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Accessories TX200 Mark III Review: Part 4

TX200 Mark III Review: Part 4

by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

TX 200 Mark III
BB’s TX200 Mark III.

Today’s lesson is about sighting-in a rifle scope. I know that scope mounting and sighting-in seems daunting, but it isn’t as hard as you might imagine. In the last report, I sighted-in at 10 feet. Because I got lucky, it took just 2 shots to sight-in the rifle; and when I finished, I told you I was ready to try the rifle at 25 yards. I said, based on the results of my 10-foot sight-in, it should be on paper at that distance (actually it would be on target at any distance between 20-35 yards, given the TX 200’s velocity), but it probably wouldn’t be exactly where I wanted it. Today, we’ll find out if that prediction is correct.

Let’s get to it
So, I set up the bench and started shooting at 25 yards. I chose H&N Baracuda Match pellets because they were the pellets I used at 10 feet. If you forget what happened during the 10-foot sight-in, you really should read that report first to appreciate what’s happened here. A quick summary would be that I guesstimated how high above the bore the center of the scope is, and shot at a dot the same distance above the desired point of impact. Aiming at the upper dot, I was trying to get the pellet as close as possible to the dot beneath, which meant the scope would be shooting to exactly the point of aim (offset by the scope and barrel centers) when all trajectory was removed from the equation.

TX 200 Mark III sight-in target shot 1
The two dots are separated by approximately the same distance as the center of the barrel and the center of the scope. Aim at the top dot and hit the bottom dot. This is the first shot. After I adjusted the scope, the second shot went through the bottom dot.

Shooting at 25 yards
The first shot at 25 yards landed slightly above and to the left of the bullseye. I then shot 4 more that moved over to the right just a little. I took the center of the larger 4-shot group as the place where the scope was really sighted, and I adjusted from there. In all it took me far less than 10 minutes to sight-in this scope, even though I spread the reports over a period of 2 weeks.

TX 200 Mark III 25-yard target first group
The first 5 shots at 25 yards landed high and to the left, with the very first shot landing farthest to the left. I took the center of the main group of 4 to be the point of impact. From there, I adjusted the scope down and to the right.

Bear in mind that I do not want to hit the dot at the exact center of the bullseye, if possible. That’s my aim point; and if I destroy it, I have to guess where to hold the crosshairs.

First group
Now that the rifle is sighted-in, I shot the first 10-shot group at 25 yards with the stock rested on my open palm, next to the triggerguard. I got a fairly good 9-shot group, but I managed to throw one shot to the left. Nine went into 0.376 inches, but that one stray shot opened the group to 0.605 inches. I was moving around too much in the artillery hold, and I could see it through the scope.

TX 200 Mark III 25-yard target second group
Nine shots in 0.376 inches isn’t bad for 25 yards, but a stray shot blew the group out to 0.605 inches.

Second group
Stability seemed to be my problem, so I slid my off hand out to where I could feel the cocking slot on my palm. The rifle seemed to rest steadier, but the group doesn’t reflect that. Ten pellets went into 0.714 inches, which is horrible for a TX200. Obviously, this wasn’t the right hold for the rifle. And just as obviously — I was having a bad day.

TX 200 Mark III 25-yard target third group
Ten shots in 0.714 inches at 25 yards is hardly something to be proud of for a TX200. It’s more of an outstanding group from a Chinese breakbarrel.

Sometimes, a disaster (okay, maybe just a small setback) contains the seeds of discovery! Since I couldn’t hold the rifle steady enough to shoot a good group on this day, could I rest it directly on the sandbag and do better? We’ve been interested in the fact that some spring guns don’t seem to need the artillery hold. I already told you the TX200 is one of them. Perhaps, this was the day to find out.

For the next group, I rested the rifle in the long vee-groove in the top of my sandbag. The bag is so long that the rifle rests there without needing a rear bag for support. It was dead-steady when I sighted this time.

The results tell the story! This time, all the shots went to the same place. The group is very round and tight, at 0.336 inches. This is clear proof that the TX200 can be bag-rested when shot, and also that the rifle is incredibly accurate. I’ve shot even better groups with it in the past; but whenever I do things right, I always get good groups with this rifle.

TX 200 Mark III 25-yard target fourth group
Shooting with the rifle rested directly on the sandbag produced the best group of the day. Ten shots went into 0.336 inches, and the group is relatively round, to boot.

Notice that in today’s test only a single type of pellet was used. That kept things simple and allowed me to look at other things without worrying about which pellet to choose.

