by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Kral Puncher Breaker bullpup with synthetic stock.
This report covers:
- What happened?
- The test
- Sight in
- JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
- Not a benchrest rifle
- H&N Baracuda Match 4.50mm head
- Crosman Premier heavy
- Evaluation
- Next
What happened?
We will start with an explanation of why I had to abandon this test until today. When I tried to scope the Kral Puncher Breaker all the shots landed quite low. At 12 feet they were 5 inches too low and even when I backed up to 19 meters they only rose an inch. I was planning to show you some new scope mounts with this rifle, but they will have to wait for another rifle that’s not a bullpup. Scoping a bullpup can be a challenge if you’re not used to it.
I searched through all my mounts and scopes, looking for a good match. The Kral rifles have Weaver/Picatinney bases, so 11mm airgun mounts won’t work.
You will never guess where I found the best match. The Kral Puncher Pro was still set up from my test with it and I noticed that the scope was heavily shimmed, so it had the same problem.
The rear scope mount on the Puncher Pro rifle was shimmed a lot, as you can see by the space between the top cap. You can even see the shims, themselves. As you will read, this scope swapped over well to the Puncher Breaker bullpup.
The test
Today I’m shooting off a sandbag rest at 25 yards. I have the power set just a little above the midpoint, which seems to give lots of shots with plenty of power. More about that at the end of the report.
Sight in
The Puncher Breaker that I’m testing today was almost perfectly sighted in when this scope and mount were attached. The scope came with the mounts and it’s a UTG 8-32X56 SWAT scope. It’s powerful and clear, but I think it’s way too much scope for a compact bullpup like this. However, it does give the rifle the best chance to shine in the accuracy test!
It took only 7 shots to refine the sight-in. I sighted with the pellet I thought might be the most accurate, which was the JSB Exact Heavy that weighs 10.34 grains. I cheated a little and watched Tyler Patner’s test of the same rifle in .22, and his best accuracy came with JSB pellets. Though this is a .177 I thought it might do best with JSB also.
I normally don’t look at professional critiques of things before testing them because I want to be free from any bias. So I avoided everything in Tyler’s report except the pellet choices he made.
JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
The first target was 10 JSB Exact Heavys at 25 yards, rested. The group started extremely small and only grew slowly as I shot. Ten shots landed in a group that measures 0.494-inches between centers at 25 yards. That’s pretty darn good!
Ten JSB Exact Heavy pellets went into a group that measures 0.494-inches between centers at 25 yards.
Not a benchrest rifle
The Puncher Breaker is not really made to shoot well off a sandbag rest. It works, but the rifle is so short that it doesn’t feel comfortable when rested that way. It does have a screw boss under the forearm for a bipod, and I may try that for the 50-yard test, although as short as this bullpup is, a bipod feels very uncomfortable. This is more of a handy offhand hunting rifle.
I was very pleased with the first group and just hoped the other pellets wouldn’t open things up too much. You will note that the group is just to the right of the center dot (the 10-ring on this target). That is intentional from my sight in. I didn’t want to hit the dot and destroy my aim point. Remember, I am shooting this with the scope set at 32 power. Once the rifle was sighted with the first pellet, though, I didn’t change the scope settings.
H&N Baracuda Match 4.50mm head
Next up was the H&N Baracuda Match pellet with the 4.50mm head. This time 10 pellets went into 0.43-inches between centers. The group looks larger than the first group to me, but it doesn’t measure that way. The final shot took out the 10-ring.
Ten H&N Baracuda Match pellets with 4.50mm heads went into 0.43-inches at 25 yards.
Now I thought I would try a pellet I haven’t shot that much lately — Crosman’s Premier 10.5-grain ‘heavy” pellet. This one usually does well in more powerful PCPs, which this Puncher Breaker certainly is. Let’s see how it does.
Crosman Premier heavy
Ten of the Premier heavys went into a group that measures 0.429-inches between centers. I shot away the 10-ring aim point on the second shot, so all the shots that followed were just guesses where the center of the target was. It looks like I guessed right, but with a 32 power scope at 25 yards that’s easy to do.
Ten Crosman Premier heavys made this 0.429-inch group at 25 yards. I shot the aim point away on the second shot, so all the rest were guesses.
