BAM out of the box?

[johncedarhill]

I don't want to say I see a lot of Bam B50 and B51 bashing but it seems like the guns have a sort of bad rap out of the box. Yet I don't see many if any used ones for sale. What can be expected out of the box? What is considered a tune for the B50s? I also see on the Bam site a 495 fps version. Is this a version aimed at non US markets?

[leftcoast1]

The 495 gun you see is for the uk and others. If you interested in one Roy at Mountain Air has them new for 410.00 already gone through should be relively trouble free. As for tuning the other guys can break it down for you I just don't know.

[johncedarhill]

I was thinking about that one.

[HNT5]

I think you’re right about the 495 fps version. That would put it comfortably under the British 12 ft lb limit regardless of pellet used, and could potentially appeal to Field Target shooters who want more shots per fill with lower energy output. I don’t think those B50/51’s will have a large following over the pond. Most of the posts I’ve read on the BBS forum are against them. Many claim they have substandard metal used in the air reservoirs and they risk “blowing up in your face!” I believe that’s mostly conjecture, rumor, hearsay and just plain BAM bashing.  I doubt very few people over there have actually shot one. I think most are mad because they copied a established and respected British rifle.   I have read both good and bad reviews of them from people here in the US.  I have never shot or even seen a B50/51 in person, so I can’t say anything, positive or negative.
Just my opinion.
Regards

Nathan

[johncedarhill]

Sure would be nice to have a place where you can give these a try before you buy.

[daved]

Don't own one myself, but as I understand it, the barrels aren't very good, and every seal that can leak, will.  So by the time you do all the stuff that needs doing, you've spent almost as much as you would have for a gun that would be good right out of the box.  Hang in there, I'm sure Dano will give you a run down on the negatives, and someone else on the forum (Jon, maybe?) has two of them, they can give you the upside.  Good luck!

Dave

[jon]

The Bam out of the box needs work,  I have a B50 and a B51 and I do like them, they just have a few rough edges.  Both my guns were average accuracy wise but I wouldnt say they really need to be replaced.  The shot count is horrid with the stock hammer spring, the guns is too powerfull out of the box for it's tube size.

The plus side they are very simple and easy to work on, I have replaced the hammer springs in both my guns,  I have a heavily modified one I just got back from a fellow who re-barrelled and shrouded mine, and did a little work to improve the shot count,  I could have done the internal fine tuning but I just didnt have time for it.  The other is completely stock and shoots pretty well, I havent have a single problem with it.

The main issue I have is the barrel set-up, you must take alot of care not to twist the barrel in reference to  the airtube, it is really easy to knock it out of whack POI changes will result.  A better barrel band is needed to sturdy up this problem area.  On some guns the fill valve sticks open when filling , causing the air to bleed when bleeding off your tank, totally harmless and an easy fix. Some of the guns are real turds out of the box, seal leaks are often the main culprit, but replacement seals are easy to come by, and if you get a really bad one just send it back.  


This is my modded one
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/jon164/webbam2.jpg

this is my stock one
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/jon164/Ftrig.jpg

Both of my guns, modified with new hammer springs get 40 shots at 20 FPE both of mine are .177 the heavily modded one used to be a .22.  The modded re-barreled one shoots as good as my air arms guns.

P.S. do not believe the exploding Bam story, the only way a PCP will explode is when one uses something other than HPA,  like welding gases, or if one uses lubes that are flammable in the barrel HPA can cause detonation when using flammable lubes.  The Brits and some Americans love to bash this gun because as one poster noted it is a VERY close copy of the beloved British Daystate Huntsman.

Would I buy another? Yes!  There is just something about them to me that interests me, it's a diamond in the rough IMO.  Plus it's the cheapest PCP you can buy, with a few bucks in parts added it has the possibilty to keep up with much more expensive guns

[DanoInTx]

I have never shot or held anyone elses, so I cannot comment on ALL B50/51's...., but mine was a big hairy POS, and still is.  I could spend a few more bucks and get it tuned and rebarreled (the barrel on mine is more like a shotgun than a rifle), but in the end $300 gun + tune + barrel = a decent shooting Chinese gun for the same price as a better out of the box gun.  I'm not saying they are all bad, some fellow members have done some real nice stuff with them, but I would do it differently from the start if I could.

