BB’s Goldie.
This report covers:
- Goldie is back
- Lots of shots
- RovAir failed
- Lower pressure is fine
- Let’s test!
- Air Arms 16-grain domes
- JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned
- Next
- Summary
Today I return to BB’s Goldie — a .22-caliber precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle that was once my favorite. But the Air Venturi Avenge-X came along and its High and Low power settings, plus the ability to change calibers within minutes overcame all of Goldie’s virtues. So I set her aside — for two and one-half years!
Just because the Avenge-X is hyper-accurate doesn’t take away any of Goldie’s equally stunning accuracy, and for those who don’t know, Goldie is an Air Venturi Avenger that’s been Cerakoted with gold paint. It’s part of the Build Your Own Airgun Program at Pyramyd Air.
Avengers may not have all the features of an Avenge-X, but they can be tuned. The same things I have been doing with both the .177 and .22 Avenge-X can also be done with an Avenger.
Many shooters bought Avengers when they first came out and there are over 300 reviews on the Pyramyd AIR website. Most of them give high praise for the rifle. The major complaint I see was about early guns that leaked, but the number was low and from what I can see the problem seems to have been resolved. The comments I read everywhere praise the rifle for accuracy. That was certainly my experience — both with the first Avenger I tested, then with the Avenger Bullpup and finally with BB’s Goldie.
Goldie is back
I recently reorganized my gun room and, when I saw Goldie standing there without a scope and looking forlorn, I resolved to do something about it. I read her five reports from 2022 and remembered just how great that Meopta MeoSport R 3-15X50RD was. Boy, if I could just find a scope that’s nearly as nice (fat chance except perhaps a Integrix with the same power range, or a higher-end Burris). But when I looked in the cabinet where I keep my scopes that aren’t on airguns what did I see? There was the exact Meopta scope that had been on Goldie back in 2022. Goldie gets her glass back!
Lots of shots
One thing I learned from testing the Avenge-X is these rifles do not have to be filled to 4,350 psi/300 bar to work well. They get lots of shots on far less pressure. Goldie gave me 86 shots on a full fill and 44 shots on a fill to just 2500 psi, when the regulator was set low.
I need to test Goldie’s velocity again, because too much time has lapsed since I last shot her. After filling I saw that the regulator was set very low. It read either 1800 psi or lower — the gauge is too small for my eyes to read. After filling the rifle to 3000 psi the reg gauge looks like it reads 1400 psi. I have noticed the gauge will move a little when the shooting starts, so I will hold my report on where it really is until I see the needle after several shots.
RovAir failed
It’s a good thing I filled to lower pressure today because my RovAir Portable Air Compressor quit on me about two weeks ago. It would fill to just under 1,000 psi and then everything stopped. I sent it back to Pyramyd Air for repairs and am now filling my rifles with either air tanks or the G9 hand pump. So filling to lower pressure is a good thing because it uses less air.
I will stay on top of the RovAir for you. I bought it with the sole purpose that we could see the long term operational characteristics of the compressor, and that’s what I intend doing.
Lower pressure is fine
Lower pressure in Goldie still gives me all the shots I want at what I consider a reasonable power level — 23-25 foot-pounds, depending on the pellet. I have the Avenge-X if I want more power.
Let’s test!
I just wanted to see where Goldie is right now. I have good data from 2022 on a couple pellets, so that was my baseline. Let’s test!
After all the recent testing I have done with the Avenge-X I have learned to “wake up” the system before recording any numbers. Today I shot five pellets without recording anything. Then I started the test.
Air Arms 16-grain domes
In December of 2022 Air Arms 16-grain domes averaged 832 f.p.s. The velocity spread was 10 f.p.s. Today the same pellet averaged 772 f.p.s. with a velocity spread of 15 f.p.s. As I shot today’s string the velocity decreased. The reg setting read 1200 psi at the end of this string. I think that’s way too low and it’s the reason for the wonky shot string velocities.
JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned
For the JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned pellet I shot just once before recording the string. In December of 2022 these pellets averaged 672 f.p.s. with a velocity spread of 7 f.p.s. Today the average was 612 f.p.s. with a 17 f.p.s. spread.
Next
I must have done something to Goldie’s regulator in 2022 that I didn’t record. And it doesn’t look like what I did was good for the performance of the rifle.
