Recently HAM tested the Brocock Sniper XR air rifle in .22 caliber. We loved it! But it’s clear that such a powerful air rifle required heavy lead pellets for best accuracy. At least with the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster set to maximum, as we tested it.
So what if you want to shoot a mid-weight .22 caliber lead pellet? Well, that’s what the Power Adjuster is for. It’s a simple, convenient and predictable method for providing the right power level for lighter pellets – or where a lower power output is required for some other reason.
The Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster is this rotating lever on the right of the action. It clicks-round in four stages. Up is full power. Clockwise rotation then brings the power down in stages.
Now typically HAM only tests air rifles on full power – as that’s what most people want. However it’s clear that the Sniper XR Magnum we tested is really too powerful in .22 caliber for some of our favorite pellets in the 14 – 16 Grain range. It shoots them at well over 1,000 FPS and we know from HAM’s Big Accuracy Review that this is likely to be too fast for ultimate accuracy.
Of course, the Sniper XR is regulated. The gauge shows that the Huma regulator is set to 150 Bar (2,175 PSI).
So could the regulator set pressure be changed? Well, yes. But Brocock – and AoA – is clear that the factory tune is set to maximize the power with best accuracy and shots per fill. And – like with many other PCPs – there’s a set of rules that must be followed precisely when making regulator adjustments.
If an owner makes regulator adjustments incorrectly he or she stands the chance of voiding the warranty. That could be expensive!
For this reason, the Power Adjuster is the way to go if you want to shoot lighter pellets. It’s a pretty innocuous-looking control, but it actually has a significant and useful effect.
For this experiment, we tested the Muzzle Velocities that are achieved with a range of popular pellets. Ten shots were fired with each pellet at each of the four Power Adjuster settings.
These were – in order of weight:
– Daystate Kaiser 14.44 Grain pellets (manufactured by H&N).
– JSB Hades 15.89 Grain hunting pellets.
– Daystate Rangemaster Sovereign. These 15.9 Grain pellets are manufactured by JSB.
– H&N Crow Magnum 18.21 Grain hollow points (another hunters’ favorite).
Here’s what we found…
| Pellet | Adjuster Setting | Muzzle Velocity | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daystate Kaiser 14.66 Gr | Full Power | 1,108 FPS | 33.76 Ft/Lbs |
| Click Two | 973 FPS | 28.59 Ft/Lbs | |
| Click Three | 788 FPS | 20.21 Ft/Lbs | |
| Low Power | 577 FPS | 10.83 Ft/Lbs |
| Pellet | Adjuster Setting | Muzzle Velocity | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| JSB Hades 15.89 Gr | Full Power | 1,004 FPS | 35.61 Ft/Lbs |
| Click Two | 927 FPS | 30.32 Ft/Lbs | |
| Click Three | 781 FPS | 21.55 Ft/Lbs | |
| Low Power | 562 FPS | 11.16 Ft/Lbs |
| Pellet | Adjuster Setting | Muzzle Velocity | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daystate Sovereign 15.9 Gr | Full Power | 1,007 FPS | 35.80 Ft/Lbs |
| Click Two | 925 FPS | 30.20 Ft/Lbs | |
| Click Three | 774 FPS | 21.13 Ft/Lbs | |
| Low Power | 561 FPS | 11.13 Ft/Lbs |
| Pellet | Adjuster Setting | Muzzle Velocity | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&N Crow Magnum 18.21 Gr | Full Power | 959 FPS | 37.20 Ft/Lbs |
| Click Two | 883 FPS | 31.54 Ft/Lbs | |
| Click Three | 741 FPS | 22.18 Ft/Lbs | |
| Low Power | 527 FPS | 11.22 Ft/Lbs |
Conclusions
It’s clear that Click Two on the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster will give around 30 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy with speeds between 870 and 970 FPS. For many shooters, this is still a very good power level and is likely to be achieved with excellent accuracy.
A further bonus is that the number of consistent shots per fill will be increased over the 60 achieved at full power in our main HAM test review.
Setting Three still delivers around 20 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy with these pellets. This could be useful for some short-range hunting and practice shooting where maximum power is not required, but a huge number of shots per fill is a benefit.
Low Power gives just under 12 Ft/Lbs. That’s probably way too low for anyone to use in the USA. But remember…
12 Ft/Lbs is the MAXIMUM power allowed for unregistered air rifles in the United Kingdom without a Firearms Certificate! Let’s be thankful for that in the USA.
So Click Two on the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster delivers an useful power option for mid-weight lead pellets. It’s simple to use and gives consistent, predictable results. You’re going to like it!
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Brocock Sniper XR
The post Using The Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster For Mid-Weight Pellets appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.