As many of you here know, I recently had a bad experience with a new Theoben Fenman. Many of you Theoben users said I should not be put off and should persevere. So I did!
The reason I was after a new rifle is because it was recently my birthday so thought I would treat myself.This morning I bought a second hand Rapid 7 Mk I (originally made in July 2000 according to the serial number). It was in pretty good nick so I bought it.
Took it home and ran it over that famous chrony of mine. Was pushing out accupells at 10.53 FPE and H&N FTT's at 11.86 FPE. Not bad I thought. Had a little fiddle with the hammer screw thing at the back and had it pumping out accupells at 12 FPE. Was surprised to find that it was pushing the FTT's out at over 12 FPE now, so tuned it down a bit.
Fitted my Simmons 4-12x40 scope and went outside, with a magasine (7 shot) loaded with accupells to zero the scope. And one magasine was all it took. Shot one, down and to the left, shot two, bit more central but still slightly off to the left and low, shot 3 was straight but low, shot 4 was slightly low, shots 5, 6 and 7 were dead on target!
Shot a few more mag's of accupells which proved to be very accurate indeed. Then moved onto the H&N FTT's which I think the rifle prefers (and so do i now). 5 mags fired at the same target, all with 5 different bullseye's and the results were 1cm groups at 25 yards. Not bad for my first morning with the Rapid i thought. All these shots were fired in the prone position, hence deadly accurate. Tried a few mags from a standing and knelt positions. This rifle is so well balanced it was easy to hold very still, and accuracy was still no problem.
Thought after I had fired about 150+ shots to check it out on the chrony. Bl**dy hell this is a quality piece of kit. With the accupells it fired off a mag with a shot to shot variation of 8 FPS and an average of 11.97 FPE. The mag of FTT's had a shot to shot variation of only 3 FPS and an average of 12.04 FPE. Will test it out a lot more in the next few weeks to work out its limits and how it likes to eat other brands of pellets. A b*st*rd magpie decided to sit itself in my range as I was heading inside, but in this good mood I thought I'd give it a break and let it live!! Will save the hunting for another day. We have loads of magpies around here, they are a right pain in the a$$.
I'm really really happy with my purchase. Got it from Target Sports of Bolton, guys were really professional and helpful. Top marks to them on supplying such a great rifle. Was £495 before you ask.
cooky <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> (grinning from ear to ear)
Glad you finally got you HAPPY birthday pal - can't go wrong with a Rapid IMHO - and ridiculously easy to service yourself if required <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
Try AA Fields, H&Ns, Bisley LRGs, Accs - all work well in mine <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->
What part of the UK you from Cooky?
nice one cooky <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
kevG
Glad it worked out well in the end mate.
Don't make it a habit of letting them mingpies be, now.
PP.
ps. Cooky - your first name isn't "Kev" by any chance, is it? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->
With the accupells it fired off a mag with a shot to shot variation of 8 FPS and an average of 11.97 FPE. The mag of FTT's had a shot to shot variation of only 3 FPS and an average of 12.04 FPE.
QUOTE]
Glad you like your new rifle.
I.M.O. I think it would be advisable to turn the power down a little bit more to keep it on the safe side of the law. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:-->
Sorry, double post. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_eek.gif" alt="Eek" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->
Was going to post on the 'other' thread, but like others I've respected Martins (THEOBEN) request to leave it where it was.
My (obviously recent) experience of Theoben has been very good. I got a mag received/repaired/despatched on the same day, and a second one practically the same. Well, after the 'repair lady' got back off her hols. Their web site is now quite useful too.
I met Ben (of the theoBEN fame) and found him a pleasant and very helpful person. He even waited for me to arrive one Saturday afternoon, and gave me a coffee to drink while I waited for a repair to be completed.
Overall though, and I say this as a prospective buyer, Theoben have got some work to do. They seem to be getting a reputation as a company that can sort things out the second time around. One of the manufacturing phrases I've often heard is "Haven't got time to do it properly, but got time to do it twice". We are all aware some new things take time to 'bed in', but it seems the best way to buy Theoben at the moment is 2nd hand, because someone else has 'sorted' the thing out. I know the 2 Mark 1's I've owned worked WAY beyond anything I could do with them.
It was unfortunate that the two Theoben chaps grossly underestimate the power of the written word and the backlash when it is used inappropriately. (Skills development opportunity? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
Good luck to Theoben.
<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
cooky007 you magpie friendly then? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Baldie:
"Haven't got time to do it properly, but got time to do it twice". [/quote]
Certainly evidence based on the experience of many overwhelmingly bears this out.
I posted a thread a few weeks back asking whether airgunners were suckers when it comes to quality: the expectation being that manufacturers will only fix after complaint - or expect the buyer to fettle - and so save them the cost of QA and rework.
Cruel accusation, you say? Well, that not a single manufacturer responded to give their view speaks volumes about expectations in BOTH directions. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:-->
Yes - I could learn to fettle. Yes I could return the product for rework/repair. But I'd rather it just did what it says on the box, right out of the box. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
Just my 0.177 worth...
PP.
The "Cant cant speak negatively about Theoben" on the BBS comments in the past have been ******, some threads did get deleted because of the silly comments added by a couple of people that used to be on here
The thread was closed as there wasnt anywhere for it to go really, Martin is reading the BBS regularly and the feedback will be useful
Baz
Just to add my tuppence worth to this thread...
I am a BIG fan of Theoben products and have been for many years. I shoot a MKI Rapid and believe this to be one of the most accurate guns on the market. IF I ever do decide to buy another hunting gun it will definately be a Rapid of one type or another.
Now, just to wear my other hat for a moment. I get to see quite a large number of guns that 'break' for want of a better term over here in Northern Ireland. I have never had a faulty Rapid that couldn't be fixed with an overhaul and any of the Gasrams have been scorched piston heads (user error) or again, ones which needed serviced. There's also the odd few 7 shot mags which owners have allowed to spin round which need stripped and rebuilt.
Compared to the number of other makes which I see 'broken' on quite a regular basis, Theoben are, and always have been well down the league table.
I have had no dealings with Theoben since Martin took over but any that I have had in the past have always resulted in me getting what I was after, or more usually finding out what I wanted to know. And the latter is the one which separates the good manufacturers from the bad.
There are very few companies in the UK where, if you know what you're asking about, that you'll not find out clearly and concisely with one phone call.
As has been said on here before. Treat them right and they'll treat you right.
Just MHO.
Jonathan.
ps. Glad you finally decided on a Rapid mate. You'll not be disappointed.
Top purchase mate. I had a yearning for a Rapid for many years, and finally treated myself to one 2 years ago.
Frankly, it's the best rifle I own. I have a factory FAC'ed version, and it's my top hunting rifle.
Have fun with your purchase, but stay within the law! <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:
Don
I have two Rapid Mk1's, and if I thought I needed another rifle I'd probably buy another Rapid.
Andy
What can one say about the Rapid?
They're like old friends. You use and abuse them; toss 'em in the cabinet with nothing more than a rubdown with an oily rag and several weeks later they jump out with all the joy of an unfettered springer spaniel.
Ah, Rapids. Anything less is well, anything less.
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