by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier
The Cometas Lynx V10 is an exciting precharged repeater.
Today, we’ll look at the velocity and power of the Cometa Lynx V10 precharged air rifle. Blog reader /Dave has asked if I will please post the price of the gun in the first report because he reads the blog on his telephone, where navigation is difficult. I didn’t do that in part 1…but it lists for $950 at PyramydAir.com.
This will be a learning day, because the Lynx has a regulator. A regulator controls the air pressure and volume that’s available to the firing valve, so each shot gets almost exactly the same volume of air. That has two benefits — one obvious and the other subtle.
The obvious benefit is greater shot-to-shot consistency. On some air rifles, this can be as small as one or two foot-seconds across the entire usable fill, but that usually happens with lower-powered guns. Higher-powered guns may vary more, but they’ll still be relatively close.
While some unregulated guns get 10-shot strings with very close velocities — when you look at the entire fill, they can vary by hundreds of f.p.s. So, the second benefit is that you’ll get the same velocity throughout the entire part of the fill where the regulator is “on.” We saw that most recently when I shot the Talon SS with the Micro-Meter tank.
How the regulator works
The regulator is set to allow only a certain amount of air into the firing chamber. This is done by air pressure. When the firing chamber has the allotted pressure of air, it closes the reg so no more air can flow from the reservoir. As long as the pressure in the reg remains higher than the firing pressure, the gun will shoot very consistently. The firing valve is tuned to operate best on very low air pressure.
Falling off the reg
When the pressure remaining in the reservoir is not as great as the regulator’s adjusted pressure, the regulator stops working. We use the term “falling off the reg” when this happens. It’s very sudden and can be spotted immediately by a shooter with experience. From that shot on, all shots will diminish in power, though they may still retain enough power to be useful for quite a few more shots.
I’m not just interested in the power of the Lynx, but also the point it falls off the reg, as that determines the maximum number of useful shots you get from a fill. I’m also interested in how closely the onboard pressure gauge correlates with the regulator. In other words: Can I trust the needle on the gauge?
I selected three pellets to test today, because they’re the three I’ll choose for the accuracy test. I may use one or two other pellets later on, but these three will give us a good idea of the Lynx’s performance.
JSB Exact 15.9 grain
The Lynx I’m testing is in .22 caliber, so I selected the JSB Exact 15.9-grain pellet to test first. I did so because this has proven to be the most accurate pellet in the majority of PCPs I’ve tested in .22 caliber. The gun was filled to 3,000 psi and shooting commenced.
The gauge after two shots on a full fill.
The first shot went 923 f.p.s. After that, nothing went faster than 916 f.p.s. with this pellet. That first shot was needed to wake up the reg and the valve. I disregarded it for this test, except that I counted it in the total number 0f shots per fill. It was probably unnecessary to disregard it, as the velocity didn’t change that much; but with other guns I’ve tested, it does. This has become a habit for me.
The first string of 10 shots (discounting the very first shot) averaged 912 f.p.s. The string ranged from a low of 906 f.p.s. to a high of 916 f.p.s., so 10 foot-seconds was the total spread. At the average velocity, this pellet generated 29.37 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
Crosman Premier
Next up were 14.3-grain Crosman Premiers. They averaged 947 f.p.s. and had a spread from 939 to 953 f.p.s. That’s a 14 f.p.s. spread. At the average velocity, these pellets generated 28.48 foot-pounds, or just slightly less than the heavier JSBs. That’s what you would expect in a PCP, as they usually become more efficient with heavier pellets.
I expect Premiers to be accurate in the Lynx, but probably not quite as good as the JSBs. On the other hand, there’s another pellet that may challenge the JSB for the top spot. That pellet is the Beeman Kodiak.
Beeman Kodiak
Beeman Kodiak pellets are made by H&N. They’ve varied in weight over the past several years, so I weighed the pellets from the tin I was using in this test. These pellets averaged 21.1 grains. They averaged 825 f.p.s. in the Lynx with a spread that went from 821 to 829 f.p.s. They varied by only 8 foot-seconds across the entire string. At the average muzzle velocity, they produced 30.9 foot-pounds of energy. This may be the pellet to watch for accuracy.
