This report covers:
- New pellets
- AEA
- ZAN
- JTS and Benjamin
- Gunslynger
- PCP match
- Ian on the line
- Spring-piston match
- Summary
Today we look at Part 3 of the 2024 Pyramyd AIR Cup, and specifically the Gunslynger match and one other thing. I’ll start with the other thing.
New pellets
I mentioned in Part 2 that there were new pellets in use at the Pyramyd AIR Cup this year. A couple of them we already knew and have tested but a couple others have not yet been discussed in this blog. I’ll start with those new guys first.
AEA
The AEA pellet was the talk of the entire show. Shooters were using it in all the matches, and since I watched reader 45Bravo (Ian McKee) prepare for the Gunslynger match, I will discuss it first. Ian was shooting a .22-caliber AEA Sniper semiautomatic rifle and firing AEA Center Punch 18.3-grain domed pellets. He discovered they went to the same point of aim as the 18.1-grain JTS Dead Center domes, but when he switched from AEA to JTS pellets, the JTS pellets shot to the left of the aim point until the fifth shot. Then they were back to the aim point.
I had dinner with Ian and the U.S. representative for AEA pellets and it looks like there is a new game in town. I did see JSB pellets being used in all the matches, but AEA were the pellets everyone was talking about. I was given a sample and you know I will test them for you. Pyramyd AIR doesn’t list them yet, but they probably will soon, because this is the pellet everyone is talking about.
I predict you will hear a lot about the AEA Center Punch domes.
ZAN projectiles
If you shoot slugs you know about ZAN Projectiles, but did you know they also make a .30 caliber 56-grain diabolo? All the top Benchrest shooters at the Cup had them. I got a “Teaser” sample pack of ZAN slugs to test for you but even the ZAN rep. on Vendor’s Row didn’t have any diabolos — at least any that she was willing to share with me.
The ZAN Diabolo.
JTS and Benjamin
I did see JTS Dead Center domes in all the matches and Benjamin Single Die pellets in field target, plus I think in Gunslynger. But Benjamin doesn’t make a .30 caliber Single Die, so no high-scoring shooters used them in Benchrest, where .30 caliber dominated.
Gunslynger
In the Gunslynger match each shooter is paired against another shooter on the lane next to them, and they shoot against each other. Each shooter is presented with 20 metal silhouette targets –five chickens at 10 yards, five pigs at 25 yards, five turkeys at 40 yards and five rams at 55 yards. The object is to knock down all the targets before the shooter you are paired against.
In the old days the targets were not tied down. They just sat on a flat surface until they were hit. I remember in years past dozens of us going downrange and searching for those little chickens in the grass. Today with the more powerful air rifles we would have to look for them in low earth orbit! Fortunately Pyramyd AIR purchased many steel target holders, so now all the silhouettes do is flop over backwards when hit. Those target holders are the gray boxes you see on the range in some of the pictiures. Resetting the targets now takes seconds instead of minutes.
Five of each silhouette are at each range. All must be toppled to win.
Shooters in the mag-fed PCP match start with a 10-round magazine outside the rifle. At the start of their match they insert the first mag in the rifle and start shooting. After the first ten shots they have to reload the rifle to complete the match. The follow-on mags may contain as many pellets as you want.
There were many competitors and several relays of shooters took place. This year the wind was a problem for many shooters. I saw one guy knock down 19 of his 20 targets and then fire about 10 shots at the final ram silhouette before the guy he was paired against won.
The targets were painted either blue or red so you knew you were shooting at the right silhouettes, since the competitive lanes were next to each other. I would have been at a disadvantage because I had a hard time seeing the red silhouettes. Come on, guys — fourteen percent of all males are red-green colorblind. Choose yellow for the other target color!
Mag-fed PCP match
This is called the mag-fed PCP match because there have been single-shot PCP matches at other events. But this year any PCP could compete, and since this is a match that runs against the clock, single-shots have little chance.
Ian on the line
Ian McKee placed 7th last year and was hoping to move up this year. He switched rifles from an AEA HP SS Plus that he used in 2023 to an AEA Sniper select-fire rifle this year. The Sniper is a longer rifle that is more powerful, and Ian adjusted it to make it smoother to shoot in the semiauto mode. He only had the new rifle for a week before traveling to the Cup.
The Sniper is complex and when he made the mandatory mag change in the match he accidentally bumped a switch, changing the rifle from semiauto to non-semiauto. AEA calls it the single shot mode, but what that really means is the shooter has to physically cock the bolt for each shot; it’s still a repeater. Ian didn’t discover his mistake for several seconds. As a result, he wasn’t able to recover from the loss of time and was eliminated in the first round.
Ian is figuring out why his AEA rifle isn’t shooting. It took him several seconds and in this match, time is crucial!
The winner of the Gunslynger PCP, who dropped all 20 targets in 35 seconds with a magazine change, was Adam Migel. He shot an FX Impact. He received a $1,500 cash prize for first place.
Spring-piston match
Believe it or not, there was a Gunslynger match for spring-piston shooters, as well as the main one for precharged pneumatics (PCP). In the past the springer shooters had to knock all 20 targets down to win, but that sometimes took forever, so this year they shortened it to five minutes and the winner of the two competing lanes was the one who dropped the most targets by the end.
Yes, there were even breakbarrel springers in Gunslynger.
I saw at least one TX200 and one Diana sidelever on the line as well. And I believe in at least two instances a springer knocked down all 20 targets in less than five minutes.
First place went Cameron Kerndt, who dropped all the targets within the time limit to win $1,500. He shot a TX200 Mark III that looked like a Hunter Carbine to me.
In 2023 they also had a single-shot class for PCPs, but that was eliminated this year. Single shot PCPs could compete in the PCP match, but it was against the mag-fed PCPs which was a huge disadvantage.
Summary
Gunslynger is a match in which both speed and accuracy are important. I hope this report has cleared it up for you.
B.B.,
Looking forward to what you decide to shoot the new Diabolo Pellets with!
Bummer on the selector bump Ian!
In Ian on the Line photo caption: “Ian is figuring out why his AEA rifle isn’t shooting. It took him several seconds and in this match, time is crutial!” It could be CRUCIAL to spell it correctly as well.
shootski
shootski,
Fixed it. Thanks,
BB
“The Sniper is complex and when he made the mandatory mag change in the match he accidentally bumped a switch, changing the rifle from semiauto to non-semiauto.”
BB,
In this case, I blame the rifle, not the shooter. As a retired design engineer, I would say that anytime you have a switch that important that can be switched without deliberate conscious effort, then you, the design engineer, have committed a major mistake! I hope AEA reads this and fixes their error.
Till they do, I wouldn’t even buy their pellets, as I can’t support schlocky engineering practices. 😉
Blessings to you,
dave
P.S. Your book rocks! (I’m halfway through it) 🙂
Dave,
I blame the gun’s design, too! I think Ian does, as well, but he is too kind to say it.
BB
Yep; he’s too kind to say it, so we have to say it for him: “Shoddy engineering, AEA! Please fix it!”
Ian,
Too bad you had a mechanical gremlin holding you back. There is always next year!
Siraniko
Tom,
I know it is only a singular observation: “Ian was shooting a .22-caliber AEA Sniper semiautomatic rifle and firing AEA Center Punch 18.3-grain domed pellets. He discovered they went to the same point of aim as the 18.1-grain JTS Dead Center domes, but when he switched from AEA to JTS pellets, the JTS pellets shot to the left of the aim point until the fifth shot. Then they were back to the aim point.”
But doesn’t this support that there should be a few rounds fired of each particular pellet before shooting for groups?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I agree that it does supoort that belief.
BB
They might want a short range Slynger; closer range for all the 1077s and mag-fed Sigs. Say 6, 9, 12, and 15 yards? Have the silhouettes arranged so they can’t be shot in a row for an additional challenge. Just a thought!
OP,
That is a great thought. Thanks for sharing.
BB
B.B.
AEA pellets? Where are they made? Are they made by a major pellet manufacturer? My understanding is that the dies for pellets and the optical scanners for QC are quite expensive.
Yes, Cameron is a great shooter, former FT World Champion!
-Yogi
Yogi,
AEA pellets are made in China with close ties to JTS pellets. I don’t know a lot about them — yet, but Ian knows more.
BB
Thanks for the well-done report. Sorry for your misfortune Ian. Just looking at some photos, I think that the switch might could also be inadvertently switched while operating the bolt in the single shot mode. Definitely something that I think AEA needs to revise.
Hello Elmer, not really, to go into the single shot mode you just have to push the switch forward into the single shot mode.
To engage semi auto, you have to engage the bolt release, retract the bolt, then move the selector switch rearward to the semi auto position.
I have talked to them, and given feedback, (even before the cup).
I think the selector switch could and should be a more simple, and positive switch.
Similar to an AR-15 style.
They can keep the safety switch separate from the selector.
For the next cup they say there will be a new rifle based on their MCAR that was released on 9/13/24 but in .22 caliber but also semi auto only.
The rifle I used last year is semiauto only, and only has 1 control, the safety.
There isn’t even a bolt hold open on that earlier model. And I am fine with that.
I 3D printed a bolt hold open block with a red tag that says EMPTY CHAMBER.
The guns are very accurate in semi auto mode. I have not tested them in the single shot mode yet, but with the power levels it generates, I think it has the potential to reach out for some distance.
Ian
I am glad that the sproingers were allowed to compete in this type of match. With the exception of a few devotees in FT, sproingers have been pushed to the side in so many of the newer airgun shooting competitions.
Believe me, I do understand the difficulty of shooting a sproinger and often the lack of accuracy at long range. Many in the airgun world have become fascinated with shooting with accuracy at what not too long ago would be considered impossible ranges.
Unfortunately, I do believe that due to these modern competitions among other things, the sproinger is doomed to the annals of history. I do hope that in this matter I am wrong. They may come back around again as they did in the first place. It will take a good bit of engineering though and they will not be cheap.
To the best of my knowledge there are only two airgun companies that have devoted a considerable amount of time, money and engineering into the world of sproingers and those companies have also entered into the world of PCPs. It was inevitable of course. That is where the big bucks are, for now at least.
It is most unfortunate that as an old curmudgeon, I myself am not likely to see the renaissance of the sproinger, as this will not likely happen for many years to come. Some of you young whippersnappers might though. 😉
“…due to these modern competitions among other things, the sproinger is doomed to the annals of history.”
Excellent point, RidgeRunner; I may have to buy a couple more quality sproingers for that reason alone! 😉
Dave,
Go for it. If for no other reason it may keep them alive a little longer.
Another thing to keep in mind is I am just a grumpy old curmudgeon. I may be wrong.
Despite the above-mentioned glitches, seems a good time was had by you and Ian at the Pyramyd AIR Cup; glad you were able to participate.
There still are a lotta fine “sproinger ladies” to dance with, RR – FM is fortunate to have some that will dance with him. To paraphrase Steve Jobs a ‘lil bit here, the process of mastering “sproinger” shooting is the destination. Call it the goal. And while at times it is frustrating, it is Fun Much!
Soon as the rain and the heat let up around here, going to give it another go with the HW90 including “chronying” it.
FM,
My point exactly. Weihrauch happens to be one of the top shelf sproinger manufacturers still in existence.
RidgeRunner,
CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION
TUFF LOVE SESSION!
How quickly we forget the airguns we didn’t buy….
“To the best of my knowledge there are only two airgun companies that have devoted a considerable amount of time, money and engineering into the world of sproingers…”
Repeat after me:
SIG AIR, SIG AIR, SIG AIR.
I believe they invested time, money, and in qualty equipment and engineering. The possibilities for future development of the ASP Line was huge…but the airgunners gave no love.
Sproingers are DOA in the near to mid term; just waiting for the curmudgeons to exit this earth for the great sproinger range in the sky
shootski
Same with the Walther LGV/U and FWB 124 redo….
-Y
Did the wood stocked version of the SIG ASP ever see the light of day?
I was waiting for that one! I only saw the plastic stocked one available.
-Y
Yogi,
It did indeed. I was waiting to see the polymer stocked one when they bailed out.
