Before you buy an LCS SK-19, read this

Let me tell you the story of my LCS SK-19. It arrived last Friday 1-10-20 at about 6 PM. It was already dark. On Saturday 1-11-20, I scoped the gun and went to sight it in. First magazine of 19 rounds I had 2 failure to fires, air yes pellet no. Second magazine of 19 rounds, three rounds air yes, pellet no. 3rd mag only shot 5, two more air but no pellet. I did not clean this gun or touch it in any way-just pellets (JSB 33.95gr) and air. That's why I never touch a new gun, then vendors say you caused the problem.

Monday1-13, I call the vendor (who has been excellent). They tell me the barrel may be screwed in too far and not allowing the fixed non-removeable magazine to rotate, and to try unscrewing the barrel. Fired 2 mags of 19, thought problem was solved (even called vendor and waited 20 minutes on hold to tell them). Wednesday 1-15-20. Two skunks in my yard (the reason I bought the gun). Shot the first, went to shoot the second no pellet. I lifted the mag levers on both sides of the gun, rotated the mag clockwise one position by hand, re-closed the levers and shot and killed the second, as it was still there. When I checked the mag, there were two pellets missing, even though I fired 3 times.

I called the vendor today 1-16-20 and am sending the gun back. In getting it ready to ship I wanted to unload the magazine. Since it's fixed and non-removable how can I? Simple shoot it. Prior to this time I had been shooting the gun off a gun rest, and with the long ATN 4K Pro scope I was behind the gun. While emptying the pellets by shooting into the ground (scope was taken off), I felt air puffing on my right cheek. I called the vendor to add this info to the RMA. They said the barrel was probably unscrewed too far, causing the air to blow out the side.

Here's what I would like my fellow air gunners to know. First, the only way to clean this gun due to the fixed magazine is to remove the barrel. Second, the barrel is tensioned in the front by the moderator baffle nut. Third, once you remove the barrel to clean it, It will be very difficult if not impossible, to get the barrel in the proper position. Too far back, magazine will not work. Too far forward, air comes out the side. There are NO specs on the baffle nut to know how to properly tension the barrel. I told the vendor I put a piece of painters tape at 12 o'clock on the barrel before I loosened it. He said "if you make a pen mark on the tape at 12 o'clock, turning the barrel more than the width of the pen mark, it could be too much". You will have these issues EVERY TIME you remove the barrel for cleaning. Not a very good design, not very good QC. There should have been a slot in the side to insert a feelers gauge to get the spacing correct and there should have been a spec on the barrel tension, and a way (hint-a hex for a torque wrench) to apply it. 

I should have bought an Impact MKII.
 
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It looks like a fun piece to shoot. Owning might be a different matter. Complexity often as not seems to bring along problems (potential if not actual). Seems the Huben works well enough so maybe it is just a matter of setting it up precisely, even though that apparently might be difficult. Watching to see how this progresses but it is tempting.
 
Cmatera,

I was considering buying one of these in the very near future, thanks for the heads up on issues with fairly new gun. I think I will wait for awhile before committing. The manufacturer may make revisions to this platform and maybe make it better. If they follow FX’s lead it will be an ever changing platform. Also, I would expect high end aftermarket improvements with in a year. With all the bugs worked out and maybe detachable magazines this would be a great piece to own, it sure looks fun.
 
The full auto might be fun once or twice, not really practical, I did not even try it. The semi auto with no levering for a quick follow up shot while hunting at night is what I was after.

The vendors will not tell you the truth. They want to sell product, so it will cost them $$ . Most people who purchase one will not tell you the truth. What do you think I just did to my resale value with this post in the event I want to sell? Fortunately for me, I can afford to tell you the truth.
 
Mine works perfectly, and I’d say so if it didn’t. It’s in .22 and I shoot RD Monsters and 18.1 JSB. The power adjustment knob makes it easy to set them for a good speed like about 940 FPS for each. I’ve only put about 200 rounds of each through it so far. It’s as accurate at 50 yards as my .22 FX Crown.

