Phoenix Mark 11

[darryl]

Thank you for the quick reply. I'd say it answered any question I might have when you stated the Phoenix does not seem to have any secrets or tricks. That makes it an honest rifle in my eyes. Being a PCP I can see that it will be prone to PCP commonly expected failures, mainly o-ring leaks. I'm not put off by that, having resealed PCP rifles before. One thing Hugh Earl told me was the rifles like a 5.52-mm pellet head diameter. That's good enough for me. He also said the imports to the US have the BSA barrel. Those barrels are highly regarded here (except where BSA went through a period of quality issues with off-center bores). Old BSA PCP classics are prized. Hugh told me about the quick-fill cylinders. I've asked him for information regarding the acquisition of a FAC model in .22

There is one thing you can tell me about. How do you find your rifle to group at distance, and what size groups can the rifle give you at what distance?
Glad to be among the chosen!
darryl

[urx]

had two of these for several years carbine and rifle and enjoyed both immensely...just beware if you buy 2nd hand bottles.
there are mk1 and mk2 Phoenix and the bottles look similar and will screw in ...but the shoulder at the valve area is different and can damage either rifle or bottle if you try to screw it in tight...

[darryl]

had two of these for several years carbine and rifle and enjoyed both immensely...just beware if you buy 2nd hand bottles.
there are mk1 and mk2 Phoenix and the bottles look similar and will screw in ...but the shoulder at the valve area is different and can damage either rifle or bottle if you try to screw it in tight...

excellent info!
thanks,
Darryl
note to me: proof-read! proof-read!! proof-read!!!

[gingernut]

We have had a lot of rain and gales here Darryl so I have not been able to stretch the gun.
I will.
But from the sessions I have had with an average 3-9 40 scope, cloverleaf groups at 30 yards are to be expected.
I will be trying longer range soon.

I think this would be a good hunting gun because of the action.
Not that I hunt!

[darryl]

Gingernut, I look forward to calmer skies for you, and your test results. I Happen to have had an old 4-x16x40 Accushot scope on hand to use with my Phoenix. With the low rings there's not room to put the front lens cover on, but I don't m ind that for the low profile mount I have. I think this scope is perfect for the rifle, and it has the ability to clearly parallax down to 9 yards at 10x. That should be good for work out to 50 yards, but I'll keep an eye out for better glass when i can afford it.
Meanwhile as a subscriber to Si Pittaway's Yoou Tube channel, I've asked him to make one for the Phoenix. I have found only three, with this being the most recent at 3 years old: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Peq96FFmuk

I think the rifle can use some You Tube love, plus a bit of help in creating a bit more interest in the marque. I'll try to post a video of mine when I get it sorted out. It's too bad some see this rifle in a negative light instead of the engineering feat I see in it. It's just a cool PCP.
Darryl

[gingernut]

I agree Darryl and certainly Hugh Earl has put a lot of time and money into its development.
He deserves a profit!
There are rumours of a new Phoenix being created.
If it arrives when my Pension kicks in I might buy a new one yet!

[darryl]

I've just made a quick video of my Phoenix and am uploading it now. with my slow connection it should be done within the week!

[DCL_dave]

had two of these for several years carbine and rifle and enjoyed both immensely...just beware if you buy 2nd hand bottles.
there are mk1 and mk2 Phoenix and the bottles look similar and will screw in ...but the shoulder at the valve area is different and can damage either rifle or bottle if you try to screw it in tight...

Hi Urx,

Thanks for this info, I have a mk2 Phoenix and have used mk1 and mk2 bottles in it with absolutely no problems at all, but it's good to know anyway. Think I'll get the calipers out at the weekend and see what the difference is.

