Impact Impact M4 - would like to secure a sub-12 version in the States

[jps2486]

I spent all of October 2023 adjusting this .177 M3 Standard Version to shoot the tightest groups possible.

Here was my process:

1. Purchased from Pyramyd Air one tin each of every weight diabolo wad cutter and round nose pellet available from 7.0 grains to 10.3 grains. If a pellet of different diameters existed for the same pellet and weight, I purchased 1 tin of each size available.

2. Left the first regulator at factory setting and adjusted the 2nd regulator to the mid point of the hi/lo range stated in the manual.

3. Set the Air Valve (AV) to 1, the Macro (MA) to 1, and the Micro (MI) to 1.

4. Shot two 5 round groups for each tin of pellets, indoors at 20 yards using a TargetShooting.com 1000LP rest.

5. Repeated step 4 with AV at 2.5, MA at 8, and MI at 3

6. Repeated step 4 with AV at 4, MA at 16, and MI at 5

7. Preliminary Results: One 7.0 grain wad cutter and one 9.57 grain round nose of a specific size grouped the best of all the pellets in steps 4, 5 and 6. The others produced large groups. There was NO vertical stacking so a harmonic tuner would be of no use for this barrel - pellet combinations.

8. Set the AV to 2.5, MA to 1, and MI to 1.

9. Shot two 10 round groups each for the 7.0 and 9.57 grain pellets. 1MOA at 20 yards is 0.2094", was looking for a tune that produced a 10 round group of < 0.2" edge to edge.

10. increased MI 2 clicks and repeated step 9.

11. Repeated step 10 until group size was < 0.2" (0.199" to 0.195") E to E.

12. Settings for 9.57 grain round nose diabolo: AV = 2.5, MA = 1, MI = 2.3. For 7.0 Wad Cutter diabolo: AV = 2.5, MA = 1.0, MI =1.3.

13. Attached FX Pocket Chrono via FX Chrono attachment rod and shot one 10 round group for each pellet - setting combination, then increased the AV 1/2 turn and repeated the process until the AV was at three. Velocity increased, FPE increased but group size was not changing and remained < 0.2" E to E.

14. Decided < 12 FPE would be interesting, so final setting was based on the 9.57 Round Nose so I could shoot 20 yards sub MOA indoors and outdoors. Final setting: AV=2.5, MA=1.0, MI=2.1.

5 round Group size, when using bipod and right shoulder, has been consistently below 0.2" E to E at 20 yards indoors when I am in the zone. My best to date is 0.191" E to E. The rifle is super quiet and super smooth to shoot. Looking forward to finding out what an Impact actually built to be sub FAC <12 FPE can do!!!!!!!

I'm glad it's working out for you. Here's a 20 shot group at 10M with my Air Arms HFT500 which is <12 FPE. This rifle is right out of the box wih no tuning.

 

[Troy Bakel]

When looking for a non FAC .177 caliber Impact in the US, I contacted various FX dealers in the US, including Utah Air Guns. Everyone I contacted were helpful in my quest and directed me to specific contacts in the UK.

Those in the UK had the rifle I am looking for but not the correct export license, as such, each UK contact directed me to contacts in Europe.

The contacts in Europe each had the rifle but not the correct export licence and each advised me to open a support request ticket with FX Sweden and advised me to inform FX Sweden that I had indeed searched their dealership network and was not trying to bypass that network.

Within 1 business day FX Sweden contacted me with a ticket number delineating the process to special order the rifle through Utah Air.

FX supports their dealerships and their dealerships support their customers.

Overall I am greatly satisfied!

 

[Danman]

I'm wondering @Troy Bakel ....is the sub12 shipped with a smaller plenum then?! That to me would be a problem running the HP to Sub 12 or less. You can detune everything and get there as you did but a smaller plenum (not 72cc!) would work better, could keep reg a bit higher maybe and use more pressure and less volume to send that little .177 pellet! In the end I'd guess a happier gun and more air efficient. Do you plan to run both Impacts for a bit against each other? I for one would be interested! Thanks.