After seeing how well I did by guessing at the aim point I wanted to see what would happen if I didn’t have to guess. So I adjusted the scope 5 clicks to the right and shot a second group of the Premiers. This time 10 shots landed in a group that measures 0.504-inches between centers. That is the largest group of this test, so it looks like not having an aim point didn’t hurt my accuracy at all.
When I had an aim point for all 10 shots, I managed to shoot a group that measures 0.504-inches between centers.
Evaluation
This little Kral bullpup can shoot! These groups look more like they were shot at 10 meters (33 feet) than 25 yards (75 feet). The trigger is a little heavier than I prefer, but it doesn’t seem to hurt the accuracy.
Also I want you to note how close to the same size all these groups are. The Puncher Breaker doesn’t seem to care which pellet is shot — at least not at 25 yards.
I am going to have to back up to 50 yards to get a good assessment of the potential accuracy of this rifle. At this point it looks like most groups will be under one inch.
Finally I want you to know that I shot this entire test — that’s about 60 shots in all — on a single fill. The power was set just higher than midpoint, and the onboard gauge reads about 130 bar (1885 psi) at the end. The groups might start growing at 50 yards at this pressure but the needle is still in the green. I think this would be an ideal rifle to guard the garden or bird feeder.
I will say that today the discharge noise didn’t seem as loud as it did in Part 2. Maybe that’s because I was concentrating on the target and not on the discharge.
Next up is the 50 yard test and I’m really looking forward to it! Remember what I said about this rifle? If it’s accurate it may have to stay here!
B.B.
Wow that is accurate! Is there any reason that you did not turn the magnification down to say 16 or 20X?
Did you have to shim the rear ring because this PCP Bullpump is a drooper? I thought only break barrels could be droopers. How do you know when your high rings are too high?
-Y
Yogi,
Any airgun can droop and most firearms droop, too. AR-15s are notorious for drooping. They make drooper mounts for ARs, though they don’t call them that.
I don’t understand the “rings too high” question. I have seen rings that were five inches high used in a field target match. There is no such thing as too high. But the higher you go the more delta there will be at each different distance, so rangefinding becomes critical.
B.B,.
B.B.
So why did you have to shim the rear so much?
-Y
Yogi,
You must have missed it. I said the Kral droops a lot.
B.B.
Thanks,
Yogi
BB
I’m impressed by the shot count and accuracy of the Puncher.
Regarding “They’re listening!” I have to say “they” would be foolish not to heed your suggestions and follow your blog. I’m not sure how much of the comments they pay attention to but I have to think “they” would be wise to follow them as well.
Your reference to Red Green from yesterday makes me chuckle. He is a staple in the great white north.
I presume there was an episode discussing who “they” are.
He is a magician with duct tape 🙂
I’m a man…
But I can change…
If I have to…
I guess.
And…
Keep your stick on the ice!
Idaho,
I think the definition of “they” is in the movie, “Duct Tape Forever.”
B.B.
Regarding the Fortitude and barrels.
(my apologies if this derails the topic too quickly)
My request if I had “they’re” ear (Crosman) would be full disclosure on their barrel making processes.
The Urban is the only one in the lower price market I know of that discloses this (hammer forged).
Perhaps the marketing gurus deem this to be a non issue for the masses.
Judging by conversation here, there are a good number that would like to know.
One further thought, and I don’t mean to be too critical, but I would hesitate to get in line with money without seeing if the action / bolt will be subject to premature wear as seen on one of the recent models.
Idaho,
I think that bolt/breech wear was on Halfstep’s Diana Stormrider. If you know of a Crosman product, please let me know as I had not heard of that. Unless you meant the Kral brand.
Idaho
What gun are you talking about the bolt.
If you mean the Maximus that probably won’t be a issue with the Fortitude. First different breech and bolt. Plus with the Fortitude regulated it needs a lighter striker/hammer spring. So that means easy cocking.
That was a benefit I got when I regulated my Maximus. I had to put a lighter striker spring for the regulated tuned pressure.
So don’t know if you meant the Fortitude or a different gun.
GF and Chris
My apologies, I can’t recall which gun.
I don’t have time at the moment to sift through the blog.
It should trigger a memory to say Tom said he would report the defect to the manufacturer.
I was fairly sure that was Crosman but could be wrong.
