Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Sounds of Silence - part 4

Sounds of Silence
Part 3
Part 2
Part 1

Petey bringing in the latest news on airguns

I have to admit I am hesitant to actually post my dB results. I cannot stress enough that you can’t take these numbers and use them to compare the dB ratings Straight Shooters uses, PA posts or anyone else. What you can do hopefully is not be surprised by a future purchase.

That said, I divide my results in categories with a representative example of each.

Group 1

This category hurts in the confines of the basement without hearing protection. I take one for the team to learn this. There is a momentary numbness after you pull the trigger, you hear nothing until your ears recover. Any PCP that has an unaltered barrel and fires at over 20 ft lbs should be assumed to be similar.

CB long from a revolver is 113 dB

Webley Raider at 22 ft lbs is 107 dB

The reason I decide on the CB long in the rimfire category is it has PCP like energy at around 30 ft lbs.


These are on the high end of the scale

Group 2

The Crosman Discovery at 24 ft lbs is at 102 dB

This faction is what I like to call really loud but not painfully so. The Disco sits alone here due to its unique low pressure fill, and is the exception to the above rule in number one. Some high powered CO2 guns come close to this level.

The all in one Disco

Group 3

These are the high powered spring rifles. The range from the mid 80 dB's to just over 90 dB. Keep in mind even the pellet used makes a difference, and since a large part of the sound is mechanical, moderators like the one included by the factory on the RWS 40 make for little change.

The Beeman R1 .22 cal carbine at 18 ft lbs is 91.4 dB

RWS 40 in .177 at 15 ft lbs is at 86.7dB

The RWS 40 came with a factory muzzle brake, but it makes little difference

Group 4

This category is any of the mild shooters under 10 ft lbs that have a spring. I find most Springer’s terribly predictable. More power means more noise. Light for caliber pellets also are louder. A dry fire will bump it up to the next category.

The Beeman R7 at 7-8 ft lbs ranges from 76.1 dB to 76.6 dB

This Diana 27 is in the same group as the R7

Group 5

This is the group I have dreamed of. I mentioned the other day that I asked a few retailers for input, what I left out was that I also asked FX directly. While the English was not perfect, they responded quickly with a recommendation that the FX Whisper in .177 was by far their most quiet air rifle. Since I have posted numerousness photos of it, obviously I took their advice.

OLD STYLE FX Whisper .177 was 69.3 dB at over 21 ft lbs

The FX Whisper accomplishes this with an oversize shroud and built in baffles. With almost 3 times the energy of the R7 and less noise, it is an eerie feeling shooting it. “Ping” is the only sound and then a smack at the target. They even sell “de-pingers” if you want to take it down another notch. I have to speculate that any rifle that is also endowed with a large shroud ending in 6 inches of baffles will be in this group too. That would include some of the BSA's and the relative newcomer from Crosman, the Marauder.

Sadly, the new FX Whispers have a shorter shroud without the baffles, but at a lower price. I think they are missing the mark by changing the rifle in this way; it’s called the Whisper after-all.


Whisper quiet

Group all its own -The FX Cyclone

Because the Cyclone offers 3 power settings and ½ threads on the muzzle it spans groups 3 – 5. It has a small diameter shroud, so once again these results should apply to similar products.

Needless to say power varies with the pellets used, but with Kodiak's I get:

Low – 14.2 ft lbs at 73.5 dB

Medium – 22.3 ft lbs at 84.8dB

High – 31.8 ft lbs at 88.3 dB

High and no pellet is 89.5 dB.

Needless to say, more muzzle energy means more noise.

Cyclone's little shroud helps keep the noise down


As you can see the simple thin factory shroud is effective, the middle setting offers the same power as the Webley Raider with much less noise.

Now if I were to hazard a guess at what an LCD could do for it, I would estimate 68.8, 72.9, and 75.8. WOW. That would be something else to have 30+ ft lbs that comes in with less noise than an R7.

Need really quiet? Just look for a PCP with a fat shroud that extends well beyond the actual barrel and find out if factory included bits and pieces in that extra length.

In the end, nothing beats the PCP noise \ power ratio.

