FAC FX Verminator

[aj]

PROJECT: Verminator Tactical
I've had this rifle for over a year now so i suppose i should do a review(been meaning to do one for a while but never seem to have the time). I originally bought this as a standard .22 FX Verminator FAC which replaced my old Webley Spectre (aka FX Cyclone) which in itself was an awesome rifle.
The Vermy was bought second hand for £350 in excellent condition and less than a year old. When it came to me it was running around 20ftlbs, but i wanted a little more power so the easy option was to fit a longer barrel which i didn't mind as the accuracy from the standard short barrel was less than inspiring. I picked up a second hand BSA S10 barrel from the sales section and had it shortend to 15", screwcut & machined to fit the Verminators action, this improved the accuracy and took the power up to 26ftlbs(perfect).
As you can probably imagine the rifle looked a bit goofy with the longer barrel, but i had other plans for the front end of the gun. To make the rifle look more in proportion i ordered an FX air tube extension from the UK importers (back then it was Deben) and fitted that whilst at the same time removing the plastic block that takes up space in the front cylinder, giving me approx 70cc more usable air.
Now the barrel still protruded quite far infront of the cylinder, so i asked UkNeil to make me a reflex moderator which shrouds back 100mm to just infront of the airtube making it look like it has a shorter barrel. Like all of Neil's mods it came all shiney, so i had it DuraCoated in T1-tactical black.
Next job was to tackle the issue of bipod mounting. If you've ever used one of FX's airtube clamps you'll know they arn't the most stable of things to fit a bipod to, so something else had to be done. Also i wanted to fit a vertical grip and possibly a laser too so the obvious solution was to try and fit a picatinny rail to the underside of the rifle, with this in mind i bought a set of G36 airsoft rails of the Bay and by utilising the extra length i'd gained on the front airtube by fitting the extension i bought two of the fore mentioned tube clamps, removed the little stud part and had a local machinist knock up some new ones that sat flush with the underside of the clamps, these were drilled and threaded to accept the bolts that came with the rail, job done.
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator007.jpg, http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator014.jpg, http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator010.jpg The picatinny rail setup is rock solid, and by fitting a FAB Defense Harris bipod adaptor my bipod is as stable as you could wish for. Iv'e also added a folding vertical foregrip and for the scope i went for a Barska Tactical 4-16x50 ffp.

CONCLUSION: The rifle is obviously heavier now than when it started, and it looks more like a chopped down Gladiator than a Verminator. Some of you maybe wondering why i didn't just buy a Gladiator and the answer is simple...there were none S/H for sale at the time and the Verminator was a bargain@£350. The finished rifle looks and performs brilliantly and gives loads of shots at a good power level and best of all it's still very compact(just a smidge longer than a Falcon FN12 with standard silencer).

Here's some piccys:
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator009.jpg
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator008.jpg
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator004.jpg
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator003.jpg
http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...minator001.jpg
Thanks for reading,

Tony.

[Gary C]

Links don't work for me Tony

[missfire]

nor me wont let me past the front door without becoming a member

[SandyB]

nor me wont let me past the front door without becoming a member

I am registered on Photobucket, and no lucky for me neither, as post above yours, the posted links are missing some vital directories / links.

[aj]

Sorry about the pics guys. This is a review i did about a year ago but when i tried to find it in the review section it had gone??? So i trawled through my threads and when i found it i just copied it and pasted it into a new thread, but the links to the pics have not worked and now my photobucket account is messing me about. When i get it my photobucket sorted i'll add the pics again.

Sorry again.

[krazy_horse]

How many shots at full power do you get?

What pellets work best and whats the effective range of this beast?

JB

[aj]

Pics sorted now.

How many shots at full power do you get?

What pellets work best and whats the effective range of this beast?

JB

I honestly can't say how many shots i get at full power as i've never shot a full charge over the chrono, i'd hazzard a guess and say 50+. The BSA barrel on this thing is seriously accurate and drops pellet on pellet at 35 yards but i can't remember how far i've pushed this rig as i've been using my FAC Cutlas since i got it a few months back. When i get a spare afternoon i'm going to do a side by side accuracy comparison with my verminator and cutlas, i'll post the results on this thread.

[SandyB]

Pics sorted now.



I honestly can't say how many shots i get at full power as i've never shot a full charge over the chrono, i'd hazzard a guess and say 50+. The BSA barrel on this thing is seriously accurate and drops pellet on pellet at 35 yards but i can't remember how far i've pushed this rig as i've been using my FAC Cutlas since i got it a few months back. When i get a spare afternoon i'm going to do a side by side accuracy comparison with my verminator and cutlas, i'll post the results on this thread.

Funny that.... I have one and even with a bipd with the thumbhole stock you can comfortably carry it and raise in with one hand only for HUGE periods of time. My first FAC air rifle and definately a keeper. Mine's in .22.

[aj]

Funny that.... I have one and even with a bipd with the thumbhole stock you can comfortably carry it and raise in with one hand only for HUGE periods of time. My first FAC air rifle and definately a keeper. Mine's in .22.

I know you have one too, i used to look at the piccy of yours in your sig (and drool) whilst i was waiting for a s/h one to turn up.

[SandyB]

I know you have one too, i used to look at the piccy of yours in your sig (and drool) whilst i was waiting for a s/h one to turn up.

Second hand 'FX Airgun' one's are rare. I tried looking for mine for a friend in sub 12ft,lb. some RWS one's about.... I got a crackin deal on mine new in FAC Air, or so thought anyway. Far cheaper than my Airwolf, yet both a pleasure to shoot & do use both.

[aj]

Yeah it did take a while for a s/h one to turn up. I found mine on Guntrader and paid £420 for rifle, mod and gunbag .

[SandyB]

Yeah it did take a while for a s/h one to turn up. I found mine on Guntrader and paid £420 for rifle, mod and gunbag .

Result. A very nice rifle to shoot and perfectly balanced. Already have one, and must convince myself I do not need another in .177 seeing as I have my wolf for that...

[shooterfx]

Glad to see another FX user.

I have a FX Cyclone and its an awesome piece kit, especially as its got the BTAS regulator.

If you see one for sale S/H grab it!!

Cannot recommend them highly enough.