Dragonfly Mark 2.
This report covers:
- The test
- The trigger
- Here we go
- JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
- Apolo Air Boss
- Single shot tray slides easily
- Predator Polymag
- Air Arms 18-grain domes
- The last group
- H&N Barracuda Match 5.51mm head
- Summary
Today I move back to 25 yards and shoot the Seneca Dragonfly Mark 2 multi-pump rifle with its open sights. And best of all, there is a surprise coming!
The test
I shot 5-shot groups with the rifle rested directly on the sandbag. I pumped five times for each shot. There was no sight-in; I just went with the sights as they were set from the Part 3 test, and I never adjusted the sights during this test.
I did use my binoculars to look at the first strike from each different pellet, just to make sure I was on the target paper. All five pellets were, so I didn’t look again until I went downrange to change the target.
The trigger
I don’t know if all the Dragonfly Mark 2s will have a trigger like the one in this test rifle but from shot one I knew exactly where it was. Call it a deliberate trigger. Maybe not so light and maybe the stage one is long, but when I get to stage two I know exactly where I am. This is a great trigger. Like I say — I hope they are all like this one!
Here we go
I selected the two most accurate pellets from the 10-meter accuracy test in Part 3 and then I selected three more premium pellets to try. First up is the JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy that gave the tightest group in Part 3.
JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
Five JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy pellets landed in a vertical group that measures 1.03-inches between centers. If you look at the group you’ll see that if the pellets all struck at the same height this group would be much smaller. I credit the vertical stringing to the front sight bead that is not ideal for a target. It’s a tin-can bead, not a target bead. It’s too large for precision. But a surprise is coming.
At 25 yards the Dragonfly Mark 2 put five JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy into a vertical group measuring 1.03-inches between centers.
Apolo Air Boss
Next up was the .22-caliber Apolo Air Boss. They went into a group measuring 0.914-inches between centers. This group isn’t vertical, but it is a bit horizontal.
Five Apolo Air Boss pellets made this 0.914-inch group. It looks like only 4 pellets, but I think there are two in the bottom hole.
Single shot tray slides easily
I’m shooting with the single shot tray and it slides out of place easily. As my finger tries to put the pellet into the trough the tray slides out of position. I wish it would stay in place a little better.
Predator Polymag
Next I tried Predator Polymags. But they don’t work well in the Dragonfly Mark 2. They gave an open group that measures 1.25-inches between centers. It is the largest group of the test.
Predator Polymags gave an open group that, at 1.25-inches between centers, that is the largest of this test.
I am purposely concentrating on a good 6 o’clock hold sight picture, but as I said, that front sight isn’t made to shoot targets. I think when I put a red dot on this test will go differently.
Air Arms 18-grain domes
The next target was shot with 5 Air Arms 18-grain domes. I shot the 18-grainers because in Part 3 it seemed to me that the Dragonfly Mark 2 likes heavier pellets the best. Five of these went into 1.024-inches between centers. It’s pretty much in the same ballpark as all the other pellets I have tested so far.
Five 18-grain Air Arms domes went into 1.024-inches at 25 yards.
The last group
I had planned to shoot another group of the JSB Jumbo Heavys to see if I could improve on that first group, but before that I had a final pellet to try.
H&N Baracuda Match 5.51mm head
Oh! Apparently I don’t have to shoot another group of the JSBs. I don’t because the Dragonfly Mark 2 put five of the final pellets into a group that measures 0.585-inches between centers. This is what I was hoping for and it’s what I believe the Dragonfly Mark 2 is capable of with the right pellets. This is the surprise I mentioned at the start.
Five of the H&N Baracuda Match with 5.51mm heads made a group that measures 0.585-inches between centers. For shooting with open sights that aren’t the best for targets I think that’s pretty good!
The Dragonfly Mark 2 put five H&N Baracuda Match into 0.585-inches at 25 yards. Wow!
As a plus the Baracuda Match group is in the center of the bullseye — not that that matters. The sights can always be adjusted to bring a group to where you want it, but in this case it seems like the cherry on top.
Summary
The bottom line is the Dragonfly Mark 2 is a fine multi-pump pneumatic. I think it gives the Benjamin Variable Pump a run for the money — especially since the Benjamin has a new synthetic stock that doesn’t work with open sights! The Dragonfly has more power, a better trigger and is easier to pump. And it’s either single-shot or a repeater, though being a multi-pump sort of negates that last feature. Added to all that the Dragonfly Mark 2 is less costly than the Benjamin. What’s not to like?
BB,
I don’t recall you mentioning it, but does the weight of the trigger pull increase with the number of pumps you do?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
No. The trigger pull remains the same no matter how many pumps are in the rifle.
BB
If one is looking for a pumper, this seems the way to go.
There is another PPPCP on the market this year.
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/new-barra-1100z-pcp-air-rifle-now-available/
Thanks for that link RR!
Lots of features, looks like a nice PPPCP.
I’d hope they would offer a deluxe version with a regulator though.
H
It looks like it could stand to have the same regulator as a Maximus. The truth is, for the cost I have not seen anything to beat the Maximus. I paid less than $150 for it brand new in box. I do not see me replacing it in the near future.
Do you really need a regulator? Airguns have been doing without for a long time. Something else I have been wondering about over the recent years. How many shots do you need? It is nice when you are sitting at a bench and punching holes, but when you go out hunting, how many times are you going to shoot?
I have to admit that sometimes when I have been hunting groundhogs I may end up shooting twenty or more times in a day. If I am hunting deer, I might shoot once. I can shoot my legal limit of squirrels without my air rifle coming off of the curve. Do I really need a regulator?
RR,
You don’t “need” a regulator as many PCPs demonstrate but then you have to plot the curve, fill to the proper pressure and count off your few consistent shots. It’s not a big deal for a couple of shots while hunting but might be for extended plinking sessions.
Personally I prefer the “fill and forget” the reg gives me – as long as I’m in the green on the guage I’m good to go. It’s more than just convenience, I like that I can fine tune the reg/hammer so that the valve and the harmonics are in a happy place.
I tend to shoot a couple of 25 shot strings in a session and fussing with pressures on an unregulated rifle would be a bit of a bother. Just call me lazy 🙂
LOL! Most of the time it would be a little pain to me, but the Maximus is starting to teach me. AirForce airguns are not regulated either. I remember my .177 Talon SS only needed filling to 1800 PSI and I had at least 20 good shots.
If you take the time to learn it and tune it, it can be pretty nice, but I do understand the lazy factor.
B.B.,
This is really exciting. As I read today’s blog, I drank my coffee much more quickly than usual! I rarely pre-order something, but this time might be different.
Michael
Michael,
We aren’t done. In Part 2 I said that I wanted to run the 3 through 15-pump test again, to see if the rifle was breaking in. That test is coming tomorrow.
With that and with the result I hope it shows you will have a very good idea of what you get with the Dragonfly Mark 2.
BB
B.B.,
You are outdoing yourself as the Great Enabler this time, at least with me. I might do what for me was unthinkable. I might buy one in each caliber! (Am I the only one who thinks he’s noticed the price of .177 pellets closing in on the price of .22 pellets?)
Michael
No, you aren’t the only one, I.177 jsb’s are 19.99, for 500, same price as the .22 caliber jsb 500.
A thin coat of a hard epoxy (e.g. JB Weld) brushed onto the appropriate surface(s) of an owner’s single shot tray might tighten it up.
John,
That’s a good point; I plan to do something like that, as I intend to only use the single shot tray with mine. I can’t wait to get it…May seems far away. 🙂
Take care,
dave
Thanks BB!
With iron sights I’d call the Dragonfly a 20 yard gun though the Baracuda Match pellets show a lot of promise.
Still 20 yards is a decent range for general shooting with irons. Any plans to check accuracy with a scope?
I’m curious about the 15-pump test. Variable power on a pneumatic rifle can be a concern as the golden pellet can change with velocity. Not a big problem at sub 25 yards but can really be noticeable beyond 30-35 yards.
I’ve always liked pumpers, learned to hunt with a Crosman 100. One thing about pumpers is that they really teach you to make the first shot count – a rabbit is not likely to sit around while you go through the “funky-chicken” reloading cycle. LOL!
H
Vana,
Tomorrow.
BB
I was kinda disappointed until I realized it was with irons. Definitely keeping my pre-order.
“The Dragonfly Mark 2 put five H&N Baracuda Match into 0.585-inches at 25 yards. Wow!”
B.B.,
Ah, this is exactly the type of thing I was hoping to see! I hope the one I have on pre-order is as nice as this one. Sadly, I have no room for the new gal; my gun cabinet is full, and there is no more wall space in my office (unlike RidgeRunner, who’s got it made, my wife only let me hang one gun outside of my office: the Hawken replica is allowed in the living room…as she bought it. =>).
