I have a FX Indy so I am familiar with on board pumps. When I saw this new option form China I thought I would try one out. I own other Chinese guns and have had mostly a positive experience with them. Huben is a semi auto power house. The Airmax pistol has exceeded my expectations. I had a Airmax Varmint that was so so. Loud, magazine stuck, and accuracy was weak. So it was with a bit of a leap of faith that I ordered the Nova Freedom. Took about a week to get here.
My initial impression was positive. Comes with two Marauder style magazines, single shot tray and a fill probe. Has a full shroud, more on that later. The stock is plastic. I do mean plastic. Mold seams and everything. the pump handle is long and has good leverage. shooting it on my office basement I felt it would be backyard friendly on the noise level. Trigger has a very nice crisp break. A little heavier than I normally like. When I got home I resisted the urge to shoot it until I could clean the barrel.
Did have a good burr on the barrel end. the crown looked good.
Started with JB paste and then a liquid cleaner. It was dirty.
When I had removed the shroud I noticed that at about the distance of the front sight there was a sealed bushing that sealed the shroud from that point back. So really it has about 8 inches of useful shroud.
Always looking for less sound I drilled vent hole in the bushing ala AirForce barrel bushings. Couldn't see what it would hurt.
Added hair curlers and washers in the front part of the shroud. Removed the open sights and threw a UTG scope on it. Ready to start testing.
It is backyard friendly. ? The best part is the accuracy was better than I expected! Yay, It's a keeper. It has a Hi/Lo power setting and I zeroed it in on Hi. Pumped it up to 2 bar and did 10 shots before pumping it again. Took about 40 pumps to bring it back full. The first full shots. Keep in mind new gun with maybe 10 shots through it before the testing.
Second five shots on High.
Switched to low setting.
25 yards 5 shots each target. I can live with these results. ?
This was odd. There is a cap you unscrew at the front of the gun. Has what looks like a probe fill hole there. It isn't. Not sure what it is for.
The included probe does not fit there. It's in an odd spot under the gun. You have to lift the pump arm and remove a rubber plug.
The first time I tried it it blew the probe out. Shoved it in again and held it. It took air that time. Weird in that if you wanted to tether it for target shooting it is in horrible location. It is set up for a quick release fill hose so no extra fittings needed.
Back to the trigger. Smooth and nice crisp break. All I have done is adjusted a little initial creep out of it. On a five shot average it was over 4lbs. Feels good but personally I like a little less.
Not knowing the durability of the gun, assuming it's dependable, I would give it a high recommendation. It is a bit heavy. Your hand rest on the pump handle when shooting. Just feels a little odd, but not annoying. I had no jamming issues with the magazines. Just a little tight when loading the fist pellet in backward. Once top loading there is more of a slot that makes loading pellets easy.
For someone wondering if they want all the normal baggage that comes with a PCP this makes the decision much easier, no baggage! Priced similar to a name springer this makes the whole springer VS PCP less of a black and white issue. Glad I bought it. ?
Nice job.I'm really glad you did this for us.I've had a great interest in the FX Independance,but I can't rationalize paying the asking price.This may be of lesser quality,but at 3 to 4 for the price of one;it would be my choice.I imagine that you might take this out in knarly conditions,when you might keep the Indy inside.Hence,you may use it a lot.
For more information google "Power tuning the Nova Freedom" Hardair magazine has a great article on it. I tried to copy the link but it keeps posting the article and it's cut off.
Just an update on what mine shot at 50 yards. It was odd that after shooting some okay groups it started really shooting to the left. ? Family party interrupted my testing so I'll have to try it later. There was a slight breeze but it would have blown pellets to the right. Small black circle is dime size.
I enjoyed the review. I am interested, although with bad shoulders I shouldn't be. I have some questions
How hard is it to pump?
How did you hold the rifle when pumping it?
Can you pump 40 times straight or do you need to let it cool down part way through?
I read on Hard Air Magazine that it has two power levels. If you are getting 10 shots per 40 pump strokes on high power, how many pumps does it take for 10 shots on the lower power setting?
And lastly, what kind of rest is that? David Enoch
I enjoyed the review. I am interested, although with bad shoulders I shouldn't be. I have some questions
How hard is it to pump?
How did you hold the rifle when pumping it?
Can you pump 40 times straight or do you need to let it cool down part way through?
I read on Hard Air Magazine that it has two power levels. If you are getting 10 shots per 40 pump strokes on high power, how many pumps does it take for 10 shots on the lower power setting?
And lastly, what kind of rest is that? David Enoch
1. I find it easy to pump. I'm 63 years old with no real arm ailments. While target shooting I wish the probe was in a better location to be able to tether it. After 50-60 continual shots the pumping gets old.
2. I hold the gun in front of me pointed up. Left hand on the grip right hand on the pump handle and open my arms out and back in. Both arms have movement.