Before I can get Goldie back to shooting targets I need to sort out the powerplant. The reg needs to be bumped up to at least 1800 psi and I’m thinking something over 2000 psi would be better. I won’t obsess over the fewest f.p.s. velocity variation I can get, but the rifle does need to perform better than we see today. My work with the Avenge-X will no doubt serve us well for Goldie, too.
Summary
Shooting BB’s Goldie again is like starting all over. But this time I have what I’ve learned from shooting and adjusting the Avenge-X, plus there are a lot of fine new premium pellets today that Goldie never saw. This should be a very interesting series! And you Avenger owners can comment on what works well for you.
Morning everyone,
I thought this post would elicit many comments from Avenger owners. Maybe they are all late sleepers?
BB
I can’t speak for others, but I did get up a little late today. I don’t have many PCPs…yet…and the one I have is patiently waiting for me to find my round tuit. Still, I like the tuning articles.
But the quote for the weekend to me is this: “I recently reorganized my gun ROOM….” I had imagined you had a gun HOUSE, but an entire gun room is more than I have. I am working on organizing a gun CLOSET.
RG,
LOL! I also have only a gun closet and Mrs. RR is doing her best to keep it that way. Now there are a few of the really “old gals” hanging around my great room. She does not mind them too much as they ARE antiques and fit in well with her decor. She even accepts the fact that I live here also.
Grudgingly, for sure.
B.B. and all, I was thinking recently about storing airguns. What is the best way to store a breakbarrel? My PB gunsmith told me once the best way to store guns is barrel down. Doing so keeps the oils that folks like to saturate their actions with from penetrating too deeply into wooden stocks. It may also keep some of the curved butt pads from flattening out. With break barrels, I am also considering how to store them with the barrel slightly broken, to keep from flattening the breach seal. However, most vertical gun racks work best with the guns sitting barrel up, and the horizontal ones would not support the hinge on a breakbarrel to keep it open just a bit.
How do you store your guns? And if you would please, provide a pic.
Roamin,
Butt down. My breakbarrels have NO oils that “saturate their actions.” They are dry on the outside.
BB
Thanks. I’m thinking of using the P.A. pellet tin packing material as a cushion to line the edges of the gun rack where the guns would touch. I saved a whole box of those foam squares with the holes. I could cut them in half and line them up to make a scalloped edge for the barrels to nestle in.
RG, that’s an interesting idea. I am not sure what material the foam is made from. But I would be concerned about possible chemical reactions with the finishes on the guns. Perhaps wrapping or lining them with some cotton felt might be some insurance against that?
Thanks!
That material is polyethylene foam (usually called PE). It is a very good packaging material. Note, if you take a heat gun to it carefully (takes seconds), the surface will melt slightly, and it will stick very strongly to another piece of PE foam, you can see how they “laminate” layers of it to make thicker cross section. Your idea should work nicely.
Thanks. I will look into getting a heat gun. Would be useful for other things like loosening parts and stripping paint. Perhaps cotton felt will also stick to the melty inner semicircle…no adhesive needed?
Anyone know if polyethylene is reactive with common plastics?
RG,
A form of polyethylene (UHMWPE – ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) is what is used for (plastic) cutting boards, so I think that most PE’s are pretty non-reactive. Just check occasionally, to make sure that there isn’t any reaction/moisture retention.
Bill
Thank you so much.
Lots of ways to store guns
another picture since you asked for pictures
Whoa! I think I just wet my pants a little!
I have seen these pics before on an airgun forum.
I think I counted 216 rifles between the two pictures.
I have a aways to go….
That is crazy, at least 60,000 bucks worth of airguns. Wow…
Mike
To each their own. Many cars cost as much. Hopefully, the owner has an estate plan that covers what to do with them all. He could shoot one different airgun for every day of the year. But wouldn’t it be ironic if he mainly shot an HW30S?
73? Kevin is this your gun room? It is awe-inspiring. I need to find a friend with a drill press. Those strips with the pegs look perfect. It must be a full-time job to shoot them all. It looks like the length of this room might be just enough for an indoor 10 meter shooting range, too.