GF and Chris
Another reminder. There was a picture posted of the bolt handle indenting the receiver.
Idaho
That was Halfstep’s Diana stormrider.
GF
Well then I owe Crosman an apology.
I wonder if “they” are listening. 🙂
Idaho
You never know. 😉
Idaho,
No company will ever reveal its secrets. However, I know Crosman has discovered that if they ream the tube before they rifle it, they get a better finish and greater accuracy.
B.B.
B.B.,
I have remembered that. Since that “is out there”,.. then it would only make sense that they promote the Fortitude as having a Maximus barrel. I think that the Maximus has been well received,.. heck,.. it turned into the Fortitude almost overnight. What is there to lose? (Unless) it does (not) have the Maximus barrel,.. in which case,.. silence is golden.
Testing will tell,.. assuming you get to try one,..?
If it does have a Maximus barrel, then they are missing out by not saying so,… in MHO.
Chris
BB
Thanks for that reaming tip. I’d seen someone reference your comment but not regarding a certain gun.
I certainly don’t expect a company to give up inside info that is in their interest to keep to themselves.
I think its good for “them” to see discussion regarding barrel accuracy and perhaps recognize the marketing potential of disclosing efforts like a reamed barrel. Of course this adds to cost, and they may not wish to be compelled to ream them all, but this does not strike me as a very high dollar operation, and perhaps in this race to one up the gauntlet laid down by umarex it could be a marketing bonanza.
Its possible “they” underestimate the consumer.
Keep your stick on the ice 🙂
BB
You and the Puncher are on roll the way I see it.
Speaking of seeing it. Now what happens when you do test one of them not accurate guns again. Can’t defend the gun no more with bad eye’s. Or did the magnification really help. Wonder what would of happened if you turned the power down to 6 magnification. I know you don’t want to get into the scope discussion again. But really did the high magnification help you out?
And I wish you had a IScope phone adapter for your phone. You could at least snap a picture to show what the retical looked like on your target.
B.B.,
Fine shooting there. I can not even imagine what 32 power at 25 yards must look like. I will have to crank up the UTG 4-16 x 56 indoors at 41′ this weekend to get an idea. I have found that clarity seems to suffer and eye position becomes more critical above 12x. Indoors under controlled conditions could prove enlightening. It might dispel any clarity @ higher magnifications perceptions as well.
Looking forwards to the 50 yard test as well.
Good Day to you and to all,…. Chris
B.B.,
Please show a shot of that scope mounted in your next report. A nice side shot would be most interesting just to see the ratio in size between the scopa and the gun. Thinking too, I am surprised that you even got it to work as I thought that Bullpups leaned more towards a compact scope format.
Chris
Chris,
I thought I would take a pic of the gun on the bench next time.Yes to compact scopes on bullpups. I was in a time crunch.
B.B.
It looks like Diana is hitting the ground running this year.
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/ham-exclusive-new-diana-skyhawk-bullpup-pcp-launched-2018-shot-show/
This Shot Show is going to have a lot of new airgun stuff.
RR
Beautiful wood on those Bull Pumps. Nice pistol too.
-Y
Yogi,
Indeed. I am not a big fan of what I call the “first generation” bullpups though. Having the bolt, lever, etc. back at your shoulder makes it most awkward to cock, especially in the field. There are several variants on the market now that have worked out that issue very nicely. It is more than about time for this style to fade into the past.
That really is a very nice hunk of wood on that thing though.
RidgeRunner,
Thanks for the link. I really like the look of the walnut on that Skyhawk. But I am also intrigued by the Outlaw. Looks like a great pcp and very accurate for about $500.
Dennis
Dennis,
As Krasi points out below, these airguns have been on the market for some time now. They are manufactured by Snowpeak in China. Teaming up with Diana and rebranding them will open up the doors for a much larger market share.
Diana seems to have teamed up with chinese airgun manufacturer, Snowpeak, with their marketed brands, eg. SPA and Artemis.
Their new Stormrider IS the Artemis/SPA PR900W, that has been on the market the last 2-3 years.
Their upcoming Skyhawk Bullpup IS the Artemis P15, that has been on the market for the last year – with a new stock though.
