First off this isn't the end of the world. I realize this is just a air rifle and a hobby not my work vehicle I depend on or something worse like one of my family members are in the hospital. That being said this rifle is not a cheap one. I'm not very happy with Airgun Technology as they are not responding to emails I've sent to them regarding a problem with my new Vulcan 2 .25 cal clipping pellets through three different moderators. A Huggett, Sumo, and AGT are the moderators I'm using. The problem seems to be the part that threads onto the barrel that the shroud then threads onto as well as the moderator. I'd know the part name if the AGT manual actually pictured and labeled the part but it doesn't. The rifle has not been hit, dropped, scratched either. My dealer, not mentioning any names at this point, sais it was shooting accurately when it left them. Did they use a moderator for the test firing? Distirbutor actually suggested I could take a dremel tool and remove the part of the moderator where the clipping is occurring. Really??? Not to long after I got the rifle the cocking lever shot of the gun as the screws were not tight so that wasn't checked at the factory or dealer. I bought a high end air rifle for their precision. I fully expected my distributor to ask a few more questions then after realizing what the problem was with the rifle say, " I'll send that part right out to you to try." The distributor could then have AGT replace the part they took of a in stock gun to help the customer. So I'm rather disappointed with AGT and one of their distributors. In closing I'll say I hope the owner of AGT or one of his family members is not having health problems hence the reason for lack luster customer care. I hardly think the SHOT show should be an excuse either.
A few pictures of the affected parts...where everything threads onto the barrel, would be a great help. This could be nothing more than some loose parts. I owned a Vulcan and it was one of the best pcp's I ever owned. Great accuracy, ergonomics, and quality. We'd like to help more but need some visuals to identify where the problem starts. The DonnyFL moderator comes apart so you can see which, if any, baffles are being clipped. My first reaction is this is all high end equipment, so I suspect either something is loose somewhere, or a minor adjustment is needed. If you have a 1/4" dowl rod you can slide it down the moderator into the barrel and see if it taps anything on the way down. That was my first test. The second was to try to move anything from the barrel to the end moderator...just to see if anything has even the slightest movement.
Sometimes it's just a matter of opening up the baffle being hit. Easily done and no harm results. A thousandth of an inch can make all the difference on some guns!
Thanks Hepotter for your comments and ideas. I like most everything about the rifle and yes high end equipment which is why I believe I shouldn't be having these problems nor have to whip out a dremel tool. Nothing is loose. Everything is clean and snug and not over tight. A .25" rod of some kind only confirms what I already know. The end piece would be my guess due to the numerous machining points this part has. Perhaps I'm being a little to picky in not wanting remove material from the parts in the moderators that have been clipped. I'm fully aware of the internals of all three moderators. To modify all of them I shouldn't have to do as the precision of the rifle should allow unmodified moderator use. Pictures I have with a common phone are difficult to upload to this site and directions to put in text using "right check boxes" make no sense to me. I'll try to PM you the picturess
As of now I've not heard from AGT. I reached out to one of their people I'd corresponded with back when I bought the rifle in August checking to see if he knew anything. He had not and had not seen the 2 emails from me through there contact page. So I basically had to write the whole situation down again in an email to him. That was 4 days ago and nothing. This kind of service will obviously not help them sell rifles.
First, let it be known that I am NOT the dealer that sold the Vulcan 2 to you, but let me know what you need. Maybe I have the parts and I can help you. AGT is a good company, and I'm willing to help you out at no charge, just to keep their name good in the community. Many manufacturers don't reply (especially over a weekend), as they would expect their dealer that sold the product to you to do so.
Please call my personal cell at (714) 612-5956 8AM-430PM Pacific
Joe Brancato <><
Still nothing heard from AGT. They have detailed description of problem and pictures. Sorry, can't name the part as they didn't think their customers needed a part name or number in the owners manual to refer to. Regardless. Will update this topic when they respond.
I just contacted AGT for you. Konstantin replied immediately that he is currently traveling, and requested for me to contact Evgeny directly.
He should answer soon. I will post the schematic here, so that we can determine what part(s) you need.
If I don't have them, I'll see what it takes to get them for you.
Joe <><
I received the file this morning from AGT/Vulcan for the Vulcan2 and have uploaded it here for all to download.
FYI. It's incomplete not showing all the parts. End of barrel parts that thread onto the barrel, then receives shroud, which an additional moderator threads on to is not pictured.
I'm having a terrible customer service experience with them for this exact part. In AGT's manufacturing and anodizing process the part canted/warped slightly resulting in pellets clipping 3 different moderators. Moderators are an AGT long designed for the gun, Donnyfl Sumo, and a Huggett. The gun is new with no evidence of impact damage/scratching. I'm right now looking at my manual and see a 24 month warranty that includes "individual parts material defects" . They actually told me that their technical department said to buy a new moderator from them. At least I might know the name of the part since it's not included in the manual. Also the "Name of the part" is not included for items 1-78. Dealer is failing miserably as well to provide customer service and replace this part immediately then get his replaced by AGT. Dealer said he'd test fired the rifle and it was ok. Sure it was. Did he put on a Donnyfl moderator he swears by and sells? 20 shots after I got it the cocking lever and parts flew off the gun as someone had not tightened the screws at AGT or distributor. Very unhappy with the current situation. One reason I bought a Vulcan 2 was because of the stellar service I'd heard about from AGT if there even was a problem. Unbelievable at this point.
