Dragonfly Mark 2.
This report covers:
- Threaded muzzle
- JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
- H&N Baracuda Match with 5.51mm heads
- RWS Meisterklugeln
- What’s next?
- H&N Baracuda Match on 5 pumps
- Where are we?
- JSB pellets again
- Summary
Today we look at the velocity of the new Dragonfly Mark 2 multi-pump rifle, and we will learn some incredible things! All testing today will be done with the single-shot tray installed. There is also a 7-shot rotary magazine for the .22 and a 9-shot mag for the .177.
Threaded muzzle
Let’s get the threaded muzzle out of the way first. There is an end cap on the Dragonfly muzzle that removes to expose threads. They are not the threads for an airgun silencer.
Unscrew the whole muzzle cap and you expose the barrel threads They are too small to hold a silencer.
This threaded cap is in two parts — a smooth piece and one that is knurled. On a new airgun like mine the parts may be together tight, but the smooth piece unscrews and the silencer threads are on the end of the knurled portion. So they have to be separated.
Unscrew the smooth portion of the end cap from the knurled portion and you ‘ll expose the silencer threads.
JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
First up are JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy pellets. Weighing 18.13-grains these represent the heavy side of a good medium weight pellet. I will test them with 3 through 15 pumps.
Pumps…….Velocity
3……………..428
4……………..476
5……………..518
6……………..553
7……………..564
8……………..583
9……………..589
10……………602
11……………601
12……………617
13……………605
14……………617
15……………618
This is an interesting string. First off, you notice that starting with shot 11 we start seeing lower velocities. Don’t build your universes yet, but this is a strange phenomenon. I’ll have more to say about it later in this report.
I recorded the discharge sound on 15 pumps, and it was 101.3 dB — a sharp snap.
On 15 pumps the unsilenced Dragonfly Mark 2 produced a discharge of 101.3 dB.
Then I installed my DonnyFL Ronin silencer and the discharge was reduced to 84.7 dB.
With the silencer installed the discharge was 84.7 dB.
H&N Baracuda Match with 5.51mm heads
After the first test string I decided to see what would happen with 5 pump strokes and a different pellet. For this test I selected the 21.14-grain H&N Baracuda Match with 5.51mm head. The string shown here is all shot on 5 pump strokes.
Shot…..Velocity
1………….473
2………….490
3………….500
4………….504
5………….510
6………….510
7………….510
8………….512
9………….514
10…………511
I have never seen a multi-pump do this. I expected a string of 10 shots with perhaps a 6 f.p.s. velocity variation — not one of 41 f.p.s.! The only thing I can think of is the Dragonfly Mark 2 is breaking in before our eyes! I can test for that, but first let’s look at a different pellet.
RWS Meisterklugeln
Since I now had a good handle on the pump limits, I tested the 14-grain RWS Meisterkugeln with 3, 8 and 15 pump strokes.
Pumps……Velocity
3……………518
8……………611
15.…………653
Okay, in this test we see the lighter 14-grain RWS Meisterkugeln going faster than the other two pellets. That is expected. And if I shot an even lighter pellet it would go even faster.
What’s next?
Now I want to see if I am right about the rifle breaking in. If I am, it should be evident in this next test.
H&N Baracuda Match on 5 pumps
This time I fired five H&N Baracuda Match pellets on 5 pumps. In the last test they started out as slow as 473 f.p.s. and over 10 shots rose to as high as 514 f.p.s. If I was right about the break-in, they should all be above 500 f.p.s. this time. Remember, each shot in this string is on 5 pumps.
Shot……Velocity
1………….510
2………….516
3………….519
4………….518
5………….516
I think that test proves the Dragonfly Mark 2 is still breaking in, because it’s going even faster than it did at the end of the previous test. Because of that, I plan to do another velocity test, when many more shots have been fired.
Where are we?
If the rifle has been breaking in as I suspect, then the first test I did with 3 through 15 pumps needs to be run again. But not today. I want to have many more shots on the rifle before I run that test again. But we can take a peek at how the performance may have changed.
JSB pellets again
In this last test I will fire the JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy pellets on 3, 8 and 15 pump strokes, to see how things have changed.