“A gun room, a gun room; my kingdom for a gun room!” So pleadeth King-in-His-Own-Mind FM. But, what kingdom? The only Monarchs ‘round here are butterflies…
“The only Monarchs ‘round here are butterflies…”
FM, here’s one I took a pic of for you whilst walking my dog today. 😉
thedavemyster,
I really hate to burst your bubble Dave but that is a Viceroy in your photograph.
https://journeynorth.org/tm/monarch/Viceroy.html
shootski
shootski, that’s cool; I don’t mind being corrected; thank you for that link! 🙂
shootski,
Wow! The things I learn on this blog are incredible. Thanks,
BB
B.B.,
You know it is all your fault!
People come and go over the years, some only briefly, but many stay over the long haul to just read your work or some to also post to help.
You have a Blog that is so very different from most all of the rest that it attracts a different collection of folks. By that i mean a kinder gentler bunch of folks
It is something that is hard to find on the Internet these days.
May the good Lord Bless you always,
shootski
AMEN!
Good morning BB,
I don’t have an Avenger, but I do really enjoy watching the tuning posts. So thanks.
CB
Good Morning BB,
As you well know, I also do not own one of these things and likely will not. I do like to have you write about these though. Many of your techniques do apply to other airguns, some of which I do own.
Also, as you say there are many who read this blog who do indeed own Avengers and I am certain your further writing on this subject will give them further insights into what they can do to and with these air rifles.
My excuse for being a little later than usual to comment is that (since I hadn’t before) I felt I should read the earlier reports on BB’s Goldie first. Very interesting! This should prove to be another great learning experience. I am interested in whether or not the differences in the Avenger vs the more sophisticated AvengeX make the tuning process for the Avenger less complex. And, if so, whether or not the Avenger’s fewer available adjustments have enough tuning flexibility available to get reasonably similar results.
Elmer and BB
“ I am interested in whether or not the differences in the Avenger vs the more sophisticated AvengeX make the tuning process for the Avenger less complex.”
Your comments mirror my thoughts. Back when BB began the Avenge-X tests I wondered if it was an improvement over my .25 caliber Avenger. Caliber switching didn’t appeal to me and the high low power port adjustment seemed over the top. I have only begun to sort through the endless settings combinations on my Avenger and I won’t live long enough to reach infinity. I bought my wood stock rifle new for nearly half the Avenge-X price. I have often shot sub MOA 10 shot groups at 25 yards with both JSB Exact King 25.39 grain and AA Diabolo Field 25.4 grain pellets. This is with both the factory settings and my current high shot count settings which still delivers 35 fpe.
BB, my regulator gage moved around for the first couple hundred shots but holds steady now. My current reg setting is about 1700 psi. I don’t understand Goldie’s velocity loss unless the seals have been asleep too long.
I am not knocking the Avenge-X. Some folks may go for the caliber switching. One could spend an entire lifetime adjusting for each caliber and each pellet. But for me, my other airguns demand exercise too. Good report!
Deck
Glad to see this. I still love my Avenger. Mine is a .22 set at about 1850 on the reg and makes 30.25fpe. I neglected to record which pellet and speed that is with though. I set it up using the Steve Scialli(sp) Pro tune spec.
Shoots Moa and likes JSB Hades, AA Field Heavy and H&N FTT the best overall. Looking forward to this revisit!
Bob
I have to plead guilty as well.
As I was packing for the move I found my wood stock Avenger languishing in it case also without a scope.
It’s still holding air where I had left it. But it don’t seem like it’s been 2 years.
(It was set up for 100 yard bench rest pellet shooting when I last shot it.)
My Avenger bull pup was not holding air so I filled it and it has a slow leak about 1000 psi a month.
Gunpower Stealth still holding air in a tank from 1998. With little to no maintenance. (I need to visit this airgun more.)
Other pcp’s, about 75% of those still holding air.
Time flies as we get older.
Ian
Tom,
I think with the passage of time the regulator needs to work some to get back into the pressure desired. Maybe you ought to shoot a tin of lead sinker larvae before tinkering with the regulator.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
That’s good advice, but I don’t have the time to shoot a whole tin without getting a blog.
BB
Also late to the blog this AM, but I am very interested in this old-new series. I have an Avenger in .177 that was working marvelously from day one, just out of the box.