I'm sorry Joe. Thank you for your help. I meant to thank you but am very ticked right now. I've been corresponding with Konstantin as well. My first and second contact through their website ended up in their SPAM folder. I then contacted Konstantin directly as I'd communicated with him previously. He has the photos too. I'd like to attach pics here but it sais the pic is to large. I don't know how to make it smaller. I want to keep this all professional so am not pasting the message from AGT email I received this am nor mentioning directly who I bought the gun from. Anyway. Thank you again.
From the beginning I wanted to use a Huggett moderator as it was very similar in diameter to the barrel shroud. It took forever to get the proper adapter to fit one so I bought the AGT large moderator from Krale as they had it in stock as well as FX caps he had in stock as well. I wanted to shoot the rifle without the good bark it has. The Vulcan 2 in .25 calls is not quiet without a moderator. So I was able to shoot it with mostly good accuracy. Then the Huggett adapter arrived so I was able to try it. Terrible accuracy. About the same time I bought a new Sumo. I shot with it and terrible accuracy too. Pulled Sumo apart and it was clipping at the end exit hole and one opening back from it. Took the Huggett apart and clipping was happening at exit hole and one disc back. Checked the AGT moderator and it showed ever so slight pellet clipping too. So this is how the saga started.
So what you're saying is that 5 months ago it shot fine, you put an AGT mod on and it shot fine. Then you put a Hugget on it and it didn't shoot fine. Then you put a Sumo on it and it didn't shoot fine.
Then 5 months after purchase you email dealer and AGT and expect immediate results?
And you post that your "New" Vulcan has problems, but it's really been fine for 5 months? (prior to the additions of the Sumo and/or Hugget)
and you post " My dealer, not mentioning any names at this point, sais it was shooting accurately when it left them. Did they use a moderator for the test firing?"
Any reason why you would think they would test with a moderator when you weren't purchasing one from them?
Sounds to me like the moderators (that you apparently didn't buy from unnamed dealer) are the issue. I bet if you had purchased the gun and moderator together from unnamed dealer they would have tested it with the moderator. And if it experienced clipping they would have drilled it out slightly to stop the issue.
I would equate this to purchasing a vehicle and then putting a set of performance tires on it. 5 moths later the tires are rubbing and you want the dealer to do something about it.
I said with "mostly good accuracy." Not fine. It has never been as good as any of my FX or Dayatate rifles nor quiet as advertised. The AGT moderator could not be inspected until the glued threads were broke loose, which was just done recently when the even more pronounced inaccuracies were noted with the 2 other moderators.
Yes some time has passed since I received the rifle but sometimes small problems like this take some time to manifest themselves especially when the rifle is not shot often. A high quality moderator add to a high quality airgun is hardly comparable to a tire change on a vehicle.
The Sumo I have is from the same dealer the rifle came from and should be identical to any other extremely well made Donnyfl product they sell or anyone else is sellimg. It may be incorrect though to assume when purchasing a new rifle and a new moderator that the two will be test fired before shipment.
Regardless. AGT is now working with me on the problem and sending me a new part. Thank you Joe Brancato for your efforts to help remedie the situation. AGT is sending what they are calling the moderator so hopefully the problem is corrected with this change. I will note the outcome later.
Perry, I'm happy to hear that they're sending replacement parts that will hopefully fix the situation, without the need to drill out the moderator, which I have had to do with several moderators over the years.
I'm very impressed that Joe jumped in to help, even though he was not your dealer. I purchased my vulcan 1, gen 4 from Joe a little over a year ago and have been very happy with it.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Scott
airguntunes.com
Final report on this. The part had been shipped which Joe verified as well. The package arrived 3rd week of February but the wrong part was sent. Apparently a miscommunication on AGT end as they had descriptions and pictures of the part. AGT is calling it the "shroud moderator." Not pictured on their diagram but regardless the pictures and description I sent spoke for themselves. Konstantin was very apologetic and shipped the correct item which arrived 3-5-19. Installed shroud moderator and Sumo moderator then shot a couple shots. No clipping was observed. Previous clipping had been blackened. Finished out the mag and still no clipping. Installed the Huggett and also no clipping was observed. Accuracy very good.
Good to hear your issue sounds resolved. Shout out for Joe as well. Nothing but a good experience with him. I'd bought a FX streamline .25 from AoA with a Hugget Moderator. They insist install at the time of purchase or send the gun back later if you want one. It clipped as well. I didn't want to go through the return hassle and just drilled it out a little. Same with a Donny FL Sumo I'd bought clipped some. I don't own a lathe so I just used a hand drill to open it up a tinge. Problem solved. Seems to me some manufacturers are running things too tight on the production line.
