AtlasAirguns
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Usually the instruction manual is tucked discretely inside one of the Savior case pockets, but if not all instructions are on www.westernairguns.com
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Self-Loading A Continuing Field Review: Working With Western Rattler .45 LS
- Thread starter Ezana4CE
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 37
- Views 1K
AtlasAirguns
Good Plus Level Advertiser
Billm
Grand HAMster
That's not quite true about Affirm. Amazon is just a merchant that accepts it. I use it quite often with their zero interest short installment plans. They are a publicly traded firm under AFRM with no connection to Amazon. I don't use it for credit, but their zero interest works the same way. Credova is a similar competitor. I've used the virtual Visa card to buy airgun stuff from airgun dealers that don't accept Affirm. I"m not sure why it wouldn't work at UA, the merchant just sees it as a credit card.
Powermonger1
HAM Sharp Shooter
I get lower payments with Affirm for my retirement on the larger purchase and ones I can pay off in the 6 month interest free program. I use it then
Billm
Grand HAMster
It is like any credit, It's great when used right. The onus is on us the users.
so your sayin use it right up : )
Billm
Grand HAMster
LOL, I'm saying if it gets you a badly needed airgun without selling your kids go for it. If you have to sell an airgun, maybe not
Powermonger1
HAM Sharp Shooter
Ah yes I sold my kids before they turned 21. They wouldn’t move out and get a job!!
Think they’re 40 something now!
- Original poster
- #29
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@AtlasAirguns Thank you. I hadn’t realized there were pockets in this case until your post. I found the manual, test target, chronograph documentation, a AOA sticker, and a receipt. On the inside of the case was a pocket divided into 3 compartments with Velcro holding each compartment shut. I totally missed this and thought it was a part of the inner liner. This long case for the Long Strike is a lot longer than the Savior case for the .357. They are 2 totally different cases. Both are well built with quality materials. Savior is a quality brand.
AtlasAirguns
Good Plus Level Advertiser
Awesome. They keep them in there to not scare the finish and not damage the documents, but it's a common where is the item question. Cheers
- Original poster
- #31
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Update time. Although I mounted a Sightron STAC FFP scope on my Long Strike, I didn’t shoot it because I knew it likely wouldn’t remain on the gun. Since big bore lead is pricey and I’m ready to start sampling slugs, I didn’t want to waste any projectiles zeroing a scope and collecting DOPE on something I probably won’t use much. It would be a waste of slugs to test on two scopes. So I made a decision to pair this rifle with glass fitting of a rifle in the Western Rattler Long Strike’s class. This is something I’d give considerable thought to before testing. I'd looked at some pricey scopes and referenced my "Low-End of the Top Tier Scopes" thread here on HAM. What I decided upon was on par with some considerations there, but a scope not mentioned within the thread.
I got my hands on the scope this week and I will take some time today to mount it. I bought some rings for it so I have what I need to get going. Hopefully I purchased rings that are high enough to clear the pic rail, but not too high. I don’t want to say which scope it is, but I’ll say this for now: this scope is made with Japanese glass, a 34mm tube, my preferred magnification range, and illuminated tree reticle, it focuses down to 10 yards, and is compact. I haven’t taken time to view through it outdoors, but indoors the clarity looks good. The jury is still out on the quality of illumination, but that is a detail that doesn’t relate to the rifle. I’ll leave more of the details of the scope for its own review. I have a feeling it will pair well with the Rattler Long Strike for my intended applications. I look forward to sharing some slug testing results this week. Stay tuned. There is more to come.
I got my hands on the scope this week and I will take some time today to mount it. I bought some rings for it so I have what I need to get going. Hopefully I purchased rings that are high enough to clear the pic rail, but not too high. I don’t want to say which scope it is, but I’ll say this for now: this scope is made with Japanese glass, a 34mm tube, my preferred magnification range, and illuminated tree reticle, it focuses down to 10 yards, and is compact. I haven’t taken time to view through it outdoors, but indoors the clarity looks good. The jury is still out on the quality of illumination, but that is a detail that doesn’t relate to the rifle. I’ll leave more of the details of the scope for its own review. I have a feeling it will pair well with the Rattler Long Strike for my intended applications. I look forward to sharing some slug testing results this week. Stay tuned. There is more to come.
Airgun-hobbyist
HAM Sniper
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You are right, experimenting with slugs is expensive; especially if buying from a vendor to test. Here is some findings and things I did with my LS that may help you save some time and/or money there:
With the LS barrel's twist rate and magazine, it really likes nearly 1" long lead, around 330 grains, with the RBT base. "Football" shaped rebated boat tail and gas-check based slugs group tightest, consistently under 2 mao groups at long ranges. Any short, light slug accuracy sucks.
Swaging with the Corbins 457 airgun kit, (long S4 ogive, and with both the RBT base and deep hollow base punches, hollow point and flat point extractors (similar to NSA's 457, 350 grain RBR slug)) has really helped me dial in what works and what doesn't because of easily changing the length and weight. RBT base slugs nearly 1" long and 330 grains shoot the best, most accurate group. Slugs made with the deep hollow base will only group "lighter" 250 grain slugs decent because they are a longer finished length. And, those only fly well with no hollow point added so the center of gravity is moved forwards. The lighter slugs are nice only in the fact that they have a flatter trajectory, but are not as accurate as the RBT design.
How soon before we get to see that new scope package???
- Original poster
- #33
@Airgun-hobbyist Thank you for that info on the slugs. Hopefully I will have enough photos and information to post before the day is over. I’d like to do more than post photos of how it looks.
- Original poster
- #36
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I was able to get 5 shots off and sight in the process of sighting in my scope from 20 yards seated behind a tripod. Got some chrony numbers. I’ll upload some pics and data later. Still have work to finish up around here.
