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Question for FX - Is this normal for the Wildcat ST barrel?

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Hi Guys

I have for some weeks a FX Wildcat .22, but unfortunately it was not very accurate. ;(
The problem I've found is the damaged barrel, here are a some photos:

The rough surface scrapes lead particles from the pellets and these begin thereby "wobble".

I have received a new barrel, and before installing checked exactly,... all mirror smooth! :)
After 24 shots for adjusting the riflescope I look again into the barrel and have exactly the same damage as the old barrel! WTF?!?! o_O
But how, by the soft lead? I shot only JSB heavy 1.175g.

Can it be that the damage will disappear with time and many shots of yourself?
I shot only 150 shot with the old barrel.
I also have no other gun with ST Barrel where I had a lot of shooting. So I can only guess.
Maybe the damage is normal at the beginning or a processing problem of the factory?!

My question to you, nor anyone has such a problem?
How to look your barrel?

MOD EDIT: Moved discussion to Manufacturer Feedback forum so FX can provide you with an answer. Original title was re-worded as well.
 
My understanding, and it may be wrong, is they actually compress and twist the end of the barrel instead of cutting the rifling. This causes slight wrinkling on the inside of the twist that is not visible to the naked eye until lead starts to build up. Its hard to see from he photo but it looks to me like lead build up on the twist wrinkle and should fill in as you shoot and smooth out. I'm not sure where I heard this, but came across the same issue while researching whether or no to buy the same rifle. They evidently did a quick hand lap and it was cured. Another poster said he just shot it till it smoothed out with lead and was super accurate. Again, Im no pro on barrels, so maybe someone more knowledgeable has another idea. Ill see if I can find where I read this. It was a while ago. Just thought id throw this in.
 
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"travels4fun"I never encountered any problems with the barrels on my previous FX airguns. Actually, my barrels have a mirror finish when viewed from either end. You barrel looks like it is oxidized which doesn't make sense, I'm curious, how are you cleaning your barrel and with which products? Do you shoot lubed or un-lubed pellets?


It looks to me as the muzzle image does not have a smooth twist to it and your breech does are the names backwards or I just don't know what I am looking for?
 
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@hawken54
I think just like you.

If I clean the barrel with a bronze brush, disappears the damage.
So there are really lead particles.
By Lead residues they shifted the trajectory of the pellets at each shot.
Perhaps heals the barrel itself by the pellets in polishing smooth.
But how stupid is that, you have to shoot 1000+ Pellets before the rifle is accurate.

@travels4fun
I clean the ST barrel not because it should not be necessary.
Unfortunately, your photos do not show much :/
 
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It does not make sense to shoot 1000 pellets to make that barrel smooth. Please send that picture to FX and ask for clarifications. You can also include your groups at 50 meters (preferably indoors, benchrest style).
The bad thing is that the barrels are quite often defective in batches. You've already received damaged barrel twice.

Please have a look at that barrel made by a known manufacturer:



It is the state after 50 shots.

This is the barrel (same specification) made by the same manufacturer:


This is the state after 400 shots.

What do you think, which one is accurate?
 
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What pellets are you using Ken ?

I'm thinking you may be seeing the results of a high (ish) % of Antimony - which can be a bugger to remove. Antimony is used to harden some Pellets.
EDIT - Just seen your comment about JSB Heavies. It's a mystery !

Hawken, the SmoothTwist barrels are not 'twisted' - the spiraling is applied from the exterior. With this system (ST) there is no cutting, the lands & grooves are pressed through from the outside which should give a VERY smooth set of raised lands.
 
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My dealer has received this response from FX:

"I talked to Fredrik regarding the barrel, He says that the smoothtwist retains some lead in the smoothtwist and that’s the way its supposed to be.
The first 100 shots usually retains a bit more of the lead. Tell him to shoot a couple of 100 shots through the barrel without cleaning it to get the optimal precision."

Then I'll try it this way.
 
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I shoot now even H&N Power pellets. These are harder and I hope they polish the barrel faster.
I shoot a lot and I have a compressor but for a not much shooter is it probably very annoying.
The new barrel has less residue than the old one, so it has something to do with luck.
At present it is very windy so I can nothing say about the accuracy.

I will report the days with them.
 
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"KenSkylight"My dealer has received this response from FX:

"I talked to Fredrik regarding the barrel, He says that the smoothtwist retains some lead in the smoothtwist and that’s the way its supposed to be.
The first 100 shots usually retains a bit more of the lead. Tell him to shoot a couple of 100 shots through the barrel without cleaning it to get the optimal precision."

Then I'll try it this way.
A SmoothTwist barrel retains lead ? Not disputing what the dealer has relayed but that just sounds plain wrong.
 
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I shot now +1000 JSB and 250 H&N Power pellets.
Get impurities are still there and the precision is also not better.
At 100Yards the groups have not less than 4 inches.
With my Vulcan I create 1,5 inch groups at 100 Yards.

I wanted buy the FX Impact but I now fear that it also gives the same problem ;(

Ps. I have the weapons fixed, to get always the same results.
 
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"KenSkylight"I shot now +1000 JSB and 250 H&N Power pellets.
Get impurities are still there and the precision is also not better.
At 100Yards the groups have not less than 4 inches.
With my Vulcan I create 1,5 inch groups at 100 Yards.

I wanted buy the FX Impact but I now fear that it also gives the same problem ;(

Ps. I have the weapons fixed, to get always the same results.
As already advised, get your money back. You have got yourself an FX SmoothTwist version of a lemon.
 
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