Pumps……..Velocity
3………………475 (428 before)
8………………611 (583 before)
15..…………..653 (618 before)
I am guessing that the next time we look at velocity with this rifle there will be more separation on shots 11 through 15. Please note that this time the heavier 18.13-grain JSB pellet went as fast on 15 pumps as the 14-grain Meisterkugeln pellet did just a little earlier.
As reader RidgeRunner mentioned in the comments to yesterday’s report, the rear sight removes to expose an 11mm dovetail that might be used for a forward scope ring. This base is aluminum, so it should work well for that function.
Summary
That’s it for the velocity test today. But as I said, I will come back to this test again after there are more shots on the rifle, because I believe the Dragonfly Mark 2 needs a break-in.
I am still impressed with the build quality of this rifle. It shows none of the flaws of a Chinese-made airgun. And, as I said in Part One, this is your chance to get something the world rejected back in 2007 — a pump-assist air rifle.
I love nearly everything so far. I’ve had my pre order in for a week. It looks like they over achieved on the Gen 2.
Gee, 3 pumps, 5 pumps, 15 pumps, I sure hope it has a pump counter just so you do not loose your pump count! At least with other pumpers, the pumping gets harder the more pumps….
-Y
Yogi,
ROTFWL! We can rely on you to find something wrong with anything but a sproinger!
I wonder if the pumping system on the Dragon fly could be used to pump up a flat tire?
-Y
Sure it can…pump up the rifle and shoot the air into the valve!
So no…
-Y
BB,
I cannot understand why there needs to be a smooth and a knurled end cap revealing two different pitches of thread. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to stick with one? Is there an accessory that fits onto the first set of threads?
Siraniko
I may be wrong but doesn’t Artemis (Snow Peak etc) use a different threading, not 1/2 UNF, for their in house silencers? That could be the reason for the two threads. Two options.
Bill,
With my having no first hand knowledge your guess just might be the answer. Seems like an odd choice though as seems to be an extra step that could have been avoided.
Siraniko
Bill,
I bet you are correct.
Don
Siraniko,
An accessory that fits on the smaller threads? Yes, there is. The adaptor for the airgun silencers. The barrel is too small to have threads large enough.
BB
BB,
That was my thought.
B.B.,
So, with the JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy pellets at 15 pumps, you are breaking the 17 fpe mark…and that may improve as the rifle continues to break in; that handily beats my old Sheridan for power…and at a much lighter pumping effort…pretty sweet! I hope her accuracy is as good as her power output. 🙂
Take care & God bless,
dave
Dave,
You and me both on the accuracy thing.
BB
Thanks, B.B. I am stepping out in faith that this rifle will either: 1) be accurate “as is,” or 2) you and your fellow gurus here will advise me on some tricky mods to accurize it – and I just placed one on back-order…yay! 🙂
BB,
If I did not have my 101, I would have to get one of these. The build on this looks to be more robust than the 362. If it shoots worth a diddly, this could be the airgun buy of the year.
“…this could be the airgun buy of the year.”
RidgeRunner, since I already paid for one, I’m hopin’ you are “spot on” on that. 🙂
Dave,
Well, if I did not have a pumper already, I would be getting one of these or a 362. That thing really is tempting. Ah well, maybe someone will give me one.
RidgeRunner, I hear you; and I still want a 362 (because I don’t have a 101); but B.B. (“The Great Enabler!”) pushed me over the edge with this set of reports. I figure the 362, USA-made, will be around for a long time; but the Dragonfly Mark2 was already delayed for a couple of years; and with all this supply chain craziness going on, I figured I’d better “get one while the gettin’ ‘s good. I like MSPs; they are just fun guns. 🙂
Dave,
That is why PA had him change his format. Folks get all excited about what he shows and buy the airguns and stuff now before they have time to think about it.
Pumpers are fun to fool with, but I prefer the old sproingers myself. Most of them are pretty low powered compared to what is out there these days.
