FX Impact Issues Encountered During 1st Month (FINAL UPDATE)

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travels4fun

Member
Mar 28, 2015
895
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Arizona, United States
Having had my .25 FX impact for just over a month now, I thought I would share some issues I have had with the rifle. Overall, I have found the FX Impact to be a pleasure and joy to shoot. The Impact's engineering and design is nothing short of genius. The fit and finish is superb – this is one solid rifle! I'm well impressed with it's accuracy even in light of the issues I identified below.. I hope the my findings and observations will serve to make an amazing rifle even better.

UPDATE: January 7, 2015
I picked up my Impact from Airguns of Arizona this afternoon and am happy to report the rifle is issue-free!! Well, to be more precise, items 1 and 5 turned out to be non-issues which you can read more about in the notes below. Items 2, 3, and 4 were all fixed under warranty. Bottom line, I am extremely pleased with the service and support provided by Airguns of Arizona.

As for the Fill Port, Picatinny Rail, and Telescopic Shroud; I will leave them in place as Suggested Areas for Improvement for FX to consider in future releases of the rifle. I will note that none of these items will keep anyone from being able to use the rifle.

Issues / Defects:
  1. Defective Magazine (NON ISSUE) - When cocking the rifle to load a pellet for my next shot, the pellet skirts where getting damaged by the opening in the magazine. This caused the pellets to spiral and corkscrew which I observed when viewing the footage from my high speed camera.
    UPDATE 01-07-2016: The magazine ended up not being the problem as the issue was the pellet probe was out of alignment which was fixed under warranty by Airguns of Arizona. AoA will replace the current magazine with a new one free of charge as soon as they receive their next shipment. 
  2. Defective Pressure Gauge (ISSUE RESOLVED) - the rifle’s manometer (pressure gauge) that shows the tanks fill pressure is off by +50 bar (200 bar reads as 250 bar). When filling, I have to rely on my fill tank’s gauge reading to ensure the gun is topped up to the proper pressure.
    UPDATE 01-07-2016: Defective pressure gauge replaced under warranty by Airguns of Arizona.
  3. Magazine Misalignment (ISSUE RESOLVED) - The magazine inserts too far into the breach causing misalignment between the magazine and pellet probe. The magazine must be manually adjusted by pulling it back out slightly until the opposite side of the magazine is flush with the left side of the breach. It is obvious to tell when the magazine is not in the right position because it is impossible to close the cocking lever unless everything is perfectly aligned.
    UPDATE 01-07-2016: Probe was re-aligned which fixed the problem. Work competed under warranty by Airguns of Arizona.
  4. Regulator Problems (ISSUE RESOLVED) – when screwing on the removable carbon fiber tank, the pressure reading on the regulator’s gauge showed pressure to be 200 bar. It used to read 148/149 bar and never fluctuated. I never touched or adjusted the regulator so I know it’s not something I caused. In order to get the regulator pressure lower, I have to shoot around a dozen shots before the regulator reads around 152/153 bar. It will never go back to 148/149 bar which is the factory default.
    UPDATE 01-07-2016: AoA was not able to replicate this issue. I suspect this may have been tied to the faulty air pressure gauge reading 50 bar low resulting in the gun being over-filled. Now that the faulty gauge was replaced, the risk of over filling the gun has been mitigated. I will continue to monitor the regulator gauge to see if this issue re-surfaces. Unless otherwise noted, I am considering this issue RESOLVED.
  5. Regulator Dumping Air (NON ISSUE) - This happened while I was in the process of unscrewing the air cylinder. The air in the regulator completely released and the pressure dropped to zero according to the regulator's manometer.
    UPDATE 01-07-2016: I found out it is normal for the regulator to lose it's air pressure when the bottle is removed. It may happen immediately while removing the bottle or at some point later on. Either way, this is NORMAL and to be expected.
    [/LIST=1]
    Suggested Areas for Improvement:
    1. Picatinny Rail (not to spec) - the traverse slot center-to-center interval is .394" which is the MIL-STD-1913 A specification. As a result, I am limited to using individual picatinny scope rings*. Dual ring picatinny mounts with two or more lugs may not fit the rail without modification to the rail or mount.
    2. Fill Port Access - the Impact’s fill port is too deep which makes it difficult to remove the fill line after topping off the gun’s air pressure. I have to use my finger nails to get to the retractable quick connect sleeve in order to disconnect the fill hose from the gun.
    3. Telescopic Shroud - The outer adjustable telescoping shroud slipped off the inner shroud on the very first day. This happened when I was sliding the extended shroud closed so the barrel could be packed back into the case. When this happened, one of the internal o-ring was cut and needed to be replaced. Even worse, the edge of the rear sliding shroud is RAZOR SHARP and ended up splitting my thumb open.
      [/LIST=1]
 
