Panthera FX Panthera MKII .30 700mm My First FX

[FL22]

I did. I figured it out on my own, but it wpoldve been nuce for the price to get the correct documentation.

At first, I thought you were being sarcastic throwing down some Swedish as it turns out… nope, just garden variety large finger typeO .

 

[Billm]

At first, I thought you were being sarcastic throwing down some Swedish as it turns out… nope, just garden variety large finger typeO .

I need to go back to a keyboard LOL.

 

[Billm]

More parts inbound. This rifle has now entered into the price range of the Daystate Blackwolf Tactical. What I thought was going to be a $2300 has turned into almost $3500. That is just the parts to either keep it working or to milk the last bit of accuracy and consistency out of it. In all fairness that puts it in the middle range of the Blackwolf Tactical range, a fair comparison would be to add two barrels to the Blackwolf. A slug barrel and based upon Franklinks observations, a Sun-MOA barrel for the best accuracy - that would put the BW in the $5000 range. In the case of the Panthera MKII, I had to purchase a pellet liner, carbon fiber barrel tube, Huma regulator, o-ring kit, more o-rings, vale stem, valve stem seat, a second valve stem (because they fail so easily), custom valve housing removal tool. Not to mention that I’ve been told that I probably won’t be able to get the valve seat out to replace the valve stem o-ring that is probably blown and that I should send it back in. That’s because the special tool for valve seat removal is not available anywhere. I can see why some airgunners don’t like the FX line of airguns from a maintenance viewpoint. But, it’s hard to deny it’s accuracy and it just feels good. Hopefully I can fix it by the time the bull barrel shows up this weekend. I did have to slap myself a few times, when I started adding an Dynamic MKII to my cart. ***edit***. I almost added a dynamic to my cart not an Impact. I see nothing desirable in the Impact model LOL.

 

[Air86]

I was gonna buy a panthera but I guess not

 

[Billm]

I was gonna buy a panthera but I guess not

In all fairness, I’d withhold judgment, if its based upon my posts alone. I’ll try to put my post above in context.
First of all, I’m sponsored by me and my wallet. I try to be honest with my opinions. I also try to be fair to the manufacturers and their products. I am also flippant, I sometimes post a little to hasty and sometimes with a little sarcasm.
My post was mainly in reference to the fact that I wanted a Blackwolf, but wouldn’t pay the asking price. With what I’ve spent on the FX Panthera MKII, I could’ve bought a Blackwolf. That doesn’t mean that I wish I had bought a Blackwolf.
But, I didn’t need to buy the two most expensive parts: the pellet liner/carbon barrel tube and the bull barrel. The rifle is superbly accurate with the stock barrel. If I’d waited for the bull barrel, I needn’t have bought the liner and tube as they both use the 1:40 liner. I have gone through several o-rings, but I’m not sure all of them were necessary. I am peed off that the valve stem and o-ring issue is well known and yet the necessary tools are not easily obtainable. They’re simple custom tools that could easily be included. The Huma regulator is not a necessity in my opinion. It didn’t improve the SD, it did improve the refresh rate. The AMP reg is easier to adjust using an Allen key and provides an easy way to degas.
I don’t know if the FX Panthera is better or as good as the Blackwolf as I don’t have a Blackwolf. If someone wants to lend me one, I’d be more than glad to compare them LOL.
The Panthera is easy to tune and fun to shoot. I was really contemplating buying the Dynamic, I like it that much.