Airgun-hobbyist
HAM Sniper
That's a cool looking scope! Nice specs.
- Original poster
- #38
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It sucked trying to mount a scope on the Western Rattler LS using the Tipton Ultra Vise. The clamps on the front don't open wide enough to fit the reservoir, so I resorted to clamping the shroud in order to keep the rifle level.
Then I had to gently clamp the breech block because the manometer was sandwiched between one side of the vise and the breech block due to where I clamped the shroud just beyond the end of the reservoir. In hindsight I could’ve moved the two ends towards more desirable clamping points on the rifle. I honestly never had to do this on an air rifle, so it wasn’t even a thought in the moment. So if you find yourself in this position, moving the two clamping ends of the vise is an option.
As I stated in a previous post, I shot High Arc Hunter (HAH) Venom 360 grain slugs from 20 yards seated behind a tripod.
This High Arc Hunter Venom 360 grain slug measure about 0.959” in length. My caliper battery is low.
The regulator is set as the rifle arrived from AOA. It appears to be set around 190 bar.
When I began shooting my Rattler Long Strike’s reservoir was reading around 230 bar.
After 5 shots the reservoir settled around 200 bar.
With the regulator set so high and to be shooting 360 grain slugs, the Rattler Long Strike appears to be pretty efficient on high pressure air usage. I calculated it to have used around 60 bar per shot. That’s really encouraging. I really appreciate this sort of efficiency.
As I loaded up the slugs, the first thing I noticed was my inability to load multiple slugs before rotating the magazine. With 360 grain HAH slugs I can only load a slug in the magazine cylinder that is centered as it relates to the loading gate base. Slugs can be easily hand loaded and seated with a finger tip. They fit snuggly within the chambers once pushed in a bit. They don’t move much. You just want the base to clear the breech block. I still need to measure these slugs with a micrometer. Once a 360 grain HAH slug is loaded, the magazine must be rotated.
Below you can see how the loading gate base impeded loading a 360 grain HAH slug in the uppermost exposed cylinder of the magazine. The cylinder below it is the only one that can be loaded before rotating the mag.
When unimpeded, l these slugs load smoothly.
They seat well by hand as seen on the photo below. In the 5 shots that I took, I did not experience any cycling issues. However, this will be something I pay attention to in the future due to my experience with the Western Rattler .357.
What I liked about paring the rifle with this Primary Arms PLx 2.5-30x48 IR FFP scope is that when I went to sight it in the elevation was pretty much on point out of the box. I only adjusted the windage a couple of times before getting towards the bullseye. The first shot hit about 2” to the right. It got dark on me and I was rushing these shots before sunset. I’m still adjusting to daylight savings. 3 touching are a good sign to keep shooting these slugs. I may have to lower the reticle a smidge via the elevation turret. Without getting an average, the shots’ velocity ranged 743 - 753 fps on my Athlon Rangecraft chronograph. That is roughly 441 - 453 FPE with these slugs and my current tune.
Keep checking in. I will continue updating this thread as I continue learning this rifle and trying different ammo.
Then I had to gently clamp the breech block because the manometer was sandwiched between one side of the vise and the breech block due to where I clamped the shroud just beyond the end of the reservoir. In hindsight I could’ve moved the two ends towards more desirable clamping points on the rifle. I honestly never had to do this on an air rifle, so it wasn’t even a thought in the moment. So if you find yourself in this position, moving the two clamping ends of the vise is an option.
As I stated in a previous post, I shot High Arc Hunter (HAH) Venom 360 grain slugs from 20 yards seated behind a tripod.
This High Arc Hunter Venom 360 grain slug measure about 0.959” in length. My caliper battery is low.
The regulator is set as the rifle arrived from AOA. It appears to be set around 190 bar.
When I began shooting my Rattler Long Strike’s reservoir was reading around 230 bar.
After 5 shots the reservoir settled around 200 bar.
With the regulator set so high and to be shooting 360 grain slugs, the Rattler Long Strike appears to be pretty efficient on high pressure air usage. I calculated it to have used around 60 bar per shot. That’s really encouraging. I really appreciate this sort of efficiency.
As I loaded up the slugs, the first thing I noticed was my inability to load multiple slugs before rotating the magazine. With 360 grain HAH slugs I can only load a slug in the magazine cylinder that is centered as it relates to the loading gate base. Slugs can be easily hand loaded and seated with a finger tip. They fit snuggly within the chambers once pushed in a bit. They don’t move much. You just want the base to clear the breech block. I still need to measure these slugs with a micrometer. Once a 360 grain HAH slug is loaded, the magazine must be rotated.
Below you can see how the loading gate base impeded loading a 360 grain HAH slug in the uppermost exposed cylinder of the magazine. The cylinder below it is the only one that can be loaded before rotating the mag.
When unimpeded, l these slugs load smoothly.
They seat well by hand as seen on the photo below. In the 5 shots that I took, I did not experience any cycling issues. However, this will be something I pay attention to in the future due to my experience with the Western Rattler .357.
What I liked about paring the rifle with this Primary Arms PLx 2.5-30x48 IR FFP scope is that when I went to sight it in the elevation was pretty much on point out of the box. I only adjusted the windage a couple of times before getting towards the bullseye. The first shot hit about 2” to the right. It got dark on me and I was rushing these shots before sunset. I’m still adjusting to daylight savings. 3 touching are a good sign to keep shooting these slugs. I may have to lower the reticle a smidge via the elevation turret. Without getting an average, the shots’ velocity ranged 743 - 753 fps on my Athlon Rangecraft chronograph. That is roughly 441 - 453 FPE with these slugs and my current tune.
Keep checking in. I will continue updating this thread as I continue learning this rifle and trying different ammo.
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