One very impressive thing about the gun is The Power. With the reg. at 120 bar, it will shoot the RD Monsters at 1000 fps with just a twist of the knob. There is so much power on tap that in order to shoot the 18.1 JSB pellets, I need to have the power adjustment knob screwed in almost all the way, maybe just a couple of clicks from the stop, and I still get about 900 FPS. So I settled on a couple more clicks for around 930 to 940 FPS with the 18.1s and about 1/2 more turn for 940 with the RD Monsters. The power potential is huge , I think due to the efficient hammerless firing system and also the very large plenum that makes the new Impact power plenum look puny by comparison. 

My two negatives are the trigger as discussed elsewhere on AGN, and the speed adjust, although it has detents, could be more firm and positive. I’ve also shot both up to 67 yards and despite the trigger, it groups as well as the FX. Good solid gun made with top notch materials such as the titanium drum and stainless steel LW “bull” poly barrel. I want to clean the barrel so I guess I’ll find out how hard it is to remove and reinstall. 
 
I own one of these SK-19 guns. The barrel is held locked in place by the two screws located just above the barrel in the gun's frame. When the screws are tightened they cause the aluminum fame of the gun to clamp down around the barrel, preventing the barrel from moving/rotating. The moderator simply screws onto the end of the barrel and applies tension onto the carbon fiber shroud. 

When I first received my new SK-19 in .22 last month, it had a couple of issues that needed fixing right off the bat. The trigger wouldn't return to it's starting position from time to time and the power wheel, or what ever it is called on the SK-19, had no detents when it was rotated, as it should have. So I had to take the gun slightly apart to fix the trigger, which turned out to be just a loose nut. The detent issue was much more involved but luckily I have a small mill and rotary table which were required to drill a new set of detents into the power wheel. Now it works as it should.

I have never had a problem with the gun failing to fire a pellet or the fixed magazine failing to rotate after each shot.

This is what I'll say regarding the SK-19 which I own. I think the gun needs a little more work to get to a level of a Daystate, FX or Edgun as far as fit and finish go. For the amount of money they want for one of these things, $2,000, they should be put together and machined better and a new owner shouldn't have to fix or re-machine parts to make them work correctly. See the pictures below showing the power wheel before and after fixing.

But having said that, I will say that the gun is surprisingly my most accurate gun out to 75 yards using the JSB redesigned Jumbo Monster Diabolo 25.39 gr pellet. It is absolutely amazing to watch pellet after pellet hitting the same hole at 70 yards, with the occasional flyer. And at 40-50 yards with the gun on full auto, watch as 19 shots obliterate the target. Also the power wheel has a huge range of adjustment, 3-400 FPS using the standard regulator setting. All in all a very interesting gun even if it isn't designed or put together perfectly.



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No regrets on purchasing mine. I’ve had the barrel out several times and only once had an issue with it cycling. It was out at the farm on a 9 degree night with condensation from my breath dripping of the gun. Can’t say it didn’t freeze up but I did back the barrel off slightly when I got home. I polished the outside of the barrel with the same JB I did the inside and it makes installation a little easier. Been out in the same conditions since then without issue. 
 
I do not buy my airguns to tinker. I do not own any machinery. My detents too seemed almost non-existant. I am hoping that if I can get a gun that operational from the vendor, maybe a couple lightly scribed or Dykem witness marks on the OD of the barrel at 12 o'clock may help with re-installation. I am also wondering if the back of the trigger guard could be drilled/tapped for a spring ball detent to help with the long pre-travel of the trigger. I will say that when the gun fired, it was deadly accurate, even with the ATN 4K Pro which is not a precision aiming instrument,-it's strength is in its day/night versatility. Not putting out a pellet out EVERY time is a deal breaker in a hunting rifle. Vendor says they have some with 30,000 pellets through them with no problems. We shall see.
 
