by B.B. Pelletier
Initial sight-in was at 10 feet.
Today, we’ll look at velocity and noise levels, plus I will comment on everything else that I noticed while working with this air rifle. A few of you are thinking about buying an S410 sidelever, and I hope my report helps you make your decision, whatever it might be.
S410 is a big, light rifle
The stock is very full and generous, yet it doesn’t feel like lumber when you hold it. Some air rifles feel very large when you hold them in the shooting position. The Webley Patriot, for instance, makes me feel like a 14-year-old holding his father’s 12-gauge. It’s just a trifle too large for me. But the S410, while having a thick wooden stock, is rounded in all the rifle places and feels very comfortable.
The rifle is also deceptively lightweight. When you think about it, it’s mostly air, isn’t it? With a Swift 6-18x scope mounted, my test rifle weighs 9 lbs., 2 ozs. That’s light! Get a walnut stock and lop off another 2 to 6 ozs.
Manometer helps keep you straight
Under the forearm, a manometer tells you the state of the charge in the reservoir. By now, all of you know that small pressure gauges are just approximations of the real pressure; but once you become accustomed to them, they are great references. The one on my test rifle reads a little low with a full charge and a little high when the rifle needs filling, but I learned that on the first try. Now I know at a glance if there is enough air to take a reliable shot.
The manometer is handy once you know what it’s telling you.
This is a quiet rifle!
I have tested many precharged airguns for you. Some have been notoriously loud, like the Condor and the Career 707. Some have been quiet, like the AirForce Talon SS. I have also tested precharged airguns that were quieter than the S410, but never for this blog. I believe I am safe in saying that this is the quietest powerful PCP I have ever reported to you. In fact, it isn’t just quiet for a PCP. For the power, it is quieter than most spring rifles, as well. Only the TX200 and BAM B40, which have internally baffled shrouds, are quieter and even they are close.
To get seriously quiet, you can dial the power all the way down. The rifle is then in the stealth mode and is quieter than a fully-silenced .22 shooting CB caps. I know because I tried it! Of course, the velocity drops way back when you do that, but sometimes you don’t need velocity.
Quieter, still!
There’s a cap on the muzzle that unscrews to reveal 1/2″ x 20 threads – one of two popular thread patterns for silencers. My own Pilot silencer has 1/2″ by 28 threads. If this were my rifle, I’d get Dennis Quackenbush to make an adapter for it. With a silencer, this rifle becomes seriously silent. I have paid for my legal silencer, but you don’t have to, because you can get nearly the same benefit with this completely legal air rifle.
Impressive velocity
Speaking of velocity, what can the test rifle do? Beeman Kodiaks averaged 812 f.p.s. on high power, for a muzzle energy of 30.75 foot-pounds. I also shot 15.8-grain JSB Exacts on full power just to see what they would do, and they averaged 929 f.p.s., for a muzzle energy of 30.29 foot-pounds.
The most accurate pellet was the Crosman Premier, shot at just above half power, which is 874 f.p.s. and 24.26 foot-pounds. Cranked all the way up, the same Premiers go 937 f.p.s. in this rifle, producing 27.87 foot-pounds. On the absolute lowest power, they go 391 f.p.s., for 4.26 foot-pounds. That is a HUGE range of power adjustability, and I noted that, at any given setting, the velocity was stable. That held true across the entire range.
I’m not finished!
Just as I was about to wrap up this report, Scott 298 asked for a 75-yard accuracy test. I agreed, so we have at least one more installment coming. But not tomorrow.
Why does Pyramid keep running out of .22 ball shot? Can’t you double your order at order time?
Ball shot,
Sometimes when an order is placed, the manufacturer is out and Pyramyd has to wait. Ball shot isn’t a high-demand item, and Gamo has lagged in their deliveries of it. I don’t know about H&N. It’s not always a case of ordering more.
B.B.
