Tony Leach's Skirted vs Skirtless Drop-in Kit - Which one is better?
- Thread starter O'Laugh
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While I cannot do a comparison, I will say that I have the skirtless kit, with delrin bearings in my TX200-3.
Before the install the rifle was a scattergun. A very good looking airgun, with a violent shot cycle. Cocking took some effort, plus you could hear the spring compressing, similar to a box spring on your bed.
After the install and tune (for JSB Exact Diabolo 8.44gr/4.52mm) the cocking stroke is buttery smooth and COMPLETELY silent. When you pull the trigger, the spring unloads with a snap! No buzz, no twangy noise, no vibration nor piston bounce felt or heard.
I just shot it a bunch at the indoor range yesterday. I swear that if your were blindfolded, I handed you the TX to cock and fire, you would have the impression that it was a gas spring.
My hat is off to Tony L for his engineering and execution, and Steve H (nitrocrushr) for his installation and tuning.
I would guess that you couldn’t go wrong with either version, with or without skirted piston.
Before the install the rifle was a scattergun. A very good looking airgun, with a violent shot cycle. Cocking took some effort, plus you could hear the spring compressing, similar to a box spring on your bed.
After the install and tune (for JSB Exact Diabolo 8.44gr/4.52mm) the cocking stroke is buttery smooth and COMPLETELY silent. When you pull the trigger, the spring unloads with a snap! No buzz, no twangy noise, no vibration nor piston bounce felt or heard.
I just shot it a bunch at the indoor range yesterday. I swear that if your were blindfolded, I handed you the TX to cock and fire, you would have the impression that it was a gas spring.
My hat is off to Tony L for his engineering and execution, and Steve H (nitrocrushr) for his installation and tuning.
I would guess that you couldn’t go wrong with either version, with or without skirted piston.
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The skirttless kit made my TX a shooter and therefore a keeper. I know nothing about Tony’s skirted kit. Hopefully some of the WFTF-Piston guys will join in to shed light on the comparison. Uj
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I have this kit in my TX200. The rifle is very smooth and the shot cycle is a light thunk, that is it. Makes the rifle a joy to shoot. Shot it indoors target shooting for the first time. It seems to be getting smoother if anything.
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I have plenty of experience with the AGT Skirtless kits in both 21 and 22mm. Many installs/tunes, and currently have my TX .177 rifle tuned with a 21mm skirtless at 80mm stroke.
I don’t yet have experience with Tony’s latest 22mm skirted kit. However, one of my customers recently received one of the new 22mm skirted kits. In the coming weeks/months I’ll be looking for feedback from him. He will be testing it head to head with his 22mm skirtless kit.
Steve
I don’t yet have experience with Tony’s latest 22mm skirted kit. However, one of my customers recently received one of the new 22mm skirted kits. In the coming weeks/months I’ll be looking for feedback from him. He will be testing it head to head with his 22mm skirtless kit.
Steve
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Can you please explain what these skirt / skirtless tune kits provide? Perhaps a product link? Always curious. Thanks in advance!
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I am not in the know, and can only wonder out loud if Tony’s new skirted and hard anodized aluminum piston (complete) is lighter in overall weight than the skirtless piston complete with seal, bearings, etc?
It sure looks fantastic
It sure looks fantastic
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The main idea behind Tonys work is to reduce the weight down of the moving piston, removing inertia to the absolute limit of the machine.
Pushing the envelope to the extreme until nothing more can be done to improve the Springer technology..
Has Tony achieved that by chucking out the piston altogether, essentially running the latch rod with a seal on it….maybe!
The only question mark being, does it go too far. There is something about a nice solidly engineered piston, especially when it is all polished up. The lasting build quality you can rely on when out in the woods (not necessarily sat in a cosy FT field)
There is no doubt in my mind that Tonys skirtless is the ultimate tuning kit for the individual chasing total performance, but many will prefer the solid engineering of a full piston. Tony has catered for this also, with a lighter piston with bearings..
Pays your money and takes your choice.
Tony is a great airgun engineer. I thought i was good, but had some still to learn from Tony..
Pushing the envelope to the extreme until nothing more can be done to improve the Springer technology..
Has Tony achieved that by chucking out the piston altogether, essentially running the latch rod with a seal on it….maybe!
The only question mark being, does it go too far. There is something about a nice solidly engineered piston, especially when it is all polished up. The lasting build quality you can rely on when out in the woods (not necessarily sat in a cosy FT field)
There is no doubt in my mind that Tonys skirtless is the ultimate tuning kit for the individual chasing total performance, but many will prefer the solid engineering of a full piston. Tony has catered for this also, with a lighter piston with bearings..
Pays your money and takes your choice.
Tony is a great airgun engineer. I thought i was good, but had some still to learn from Tony..
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Sub 12ftlbs FT…totally focused on the absolute minimum of recoil….Skirt-less..
It fits your remit.
Hunter…solid piston…max power and reliability …allows heavier pellet choices as it pushes through any secondary bounce caused by heavier pellets and then learning to shoot with the slight additional recoil..
It fits your remit.
Hunter…solid piston…max power and reliability …allows heavier pellet choices as it pushes through any secondary bounce caused by heavier pellets and then learning to shoot with the slight additional recoil..
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Steveoo, do you know if Tony will sell a skirted piston separately. I have the original 22mm skirtless kit with my compression tube and I also have a complete 22mm skirtless kit with no beartrap groves. If I could just get the piston, I could maybe do some comparative testing.
Forgot to say that I really like both kits.
Tim
Forgot to say that I really like both kits.
Tim
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I have skirtless in both of my TX200's. A HC in .177 and standard in .22. In .22 the shot cycle is far superior due to bore size. However, they are both significant improvements over the standard setup @ 12ft/lbs. Very minimal reticle movement or jumping. Very quick shot cycle. Tony appears to like the skirted for maybe better guiding, more mass, etc???
Curious to see what the differences would be in a side by side.
PS just wanted to add that Steve (nitrocrusher) did my .22 skirtless a few years ago when this was taking off. Tony's ideas and designs were getting serious attention back then and fairly new. He knows the platform.
DT
Curious to see what the differences would be in a side by side.
PS just wanted to add that Steve (nitrocrusher) did my .22 skirtless a few years ago when this was taking off. Tony's ideas and designs were getting serious attention back then and fairly new. He knows the platform.
DT
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As far as i know he will yes…
I think he did the skirted pistons due to slow initial acceptance of his novel skirtless, but the skirtless has a growing rep.
You can PM me…I have a personal email for him.
He is the principal springer gur….he will be able to tell you better.
I think he did the skirted pistons due to slow initial acceptance of his novel skirtless, but the skirtless has a growing rep.
You can PM me…I have a personal email for him.
He is the principal springer gur….he will be able to tell you better.
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