Disappointed with my dream gun

[AAPaulF]

Hi everyone, first time posting here, been loitering for a bit.
So yesterday I very happily bought a brand new Air Arms TX200HC in .177 with a beautiful walnut stock, this was my dream gun. I say was because after a half day with it down at Pete's Airgun Farm I am not happy. From the very first time I cocked it there was an issue with the safety not setting and the trigger not engaging. All I could do was uncock it by pressing the anti bear trap button and releasing the tension in the spring and trying again. I've used a TX200 before and I know you need to be forceful with the cocking effort, however I was applying so much force only to set the safety say 1 in 2 times that I was worried I'd tear the action out of the stock.
After 50 or so shots it got better but after about 200 shots it started again and it would only cock (engage trigger) about half the time and engage the safety about 1 in 10 times.
However, what stopped my day at the range was when in an effort to un jam the knackered cocking action the spring tension released suddenly and the under leaver shot back up and the breach slammed shut. Needless to say if this had happened when my fingers were in there I'd be down the hospital right now.
A quick search of google shows that cocking and safety button engagement issues are relatively common and that alone will make me take the gun back, however the near miss with the slamming breach has made me lose all confidence in the safety of this rifle. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.
Has anyone else heard of this happening? Something must be seriously wrong with the internals of my rifle surely?

[Hsing-ee]

Take it back and get another one.

This is the reason why I get most of my rifles second-hand, the foibles have been sorted or if they haven't then I can strip the gun, relube and tweak any QC issues that have been missed.

Generally these are excellent rifles, sounds like you were unlucky and got a duff one. The internet will give the impression of faults being more frequent than they actually are, the rifle is extremely popular for a reason, and it is possibly one of the best springers made in terms of design.

[Aimstraight]

.....A quick search of google shows that cocking and safety button engagement issues are relatively common and that alone will make me take the gun back, however the near miss with the slamming breach has made me lose all confidence in the safety of this rifle. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.....

I had one that could be tricky to set the trigger or/and safety consistently. When I asked others about it the response was that they need a 'positive' cocking action particularly at the end of the stroke. Once you get the knack it worked OK...but that's not to say I liked the action one bit. NEVER let go of the underlever, ABT or not.

[Roundshot]

What a pity. Have you carefully checked the underlever for true? It's possible to bend them in this way, either too much cocking force or letting it go and slamming shut. Clearly your wisest route is to return it forthwith to the dealer. I can think of two or three simple causes, easily checked for and put right if you have experience of stripping the type, although you're unlikely to want to risk warranty voiding in these circumstances. I hope things are quickly resolved for you. They are super guns.

[Jonjon79]

Welcome to the forum

As already said, don't ever let go of that under lever - regardless of any safety features. You've seen why, in no uncertain terms.

Also, I agree with everyone else - take it back to the shop.
The lever flying up may have caused damage so, I'd request a swap for a new one - try it before you leave the shop so that you can be sure that you're happy with it.

[Phil Russell]

I had one that could be tricky to set the trigger or/and safety consistently. When I asked others about it the response was that they need a 'positive' cocking action particularly at the end of the stroke. Once you get the knack it worked OK...but that's not to say I liked the action one bit. NEVER let go of the underlever, ABT or not.

This 'give it a good pull' business is often stated. To me this smacks of poor engineering as I have shot several TX where the action cocks / safety sets with no problem. There are fixes available if you search the web or on here, usually associated with tweeks to the spring guide / top hat. But in the meantime, return the rifle and test any new one before accepting it.

Cheers, Phil

[Jesim1]

This just sounds like you need to adjust the trigger as it's not engaging properly and therefor the safety/underlever and sear are all literally hanging by a thread - It's the first thing you should have done after the first shot. Try adjusting it now before you take it back, this could be your own inexperience of this gun rather than a big issue - if it's not, then it has only taken you 5 minuets to find out that you do indeed have an issue and have to return it.

Best of luck, but don't just write it off as a duffer.

James

[angrybear]

Straight back to the shop with it would be my answer,
if the stock is faultless & you want a TX you could ask for the action to be replaced rather than a complete new rifle but that will probably mean it goes back to AA for inspection/repair.

[archie]

I have Tx200hc and I have had the problem you describe, but not as bad. I found a really firm cocking stroke was required and once I got into that routine all was fine.