What's So Special About The QB-7X Guns ???

I'm new to air rifles in general and ordered my first one today, a B30 in .177 cal. I saw this forum on the QB-7X guns and just wondered what was so special about this rifle to have it's own forum.

I did a little reading and know that the gun is fairly inexpensive at around $75.00 to $100.00 but what makes it unique. Is it that you can make so many modifications to it without much work ?

I'm very intrested in it bacause I like to tinker with guns and this one seems to be one that you can do a lot of tinkering with.

Thanks Bill

[IJL]

Hi Bill, well I think you have answered your own question. Inexpensive and rough around the edges "out of the box" but you can do so much with them. CO2 does have its downside in cold weather but other than that they are great and it is possible to  go PCP with them as well where I have seen over 1000 fps MV from a .22.
They are light, accurate, and easily tuned and or customised. I spent days, even weeks, tinkering until I got the standard I wanted. Or you can just take it home, clean it and shoot it, whatever floats your boat

Have a look at this thread, you can see what can be achieved with a few hours work.    

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=947&posts=18&start=1

If you want something special have a word with Mike Melick (Mikeiniowa on here) many good reports of the guns he supplies.

Ian

Ian, I read that post yesterday, that's what got me interested in the gun. That is a very nice rifle.

Is there any information on how to go about tuning a new rifle ? Can you buy the basic QB-78 and later turn it into a PCP gun or would you have to get a different model to begin with.

I'm very interested in this, any information you or anyone else could offer would help.

Thanks Bill

I was looking around on the net for information on the QB-7X rifles and noticed that Crosman makes a rifle almost identical to the QB and for about the same price. Are the two guns about the same and can you modify them the same ?

The  reson I'm asking about the Crosman is because I have had experience with their CS and it's the best.

Thanks Bill

[CharlieDaTuna]

here:   http://charliedatuna.com/CO2Information.htm  . There is a ton of info regarding mods that is available by just clicking on the tune buttons on that page. And you are right, the Crosman and the QB are quite similar in many ways and some, but not all, parts will interchange. I myself have three QB-78's and they are a good bang for the buck but are indeed a seasonal gun depending on where you live. They are very accurate, inexpensive to shoot, light with reasonable power and pretty reliable.

[ribbonstone]

Being on a QB forum, you have to expect to find QB fans. Even being as unbias as I can be, it's still a great value.  Are they perfect?...no.   Are they great guns for smeone to  tune and remodel?...yes.

Wh knows...you may be perfectly happy with it out of the box.

[IJL]

Bill, I won't comment on the Crossman as I haven't seen one but a QB78 converts to PCP very nicely. Try this link, the pic on the left.

http://www.airgunartisans.com/UKBestMods.htm

The article Charlie  (Bob) has pointed you at is the one that got me started with tuning the QBs

Thanks for the comments on Chrissy's rifle

Ian

I have found a couple of places to order a QB from, they are the same price for the untuned rifle. I see that one offers the QB in different levels of tuning, which level would you suggest for first rifle ?

If I get involved with the QB I'm pretty sure I would like to convert it to PCP sooner or later. Should I start with the PCP version or just get the basic 78 and do the work when I think I'm ready, which way is more economical ?

One other question, can you store the gun with partially used co2 cartridges or will the co2 leak out in a short period of time ?

Thanks Bill

[ribbonstone]

Two views on that...all I can tell you is that I've stored mine with co2 pressure and I've not had any problems. I will shoot the last powerlets until they show a noticable drop in velocity and store it with those in place...so it's a less than full pressure storage.

Same deal with an old Crosman Mark I pistol..seals are original and the gun still works just fine.

[IJL]

Bill, I'm assumeing you are in the USA where (As far as I know) there are no legal restrictions on airgun power, therefore for light hunting I would look at 10-12 Foot pounds as a starting point, I find it easier to turn the power up than turn it down and retain consistency. Also start with a CO2 rifle, as someone else said it may be great for you as it stands and I don't know of anyone who sells PCP converted QBs off the shelf, all mine are built to order.
As I said before Mike Melick is well worth talking to, he should be back in circulation in a few days after a family illness that has taken his time away.
Regarding storage, In our experience, if you shoot the gun every few days it does not SEEM to have an adverse effect on the seals if you store it fully charged the same does for the PCP converted version. Although I know others have different views, that seems to work for us. If you are putting it away for more than a week or two then shoot it down till the POI starts to drop. this means there is no more liquid CO2 in the tube but no air to cause rust either.

Ian

[Gene_SC]

Nice Point Ian, I have wondered about the rust factor dealing with the CO2. I have checked my QB78 out several times this fall and no apparent rust has formed. I have just one QB left now and it is a stock QB with big cartridge that screws into end of stock. I never finished using up the Co2 this summer and it is still holing pressure. I check it every week. Power is not as good in this cold weather but it still spits out the pellets just fine and not leaks or corrosion noticed.

Gene

[ribbonstone]

Crappy stuff advertized on TV tends to program us to not believe most of the tings we read from prduct makers...but Crosman Pellgunoil does work.  Will put a small drop on the end of one cartridge every 3rd or 4h loading.  Have an old MK I that's still running on it's original seals (including that pesky toggle) which may be  becasue of that periodic use of pellgunoil...or it may just be good luck.

I've an XS-78 (same as QB, but different factory I think). I tuned it following the data on Charlie's site. No chrono figures, but it went from same zero setting on sights at 10metres and 20 yards to 3 1/2 " high at 20yards, so a considerable increase in FPS. 50 full power shots on 2 cartridges (no spring packing. 12fpe limit in UK).

Main point of my post is that I used to store the gun with cartridges in and under pressure (as I still do with my RWS C225 and Alfasport target pistol), but after washing out two valves in the 78, I now shoot off all the pressure. No problem since. The valves are not expensive, just a hassle to change. For a prospective buyer, don't forget that if you load an empty cartridge first, followed by a full one, you can use one at a time if you only want to fire a couple of dozen shots.