 

[Billm]

As it stands right now, no matter how frustrated I feel over the Bull Barrel, the FX Panthera has a place in my stable.
I’ve had the barrel in and out a dozen times or more since the last time I shot groups with it. I had it apart down to the block internals. The chassis was removed, the scope was removed. Had several leaks as I progressed. Removed and replaced the valve stem, Valve seat and lots of o-rings. Got it back together today and believe the leaks are resolved. It still has velocity swings. I made no adjustments to the rifle and attached the scope. First group was a few inched from the original POI. But, it was very windy. I shot. 66.2 gr pellets, 50.5gr pellets and 43.7gr slugs. The velocity seemed to have risen a little bit and so I lowered the reg a little. The FX seems slow to register changes compared to my BRKs. Then I shot one mag of 13, 7 AEA 50.5gr pellets and 6 Marksman 43gr HEX slugs. I used the same point of aim and made no changes to the gun or the scope. There was a right to left crosswind. The pellets showed more drift from the wind. The slugs had no real stringing. The slugs impacted slightly higher which was expected, they were churning out around 990fps vs 940-950 for the pellets. All the messing around means that I’m not ready for the PAC, but oh well. I went back out and shot more groups when it was dark, but almost no wind. I could not see the reticle and I’ve never managed to turn the IR on LOL. I’ll measure those tomorrow. These were just some of the test shots. I’ll do a leak check overnight and hope for the best. This FX shoots both pellets and slugs very well.

 

[Billm]

I repainted the target and by the time that I was done it was dark. I shot six groups anyway, with no IR or lights. The gun did its job, I probably didn’t. Shot at 101yds, 125-130BARish, I absolutely think the FX Panthera MKII accuracy rocks and is repeatable. I also really like the Athlon Ares 15-60x scope. 6 groups of 5 shot average of 1.14 MOA .

 

[Solo1]

Looks good!

 

[Billm]

The BIG issue I have is the velocity just changes drastically with no logical explanation. I shot those groups last night at around 930fps. I did nothing to the gun other than fill it and move it from the porch to the kitchen table - 20-25ft. Took it out this morning, let it acclimate for an hour and it shoots in the hugh’s 800s. I increase the macro and got the velocity over 910fps. It then started climbing too much. So I lowered it a click on the Macro and increased the Micro by 4 clicks to bring it back up, but not as much. Then I watched the velocity slowly climb too 975fps. I will have it set to the velocity that I want for several fills and then all of a sudden it will drop to velocity that is 50fps higher or lower and then shoot at the velocity for awhile. Then I adjust to get it to the velocity that I want and it will shoot near that velocity. Then without changing anything, it will just change again on its own. It’s weird, or at least for me.

 

[Solo1]

Try upping your reg it seems to me that the valve is staying open longer because there is less pressure trying to close it. Or maybe you need less stiction or a stronger spring to help close it. Or maybe thats ass. Backward?

 

[Billm]

Try upping your reg it seems to me that the valve is staying open longer because there is less pressure trying to close it. Or maybe you need less stiction or a stronger spring to help close it. Or maybe thats ass. Backward?

LMBO, I don’t know. But I just went back out and the velocity dropped again and then slowly climbed to 810ish. I gave it one click of increase on the micro and then it jumped up. I just refilled and I’m going to let it sit and cool. Maybe I’ll bump it up 5 bar. I’m really out of time. I’m going one way or another and may shoot, may not. I’m going for the learning experience and will probably shoot. I’m realizing that I am totally clueless LOL. I’ve never shot an organized event before.

 

[Solo1]

@Billm try going down to 110 bar with your hammer spring all the way backed out. See what velovity is then turn the big wheel all the way up and see what velocity is if less than what you want do to 120 bar and repeat when you get to your velocity you want fill gun and shoot down to see what your string looks like if its better great if worse we will deal with it then

 

[Solo1]

Did you try that?

 

[Billm]

Did you try that?

I started to and ran out of time.

 

[Billm]

I received my Panthera MKII with its Bull Barrel back today. I’m not going to do anything to this rifle until it has a chance to settle in. They annotated that it was set at 110 bar and had an SD of 2.36 and ES of 7. The average fps was 944.5. The gauge read 122bar for the reg and so I put it outside on the patio for an hour and allowed it to acclimate. When I shot it,it started out at 968 fps. Then I shot another mag and it gradually dropped to 943 FPS and the reg dropped to 110 bar. The trigger was set with no 1st stage and a weight of 1.1oz. Yes, 1.1oz. That is also where it crept to when I originally received it. None of this is a complaint or anything like that. I’m really just documenting where it’s at right now. One interesting point is that all of the FX personnel told me that 130 bar etc. is too high for these rifles in most cases. That’s kind of the opposite of what is floating around the forums. But, it seems to work.

