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26 May, 2010

Archer Airguns XP Tune Kit in CAR 78a Carbine


We've had several emails about the performance of our CAR78a carbine with the Archer Airguns "XP" Tune Kit, so it seems a good idea to publish this post with some details.

- A standard QB78 in .177 typically shoots about 600fps at 65 degrees F.
- The shortened barrel of the carbine reduces this to about 560fps.
- Replacing the breech seal (which I do as standard in the newer carbines) raises muzzle velocity back up to around 600fps.
- Adding the XP bolt increases the muzzle velocity to around 650fps at 65 Degrees F.

These muzzle velocities are all as shot at about65 degrees F with heavy wadcutter pellets. Shooting lighter, pointed, pellets will raise the muzzle velocity. And, like all CO2 guns, shooting in warmer temperatures will increase muzzle velocity. In the case of the QB78 family air rifles, this increase is about 2fps per degree F. So, shooting heavy, wadcutter pellets at 85 degrees F, a CAR78a will give about 700fps in .77 caliber.

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19 May, 2010

New, Free eBook on Stoeger X10, X20 and X50 Air Rifles

Book of the Stoeger X10, X20, X50 v1.0

As we've received many requests for information on the Stoeger X10, X20 and X50 air rifles, I've brought together much of the information we have in a free eBook. You can view this book here or download it as a PDF file if you wish.

Our Stoeger air rifles eBook provides much test and review information, with specifications, muzzle velocity test data and pellet-testing results. There are many test targets here and this book will give you a real idea of what these new air rifles are like - and if they will suit you!

If you have any suggestions for additional content in the book, please let me know so that I can try to incorporate it in version two!!!

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15 May, 2010

How to Remove a "Tough" QB78 Airgun Bolt Handle.

Over the past few years, Archer Airguns has sold thousands of our Oversize Bolt Handles for the QB78 family. And we're already moving into the hundreds of sales for our QB78 Family XP Tune Kit that require the bolt handle to be removed as part of the installation.

Over all those bolt handles, there have been very, very few cases where it has not been possible to remove the existing factory bolt handle quite easily once the setscrew has been removed. But, there's always an exception! And interestingly, each of these few bolt handles that have been tough to remove have been on Q78 Deluxe air rifles. Maybe there were a few oversize "gold" bolt handles in one production batch - and undoubtedly the factory folk never expected to find us shooters removing them to replace with an Oversize Handle or to install a Tune Kit!

So what should you do with a hard-to-extract QB78 bolt handle? The photo below shows how. Remove the breech assembly and clamp the bolt handle in the padded jaws of a vice. Now wriggle and pull a little and the bolt handle will come out.

It's worked every time so far!

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08 May, 2010

Industry Brand Rear Field Sight on Crosman 1377 Pistol

Guest post from "My customer Craig".

As you may know, mounting an Industry Brand Rear Field Sight on the steel breech of a Crosman 1377 pistol results in a sight too high to be adjusted down to the target.

However, this "fix" gives great results for practically no money!



You simply (carefully) drill a 1/16-in hold straight down into the Crosman front sight and then insert a small piece of nail cut to length into the hole. Trial and error will allow adjusting elevation of the new set-up and the result is a pin-point sight arrangement that I find much better than stock Crosman plastic sights.

These photos show details.




Craig, thanks for sharing your project with us!

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06 May, 2010

Stoeger X50 First Test Results


Here are the results from Archer Airguns first "Gold Service" test of a customer's Stoeger X50 air rifle. This is an excellent airgun and it was a pleasure to ship such a nice air rifle to our first X50 customer!

