anyone know how to go about tuning the AA S510?
I think mine is not making the best use of it’s air, and is showing high Es and Sd numbers. I generally like to tune such rifles to give a flat shot string, which is reflective of low Es and corresponding low Sd values. But this is the first rifle I’ve owned with a power adjustment so I’m not sure how that figures into effective tuning, except that maybe I do all my tuning with the power set to max, then maybe benefit from it after I tune the rifle to where I want it. Any help will be appreciated.
than kyou,
darryl
All Replies
Darryl
Do you have photobucket?
If you set up an account, it’s free and how you post pictures on this forumand others.
RC
I typed each column with separation, but the site isn’t formatted for that, I guess. So the columns are all close together
darryl
start fill 2900 PSI (end pressure=2325 PSI approximately) Barracuda 10.65 grain pellet (the rifle performs better with heavier pellets, despite what Air Arms tells me.
1s 10 shot string 2nd 3rd
1-941.8 1-934.6 1-915.3
2-950.1 2-932.4 2-913.1
3-935.2 3-944.5 3-918.5
4-940.4 4-941.4 4-910.4
5-943.8 5-942.4 5-903.7
6-942.4 6-928.7 6-908.3
7-939.2 7-937.4 7-903.7
8-935 8-933.7 8-894.2
9-928.7 9-925.7 9-900.4
10-931.8 10-929.1 10-902.2
Es=21.4 FPS Es=18.8 FPS Es=24.3 FPS
Sd=6.29 FPS Sd = 6.34 FPS Sd=7.31
Looking over several tests I’ve run I notice a pattern where the Es for the 2nd string is always the lowest, and the 3rd string is always the highest. This seems to apply to low power, mid power and high power settings. At least the rifle is consistent. It’s my experience that the lower the Es, the lower the Sd. Any Es below 20FPS is good. I got that from the book of Airguns titled “The Airgun from Trigger to Target” by G.V. and G.M. Cardew. Have to get standards from somewhere, ya know. 🙂
Can images be posted on this site?
darryl
Those are extreme spread figures…
The way that the AA S510 regulates its power is pretty crude, just restricting flow in the transfer port. It probably uses about the same amount of air on low power as on high power.
If you could list the FPS of a whole shot string, it would help us to see what’s going on.
What usually is going on, is that the balance between hammer spring pre-load and valve return spring tension is out of balance with each other. My S410 had adjustable valve spring tension, but I have seen one with a non adjustable one.
Usually they are excellent in their SD and ES numbers, might benefit from a strip down of the hammer components for a clean and re-lube, it could be that the hammer isn’t getting a consistent strike on the valve stem.
Dave
Those numbers look REALLY low for Feet Per Second (FPS), do you mean Foot Pound Energy (FPE)?
with an H&N FTT 8.64grain pellet
ES for 1st shot string is 24.5 FPS
2nd ………………17 FPS
3rd………………..24 FPS
Air Arms told me the rifle is set up for 8.4 grain pellets at 2900 PSI, but not at what power setting. I guess I just don’t get this rifle. A test I ran with 10.65 grain Barracuda gave a slightly better performance wit the power set at what I would gauge as 40% power, going by the 2nd lowest indicator on the power scale:
1st shot string is 19.3 FPS
2nd……………….14.3 FPS
3rd………………..24.4 FPS
There’s that familiar drop in FPS in the 3rd string. I’ll do more testing when I get my tank refilled
What actually are your SD and ES numbers?
I’d show you how the tuning results of my S16. It used too much air and had an inclined shot string, but I flattened it out at an average of just over 28 FE for 50 shots. I think I can do the same with the 510, but I just don’t feel I should have to, given it’s a newer rifle. Air Arms got it all wrong.
darryl
That entire line of rifles have poorly designed valves and use way too much air.
A regulator may be the only way to help it.
RC
I’m pretty sure the Air Arms owners club forbids discussions of tuning )it’s a Brit site, and there’s that FAC law there where a license is required for any air gun making over 12FPE. I’m a member there, and seem to recall reading that.
I’ve been filling my rifle to a bit over 180 bar at times, and typically lower, as I try to see what will give me the flattest shot string. I don’t want to obsess on a flat shot string, but I seem to be with this rifle, and it’s because I’m not fond of how this rifle meters air. I’ve seen where heavier pellets make for a slightly flatter shot string, as does turning the power down. Frankly what I want is to be able to set the rifle at a given power (FPE) level, whatever provides the most efficient air use. I know that’s whacky. How many shots before the POI shifts as the rifle is now? I’ll say it’s enough that I feel it’s a fool’s folly to even pursue tuning the rifle. Apparently AA thinks so too. It is what it is, after all. What seems a bite to accept is that Air Arms makes this rifle with little thought to things like Es and Sd. It works, but it seems counter-intuitive. Drives me nuts. That’s all on me, I know. Either accept it for what it is, or sell it. That’s where I’m at now.
thanks for replying,
darryl
You may have done this, but before you tune the S510, make sure the barrel is clean and there’s no shroud clipping. I do not get good speed consistency if the air tank is much over 180 psi. While you can go higher, and get more shots per fill, the first shots tend to deviate until the pressure drops to 180. For some reason, Premiers do not seem to work as well in the S510 as other AA models. JSB perform fine.
Hoot might be able to shed some peculiar light on the subject, especially if the part, humorously known as the “pot” can be adjusted. Hoot was considering installing a regulator on his AA. It’s surprising how well the AA guns shoot without one; it’s just a lower accurate shot count. Part of that is the size of the air tank/cylinder.
Mine’s giving about 20-25 shots at full power, 180 psi fill before poi drifts.
You might check out: http://www.airarmsownersclub.com/
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
I actually posted a ew spreadsheets here, but they were so small I edited the post to remove them. I’ll try again and see if I can figure out what I’m doing wrong. They post large enough on the Yellow.
darryl