Chiappa FAS 6004

[Hombre]

Hi

Has anybody had experience of both the 'old' FAS 604 Mk2 and the new FAS 6004 from Chiappa?

They look pretty much the same to me but how do they compare in terms of cosmetic finish and shooting performance?
Is the loading pressure similar - in one video on YouTube it looks as if it might be a little easier on the new version?

Any pointers appreciated

ATB
Hombre

[Amac]

I haven't owned the "original"model, but from all accounts the latest version is pretty much the original gun although now mass produced. I enjoy shooting mine, which is mega consistent and could I reckon give much more expensive PCPs a run for their money in the right hands.

Andy

[zooma]

The FAS 604 (mk1 and mk 2) are excellent match pistols that are very much in demand, but the newer 6004 model has had some bad press and is not considered to be as good or well made as the FAS 604.

If you get a chance - try them both - then you can make your own judgement.

[zooma]

Here are some pictures of Mk 2 FAS 604 match pistols:-



http://bobsairguns.com/index.php?opt...lery&Itemid=43

[Hombre]

Thanks Guys

Amac - Very pleased to hear that your new 6004 is giving you pleasure and shooting well

Zooma - Thanks for the input. I'm aware of the merits of the FAS 604 Mk2 as I owned one for a couple of years.
It could have been the very twin in every respect of the little gem on your website.
Regrettably, in a moment of weakness, in more ways than one, I sold it. Something I had promised myself I would never do.
Do you still own yours?

I have also read several articles and threads on various sites regarding the FAS 6004 which are at best mixed in the amount of useful, comparative information they provide. Does seem though, that as might be expected in this day and age, corners have been cut and build quality is not quite what it was. At the current price though, my interest was more than a little piqued. Hence my post on this 'board of boards' requesting info from anyone who had shot both.

Maybe I'll get to do this myself but in the interim anyone out there able to speak from practical experience of both?

Thanks again chaps

[Iain K D]

I can’t make any comparison to the original FAS604, but I thought it might be useful to give my initial impressions of the new 6004 I’ve recently got – the ambidextrous version (even though I’m right-handed).

I’ve had a couple of sessions with it now at the club, and got it pretty much zeroed at 10 metres. Cocking effort is less than the HW75 and HW40, or the Gamo Compact, and it doesn’t snap shut on you when closing (the ’75 is pretty good in this regard as well). Having said that though, it doesn’t always open – not drawing the piston out, that is, but the very first movement of the overlever – or close smoothly when cocked. This is, I think, a combination of the overlever catch not quite clearing the steel inset it engages with at the rear of the frame, and the side of the frame rubbing against the inside of the overlever.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...hiappa/01A.jpg

You can see that the valve housing is left unfinished – bright – and it also looks like the bottom edge of the barrel is just marking the face as it closes. The barrel has a rather cheap-looking shim around it – not on the parts diagram that I can see – where it is clamped into the overlever, presumably to position the breech face correctly against the valve housing.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...Chiappa/03.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...Chiappa/02.jpg

Front guide cap on the air cylinder is plastic, and looks rather cheap – as I imagine it would’ve on the FAS. I only mention this point as I’ve seen one or two Youtube reviews enthusing about how the gun is all metal, with no plastic on it anywhere.

The sight picture, to my eyes, is acceptable although the ability to fine tune it would probably be useful – the post is getting close to filling the rearsight notch (measured at about 4.0mm post, 3.3mm notch width). Although the steel foresight post is separate, its base dovetailed into the overlever, there’s no mention of removing or replacing it in the manual – it is simply described as ‘fixed’.

Regarding the rearsight, I have obviously adjusted it a little and it hasn’t broken or bent yet – but I have also been very careful to avoid touching it when opening or closing the gun. I’m in no hurry to take it apart, but one thing that does strike me is the strength of the two springs (one either side of the elevation adjustment?) pushing the rearsight up: much stronger than the Weihrauch pistols, or the Baikal Izh-46. I pressed the rearsight down slightly (which is still entirely possible) when making elevation adjustments, which seemed might help to take some of the tension off the screw.

A few final notes on what you get with the gun, which comes in a large plastic case (proper hinges, two sliding catches and lined top and bottom with eggshell foam – not fitted to the gun). There are no actual accessories as such, foresight elements I mentioned above or balance weights (the FAS had these?), all that is supplied is an allen key for trigger adjustments and a spare breech seal. The manual I got is just a poor quality black and white copy, on cheap paper – the exploded diagram is hardly visible (fortunately a pdf is available on the Chippa website).

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...Chiappa/04.jpg

Iain

(But I have enjoyed shooting it so far.)