The Chinese are coming

[lionel]

European gunmakers had better not be sitting on their laurals, because some superb air rifes are on their way from the East. If you think Chinese air rifles are just cheap rubbish check this link for a shock and start saving.

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/...eid=1069249174

Lionel

[geordie]

pmsl
<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--><img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--><img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--><img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--><img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--><img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[Smudgegs]

<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> now if the old "lion" underlever I once had had been that well put together I might have kept it!!
...and for anyone who hasn't used chinese rifles (with the possible exception of the b2 cos it's cheap and does actually work...) THEY'RE SHIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THEM, DON'T BELIEVE ANY ARTICLES UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN/HELD/FIRED THE RIFLE!!

<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->not that I don't like them you understand <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

smudge <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[ora8i]

The Chinese guns with support on their forum get it because they are cheap! On offer B18/19 reported on the Chinese forum for $60 about £40. Fine at that price worth the work needed to bring them up to scratch but we see them at the same or more than a Xcocet or Supersport they are just NOT worth it.


Ora

[robinghewitt]

China will supply any quality you want. Blame your supplier for buying cheap, not the Chinese for giving him what he wanted.

[Smudgegs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ora:
The Chinese guns with support on their forum get it because they are cheap! On offer B18/19 reported on the Chinese forum for $60 about £40. Fine at that price worth the work needed to bring them up to scratch but we see them at the same or more than a Xcocet or Supersport they are just NOT worth it.


Ora[/quote]

Agreed! That's why I exempted the B2, an honest basic, cheap but useable gun <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->
There is a tendency every couple of years (or more often) for reviewers to trot out the "watch out European makers" and "ideal for medium range vermin control" and "wonderful quality for the price" rubbish... now maybe they're being given specially selected rifles for test but I've used a few which would only make average clubs and were bugger all use for actually shooting at anything. Once bitten twice shy and all that, I wouldn't take any chines gun at any price without a good session trying it out *myself*.
Just mho of course <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->
S

[EGGY]

Agreed the spring guns are crap but watch out for the QB78 C02 rifle now available for around £90 nice bit of kit

[Dav1dM]

Perhaps a bit unfair - my son had some good fun with a B3-F (underlever). Ok, its stock finish is naff -what do you expect for less than £50 new - but it's capable of some reasonable groups at around 25 yards and was putting out around 8.5 ft.lb out of the box. Has adjustable iron sights, can take a scope and even has an anti-bear trap mechanism! What more do you want? Admittedly it's not a gun you're going to treasure for ever, but it can be a start for someone who can't afford any more, or may not continue with the sport (and yes, I know, I would advise buying a good secondhand rifle instead - but then you have to know what you're looking for and not everyone does).

[vanvliet]

The Chinese CO2 powered QB 78 seems like an interesting ,inexpensive gun (early Crossman copy )
BUT - - do we get it for the same price as the Americans?

[elmerfudd]

Chinese air guns are still generally inferior, but they are catching up very quickly and they are very cheap. I would be surprised if they don't control a significant chunk of the market here ten years from now.

Guns like the QB78, B50 and B21 are already pretty well made by most accounts.

[woody-som]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dav1dM:
Perhaps a bit unfair - my son had some good fun with a B3-F (underlever). Ok, its stock finish is naff -what do you expect for less than £50 new - but it's capable of some reasonable groups at around 25 yards and was putting out around 8.5 ft.lb out of the box. Has adjustable iron sights, can take a scope and even has an anti-bear trap mechanism! What more do you want? Admittedly it's not a gun you're going to treasure for ever, but it can be a start for someone who can't afford any more, or may not continue with the sport (and yes, I know, I would advise buying a good secondhand rifle instead - but then you have to know what you're looking for and not everyone does).[/quote]
I also have one of these, and can produce 25mm dia groups at 25 yards. It was bought to shoot house sparrows, and it does that very well, providing I use Marksman domes. Everything else, then you just as well close your eyes and hope for the best.

I agree the stock isn't great, but it does the job, and if you remove the paint, its does look much better. I fitted a Titan XS mainspring, and this made it much easier to use, less recoil.


Dav1dM: what pellets does your son use in his gun.

[Jim L]

Its an AK47 look-a-like 22 caliber side cocker airrifle and at 5-600 fps not a bad little plinker over here across the posd they only cost about $60 US so its a good deal for a bit of fun. The quality is pretty decent and the gun will shoot. 1 hole groups at 10 yards are the norm with mine. And some others I know as well. I will say most folks who are unhappy with them have them in 177 caliber. The 22 calibers seem to be much more fun to own and use. I know I won't part with mine its a lot of fun to use and will kill the occosional rat of mouse possible a pigen as well anything of similar size. Nice little gun.
Now if you hav'ent figured it out the gun shown is a joke. A take off on Pyrmid air and a gun they are actually selling with similar equipment
(a cheap bsa scope and a mini-mag flashkight mounted under the barrel). They are calling it the preditor and selling it for $220 price slashed down from $260! Tghis for a gun you can buy any time of the day or night for about $60 us with a $10 flashlight and $30 scope on it and expect folks to buy it. Some newbies may fall for iy but nobody who knows what he is doing ever will.

[Dav1dM]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by woody-som:
Dav1dM: what pellets does your son use in his gun.[/quote]

He's used a variety - I think he was getting some decent results with Bisley's Practice pellets, but I can't swear to it. He's picked up a new girlfriend in the last four/ five weeks so hasn't had time for the rifle recently... <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_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

How easy was it to fit the new spring - was dismantling/ reassembling it straightforward (and where did you get the spring)?

[woody-som]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dav1dM:
How easy was it to fit the new spring - was dismantling/ reassembling it straightforward (and where did you get the spring)?[/quote]

I got the new Titan XS spring from John Knibbs International (www.airgunspares.com) It claims to increase the power by around 15%, and it certainly makes a difference. I can't confirm this though, as I don't have a chrono. At £19.50 inc delivery, its a simple, and cheap way to increase the power, and it made my gun easier to fire, and has less recoil. Also increased the accuarcy, but I suspect this was due to less recoil, more pre-tension on the spring.

As for fitting the new spring, easy. I'd never pulled a gun apart before, and once I made a simple box to hold the action, a slot at one end for the barrel to fit through, with a threaded rod at the other end to take the preasure of the old/new spring, whole process took less than an hour, making spring compressor, and fitting new spring.

Remove the action from the stock, 3 screws, 2 on the front of the stock, and the rear one on the triger guard. Hold the action in some form of retainer, and with the threaded bolt in the end of the gun (white waher) just push it forwards a little so that you can remove the pin in the end of the jun that retains this washer/spring. Undo the bolt slowly, as you will now have the preasure of the spring, it will extend about 2inches longer than the back of the action. Remove the sring, and fit the now one, which will be about 2.5 inches longer than the chinese spring. This will have more preasure, and this is where you need the spring compressor (box with bolt in one end, and slot in the other to hold barrel), just screw the bolt back up, pushing the sping back in, using the washer, and refit the retaining pin.

WARNING: when you remove the action from the stock, keep the action upright, and have some selotape handy. Stick it around the triger block, or the pins will fallout, and the triger mechanism will fall apart. I don't know how easy it is to rebuild this bit, so don't ask <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

HTH

Chris

[Dav1dM]

Thanks, Chris - much appreciated <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->