So, we’ve learned 2 things. The first is that it’s easy to mount a scope on an air rifle and to sight it in. It doesn’t take a lot of time, nor do you need any fancy equipment. Of course, if your rifle has a drooping barrel problem there will be more to do, but these are the basics.

Second, we’ve learned that the TX200 can shoot as well or better when rested directly on a sandbag as it can with an artillery hold. That’s certainly true if you’re shaking when holding the gun.

Tomorrow is the 50-yard test, followed by a full test of a brand-new TX200 Mark III, I hope. There are some other things that can be explored with this rifle as our testbed. All in all, we have a lot of things left to do with this air rifle!

44 thoughts on “TX200 Mark III Review: Part 4”

  1. Mr. BB, Thanx, sir. Using the same MTM rest as yours, I have a micro fiber cloth wrapped around the fore stock rest and position the gun just ahead of the balance point. Tried trigger guard, balance point, cocking slot & out to the end of the forearm, both with & without the wrap. Thanx for the scope recommend on the PA website. The T-Rex has nailed a couple sub .300 groups. I’m just along for the ride! Thanx again, sir. Shoot/ride safe,
    Beaz

  2. Hello B.B. and fellow airgun addicts
    Your Air Arms TX200 Mk2 is quite the accurate rifle. You know you have something great, when you can combine striking good looks, and pin point accuracy. With each blog episode of this rifle, I find myself fumbling for my visa card. I believe I mentioned when this test started, I would be able to purchase an under 500fps model here in Canada for the first time. I’m just worried the gun won’t perform as good as a full powered model, because of being de-tuned. Any thoughts on this? I think a leap of faith just might do the trick though. Mmm, the wife visiting Peru for three weeks is also a big plus. No ridicules questions need be answered. The stars do seem to line up favourably for me at the moment. After all, interpreting the signs is determined on how badly I want this gun.
    Ciao Titus

    • Hi Titus,

      As yourself, I am enjoying these series of reports on TX200 by BB.
      And as I mentioned in the past, this is the rifle, that pushed me to obtaining my PAL licence.
      I am now just waiting for the PAL, and as soon as I will get it, I will be buying a new TX200 Mk3 PAL version.

      I live in GTA area, so if you live close by, you are welcome to come and check/shoot the rifle when I will get it. If you will get yours non-PAL version, I would be interested to check/compare it also.

      Ariel

    • Titus,

      I have never shot a gun designed for 15 foot-pounds and detuned to less than 5, but I have shot guns that were detuned to 12 foot-pounds. They had shorter strokes, cocked harder than the more powerful rifles and were smoother shooting.

      B.B.

    • Can you get anything in .25 caliber in Canada?
      Since they limit feet per second at least you’ll end up with a little better energy. BSA used to have some fairly inexpensive 25 calibers.
      Such an odd regulation.

    • I have been asking myself the same question.

      I’m very tempted, it seems like such an amasing rifle, I’ll let you buy yours first and if you like it I’ll get one too 😉

      J-F

      • I have an HW-77 and HW-30S detuned to get non-PAL status in Canada. They both shoot very accurately (they’re both considerably better than I am – not that that’s saying much!) at least at the short ranges I use – 10 meters maximum. When I finally make the effort to get my PAL I’ll probably buy a tune kit for the 77 and do a before and after comparison. Hopefully I will have the spare time to do the course and take the tests this November.

        Given how BB (and just about everyone else) raves about the TX200 I would expect the detuned version to be a bit better than my detuned 77.

  3. B.B.

    I find that last group amazing!What an incredible Gun.Sure to amaze at 50 yards as well.Yer gets yer pays for! How true! I think its far better to save ones money to buy a top quality gun like this than pinch pennies and regret later. Wish I could own a TX 200 III someday. Have followed all your articles on Scopes too & thanks a Mil. Sir for the invaluable info.

    Errol

  4. BB
    The more you report about this gun the more I want one.
    I mostly like pcp guns, pump guns and CO2 guns. Did the spring gun stuff in the past. The Nitro piston guns also.
    Sold all my spring guns to get my pcp guns and support equipment for them. Except for one. The Diana 54 Air King in .177 caliber. Luv that springer.

    I’m pretty picky when I think I want to buy something now days. I don’t feel like experimenting and making a wrong choice when I buy a gun. I want to put the money down for something I know is going to work out with out a head ache. And work for how I want to use it.
    I could tell from the begining this gun was going to be another one of those exceptional springer’s.

    And BB I still think your 10 minute sighting procedure is cool.

    I bet the gun will do just fine at 50 yards also. Cant wait for the results!

