Alright, just wanted to update the thread after I finally had a chance to put this thing through it's paces. This isn't a full review or anything, but I just wanted to kinda' touch on some highlights, or lowlights, as the case may be w/the gun right out of the box. The gun is very solid (i.e. heavy) and I'm guessing it weighs in the neighborhood of 8-9lbs. unscoped. (The 6.6lbs. listed in the specs. must be for the synthetic stock version 'cuz this sucker is heavy!) Overall, the stock and checkering are decent although it has a strange finish that almost has a plastic-like appearance to it...but not unpleasant once you get used to it. The blueing is just fair...being lighter and not as even as some of my other AG's. The open sights are adequate, but I almost immediately installed the 3X7 scope that it came with, and yanked the open sights off-as I prefer that look. :emoticon:
Now, the cocking & loading process... The barrel opens w/a sharp snap of your palm (lock up is tight and to be expected on a new springer), and it requires a fair amount of force to fully cock it which again is to be expected of a gun of this size and reported power. The cocking cycle also gets a bit gritty towards the bottom of the stroke. As previously mentioned I was absolutely unable to even load a pellet before I chamfered the breech slightly-this was a bit concerning although I believe that I even had to do this on my BSA Lightning.
Trigger and firing next... The single stage trigger I believe is spec'd as having a 9lb. pull, and it's every bit of that w/alot of travel before the pellet is finally on it's way. (This is one area where I feel that there is definitely room for improvement, and it makes it impossible to really consider this thing for any type of serious paper punching/hunting until something is done in this area.) When the gun finally fires there isn't hardly any 'twang' (surprisingly) or twist to it at all...it just gives a you a fair jolt rearward, and the report is about avg. for a gun of this power. Now, as far as the power, I don't actually have a chrony but I can tell you that it stacks right up there w/my other magnum springers. I believe I mentioned earlier that I fired it into the same phone book w/a couple of my other magnums and it penetrated about half way through a pretty good size phone book. I did also fire it at some targets in my basement at a range of about 10yds., and despite the crummy trigger, was still able to pretty much shoot ragged one-hole groups...so the potential is there!:)
So, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it! I'll let you all decide for yourselves how this Chinese version stacks up against the Hatsan version...and other springers. Keep in mind that I did only pay about $80 for it, and I believe (as w/most AG) that w/a little luv it could probably be made into a nice little (I mean big) field hunting rig which was my primary reason for buying it.
Cheers!! :emoticon:
