mcmike
02-01-2010, 03:16 PM
Fit and Finish:
This rifle was owned by one gentleman before me who said he had fired approximately 100 pellets through it and that the rifle was about 7 months old. After my initial inspection of the rifle I found no difference in quality between the “used” rifle I had just purchased and the new MKII I bought about a year ago. There were however a couple differences in some of the finishes between my MKII and the MFR.
The receiver on the MFR appears to be a slightly more matte finish. It has the same deep bluing, but the gloss is not as high as on the MKII. I do not favor one over the other, simply a slight variation.
The overall MFR rifle was manufactured with high quality standards. The parts fit flawlessly together and the finishes are top notch and free from defects. I especially feel that the bluing on the barrel shroud is well done and is very lustrous in its appearance.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1397.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1415.jpg
Trigger:
The MFR has the MKIV trigger from Theoben. For those of you that have shot one of the Rapid range of rifles with this trigger you already know how well it performs and how crisp and smooth it is. Knowing that, I was a bit disappointed by how the trigger was initially set up on my MFR. I do not know if it was adjusted by the previous owner or was not properly adjusted from the factory. The trigger had too much first stage and the second stage had quite a bit of creep before firing.
I set out to adjust the trigger. It took a bit of trial and error but within 10 minutes the trigger was adjusted to my liking and now shoots every bit as well as the trigger on my MKII. Both have a medium amount of first stage and break cleanly after the engagement of the second stage.
The trigger on my MFR is not the set back trigger but the original MKIV trigger. I have to say that I do not mind the original trigger at all. In fact I like the position of the original trigger better than the set back. I wrote in my review of the Rapid MKII that I feel that that the set back trigger in relation to the grip is too cramped and I do not have large hands. The original trigger is in more of a forward position and allows a more comfortable grip and hand position in my opinion. My MFR arrived with a trigger shoe and I have since removed it and now shoot without it as I feel that is more comfortable. I may try the shoe on the MKII set back trigger in order to move the trigger contact a bit forward.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1401.jpg
Cocking Bolt and Magazine:
Let me begin with the magazine. It is simply well thought out, well constructed and a pleasure to use. The Rapid range of rifles use the same magazine and I find this logical and easy on the shooter. Grab a rifle and a magazine and go. Since both mine are .22 there is no hunting for the right magazine and I use one magazine at a time so it is always ready to roll.
The first thing I do when I buy a Rapid is contact Ernie - 220swift and order a bolt handle. The increased size and length of Ernie’s bolts make cocking the Rapid much easier. The new bolt handle arrived from Ernie’s Rapid workshop just a few days after I ordered it with his usual high quality of workmanship.
With the new bolt handle in place, cocking the MFR was much easier. However I will tell you that it has taken about 750 rounds for the cocking mechanism to smooth out. I found the bolt action on the MFR to be sticky and a bit clunky in the beginning. It also seemed to have a spring catch in the beginning of the cocking cycle. I’m now satisfied with the function of the bolt but it still is not as silky smooth as my MKII that has several thousand pellets through it. I do expect it to continue to improve with use as that is what happened with my MKII.
Filling and Shooting:
Filling the MFR is a straight forward and easy process. The buddy bottle twists off and on with simple finger tip pressure. Taking off the bottle on the MFR is much easier than on the MKII. I personally find it easier in some regards to remove the bottle for filling versus jockeying the entire rifle into position for filling. One area that I feel the quick fill is far superior to detaching the bottle is the actual filling adaptor that screws onto the bottle. Attaching the fill adaptor to the bottle is straight forward however generating enough force to seal the adaptor to the bottle by hand tightening is almost impossible unless you can bench press a VW. I have placed a wrench next to my tank and I use it to snug down the adaptor onto the bottle to ensure a good seal when filling. Not a big issue but it seems that Theoben should make the adaptor larger so you could get a good grip on it when attaching it to the bottle for filling.
