Others Received My Microstrike .22 Today

[Billm]

I received my Air Venturi Microstrike today. My initial thoughts: it appears to be nicely finished, it came with an Allen wrench, that so far doesn’t fit anything. I installed the folding stock, that required a 2.5mm Allen wrench. I removed the rear sight and that required a 1.5mm Allen wrench. Neither of those Allen keys were included. Not a complaint, just an observation. I don’t really have an appropriate scope for it. I took a Discovery 5-30x56mm FFP off of my Beeman underlever and put it on the Microstrike. I ordered some more AEA .22 18.3gr pellets with it. I’m pretty sure I have and assortment of Hades, Barracudas, JTS laying around somewhere as well. I dragged the backstop to 33yds. Using the single shot tray, I shot 14 pellets and hit the 2’x6’ backstop once. Pretty sure it was shooting several feet to the left. Hopefully I’ll get it on steel tomorrow. I believe it’s set from the factory at 1900 psi. It launched AEA 18.3gr pellets at 750fps. I was planning on putting a shorter moderator on it than I usually use, but I don’t think that will happen. It is very loud. I shot it with and without a moderator. I did a quick Look with the bore scope before I shot it. It looked more fouled than I would expect from the PA 10 for 10. But, I’m not an expert. I plan to get it on paper, shoot a few groups. Then remove the barrel and slug it. Depending on the results, I will then clean and polish the barrel. I’m hoping it’s not really under bored.

 

[FL22]

@Billm I’m definitely interested to see how things turn out .
I’m at the point where now that if I were to purchase a new China manufactured Airgun, I wouldn’t bother with shooting it before I thoroughly cleaned and polished the barrel.

 

[Billm]

@Billm I’m definitely interested to see how things turn out .
I’m at the point where now that if I were to purchase a new China manufactured Airgun, I wouldn’t bother with shooting it before I thoroughly cleaned and polished the barrel.

I agree, I purchased it before I saw the thread on AGN stating that the barrels are of the wrong diameter. I don’t want to do anything to it that would prevent me from returning it. I figure if it’s a standard .217-.218 barrel with reasonable accuracy, I’m ok with that. If it’s .213 and stripping rings of lead from the pellets, that won’t be acceptable.

 

[Billm]

After removing the barrel, I slugged the barrel with an H&N .218 slug. I tapped the slug on the nose with a brass gunsmith mallet and expanded it to about .22. I then pushed it through the barrel with a brass rod. I started from the breech. I’m not sure what to think? Although the poster on AGN got his terminology reversed, as the groove diameter can’t be less than the the land diameter. I came up with a similar result. He used calipers and I used a micrometer. I’m not even going to try and measure the land diameter with calipers. Basically the groove diameter is approximately .2136”. I guess I could polish it with 80 grit Emory . Interestingly some manufacturers make their .22 barrels with a .213 land diameter. I might push one in a few inches and then reverse it out. I didn’t feel a choke, but I’ll check anyway.

 

[Pumacarl]

After removing the barrel, I slugged the barrel with an H&N .218 slug. I tapped the slug on the nose with a brass gunsmith mallet and expanded it to about .22. I then pushed it through the barrel with a brass rod. I started from the breech. I’m not sure what to think? Although the poster on AGN got his terminology reversed, as the groove diameter can’t be less than the the land diameter. I came up with a similar result. He used calipers and I used a micrometer. I’m not even going to try and measure the land diameter with calipers. Basically the groove diameter is approximately .2136”. I guess I could polish it with 80 grit Emory . Interestingly some manufacturers make their .22 barrels with a .213 land diameter. I might push one in a few inches and then reverse it out. I didn’t feel a choke, but I’ll check anyway.

That's a bummer. I would return it. No standard projectile is ever going to fit right.

