Are the FX Royale guns that terrible??

Jump to latest Follow Reply
IMO a 1500$+ rifle should stand the test of time. If they can come out with a superior model year after year...then IDK if I'd want to invest 1500$ into one...only to have to chase my tail trying to keep up with all the new bells and whistles every year...but thats just my opinion. FX has one of the longest list of models that I am aware of...and only recently have they become cheaper, with the streamline and possibly dreamline. 



Not to knock FX or similar brands that do this, but its firmly how I feel. 




 
  • Like
Reactions: jps2486
Upvote 0
If you mean FX Royale, haha no not a "terrible" gun by any means. I am biased definitely as I've had my Royale 500 (.25 cal) for a year and half and put 14500 pellets through it and only replaced a few o-rings. I found a used .22 smooth twist barrel for cheap and bought the pellet probe and guide from FX, now it's .22 and .25 my choice!

Pros

Can be broken down in minutes and reduced to a pile of parts. SUPER easy to work on, 

Accurate the original smooth twist barrels are amazing I've shot many many sub MOA groups at 100m (109y)

Easily tuneable by adjustments alone you can get 60FPE in the .25 and over 40 with the .22 (53 with 24 inch .22 LW barrel ;)

Parts are available

Can be multicaliber as they made .177, .22 and .25. Just swap in a different barrel and change pellet probe/probe guide over and it's another caliber. (I can change in under 5 minutes with a few hex wrenches)

Deadly reliable, simple and proven

Has easy access to adjusting regulator, adjusting hammer spring, and changing transfer port size. (reg and hammer spring tensioners require removal of 1 screw then the stock)

Trigger and cocking action are excellent

Air tank is removable when charged, it has a check valve so you can degas without draining the whole tank. Just unscrew it.

Speed/power can be adjusted fast and easy, from 450fps indoor plinking to ? full power. Just remove one 4mm screw at the bottom of stock, remove stock and there's the 5mm adjuster. Literally takes 20 seconds and can be done anywhere.



Cons

It's an older platform, been around for probably 8 years or more. 

Earlier ones the stock is not ambidextrous (I shoot left so it matters to me)

Very early guns are not regulated, but this can be changed with drilling a hole and adding a regulator if wanted. And possibly a hammer weight, i'm not sure.

Has the aluminum bottle, weighs a pound more than the CF one used on Impact and Crown but if you want you can buy one and it'll screw right on. I did, and keep the aluminum as a buddy bottle



Do a search here on FX RoyalE, lots of info.




 
  • Like
Reactions: Gunnertrones
Upvote 0
IMO a 1500$+ rifle should stand the test of time. If they can come out with a superior model year after year...then IDK if I'd want to invest 1500$ into one...only to have to chase my tail trying to keep up with all the new bells and whistles every year...but thats just my opinion. FX has one of the longest list of models that I am aware of...and only recently have they become cheaper, with the streamline and possibly dreamline. 



Not to knock FX or similar brands that do this, but its firmly how I feel. 



Click to expand...


Well to be fair I would call a 7? year production run on the Royale the test of time. There's someone here with 45000 shots on his and i think 70k between him and his friend, as far as coming out with new things every year isn't that a good thing?

The Impact has had a few year run already and has one revision with improvements, (STX barrel system, some internal improvements I think) This was one of the first guns to offer caliber changes I think as well as massive tuneability.

The Crown did the same in a rifle format, higher capacity mags externally adjustable reg, external valve adjustment etc.

I for one think innovation in airguns is a good thing and not to be considered a negative, but yep they're not cheap.
 
Upvote 0
IMO, the FX Royale is the most reliable and predictable air rifle FX has ever produced. If you see one that you like for a good price, buy it!

I've had 5+ of them over the years and still own 2 of them to this day (both .22's). Sometimes, you just want a simple rifle that just works. No fussing around, no tuning, just pick it up and shoot it. This also trickles down to the multiple variations of the Royale. eg. The Verminator & Independence are two that were based off the Royale and I've had great success with both of them as well. 

I never had great success with the R-500's (.25) but, I've always had good (or better) results with the .22's.

Tom
 
  • Like
Reactions: srtmat, drsquall, Emu and 1 other person
Upvote 0
IMO, the FX Royale is the most reliable and predictable air rifle FX has ever produced. If you see one that you like for a good price, buy it!

I've had 5+ of them over the years and still own 2 of them to this day (both .22's). Sometimes, you just want a simple rifle that just works. No fussing around, no tuning, just pick it up and shoot it. This also trickles down to the multiple variations of the Royale. eg. The Verminator & Independence are two that were based off the Royale and I've had great success with both of them as well. 

I never had great success with the R-500's (.25) but, I've always had good (or better) results with the .22's.

Tom
Click to expand...

Might I add the Bobcat to the variation mix?

CA
 
Upvote 0
I can only speculate but I believe many FX fans have progressed to the versitility of the Crown and cannot justify having two similar rifles, and so, are getting rid of the one that isn't used. If you do not want or need all the bells and whistles of the Crown, the Royal would be a good choice. I have found many in the Airgun community are continually buying a "new rifle". I am currently considering listing a few rifles myself just to try something new. Although there is nothing wrong with the Royal, it's Hayday is over and newer rifles have taken it's place. If there are many Royals for sale, it could be a buyer's market and should be able to get a great deal. I still believe the FX Streamline is probably the most unsung rifle in their line. As the name implies there are no frills but for a basic hunting rifle it looks tot be perfect.
 
