Smooth twists?

[NeilMac]

I have an ACZ / FX Streamline in .177 with the STX full length smooth twist barrel, it has a 1:16 twist, but can be ordered with 1:18, 1:20 or 1:22.

In brief, I have found it is just as pellet fussy as anything else I have shot / owned (and that's a lot of rifles), it takes just as much wind as many other rifles, better then most, but no better than my best rifles, it likes larger diameter pellets so I use mainly H&N's, it needs a better single shot tray, I got mine from SMW Engineering, it was cheap as chips and is far superior to the factory 'thing'. The barrel does not like to be cleaned and if you do clean it do not Not NOT use a pull through, I really thought I had done some sort of damage to the barrel but it eventually came good again.

It is accurate, very accurate and I am about to start using it for 25m outdoor bench rest, but the amount of work and cost involved in finding the right pellets (and I'm not certain I have, yet) was no less than I have spent on other rifles and the gains, given the cost of the rifle, we minimal or even non existent.

It's a well made accurate rifle with a reasonable trigger (better than the TM1000, far better than the HFT500 / S400), but it is no leap forward, just something a little different.

[yorkiets]

I have an ACZ / FX Streamline in .177 with the STX full length smooth twist barrel, it has a 1:16 twist, but can be ordered with 1:18, 1:20 or 1:22.

In brief, I have found it is just as pellet fussy as anything else I have shot / owned (and that's a lot of rifles), it takes just as much wind as many other rifles, better then most, but no better than my best rifles, it likes larger diameter pellets so I use mainly H&N's, it needs a better single shot tray, I got mine from SMW Engineering, it was cheap as chips and is far superior to the factory 'thing'. The barrel does not like to be cleaned and if you do clean it do not Not NOT use a pull through, I really thought I had done some sort of damage to the barrel but it eventually came good again.

It is accurate, very accurate and I am about to start using it for 25m outdoor bench rest, but the amount of work and cost involved in finding the right pellets (and I'm not certain I have, yet) was no less than I have spent on other rifles and the gains, given the cost of the rifle, we minimal or even non existent.

It's a well made accurate rifle with a reasonable trigger (better than the TM1000, far better than the HFT500 / S400), but it is no leap forward, just something a little different.

Many thanks for the comprehensive response, Neil.

So perhaps the x barrels are performing better in sub 12 than the original smooth twist.

I’ve been resisting scratching a smooth twist itch because of the bad grouping anecdotal evidence but maybe it’s time to look again at the x version.

[Spray1Mark]

The latest FX IMPACT has the new reg design which seems to work much better at 12FPE, the accuraccy is amazing from mine.

I think that the new reg design is also being used in the latest Crowns.

[Archer50]

I had a Bobcat MkII, .177. It was incredibly pellet fussy - by far the worst I have ever encountered. Even with its preferred batch of JSB Exacts its grouping was not as good as any of my other PCP's at any range I tried (8 to 65 yards). After spending a fortune on pellets and more time than I could spare, I gave up on it.

Good luck

Alan

[rapidresponse1]

as above I had the same problem with mine,i sold it on

[NeilMac]

Many thanks for the comprehensive response, Neil.

So perhaps the x barrels are performing better in sub 12 than the original smooth twist.

I’ve been resisting scratching a smooth twist itch because of the bad grouping anecdotal evidence but maybe it’s time to look again at the x version.

The STX barrel works in .177, I think the other smoothtwist barrels are a little 'hit or miss' in .177 at 12 ft lbs, but seem to work well in .22 and above, and all of them seem to work really well at FAC / American velocities.

I bought the Streamline to scratch an itch, which it has done, but the theoretical gains are not really there, it is a nice rifle, it shoots well and can be extremely accurate, but in truth it does nothing any better than any other decent rifle.

[yorkiets]

The STX barrel works in .177, I think the other smoothtwist barrels are a little 'hit or miss' in .177 at 12 ft lbs, but seem to work well in .22 and above, and all of them seem to work really well at FAC / American velocities.

I bought the Streamline to scratch an itch, which it has done, but the theoretical gains are not really there, it is a nice rifle, it shoots well and can be extremely accurate, but in truth it does nothing any better than any other decent rifle.

Cheers Neil

I have a lovely FX Royale in .177 that the previous owner had rebarrelled with a LW (I think because of issues with the original smooth twist barrel) It’s like a laser out to 40 yards indoors - I’ve not had the chance to get out to 50+ - but the urge to try a smooth twist x barrel persists just for curiosity sake. Not sure how it could be more accurate but you never know.

Cheers

Steve.

[NeilMac]

Take a proper look at the Streamline then.

Mine is in the ACZ stock and that puts the price up, but if you can find an STX Streamline in a wood or plastic stock they are well priced.

LW barrels are excellent, you'd be hard pressed to find a bad one... although, accuracy rests with the gunsmith / machinist who prepared the blank.

[Steyr]

Each barrel is different. Each gun is different

Smooth twist isnt a new concept...just how the poylybore twist is applied as I see it in a simplistic form.

Depends if you believe the hype that was around when it was launched. It hasnt proven to be the game changer it was hailed to be.

That said....I am thinking of the FX Impact in FAC for the switch barrel capability amongst other reasons but the barrel itself...I dont care so long as it plants it where I am aiming.

Now they seem to have got a handle on the issues they had at launch.

I have always felt polybore on paper was a good idea and I see an argument for smooth bore too. A hybrid seems an excellent combo and in higher outputs that does seem to have a ring of truth about it.

But really.... when the barrel of an S200 can potentially out shoot a Steyr or Feinwerkbau or Walther or....etc.

You pays ya money and ya takes ya chance.

Like anything...I would want to shoot it before I sloshed out a load of wonga on it.

I want a good barrel and I am not willing to play russian roulette (pardon the pun) with that sort of money.

[MartynB]

Depends if you believe the hype that was around when it was launched. It hasnt proven to be the game changer it was hailed to be

I think this was half the problem, I hasten to add I have no opinion either way as not used one