Wow, where do I start? I guess that I can begin by describing how I came to the decision of purchasing this Crown package as briefly as I can. I developed a list of requirements over the last several months for a high-powered PCP rifle. I started off looking for the ultimate lightweight hunting platform, and as I acquired and tested some of the viable candidates - I came to several realizations about what it was that I was actually looking for and how my shooting habits were transforming (from being 100% hunter to 95% paper punching / 5% hunting).
I have also been lured deep into the realm of external ballistics, and I have learned a great deal about the characteristics of subsonic PCPs in various calibers with both pellets and slugs. I have been trying to find an ideal balance between power, (regulated) shot count, and long range capabilities, and I have therefore been exploring .217 with heavier ammo.
Onto this FX Crown in .22, I will break my thoughts in a few categories - the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY, starting with ...
The GOOD:
1. Barrels. Not one barrel, but TWO (2) BARRELS!!! Not only are there two barrels, but they are both made to brilliant sizes and I definitely prefer this new suspension and mounting design!
The side screws are also a tremendous win compared with the previous model!
700mm barrel - does make the rifle long, but I have not experienced ANY issues with the length thus far. The muzzle does not dig itself into the ground when you hold it in the "low-ready" position. The bottom line, in my hands - the saving grace is the EXTREMELY LIGHT barrel kit. It is so light that it does not tip the balance of the rifle forward at all! I'm using the 700mm slug liner A and have not fired with the 700mm pellet liner.
380mm barrel - all that I can say is this setup is BEASTLY. The feel is kind of like an ultralight 12 gauge, it's amazing. The twist rate appears to be 1:16, the choke is 1.5" long from the muzzle (the brass rod in the photo below shows where it hits the choke)..
Lengths (overall rifle):
- 700mm (without a screw on moderator) - 48.2"
- 700mm (with DonnyFL moderator for FX) - 52.6"
- 380mm (without a screw on moderator) - 35"
- 380mm (with moderator) - 39.2"
2. Picatinny Rail - this is a good thing, however see the the BAD section below
3. AMP Regulator - this has been fine thus far even at extreme pressures. I have not had a reason to install my new Huma extra high pressure regulator yet.
4. Larger Delrin Seat on Valve Pin - this allows for large valve seat diameters, I think they're 6.5mm vs 6.1mm(?) in the pervious iteration. My titanium VS has a diameter of 6.35mm and I do not think the older sized seat would have sealed it.
5. New Gauges - not only functional, but they look VERY SEXY IMO
6. Weight - my rifle weighs 6lbs1oz (un-scoped) with the 380mm barrel installed. AWESOME
7. Performance & Velocities - STELLAR! FULL disclosure - I have modified my setup though, I'm using a modified version of ER's hammer weight kit, a titanium VS with a larger diameter, milled TP and probe, and a custom hammer spring. This has given me the max velocities of:
- 23gr NSAs - Mach 1
- 24gr VKs - fast, (I didn't test much though over my chrono)
- 28gr VKs - 1050fps (I didn't try to push them further, but had some room)
- 30gr VKs - 1000fps
- 33gr NSAs - 930fps
Yesterday, I setup three targets with my furthest out at 290 yards. I had several sub-MOA groups out to 106y while tuned to shoot the 28gr VKs at 985fps with the 700mm barrel. When I switched over to the 30gr VKs and shot out to 290y, it was late in the afternoon and the sun was directly in my field of view, using the same POA, I shot this group:
The BAD
1. ZERO MOA on scope rail - $#@%!!!! I can understand the sales side of the business, no MOA means higher likelihood of needing adjustable scope rings ("cough" .. FX No Limit rings), but IF you're going to do that - AT LEAST offer them 34MM!!!
At the end of the day, this was a bit of a nightmare for me to deal with. The problem cascaded into more problems - I bought a set of Burris XTRs, and one of the mount screw threads stripped due to a manufacturing defect. I bought a set of FX No Limit rings for my March scope, and they do not raise my scope high enough for my muzzle / moderator to clear the view of my scope. I had to purchase a set of 0.5" UTG pic rail raisers, I do not like putting Chinesium on any of my rifles - especially to hold up a scope that I have almost $4K wrapped up in. I want to use premium quality rings on my scopes, @FX - my suggestion do a deal with one of the PREMIUM ring manufacturers and adjust prices accordingly.
2. STILL no access to hammer spring guide screw - disassembling the rifle is tiresome for making adjustments, so it would be nice have the stock redesigned for easier access.
3. Barrel shroud - the liner can slide through the end of the shroud if the ferrule nut is not secured. This is what I concluded with my 380mm barrel when I first got the rifle. While I DID disassemble the 700mm kit to install my slug liner, all I did was clean the 380mm before doing initial velocity testing, and SOMEHOW my liner became free in the shroud. I wound up jamming a couple of JSB Monster RDs in mine :\
MY SUGGESTION TO ANYONE with a new Superlight barrel kit -- MAKE SURE the liner is FULLY seated in the barrel kit, and the ferrule nut is tightened down properly!
The UGLY
There has been only one single line item in this category -- the bipod rail installation on my rifle was 1/2 ass! The screws are not what I would have used, and while my rifle sat on my Atlas bipod for the first time this past Saturday, the rear screw dislodged with a piece of the synthetic stock wrapped around the screw threading, which cause my rifle to collapse.
LUCKILY, this was on soft ground while my rifle was on my shooting mat, but I wasn't thrilled. I changed the screws and used JB PlasticWeld, which solidified everything.
OVERALL Opinion - It's a KEEPER! I LOVE IT, despite the bad and ugly. The GOOD qualities to this rifle mostly translate to PHENOMENAL qualities IMVHO
I have shot a ton of video that i need to sort through, but I have uploaded a few of my shooting sessions and made them public on my Vimeo account for anyone interested in seeing how this thing shoots!
https://vimeo.com/user95715879
