Well, fellow airgunners, it has taken me long enough, but I finally took the Huben K1 .25 cal out for some range time today. I haven't ordered any slugs yet, but I hope to real soon. (Looking at you, Nielsen Specialty Ammo) Anyways, I ended up taking today off to run errands and drop off a dog that wasn't broken to get her fixed. Weather was around 70 and sunny with a breeze from the left of 6 mph. Before today, I had only run about 80 or so shots through it, and I was not impressed, to say the least. I de-gassed the action and gave the barrel a good cleaning. I didn't see a lot of gunk on the cleaning pads. When I started today, the reg gage was showing around 130-135 bar. I was shooting JSB King Heavy originals, not the MK II. Other than degassing, then cranking the reg back up afterwards, I have not tinkered with any settings before today.
After a magazine's worth of shooting, I had the scope dialed in enough to look at grouping. Each of the photos represents three five-shot groups at 50 yards. I would fill to 3600 psi and reload after every three groups. Here is the first photo:
I know, not very impressive. I wasn't having the best day holding the gun still today, and there was that 6 mph wind from the left, but still. Not good. The trigger is a bit heavier than I am used to, so there is a learning curve happening here as well. Velocities were around 950 fps with those 33.95 gr pellets. Probably a bit too fast. I tried backing off the reg a bit, but the first shot sounded weak and anemic, so I bumped it back up and it settled around 140 bar. Then I shot these groups:
Left group was first, and velocities were around 930 fps. Then I remembered there is a "velocity adjustment" knob on the bottom of the buttstock. I didn't bring the manual, so I guessed which way to drop speed, and guessed wrong and shot the right side at around 970 fps. Whoops! Back the other way, and then I shot the center group at 830 fps. You can see how much the group dropped, as I was aiming dead center on all these groups.I thought I was seeing the groups tighten up just a bit as well. I refilled, took out half of my velocity adjustment, and then shot the following groups:
Left group was first, at around 870-880 fps. I decided to sit pat on any more speed adjustments. I did make a vertical scope adjustment before shooting the next group, on the right. Still getting tighter at 3/4 of an inch, and just over 1/4 inch CTC without that flyer. Hmmm. I'm starting to see some potential here. I refined my vertical scope adjustment again, and shot the center group which was just over 3/4 inch. Another refill and reload, then the final set:
Well, the left group wasn't much to look at. The right group would have been 3/4 inch without that flyer. The last group in the center was nice, though. 8/10 of an inch. I can live with that right now, given my shakiness today and that crosswind. I just want to see progress as I learn this new type of air gun. I shot my Wildcat 30 today as well, and the shakes plagued me there, too.
Here's the wrap-up. I like the concept of the Huben, and the innovation it represents. It's way too early to assess it, but it is showing lots of potential.Once I get used to the trigger, and if I remember my shooting rest next time, I will try to post some more groups. Also, I bought this with the intention of tuning it to shoot slugs. so all this is just preparation for that. I have still fired less than 200 pellets through it, and today's shots were the first since cleaning the barrel. Thanks for taking the time to read this long post. There are some out there looking for info on the Huben 25 cal, and I wanted to share my experience with them.
James
After a magazine's worth of shooting, I had the scope dialed in enough to look at grouping. Each of the photos represents three five-shot groups at 50 yards. I would fill to 3600 psi and reload after every three groups. Here is the first photo:
I know, not very impressive. I wasn't having the best day holding the gun still today, and there was that 6 mph wind from the left, but still. Not good. The trigger is a bit heavier than I am used to, so there is a learning curve happening here as well. Velocities were around 950 fps with those 33.95 gr pellets. Probably a bit too fast. I tried backing off the reg a bit, but the first shot sounded weak and anemic, so I bumped it back up and it settled around 140 bar. Then I shot these groups:
Left group was first, and velocities were around 930 fps. Then I remembered there is a "velocity adjustment" knob on the bottom of the buttstock. I didn't bring the manual, so I guessed which way to drop speed, and guessed wrong and shot the right side at around 970 fps. Whoops! Back the other way, and then I shot the center group at 830 fps. You can see how much the group dropped, as I was aiming dead center on all these groups.I thought I was seeing the groups tighten up just a bit as well. I refilled, took out half of my velocity adjustment, and then shot the following groups:
Left group was first, at around 870-880 fps. I decided to sit pat on any more speed adjustments. I did make a vertical scope adjustment before shooting the next group, on the right. Still getting tighter at 3/4 of an inch, and just over 1/4 inch CTC without that flyer. Hmmm. I'm starting to see some potential here. I refined my vertical scope adjustment again, and shot the center group which was just over 3/4 inch. Another refill and reload, then the final set:
Well, the left group wasn't much to look at. The right group would have been 3/4 inch without that flyer. The last group in the center was nice, though. 8/10 of an inch. I can live with that right now, given my shakiness today and that crosswind. I just want to see progress as I learn this new type of air gun. I shot my Wildcat 30 today as well, and the shakes plagued me there, too.
Here's the wrap-up. I like the concept of the Huben, and the innovation it represents. It's way too early to assess it, but it is showing lots of potential.Once I get used to the trigger, and if I remember my shooting rest next time, I will try to post some more groups. Also, I bought this with the intention of tuning it to shoot slugs. so all this is just preparation for that. I have still fired less than 200 pellets through it, and today's shots were the first since cleaning the barrel. Thanks for taking the time to read this long post. There are some out there looking for info on the Huben 25 cal, and I wanted to share my experience with them.
James
good to k ow, thx!