Dude I'm with you . How this happens repeatedly in Airguns is beyond me !!!! Quality is very simple , don't release it till you KNOW its right . I truly love shooting PCPs but hate the gut wrenching feeling when I'm about to buy one . It should be fun not disappointing. If scope company's products were released with this poor a quality they would go down the tubes in short order . Why airguns aren't held to same standards is a puzzle for this ol country boy
 
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Considering it's a totally new rifle designed from the ground up and it was introduced right on the heals of another all new from the ground up rifle (the Wildcat), FX has done a pretty amazing job. The issues I encountered haven't kept me from shooting but will need to be addressed at some point. I just need to get off my butt and drive down to AoA to drop the rifle off to get fixed.

The telescopic shroud was fixed already and hasn't given me any problems since. They also tweaked my magazine so it wouldn't damage the pellet skirts as much but this was an interim fix as they didn't have any spare .25 magazines at the time.
 
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Scott - "The only workaround (aside from manually filing down the raised slots) is to use one piece picatinny scope rings".

I think (?) you mean EITHER file down the gun's rail slots in order to fit a one piece 'mil-Spec' Picatinny mount OR use A PAIR of Picatinny rings (or in fact Weaver rings), neither will be affected by the slot spacing.

RE: The magazine
The one you have there is clearly a 'wrong'un' but only by a small margin ! One possible fix is to apply a small section of adhesive tape on what would be (when loading) the inside or left face of the mag - I'm thinking Duct Tape, but for a smaller correction maybe, Sellotape.
It seems that the mag. is able to seat too deeply (to the left) when pushed in & the mag. locating pin has enough 'freedom' or play not to move it back into the correct position when the M. locating pin is then closed. However, if you manually re-seat the mag it's OK.
A replacement Magazine is in order (clearly :) ) but that particular mag. should stay with you ... IMO (if it were a 'return' its' minor, non-visible deficiencies could allow it to re-enter the retail system).
 
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"steeve"Is there anyone here that has not had problems with their production Impacts/Wildcats?
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There are hundreds of these rifles out in the hands of shooters. The issues you're hearing about are from a small amount of people who are reaching out for assistance. 
I have both rifles and the only issues I've had to deal with are ones I created myself.
Tom 
 
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Time and time again.....I have more ppl having me to mod $800 Hatsans that will shoot sub moa groups that will get the job done out in the field. I just had a guy who spent money to mod the Hatsan .30cal as he was just about to drop $2000 he is so happy that he did. The point being that all guns can have issues, does not matter the amount of money spent. The Impacts/Wildcats are nice work, but when you spend that type of cash and some thing goes wrong it kinda leaves you with a bad taste. I think that ppl pay those amount for not only a great looking rifle, but to avoid problematic rifles as well.... I am sure that things will work out for the best.
 
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"BRS"Scott - "The only workaround (aside from manually filing down the raised slots) is to use one piece picatinny scope rings".

I think (?) you mean EITHER file down the gun's rail slots in order to fit a one piece 'mil-Spec' Picatinny mount OR use A PAIR of Picatinny rings (or in fact Weaver rings), neither will be affected by the slot spacing.

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Though you are correct that a Weaver devices will, in most cases, fit on a “Picatinny” system. The reverse, however, is probably not the case. Due to the larger recoil groove, “Picatinny” accessories will not fit a Weaver system. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, but for a good rule-of-thumb, “Picatinny” won’t fit Weaver, but Weaver will fit “Picatinny”.

The key difference lies in the placement of the recoil grooves and with width of the grooves. MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) grooves are .206” wide and have a center-to-center width of .394”. The placement of these grooves has to be consistent in order for it to be a true “Picatinny” MIL-STD system.

Weaver systems have a .180” width of recoil groove and are not necessarily consistent in a center-to-center measurement from one groove to the next. In many instances, a Weaver system has a specific application that it is machined for, so interchangeability is not necessarily an issue.
 
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There are hundreds of these were? In the states or the uk. If I understand what Im reading they just made it to the states last month and it doesn't sound like hundreds passed through AOA.
If I understand it right the uk is limited to 12 fpe. If so is that even the same airgun?
Do they have or need the regulator and all the power adjustments for a 12 fpe? Or is the airgun coming to the states different because we are not limited as they are in the uk.

Just trying to understand

Rim
 
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@Rimshot

@steve asked "Is there anyone here that has not had problems with their production Impacts/Wildcats?" @Tominco's reply was based on the combined total of Impacts+WIldcats sold to date. That said, @Tominco would be correct in saying "
There are hundreds of these rifles out in the hands of shooters."