The Skyhawk/ P15 is a truly excellent airgun, weighing only 2 kg, coming ao with a regulated titanium airtank, holding 250 bar and a baffeled, semi-shrouded barrel.
It is extremely well made, and having used both the .22 and .25 intensively for hunting the last half year, it has worked like a dream and given no problems at all.
Looking at value for money, I can’t think of anything coming even near.
The picture shows the P15 below and Hatsan AT44 with silencer at the top for comparison.
The guns are comparable in regards to power, barrel length, sound and magazine capacity.
However, the weight of the P15 almost less than half the weight of the silenced AT44.
Krasi,
I was certain these were coming out of China with the Stormrider. What I am pleasantly surprised about is that the Chinese manufacturers are starting to listen to us also. They are coming to realize that if you want to sell in this market, you need to produce a certain level of quality at an affordable price. The competition is pretty stiff.
Very nice in the accuracy department! We rarely see a gun that does this well with all pellets tested.
I was interested with your preserving the bull for aiming. I have definitely noticed a harder time aiming once the bull’s-eye has been cut out!
BB
Did you have the scope magnification set on 32 to compensate for eye issues? If not, I’m wondering if folks like me who are only interested in accuracy just got a wakeup call.
Decksniper
Decksniper,
Yes, yes, yes!
Okay, I did not anticipate this level of interest in this fact, but the reason I used the 32 power was because it was there and my failing eyes needed it. You can kill a deer at 100 yards with a rifle equipped with a 4-power scope, but you will not be able to see where in the 4 square inches that your reticle covers you are actually aiming. With deer that doesn’t matter.
When you are trying to shoot as accurately as possible, as I do in my accuracy tests, it helps to be able to not just see the 10-ring, which is a dot on the target I used, but to transect it — or at least to cover it and nothing more. Can’t do that at 25 yards with 9 power. Can with 32 power.
Every field target competitor understands this. They aren’t shooting for the kill zone. They want the pellet to pass through the kill zone without touching the sides!
B.B.
Yeah! What BB said!
Remember, more magnification means more precision IF (and ONLY IF) you can tame your heartbeat. Obviously shooting off bags takes almost all of your pulse out of the shooting, but even the little bit that is still present can throw off a shot or two.
Very interested to see how that little Puncher Breaker does for you at 50 yards.
BB
You do know that center (+) of the retical can be matched to the black solid 10 ring dot it as appears to be with lower magnification. In other words dail your magnification up or done the bring the 4 outer edges of the + to match the outer part of the black dot.
That’s how I lower magnification target shooting. You can mach the size very easily with just a little bit of magnification adjustment. And im usually pretty good at getting good groups. 😉
BB,
Great shooting by you and the gun. I’m predicting that, with all three pellets grouping this well, the 50 yard groups are not going to disappoint. A single good pellet could be a stinker at longer range but three indicates dependable accuracy to me. How come after reading this blog as long as I have now I didn’t know that Baracudas came in multiple head sizes? More pellets to add to my test kit.
In section “Sight In” Paragraph 2, 3rd sentence, you reduced Tyler’s role at Pyramyd to that of a lowly clerk.
Halfstep,
I misspelled his first name. Corrtrected.
I am speed-reading all the comments, dozens of other emails plus writing tomorrow’s blog, so subtle humor is usually not seen.
B.B.
BB knows that’s all I really am Halfstep LOL
Still cool on bullpups, generally. But this is pretty accurate, and less like a weaponized blow dryer than most of ’em. 😉 It is hitting sub 2 MOA ten shot groups at 25 yds. This is my personal criterion for “accurate airgun”. Note that a 40 Troyer field target aperture will require 2 MOA to hit consistently; if held perfectly with centered aimpoint. For me, shooting FT was the motivation to improve both equipment and skill. A really accurate FT air rifle will hold more like 1 MOA, and do so at 50 yards.
B.B.,
This Puncher Breaker might have a clunky name, but it sure can shoot.
I doubt I’ll ever get a bull-pup, but if I did, this would be on the short list.
Michael
B.B.,
Are there any significant factors regarding why a barrel will be agnostic regarding its pellet choice for accuracy, while others will only be accurate with one particular brand or size?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
There are so many factors that it’s worth a blog. However, many readers would not believe that small differences can make all the difference on target. What I’m saying is I can write that blog but I think it will bore most readers.