  5. There are a few sproingers that can deliver. It is that few that spoil you. My CFX would do that. I have wondered about the performance of the CFR. Also, I have been hoping to see the reviews of the Turkish and Chinese copies of the TX.

    It has taken me a while to accept that others just aren’t up to it and I have to accept them as they are. I can now actually enjoy shooting an inherently inaccurate sproinger, to a point.

    • Actually BB tested the Chinese copy vs. the original TX a few years
      ago. And lo and behold the China copy beat the original in the
      accuracy department 🙂 Don’t believe the high price hype 😉

    • Actually BB tested the Chinese copy vs. the original TX a few years
      ago. And lo and behold the China copy beat the original in the
      accuracy department 🙂
      It should not have happened. What an embarrassing moment.
      How do they win so many gold in the olympics?
      Don’t believe the high price hype 😉

      • I was thinking of the new Crosman Mav77. I looked at the BAM a while back. In fact it was probably the very one BB used in his test. He was selling it at the show. I just did not see enough quality there for me to get it. With Crosman overseeing the production of the Mav, MAYBE the quality will at least be on par with the Marauder, Discovery, etc.

        • RR,

          The MAV 77 will look exactly like the Chinese rifle I tested. They won’t change much, if anything, because they have the production down pat. And what you saw probably was the rifle I tested, because I sold that at Roanoke several years ago.

          B.B,.

  6. B.B.

    Good shooter there. Does it always like those heavy pellets ?

    Hope you don’t have the wobbles too often. I have a side to side nearly all the time unless I can get up against something.

    twotalon

  7. Try this with the TX….bench rest the rifle, place a pellet skirt side down on a flat part of the rifle, scope or scope mounts. Shoot the gun. The pellet will not move. The gun shoots THAT smoothly.

  8. BB
    I have the impression that, when shooting off sandbags, my TX does better when rested near the end of the forearm than when rested near the trigger guard. Can you thus make comparison groups with the new TX200 please.

    TE

  9. This report frames a tip I wish to share nicely.When I need to change out a scope on a rifle to a different one,I first make a reference card with my short indoor range.I mark a dot on the upper target,then shoot it.Once the new scope is mounted I use a new card that I mark using a push pin thru the aimpoint,…..then a marker through the pellet hole.It took much longer to type this than to create the card.I now have a target to get really close to my original zero with the new scope.(note:this will be a little off if the new scope objective is different or the mount height changes)

  10. I gotta say, either I’ve been lucky…or I’m going to be making some extra easy cash when I retire.
    We have a total of seven scoped rifles now, all purchased within the last four years.
    Five PD and two air rifles.
    All have been scoped and zeroed within the first 10-15 minutes at the range, all using essentially the steps described here.
    Everytime one of my friends tells me (or I see someone in my local gunshop) they have purchased a new gun and paid the $75 to have it boresighted so it’s ‘ready to shoot’ I can’t help but want to tell them, ‘please, next time bring it to me, I’ll charge you 1/2 what you just paid’.
    But of course I keep my mouth shut because so many feel that sighting in a scope is some mysterious art.
    OFF TOPIC…air guns are so inexpensive to shoot. (duh!!)
    Was reading an article in the latest ‘Tactical Weapons’, a test of a rifle shooting the .375 CheyTac.
    $12 a round!!
    $12!!!!!
    In the test they shot two boxes of 20 rounds…sighting in at 100yds, then 300yds and then took it out to 800yds.
    Total cost for an afternoon shooting…$500!!!
    Only a little less than the price of this TX200.
    YIKES!!!

    • CBSD

      $75 to bore sight and it’s ready to go ? Sounds like a good way to gut shoot a deer.
      Then again, some people think that sights are already zeroed straight out of the box.

      twotalon

    • $75 to boresight a gun is giving money away. Even I know how to boresight a gun. You could probably buy one of those laser boresighters for no more than that.

      I’ve seen some ridiculous ammo prices, but that $12 per round takes the cake. I’ve wondered what these people do with their .338 magnums and .50 caliber Desert Eagle pistols. There is a range officer at my club who still has not processed my Anschutz. Too much to pay for a .22 LR, he says. On the country. I get a lifetime’s worth of Olympic-level shooting. With a Tubb 2000, I would run out of money much faster. And as your quality goes down for your high caliber gun, your shooting results will too while you continue to hemorrhage money.