More air!
After the Kodiak string, the rifle had fired a total of 31 shots since being filled. The needle was still in the green zone, so I ran another 10 JSB Exacts through the chronograph. This time, the average was 908 f.p.s., with a spread from 905 to 913 f.p.s. The rifle was still on the reg after 41 shots.
The needle on the gauge was now down close to the bottom edge of the green sector. But I kept on shooting to see what the total shot count would be before the gun fell off the reg.
The gauge after 41 shots on a fill. There are still some good shots, according to the needle.
The next shots registered as follows.
Shot…..Velocity
42………..913
43………..906
44………..909
45………..908
46………..906
47………..907
48………..907
49………..904 (Gun fell off the reg)
50………..888
51………..883
The gauge, three shots after the gun fell off the reg. The gauge on the test rifle is quite and can be trusted.
The Lynx I’m testing gets about 50 good shots per fill. Those shots are all around the 30 foot-pound range when medium-heavy pellets are used.
Discharge sound
The Lynx is very quiet for its power. This is a rifle that won’t bother most neighbors, unless they are laying in wait for you.
Trigger
The trigger is different because the first-stage pull has a lot of the weight in it. It takes some getting used to the rifle to feel stage two, but once you do it’s very positive. Stage two is totally free from creep, and there isn’t any travel after the release.
The first stage takes 2 lbs., 4 oz., then stage two breaks at 3 lbs., 5 oz. as the adjustment is set from the factory. I fiddled with the two screws that seem to affect the adjustment, but I didn’t get anywhere. One of them simply loosened the push-button safety, while the other introduced a third stage to the pull without affecting anything else. But the trigger is already very nice, so this wasn’t a problem.
Accuracy is next, and I’ve decided to divide it into two parts. First, I’ll sight-in at 25 yards and find the best pellet. Then, I’ll go out to 50 yards and see what this rifle can do. This should be an interesting test.
B.B.
Thanks for doing a review on a regged PCP. I don’t understand why more manufacturers don’t take advantage of a regulated valve. Once upon a time I used to be heavy into paintball and my last tounament gun before I “retired” was a regulated gun, and it cost much less than this airgun. Keep in mind this was almost 20 years ago. It’s hard to understand why airgun manufacturers are lagging so far behind in bringing this kind of technology to the mainstream market. Looking forward to the rest of your report.
David H
I hate to nag, but every time I see a velocity spread cited as “foot-seconds” I shudder. “foot-pounds” makes sense, as that is a multiplicative: 1 pound at 10 feet, 2 pounds at 5 feet, 5 pounds at 2 feet, and 10 pounds at 1 foot all produce 10 foot-pounds.
But 1 second at 10 feet vs 10 seconds at 1 foot are two totally different results… 10 feet/second OTOH is valid.
Wulfraed,
foot-seconds = feet per second (f.p.s.)
I proof the blog and the above was immediately communicated to me when I read “foot-seconds.” Tom and I have never had a discussion about this until I read your comment, and that’s when I confirmed with him that I understood it correctly. I feel it’s self-explanatory.
Edith
This is one of those cases where you are both right – it is self-explanatory as Edith and Tom say, and it is not a valid unit as Wulfraed said . . . . 🙂
Have a great day!
Alan in MI
I just spent five minutes on Google but couldn’t find any example using a -…
NIST specifies either a space (foot pounds) or a “half height dot” (foot·pounds, if the HTML code works) for muliplicative.
For the “x per y” type of units they specify a solidus (“/”), mention a “horizontal line”, but don’t show any example that isn’t formulated as either “feet/second” or use an inverse exponent with multiplication [I have to emulate that by using ^ to mean “raised to the power”] “feet second^-1”
Hi guys!
I just decided to say hallo from Croatia to my friends (to all off you guys)! -Great article ,and I must say- yesterday’s article for me was even better-i love to see how the rifle work from inside out …
Milan,
Good to hear from you! How is your mother doing?