17 comments:

  1. Volvo

    I am starting to believe that Petey is the one secretly writing these blogs under a Pseudonym. He is a cute little rascal, but I would say that USAToday's airgun reviews are dubious to put it mildly.

    In all seriousness, this was a good one. Finally some beef for my teeth. I am thinking that the Benjamin Marauder belongs in cat #5? Ever shot one? Of course you have.

    I put a muzzle break from TKO on my Discovery and it sounds almost the same as the Marauder now. Not necessarily louder, just different.

    I was not aware that you used to own a Discovery until recently. I would be very interested to read a blog from you on this rifle, as you seemed to get great accuracy, and yet were dissatisfied despite your enthusiasm for its bastard cousin, the QB78.

    I enjoy the Discovery either because of, or in spite of its somewhat crude, raw, straightforwardness, kind of like how I feel about you and your blog. Mind you, I got pump and rifle NIB for $250, so the deal adds to the satisfaction index.

    If I could only somehow trick derrick38 into making me an oversized brass bolt handle for my Discovery, I think it would be about perfect.

    Your ultimate conclusion needs a qualifier.

    "In the end, nothing beats the PCP noise \ power ratio."

    Shouldn't this read a shrouded and baffled PCP beats an equivalent springer in noise/power? My Discovery was louder and less powerful than my Diana 52 before the the TKO muzzle break.

    Despite your obvious bias for Swedish products, I will be anxiously awaiting an FX rifle review as well.

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  2. Slinging Lead,
    My Disco ran $278.00 shipped directly from Crosman so you made a little better deal. I will add it to the queue for a review. But be forewarned, my feelings were not warm and fuzzy for the rifle.

    Regards,

    Petey, oops I mean Volvo

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  3. http://www.canada-shops.com/Stores/siarms/c134204.2.html

    AlanL - this is where my black and nickel HW30S came from - but be forewarned it takes about 4 months plus US shipping cost is $70.00

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  4. Volvo,

    Thanks, that is ONE tempting website! They have HW guns I didn't even know existed...

    Slinging Lead:

    I don't believe it. I finally get to catch one of yours! Muzzle BRAKE not break. :-))

    -AlanL

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  5. Volvo,

    I checked out the 30S in black & nickel. Even all tricked out it's STILL cheaper than a stock gun from PA! I'm in shock. Are these used or reconditioned guns?

    AlanL

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  6. AlanL,

    With Beeman’s strangle hold on the HW rifles going by the wayside I would guess you will see more HW offerings in the States once the resellers figure it out.

    Two years ago it was unheard of to have the selection of HW’s that are available even now.

    Remind me to tell you about the HW35E I almost owned from DAK.

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  7. Derrick38,

    What do you average a month in views of your blog, if you don't mind sharing?

    ReplyDelete
  8. OOOOH! You are a very dangerous man for me Volvo. That website puts my dream gun within the realm of possibilities....

    ReplyDelete
  9. Guys, don't forget shipping is crazy $$$ and slow from Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  10. But still less than PA. By the way, here's the American equivalent. They don't have as nice of a selection, but the prices are really low.

    http://www.manventureoutpost.com/categories/Shooting-%26-Hunting/Airguns-%26-Accessories/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Volvo,as usual a real page turner...er....make that a real scroller!Makes me want to test the DAQ .25 with that sound meter!Please don't quit writing !

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  12. Frank, I would guess that's a loud one.

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  13. Came w/ a LDC,only handclap loud.....I'll put that sound meter you gave me on it.We'll see how big the mouse is,and whether or not he'll need to change clothes!

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  14. Interesting article, thanks! As a matter of interest, which group would the QB78d belong to?

    Thanks
    Chris

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  15. Chris,

    It would be pretty loud,between 3 and 2. Same as the RWS 850.

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  16. Wow! Guess I should go springer for the night-time basement shooter then...

    Thanks again
    Chris

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  17. Chris,
    Yes a mild Springer like an R7 would be better unless you get the QB78 shrouded. I believe Mike M sells them with a permanently attached shroud.

    ReplyDelete