3. I've never felt the interior pump action while pumping to see if it is getting warm. I'll have to check that. So normally I just pump it up to the pressure I want in one steady session. I have found it's better not to fill it past say 2800 psi by the gun gauge. I have the hammer spring on the stock setting and giving high fill pressure, suppose to go as high as 3600, it has reduced chrony speeds until it drops in pressure. Of course I lose some shot count but what is there is more consistent.
4. It's about the same because I can get a few more shots on Lo I tend to shoot until it's about 1000 psi and then pump it back up to 2600-2800 psi. Grouping under 30 yards is similar on either setting.
5. It's a Caldwell Stinger. Seems to work well. Adjustable for different gun lengths.
Pluric, well done sir. I will be interested in any follow up over the next month or so to see if you encounter any real problems with continued use. This is more than just interesting, this represents a big leap forward considering the power the freedom generates, and at a cost that most of us can afford. Thank you for the critique.
Pluric, any new updates? Thanks for the pics with the shroud off. I want to put an LDC on this guy. Do you know the barrel diameter? Would there be any issue with shooting it without the shroud and just a LDC on the end of the barrel.
Pluric, any new updates? Thanks for the pics with the shroud off. I want to put an LDC on this guy. Do you know the barrel diameter? Would there be any issue with shooting it without the shroud and just a LDC on the end of the barrel.
Sorry, I havc not been shooting it much. I bought it out of curiosity and put it away after playing with it. The shrouded barrel is pretty quiet so I don't know why you would want a LDC. It is an 11mm od barrel. same as a Crosman Discovery. I can't think of any issues using one would cause. Remove a single screw and the shroud slides off. You would have a floating barrel as the shroud is part of the front barrel ring. Actually you could probably use a TKO LDC and have it inside the shroud with the end cap off the shroud.
Pluric, any new updates? Thanks for the pics with the shroud off. I want to put an LDC on this guy. Do you know the barrel diameter? Would there be any issue with shooting it without the shroud and just a LDC on the end of the barrel.
Sorry, I havc not been shooting it much. I bought it out of curiosity and put it away after playing with it. The shrouded barrel is pretty quiet so I don't know why you would want a LDC. It is an 11mm od barrel. same as a Crosman Discovery. I can't think of any issues using one would cause. Remove a single screw and the shroud slides off. You would have a floating barrel as the shroud is part of the front barrel ring. Actually you could probably use a TKO LDC and have it inside the shroud with the end cap off the shroud.
Awesome thanks for the info! I have a TKO for my 1322 which I believe the crosman barrels are 11mm as well. Great idea slipping it under the shroud! Would be super if a tko fit fully inside. Yeah I know the shroud "should" make it backyard friendly but I have a certain neighbor who despises any and all things "guns" so being as undetectable as possible saves me a lot of headache 🙂
Yes, my 1322 is an 11mm od on the barrel. I have a TKO LDC on it as well. I'm pretty sure the TKO would fit inside the shroud.
Perfect. I have this coming tomorrow in .177 From what I have read and watched, I can use this on low setting and do 9-10gr pellets at around 850 FPS? Or high setting and get around 20 FPE. Id like to make a video of it shooting. I havent seen one yet.
This gun is awesome. Here is my review video and accuracy testing with the actual gun in this post. (pluric) let me use it for the video. Thanks again dude!
Has anyone else bought one of these? Seems like a great truck gun, travel gun, or hunter if you want an option to a springer. It also seems better than a 2000 psi fill gun and a pump.
Pluric, well done sir. I will be interested in any follow up over the next month or so to see if you encounter any real problems with continued use. This is more than just interesting, this represents a big leap forward considering the power the freedom generates, and at a cost that most of us can afford. Thank you for the critique.
Here is the update I can give. I lent the gun to Nate aka Airgun-Channel. He put it through some testing and at the end noticed it wasn't holding air as well. He contacted American Tactical whom I had bought the gun through and they sent a return shipping label to send it back for repairs. 48 hour turn around and returned it direct to me at no charge. It shot it some to sight it in and left it. I checked it this morning after over a week of sitting and it is holding air. Great service out of the vendor.
David, Both people I knew who bought them (Andy and Rick) The guns developed overnight leaks in the first month but then American Tactical fixed them for free within 48 hours in both cases.
This is the cheapest place I've found to buy them, when you click on a rifle it will say out of stock, just fill in the notified when back in stock field and in my experience they will get back to you in 2 or 3 days to sell you one. Regards, Tom
I've been following this post and the Freedom for months. Today I just found out it is getting a clone: Air Venturi has it branded as a Seneca Aspen. I'm totally in. As someone who gave up PCP for springers I'm going back this November.
Would it be possible to see how you suppressed the shroud with the washers, hair curlers, and drilled the holes in the bushing? What a great idea. What savings in sound did you achieve?