Shooting the MFR is straight forward and a pleasure. I have hand loaded the MFR and shot it with the magazine. Both are easy and function very well. The MFR does come with a single shot adaptor but I have not used it to date since loading the pellet directly into the breech is so easy. With Ernie’s bolt handle and with several hundred rounds downrange, the shooting cycle on the MFR is quite nice. The MKIV trigger adds control and accuracy to the overall shooting experience.
Stock and Ergonomics:
At some point I determined that ergonomics had a significant impact on my ability to shoot accurately. For me, ergonomics are not limited to the stock but the stock does play a large role in overall ergonomics so I now lump the two together.
The Rapid range of rifles have always earned respect from me for their high Monte Carlo cheek piece. I find that a nicely rounded and sufficiently high cheek piece allows for a good cheek weld and adds significantly to my overall accuracy. The sporter MFR stock does not disappoint in that regard. Additionally, since the MFR uses a 280cc bottle, the fore stock on the MFR is thinner and longer than on the MKII. I find that this adds to the comfort and support of the off hand during shooting. In fact, the MFR is quite thin behind the bottle and this allows me to comfortably grip the fore stock while resting the front of the stock under the bottle on a bag for Benchrest shooting. I like the fact that when shooting the MFR from a bench, I can rest the stock on the front bag vs. resting the buddy bottle as I do with the MKII. I also like the thinner fore stock on the MFR which allows me positive control over the rifle while maintaining a light grip.
As I mentioned before, I find the position of the thin bladed straight trigger superior to that of the set back trigger. I do like the wide blade on the set back trigger and its feel, but the older straight bladed trigger allows for a more comfortable grip and finger position.
The overall quality of the stock and ergonomics on the MFR allow me to shoot surprisingly accurately and quite comfortably. I give the MFR high marks indeed.
Power, Shots per fill and … “can ya hit anything with that B.B. gun?”
The power for the MFR is exactly where I expected it to be, 27ft/lbs. I know there are many shooters out there who want the most ft/lbs they can squeeze out of every rifle. Well I say bully for you! I’m built a little differently and that’s not what I want from my air rifles. I want my air rifles to give world class accuracy while sipping air. I know that air is cheap but I get a lot of pleasure from a rifle that will give a bunch of accurate shots while using minimal air. Clearly the gold standard for this type of model would be an Olympic quality 10m rifle. Well I hung a target at 60yrds a while ago and that is what I shoot at so a 10m gun may be a bit challenged at that distance. I probably couldn’t hit much outside that distance but at 60yrds I do okay once in a while.
Here is a target I shot the other day. Each bull had a full magazine or 12 shots in it. I thought I might go ¼” on the first 12 but it was not to be, the paper was wet and my skill was not up to the challenge. Despite my own short comings as a shooter, I am convinced that this Rapid MFR will give a ¼” 12 shot group at 60yrds.
Looking at the attached target you’ll quickly see what the MFR can do when the shooter does his job. You’ll also quickly see where my mind wandered. All testing was done with unsorted and unlubed JSB 5.52mm 15.9gr pellets.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/March08002-1.jpg
My most recent chrony strings show that the MFR is a very consistent rifle. I am pleased with the minimal variation in fps over the 40 shots I chronied. I was amazed to see that this rifle will give 60 shots when the 280cc cylinder is filled to 200bar and shot down to 125bar. That is 60 shots using 75bar of air and giving no more than 1.5% deviation in fps. I am very happy with these results to say the least. Here is the shot string, sorry it is only 40 shots. I will run a 60 shot string and post those results.
1-10
867.4 Low 877.9 High 872.9 Avg 10.44ES 3.31SD
11-20
877.2 Low 882.2 High 880.6 Avg 5.05 ES 1.00 SD
21-30
868.2 Low 880.5 High 877.3 Avg 12.32 ES 3.60 SD
31-40
870.7 Low 882.5 High 877.6 Avg. 10.8 ES 3.46 SD
All the best and I hope this information helps,
Mike
This rifle was owned by one gentleman before me who said he had fired approximately 100 pellets through it and that the rifle was about 7 months old. After my initial inspection of the rifle I found no difference in quality between the “used” rifle I had just purchased and the new MKII I bought about a year ago. There were however a couple differences in some of the finishes between my MKII and the MFR.