[madcarlos]

hi i have a mk2 in my collection and its a 177 cal , its super accurate and i was going to buy another spare buddy bottle but decided to get a 500cc top up bottle to take with me as you will all know the shots dont last long , just to mention about brands of pellets i was using aa fields and they were great but i did have to nudge them into the mag at times which was a pain as i still aint plucked up the courage to get the timber drilled to fit studs to attach a sling to the riffle , i did pick up a couple of tins of falcon accuracy pellets in 177 cal and tried them in the phoenix and they are great and also they just drop into the mag without any help and again supper accurate , cracking gun tho

[darryl]

a rifle that accurate would drive me mad too. Do you challenge yourself to long-range groups? If so, what are you seeing for your efforts, and at what range?
Thanks for posting btw. The more info the better. Had any issues with your Bird, and how long have you and others here had your rifle?
Does anyone use this site? It's been pretty quiet there: http://phoenixairguns.myfastforum.org/index.php
darryl

[madcarlos]

a rifle that accurate would drive me mad too. Do you challenge yourself to long-range groups? If so, what are you seeing for your efforts, and at what range?
Thanks for posting btw. The more info the better. Had any issues with your Bird, and how long have you and others here had your rifle?
Does anyone use this site? It's been pretty quiet there: http://phoenixairguns.myfastforum.org/index.php
darryl

hi i have had mine approx 2 years bought it of a chap on here second hand only did once have a bit of trouble and that was with the cocking action , when pushed forward to cock and then brought back it sort of would not stay in position now and then in which i remembered about putting a little oil onto the buddy bottle to lubricate it , not sure if this helped it or it was a coincidence but the cocking action been great since , it was the least of my worries though as the gun being made in england and have heard good things about the company and if needed at least there was someone local i could take it to, as for accuracy it is really as good they get and you could expect pellet on pellet or at least to be touching , i used to shoot about 40/45 yards and with a rest the gun would be more or less pellet on pellet the gun was really more capable than me to be honest , even at 70 yards the gun would take a coke can every shot , i have had quite a few guns over the last couple of years and still got a couple, the phoenix , and my air ranger and as daft as it sounds my old tuned hw77 all of these in 177 cal are extremely accurate as good as each other , i have in the past had a huntsman classic and mk3 daystate again in 177 cal and would rate these all in the same league with accuracy, even tho i have had quite a few other guns, i,e hw100, airwolf,s410 etc and still got a mk2 vermi and a mk2 rapid again all have been quite accurate i really cant compare them to the 177 cal guns as i have always found that doing much over 45 yards seems a bit of a struggle with this cal , have always found that even tho some find the phoenix a bit strange looking and a bit awkward balanced when ever anybody has seen and held my phoenix they seem to have the opposite opinions and comment about how nice it is to hold and shoot, only ever know of about 2 other chaps in my area to have had one of these guns and both have deeply regretted it ,

must say its also a fun gun i know now how accurate it is so now when i take it out i mainly see now how fast i can shoot and generally have fun with the gun , also one thing to mention is i find the buddy bottle a very easy system on this phoenix just half a turn and a shot another half tun one more shot bottle loose just just wish my rapid was like that. cant say i would never part with my phoenix as i have said the same about keeping guns in the past and sold or exchanged them , i had way to many guns here at one time and now think sometimes its best to have them enjoy them and move on , the only problem is at the moment there seems to be nowhere forward with the guns i have at moment but really my mk2 rapid and the mk2 vermi would go before my phoenix i would just have to toss a coin between the air ranger and the phoenix,

here a couple of pics , http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/...0120132655.jpg,,,
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/...0120132654.jpg,,
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/...0120132652.jpg,,
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/...0120132650.jpg

[madcarlos]

a rifle that accurate would drive me mad too. Do you challenge yourself to long-range groups? If so, what are you seeing for your efforts, and at what range?
Thanks for posting btw. The more info the better. Had any issues with your Bird, and how long have you and others here had your rifle?
Does anyone use this site? It's been pretty quiet there: http://phoenixairguns.myfastforum.org/index.php
darryl

sorry darryl i did overlook the question about challenging myself with long range groups , but yes with the 177 cal guns including the phoenix i tend to do more long range shooting or target practice really and normally having a go at about 70/80 yards normally i find if the gun is set for about 50 yards then its normally one bobble raised on the scope at about 80 yards , coke cans and small plastic bottles mind , yes there is no fun when the gun is that accurate , i do however at times go over where i shoot with one of the lads so its not to boring as we have our own sort of contest between each other , ,,,,also thanks for the link on the above site ok thanks

