My Royale 400

[PolarWolf]

Yeah, I got one! I will post pictures when I've made them.

I ordered my Royale from Hurricane and had it sent to my vacation address where I am now. I went to the postoffice today to pick up my package which has been sitting there since last thursday. But alas, it's here in my posession now.

First observations:
* It's light
* It's short
* It has a great stock! (I have the Walnut version), thanks to Tobias for picking a nice one out for me! For the southpaws I hope a lefthanded one will be made as this won't be easy to convert.
* The breech block is milled from the same aluminium as the Cyclone series (i.e. not the softer from the Typhoon series)
* I like the sidelever already, it's a solid system
* Pressure gauge and Foster fill system

Curiously absent:
* 10J marking (as I bought this gun as a swedish 10J version)
* Caliber markings (It's a .22, but it doesn't say on the rifle)

All in all I'm quite happy with this one. Even though I don't particularly like rifles with a front bottle, it doesn't bother me much on this one. The only regret I have is that I can't shoot it yet I'm in the middle of nowhere without access to compressed air. I have a pump but it's back home and broken too But hey, 10J is for wusses anyway, as soon as I get back in The Netherlands it'll be taken apart for an upgrade.

[ian johnstone]

Great news Polar - now Norm in the US has got a buddy

I noticed the lack of 'calibre' markings on a couple of the US guns (pictured on the yellow forum)...you'll just have to remember which pellets to use, I guess

nlieber (Norm) has already won a Bench Rest Comp. with his

[PolarWolf]

Yeah, I read boit Norm's achievements. Good one!

Anyway, the pictures of an FX Royale in the wild.

When I get home I'll be pitting this beast against its (in my view) direct competitor the Theoben Rapid. And if I can get one, a Daystate Airranger too. Three top class, front bottled guns. Let the best gun win!

Another observation: The forestock under the bottle is thick enough to take QD studs. I'd go with a Dr Bobs Buddy Bottle Bi-Pod Mount 50mm though. It'll bring a fitted bipod further to where it belongs, balance wise. Second "another observation", I think the fitted hollow pipe at the end ("silencer" is a big word) leaves room for longer bottle.

EDIT: Another observation...check out the weird 11mm rail on the rifle. I can see only one good reason for this expensive design choice, and that's the ability to fit bits of different rail. Like, say, 22mm picatinny/weaver. Didn't find any in the box though, will probably cost extra

[nlieber]

Congrats on getting the gun! What does 10j making indicate (never heard that term before). I like the scope rail having the steel inserts to keep it from getting marked up.

Hey your gun was made before mine! Mine is 5069, I wonder if its a date code or just a number they enter in a daily production log.

Sorry you can't shoot it yet but I bet you it becomes your favorite once you do! Your picture taking ability is much better than mine.

Already had to fill up my CF tank today and shot a few more hours today. The more I shoot this thing the better it gets!

[parishm]

what is that on the end of the barrel ? is it a moderator, compensator, or
just a barrel weight ?

is there any way to attach a moderator or shroud ?

[PolarWolf]

Congrats on getting the gun! What does 10j making indicate (never heard that term before). I like the scope rail having the steel inserts to keep it from getting marked up.

Hey your gun was made before mine! Mine is 5069, I wonder if its a date code or just a number they enter in a daily production log.

Sorry you can't shoot it yet but I bet you it becomes your favorite once you do! Your picture taking ability is much better than mine.

Already had to fill up my CF tank today and shot a few more hours today. The more I shoot this thing the better it gets!

The serial number is just a serial number, but they are sequential. So yours is newer, though I bet it was the same production run They do keep logs though, so if you want to know when your gun is built, shoot an email to FX. They'll be able to tell. Too bad there's no online service, though I did suggest that option.

Here in europe several countries put a power limit on free to own airguns. In sweden it's 10J, about 7.5ft/lbs. In the UK it's 12ft/lbs, in Germany it's 7.5J, etc. Where I normally live, in The Netherlands there's neither a power nor a caliber limit so we're able to shoot stuff like .50 Shinsung Dragons and such. For as long as it lasts anyway. I've bought guns in sweden before and before this one they all had "10J" punched in their actions somewhere. Maybe it's under the stock, hmm.

To answer the other question, if I looked right it seems there's a baffle in that hollow tube. That makes it officially a moderator. To make it work properly some filling and some additional baffles might be recommended. How that works legally in your neck of the woods is your responsibility to find out Technically you should be able to attach an extra moderator to the gun as there's a screw-on cap on the tube. Remove that, replace with an adapter type device which takes a moderator, and presto. Personally I'd just put some filling in the existing one though.

[parishm]

is it removable and how far does it extend past the end of the barrel ?

[fxuser]

thanks for the nice pictures Polar,
congratulation to the new rifle !!!

(hope my order will be heard in the future )

now its time to upgrade, right ?

greeting Ralph

[bitmonx]

please make a photo report from the upgrading process

[PolarWolf]

Oh yeah, it will be extensively documented At first glance it looks like it'll be quite similar to upgrading a Typhoon/T12. I.e. putting the drill press to the action to widen the transfer port. Maybe a hammer/spring upgrade is needed too, but I'll see that when I get to it.

The moderator type thingie is not actually screwed on but probably glued/loctited. That's probably for the US market where removable moderators aren't quite free to own. It's about 10cm longer than muzzle end, by the looks of it. I'll get details from that later on.

Something else I noticed, it should be possible to single load this rifle as on the left there's some room left for fingers. No single shot tray or anything, but room to wiggle.