” They will be great to sit on the back porch and plink at feral soda cans…”
Yep, RidgeRunnr, there may not be as many feral soda cans here as there are at RRHFWA, but there is a passel of ’em, and I plan to blast ’em all! 🙂
RidgeRunner, I am coming around to your way of thinking; I don’t really hunt anymore; most all of my shooting is done just for fun; hence, most of my firearms sit around, and the majority of my plinking is with airguns. And I can see your fascination with the old sproingers; the early 1900s was the era of some high-quality airguns; that .177 Haenel model 1 that I got from Frank is not a powerhouse (520 fps with 7.33 g JSBs), but it can hit targets the size of a quarter at 15 yards…not bad for an ol’ gal in her 80s…and I’m having a ton of fun shooting her. 🙂
You are going to enjoy the pumpers. They will be great to sit on the back porch and plink at feral soda cans and shootin’ trees.
You will do better in .177 than .22.
Well, I cannot say I am a big fan of its looks, but at least Umarex is exploring the low power realm when most have gone to the other end of the spectrum.
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/new-hk-mp7-pellet-gun-its-a-break-barrel/
Maybe Yogi will like this one. 😉
I would twist that “cocking aid” 90 degrees within the first 25 times I cocked the gun.
-Y
PS where SIG and Walther have failed H&K dares to try. Well good luck to them.
Yogi,
It is not an H&K. It is an Umarex. They have been making screwed up sproingers for years. They are probably pretty good at it by now.
B.B.,
As thedavemyster points out above, this Dragonfly MK 2 is nearly as powerful as a steroided Sheridan. This of course prompts a question: Is the Seneca Drogonfly Mark 2 “steroidable”?
Of course, MAC1 steroided multipumpers were not just about allowing the air rifle to be pumped up to 14 strokes, but at each number of strokes below 14 it was significantly more powerful than a standard, non-modded one. Any modded dragonfly probably lacks the robust levers to handle the stress of pumps 11 – 15.
I guess your continued velocity tests as the Dragonfly breaks in might prove modding the rifle might be totally unnecessary. Just pump a stock one 15 times to get roughly the power of a steroided one at pump 11 or so.
I can’t wait to see how it shoots at 10 meters and 25 yards!
Michael
Michael,
I was going to wait for those accuracy tests, but I figured by then, they may have already sold out the first pre-order. I have scoped my Sheridan a few times, but I never liked the way I had to pump it with the scope on…either I held my left hand on the pistol grip and stressed the screw holding the receiver to the stock, or I held onto the scope and stressed that due to the high pumping effort. I intent to try this Dragonfly Mark2 with a UTG scope I have lying around; I hope to remove the front sight, use a two-piece mount, and loop my left thumb over the rear scope mount when I pump the gun; since the pumping effort is so much lower, I figure that won’t be much stress on a UTG scope (they are pretty tough critters =>). My rifle’s not due in till May…till then, I shall content myself with the excellent data that B.B. is providing for us all. 🙂
Take care & good shooting to you,
dave
You could go ahead and get the 362 and start modding it until the Dragonfly gets here.
Hahahq! I “could” do that, but it might be a tough sell with “da Boss” (my wife); I told her that the last airgun (before the Dragonfly Mark2) was “the last airgun I would need”…well, that’s kind of true…I don’t really “need” any more airguns…I just like having them around…I’m sure you understand! 🙂
Dave,
LOL! Never tell The Boss that, she might hold you to it.
I have been quite fortunate. My wife uses some of my antique air rifles in her decor. They really fit in nice with a “primitive” style in a log home. I do feel like I need to sell one or two of my “modern” air rifles before I buy any more though, if for no other reason than to make room. It is that or buy a bigger house.
“My wife uses some of my antique air rifles in her decor.”
Man, you have been blessed with a cool wife! 🙂
Yes, she is pretty cool. She even bought BB’s Webley Mark 2 Service air rifle for me for Christmas one year. What can I say? I think I’ll keep her.
“She even bought BB’s Webley Mark 2 Service air rifle for me for Christmas one year.”
Awesome! She’s a keeper for sure. 🙂
BB, Maybe test this new DragonFly mark 2 with a Williams AV-B70809 peep sight on the dovetailed receiver, instead of or in addition to a scope?
Robert,
I have been thinking of testing it with a dot sight.