Hence, I had to get creative, and find a way to put up the Crosman 1322 carbine; it was really too small for the slot it took up in the cabinet, but also too large for one of my drawers, but I did find a space for it; it now hangs right over the old Hank-special sling shot. 🙂
Now I’ve got a slot for the Seneca Dragonfly Mark2…yay!
Thanking you for this great report,
dave
Being a curious guy, I checked Pyramyd’s listing and found a link to the owner’s manual under the specifications tab. The patent number was listed, so a Google search turned up this:
https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/patents/patent/US-7637203-B2
Scroll down past the text and you’ll find some VERY interesting diagrams. The Dragonfly uses one half of the butterfly hand pump mechanism. Also interesting is that the patent was issued in 2009. I wonder if the 13 year gap was due to manufacturing issues or justifying this for an admittedly small market segment?
Roger,
That’s one way of saying it. But as the Benjamin 392 with pump assist came first you could say that the hand pump has twice what the rifle mechanism has.
/blog/2016/12/pump-assist-benjamin-392-part-3/
/blog/2008/01/the-pump-assist-benjamin-392-part-5/
BB
I’ve noticed that JSB .22 caliber pellets seem to have larger heads than the 5.52 mm nominal size of their largest advertised size. I’m seeing 5.55 mm and a couple of customers are saying every pellet in a tin is above the largest aperture (5.57) in the Pelletgage. I’ve been trying to find an optimal pellet for my seemingly accurate Avenger. Some results seen here: https://www.facebook.com/pelletgage
The patent application took 3 years. Then you defend the patent in court against all communists, er, comers, with the legal team.The mechanism was not a get rich quick sceme. I like the idea of a kit an airgunsmith can install. And a gunboy to pump it up, like a caddy.
Plus, the heaviest round shooted the best, thats really good!
Rob
Well, on a different note, I see that there is a Glock 17 pellet pistol available now. Up till now the Glock replicas were all bb pistols afaik…
It looks like the rear sight is not adjustable, which, sadly, seems to be the norm in CO2 pistols anymore. I like the SIG 320 replica, maybe a Glock would be interesting too.
The Glock 17 dual ammo pistol has been around for a while
Ive never seen the Glock dual ammo for sale in US, and the Glock 17 gen5 is a .177 pellet only, rifled barrel. It is listed as new on the Umarex website…
Seems you’re right. It’s not very often we get things in the UK you don’t!
Strangely we already have the pellet version of the M29 too, although I don’t recommend it over the BB version
I Iike what I’m seeing so far. I will get one just because it seems like they got it right. Maybe.
But dog gone it anyway I hope the one I get is accurate. If so accurate will trump other things that could surface with the gun.
On that note I wonder if the parts support will be there like Crosman does. That will make a difference in the long run.
Reminds me about that Diana 46e that RidgeRunner got from me. It’s a under lever and a older gun. It was like pulling teeth (and I got a tooth pulling aditutude right now) to get Umarex to sell me a new under lever cocking lever when it broke when I had the 46e.
So hopefully Seneca has a good parts support program. That will hinder my decision even if it is a good gun. What good is something if it breaks and you can’t repair it. Oh I know. Know a good machinist and be willing to pay a few bucks. More than likely they will get you fixed up. Ask how I know that. 😉
Gunfun1
Machinists are certainly okay.
I’ll go for the Master Metalsmith or Master Gunsmith!
Lol! ;^)
shootski
Shootski
There is so much more to being a machinist that you can imagine. 😉
Gunfun1,
I know that!
Some who call themselves machinists are just really machine operators…the few you are thinking of are Masters of the Art.
You too i suspect since you love mechanical things.
shootski
Shootski
Have to say being a machinist was my calling I guess I can say. I sure can’t see myself being a doctor or a lawyer. It will be 39 years in June that I have been doing it. I guess that says something.
That issue of no DIY parts support from SIG-Sauer is what scared FM off the ASP20. He is no machinist and/or any type of engineer. He might be good at engineering disasters, unassisted.