Maybe I missed it somewhere, but what is the approximate number of shots per fill at high power? Medium power? Low power? How is the accuracy affected when you switch to lower power?
I’m thinking of an upgrade in my future. Currently I have a Talon SS. The adjustability is great as in my back yard I have room for a 10 meter target so when I’m plinking in the backyard I take it down to about 450-500fps and sight in at 10 meters. This gives me more shots and quieter operation.
For hunting I crank it back up to the 850fps range and sight it in to 25 yards. This takes about three shots on each change of power to adjust the scope.
I like my Talon, but the S410 just looks so beautiful and better made…..and it should be, its twice the price. Anyway, I’d like to eventually get a semi-world class rifle and the S410 looks like it would fit the bill. But I’d like the additional info as requested above.
Thanks, BB.
Bob,
You didn’t miss it because I didn’t report it. The advertising says 30 at high and 60 at low. But who knows? What I saw was 25-30 at high. I didn’t test low.
The accuracy is the same at all powers if the pellet stabilizes. Don’t shoot Kodiaks at low power, obviously.
The adjustability is just as easy as I reported. Much faster to change than the Talon SS, and more stable on the low end.
B.B.
B.B,
This off topic, and you’ve probably already covered this somewhere in your blog. In your opinion, what muzzle energy would be required of an air rifle to humanely take out a ‘possum or raccoon at close range (10-20 yards) using a .20 or .22 pellet? My Gamo 220 is putting out just over 13 foot-pounds using 7.9 gr Crosman Premiers, but I’m hesitant to even try with .177 pellets. Thanks for all the good info you give the airgun community.
Clarke,
I would like to see a 20 foot-pound minimum and a .22 caliber for game animals that large. Yes, I know hunters have been successful with less, but I like a large margin.
B.B.
B.B.–Scott298–You had me worried over the response to yesterday’s question on the range and accuracy—-thought that after all these years the pellgun oil seeping into your skin had finally made it’s way upstairs–after reading today’s blog I now know what you meant. I’ll be waiting to read that 75 yard review. I guess I made my mark in this world when you directed this on to me–If I don’t see it by this by the end of the week-you and yoyr wife have a great weekend, Scott298 signing out————
Scott 298,
It won’t come this week for certain.
B.B.
BB
You said the S410 is close to being as quiet as the TX200 and BAM B40. Is that at full power?
Thanks for the info.
Nice groups -can’t wait to see the 75 yarders.
MCA
MCA,
Yes, that was at full power, which isn’t any louder than half power to my ears.
B.B.
Clarke,
I wanted to mention that shot placement with possums is critical, due to their unusually thick skull over the snout.
The best place to hit the fusebox is directly between the eye and the ear.
Also, use either a heavy round nose or pointed pellet, or better yet, use the devastating JSB Predator Polymer Tip.
If you strike with enough energy in the spot with those types of pellets, it should be a nice and humane “lights out.”
Do you plan to white anything about
Gamo Whisper?
/product/gamo-whisper-air-rifle-combo?m=1275
especially after “Horror Story About Silencer” (integrated one) ?
it would be interesting…
BB, I have the RWS48 and I am looking at a PCP for the next step. Really liked the review on the Talon SS. Do you feel the S410 is worth that much money to a back yard target shooter and varmint eliminator?
Thanks, and I am looking for the 75 yard test also.
ps. What is the most accurate pellet you have used on the RWS 48?
Mark,
Whenever anyone asks the question, “Do you feel the (fill in the name) is worth that much money…” my answer will always be, “No!” If you are thinking about money, get the Talon SS. It’s just as accurate, and reasonably quiet.
That was why I wrote the blog about buying the Taurus PT1911. And I am strill developing that story. It tells the saga of a guy who wants to save money, as opposed to getting the ultimate whatever. The story ends well, and the Talon SS is a fine air rifle I own one that I love.