B.B.
Well, everything is almost ready.
On Friday I received mail from machinists – my upper receiver and bypass are ready and waiting to be sent my way. Space gothic, just as I predicted 🙂
The trouble is that in 5 days I’m taking off to my vacation in Provence (to practice my horrid French and sniff old stones of Knight Templar and Catari castles) and transport agency takes a week to deliver stuff to my door. So – drill&mill guys will send it on September 20and I’ll get my hands upon it on September 27.
Then things will go fast – cutting, threading and crowning a barrel, some rubber O-rings and voila, metal is at your service, ready for the first shot aimed at pellet trap. It is 3 year in the end.
duskwight
duskwight,
So near the end! I will say nothing except bon voyage!
B.B.
Hi B.B. !
She is on the heart transplant list ,she is doing fine I would say but her heart is working only about 25% and that’s bad 🙁 …For about ten days she is going to the final preparation for the transplant and I will be with her and hope for the best -it is another chance after all.She is not even that old she is 55 🙁 !
Milan,
I pray for your mother every morning. Now I know what to ask for.
Good luck to you both.
B.B.
Keep up, Milan!
Hope, faith and devotion do miracles, I wish you’ll tell us about your miracle.
All the best to your mother and you.
duskwight
Thank you B.B. ,thank you dusk-I will keep my faith !
When is the Roanoke show?
October 19th – 12 noon to 7Pm and October 20th all day. RR, it’s not in Roanoke at the Convention Center anymore but at the Moose Lodge on Catawba Road in Salem. Here’s the link for airgun shows for the year:
http://www.bryanandac.com/new_page_8.htm
See you there.
Fred DPRoNJ
Thanks. I knew where it was going to be, but could not remember which weekend.
Dear mister Gaylord,
Maybe you can help me with some information about a Sheridan CB 5 mm Multipump airgun that I bought recently. I think it’s a gun from the sixties or seventies and I would like to restore the (black) paint on the brass barrel. Do you know what kind of paint the factory used for those guns?
Thanks Nico Veenman
Nico,
I doubt you can still buy the same paint that Sheridan used back in the 1970s. Paint has improved so much in the past 40 years.
I would direct your question ton the Crosman forum, where guys are always restoring thesze older airguns.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/275684/
B.B.
Nico Veenman,
Your Sheridan Model CB is commonly known as a Blue Streak. The factory finish on the Blue Streak barrels was copper flashed (over the brass) and treated with a blackening agent called “Ebonal-C”, the C standing for copper.
kevin
Tight velocities. Seems like a good regulator…….if there is such a thing 😉
825fps with kodiaks and 912fps with jsb 15.9gr means that an 18.1gr jsb would be around 870fps. If it was a lothar walther, fx or hw barrel I’d bet that the jsb 18.1 gr pellets would be the most accurate at 50 yards. Since I have no experience with the Cometa barrels at these velocities I’m interested to see what pellet performs best at 50 yards.
kevin
Kevin,
I do plan to test the 18.1-grain JSB at both 25 and 50 yards.
B.B.
Tom,
Not surprised. You’re always a step or two ahead of me. Always. Sigh.
kevin
This week-end I finally took the plunge and disassembled my first, second and third air rifles.
The first one (of unknown brand, it only has a bird with T.S.A. ingraved inside the bird) I got in a trade and doesn’t have front or rear sight was easy to take apart with no flying or missing part.
It went well so next was my Relum Telly, I took it apart and discovered it didn’t have the original springs in it, which explained the spring buzz. I used the Milan beer can in the piston technique (thanks Milan) and it now shoots smoother and without any spring buzz.
Next was the gas ram in the IZH-60, the hardest part was getting the pin out of the cocking linkage, that thing was TIGHT.
Everything has been put back together with no missing or left over parts and working properly (except for the first one which had no piston seal left).
I’m quite happy and I must admit it was easier than I first anticipated. If you’re a bit careful when taking it apart, putting it back together is a breeze.
