Let me begin by saying, I'm a simple kind of guy. I like manual transmissions, 1911 pistols, shotguns with two barrels, bourbon unfettered by any other liquid (okay, if cask proof, maybe a splash of water), and people who say what they mean. I've had quite a few top shelf air rifles, and I liked most of them for various reasons. Currently I own only four, a RAW HM1000, a Steyr single shot Challenge Hunting, a Daystate Red Wolf, and most recently (and the subject of this post) an FX Royale 400 in .22. Now, when is the last time you have read any comments on a Royale 400? Probably years, as with me. Many dealers don't even stock them. FX is dishing out to the air gun scribes such goodies as the Crown, Boss, Impact, Dreamline, etc. They all have bells and whistles that leave the Royale in the dust, and they are attractive to many shooters. I had a Crown, nice rifle, shot well, but remember, I'm a simple guy. The barrel assembly of sleeve, liner, shroud, the almost infinite adjustability features of hammer tension and port openings, all combine to give me a bunch of stuff I don't need. It was a neat rifle, and the only issue I had with it was the frequent need for barrel cleaning. The Smooth Twist X liner lead fouled quickly. I didn't keep the rifle long, and maybe that would have stabilized with more shooting.
I recently realized that I had traded myself out of a woods walking squirrel air rifle. The air rifles I own are very accurate, but it would take a true masochist to lug any of them through the woods. I wanted something light, reliable, and accurate. The Royale 400 is new to me, so this isn't a long-term test report, but it sure checks all the other boxes with authority. I've had three owners of Royale 400 rifles report that, unlike the Smooth Twist X liner, this original Smooth Twist barrel rarely needs cleaning. Sometimes, simple is okay. (I know, the Red Wolf is anything but simple. But, once I accepted the electronics involved, it's been as simple as any rifle I've owned, just load it and shoot. But, it's not a through-the-woods, bad weather, toss-around piece of equipment.). The initial shooting sessions with the Royale have shown exceptional accuracy. It will be a while before our squirrel season opens, but I'm sure it will see a few back yard pest control missions in the interim. It may fall apart in 6 months, in which case my opinion of it will be diminished, but at this point I'm optimistic, and, as excited with it as I've ever been with an air rifle. I realize that companies like FX can't stand still, and innovation can be the heart of success. But, I hope this is a rifle they keep around, just to keep us simple-minded old folks happy.
I recently realized that I had traded myself out of a woods walking squirrel air rifle. The air rifles I own are very accurate, but it would take a true masochist to lug any of them through the woods. I wanted something light, reliable, and accurate. The Royale 400 is new to me, so this isn't a long-term test report, but it sure checks all the other boxes with authority. I've had three owners of Royale 400 rifles report that, unlike the Smooth Twist X liner, this original Smooth Twist barrel rarely needs cleaning. Sometimes, simple is okay. (I know, the Red Wolf is anything but simple. But, once I accepted the electronics involved, it's been as simple as any rifle I've owned, just load it and shoot. But, it's not a through-the-woods, bad weather, toss-around piece of equipment.). The initial shooting sessions with the Royale have shown exceptional accuracy. It will be a while before our squirrel season opens, but I'm sure it will see a few back yard pest control missions in the interim. It may fall apart in 6 months, in which case my opinion of it will be diminished, but at this point I'm optimistic, and, as excited with it as I've ever been with an air rifle. I realize that companies like FX can't stand still, and innovation can be the heart of success. But, I hope this is a rifle they keep around, just to keep us simple-minded old folks happy.
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