Upvote 0
I think when all is said and done, people will begin to gravitate back to the Royales. I watch the classifieds very carefully and I'm seeing some who sell their Crowns and Impacts, then buy Royales and Wildcat Mk1s with the original smooth-twist barrels. Simplicity and reliability is beginning already to trump complexity and versatility. I recently bought an FX Boss that was a safe queen. It's as accurate as my ImpactX and my Wildcat and it cycles more smoothly than any of my guns. The Boss has the best trigger I've ever owned, bar none! The Boss' regulator works flawlessly. Not so with either the Wildcat or the ImpactX. If I were forced to have only one of them, I'd have to choose the Boss, except for the fact that my back doesn't like traditional rifles anymore, and my limited retirement income makes .30 cal ammunition a pain in my back pocket. Were I a kid again, with a strong back and expendable income, the Boss would be my "forever gun". I think the Royales are a bargain right now. I think many guys who have "been there and done that", having owned the latest and greatest, are going to eventually revisit the Royales. When the cream eventually rises to the surface, the Royales will be the winners. I know there are lots of people who will disagree with me, but I'll bet FX views their Royales and the Wildcats as the mainstays of their lineup. In my current situation, which is not likely ever to improve, after owning all these guns, it's starting to look like the gun best suited for me is one that I've never yet owned, an FX Wildcat Mk1 in .25 caliber. I should sell everything I own and get one and be satisfied till I die. But if I had a good back, I'd have an FX Royale 500.
 
Upvote 0
I have one of the ones listed. I see only 4 on the first 5 pages currently, probably as many Crowns, TX200's etc. As others have stated, some are chasing the latest and greatest which makes for some great deals out there. I know the one I am selling is because I moved up to a Redwolf. The Royale is still a wonderful predictable gun. I love that the action is removed from the stock with just one screw!
 
Upvote 0
I have not hold a royal in my hand, but considering the streamline being the closest "competitor" in fx range, I would believe the advantage of the royal is that it is the first bottle gun fx made, with allot of air available (and shot count, if regulated?). The streamline will be lighter and a probably better buy if if bought new, and may have a ergonomic advantage. But if you can live with a litle heavier gun, I would believe the royal is still a top gun, even in 2018.
 
Upvote 0
IMO a 1500$+ rifle should stand the test of time. If they can come out with a superior model year after year...then IDK if I'd want to invest 1500$ into one...only to have to chase my tail trying to keep up with all the new bells and whistles every year...but thats just my opinion. FX has one of the longest list of models that I am aware of...and only recently have they become cheaper, with the streamline and possibly dreamline. 



Not to knock FX or similar brands that do this, but its firmly how I feel. 



Click to expand...


Well to be fair I would call a 7? year production run on the Royale the test of time. There's someone here with 45000 shots on his and i think 70k between him and his friend, as far as coming out with new things every year isn't that a good thing?

The Impact has had a few year run already and has one revision with improvements, (STX barrel system, some internal improvements I think) This was one of the first guns to offer caliber changes I think as well as massive tuneability.

The Crown did the same in a rifle format, higher capacity mags externally adjustable reg, external valve adjustment etc.

I for one think innovation in airguns is a good thing and not to be considered a negative, but yep they're not cheap.
Click to expand...

Not certain, but my brother and I may be the ones you referred to regarding high shot counts through FX Royales. My FX, .22 Royale has somewhere around 38,000 rounds through it. My brother's has probably around half that amount, but still respectable. My .22, FX Independence has nearly the same shot count as my .22 Royale. My .30, FX Boss has been shot well over 12,000 rounds. All three of these rifles have been incredibly reliable and super accurate. In fact, they all impressed me so much, I recently purchased another FX rifle - a brand new, .30, black, FX Impact. It showed up in perfect condition and 600 rounds later, it is just like the pervious 3; accurate, smooth and just plain fun to shoot.
Click to expand...


Yeah haha it's you guys I was talking about, a bit off on the numbers but right on with the love for the plaform. Awesome.
 
Upvote 0
To be fair the streamline do have the shorter cocking lever, which may make it easier to cock, giving it one more plus in ergonomics. But like I said, I have not held either in my hand.
Click to expand...


I don't know about more ergonomic, unless the streamline is more ergonomic than the Crown also? They're basically the same amazing stock, and put a CF bottle on the Royale and it's basically the same weight as Crown. (7lbs ish)

Longer cocking arm = more leverage = easier.
 
Upvote 0
Guys,

I'm not an FX guy, but I might actually be in the future. That being said, you don't see a whole lot of them in Field Target competition, and personally, I don't know why. The only reason I see is that the actual stocks are not Field Target friendly.

That being said, Brian Van Liew has used FX guns exclusively in his quest for Field Target perfection, and is always in the top of the heap in competition. I think this is a testament of the quality and accuracy of FX weaponry. 

Tom Holland 
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glem.Chally
Upvote 0
Hi guys ! 😃

I have one of the latest models of the FX Royale 400 in .177 FAC regulated with the carbon bottle and the black pepper laminate stock.

I also have the FX Wildcat MK1 and FX Streamline in .177 FAC.

The FX Royale is a far better rifle and has stood the "test of time". Always works flawlessly and shoots very accurate with probably the best trigger ever 👍

1543747896_12958183615c03b9382ce845.99725065_FX Royale 400 177 FAC.jpg


1543747918_17827359505c03b94e5ca574.57140665_FX Royale 400 - 50 Meters.jpg

 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu