"Shooting Times" Cheap Scopes
A nice little blurb on what to look for in an inexpensive scope.
Article: Cheap Scopes
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Sure the engineers at Air Arms know a thing or two about making accurate rifles. It’s the reason why I bought two AA rifles. But still, I’m sticking to what I believe in. And you have your belief as well and I respect that. There’s no need to get all defensive and all. Isn’t the reason for the existence of this forum the exchange of ideas for the benefit of its members? Obviously your happy with your setup and I’m happy with mine. Let’s keep it at that. Peace!
“Good for me”? Whatever.
Yes.. the AF securing method is very secure. But securing a barrel to a pressure vessel as would be the case in your 410 example is often times frowned upon – Hence free floating barrel’s being rather popular.
Rapid
FX
Steyr
BSA
to name a few
I think the engineer’s at AA know something about making an airgun and changed the design for a reason and I’ll cede to their judgment.
Have you actually experienced POI shift or are you just theorizing?
I keep my gun standing up in a gunsafe and its had its fair share of knocks when its removed (luckily its in a gun sock so it doesn’t get damaged. I’ve never had my zero shift or had my first shot (or any afterward) not hit where it was supposed to.
As far as I am aware the barrel is free floating inside the shroud and doesn’t move with the shroud. If the shroud moves enough to effect POI its doing it because pellets are clipping.
Good for you that you haven’t experienced any POI issues with yours. As for my earlier post, I was just theorizing. However, I still subscribe to the idea that barrels that are secured via set screws are those that will always follow the direction the shroud (or whatever they’re screwed onto) is facing and are the best means of keeping a true barrel-to-scope relationship due to the elimination of an o-ring, which adds another hidden variable to consider in accurate shooting; it can virtually change POI by way of pressure against the barrel and shroud. This is the reason why I like the way the Airforce barrels are secured as this variable or “middleman,” so to speak, is nonexistent. My scope’s reticle is always perfectly aligned with the barrel despite the knocks and bumps it goes through during my clumsiest moments with the rifle.
Have you actually experienced POI shift or are you just theorizing?
I keep my gun standing up in a gunsafe and its had its fair share of knocks when its removed (luckily its in a gun sock so it doesn’t get damaged. I’ve never had my zero shift or had my first shot (or any afterward) not hit where it was supposed to.
As far as I am aware the barrel is free floating inside the shroud and doesn’t move with the shroud. If the shroud moves enough to effect POI its doing it because pellets are clipping.
Thanks Spinj. Now I’ll have to rethink my whole breech decision because of your 2 cents. 
I have the bolt version of the S410 and I like it better. One big advantage it has over the sidelever version is the bushing that secures the barrel to the shroud. Unlike the sidelever version, the bushing on the bolt version has no o-ring. To me, any barrel bushing with an o-ring designed to make the barrel fit snugly isn’t really a clever idea because o-rings – virtually made of rubber – are soft and can give way to point-of-impact shifts overtime depending on how the rubber is contorted. With even half a millimeter of change of the bushing, you’re bound to get POI shift. And what can make it even more frustrating is that the problem is so elusive that although the shroud is in the same place, the barrel isn’t and you can’t tell so without the aid of a laser mounted on the barrel (this is why I have a laser to guide my zero for all distances on all my PCPs). I believe that it is best if the barrel is secured against a hard surface as the bolt versions are configured. Even better, I’d like if the barrel is secured the way the barrel is on the current Airforce guns, and that is with set screws.
Don’t let me discourage you though. Even though the S410 bolt versions are no longer sold, the S410s in general are balls accurate. They are so damn easy to shoot that they can almost be labeled as a “fire and forget” type of rifle.
If and when I purchase one I think I’ll leave well enough alone. I wouldn’t dream of tinkering with that English work of art.
More than a few people have trumpeted the virtues of the side-lever over the bolt action. Side-lever it is then.
Thanx to all for the great info. 
Mines a sidelever, which makes it easier to cock than the bolt actions. However proper technique is all thats required for a bolt. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a bolt gun if it had the right price.
