Recoiless

[32:1]

Popped into my local RFD yesterday and was able to have a plink with something very different, a truly recoiless break barrel, the Norica Omnia.

The TX from Tony Leach was the least recoiling gun I’ve ever shot until yesterday, the Norica is totally recoiless just like shooting a pcp, it’s really weird as you know you have a break barrel but is dead. It’s definitely a WoW moment for me as I’ve never shot anything recoiless, stock looks funky but shouldered ok, it’s a wee bit heavier than the 400 Cometa’s and cocking is a wee bit firmer much like the USC, trigger was ok and Id probably not touch that, cocking was smooth and slick.

It’s a weird beast and totally different to anything I’ve ever shot, but at £400 it should be good I guess, overall it’s a wee bit heavy for these old shoulders to carry about but put one in a bench stock and it could be a target tool

[TonyL]

Yep, reminds me of the old ASI Statical (from the 80s?).

There are quite a lot of reviews out there on the Norica now. Not all of them entirely convincing.

The most surreal sliding-sledge break barrel I've ever shot was T20's B2 based one.

[32:1]

Yep, reminds me of the old ASI Statical (from the 80s?).

There are quite a lot of reviews out there on the Norica now. Not all of them entirely convincing.

The most surreal sliding-sledge break barrel I've ever shot was T20's B2 based one.

Im only just starting to shoot boingers really and don’t have any experience of anything like it, I knew AA did something sledge, but I’ve never felt zero recoil. I obviously didn’t accuracy test it but it felt good, now if it could be half the weight and have a bit of walnut there would be one coming home 😂

Not sure how the mechanics of it work but a very interesting gun

[Mach 1.5]

Steve Pope's VM3R was a twin springer recoiless under lever..shame he never got to build the 47 he was hoping to do. Mach 1.5

[Anothermiss]

I think the norica omnia has a tendency to self destruct quite quickly. I looked at them and a quite a few reviews relate to bushes wearing out and the entire platform having massive tolerance/play issues. That's from memory.
Whatever it was, it put me off buying one.

[32:1]

Steve Pope's VM3R was a twin springer recoiless under lever..shame he never got to build the 47 he was hoping to do. Mach 1.5

Steve did his magic on my longbow many moons ago, that was rather nice

Is it just cost that prevents companies pursing this type of gun then

[32:1]

I think the norica omnia has a tendency to self destruct quite quickly. I looked at them and a quite a few reviews relate to bushes wearing out and the entire platform having massive tolerance/play issues. That's from memory.
Whatever it was, it put me off buying one.

This was new so I can’t say, my thoughts were more about how recoiless it actually is, I guess with anything that moves things change, is that why AA stopped theirs

[TonyL]

Steve Pope's VM3R was a twin springer recoiless under lever..shame he never got to build the 47 he was hoping to do. Mach 1.5

Yes, an absolute tragedy. Steve could really have brought something so very special to market. Now we'll never know.

[TonyL]

Im only just starting to shoot boingers really and don’t have any experience of anything like it, I knew AA did something sledge, but I’ve never felt zero recoil. I obviously didn’t accuracy test it but it felt good, now if it could be half the weight and have a bit of walnut there would be one coming home 😂

Not sure how the mechanics of it work but a very interesting gun

The first experience for many of us with this system will have been the Feinwerkbau 300 Series rifles and 65/80 pistols. Uncanny. You know there are mechanicals at work. It isn't recoilless. Recoil happens and the action slides back in its sledge, isolating the user from recoil and vibrations. Quite an eerie experience until you get used to it.

Witchcraft. Awesome.

Gamo had a go (1980s?) with the Statical.

In our modern era, Air Arms most certainly had a go with the TX SR. I've only had a few brief shots with one. Awesome. Same sensation as the FWB but full power. And heavy.

And in even more recent times, the Diana 54 series. I've been fortunate enough to try one or two of these. Most recently last Saturday at our Doncaster meet, the 54 belonging to Guns and Hoses. The very same eerie sensation as the FWB and TX SR. An awesome big, heavy beast of a gun. No felt recoil or vibes through the stock. Very forgiving to shoot and very, very accurate. I'd love one.

But to shoot a twin-piston Giss Diana is another step in eerie witchcraft. No sledge or dampers. Just perfectly designed, calibrated and balanced contra-internals. No need to isolate the shooter. You know there are things happening inside but there's no external evidence. What a superb system.

Imagine a 10ft.lbs, Giss-internalled medium weight rifle. Absolute bliss. It'd be do-able. It has to be. But imagine the cost today. But to have something like this. Recoilless, so discreet with utter, utter refinement and self-contained and reliable. The perfect airgun? Maybe. I'd even be happy at 8.5-9ft.lbs.....

[Shed tuner]

Yeah, get an TX SR or a D 54... proper semi-recoiling 12FP spring guns
If you want true full power recoiless springers, then get a Park or a Whiscome.

[Craig-P]

NickG's TX was the nicest, full power, 'sledger' that I've used. Absolutely sublime to shoot.
My old mate Barry bought a Whiscombe back in the 90's to use for FT. My other mate and I had purchased GC2 MK3's - Baz preferred the JW.
I can honestly say there was less vibration and felt movement in the JW than there was in either of our GC2's - but the JW was a pig to operate. Lumping it around a thirty shot FT course and having to prime the thing twice for each shot was akin to going to the gym.

[dvd]

In order of absolute mechanical balance and recoilessness when fired, I rank them like this, first are the Diana Giss, followed by the Park and the sledge types. I rate the sledge type last because I too have destroyed cheap scopes using them.
I have examples of all types mentioned.


They are all weighty guns given their mechanical additions. The D54 makes power so effortlessly with all that swept volume, the Park''s internals amaze me because at first glance it shouldn't work, but it does and I find it smoother in 5.5 mm, those converging pistons don't half shift the air velocity. I think it's designer was a genius, sadly no longer with us. The sledge type are mechanically the simplest form and provided the sliding parts are not compromised with sloppy fit and inferior material selection, they should work well and last for years.

[32:1]

Yeah, get an TX SR or a D 54... proper semi-recoiling 12FP spring guns
If you want true full power recoiless springers, then get a Park or a Whiscome.

This was a very healthy 11.8 and now I’ve had a look around £400 isn’t that bad comparing prices

[Shed tuner]

This was a very healthy 11.8 and now I’ve had a look around £400 isn’t that bad comparing prices

for sure, I'm just not sure about the accuracy from what I've seen online...especially with the scope not directly mounted to the action/barrel. Whereas those I mention have a great reputation for accuracy. You get a beech SR for not much more than £400

[32:1]

for sure, I'm just not sure about the accuracy from what I've seen online...especially with the scope not directly mounted to the action/barrel. Whereas those I mention have a great reputation for accuracy. You get a beech SR for not much more than £400

All to heavy for me to lug about anyway, very interesting idea though