Air Arms S200T 0.177 - Fantastic accuracy

[S Hebby]

Tried this little beauty yesterday with a AGS mini 6X40 scope using lubed Daystate 4.51s. Once I'd zeroed at 35 yards shooting at a piece of cardboard with round 12mm diamater stickers attached to the card. I noticed straight away the tiny group appearing within the 12 mm sticker. After 10 pellets the group was only just bigger than a single pellet hole. I then moved out in 5 yard intervals and was astounded at the accuracy at each distance. The first dot down on the scope mil dot reticule came in at 55 yards. I then moved out to 60 yards. The grouping was still unbelievable. At 60 yards placing the 12 mm sticker on the card between the first and second mil dot down on the scope, the group had opened up but was still within the 12 mm round sticker even though the vertical line of the reticule on this 6X scope was as thick as the 12 mm sticker on the card at this distance.
All the accuracy checks were taken in the FT sitting position.
I never thought I'd say this, but that little gun is as accurate if not more accurate than any airgun I have ever used over the years. This includes my
Walther Dommi which I use at present for FT.

[widgetdollface]

My son has one of these too and i bought it for him just because i had seen loads of young guns at LVGC with then and they looked comfortable with them.I was the same as you ,when my Logun went back to AGS,i tried it out whilst he was at school and i was shocked at how pointable and accurate the little thing was,combined with the adjustable woodwork,i thoroughly enjoyed my day out in the garden with it.Excellent bit of kit.

[cr*pshot]

Yeah, they are nice aren't they! I've got to admit that mine gets used more than my other three put together, and would be the last one that I'd part with, especially since I fitted the AA mag system. I love my TX200, but only use it for plinking and some (daylight) hunting - I just don't have the confidence to use it for lamping. I just don't fancy trying to load it in the dark, especially with cold fingers. The Raider and Phoenix are both excellent guns, it's just that the S200 seems so bloody versatile.

PS, I'm not the classic "youngster, lady or person of errr, restricted growth", I'm 50 years old, male (last time I checked :rolleyes:) 5' 10", and weigh over 13 stone (OK, quite a bit over). I do use a couple of butt spacers to give a comfortable length of pull, and a couple under the cheekpiece to give a comfortable fit with a scope using high mounts, but that's the beauty of the "target" stock.

[LagomorphHunter]

My S200 ends up with my NS156 nightvision on it. That's how versatile it is!

One excellent rifle. I was going to keep my Webley Raider for night use, but the S200 was so much better, I always ended up moving the kit across. :eek:

[RobF]

both me and a mate have picked a couple of these up and have been getting pretty good results from them in the club comps, and pretty tight groupings with them on the 25m indoor range.

again AA 4.51 seems to produce the most consistancy in my opinion...mine really didnt like RWS and 4.52's didnt seem as tight as 4.51's.

target stock seems definately worth it.

only crits are ;

short stock (for me) but this can be extended

light stock, the rifle is pcp, but its by no means dead, so body and firing induced movement needs work to keep consistancy

shallow stock, could do with being deeper for standing shots

trigger, although adjustable, its still heavy and on the agricultural side of feel and consistancy...i think it needs fettling and a bit of wearing in. 5000 shots through mine and its feeling better, but i dont think its as good as a rekord unit.

oh and the latest ones dont have quick fill bottles (i've been told due to euro laws designed to prevent in-gun filling), but fitting a slicencer requires a quickfill adapted bottle, otherwise the bottle wont clear the silencer when its removed.

But considering the money its a hell of a package and extremely capable. I'd say it probably needs more work to get really good results than more expensive rifiles, but i think it can get very close to even the much more expensive kit with time and effort. Certainly its one that rewards good shooting skills and practice, so its a good proving ground.
Light and short should suit the younger or lighter shooter as well, especially as the stock can be grown out to fit, so i would think it should be popular with clubs and those that need to share a rifle with others.

Getting a joint 2nd, sharing it with another s200 and an EV2, one shot off equalling the top score ever on the friendly comp did have me muttering about wondering why i had just bought a dommy and why my mate is after a steyr ;)

mate's got a mag on his, spent some time fitting it and hasn't had any real problems...needed to clean it out once, but thats about it...may hep with the loading which may require concentration in the dark (but then i havent found a pcp which is as easy as a springer for that) :)

[cr*pshot]

mate's got a mag on his, spent some time fitting it and hasn't had any real problems...needed to clean it out once, but thats about it...may hep with the loading which may require concentration in the dark (but then i havent found a pcp which is as easy as a springer for that) :)

Re. your comment about loading springers in the dark - maybe with breakbarrel rifles, but I've never fancied loading my TX in the dark - unusually for someone who has worked as a printer for many years I still have a full set of fingers and thumbs and I'd like to keep it that way. On the other hand I find changing mags on the S200 a doddle even in total darkness and with numb fingers.

As far as quickfill connectors are concerned, I know the standard target stocked model with diopter sight (S200T) doesn't have one (it has a pressure gauge on the front of the cylinder), but there is also the T200 - target stock, full power with quickfill. I hope this helps.

[RobF]

hiya,

i've got the target stocked version T200, no quickfill, it wasnt the s200T...BAR said all their latest batch was like that and another source from the bfta commitee told me that the ruling was due to laws in their local county...well thats what i've been told anyway.

Doesnt the TX have an antibear trap on it? ie you cant pull the trigger with the lever down? I remember HW putting these on 77's years ago...had plenty of people in the shop wanting them removed (meant you couldnt decock the rifle). Never found the 77 fiddly, but i can see where the fear comes from ;)

[Kilty]

My Son has the S200 Target and regularly beats me with it.
The thing is just so accurate,light enough for younsters and quite affordable.
We kept the original cylinder with gauge but made up a quick fill adapter just for convenience.
This also helps Kes with his plight.
cheers Kes

Barry