Standard "Gold Service" testing conditions: indoors, 10 shots at 10 yards range, muzzle velocity, accuracy and trigger pull tested.
- Average muzzle velocity 1,100.5 fps with 7.93 Grain Crosman Premier Light pellets.
- Standard deviation 5.38 fps.
- Muzzle energy 21.33 ft/lbs.
- Group size 0.5-in vertical, 0.75-in horizontal, CTC.
- Trigger pull weight 4lbs 0oz

My impressions are as follows:
- Muzzle velocity matches the claimed 1,200 fps with lead pellets fairly well.
- Accuracy is better than I can shoot it! Twice I put successive pellets through the same hole, but I'm not a good springer shot (not consistent enough) and my group drifted out horizontally as I shot. I'm sure the customer will do better than me!
- Dieseling was almost completely absent. Shot-to-shot consistency (Standard Deviation) was very good for a springer at 5.38 fps over 10 shots before the gun is broken-in - that's average consistency for a QB78, for example.
- Trigger pull was much lighter than expected. In fact I double-checked the reading to be sure.
- This is a BIG air rifle! I'm 6-ft 2-in tall and I had to stretch to break the barrel.
- Scope is fine and I obtained a good cheek weld against the Monte Carlo-style stock comb.
- Operation was smooth and good.
- Surprisingly comfortable to shoot for such a large air rifle.

The scope is pre-mounted and quite well sighted on target - certainly shootable out of the box with only minor sighting-in required for personal vision and pellet combinations.

I'm impressed with what I've experienced of the Stoeger X10, X20 and X50 air rifles so far!

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02 May, 2010

Hot-Rodding QB78 Family Air Rifles

Post by Ron Robinson:

Sweet as the Chinese QB78 family CO2 air rifles – the QB78, QB79 and AR2078 etc - are in stock form, they are equally sweet platforms for all manner of customizations. Their modest price-tags minimize the angst of defacing an expensive piece in the quest for “personalization”, while the end result of even simple modifications can be incredibly gratifying. Thankfully Archer Airguns offers many of the parts and accessories necessary to get one well on one’s way.

As in any hot-rodding, simple modifications can return satisfying performance increases. For shooters of the Chinese QB78 family CO2 rifles, the most “bang for the buck” is the Archer Airguns XP tune kit. Requiring minimal mechanical skills, the XP kit is the closest thing to simple, bolt-on horse-power. A small expenditure and simple installation will return gratifying power increases.

For more serious power-freaks, there are modifications akin to turbo-charging these Chinese CO2 rifles. Converting a QB or AR series CO2 rifle to high-pressure air, at pressures safe for the design, completely transforms the personality of an unpretentious plinker… into something of a beast! At temperatures of 90-100 degrees F., Co2 pressures exceed 1,200 PSI, at which point some Co2 guns will display symptoms of “valve-lock” by shooting less powerfully, or not at all. Employing a 3,000 PSI air bottle REGULATED TO NO MORE THAN 1,250 PSI OUTPUT on an AR-series rifle insures the gun receives pressures no higher than it would on Co2. Utilizing an appropriate burst-disc on the output side of the regulator (say 1,800 PSI) insures against catastrophe in the event of regulator failure.

While a stock .177 QB or AR moseys along at 8-10 foot pounds of muzzle energy, and modified examples may aspire to 12 foot-pounds on CO2, the same rifles operating on air can easily attain 14-15 foot-pounds. Hopped-up further, a .177 can approach 20 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, and a .22 can push 25 foot-pounds! It is entirely possible to double the power of the Chinese CO2 rifles.

In stock form, my own QB77 Deluxe maxed-out at about 9-10 foot-pounds on CO2. However, after several modifications and evolutions (into an AR bulk-tank gun), she now produces 17+ foot-pounds at a regulated 1,250 PSI (from a 3,000 PSI air bottle). Granted, such performance did not come from simple bolt-on modifications; however the tinkering, testing, and trial-and-error involved was a great learning experience that produced a rifle competitive against the finest field-target rifles in the world. Averaging just over one-half-inch groups at fifty yards, thankfully my baby lost none of her endearing qualities in the evolution from modest plinker to “spoiler” field-target rifle.

You’ve come a long way, Baby!

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About This Blog

This blog shares information, ideas and knowledge about air rifles. It compliments the information Stephen publishes on the Archer Airguns website, on YouTube and the Chinese Airgun Forum.

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