So after a long wait (pre-ordered from Precision Air in late September) I received my Thomas BR in 0.177cal. I had not listed a color preference, "just ship the next one that is ready", it turned out to be red.
I got in a few hours of shooting and experimenting this morning with her. I changed out the port for the "open" version and adjusted the hammer per Mike's diagram. Setup right and left sides of the 25m BR target and did a quick sight in using JSB "Beast" 16gr pellets sorted for head size only. Shot a card and a very competitive 249 out of 250.
Decided to play around a bit, there were two things on my mind. First would I get the same results using the H&N Piledriver 21gr pellets as everyone else seems to get, crappy results. Second some Thomas owners will "probe" their pellets, aka push them down her throat and some simply seat the pellet flush.
Probing... I shot (5) shot groups at 25y and 50y with the JSB 16gr. I used two different "tools" to probe the pellet, one shorter than the other.
This picture
More impressions from the shooting session
- Shipping via FedEx, signature required
- Shipped in a mid/low grade hard case inside a sturdy cardboard box, no damage
- No manual or instructions, only a baggy with (2) ports for "open" and "LV" with a diagram of the hammer setting. This was expected, it's not a main stream gun, so no expectations of exploded drawings, or detailed instructions to this or that, or a basic manual. I emailed Mike for the recommended file pressure, which he quickly replied 3000psi aka 200bar.
- First impression picking the gun up out of the case, "Damn! This is HEAVY!". It feels heavier than my RAW B500x with scope. I don't have a scale that will get a good reading on it.
- I used to do mechanical engineering with a lot of QA from the machine shop, so I have a critical eye for machine work. This baby was clean and "slick" in every detail.
- I mounted a Hawke sidewinder 8-32x56 with a 20x 1/2 dot MIL reticle.
I got in a few hours of shooting and experimenting this morning with her. I changed out the port for the "open" version and adjusted the hammer per Mike's diagram. Setup right and left sides of the 25m BR target and did a quick sight in using JSB "Beast" 16gr pellets sorted for head size only. Shot a card and a very competitive 249 out of 250.
Decided to play around a bit, there were two things on my mind. First would I get the same results using the H&N Piledriver 21gr pellets as everyone else seems to get, crappy results. Second some Thomas owners will "probe" their pellets, aka push them down her throat and some simply seat the pellet flush.
Probing... I shot (5) shot groups at 25y and 50y with the JSB 16gr. I used two different "tools" to probe the pellet, one shorter than the other.
- At 25y finger seated JSB where good, that is how I shot the 249 on my first card with it.
- At 50y finger seated JSB where HORIBLE! Seriously my first group was over 4", second about 3.5".
- At 25y short probe used on JSB where great, group the size of a pea.
- At 25y long probe used on JSB where worse than finger seating, group size a little smaller than a quarter.
- At 50y long probe used on JSB, better than finger but still not acceptable.
- At 50y short probe used on JSB where great resulting in great groups smaller than a dime.
This picture
- top right bull -- JSB Beast 16gr at 50y
- top left bull -- Piledriver 21gr at 50y with hammer a quarter turn from "open" setting
- bottom left bull -- Piledriver 21gr at 50y with hammer a half turn from "open" setting
More impressions from the shooting session
- The trigger is more like something you would expect to find on a 10m rifle. I left it where Mike had it set for his test shooting and am happy with it. Crisp clean predictable break.
- Cocking the hammer is super easy, a one finger operation. You can easily cock it without holding the gun and not move off target.
- Transfer port is smooth to open and close, has that nice "stiff" feeling of a very well sealed by an o-ring
- The gun rides the rests very well, doesn't move much if at all with recoil
- Hammer adjustment is very easy, non of that stiffer and stiffer, feel like you are twisting a spring, just a smooth fine thread.
- Don't have a chrono to run it through (soon). But I shot over (100) shots without any sign of it dropping off the regulator. Refilling showed it was at about 120bar when I topped it off to 200bar.
- Brought my roommate out, she has fired my Ruger 10/22 like tens times. She was sinking Xs with the Thomas by her second shot. She shot a right side 25m taget and got 13X. I also set her up with the RAW B500x 30cal at 50y with the 25m right side with resized JSB 50gr pellets and she drilled 11x. She's hooked now, lol.