      And then there are airguns…:-)

      Matt61

      • Matt, the funny statement (at least to me) in the magazine article was how at $12/rd this made it affordable to shoot compared to the .416 CheyTac or the .50BMG.
        I read that and thought, if $500 for an afternoons shooting is ‘affordable’…we definitely aren’t in the same income bracket 😉

    • Wow! All hobbies can be expensive, but maybe us airgunners just have a little more common sense, LOL. Let’s pat ourselves on the back (but please don’t take a count on the number of airguns under any one roof.)
      Lloyd-ss

  11. I bought a new TX200 MK111 walnut put a Hawk 8-32 x56AO sidewinder, BKL high 2 piece 30mm mounts, I had some barrel droop so I put in a .020 shim in rear mount which put my scope vertical adjustment in the middle where B.B. likes it. Wonder if others have had barrel droop in this gun also. By the way had to do the same thing for my friends RWS 54 Air King.

        • MWC
          I have looked through a few scopes turned up on the higher powers.
          And I really don’t care to much for the view. As the power goes up It seems to me there is a illusion that I’m off target farther than I really am if I’m checking a group or something through the scope.

          I mostly use the higher magnifications to I identify what I’m shooting at. Our like I said to check out a group if needed. Then I will turn the power back down on the magnification before I take a shot.

          • I shot the gun some more today at 50 yds. at 32 power on the scope and with parallex and eye focus adjusted the view is just a little haze like a film on the lense, wonder if I should have bought a UTG scope that goes up to 32 power or do I just have bad scope from Hawk?

            • MWC
              I have UTG scopes as well as the Hawke scopes. I have other brand scopes also. But this is my opinion so don’t go by it until you try other scopes or talk to somebody that has looked through different scopes that you trust.

              I have 5 Hawke scopes right now. Just recently got the highest power one of them all.
              Put it on a .17 hmr rifle. I shoot this gun out to a average of 100 to 150 yards out. Sometimes out to 200 yards plinking cans. ( yes I said plinking at 200 yards )
              The highest I have turned up the magnification has been 16 power. And pretty much all the scopes I have don’t go over 500 dollars. So there is better scopes out there than what I have.

              From what I have seen scopes do get that haze depending on light condition of where you are at verses where the target is at. Probably the best location in relation to the target that I have found is when the sun is behind you shining on the target and the sun is directly at your back. That will give you a little better idea about your scope.

              I guess one question though. Why 32 power at 50 yards? You could see up a squirrels nose at that power setting if the lighting is right. Try turning the power down to 10 or 12 and see what things look like. If you still think you need the higher power then go up until you see the haze for what your condition is at that time. Then back the power down a little till it clears up.

    • MichiganWestCoast,

      All Diana/RWS 54’s I have owned and have heard of have droop.

      For this reason this is the best aftermarket accessory for those guns that are pre TO6 triggers:

      /product/utg-scope-mount-base-fits-rws-diana-48-52-54-460-magnum-with-to5?a=2297

      kevin

  12. I’m with Elmer Keith in not being quite able to shoot elsewhere than my aimpoint. It freaks me out. I can manage the six o’clock hold with a military post and iron sights, but not dialing myself around with a scope.

    So, have we proven that the TX200 can shoot as well from a bag as the artillery hold or that the bag can beat the artillery hold on a bad day?

    Slinging Lead, okay, the Scots background explains everything. I must say that while traveling, I found that the Scots were the nicest and most pleasant people in the UK, and just about in all of Europe as well. The British were nice but cool and reserved. The Irish could be ebullient but also flinty and edgy. The Scots were very fun and genuine. The only departure was while watching a World Cup soccer game between Britain and Germany. How the Scots rejoiced when the Germans won!

    So, do you agree with the line in the film Chariots of Fire where a Scottish preacher says to Eric Liddell: “I’m fast coming to the belief that God’s a Scot. He’s generous with this gifts but shrewd with them too. He would not give you all that speed just to catch a bus.” Anyway, reason enough to shoot the TX200 and not let that quality go to waste. Just try out an Enfield No. 4, and you will be completely converted. Through extensive dry-firing, I’m getting into the genius of that rifle. Originally, I objected to the tiny, narrow front post. But now, rather than attempting the conventional six o’clock hold, I pin the little sight on the target and work the bolt in rapid-fire, and everything comes together! Sublime! To paraphrase the Brits, “You can see what you like about me, but by heaven don’t insult my [Lee-Enfield].”

    Matt61

    • Matt61

      I am fairly confident that God is in fact a Scot. It would certainly account for his cruel sense of humor.

      I would love to to try out your Enfield (or the Mosin Nagant, or the Garand, or the Mauser.) It is a shame you live in California and not out in the country somewhere so that you could get some real trigger time with those pieces of history.

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