As for the power limit on UK airguns, regulators and 12 fpe rifles, etc., that is a bit off topic for this post. You may do better a separate post to keep this discussion on point.

Scott
 
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Scott, thanks for posting. It is really useful information, especially for people like me who are in-line to get an Impact soon. I was notified by one of the non-AZ distributors that mine will be in next week and my stomach started to turn thinking that I may end up having to deal with the only authorized service center in the U.S. Been there...done that...and want to avoid it at ALL costs!

So I decided to assemble some of these repeating FX Impact issues and send it to my distributor with a request to do a thorough quality control on the rifle they intend to send me. I do not care if it takes longer, or if the rifle "fails". I rather wait, if necessary until the spring, to make sure that the rifle is working as intended. I trust that FX will fix these issues. I am aware that issues like the badly fitted foster quick connect are an FX design problem and not a field-fix and willing to live with that. But most of the problems listed here on AGN already can be detected by a simple function and leak test of the rifle.

Many of the rifles that got in the buyers' hands should have been flagged by the distributor. Early on, these may not have been evident and easily detected, but by now there is no excuse not to test for these before sending them out to the buyers. The aggravation of having to send it back to that only authorized service center in the U.S. makes me break out in hives. I also assume that that service center and the various distributors would rather catch these small (assuming only) number of rifles before they start coming back in large numbers.

I would also assume that it's in FX's best interest too that these rifles get flagged before they ever get to the buyers hands so they can be fixed before they (undeservedly) damage FX's reputation. it's understandable that some of the early models of a new production design will have issues, but that's even more reason for FX to be on guard and instruct the U.S. distributors to conduct much much more thorough and specific quality control on the FX Impact in comparison with older product lines like the Royal, etc.
 
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"fe7565"Scott, thanks for posting. It is really useful information, especially for people like me who are in-line to get an Impact soon. I was notified by one of the non-AZ distributors that mine will be in next week and my stomach started to turn thinking that I may end up having to deal with the only authorized service center in the U.S. Been there...done that...and want to avoid it at ALL costs!

So I decided to assemble some of these repeating FX Impact issues and send it to my distributor with a request to do a thorough quality control on the rifle they intend to send me. I do not care if it takes longer, or if the rifle "fails". I rather wait, if necessary until the spring, to make sure that the rifle is working as intended. I trust that FX will fix these issues. I am aware that issues like the badly fitted foster quick connect are an FX design problem and not a field-fix and willing to live with that. But most of the problems listed here on AGN already can be detected by a simple function and leak test of the rifle.
,,,,,

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I'm glad you found the info useful. Having your dealer spend extra time going over your new rifle prior to shipping it out is the smart thing to do. Enjoy your new Impact and let me know how things turn out.

Scott
 
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Only issues I have had on mine is with my .22 barrel and the POI shifts with the shroud extended while my other barrel is just fine. 

Another minor not issue with the magazine and that the pin won't even make contact with the clear part to be able to hold it in place but not an issue when the nag is inserted in to the rifle.

And obviously the rail not fitting my one piece mount but Johan said he will be sending one for me to the UK distributor.
 
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"Parrots"Only issues I have had on mine is with my .22 barrel and the POI shifts with the shroud extended while my other barrel is just fine. 

Another minor not issue with the magazine and that the pin won't even make contact with the clear part to be able to hold it in place but not an issue when the nag is inserted in to the rifle.

And obviously the rail not fitting my one piece mount but Johan said he will be sending one for me to the UK distributor.
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Make sure your shroud is tight that made me have POI change once I tightened it all was good
 
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"Txboy"
"Parrots"Only issues I have had on mine is with my .22 barrel and the POI shifts with the shroud extended while my other barrel is just fine. 

Another minor not issue with the magazine and that the pin won't even make contact with the clear part to be able to hold it in place but not an issue when the nag is inserted in to the rifle.

And obviously the rail not fitting my one piece mount but Johan said he will be sending one for me to the UK distributor.
Click to expand...
Make sure your shroud is tight that made me have POI change once I tightened it all was good
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Thanks that was the first thing I did and problem persists. Now having a custom shroud made for that barrel.
 
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"Parrots"This is my first rifle with a bottle and when I take the bottle off air continues to come out till the bottle is completely off and then from the gun itself for a further Few seconds so wondered if this was normal.

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Unfortunately, this is not normal or typical.

It's is normal to hear a little hissing when the bottle break the seal with the rifle but only briefly. After a turn or two, the hissing stops. Once removed, the cylinder/bottle will holds it's air pressure. The same applies for the air in the regulator. I have had two regulated FX rifles with removable cylinder and this has never happened before. The two rifles being a 30 Bobcat and my.25 Impact.
 
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