Air Gun Home :: View topic

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I finally got around to installing a testing a Vortek kit in a .22 caliber B28 (Chinese copy of the RWS/Diana 350).

The rifle was bought used from the third owner. Seems the first owner had lubed it with moly, polished the trigger a bit and added a shim to the spring.

So- I tested it as received; over the course of 40 shots the range went from 779.2fps at the low-end to 855.2fps at the high end. Shooting was fairly smooth, but a fair bit of kick and some amount of internal vibration (that sort of side-to-side pulling 'feel' you get).

Note: All tests were with 14.3gr Crosman wadcutters and used the factory piston seal.

Next, I took it apart and removed the shim that was installed, and losing a bit of the moly lube that was coating everything. Rifle then shot at 765.7fps (low end) and 791.3fps (high end) over the course of 30 shots. Same sort of vibration and kick as the prior test.

Stock parts:

Then came the Vortek kit. The kit comes with a new spring, new piston seal, all the guides that make for the smoothing out of the shot cycle, and some lube.

Results over 50 shots with the Vortek kit came out at a low of 831.7fps and a high of 870.4fps, averaging 859.6fps over the entire spread. What I noticed was that the average fps was still climbing a bit over the course of more shots, so I think that the Vortek kit still has to settle in a bit. The shot cycle, however, was noticeably better- no vibration whatsoever, no sideways sort of 'pull' just a straight back recoil (which I am sure seemed to be less than the stock or slightly modified versions- but of course I could just be imagining this somewhat because the vibration and pull were gone) and no noticeable forward pull/jump.

I was actually surprised by the Vortek kit. Yes, I sell the kits, but I went on many other people's word on how well they worked when I decided to pick the line up. And unfortunately, did not have the time to install the kit in any rifles to completely verify on my own- but now that I have I can definitively say they are the single-best improvement to a springer I have come across. My initial thinking was that the guide system used to eliminate vibration, 'twang' and pull was likely to reduce velocity and the Vortek spring would maybe bring it up to stock or slightly above stock. When it produced 10% more power than stock, and about 3% more than another "tuned" version (done by someone who has tuned springers on their own for years)- that was a bit of a "hmmm" sort of moment.

The included Vortek piston seal was never used, so it's possible the rifle could do slightly better, but the stock seal seemed A-Ok so I left it in the rifle for all the testing.

In any event, very happy with the results from the Vortek kit and am reassured that my decision to carry the line was not a mistake- these things work great!

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Just for kicks, and having noted that the "stock" numbers that came out of this B28 were apparently typical for what most people see, I decided to look at the specs of the Diana 350 and B28.

What did I find? Diana lists the 350 at 910fps in .22cal, Pyramyd lists it at 1000fps.

Xisico (B28 importer) also lists the B28 at 1000fps in .22

Bullsh^t! Nobody seems to have ever seen 910 or 1000fps using normal weight pellets (14.3gr)- so I suspect that Diana may be taking specs using lighter pellets (their own "Hobby" pellets at 11gr perhaps)- but Pyramyd and Xisico are totally full of crap. Not necessarily surprising since Gamo started this "fake numbers" game a few years back- but still a bit irritating.

SMP · Silver Status Member

Eric just a quick question on the kits

I don't see one listed for any B18/19 variant. Are they not made for that platform?

Would the Nitro piston kits you've mentioned be a good substitute for these platforms?

AirGunEric · Site Admin

There, unfortunately, is no Vortek kit for any of the B18/B19 variety guns. I have not asked directly "why"? But I assume they figured nobody in the US with a $79.99 gun would spend that or more on one of their kits. I will go to them and see if maybe they would consider it...

As for the NP conversion- it does bring the power up on the B18/19 base and eliminates a ton of vibration, but of course there is still recoil. I only mention that there is recoil because the marketing on the 'NP' system almost leads people to believe they will be left with a rifle with no recoil- which is completely untrue- vibrations gone- absolutely, recoil- still there.

SMP · Silver Status Member

Thanks Eric

That certainly makes sense that nobody would be foolish enough to put a $90 spring in a $90 dollar rifle Embarassed

I'll be in touch through your site

Sincerely
Nobody

AirGunEric · Site Admin