The most accurate pellet I ever tried in a 48 was a Crosman Premier, but I haven’t shot a 48 in many years. If I were to get one today, I’d try the JSBs. And I am assuming .22 caliber when I say that.
B.B.
Kommiandante,
There is a Whisper in a box in my office right now. I’ll get right on it.
B.B.
What are the velocity differences between the AA 410 Carbine, Classic and ERB versions of this rifle? Do they very in power? I know their OAL are different. And how does each one compare in noise when fired?
Wow, I wish I could answer that question, but I can’t. I don’t have the other rifles to compare.
But this I do know – the shorter the barrel the slower a PCP will shoot, if all other things remain the same.
As for the noise, perhaps some of our readers can comment?
B.B.
In a last years post you mentioned the best spring guns for target shooting, hunting, general use, etc.
Can you do the same with PCPs?
Mixalis,
I actually did a 4-part series that does include PCPs. Look here:
/blog/2007/3/best-airguns-for-the-money-part-4unlimited-price/
B.B.
bb,
since youre going to do a review on the whisper, could you also, after you’re done, tune it, and tell us how much quieter it got? im thinking about getting one, tuning it, putting in the grt-III trigger(i love it in my g1 extreme), and then getting it winter camoflouged so i can be stealthy this winter with my hunting., and depeding on how it goes, i might get another one and get it woodland camo-d.
DED(Dave Emauel DeStefano …see…i told you its too long to writelol)
DED,
Sorry, I’m not going to get into tuning airguns for this blog. I may do it to demonstrate something, but not a specific model.
Besides, I don’t have the correct sound equipment to test for noise before and after. It takes a sophisticated sound meter to record peak points in an audio signature.
So my observations of the Whisper will be subjective.
B.B.
Muzzle report is the major consideration for my next PCP rifle purchase.
Please share how the S410 compares to those PCP rifles you have tested that were quieter, and what were those rifles?
The S410 is a seriously quiet air rifle. I have heard quieter ones, like a Condor with a frame extender. But the S410 is very quiet. Much quieter than my .22 rifle shooting CB caps through a legal 41 db silencer.
B.B.
The FX T12 Whisper and the S410 seem to be at the top of my list. Caliber must be .22 or larger since my finger dexterity struggles with 177.
I have also considered Air Hogs .25 Condor, but I don’t need that power level, and already have a 24 inch 22 cal Talon SS.
Since I can’t compare them side by side your comments carry immense influence. I know you recommend Air Arms highly – How does FX’s quality compare?
Thanks for your comments and your patience.
Just got my AA S410 bolt-action, great rifle but I get only 23 shots at high power. The manufacturer sais I should get 30, am I doing something wrong?
J.S.
J.S.,
If you are reading the owner’s manual, remember it was written in England, where they don’t have a lot of familiarity with the rifle shooting above 12 foot-pounds. Also, they may have used a lighter pellet to get that figure. You just have to experiments with the rifle to discover its potential.
B.B.
BB,
The Air Arms 410 sounds like a great choice for someone like me who was considering the Logun for its quietness, power and repeat-fire but wanted something lighter and in a more traditional profile/stock.
You mentioned that Dennis Quackenbush could make an “adapter” to make the 410 still quieter. Would I need to apply to the ATF for a tax stamp, or does adapting a shroud not fall under the rules re. sound suppressor?
Pirate
Pirate,
Dennis Quackenbush will not make a silencer adapter for any airgun. I may have mentioned that he made me one for my legal .22 rimfire silencer to fit on a Ruger rifle and pistol, but that is a different situation. My silencer is registered and legal.
Read about the law governing silencers here:
/article/Airgun_silencers_What_s_the_big_deal_August_2006/32
You cannot apply to the ATF for an airgun silencer. They are not permitted by law to have anything to do with airguns. But if you buy a legal silencer and have it adapted to an airgun, there should be nothing illegal about that. However, you must buy the silencer for a firearm – that is the only way to do it.
B.B.