 

[Troy Bakel]

I'm wondering @Troy Bakel ....is the sub12 shipped with a smaller plenum then?! That to me would be a problem running the HP to Sub 12 or less. You can detune everything and get there as you did but a smaller plenum (not 72cc!) would work better, could keep reg a bit higher maybe and use more pressure and less volume to send that little .177 pellet! In the end I'd guess a happier gun and more air efficient. Do you plan to run both Impacts for a bit against each other? I for one would be interested! Thanks.

The UK NON FAC version has a very small plenum, the air valve is non adjustable, the regulator is non adjustable, no Micro adjuster, just a Macro Adjuster.

I will compare the two indoors this winter, then the US Impact is going to </= 20 FPE.

Will post during the process.

 

[Danman]

The UK NON FAC version has a very small plenum, the air valve is non adjustable, the regulator is non adjustable, no Micro adjuster, just a Macro Adjuster.

Nice! I've posted on Ham somewhere but I was looking at the Impact M3 myself for my main pesting gun. It was bc of the massive adjustments (and o-ring count!) that scared me away ultimately and I went for Brk. The M4 with only 1 reg is a step in the right direction imo. All the best with the pair!

 

[rsfrid]

I spent all of October 2023 adjusting this .177 M3 Standard Version to shoot the tightest groups possible.

Here was my process:

1. Purchased from Pyramyd Air one tin each of every weight diabolo wad cutter and round nose pellet available from 7.0 grains to 10.3 grains. If a pellet of different diameters existed for the same pellet and weight, I purchased 1 tin of each size available.

2. Left the first regulator at factory setting and adjusted the 2nd regulator to the mid point of the hi/lo range stated in the manual.

3. Set the Air Valve (AV) to 1, the Macro (MA) to 1, and the Micro (MI) to 1.

4. Shot two 5 round groups for each tin of pellets, indoors at 20 yards using a TargetShooting.com 1000LP rest.

5. Repeated step 4 with AV at 2.5, MA at 8, and MI at 3

6. Repeated step 4 with AV at 4, MA at 16, and MI at 5

7. Preliminary Results: One 7.0 grain wad cutter and one 9.57 grain round nose of a specific size grouped the best of all the pellets in steps 4, 5 and 6. The others produced large groups. There was NO vertical stacking so a harmonic tuner would be of no use for this barrel - pellet combinations.

8. Set the AV to 2.5, MA to 1, and MI to 1.

9. Shot two 10 round groups each for the 7.0 and 9.57 grain pellets. 1MOA at 20 yards is 0.2094", was looking for a tune that produced a 10 round group of < 0.2" edge to edge.

10. increased MI 2 clicks and repeated step 9.

11. Repeated step 10 until group size was < 0.2" (0.199" to 0.195") E to E.

12. Settings for 9.57 grain round nose diabolo: AV = 2.5, MA = 1, MI = 2.3. For 7.0 Wad Cutter diabolo: AV = 2.5, MA = 1.0, MI =1.3.

13. Attached FX Pocket Chrono via FX Chrono attachment rod and shot one 10 round group for each pellet - setting combination, then increased the AV 1/2 turn and repeated the process until the AV was at three. Velocity increased, FPE increased but group size was not changing and remained < 0.2" E to E.

14. Decided < 12 FPE would be interesting, so final setting was based on the 9.57 Round Nose so I could shoot 20 yards sub MOA indoors and outdoors. Final setting: AV=2.5, MA=1.0, MI=2.1.

5 round Group size, when using bipod and right shoulder, has been consistently below 0.2" E to E at 20 yards indoors when I am in the zone. My best to date is 0.191" E to E. The rifle is super quiet and super smooth to shoot. Looking forward to finding out what an Impact actually built to be sub FAC <12 FPE can do!!!!!!!

I like where this is going. I am amazed at those that think such small groups are a piece of cake at 20 yards indoors"Why not spend your time shooting 100 yards and 2” groups?" .2” is nothing to sneeze at - way harder than it sounds. Everything has to come together to accomplish such groups and to do it repeatedly is even harder. Keep at it Troy, you'll set a record yet!