Ghost How Consistent/Capable Is Your Ghost?

[Billm]

Reg was at 140 bar before going outside. It dropped to 135 bar before first shot, 130 bar after first shot. There is a15-20f temp drop going outside.

 

[Solo1]

I think its the lube thats in there that helps this slow shot to happen.

 

[ARW]

I use my .22 Ghost HP strictly for hunting and to compensate for the slower first shot I adjust the power wheel up one to two numbers. I also have the FX chronograph attached to the side picatinny rail and try to use it with my phone for just about every shot when possible.
This has worked out really well for me as I sometimes hunt in very cold temps.

 

[Franklink]

I think its the lube thats in there that helps this slow shot to happen.

AOA suggested a very specific lube in the atmospheric chamber of the valve to mitigate the slow cold shot(s). I tried it with a conservative amount. I tried it with a liberal amount. I tried it with none.

Still had slow cold shots.

The FX Impact valve stem that the Ghost's is largely a copy of, also have this slow cold shot.

The Ghost has enough other merits that the slow cold shot is not a deal breaker. I simply chose to stop shooting my Ghosts for sub20fpe field target. Since that low fpe is where the valve stem stiction is the biggest problem.

This isn't me trying to smear the Ghost or denigrate it in any way. It is simply an inherent part of owning/using a Ghost. Sharing facts here, not passing judgment.

 

[Billm]

AOA suggested a very specific lube in the atmospheric chamber of the valve to mitigate the slow cold shot(s). I tried it with a conservative amount. I tried it with a liberal amount. I tried it with none.

Still had slow cold shots.

The FX Impact valve stem that the Ghost's is largely a copy of, also have this slow cold shot.

The Ghost has enough other merits that the slow cold shot is not a deal breaker. I simply chose to stop shooting my Ghosts for sub20fpe field target. Since that low fpe is where the valve stem stiction is the biggest problem.

This isn't me trying to smear the Ghost or denigrate it in anyway. It is simply an inherent part of owning/using a Ghost. Sharing facts here, not passing judgment.

I like the discussion and hearing everyone’s experiences/insight.

 

[duchunter007]

I just went out and shot a shotgun pattern of five pellets - too windy to shoot groups. But I wanted to see what the first few shots were like. My reg is set at 130 bar, but rises to 140 bar in the house. I let it sit outside for 15 mins and let the reg drop to about 135 bar. Now I would expect that extra reg pressure to increase the velocity, it did not. I also pulled the Chrono results from a couple of sessions. The first shot is always a little lower. Ghost HP .25 130 bar, 5% tune, AEA 29.5gr pellets.

Billm, one thing I noticed as you shot more your STD number kept dropping, started at 4.4 and dropped to 2.4, getting things warmed up does help. Also, the spread got better.

 

[duchunter007]

My Ghost seems slow for the first and second shot, when I last checked, but I will have to Chrono next time I am out shooting, I usually shot a few shots before setting up to shoot.

 

[Luis Leon]

@Billm, haven’t really seriously tried for groups at 50 or 100 yards. My Ghost Carbine has been my least used BRK. That’s about to change, am planning a trip to a 100 yard indoor range next weekend. Will put my Ghost to the test at 50 and 100 yards. I will post up what I can do with mine under optimal indoor conditions… Thank you for the inspiration…

 

[Billm]

@Billm, haven’t really seriously tried for groups at 50 or 100 yards. My Ghost Carbine has been my least used BRK. That’s about to change, am planning a trip to a 100 yard indoor range next weekend. Will put my Ghost to the test at 50 and 100 yards. I will post up what I can do with mine under optimal indoor conditions… Thank you for the inspiration…

That’s awesome Luis. I look forward to seeing your results.

 

[Billm]

I hate when I look back at one of my posts and realize it could’ve been worded better. My statement: “sub-MOA groups at 50yds don’t mean a whole lot.” wasn’t meant to denigrate anyone’s groups at 50yds and less. Shooting tight groups at any range takes skill and is both fun and commendable. I believe that most well tuned PCP rifles should be physically capable of small/tight groups under 50yds. My limited experience leads me to believe that at around 75yds, the difference in barrels, tuning, etc. seem to really show up.

 

[007]

I’ve been shooting my BRK Ghost a lot lately. The more familiar I am with it, the more I’ve come to appreciate how capable and consistent it is. I’ve always liked it, but I thought that I needed a custom barrel for it to shoot sub-MOA. That is just not the case. With some tuning and polishing I believe it’s very accurate and is so consistently. With a better shooter and no to little wind I’m pretty sure the ghost HP is capable of shooting sub-MOA at 100yds on a day in, day out basis. My only real point is that it is hunting capable out to 100yds, box stock. For $2200-$2400 it should be. I don’t know anything about the history of my Ghost, as I bought it used from AOA. The accuracy of my rifle seemed to improve with five things:
1, polished the barrel.
2. Lowered the reg pressure to approximately 130 bar
3. Switched to AEA pellets
4. Adjusted the hammer spring for more efficiency.
Feel free to add some of your groups and comments about your accuracy/consistency. It’s not meant as a ‘flex” thread. It’s a fair assumption that most members of this forum are good shooters.