[darryl]

You've certainly put the Phoenix in a clear light as compared to it's "contemporaries" regarding accuracy, and life as a owner. I have already put my mind to the need for proper lubrication, and the method of attaining it. The removal sequence of the bottle; I get that too, and look forward to following the program. Certainly your rifle is in great company with the other rifles you own. Do you know if your rifle has the Lothar-Walther barrel, or a BSA barrel? Hugh told me rifles exported to the US have the BSA barrel. It's always impressive to read about the accuracy-at-distance capabilities of a 12-ft/lb rifle. I've watched many many videos of such rifles taking pest birds out past 50 yards, and of the great practice of "ratting". Though those shots take place at a much closer range, it seems, it is still a demonstration of effective shot placement. That is one thing that must always be the object of pest-removal or hunting, I know, but up to now, the only 12 fpe air gun I'd owned was my .22 Brocock Grand Prix pistol, and I dropped it into a custom carbine stock for steadying it, so making it deadly accurate with an 18 grain pellet; one hole at 30 yards is a given. You've own the top brand names for accuracy, imo,and it says you know your way around the market. Like you I've had quite a few pass through my hands. I can say I've had sellers remorse for several of them (AA S-510, BSA Scorpion, and Ultra, Logun S-16, among others).

Like you I have a good shooting buddy with whom i have long-range friendly competitions with. He wants me to "gun-up" t at least a .25, and I have not yet told him of my Pheonix purchase because he'd consider it going the wrong way. I want to be sure to have the rifle squared away before I "spring it" on him.
Thank you aain for your description of life with the Phoenix. The web really needs more such descriptions, and I donn't think Hugh would mind either!
Darryl

[KeithW]

You've got a great rifle there, congratulations!

Answering an earlier question, the Quick Fill reservoir is a simple screw in replacement to the standard type, but maybe you should screw it in a a fraction tighter than you normally would - it's not going to be coming in and out after all. It is supplied with it's own spanner, because the T-bar is no longer applicable, or indeed usable.

Grouping is excellent - I've got a couple of Daystate's and can't say that either of them group better than the Phoenix Mk2. I was delighted that in a recent shoot at my HFT club I won the .22 section with my Mk2 - winning a shoot off against a very good shooter using an HW100. I've asked Rowan Engineering to investigate the possibility of producing a single shot loader for it and will let you know the outcome - if they can I hope more shooters will use the Phoenix Mk2 in competition. I'm the only person booked to shoot the Phoenix in the World HFT Championships at Easter - out of 350+ shooters!

I tested shot-count and I'm happy that I can get 90+ shots (.22) from a 200 BAR fill. The max fill pressure of the new reservoir is 250 BAR and I'll test it at that once I've had my diver's bottle filled up. I'll shoot it over the chrono at the same time as I test grouping at 35 yards, to see what effect 250 BAR has on consistency & accuracy and I'll post the results hereabouts.

For anyone interested, I'm posting a pic of the new reservoir in place, and the "spanner" and also a fix I did to counter the issue of using this butt-heavy rifle when wearing smooth Goretex - the smooth butt pad can sometimes slip against your shoulder. I've glued some non-slip dashboard / furniture stuff to it - never slipped since. As you can see from the photo, it does need a bit of a trim at the moment.

(Hang on! I can't upload an image from my computer?? Must I link to a URL instead?? I'm sure I've uploaded an image previously! Can anyone clarify, please?)

[CORKY.]

The quick fill cylinders are also available on the infamous auction site at a buy now price.