Un-sponsored Video Review of Air Arms S510 FAC (in .22)

[terrymc]

"Smaug"

"BeachGunner"So what does the power wheel do if it does not reduce the amount of air being forced behind the pellet for each shot??
If it doesn't save the air, where does it go? It can't be behind the pellet. 

It DOES increase shot count, though not quite proportionally to the power loss.
On full power, (5/5) I get about 35 shots per fill. Full power is not that efficient. It's about 32 FPE for 35 shots.
On 4/5 power, (30 FPE) I get a solid 40 shots.
I've got it set now at 2/5 power. I've shot two mags through it, (18 rounds) and the manometer still reads maybe 190 bar. I'm sure I'll get at least 50 shots out of this fill, probably more.
One power 1/5, I don't know. I'll have to keep tabs on it next time I have a long plinking session.

The REAL drawback, (to me, at least) is that the velocity always varies across the fill. The Power Curve, one always has to be aware of it. This will have an effect on long range accuracy. Maybe mandating that it only be shot from 190 to 160 bar, instead of 200 to 140 for shots beyond 50 or 60 yards?

Well, it hasn't been an issue for me yet. All my hunting shots have been inside of 50 yards, and probably 85% of them inside of 20 yards.

If/when it does become an issue, I understand it is not a big deal to drop a Huma in it. The air tube is big enough to accommodate it without losing a significant part of its volume.

You are correct you do get a shot increase and not proportional. That part has to do with the with the valve shutting before it all dribbles out to continue the analogy.

I highly recommend the regulator, I added a Robert Lane regulator to my S510 Ultimate Sporter, it is a whole different gun.
Your shot count will increase because you can shoot over a larger range of pressures.

Without the regulator you have a bell curve for your FPS, higher pressure the FPS is slower, low pressure the FPS is slower.
In the sweet spot the pressure gives you the max speed for settings.
So to get a decent extreme spread you have to shoot in a narrow tank pressure range.
When your regulate the gun, the regulator makes all shots in that sweet spot until the pressure drops below your regulator point.

There are other things that need done to make it waste less air but the regulator is the first part. Reducing that hammer weight to 
match the reduced pressure is most of that. 

And yes Leland does have the R10.
I also have a friend that just bought one at my suggestion, they are very very nice gun.
If I did not have my S510, I would look very hard at the R10. But the S510 is a fantastic gun as well.
They can be made better but then again so can all mass produced items, including the very high end stuff.