Air Arms S510XS Ultimate Sporter with Laminate Stock.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Meopta MeoPro Optika6 3-18X56-scope: Part 1
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
This report covers:
- A lot tied up
- Aired up
- The test
- Air Arms 16-grain domes
- JSB Exact Monster Redesigned
- Second Monster group
- Air Arms 16-grain group 2
- The Meopta scope
- Summary
I told you yesterday I was going to test this rifle again. Today we look at the accuracy of the Air Arms S510XS Ultimate Sporter with Laminate Stock shooting JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned pellets at 25 yards.
A lot tied up
I have a couple premium accessories tied up with this rifle. There is the Meopta MeoPro Optika6 3-18X56 scope with an illuminated reticle. It’s mounted in Sportsmatch 30mm high adjustable scope rings that are themselves the best of their type that I’ve seen. They allow for both adjustment of scope height (really the angle of the scope to the bore) as well as side-to-side. Selling for $150, these rings are not cheap,and neither is the scope. They compliment each other.
The Meopta scope on the S510 rifle.
I would normally take the scope off and mount it on other test airguns when I’m finished with the report on the S510XS, but I decided that this time I needed an accurate pellet rifle for many things, so I left it just like it is. Or at least I thought so. It turns out that I did mount the scope on a BSA R10 for a test, but after that was over I brought it back to this rifle. I’ll say more about the scope near the end of the report.
Aired up
Yesterday you learned that my Air Venturi high pressure air compressor was leaking oil but the leak healed when I filled two carbon fiber air tanks. I overfilled the 98 cubic foot tank to 5,000 psi in the process. So I used that tank to fill this rifle and I decided to shoot it for accuracy with a pellet that I didn’t know about back when I originally did accuracy testing with this rifle, back in 2019.
The test
Today’s test will be shot from 25 yards. I will shoot 10 pellets per group. In past tests this rifle made 10-shot groups as small as 0.18-inches at that distance. The rifle is rested directly on a sandbag and is shoved forward so the triggerguard sits in the valley on the sandbag and the rifle doesn’t tip side-to-side.
The rifle’s power is set two clicks down from the maximum, which is the midpoint, where it was set for the previous test in February of this year.
Air Arms 16-grain domes
The first pellet I tested was the 16-grain dome from Air Arms. This is the pellet that made a 0.18-inch ten-shot group at 25 yards. This time, though the first 10-shot group with this pellet was larger. It was 0.304-inches between the centers of the two holes farthest apart.
The S510XS put 10 Air Arms 16-grain domes into 0.304-inches at 25 yards.
Listen to me! I’m complaining about 10 shots in 0.304-inches at 25 yards. Oh, what a poor boy am I! If this were any other air rifle I’d be dancing in the street.
I adjusted the scope three clicks to the left after this group. And I have a lot more to say about this scope, but I’ll say it at the end of the report. Let’s shoot the pellet I haven’t tried in the rifle yet.
JSB Exact Monster Redesigned
I had no clue where this much heavier pellet would go at 25 yards, so although I did adjust the windage of the scope, I left the elevation exactly where it was. The pellet hit the target lower, and many will say, “Of course.” But I didn’t know.
Ten JSB Exact Monster Redesigned pellets made a 0.311-inch group at 25 yards. It’s the largest group of the day and yet it’s still quite decent. After this group I adjusted the scope up 12 clicks and 2 clicks to the left.
Ten JSB Monster Redesigned pellets made a 0.311-inch group, but nine of them are together on the bottom.
And before we move on, I will say a word about that Meopta scope. It is so razor-sharp that I saw clearly that the one pellet hole that’s high in this group came on the third shot. The other nine are grouped together and below. Therefore a second group with this pellet was in order.
Second Monster group
The second Monster group is the real teaching point of the day. Ten pellets are in a group that measures 0.214-inches between centers. Now, THAT is a group!
The second ten JSB Monster Redesigned pellets went into 0.214-inches at 25 yards.
Air Arms 16-grain group 2
One good turn deserves another, so I also shot a second group of the Air Arms 16-grain domes. This time I was concentrating as much as I could, but alas — the first shot was a pinwheel (a shot that is exactly centered and removes the 10-dot) that took out the aim point. After that I had to guess where the center of the bullseye was for the other nine shots. I did it well enough to put 10 pellets into 0.274-inches at 25 yards.
Ten Air Arms 16-grain domes went into 0.274-inches at 25 yards.
The Meopta scope
Today’s success would not have been possible if not for the Meopta scope. I illuminated the central dot and overlaid it on the dot in the target, which is why the pinwheel in the final target was such a problem.
The sharpness of the image seen through this scope is incredible and the adjustment knobs move in sharp clicks — their wonders to perform.
Because of this scope the Air Arms S510XS is one of the few air rifles I own that fits me perfectly. I have adjusted it for my personal tastes and everyone else better keepa their hands offa it!
Summary
I’m surprised by the success of the heavy JSB Monster Redesigned pellet. I have the rifle set for power in the mid 20 foot-pounds range and even if this heavier pellet boosts that by a pound and a half, it’s still going downrange pretty slowly.
I’ll be looking for more reasons to shoot this rifle in the future. You can help me with that.
Tom,
Seems like the barrel is quite tolerant by still providing accuracy with heavier than normal pellets.