I wish I had done so earlier. I wish I had done so earlier, now it’s time to buy some moly grease, tar and a piece of leather so I can make new seals. Anything else I should be getting?
I see more open rifles on my work bench in the future, that thing is fun. It reminds me of taking the big mortise locks apart when I was a young locksmith. It was like doing a puzzle to me, looking at were the parts were rubbing together or on the casing, it was telling me how to put it back together and what needed repair or lube.
For those who are afraid to do it like I was, take the plunge, it’s easier than you think! Get some old crappy springer from a flea market or garage sale to try your hand at it and you’ll know for sure if you have what it takes to do it.
J-F
J-F- I am glad if you are satisfied buddy 🙂 -beer can tune can really make a difference -it’s a fact !
B.B. what is your opinion on graphite molly /lube!? -It has well over 1000 C burning point(so it should not make any diesel effect) ,my question is a graphite molly good for well lets say magnum air rifles !?
Milan,
I don’t see why I would not be. I would try it.
B.B.
B.B. Thanks !I already lubed my D34 and Norica -there IS NO DIESELING none !
“Mae Culpa”,my blame – graphite lube can withstand about 500 C(932 Fahrenheit) ,whereas Molybdenum Disulfide can withstand “only” 400 C (752 F )-It is still good -as I said there is no dieseling problem with my rifles and graphite lube in chamber ….
BB,
It is good to see a regulator, which I would consider a necessity for any PCP to shoot without hassle. It looks like this one will give you 50 shots without any dinking around, which is about like taking a box (of 50) .22LR to the range. I do that and often come back with 10 or 15 leftovers because I’m slow and like to load each shot.
How about a graph of the first 50 shots on this one and 50 shots from an unregulated rifle of similar power output? That would be compelling, I think. If you have raw shot strings, I can do the graph for you quickly.
BG_Farmer,
I’m sorry, but I just don’t have info like that lying around.
B.B.
I don’t feel that a regulator is a neccesity although nice to have.My unregulated s200 gets 30 good shots 830 to 850 and back down to 830 fps. This rifle has a very small tank, easy to hand pump. Last week shooting at 55 yards had a 1 inch group off the bench with 8.4 A/A pellets then shot 10 more without loosing altitude. This rifle was originally a 800 fps rifle but has air port adjustment below the bolt. Also the U.S. FIELD TARGET rifle uses low presure air without regulator.
Loren
Air Force just announce a reorg (so they’re a subdivision of a bigger company that has them and BKL under it) and they’ll be importing these rifles.
Pyramyd already has them scheduled for Sep 18 preorder.
Definitely want.
Scott,
Where have you seen that they have reorganized?
Here’s how AirForce is organized, and I’m not aware of any changes to this:
Auto-Numatics is the umbrella company for:
– AirForce Airguns (mfrs & sells Condor, Talon, Talon SS, TalonP & Edge airguns)
– AirForce International (imports Cometa airguns)
– BKL (mfrs & sells BKL mounts)
Thanks,
Edith
That seems to be the reword they are talking about in the PR they sent me (I have no idea WHY they sent it to me, but I’m glad they did)
Here is the PR I was sent
Auto-Numatic Corp. Announces Formation of AirForce International; Introduces First Product Line
(August 20, 2012 – Fort Worth, TX)
Auto-Numatic Corp. – the Texas based parent of industry leaders Airforce Airguns and BKL Technologies is proud to announce the formation of their latest venture, AirForce International. As the name implies, the new company will join Airforce Airguns in the expanding realm of pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airgun systems.
The new company will be importing and distributing some of the finest pre-charged shooting systems the rest of the world has to offer.
“I have been going to IWA and other international shows for years and seeing great pre-charged airguns,” commented Auto-Numatic CEO John McCaslin. “Most of them are fairly expensive, and generally not imported into the US in any quantity. We felt it was time to capitalize on our experience marketing PCP airguns in the US and offer some of these other designs through the distribution channels developed by AirForce Airguns and BKL Technologies. It was time American airgun enthusiasts were able to buy these pre-charged guns.”
