Do Mine Eyes Decieve Me!? - A Close Up Look at the Air Arms TX200/BAM B40 .22

I have known about the BAM B40 for a fair while now and curiousity dictated that I was destined to one day own one. Especially after having spent a year shooting the fabulous TX200 MK2 and MK3 in my book : 'The Airgun Hunters Chronicles'.

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!

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!

Rather overkill, you only need probably 5 of those tools to strip a TX200/BAM B40 at most!

Removing the stock revealing a typically dry spring.

Along with a hint of rust throughout!

Some swarf induced marks to the internals.

A godawful bent and poorly finished spring.

Bloody lethal in fact!

The BAM B40 is an extraordinarily faithful reproduction of the Air Arms TX200.

The replacement spring was not only longer, it was too long with the rifle rendered 'Spring Bound' and unable to cock.

Ordinarily, I would not have chosen to employ a Non-OEM Spring, in this instance a Titan #10 Spring was the closest my local RFD had in stock. Though reasonably priced at £17.95, I would strongly urge buyers to NOT purchase these springs for their BAM B40/TX200. They are too long and if the rifle even cocks, the power warning on the packaging is a promise not an idle threat/sales ploy!
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.

Titan versus original spring. Three coils off (I'd recommend 4-5),

Click To Enlarge

She now runs smoothly at a healthier 11.8ft/lbs but I will be taking another coil or two off as even this is too close for comfort. The action will take time to bed in and most likely the power will increase over this period. I would prefer the rifle firing at 9.5-10.5ft/lbs to cater for this. If spring length became an issue, i.e. too short and rattling, a top hat and/or washers can be employed.

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!

Buying An Air Rifle at Auction

Due to restrictive legislation in the UK introduced on the 1st October 2007, the buying of even unlicensed Air Guns is limited to face to face transactions unless sold privately. In my quest to procure various examples of rifles, I have utilised nearly every available sales channel bar one. The Auction House.

Since moving home, I happen to find myself living not 5 minutes walk from a local auction establishment that, from time to time, sells firearms including sub 12 ft/lb air rifles. I had only experienced a live auction once before, but that was enough to teach me that you must do your research. If you go in blind, view the offerings, and bid you may find yourself paying more than the item is actually worth.

Webley Tracker, HW77, Air Arms s410 TDR PCP, HW80, Diana's, Lincoln Jefferies, Mk1 Airsporter, HW77k.....

It can also take a good bit of discipline not to bid on other curiosities, especially when the auctioneer starts appealing for pocket change on very interesting little peices!

Prior to the bidding, I viewed the catalogue online at home, noted items of interest, then researched a market value. Then, factoring in the buyers premium charged by the establishment, I was left with a maximum bid.
It was fascinating to see how entirely unpredictable the sale price could be. Some items far exceeding the values I attributed to them (and the auctioneers estimate) and others falling very much short.

Amongst the guns, I spotted a very fine looking full length HW77 in .22, I'd researched him and knew my maximum bid;

Of course, I got all caught up in the adrenaline and excitement and failed to stick to my maximum!

In all, there were certainly some bargains to be had, though not in the guns and firearms section as it appears I was not the only one interested in airguns that day. Thankfully, the HW77 I purchased turned out to shoot smoothly and straight, you cannot fire these guns prior to bidding so it really is a bit of luck as to what you walk away with.

If you know what you're looking for, then I urge you to get down to you're local auction house, it's fun!

Weihrauch HW77 .22 Review and Pellet Test

An in depth analysis of the legendary Weihrauch HW77. This particular gun has come from a collector and was professionally customized and modified, I believe in the 1980's, making it the fore-runner and grandfather of the later and widely renowned HW97.

After spending (investing) a rather large some of money in the leading brands of pellets, this is one of many future videos exploring which pellet is best suited to this particular air rifle.

Enjoy and thanks for watching!