FawlyManuel,
That concern: “…no DIY parts support from SIG-Sauer…”
was something that went into my Pro-Con chart for buying my two ASP20. But on the Pro side was the extremely low rate of returns (INTERNET myths notwithstanding) to SIG. So with early failures still covered by SIG AIR’s 5 year warranty I put that out of mind. Once the rifle is older i asked myself what are the logical failure points. Gas Spring, maybe trigger, probably seals; I suspect all those will be obtainable from donor airguns that will sit UNSHOT/lightly used in collections. But at least a few of the early buyers have already shot tens of thousands of pellets through their ASP20 with no failures or loss of accuracy.
Time will tell if I was smart or you were FM when all is said and done. For now, I sense your pain. I think my shooter smile sure tells me I own and get to shoot two of the best of the best Sporter (Hunter) Break Barrel airguns.
shootski
Shootski
Show me those statistics you just claimed.
Tens of thousands. And I can’t go get a new one. Even if I wanted one.
Gunfun1,
Wish I had the statistics from SIG AIR or Pyramyd AIR on valid SIG ASP20 failure returns; I’m certain they existed at some point. As far as pellets shot you can find folks shooting ASP20 on YouTube. Are they telling the truth your guess is as good as mine. Are they really shooting out to 70 yards into 1″ KZ FT targets as they claim…I actually think so since i see close to that and I am no expert Spring Piston shooter!
Yes the whole ASP20 saga is terrible! I think SIG did what they believed to be their business model and that isn’t what some of us believed to be the right way to do it. But how many airgun owners/shooters really know what they are doing once thy open the hood?
shootski
Gunfun1,
Thanks for the push! I found this: https://truegunvalue.com/rifle/sig-sauer/asp20-205253/price-historical-value-687
Helps understand the situation a little beter.
Anecdotal value only (not statistical) airgun forum buy/sell/trade they seem scarce as hen’s teeth. So that tells us people are collecting them or shooting them like me!
I guess we should ask how many are showing up For Sale at airgun shows and what is being asked and given?
shootski
Shootski
And here is the thing. To me it will never matter.
When Sig stopped I stopped.
FM
Just say’n it straight up.
If I have a gun that shoots nice and it breaks and I can’t fix it or anybody else without making the part or a donor gun. Then what good is it. It’s going to sit in a corner and Gunfun1 is probably going to be agrivated everytime I look at it.
Gunfun1,
No argument with what you say.
Only time will prove if our airgun community lost some “Golconda diamond mine” treasure!
shootski
Shootski
As I have said different times about different things.
Time will tell.
[An update to this report due to my acquiring one of these fine rifles]:
B.B.,
Off-topic of today’s [20JUN2022] report, but airgun-related, I finally got my Dragonfly Mark2…
(the rifle on which you reported here):
/blog/2022/02/seneca-dragonfly-mark-2-multi-pump-rifle-part-four/
…proved out to the point that I can declare victory, and say it is exactly that for which I was looking.
The rifle has more power than my old Sheridan, and with much less pumping effort.
The gun can be scoped, and held by the rear mount to pump it with no stress to scope or gun.
(but I did have to shim the rear mount with a 1/16″ soft steel shim…and another .020″ of shims!)
To prove things out, I used a simple Leapers UTG 4X32 AO Mil-Dot scope I had lying about
(and some mounts, courtesy of RidgeRunner…thanks, man! =>).
Once I got things trued up, and put some Blue Loc-Tite on the threaded boss (thanks, Gunfun1! =>), I was able to shoot a somewhat decent group at 25 yards (using 10 pumps); the group could have been better if: A) it had been shot by you, or B) I wasn’t so worried not to wound the doe that decided to feed right behind the 25 yard backstop (to be fair, that’s my fault; she feeds there all the time; hence, the “trespasser” was ME! =>).
Anyway, I have a nice. lightweight, well-balanced, relatively-powerful, and accurate pesting rifle…that also happens to be just plain fun to shoot. It’s everything you said it would be; the trigger is nice and predictable, and no matter where or how I hold it, it shoots the same…very cool!
I guess I should also post this in the comments under part 4 of your excellent report on this fine rifle. 🙂
Take care & God bless,
dave
P.S. I’d like to give a shout out to Leapers! As you can see in the pic, this second-hand scope has no turret covers; I called Leapers today, and spoke to Miss Rachel (a wonderful and helpful Saleswoman). She is sending me new covers for the windage and elevation turrets, as well as a set of scope covers…for free! I told her I had 3 of their scopes and planned to buy more. She told me that they have a discount for Police, Military, and ALL First Responders: Fire Fighters, Paramedics, the whole lot…how cool is that?…pretty cool! I wish more airgun companies would follow that lead. 🙂