New Sumatra .25 500cc Rifle

My new Sumatra showed up from PA a few days ago. It had 1000 lbs in it so I put one King through it just to check for function. Everything worked. I ordered a foster adapter from PA so I could air it up. That showed up the day before yesterday. I filled it up to 3000lbs and the first shot was about 1133fps with a 25.4 King. over 78 ft lbs. The next two shots went down about 10fps per shot, then I got frozen out. Will wait for a little warmer weather before I do a complete string. I had ordered some .254 52gr bullets and they also showed up. They would not load in my gun, I guess they've just gone to a smaller barrel. The PA description did say German barrel. I sent the .254's back yesterday and some 53gr .251's should be showing up any day now. I hope they are .410 or shorter so they will fit my Hatsan HT65SB magazine also. I was able to get one of the .254's in the Hatsan, but had to pound on the bolt to seat it. It shot it a about 640 fps, which doesn't mean much because of being so tight. I will post back when the .251's show up. Regards, Tom

Well I saw a post from Will Piatt on the GTA saying that my rifle would probably need .252-.253, he says that the .251's can migrate out the back of the magazine and jam it. If they haven't changed the magazine to retain .251, I can use them in my Hatsan BT65 and my MRod or single load the Sumatra. Shot some Eun Gin pellets today, 35.8gr 1052fps = 88ftlb, and 43.2gr 991fps = 94.2ftlb. Yesterday, I shot a full string of 25.4's starting at 3250lbs, first shot was 1166fps = 76.7ftlb. On my first post, I had 1033fps as "over 78 ft lbs", that should have been 72.4 ft lbs. The .251 53gr didn't show up today, maybe tomorrow, I want to see if it will do 100ftlbs with them.
Regards, Tom

The .251 53gr bullets showed up today, they are too small for the magazine. It went right through the back, and they need to not go through the back. I single loaded one and it got 95.8ftlbs at about 3000lbs. With a little more air would do a bit better. They wouldn't fit the Hatsan magazine, too long. I single loaded one and it did 651 fps =49.9ftlb. Hunters supply shipped me round nose instead of the flat ends, maybe they would fit. However they did fit the Marauder magazine, it got 604 fps = 42.9ftlb. I will try a 10lb hammer spring and see what the difference is this coming week. Julius from Montana is sending me some sample .252 and .253's and I will try them on the Sumatra. Regards, Tom

As to my comment that Hunters supply had sent me round nose rather than the flat front that I had ordered, I was backwards, I did order the round nose, just ment to order the flats. Regards, Tom

To me all tht is the joy of figuring out how to make friends with a new AG. I hope you are having as much fun as I would. I got my RS back today and he scope I put on it was from the Infintity I had and it was getting dark so I cold only get the shot's to show up close to the target. Still got a lot of scope tuning to go yet before I can say anyting. It's set at 900 FPS for 21.14 Kodiacks. Seems to do better with that. But too I got that blizard air tube on it now and that puts a monkey wrenh into the works. Lots of new stuff. Enough to have to make friends with it all over again. Hoping tomorrow, and if the wind will settle down some I can at least zero it out. Peter from TGAG is sending me some mid range scopes. I may try them if this one turns out to have a flaw---it happens you know. I'd use the bore sight method if I cold find a lasor to fit the end. But I can do with what I got and a few wasted shots. Probably half a tin from now I'll have it right and it will be the tack driver I once had. Will had it to fix the paw for me. I've been shoot the hell out of it and just wore the other one out. But I love this one for a go to gun. That and the Infinity .22. We are still working on the .22 to .25 Infinity converstion to get it just so.

Let me know wht works the best for you. Or, rather, "us" at The Independent.

Tom!

i think you are going to have a lot of fun with that sumatra. those things are a real hammer! let us know how the bigger slugs work out for you. i haven't been working on any projects i had going as of late. a lack of money and some health issues have put a real damper on my spending, or....actually eliminated it! hopefully, things will be picking back up for me soon. spring is coming and i have to get ready to put the smackdown on the woodchucks!

well the .253 is also too big for the barrel. I have some .252's on order, if they won't fit, will have to decide if it is worth having the lead in modified to shoot bullets or not. Regards, Tom

the .252's got here today, they also migrate through the back of the mag and shoot 10fps slower than the .251's. I shot a .251 today at 3250lbs and it did 105.78 ft lbs. I'm thinking that this could be remedied by buying a .251 mold that has the base band at .253 or 4. Also considering having the magazine holes o-ringed at the receiver end. Regards, Tom

I have decided to have the exterior of the magazines o-ringed. One at the top of the 1 through 6 numbers to retain bullets and one at just over halfway to the breech end of the mag to retain pellets which fall out if you attempt to carry a loaded mag in your pocket. Regards, Tom

I had my neighbor groove the magazines as mentioned above. The bullet groove works great, the pellet groove not as good but still handy. Load the pellets first then put the o-ring on to retain them in the mag. when carrying in your pocket for a spare. The pellet skirts don't have enough radius to raise the o-ring when inserting skirt first. Regards, Tom