FX Wildcat Plenum ready to install and test, "first test complete".

I have the new design FX WC plenum ready to install and test on my Compact .25 cal, this plenum was beefed up a bit more and has increased volume so I’m expecting even better results than the last prototype. This plenum is stackable so you double the volume by simply buying a second one. First order of business is testing and posting the results here so stay tuned.

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MOD EDIT: REMOVED WTS PORTION OF TOPIC
 
Ok, didn't take long to add the plenum, remove stock, degas gun, loosen clamp screws unscrew air tube, unscrew end of air tube and add plenum. Put back together and fill with air and test. Before I was pushing a 25.4 gr JSB to 885 FPS and after with no changes whatsoever besides adding plenum I am at 915 FPS so around 25-30 FPS gain in velocity. But I was ok with 885, gun was accurate and that's plenty of power so now i'll reduce reg pressure to say 140 BAR and see what I get. Want shot count to increase with same power level as before.
 
Just fyi, plenum volume doesn't contribute much to shot count UNLESS in the prior configuration the tune was too close to the plateau, in which case an increase in pressure or decrease in fps would alleviate said issue. When properly tuned at 95%-97% of the plateau, a wildcat should get nearly the same shot count with or without the plenum. If one were keeping the valve open too long and say closer to 99-100% of their plateau, then increasing the plenum volume while leaving all else the same, which increases power output and brings you down on the knee closer to 95-97%...would likely increase shot count upwards of 30%. In a properly tuned rig, that's at say 96% of their plateau pre-power pleunum, they may see as little of an increase as 3% in their shot count.



Just a quick explanation as to why its not as simple as 'add more plenum volume, get more 30% more shot count' that fx tries to advertise.



-Matt
 
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Hmmmm might have to pick one up for my Wife’s WC.... And FX is fairly correct in advertising an approx 30 percent in additional shots. My Dreamline in .22 I had set to: reg-130bar, Power Wheel at medium, hammer spring I’ve never touched and the rifle was pushing an 18gn JSB at 890-915ish FPS. I then added the Power Plenum and with no adjustments after the install the FPS went up to 950ish. I then lowered the reg pressure to 100bar, left the other adjustments alone to get the pressures back to the 890ish range, and I’m getting three full mags before hitting the reg pressure while before I was getting two.
 
Ok, did some more testing, wanted gun to sit overnight and check for any leaks, all is good. With reg pressure lowered down from 155/160 BAR to 145 bar I am getting the same power as stock without plenum 885/890 but now am getting about 12 more good shots /fill before I get any POI shift at 50 yards. Really like the few extra shots with the smaller compact airgun. This plenum will fit other FX WC airguns with similar results not just the compact. Next up is stacking two plenums in line and see if there is more to be gained.Had to degas and refill the gun a few times to install gauge to set regulator sweet spot, but it appears 140/145 BAR will be it. Also turned hammer spring in and out to tune so I wasn't wasting any air. All in all I am very happy with this set up. If you want all out power you can just install plenum and leave settings alone. My gun picked up about 25/30 FPS velocity.
 
Come on Matt, Only actual testing by WC owner. Don’t want to hear a lot of #% without actual testing yourself. Those 30% shot count clam was tested by me acutely shooting the gun through the crony and putting out actual results so hearing that negative comments bite me in the ass! 

Ernest

I’m with Ernest on this one. It’s not just the WC, I’ve done this on Crickets and Vulcans that were “properly tuned” and gotten a significant increase in efficiency (shot count). My latest project Copperhead (.30 Vulcan2 Tactic) is a prime example. The addition of a larger plenum increased shot count (at same FPE) from 21 to 33 shots per 250 bar fill. Efficiency increased to 1.52 fpe/cu-in from 0.97. Better than 30% I’d say... 😉

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/30-vulcan2-the-copperhead-project/
 
Maybe WC owner that installed the HUMA plenum/reg can pitch in! 


I seen in a post that the HUMA spacer and reg is installed inside the tube to increase the plenum but also take up the supply volume also.

If this is true how is the shot count affected? I’m assuming the FPS has increase but shot count on or about the same before installing the HUMA ???? ☹️
 
The Huma PP will add velocity and if you already had significant shot count on your wildcat it will remain the same, but at a lower reg pressure. Anyone that’s followed JoeKool’s Posts on his wildcat since he upgraded to the Huma power plenum will see he gained power(velocity) and his shot count (64 shots in the 25 cal, or 8 mags) remained the same, but he was able to achieve all this at a lower reg pressure of 130BAR. 

For folks wanting higher power and velocities there is a fine, fine line that once crossed, you will see the shot count go down. Especially in the 30 caliber. Seems 900-925 is the cut off where one can achieve this speed at a reg setting of 160-165 with the PP, and still maintain decent shot count(24-28), but in my testing of trying to push past 925 FPS it meant setting the reg higher, then the shot count will drop fast, like 14-18 shots, at speeds of 940. I’ve since settled on 920 FPS to achieve decent power, decent shot count, and better accuracy in the 30 cal.

I feel anytime you can achieve these three at once- 1. speed of your desires, 2. the shot count of your needs, 3. all at a lower reg pressure, then these makes and models of plenum additions are always going to benefit a regulated gun of some sort. But they will only work will all three balanced. Too much of just one of the three and you will lose out on the other two.
 
Ok, set up target early this morning because the wind finally died down, from a 230 BAR fill I was able to get 38 shots before I noticed a POI change, I looked at regulator and the needle pointed right at 120BAR, so even though velocity starts to drop after the fourth magazine I was still hitting the same aim point. The POI really dropped dramatically right at 120 BAR. I am thrilled with the addition of a plenum to my WC, wish I also had a standard size .25 and a .22 to test as well. On a side note I can hear the plenum filling with air with each shot just like my Impact.