The receiver on the MFR appears to be a slightly more matte finish. It has the same deep bluing, but the gloss is not as high as on the MKII. I do not favor one over the other, simply a slight variation.
The overall MFR rifle was manufactured with high quality standards. The parts fit flawlessly together and the finishes are top notch and free from defects. I especially feel that the bluing on the barrel shroud is well done and is very lustrous in its appearance.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1397.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1415.jpg
Trigger:
The MFR has the MKIV trigger from Theoben. For those of you that have shot one of the Rapid range of rifles with this trigger you already know how well it performs and how crisp and smooth it is. Knowing that, I was a bit disappointed by how the trigger was initially set up on my MFR. I do not know if it was adjusted by the previous owner or was not properly adjusted from the factory. The trigger had too much first stage and the second stage had quite a bit of creep before firing.
I set out to adjust the trigger. It took a bit of trial and error but within 10 minutes the trigger was adjusted to my liking and now shoots every bit as well as the trigger on my MKII. Both have a medium amount of first stage and break cleanly after the engagement of the second stage.
The trigger on my MFR is not the set back trigger but the original MKIV trigger. I have to say that I do not mind the original trigger at all. In fact I like the position of the original trigger better than the set back. I wrote in my review of the Rapid MKII that I feel that that the set back trigger in relation to the grip is too cramped and I do not have large hands. The original trigger is in more of a forward position and allows a more comfortable grip and hand position in my opinion. My MFR arrived with a trigger shoe and I have since removed it and now shoot without it as I feel that is more comfortable. I may try the shoe on the MKII set back trigger in order to move the trigger contact a bit forward.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/IMG_1401.jpg
Cocking Bolt and Magazine:
Let me begin with the magazine. It is simply well thought out, well constructed and a pleasure to use. The Rapid range of rifles use the same magazine and I find this logical and easy on the shooter. Grab a rifle and a magazine and go. Since both mine are .22 there is no hunting for the right magazine and I use one magazine at a time so it is always ready to roll.
The first thing I do when I buy a Rapid is contact Ernie - 220swift and order a bolt handle. The increased size and length of Ernie’s bolts make cocking the Rapid much easier. The new bolt handle arrived from Ernie’s Rapid workshop just a few days after I ordered it with his usual high quality of workmanship.
With the new bolt handle in place, cocking the MFR was much easier. However I will tell you that it has taken about 750 rounds for the cocking mechanism to smooth out. I found the bolt action on the MFR to be sticky and a bit clunky in the beginning. It also seemed to have a spring catch in the beginning of the cocking cycle. I’m now satisfied with the function of the bolt but it still is not as silky smooth as my MKII that has several thousand pellets through it. I do expect it to continue to improve with use as that is what happened with my MKII.
Filling and Shooting:
Filling the MFR is a straight forward and easy process. The buddy bottle twists off and on with simple finger tip pressure. Taking off the bottle on the MFR is much easier than on the MKII. I personally find it easier in some regards to remove the bottle for filling versus jockeying the entire rifle into position for filling. One area that I feel the quick fill is far superior to detaching the bottle is the actual filling adaptor that screws onto the bottle. Attaching the fill adaptor to the bottle is straight forward however generating enough force to seal the adaptor to the bottle by hand tightening is almost impossible unless you can bench press a VW. I have placed a wrench next to my tank and I use it to snug down the adaptor onto the bottle to ensure a good seal when filling. Not a big issue but it seems that Theoben should make the adaptor larger so you could get a good grip on it when attaching it to the bottle for filling.