B.B.
B.B.,
Okay I get it that an article regarding the topic might be met by crickets. Can you at least put a few crumbs now and then like a sentence or a paragraph as to why some are so accurate?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Well, I already did this morning. I mentioned that Crosman has discovered that reaming the seamless tubing before rifling it makes for a better internal finish and greater accuracy. That is the whole, entire and complete “secret” of the Maximus barrel. I wrote that back when I tested the Maximus, but people ignored it and kept searching for the real truth.
The real truth is — the devil is in the details, and bore finish is a detail. So are crowns, chokes, and internal dimensions.
Here is a funny but true anecdote. When Springfield Arsenal found a barrel that had very uniform tolerances from breech to muzzle they knew it was going to be an accurate barrel. So they stamped it with a star and used it on their target guns and sniper weapons.
The mall ninjas will read that and say, “Well, then if that’s the case they should only make barrels with tight tolerances.” They fail to realize that it’s not intentional. It’s a crap-shoot!
B.B.
B.B.,
I do recall that the new barrels of Crosman are reamed before rifling. I don’t know how the Springfield Arsenal measured the tolerances of the barrel (air gauge?). What factors do you suppose came together with the barrel Kral made in this PCP that they could not do with their Breakbarrels?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I don’t know, but it’s like they are made by different companies.
B.B.
B.B.,
This documentary I mentioned earlier makes note of the Springfield Model 1903 Sniper Rifle. It is amazing about both rifle accuracy and optics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN72np_cE2k
~ken
Ken
Thanks, I found the Whitworth muzzle loader and bullet / bolt particularly interesting.
A smoothbore deadly out to 1500 yds!
Idaho,
Glad you liked it. And thank you for letting me know.
~ken
Idaho,
Back around 1971 or 2 there was an old dark second hand shop in Richmond Texas that had a heavy rifle with an octagonal barrel. They kept it in a glass case and there was and inscription. Sadly, I have only my vague memory of it. I know it was a sniper rifle and the inscription mentioned a kill shot made at long distance. I wish I could just see that rifle in person again.
B.B.
similar to a Winchester 1 in a thousand rifle ?
B.B.,
Wow. You said a lot there. Let’s hope that we don’t see a bunch of air gun manufacturers coming out with “star stamped” barrels. Then again, that might be a good idea and afford a premium. Then again, that would mean that they would actually test what they are selling. Mmmm?
As for an article,.. or re-cap,.. I would say go for it. Given the industry, the tight margins, efficiency, profit, etc., etc.,… I think that the most important thing you said was that it was a crap shoot,.. which in itself,.. explains a lot. The better makers win out because they saw the benefit of investing that time, effort and expense up front.
GF1 has had the high end stuff and some were good and some were not. I think the bottom line is that your odds increase with those that have put “it” in up front. Less so = more of a crap shoot. More so = less of a crap shoot. A roll of the dice anyone? 😉
Chris
(All that said, I am very happy with my cheap Maximus. Perhaps,.. I just got lucky?)
Chris
Well then I got lucky with my Maximus too. 🙂
And yep I like my cheap ole Maximus too.
BB
Wouldn’t bore me. This topic is what drives me onward every shooting day.
Decksniper
B.B.,
Regarding, Their Listening. Thank you. There are those of us who may never own at >$500.00 airgun. But there are, indeed, some lower priced PCP air rifles for sale now. The pastor who hosts a monthly air gun get together has gone whole hog. He has a Marauder, a Condor, a Hatsan Carnivore, an FX air rifle and he says the Gauntlet needs trigger adjusting but shoots the best out of the box of all the PCP’s he owns. I don’t know if that is scientifically accurate but that is his testimony. Of the air rifles you listed, I am leaning heavily toward the Gauntlet. I know single shot rifles have their place but I would like a repeater for my first PCP and there are already three on the list (the Wildfire is ruled out for me).
Thank you, and thanks to the folks at Crosman who listened and took the chance.
~ken
B.B.,
Great shooting. I haven’t been able to come to terms with the Bullpup format. Seems that the cocking mechanism is inconveniently placed – too far back. But then I haven’t had the opportunity to try one. I do like the design of the FX Wildcat in this regard.
It will be interesting to see what happens at fifty yards.
Dennis