The ONLY place I managed to find that claimed to sell them, was a model shop and RFD whose website listing advertised 'Out Of Stock' for nigh on a year, I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to see that one had magically appeared in the stock display!
I was there like a shot!
From the reaction I got, even the vendor was surprised they had one. After a short wait whilst the warehouse was combed, a battered box was presented (never a good omen). Sure enough, inside the box seated in tattered polystyrene, was what looked very much like a hybrid MK2/MK3 TX200. The action is a MK3 without doubt. The stock a MK2 without the chequering. That is the only discernible difference I could make out.
Upon inspection, this gun could not be described, and certainly not be sold as, 'new'.
Marks to the underside of the stock and a shallow dent, light damage to the cheek comb, and a smidgeon of rust around the plastic plug on the underside of the baffle/barrel.
When I released the underlever, the cocking arm dropped a quarter of its travel indicating a very short spring.
Rather quickly, the seller knocked off a chunk of the price. I pretended as though I was struggling to agree and pantomimed begrudging payment.
Well, I had a rarity in my hands for sure, but it was rough. I dared not fire the thing without stripping it down but I did relent in order to gain a point of reference. The chronograph read 520fps, only 8.8ft/lbs!
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| Click to Enlarge |
I noticed that if I tilted the action left to right, the spring could be heard and felt following the pivot!
It was time to enter the belly of this beast!
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| Rather overkill, you only need probably 5 of those tools to strip a TX200/BAM B40 at most! |
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| Removing the stock revealing a typically dry spring. |
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| Along with a hint of rust throughout! |
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| Some swarf induced marks to the internals. |
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| A godawful bent and poorly finished spring. |
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| Bloody lethal in fact! |
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| The BAM B40 is an extraordinarily faithful reproduction of the Air Arms TX200. |
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| The replacement spring was not only longer, it was too long with the rifle rendered 'Spring Bound' and unable to cock. |
Thankfully, I had the required tools and know-how at my disposal to not only cut the spring down but suitably finish it. Not a procedure that requires expert knowledge, but it does demand extra tools. But that's for an article for another day.
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| Titan versus original spring. Three coils off (I'd recommend 4-5), |
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| Click To Enlarge |
Do not attempt any of this without owning a chronograph of some description. There are Combro Chronographs available for approximately £40-£50 as well as the more elaborate Skans etc.
So far, this Chinese made rifle is very very impressive to say the least. I read on another review that the author felt that if this is to be the norm of Far Eastern rifles, then Air Arms and Weihrauch should be worried. I agree, but from what I have witnessed of the latest offerings from these two airgun giants, their approach to tackle this threat has been to lower standards NOT raise them. Guns with springs as awful as this one have been reported from both houses, I've have had new Weihrauchs that have required as much finishing as Chinese rifles costing half the price! For shame!
This rifle has certainly made me question how much the TX200's price tag is really justified, especially when I see what the Americans have reported from them.
Well now we have power sorted, the next job will be to mount a scope and test the accuracy. Will this be the stumbling block?
Pellet test to follow!
Til next time my fellow addicts!