Shooting the MFR is straight forward and a pleasure. I have hand loaded the MFR and shot it with the magazine. Both are easy and function very well. The MFR does come with a single shot adaptor but I have not used it to date since loading the pellet directly into the breech is so easy. With Ernie’s bolt handle and with several hundred rounds downrange, the shooting cycle on the MFR is quite nice. The MKIV trigger adds control and accuracy to the overall shooting experience.
Stock and Ergonomics:
At some point I determined that ergonomics had a significant impact on my ability to shoot accurately. For me, ergonomics are not limited to the stock but the stock does play a large role in overall ergonomics so I now lump the two together.
The Rapid range of rifles have always earned respect from me for their high Monte Carlo cheek piece. I find that a nicely rounded and sufficiently high cheek piece allows for a good cheek weld and adds significantly to my overall accuracy. The sporter MFR stock does not disappoint in that regard. Additionally, since the MFR uses a 280cc bottle, the fore stock on the MFR is thinner and longer than on the MKII. I find that this adds to the comfort and support of the off hand during shooting. In fact, the MFR is quite thin behind the bottle and this allows me to comfortably grip the fore stock while resting the front of the stock under the bottle on a bag for Benchrest shooting. I like the fact that when shooting the MFR from a bench, I can rest the stock on the front bag vs. resting the buddy bottle as I do with the MKII. I also like the thinner fore stock on the MFR which allows me positive control over the rifle while maintaining a light grip.
As I mentioned before, I find the position of the thin bladed straight trigger superior to that of the set back trigger. I do like the wide blade on the set back trigger and its feel, but the older straight bladed trigger allows for a more comfortable grip and finger position.
The overall quality of the stock and ergonomics on the MFR allow me to shoot surprisingly accurately and quite comfortably. I give the MFR high marks indeed.
Power, Shots per fill and … “can ya hit anything with that B.B. gun?”
The power for the MFR is exactly where I expected it to be, 27ft/lbs. I know there are many shooters out there who want the most ft/lbs they can squeeze out of every rifle. Well I say bully for you! I’m built a little differently and that’s not what I want from my air rifles. I want my air rifles to give world class accuracy while sipping air. I know that air is cheap but I get a lot of pleasure from a rifle that will give a bunch of accurate shots while using minimal air. Clearly the gold standard for this type of model would be an Olympic quality 10m rifle. Well I hung a target at 60yrds a while ago and that is what I shoot at so a 10m gun may be a bit challenged at that distance. I probably couldn’t hit much outside that distance but at 60yrds I do okay once in a while.
Here is a target I shot the other day. Each bull had a full magazine or 12 shots in it. I thought I might go ¼” on the first 12 but it was not to be, the paper was wet and my skill was not up to the challenge. Despite my own short comings as a shooter, I am convinced that this Rapid MFR will give a ¼” 12 shot group at 60yrds.
Looking at the attached target you’ll quickly see what the MFR can do when the shooter does his job. You’ll also quickly see where my mind wandered. All testing was done with unsorted and unlubed JSB 5.52mm 15.9gr pellets.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/SeaMike/March08002-1.jpg
My most recent chrony strings show that the MFR is a very consistent rifle. I am pleased with the minimal variation in fps over the 40 shots I chronied. I was amazed to see that this rifle will give 60 shots when the 280cc cylinder is filled to 200bar and shot down to 125bar. That is 60 shots using 75bar of air and giving no more than 1.5% deviation in fps. I am very happy with these results to say the least. Here is the shot string, sorry it is only 40 shots. I will run a 60 shot string and post those results.
1-10
867.4 Low 877.9 High 872.9 Avg 10.44ES 3.31SD
11-20
877.2 Low 882.2 High 880.6 Avg 5.05 ES 1.00 SD
21-30
868.2 Low 880.5 High 877.3 Avg 12.32 ES 3.60 SD
31-40
870.7 Low 882.5 High 877.6 Avg. 10.8 ES 3.46 SD
All the best and I hope this information helps,
Mike