How loud is a S410? I have one of the newer ones made in 2008, and it was only slightly louder than my .25 condor with my custom shroud. When I was shooting it outside, I could “sometimes” hear the muzzle report echo back to me.
The shroud tube ID is .630 ish. I say “ish” because 5/8″ washers from ACE fit inside if they measured .629 or less.
Makin my own baffles for the tube made it quiet as the condor. Making a custom tube and .75″ baffles made it quieter. Now I hear a spring noise when I shoot and no report echo at all.
Word of caution: If you try to take apart the S410 shroud, a little bit of heat is needed to unscrew the threaded insert from the ends of the tube. The inserts are held in by a threadlock compound.
DO NOT OVERHEAT!
When I heated mine I melted the damn baffles inside the tube so I had no choice but to make my own.
They are apparently made from a very soft plastic. After I got them out I could wad them up like chewing gum.
I felt really stupid that night. Replacing the parts from England wont be cheap.
All I was trying to do was remove the bushing that aligns the barrel to the shroud, 1 of the orings had come apart and the bushing wont slide past the treaded inserts. Lesson learned.
/hijack over
My S410 should be here Tuesday from Straight Shooters. I ordered a magazine and a single shot adapter from RC Machine and it got here yesterday. Seems very well made.
Riff, I see alot of folks like them JSBs, Gonna have to get some .I’m really looking forward to the 10 shot magazine too. I ordered the walnut Esb model w/thumbhole. Thanks for all the informative posts on your s410, that and some others convinced me on choosing the AA over the Rapid.
FWBGBS, I heard that the s410 was in the same noise range as the Talon with a LDC. I’ll let ya know on friday. 😀
Both JD and Riff,
How’s the report of said S410? Not that it would discourage me from purchasing one, but I’m so spoiled on my very quiet Talon SS.
Also, of all the available models, I like the non-thumb hole look. IMO it looks a lot sharper. You’re starting to convince me to forgo the HK USP .40 I’ve been saving up for.
JD, I’ll let you and Critter know when the wife and I visit Adventure Sports. I’m WAY over due so it might be sooner than later.
B. 
Riff-
dont know anything about the 410,always wanted one.
other than isn’t there a few different variations ?
what are you shooting with, side lever, or whatever else thats availible.
SAW
You will really like that S410.
Drove up to one of my favorite sniping spots this morning, and nestled into the first shooting spot nearest my Jeep. It overlooks 4 limb piles that have ground squirrels burrowed under them.
The first 2 squirrels I dropped with the .25 condor @ 55 yards. I kept seeing more messing around on a mount that was 78 yards out, and soon enough I spotted 2 of them standing side-by-side.
I levered in a 18.1 JSB, used my 80 yard aiming point at the base of the skull, *zzzzzttt-whack* headshot. The second one went down on all fours but stayed there, so about 4 seconds later he took one in the noggin too.
Thats the quickest Ive ever taken a double. Probably would have been able to pull it off with the condor, but would have taken longer for sure. Most times I get that opportunity, the 2nd one hides before I can shoot.
The s410 came thru big time.
I ended up with 11 total in 2 hours. Last 9 with the s410, only missed once. One that couldnt decide if it wanted to stand up or squat. He squatted at the shot, *zzzzzttt-miss* right over his head.
Oh, your gonna love the Hawke too. I use the 6x18x44 with the SR12 reticle. Im ordering 2 more for my other rifles soon.
Yeah, after reading so many positive things about them, I had to see for myself. Its hard to imagine a better rifle then my Talon, I’ll know by next weekend.BTW -took a crow at 81 yards this morning with a 14 gr. premier. If you’re ever going up to adventure sports, swing by and try her out.
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My reply wanted you to clarify that you just had a theory and my experiences were just that, actual experiences.
Someone could read your original post and think there is a POI shift issue with the newer side lever’s. Which just isn’t true. It MIGHT be true that they COULD be more prone to such an issue – But that isn’t what you said.
I don’t think its in anyone’s interest to perpetuate something that may or may not be true as being fact simply because it was stated on a forum rather ambiguously. Which is why I made my post…. which got a “Good for you” reply from yourself.