Fac Hw97K With V-Mach Kit Installed

[Coypu Hunter 486]

As already mentioned, I've installed a FAC V-Mach kit with the two pre-tension washers, after I found my 97's spring broken into five pieces.

Only put a couple of hundred pellets through it so far, but results are encouraging. The rifle's previously preferred pellets, Weihrauch F&T Specials, are no longer as accurate. Tried various other "standard-weight" pellets -- FTTs, Superdomes, JSB Exacts, the usual suspects -- but results were disappointing. So I started working my way up the weight scale, thinking that the new power level (13.7 fpe with 8.7 grain pellets) and higher velocities (860 fps) might be causing the pellets to fly in an unstable manner.

Tried Weihrauch Magnums, groups were in he 23mm range. Tried Barracuda Hunters, JSB Exact Heavies, Ultrashocks, Gamo TS10s, none of which grouped particularly well.

The came the Bisley Magnums, 10.6 grains. I'll be sticking with them from now on. 13 fpe and 741 fps with these pellets, and the first two pellets in the last group went through the same hole in the centre of the bull, even though I hadn't leaded in the barrel after the last brand of pellet. Sorted.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2014 by Coypu Hunter

[Rez 4,961]

Nice post man. I'm guessing you asked for an FAC spring etc from v-Mach? Might be a silly question. What's the kick like?

[Coypu Hunter 486]

Yup, it's a FAC rifle. It was supposed to be 21 joules/15 fpe when I bought it a couple of years ago, but only ever got up to 13 fpe even when new.

 

There isn't really a kick -- the lock time's so short with the V-Mach that it's just a snap and a quick tap against the shoulder. There was about the same shove back from the old spring, although it was more gradual -- now it's over almost before it starts.

 

It's shooting nicely, even though the new internals haven't really bedded in yet -- I've probably only put a couple of hundred pellets through it since the install. When it was shooting with a broken spring at about 10.8 fpe, I could manage 7-9mm groups at 33 yards on a good day, so if I can keep getting 12-13mm groups while it's bedding in, I'll be well pleased. Good enough for magpies and the usual vermin, and plenty of power to knock 'em down. I'll push it out to 45 yards when I've run some more lead through it, and report back on how it does.