 

[Solo1]

Yea matt is always telling everyone to be high on the reg? Hope it shoots well. If the groups aren’t great id go down a bit on velocity the ghost was grouping best in 920’s.

 

[Auto1191]

I received my Panthera MKII with its Bull Barrel back today. I’m not going to do anything to this rifle until it has a chance to settle in. They annotated that it was set at 110 bar and had an SD of 2.36 and ES of 7. The average fps was 944.5. The gauge read 122bar for the reg and so I put it outside on the patio for an hour and allowed it to acclimate. When I shot it,it started out at 968 fps. Then I shot another mag and it gradually dropped to 943 FPS and the reg dropped to 110 bar. The trigger was set with no 1st stage and a weight of 1.1oz. Yes, 1.1oz. That is also where it crept to when I originally received it. None of this is a complaint or anything like that. I’m really just documenting where it’s at right now. One interesting point is that all of the FX personnel told me that 130 bar etc. is too high for these rifles in most cases. That’s kind of the opposite of what is floating around the forums. But, it seems to work.

Please don't be afraid to post all good & bad, even with the Bull Barrel. Inquiring minds want to know. I myself post the truth & not afraid to post my true thoghts. This forum can't be all positive remarks, for we don't live in the perfect World,

 

[Billm]

Please don't be afraid to post all good & bad, even with the Bull Barrel. Inquiring minds want to know. I myself post the truth & not afraid to post my true thoghts. This forum can't be all positive remarks, for we don't live in the perfect World,

I don’t think anyone doubts that I’m willing to post the good and the bad lol. Nothing bad so far.

 

[Billm]

Look at this shot string and then look at what I was dealing with at the Pyramyd Air Cup in post #249 above. Not an excuse, I could’ve taken my Ghost.
I just shot a magazine of AEA 66.2gr pellets. I changed nothing on the rifle. I had 2” of drop, to be expected. Less drift. An SD of .9 fps, an Extreme Spread of 3.2fps, average velocity 882.8fps and an average 114.5 fpe. How can I complain about that. I do believe I need to clean and possibly polish the barrel. I’m not about to remove the Bull Barrel to clean/polish it. But, then I’m not afraid to clean it from the muzzle. I don’t know how much the Bull Barrel has to do with it all. But, I’m definitely not unhappy with it. It’s heavy, but that’s what I wanted. My previous groups were tighter, but I polished that liner. Not, to mention I haven’t shot more than 50 shots through it yet. Look at the velocity graph, if it was an EKG the rifle would be dead - flatline. I might just have to shoot a 50 yd card with it.

 

[Solo1]

Look at this shot string and then look at what I was dealing with at the Pyramyd Air Cup in post #249 above. Not an excuse, I could’ve taken my Ghost.
I just shot a magazine of AEA 66.2gr pellets. I changed nothing on the rifle. I had 2” of drop, to be expected. Less drift. An SD of .9 fps, an Extreme Spread of 3.2fps, average velocity 882.8fps and an average 114.5 fpe. How can I complain about that. I do believe I need to clean and possibly polish the barrel. I’m not about to remove the Bull Barrel to clean/polish it. But, then I’m not afraid to clean it from the muzzle. I don’t know how much the Bull Barrel has to do with it all. But, I’m definitely not unhappy with it. It’s heavy, but that’s what I wanted. My previous groups were tighter, but I polished that liner. Not, to mention I haven’t shot more than 50 shots through it yet. Look at the velocity graph, if it was an EKG the rifle would be dead - flatline. I might just have to shoot a 50 yd card with it. View attachment 22995View attachment 22996View attachment 22997

Nice!