Not able to leave good enough alone – it is in my nature – I lowered the regulator pressure to the minimum, save a fraction of a turn. The gauge indicated about 1,800 psi, slightly lower than the factory 1,900 psi, and still higher than what I wanted My goal was to trade power for an increased number of regulated shots. Well, things didn’t work out as expected. The regulator doesn’t like the low setting, and the pressure is unstable, which is reflected in the Chrony results. My plan is to go up a little at a time looking for a sweet spot.
However, other projects got in the way and my Avenger is, like yours until yesterday, feeling abandoned. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. It will surely inspire me to go back again and see what is going on.
Henry
Henry,
Perhaps I will find the sweet spot for you.
BB
BB,
What is the trigger like on Goldie? Is it pretty adjustable? My original model HW100 has a super barrel and trigger, but you expect that from HW. I’m wondering if the Avenger is now the new gold standard for a low cost PCP for field target, taking the Marauder’s place? I would never trade my HW 100 for an Avenger but it might be helpful information for someone trying to get into field target on a budget.
Brent
Brent,
It’s been several years, but I did write that the trigger is somewhat mushy. I’ll have to shoot it for accuracy to really know.
BB
B.B,
I slept in!
Did a test workout on my newly received SlackBlock last night and my legs needed the extra rack time.
Tom did you use a drop or two of Chamber Oil before a fill on Goldie?
shootski
shootski,
No oil. I thought about it but decided not to.
She seems to be holding fine so far.
BB
Just a passing observation. H&N 10 gr HP slugs shoot very well in my Beeman P17 pistol at my 10ft rocking chair range. 🙂 I wonder why that’s so?
I’ve got a 22 Avenger, and it’s quite accurate. Very pleased with the gun. Trigger could be better, but overall a powerful and accurate rifle.
I wonder if there are easy mods that would improve the trigger.
B..B.
Leaky seals would be my guess…
-Y
PS maybe she is pissed off at you for the neglect. She has feeling too.
I think my faith is being tested. I am backed up on everything and am trying to fit blog time into rest periods, so I don’t feel guilty of neglecting things when I do.
So, I’m caring for my disabled ex-wife who seems to be near death, an old shipmate and longtime friend in a memory care home, who is refusing to eat, is fading away and no longer remembers me, when my daughter calls and asks if I could check up on and help a friend of hers who is alone and dying from bone cancer and can’t get around much to shop for things, will be evicted from his apartment soon and be homeless.
Around 50, he believes he will not live to see 2025.
He does however have lots of tools, firearms and a restored 1969 Mustang he can no longer drive that he can pass on to someone who will care for it. He knows I have two of them already.
Time management is about to be a top priority in my life and what little there is for airgun interests may be eliminated for a while. I’ll be checking on him tomorrow and looking for any assistance available to him.
I sure am glad I prepared for old age and retirement for myself. May even get to retire from retirement one day and start shooting! … Between checking for southern California wildfires near me that is. 🙁
Bless you, Bob, for your caring heart! Are there any family, friends, church members, etc. who could spell you to give you breaks from having to be on the front line for these folks? Is hospice care available? I would check with your state human services to see what resources are available. I prayed for you just now and will add you to my prayer list.
Brent
Bob,
Each of us has his destiny. The Lord has shown you yours.
BB
BB,
Either that or my daughters have come to believe that I am the great problem solver.
I think it started when I asked my father for a wrench to adjust the seat and handlebar on my first bicycle or perhaps when I asked for more parts for my ‘Erector Set’ toy?
Funny how things like that seem to just disappear from your life as you grow up without any memory of ever throwing them away.
Come to think about it, my mom always hated clutter and probably gave my things away without telling me when I stopped using them. I certainly would never have thrown away my Roy Rogers twin cap guns and holster.
Brent,
Thank you. To be honest I live too far out in the boonies for any sort of home care assistance but evidently, he does not. I have not talked with him yet. Daughter mentioned he considered Hospice.
Stage 4 bone cancer is horrible to even think about and before reaching 60?
I may have mentioned this before. I gave some thought to learning that you have a terminal illness and decided to think of it as having died already but God just gave you some time to get your life in order to prepare for it. Relieve some of the anxiety perhaps.
thedavemyster,
Your welcome!
Both are beautiful!
Just yesterday while out kayaking an eastern black swallowtail landed on my front deck for a free ride.
scientific name: Papilio polyxenes asterius (Stoll) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
They also come in a yellow version that is more common.
A bunch of different dragonfly (not the airgun) were out and about.
shootski