Yogi,
I snagged a wood stock in .177 and a synthetic in .22 caliber toward the bitter end.
shootski
Yogi,
Sadly true!
shootski
SIG AIR is dead! Sig Sauer threw the ASP20 away to devote the time, money and engineering to the US Government contracts. As far as this old curmudgeon is concerned, Sig Sauer can stick it where the sun does not shine!
As for my owning one of those things, Sig Sauer bailed out before I had the chance. I am not about to buy something like that at this stage in the game. Weihrauch and Air Arms are still going at it.
RidgeRunner,
My point was not to upset you but that money has been invested and as Yogi points out some of the better outfits have also had their modern QUALITY spring piston gun designs not make it on a profitable level.
Sadly that is not going to get better in my opinion.
I would like to be surprised but European shooting clubs are consolidating or closing down altogether and they were the most significant purchasers of quality (air)guns of any powerplant type in quantity.
shootski
shootski,
You may be right concerning what these companies are weathering at this time. Something I have noticed is the focus on the US market. This market is still in a growing phase, most especially with the constraints that are being placed on powder burners these days.
Upset with you or Yogi? Not me, not even. The main problem is it takes time for something to reach the proper level. That is what happened to the ASP20. It disappeared from Sig Sauer’s lineup before it had a chance to get rolling good. They blew it.
For one thing, it was overly expensive. It first had to prove itself before the likes of us bought it and it was too expensive for the newbies. They saw big, fast dollar signs with DOD, but knew that it was going to take time for the ASP line to make it.
It is almost impossible to get a DAQ these days. I had the chance to buy two brand new DAQs and did not do such. Shame on me. The ASP20? Too new for me. Maybe I will buy on in a hundred years. Yeah, right.
RidgeRunner,
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
The DAQ phone marathon/lottery i could win so once i had my first DAQ in hand i realized that i would need to win a BIG dollar lottery to ever get a Girardoni…i spent a great deal of time in or near the ocean and never once was bitten by a shark and struck by lightning on the same day.
(Those are about the same odds as winning the lottery.). So i kept saving my Open Water Swim and Triathlon lifeguarding coins and buying DAQs. One day in the distant future i hope and believe at least a few of the DAQs will achieve near Girardoni status. Most folks today are clueless to the fact that Dennis is one of, if not The, father of the modern PCP revolution.
shootski
shootski,
Dennis was not the only one, but he was certainly quite reasonable in his prices and most prolific. I just wish I could get my grubby little paws on an Amaranth.
Speaking of deer, I just watched five of them grazing in my side yard.
Nice! Here’s a pic of a doe that walked right up to me as she was trying to see the cat at my heels. 🙂
This was on the trail that goes around our half-acre pond; there are always deer coming to drink from the pond before they bed down in the hardwoods below the pond retention embankment.
LOL! I remember the day, sometime before we fenced out yard in, a doe chased our dog up onto the front porch. I suspect she was protecting her fawn. Mrs. RR and I still laugh about that.
No deer around here, but we get visits from an egret, who hunts with no regret. The most successful hunter in these parts, in fact.
FM,
They are awesome birds! I have seen them around here some.
FawltyManuel,
Beautiful bird!
I get to watch Herons all the time when i kayak. They are good at gigging the big frogs with a swift peck.
The other day i was buzzed by a really big Bald Eagle on his way to grab a fish out of the river…so cool to watch.
shootski
Shootski,
While paddling in the Boundary Waters (while my son was a Scout) we had a Bald Eagle fly over us, carrying a fish in its talons. At a height of about 20 feet, it looked huge and we could hear the wings move the air. Incredible! I must have paused for about 20 seconds, then my son broke me out of my reverie by asking if I was okay.
Pardon me while I go grab a paddle…
Bill
Fortunately, they are making a comeback here.
FM, I love those egrets; we had tons of them around when we lived in Florida. 😉
Billj,
No need to ask to be pardoned on my account!
Paddling is so much fun with the chance to see things that power boaters never get to see, feel, and hear.
The craziest thing i have ever witnessed in the Atlantic paddling a kayak was a dolphin run. I could hear them before i could see them and then instantly to be surrounded by a few hundred charging Flippers after some school of fish was breathtakingly beautiful.
shootski