BB
FM followed Gunfun’s suggestion to put one on his Benjamin Maximus and does not regret it.
FM
You mean your Maximus. 🙂
That is what he said.
I like that idea
BB,
I have no desire to buy this gun because I like to buy USA first. I had planned on picking up a Crosman 362. I am put off by a plastic breach. I know it can be replaced, but should have came with metal to begin with. Its simple cost cutting. Still I was moving to buy it anyway. And now this. Geez. I may buy my for China gun. So much quality. Wood, check. Steel, check. Power, double check and impressed. I mean approaching a modded gun. Easy to pump, check. The last thing left is the most important, accuracy. If it has that, my wife won’t like you .
Doc
Doc,
Your wife will join a long line of wives that don’t like me! 🙂
BB
Don’t forget this one is a repeater too.
I wonder if there is any accuracy difference between using the magazine vs. single shot tray.
Based on all the readers’ questions, BB will be very busy testing this one.
RG
What I find with my guns that take a mag or single shot tray is I like the single shot tray. And not because of accuracy. I have guns that shoot very accurately with a mag or a tray out of the same gun.
Why I like the tray is I can just pop a pellet in the breech and shoot and put the gun away or set it down. When I use the mag that means I got to stop and refill it at some point before I can shoot again.
BB
More and more I see these “silencer threads”. I am confused about the whole is it legal or is it not thing. Is it legal to put one on since it’s not a firearm? It would be crazy to have to buy a stamp for a non High Power airgun
Doc
Doc,
Yes, an airgun silencer is legal. BATF cannot, by law, regulate airguns.
However, if that silencer can be made to work on a firearm, then you step over the line of legality.
BB
B.B., I don’t know much about silencers for firearms. Is the threads on airguns and firearms the same? In other words, how can one be sure its an airgun silencer and a firearm silencer? If the threads are different, that would be great.
Doc
Doc, you should go back and search the Blog for B.B.’s past posts on silencers. He goes into a lot more detail. It’s worth the effort.
RG
But it would be nice to know now while we are talking about it. Maybe someone will read and post a link.
Doc
Read my reply to RG.
/blog/2019/03/silencers-an-update/
/blog/2014/11/an-update-on-airgun-silencers/
/blog/2007/01/the-silencer-issue/
The crown looks good, nicer than the 392 that uses paint for a choke. A second front sight mount can be used to make the barrel more rigid, or not. Looks like an updated classic to me. Hope we dont have to wait so long for the test results. And it dont need a springer rated scope, if you go that way, so it can be lighter. The MP7 springer, still not a true bullpuppy, looks like an updated EL Gamo BB
showed a while back, with the crinkle paint. Maybe this gun can put a hurt on the low end spring gun market, with in its performance envelope. If this wasn’t BB’s gun, it would be neat to take it apart, put it back together, the aftermarket calls.
Rob
Rob
To me it looks like the barrel is supported at the front by the muzzle piece to the end cap on the pump tube.
B.B.,
When next you do some shooting with this airgun could you check for residual pressure in the valve at various numbers of pumps please.
shootski
So I keep saying the 362 should of had a steel breech with the dovetails. Just think if the 362 had the scissor pump. I know which gun I would get. The 362. But it don’t but I still got a 362 which I have no regrets getting. And a note I mostly shoot my 362 at 2 to 3 pumps when plinking and already have got several starlings at 50 yards with 8 pumps. So it is making nice power.
You never know Gunfun1 might end up with one of these Dragonfly gen2’s if it turns out to be accurate. And thank goodness it comes with a single shot tray. Will be waiting for BB’s accuracy test.
Gunfun,
I agree with the steel breech. And would like a wood stock. That said, is your 362 hard to pump up with 8 pumps? I too like that the dragon has a single shot tray, but also happy it has a magazine for plinking.
Doc
I don’t see a magazine as a deal breaker for a multi-pump, at least for me. With all that flapping around, I don’t see much disadvantage to then have to manually load the next pellet.