 

[Billm]

I’m in complete agreement with @Solo1 it seems a lot of airgun manufacturers whether it’s a $400 airgun or $2500 airguns do not seem to care about the quality of their barrels. AOA Rob kind of let the cat lot of the bag in the Black wolf thread in reference to my Sub-MOA barrel when he said this performance is acceptable to 95% of airgun customers and the other 5% participate in these forums. If PA doesn’t get ahead of this issue, it’s going to destroy the reputation of this gun before it even gets a chance to be popular. I was planning on doing a comparison to my TalonP, but I can tell you right now which carbine would win. I am disappointed that PA’s own video on the Microstrike stated the loose groups were caused by muzzle flip - don’t count on that. Easy fix if the other calibers are ok. Replace the barrel with one that works and then send out free replacement .22 barrels when fixed. I’m not an expert on barrel making, but I will assume that they are button rifled and the button has been machined to the wrong specs. But, I really have no idea. But Fisher Price taught me at an early age that you can’t fit a square peg through a round hole . One other thing that I noticed is that it was very difficult to get the slug started for the first 3” of the barrel and then easily pushed through. Of course it had been basically swaged to fit at that point.

 

[Billm]

Shame on me: I was hoping for a $400 Pathfinder.

 

[Billm]

This gun has a lot of potential. I filled it three or four times today and shot it from 33yds to 101yds. I believe the regulator gauge is reading low. I haven’t adjusted anything yet. The reg is actually set at 2100-2200 psi, but it falls off the regulator before it gets that low according to the fill gauge. Fill gauge aligns with compressor gauge. My guess is that there is air being wasted. I’m getting 11 shots. With a properly bored barrel, this pistol/carbine would be a lot of fun. I’m leaning towards sending it back due to the barrel, unless they come out and say they will be correcting the barrel.

 

[Billm]

Today was interesting. First, I put the TNC 225R scope on the Microstrike. I quickly sighted it in and updated the ballistics table. I decided to go with 15.9gr Hades. I shot several groups at 33yds, 58yds amend 101yds. I didn’t expect it to hit the target at 101yds, but it did. There was wind the whole time and so the groups don’t indicate much. They were ok. I still have not done any tuning. I put 37 pellets through it today. I get 11 shots and then it falls off the regulator fast. The Hades were running at approximately 800fps. Tonight I removed the barrel and cleaned it with Ballistol and patches and then I attempted to polish it with J-B bore cleaner and Flitz. It’s still fouled,

 

[Billm]

This kind of tells you what you need to know. This is what happens when you slug the barrel. The barrel literally shaves a ring off of the slug and it does a number on the slug. That’s a .218 slug unmodified, as in not oversized. Yep, I’m part of the “5%”. But, it’s an easy fix with a barrel swap. The barrel muzzle is not crowned, but it’s also protected by the shroud. Edited later: 99 degree crown, but not recessed.

 

[Billm]

No wind this morning. Lowered the regulator. Unfortunately you have to guess where to set it in the beginning, as it has to be degassed before adjusting the reg up or down, but you will have a better idea once you’ve done it a few times. I shot this at 30 yards. There’s no way for me to attach a bipod (yet) and so I’m using my mechanical rest as a front rest. This group would be a lot smaller if I could hold it a little steadier. The trigger isn’t the greatest. I pulled several shots sighting in. Unfortunately I’m running out of Hades and only have heavier pellets. That is definitely dead whatever at 30 yards. It’s warming up and so the wind is starting. Hopefully I can play with the hammer spring and maybe move it out to 49-50yds.

 

[Chris two-furs]

I myself am more concerned with details of trigger, lop, function, if you're taking so much time here. Thanks for all this slug info.

 

[Billm]

I myself am more concerned with details of trigger, lop, function, if you're taking so much time here. Thanks for all this slug info.

Maybe I’ll actually do a review.

 

[Danman]

I myself am more concerned with details of trigger, lop, function, if you're taking so much time here. Thanks for all this slug info.

I agree, but if accuracy is crud and there's no .22 ammo avaliable that will shoot acceptable outta it (lets say an inch or less at 40Y) then no matter how good the other stuff is the gun is still trash. IMO it would be excellent in .177, a lower reg pressure, and a L.W. barrel....but as always how much polishing/modding is worth it vs buying something else in the next tier up?

 

[Billm]

I agree, but if accuracy is crud and there's no .22 ammo avaliable that will shoot acceptable outta it (lets say an inch or less at 40Y) then no matter how good the other stuff is the gun is still trash. IMO it t would be excellent in .177, a lower reg pressure, and a L.W. barrel....but as always how much polishing/modding is worth it vs buying something else in the next tier up?

