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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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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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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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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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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