AirForce International is negotiating with top airgun craftsmen in Europe to be able to bring those names to America.
The first to become available will be the Cometa line of airguns. Heirs to a centuries-old tradition of high quality gun making, Carabinas Cometa are specialists in the development of craftsman-built air guns.
Cometa have taken their extensive experience in manufacturing spring piston airguns and parlayed it into the development of the exciting new Lynx PCP.
Cometa airguns are manufactured in Spain. The barrels are precisely drilled and later cold hammer forged in machines especially made for this process. All the airguns are individually tested and calibrated.
Lynx Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) Air Rifle:
Action: Side Lever
Air Tank Volume: 290CC
Barrel Length: 18.5 inches
Butt Pad: Rubber
Caliber: 0.22 (5.5mm)
Length: 41.3 inches
Max Fill Pressure: 3000 psi
Accessory Rails: 11mm Dovetail
Capacity: 13 Shot Rotary Magazine
Safety: Manual
Sights: Optical May Be Installed
Stock: Ambidextrous Blue, Black, or Natural Wood Finish
Trigger: Adjustable For Weight
Velocity: 700-1000fps (Depends on Pellet Weight)
Weight: 7.8 lbs
MSRP: $999.95
Available: September, 2012
Auto-Numatic is the Texas based parent company of AirForce Airguns, BKL Technologies and AirForce International. AirForce Airguns revolutionized the airgun world with the first U.S. manufactured pre-charged pneumatic airgun in 1997. AirForce is now an established leader in the design and manufacture of high performance adult airguns. BKL offers a complete line of US made scope mounting systems for airguns and rimfire rifles that automatically self center on the mounting rail. AirForce International offers the finest in imported pre-charged airguns. Auto-Numatic Corporation’s headquarters, production and shipping facilities are located in Fort Worth, Texas.
Scott,
By “reword” do you mean reorg?
That message says nothing about a reorganization. It announces the launch of a new division — AirForce International.
B.B.
Scott,
Looks like you misunderstood the formation of a new division that was created simply for the purpose of importing guns. Many companies have separate divisions so they can act in the best interests of their products.
AirForce Airguns sells guns that are made in America: Talon, Talon SS, Condor & Edge.
AirForce International sells guns made outside of America: Cometa is made in Spain (hence, the “international” name).
BKL became a separate entity under the Auto-Numatic corporate umbrella (just like the other 2 mentioned above) because BKL was already a well-known brand among airgun & rimfire aficionados. So, Auto-Numatic bought the BKL brand from its former owners and kept the name as a separate company so they wouldn’t lose the loyalty to that brand.
Edith
Great review of this Air gun. But the most important thing is the accuracy. It can have all these great features but if it can not stack pellets at 20yards or shoot sub half inch groups at 50 yards it is not worth $1000.00. I would like to see a accuracy review.
Roger,
Perhaps you are not familiar with the format of these tests. There will be an accuracy test coming soon. Every gun has a general report, a velocity report and an accuracy test. In the case of the Lynx, it’s going to get two tests — one at 25 yards and one at 50 yards.
B.B.
I am almost sure Tom will get it to group less than. 5″ at 50 yards!
Looking forward to it Tom. Thanks
Thanks Tom for the review. I just got my Cometary Lynx V10 the other day. I can’t wait to test and chrony it. So far sighting in at 35 yards has yielded less than .4″ groupings with H&N Baracuda Match 21.3 grainers! I assume the gun you tested was a 400cc air tube version. I am not a big fan of the trigger but after owning a Weihrauch with a Rekord trigger most anything else fails to equal.
BTW- Many prayers to Milan’s mother. May God be with her on this journey.
Misspelled Cometa above!
Mike -n-Asheville,
No, my test rifle has a 290cc tank, as will all those imported by AirForce International for the foreseeable future.
Good to hear of the accuracy. I agree that trigger isn’t the best I have tried, but it is useable.
B.B.