I doubt with the current barrel you will see a legitimate consistently repeatable group =< 1’” at 40yds. I’m not the best shot, but, I can usually shoot 2 MOA at 45yds. I’m sure there’s some shooters that might be able to do it. I haven’t gotten any where near the shot count all the YouTube videos claim. I get almost no change in velocity with the hammer spring adjustment and when you only get 11-13 shots on the regulator, it is hard to make minute adjustments (1/8-1/4). Thank goodness for compressors. I’ve degassed it and lowered the reg and will see what happens with a lower regulator pressure. The trigger is not sloppy and is firm. It actually hurts my finger tip lol. I haven’t measured the trigger pull, but will. I’m gonna guess 3lbs.

 

[Billm]

I am not trying to dump on this gun. I have really mixed emotions about it. The airgun is very nice looking, it appears well machined. It feels substantial, but not heavy, dare I see it feels like “quality” I can’t compare it to a Notos, because I’ve never seen one. Some airgunners may not agree, but I think this airgun should be compared to the Notos and the BRK Pathfinder and Atomic. Sure it’s in a different price range than the BRKs, but it’s intended for the same type of shooting and has similar specs. I almost feel like the design engineer had a Pathfinder sitting on his desk. I haven’t shot a pathfinder, but based upon the results that I’ve seen posted, it out shoots the Microstrike at 40yds. My only issue is the barrel and the group size. If someone could explain to me why the groove diameter is smaller than what you would find in a .22 airgun barrel, that might help. I see some new owners on another forum stating that their accuracy is fine. One even stated that he has been shooting soda cans at 40yds with no issues. I believe on a no wind day with practice, I can shoot a soda can with my Red Ryder at 40yds maybe. My point being: I think the groups off the bench should be tighter, but if you just want to plink cans, it’s accurate enough. I’ve seen no reports on the .25 yet and would like to see how they do.

 

[jps2486]

So you buy a cheap gun for $300 and expect to get a match barrel? How do you translate that into Chinese?

 

[Danman]

I’ve seen no reports on the .25 yet and would like to see how they do.

The latest Vid posted by H.P.P. mentions they got in some .25 versions. Tom alluded that its know the accuracy is not great with these guns, but said once they lowered the reg pressure on one it tightened up.

 

[Billm]

So you buy a cheap gun for $300 and expect to get a match barrel? How do you translate that into Chinese?

Let me help you with the math: $399.99 rounds up to $400 not $300. That’s 2.5 x the price of a Beeman Raider and they come with a barrel that meets or exceeds the minimum specs for its caliber. A match barrel is a barrel that is machined with very tight tolerances, so no I don’t expect a “Match barrel” on a $400 airgun, but I do expect it to have a barrel that is bored to the industry accepted specifications whether it cost $150 or $5000. For the average person $400 isn’t chump change and they should get a product that performs the best that it can for the price point. You’ve made it clear in your previous post that you believe that sub $500 airguns are trash and that “you get what you pay for”. You’re entitled to your opinion and I simply don’t agree. I’m really glad that Diana didn’t feel the same way about their sub $500 airguns, they’ve provided me with some great accuracy. Out of curiosity: what do you expect for $400? I’m not sure why I need to translate anything into Chinese, I live in the U,S., I shop in the U.S. and I bought a product from a U.S. Company with a U.S. brand name on it. Whatever the country of origin is: the company whose name and logo is on the product that owns it. Feel free to debate.

 

[Billm]

The latest Vid posted by H.P.P. mentions they got in some .25 versions. Tom alluded that its know the accuracy is not great with these guns, but said once they lowered the reg pressure on one it tightened up.

I’m lowering it each time. It’s a pain as you have to degass whether you increase/decrease the pressure. My last adjustment didn’t change the pressure, but it shot a 10 shot group at 45yds that was over 6” wide. I’m guessing that it’s fouled. The hammer spring adjustment has made very little difference no matter where it’s set. There’s no finding the max velocity and backing it off 5%, there’s not that much adjustment. I’ve seen others post. that they backed it out completely and left it there. Maybe a different spring? I like it enough that I’m toying with purchasing a 10mm (if it will fit in the shroud) LW barrel and cutting it in half and trying it LOL. It should fit as the AV barrel is about 10.8mm.