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Never had a problem with mine in .22 cal. Shot great right out of the box for 600 or so shots before the barrel needed cleaned. Figured out how to remove, replace and adjust the barrel by myself and I have not had any problems getting it adjusted correctly. Power wheel detents are not that positive but they are there and the trigger is strange but usable. I wish you luck with you repairs/adjustments.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/sk-19-was-not-shooting-to-well-today-needed-cleaned/
 
Thanks for the post. It's disheartening when a new, expensive purchase does not live up to the hype. There are a lot of reasons for this. Just like the Impact (of which I have one). There were a lot of "HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM" type posts regarding its reliability. Those issues have pretty well been worked out. It sounds like the vendor you bought it from is knowledgable and will help you get it working. Sometimes it's just a small adjustment, or a small burr that is the problem. Hope you get it worked out soon.

As a side note, I'm glad to see a lot of SK-19 owners chime in. I'm glad to hear the good/great reports as to accuracy. I use my Impact for squirrel hunting, and am amazed at the power and accuracy. A semi-auto would be nice, so I'll be keeping an eye on this model.
 
I must admit I am torn. Of course I am not happy that a brand new $2,000 air gun failed to reliably operate. I am impressed with the way the vendor has responded-that's why a vendors reputation carries a lot of sway with me, more so than who has the lowest price. The accuracy and power of the gun are amazing. The trigger, a few quality issues, and the failure to plan for the most basic function of gun maintenance-cleaning the barrel are disappointing.

If the vendor can get the gun to function reliably, I will be happy. The gun serves the exact purpose I bought it for-night hunting in semi auto mode which allows me a quick follow up shot, without coming off the scope or working a lever in the dark. In that respect, it and the ATN 4K Pro are the right equipment for that task. I'll let you know how it works out The vendor just sent me a prepaid return label. Interesting concept huh? Most vendors expect you to pay to ship back the defective product Fingers crossed for a good outcome.
 
I have to chime in here so far my experience has been similar I did get a few groups tethered but my leak just got worse. I have to say build quality is very how ya doing... Tons of dings and dents under and in the finish as well as file marks and if you are a machinist .... jaw and fixture prints. Please understand it is a small mfg. Making a "production prototype" from what I've seen so far, honestly if I was being picky the bottle block is about 10-12 degrees out of true with the trigger group as well putting the plenum at an odd angle into the action...this is a strange design feature that places the bottle out of parallel with the barrel...which is a little odd to my engineer and toolmakers eye for detail I don't get the need for it? Just curious observation
 
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That's good. They took my little talk with them yesterday and put it into action. My gun is awaiting pickup by UPS. In my case, the gun arrived brand new in a non-functional state. I did not try to change or clean the barrel. Chris J told me to "unscrew" the barrel a little. Daren processed the return. I called to add to the RMA info that the gun was blowing air out the side-only then did TJ tell me that unscrewing it more than the width of a pen line on painters tape could be too much. Lastly I called Chris J back to express my displeasure with no info on such a necessary basic gun function and I intended to share that info here and other airgun forums. My last call was 1-16-20 to Chris J. There was no video then. Today,1-17-20 a video-you're welcomed.
 
All airguns should work straight out of the box. Bummer. Seems dealer is working with you.

On the barrel/mag clearance issues, many if not most do not have any absolute stop or index for this clearance. Pull the barrel on your Marauder & reinstall too far in the mag binds to far out a leak. Just how the vast majority are. 



John
 
Dealer has handled the problem very well so far, other than making a quick how to video and releasing it to their shills to try and discredit me. Not a bright move. No wonder they lost the FX North American distributorship. Two more things prospective buyers should be aware of. In preparing the gun for return, I had 17 rounds in the magazine. The magazine is fixed. How do you empty it? To me, the easiest way to unload it was to shoot the rounds into the ground, but what if the gun was not functional to do so? Can you push the pellets out of the magazine to unload? Back to front or front to back? Lastly, they claim the regulator is adjustable, but advise against doing it and recommend sending it in to a service center. How many of you consider a gun that has be sent in to a service center to have an "adjustable regulator"?