Mine leaked from every seal, and then to add insiult to injury the valve poppet broke in half.  Xisico replaced the valve poppet for free, but the gun still required alot of time and energy to work "ok".  It still will only hold air for a couple/few days.  It does shoot "ok" now, but is not very accurate and would need a new barrel to be decent.  I have considered getting the work done to mine since I already own it and am afraid to sell it to anyone knowing what a POS it is, but even the few hundred bucks to clean it all up seems pretty high for a gun that I am "this" close to throwing away.  I would have returned it to Xisico from the start, but one of the first things I did was cut the stock down because it was designed around an 8 foot tall man with huge arms.  Live and learn.........I was in a good mood, why did I comment again?   Hehe...........

[johncedarhill]

How long have you had the less than desirable rifle? I am wondering if quality has improved.

[DanoInTx]

since the end of march.  I doubt any quality has improved since then.

[kirby999]

IMO , the Bam B-50/51 's are a bigger gamble , you "can" get an OK one, that you can shoot and kill some squirrels with , or you can get a POS ; that's going to require work to get it to function . Dano got the _ _ _ , and Jon bought his used and I believe one of them or maybe both had already been "tuned" and he still  wasn't happy with them until another couple of hundred  $'s was spent on one, the other is waiting it's turn .  Unless you love to tinker ; Why not go ahead and spend the extra $200  and buy an Air Arms  or even a Talon if you like the ergonomics . They both come with a Lothar Walther barrels  and you will be ahead of the game . I'll admit, I've had some problems with a couple of Air Arms products , but  neither had accuracy problems and the last one (my S410H Classic in .22) was a simple fix of just cleaning the check valve . So you can have problems with all of them . I read on another forum where a guy was having problems with his  Walther Dominator ($2000+ rifle) . Some QC is lacking in most manufacturers , I just think there's a better chance of getting a lemon if you buy Bam. My first AA (carbine) has been a dream come true, shoots better than I can and with zero problems ; my two Talons I owned were the same , zero problems , the only reason I sold them was to buy another Air arms . I like the fit of a traditional style  stock better.   Like I said in the beginning of this post , JMO. And BTW I do have another Air Arms on order , that should be here the first week in September , if they get in what I want.  kirby  EDIT:  I didn't mean to leave out the other PCP's that I wouldn't mind having, that are out there, but The Talons and some of the Air Arms are the only ones unless you buy used that you can get for a couple hundred $ more than the Bam that I know of and you need to hurry with  the Air Arms , their prices are climbing everyday .

[johncedarhill]

I guess it is fair to say that the Bam 50's are not up to the quality of the QB 78 family.

[jon]

Actually no, it's not fair to say that.....the B50 IS better than a stock QB.  If QB's were so great people wouldnt buy them Pre-tuned.   BOTH of my guns worked out of the box, and shot decent.

The biggest problem I had was that I needed them to shoot Field Target with, exceptional accuracy was needed in my case, that's Why I re-barreled one of them.   I dont believe the B50's are as much as a crap shoot as some make them out to be.

Your chances of getting a crappy Chinese springer are much higher.   Most people customize the B50 because it is a good priced platform.

Heck, I might even buy Dano's gun just to prove I can get it to shoot very well.  If I cant I know a fella who works majic with these guns.

With all the heartache you have, Dano, I'll take it off your hands. Of course, with all the pain & suffering I'll experience, you'll need to send along a few big bills so I can ease my misery with M&M Blizzards.

[DanoInTx]

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4717&mid=33239#M33239

I actually shot it again today and with a little rezeroing it shot great......,but....tomorrow it will be totally flat again:(