shot after some hours of inactivity with my Impact as well as the first shot after a fill. Something many with different brands of guns do in competitions so not unusual by any means. It usually shoots these first shots high or low I have Huma reg now as the original had a gouge in the regulator rod from factory. I expect the first shot problem is a slight amount of reg creep from the Huma reg but wasting one shot is really not a big deal..

 

[JoeKool]

The “FX” in “FX Airguns” is sort of a acronym for the name of the owner and founder “Fredrik Axelsson”.


A inherently rigid barrel or mechanically supported strong and sturdy barrel usually performs well. Compared to one said barrel that is flimsy and can change positions easily.



Free floating barrels IMO are overrated. Even though a great many free floating barrel airguns are amazingly accurate, including the airguns I currently own. My wish would be that manufacturers elongate the breech areas in which the barrels slide into for more breech end support so the free floating movement and POI shift issues would be reduced. Or, design strong shrouds that screw deeply into the breech.



These comments contain 0% hate..



lol

 

[sonny]

I have found tuning is key to reliable shots from first to last. I own 4 FX rifles at the moment with no complaints. Bobcat, Wildcat mk2, Boss and Impact. I also own a cricket and HW95. I have no issues with POI shift, Orings leaking etc. There are plenty of hunters and pesters on youtube and this form that use these rifles and dont seem to have problems with them. To the (OP) have you ever owned a FX rifle and what gun are you currently using.

 

[Dairyboy]

I took it as "for Xtra careful" shooters. Besides the older style fxs like the old tarantula types and the royal/boss/bobcat line I've never heard of an FX regarded as robust. I can't have a gun that I need to chase the poi on from the shroud getting bumped. Once my guns are all setup tune and scoped I will fit the barrel or shroud top, bottom, left, right and also push on it in all directions and then test if poi has changed. If they don't pass the test there not for me. Many higher end Airguns though have no issue with this. Now I haven't owned a FX but from what I hear they do suffer from it. Maybe not all but quite a few do. I think a big thing is the quick barrel changes. I mean one or 2 setscrews is all that hold the barrel and then free-floated the rest of the way? There's lots of room for error there. But hey for competition guns on benchrest I doubt it's a big deal. But for me where I pest and my guns get bumped I just can't have that.

 

[sonny]

I took it as "for Xtra careful" shooters. Besides the older style fxs like the old tarantula types and the royal/boss/bobcat line I've never heard of an FX regarded as robust. I can't have a gun that I need to chase the poi on from the shroud getting bumped. Once my guns are all setup tune and scoped I will fit the barrel or shroud top, bottom, left, right and also push on it in all directions and then test if poi has changed. If they don't pass the test there not for me. Many higher end Airguns though have no issue with this. Now( I haven't owned a FX) but from what I hear they do suffer from it. Maybe not all but quite a few do. I think a big thing is the quick barrel changes. I mean one or 2 setscrews is all that hold the barrel and then free-floated the rest of the way? There's lots of room for error there. But hey for competition guns on benchrest I doubt it's a big deal. But for me where I pest and my guns get bumped I just can't have that.

I haven't owned a dodge but I heard they have starter problems and I cant own a car that wont start.

 

[edosan]

Is amazing what people write in quarantine , fun read

 

[Dairyboy]

Lol wouldn't own a Dodge either! What I'm saying is no gun is perfect but I need a gun that is both accurate AND doesn't change poi as it's a tool for me. I choose my guns based on that. Others love them and live with the poi changes. Just depends what matters most to you.

 

[Yo]

I recently saw an ad here on the classifieds for FiX No Limits Rings. Really go and check it out. I think it even sold. YO!

 

[Yo]

I also know some people who like to FiX their work car daily like a hobby with a certain amount of time set aside daily. I believe there's lots of airgunners who really love to tinker with their guns all the time too. Just like young kids playing With their toys. With all of the temptation of the adjustable this and that change liner here there add plenum change o-rings here manometers there there who would blame them if they love to play with their toys daily? You can't blame anybody. YO!

 

[Guest]

I have no experience with FX. The guns I own have been through what I consider severe barrel tweaking. Think of it like plucking a string. I'll do that along the spine, and at the muzzle. Allow the barrel to vibrate then shoot once calm. My Air Arms with its 18" 14mm barrel has always returned to zero after being messed with. The Thomas barrel is only 15" and too thick and well anchored to move. One thing they both have in common is a tight breech(for barrel fit) and well secured barrel. Oh and a simple design overall in comparison to an FX.