Thanks for posting this, Bill.

Strongly considering the Ghost and constantly reading the thoughts and opinions of those with experience and knowledge of the platform.

To that end, how often do you guys find you need to polish the barrel? I know that barrel fouling seems to be a frequent topic in the forums. It also seems that polishing and lubing (for Mrds at least) results in significant improvement.

Bill, or anyone else kind enough to reply, is this the current consensus? If you lose the barrel lottery, is the "remedy" reasonably attainable?

 

[Solo1]

Polishing the barrel issues really a1-2-3 maybe when you first get it and it also depends on the piticular barrel. But once you get it shooting to a level that your happy with thats it. You will then hopefully enjoy longer cleaning intervals and better accuracy. It not like you have to go back and polish again

 

[Billm]

Polishing my barrel made a world of difference. At least that’s what I believe and that works for me lol. I’m not as experienced as these other guys with the ghost. I do believe that I shoot more often than the average shooter. Like @Solo1 stated that other than the initial polishings, you really only need basic cleaning after that. I have literally fired more than six hundred pellets since the last cleaning. But, I’m wondering if it needs cleaning now. I’m very happy with the accuracy of my Ghost with pellets. I managed to only shoot a group of 3 and a group of 7 today because of a bad storm and wasn’t real happy. But, it might be my scope, it’s digital and washes out when the sun is low.

 

[007]

Polishing the barrel issues really a1-2-3 maybe when you first get it and it also depends on the piticular barrel. But once you get it shooting to a level that your happy with thats it. You will then hopefully enjoy longer cleaning intervals and better accuracy. It not like you have to go back and polish again

Thanks @Solo1

 

[007]

Polishing my barrel made a world of difference. At least that’s what I believe and that works for me lol. I’m not as experienced as these other guys with the ghost. I do believe that I shoot more often than the average shooter. Like @Solo1 stated that other than the initial polishings, you really only need basic cleaning after that. I have literally fired more than six hundred pellets since the last cleaning. But, I’m wondering if it needs cleaning now. I’m very happy with the accuracy of my Ghost with pellets. I managed to only shoot a group of 3 and a group of 7 today because of a bad storm and wasn’t real happy. But, it might be my scope, it’s digital and washes out when the sun is low.

Thanks for your reply Bill. Knowing that the initial polishings seems to result in only needing basic cleaning after that is comforting.

 

[007]

Along these lines, do you guys think AoA custom tunes, specifically the polishing and machine lapping, is worth it in general and specifically for the Ghost? I realize that I'm speaking mostly to DIYers when ask this. But still, I am interested in your thoughts.

 

[Solo1]

Along these lines, do you guys think AoA custom tunes, specifically the polishing and machine lapping, is worth it in general and specifically for the Ghost? I realize that I'm speaking mostly to DIYers when ask this. But still, I am interested in your thoughts.

Personally id do it myself its not that hard and ive seen some of their work

 

[Solo1]

Along these lines, do you guys think AoA custom tunes, specifically the polishing and machine lapping, is worth it in general and specifically for the Ghost? I realize that I'm speaking mostly to DIYers when ask this. But still, I am interested in your thoughts.

You need jb bore bright and 1/2 dozen bore mops. Push a pellet through noting tight or rough spots work those first 20-30 strokes do full barrel 20-30 strokes clean and shoot if it starts acting up quickly hit it again after that you should be good. Basically all your doing is removing small imperfections that collect lead like sanding with 1500.

 

[Solo1]

You can get bore mops and jb on amazon

 

[Danman]

Well im glad im not the only one with crappy first shots out of my Ghost. My only other aigun that does that? My TX200! Its so predictable its comical, the first shot WILL BE 2inches low 100% of the time @ 30Y, everytime i pull it out i think, should i just hold it 2 inches high? Nah let em fall where they may. The 2nd shot usually is as well and then from there its a lazer (for a springer lol).
My Ghosts first 5-10 shot group is always miserable, but then it settles in nicely, my last 100Y group was 1.5inches with Mrds i was over the moon! I was really hoping to post my groups here but she had a hissy-fit today.
There is an electronic pcp (dont quote me but I think its one of the Skout models?) that bumps the voltage/power up on that first shot to compensate for this. As @Franklink/Solo1 mentioned it is the nature of the beast (Cold Lube/stiction/friction) not a Ghost only problem at all.
I have taken tons of pests with the ghost while or shortly after shooting groups well past 50 yards. Inside 50Y that first shot isnt so important unless your after a sparrow or a mouse.....with 53fpe