This all brings back memories of when I was a kid with my Crosman 760. I almost never used BBs from the magazine even though I had plenty of both BBs and pellets available to choose from. It was convenient to have the BBs on board, but I could tell even at 8 or ten years old that the manually loaded pellets were more accurate and hit harder. But having a pellet magazine is certainly a differentiating feature from other multi-pumps.
Roamin,
The advantage for me is that while plinking, I don’t have to fumble are for a pellet and manually insert it. I just operate the bolt. For long range, target shooting or hunting, would probably go for the single shot tray. Just me
Doc
Doc
Here is what I said to RG above before I read your conversation here.
“RG
What I find with my guns that take a mag or single shot tray is I like the single shot tray. And not because of accuracy. I have guns that shoot very accurately with a mag or a tray out of the same gun.
Why I like the tray is I can just pop a pellet in the breech and shoot and put the gun away or set it down. When I use the mag that means I got to stop and refill it at some point before I can shoot again.”
Doc
My 362 handles very well and to me the 362 pumps easier than the 392 I had a while back. But it does start building some resistance at about 4 pumps and does get harder the more pumps. And to me it does seem to pump easier than my 1322 and 1377. And to mention my 362 does make more power than the other gun’s with the same amount of pumps. And I do have Maximus barrels on my 1322 and 1377.
My 362 is scheduled to arrive today or tomorrow….yay!
Gunfun1, about how many shots to break in yours? And did you do anything other than shoot pellets for the break in process?
If mine turns out to be a shooter, I’ll risk voiding the warranty and go for the steel breach and a red dot.
RG
Don’t have any idea on the break in. I just shoot it and it does what I want. I’m happy with it when I got it and happy with it now. 🙂
RG
Forgot.
Let us know what you think of your 362 when you get it.
GF1
I certainly will. If this snow will leave us alone so they can deliver it. I got the notice that it was shipped on Wednesday and the tracking said I should have had it last night,, but we had freezing rain and then snow on top of it last night,,, so your guess is as good as mine as to when it will show up.
Ed
Ed
From Wednesday to Thursday we got about 12 inches of snow. A inch of sleet and a 1/4 inch of freezing rain. Then we had lows of 11 degrees Fahrenheit both nights. Today a high of 26 and tomorrow morning a low of zero. Then we start warming up into the 30’s Sunday.
Last year and this year reminds me of close to what kind of winters we had when I was a kid. Only a little more often through the winter back then.
All I know is I’m getting to old for this shoveling. Looks like the next toy I get is a snow blower. Kind of like a pcp electric pump verses a hand pump if you know what I mean.
RG
That’s the way I ordered mine. The steel breech, that is. It cost an extra $25 to have them do it for me,, but the warrantee remains intact. I haven’t checked today, but as of yesterday mine was in the “shop” so I’m hoping for some good news when I check, today.
Ed
Ed
That’s a nice option PA has. I guess you mean PA?
Ed
Forgot.
Let us know what you think when you get your 362.
BB,
In part 1 you pumped up to 8 pumps and confirmed that the gun didn’t get any harder to pump. Now that you have pumped this one all the way to 15 pumps, what say ye, now?
Half
BB, BTW are you getting any of the bad weather?
Half,
B.B. hasn’t posted a reply since around 10:00 EST or so. The DFW area was getting a bunch of Freezing Rain in the afternoon. I hope he is safe at home with power or a generator. A friend who flys a route in and out of DFW said his flight got cancelled today for some bad icing conditions.
I guess if power and communication are disrupted there may be no blog tonight.
Time will tell.
shootski
shootski,
Thanks for the heads up.
Half
Half,
It’s cold and we have snow, which only comes every 4-5 years down here.
BB
Thankfully, the last time we had snow – mostly quickly-dissipating powdery flakes – further “down here” was January 19, 1977.
To you and those affected, stay warm and safe.
FM
I really need to move somewhere warm when I retire in a few years.
N-Central FL is not a bad place to be; a cousin who lived in N Miami bought 5 acres in Alachua, N of Gainesville, then built a house on the acreage. He and his Mrs. are happy as clams there. If the concrete-cancer gets too close to where we are now, we’re gonna hightail it out of here.
Fm
I’m away from the concrete cancer and definitely happy about that. Just not into the cold and snow and ice thing anymore.