Siraniko
PS Section A lot tied up 2nd paragraph 1st sentence: “Normally I would normally (duplicate) take the scope off and mount it on other test airguns when I’m finished with the report on the S510XS, but I decided that this time I needed an accurate pellet rifle for many things, so I left it just like it is.”
Siraniko,
Fixed it. Thanks,
BB
BB-
I’d be curious to see how JSB Hades did in the S510. I have found the Hades to be kind of a magic pellet, even in guns that didn’t love JSBs or midweight pellets. My Marauder .25 and .22 pistol love them.
They are incredible out of a 177 Hatsan going fast, and perform as well slowed down in a Crosman 2240 or 1722. It is my go-to pesting round because of the general accuracy and expansion at low velocity.
ProfSteelToe,
Hades was in Part 8.
BB
BB-
Well shucks. And thanks. I have to revisit part 8 it seems.
BB,
My Sportsmatch rings are now on my Texan LSS. They are still holding my UTG Bubble Leveler scope. I moved everything over when my HM1000X found a new home. It really is an awesome scope, and the mounts are most definitely the cat’s meow.
I have to second ProfSteelToe’s suggestion for testing the JSB Hades in your S510. so far, I have found that some of my airguns like them and some spit them out all over the place. I think it would be of interest to many just what your S510 thinks of them. Also, it seems like a real good excuse to play with it some more. 😉
Hi everybody,
“If this were any other air rifle I’d be dancing in the street.”
I think I can relate 🙂
I am now pretty much done with testing the Diana 35 Commemorative and Diana Twenty-One FBB. I’ve spent some time with the D35 and a LOT of time with the Twenty-One. Maybe you can already draw some conclusions from that 🙂
I think something like the 35 is what would usually be considered the “right” size for me (I’m 1,81 m or 5 ft 9 tall). Still, shooting a small and light rifle like the Twenty-One was a lot of fun.
Something like the 21, but with a wooden stock,decent trigger and “real” open sights would be cool, so I couldn’t resist ordering a Weihrauch HW30S. 🙂
Naturally, I’m going to test that one thoroughly as well. This is going to be interesting…
Stephan
Stephan,
I’ve never handled/shot a Diana so I’m looking forward to your report.
Also wonder what you will think about the HW30S. I’m absolutely smitten with mine (a Beeman R7) and am curious how it compares to the Dianas.
Hank
CptKlotz – resistance is useless; guarantee you will enjoy owning the HW30S.
Stephan
Could you please give some more details about your experience with the 35 Commemorative? Since Germany is the only country I could buy it from I would like to get as much information as I can. Thank you in advance.
Stephan
I am ready when you are! Having two of the three rifles I look forward to reading your report. Also now have a nearly new Diana 28 which I am glad I saw at the Hickory show.
Deck
BB,
I too have had great success with the Redesigned Monsters out of most guns that have the power to launch them at least about 20 FPE. It seems to be a “universal pellet” of sorts – too bad it is on the more expensive end, but it makes sense that it is given the amount of lead in it. Of course it also does great when dialed up to near 50 FPE too, so you gotta love it!
PS. In the summary, the third word is “my” but looks like it should be “by” . . .
Alan,
Yep, you got that one! Good catch!
BB
Looks like this one deserves to be tested at longer ranges?
BB,
Reading this with great intrest. Below freezing temperatures (5 F right now) have interrupted my outdoor testing. Seems that 16 gr pellets do best with the power two clicks down from maximum; 18 gr pellets do best with the power one click down from maximum and I suspect (haven’t tried them yet) that the 25 gr Monsters would do best at maximum power but are probably still too heavy for the S510.
Considering the S510 design evolution, I think it would probably be happiest with 18 gr pellets as one click down from maximum puts them in the 890-900 fps velocity sweet spot. I’m just speculating as my rifle is far from being broken in and my sample size is small.
I do wonder how efficient/practical to use the transfer port geometry as a means to control the air volume (power). It works (obviously) but you would think that it would create a lot of turbulence where a smooth, clean air flow would be better. Believe that adjusting the regulator pressure and hammer force is the best approach. Any thoughts/comments on this?
Hank
Hank,
I do think reg pressure and hammer tension are the preferred methods of power adjustment, but unfortunately the S510XS doesn’t allow for them — at least not easily. Fortunately the Aver=nger does, and BB’s Goldie is soon to be tested again. Yippie! 🙂
I will say that the S510XS does adjust smoothly until it gets to the lowest power level.
BB
B.B.,
Nice shooting!
shootski
B.B. and Hank,
I would agree that regulator or hammer spring preload are more preferable then throttling the flow at/in the transfer port but this is a repeater and turbulent flow will happen even with the best designed magazine.
Also, turbulent flow is less of a concern in a (relative) air sipper.
With the search for maximum power out of large and quick volume air flow is potentially impacted much more. Flow is not a precise science. In the end each duct design and even each individual fabricated duct will be different with how it handles turbulence or laminar flow.
My opinion based on years of studying hydraulic flow and PCP/Big Bore caused head scratching over the WHY of flow and the resulting muzzle FPE.
shootski
B.B.
Since this is the most accurate airgun that you own, maybe you should get rid of all the excess guns that must be very frustrating to shoot after shooting this one?
-Y