Yes, mine has the reduced stroke but when using the 8.4 JSB's in any head size it creates a bit of buzz from the spring which I am sumising is caused by some greater surge from the piston. It even did this with the higher pre-load from the original spring length. The m.e. with all 3 weights of jsb is identical though so if your theory on surge and m.e. across different pellet weights is correct it shouldn't be any different.