Would it be possible to see how you suppressed the shroud with the washers, hair curlers, and drilled the holes in the bushing? What a great idea. What savings in sound did you achieve?
The bushing is plastic and easy to drill holes through. Remove the o-ring first.
Because the barrel extends into the shroud above the bushing I used full length curlers to get past the barrel. Then a couple that were cut with a washer between them.
This has a 23 mm ID shroud. Just used some 22.5 washers.
These come in various sizes and can be slit to collapse if needed.
Here is the set up I did for a Hatsan Carnivore .30.
Of course this was all done in an effort to collect more lead dust and I believe it is very effective.
I'm looking to buy a nova freedom, and how does everybody like the gun that has owned it for some time. Pros and Cons? Also, what scope is recommended?
I'm looking to buy a nova freedom, and how does everybody like the gun that has owned it for some time. Pros and Cons? Also, what scope is recommended?
Mine developed a slow leak. It was returned to the vendor and had a 48 hour no charge for repair or shipping turn around on the repair. Right now it's a garage gun and it sits in a very cold garage. No leaking at all. Even if it did drop a little I don't have to hunt down the air tank, probe it to top it off. A few quick pumps and I have 10 or more shots ready. I put a Bug Buster scope on it.
You could say it was my shooting because I knew that I had a 20% flyer rate with the pellets I was using. Eun Jin heavy .22 cal. I should have had more practice with jsb pellets and used them. I should not have been shooting if I knew I had a 20% flyer rate.
Has anyone shot JSB Ultra Shock .22 25.39 grain hollow points through the Nova Freedom? I'm looking to hunt with the gun, and by my figures, two turns in on the hammer spring tension, 3400 psi and I should be comfortably 40+fpe.
I don't think I shot over 19gr. My experience was when the gun was pumped to over 3000 psi it felt like the gun could pressure lock a little. The FPS actually increased as the fill dropped to around 2800. Giving it more hammer spring may allow it to shoot at higher pressure. Also use more air so you get to pump some more. What are you planning to hunt? It easily dropped squirrels and doves with the JSB 15.89s.
Rick, I am on Ground Hog removal in the spring. I removed four this year using my Sheridan, using Benjamin .20 cal 14.3 grain cylindrical pellets. These replace the original Sheridan pellets that came in the plastic yellow container. I've read people dislike these pellets, pointing out Benjamin doesn't even have a .20 cal. I've only hunted with these, and when you hit a ground hog under the ear, behind the ear, under the chin, they are out. This requires a perfect shot, with a very active prey. I wish to have a little more slack in shot placement to humanely kill, and still be in peoples backyards.
Tom, what psi are you at with the hammer spring all the way in? Looking at reviews on Pyramid Air, Hard Air Magazine, and individual videos, two turns in for hunting looks optimal on high at 3400 psi, while target shooting you should be around 2800 on low, with the hammer spring one turn out. Did you try it with the magazine, or only with the single shot tray? Did you have to use the single shot tray because the 34 grain doesn't fit the magazine?
Tom, what psi are you at with the hammer spring all the way in? Looking at reviews on Pyramid Air, Hard Air Magazine, and individual videos, two turns in for hunting looks optimal on high at 3400 psi, while target shooting you should be around 2800 on low, with the hammer spring one turn out. Did you try it with the magazine, or only with the single shot tray? Did you have to use the single shot tray because the 34 grain doesn't fit the magazine?
It's been quite a while, probably in the neighborhood of 3000psi. Yes the 34gr are too long for the mag. Regards, Tom
How much air should be left in a PCP when you are not using it? I have always left a couple of pumps in my Sheridan, but I am new to the Nova Freedom, and want it to last. I am thinking the bottom of the usable pressure? This would be around 1000 psi (70 bar). Does this sound about right?
Tom, I have enjoyed your posts here and in GTA, and wonder if you have had any seal problems with the amount of high pressured shooting that you do. Did you raise your durometer number, or are you filling mostly from a tank?
Tom, I have enjoyed your posts here and in GTA, and wonder if you have had any seal problems with the amount of high pressured shooting that you do. Did you raise your durometer number, or are you filling mostly from a tank?
It has a very slow leak, several days to Zero Lbs. I haven't done anything to it except turn the hammer spring up and down. Mostly filling from a tank, very little pumping. I'll have it apart sooner or later and it will be fixed then. Regards, Tom
I would say about 100% of these guns do that, they lose their air overnight after a couple months. I sent mine in for repair pretty quickly and they repaired it for free. Hopefully call American Tactical and they will send you a return label
Did PA put a different o-ring on the pump? I am seeing advice to order the stock square o-ring from PA. Is the o-ring different than the o-ring offered in the American Tactical version? I wonder if PA and AT have started to fix the rifles before they are sent to consumers. This seems to make more sense than fixing every one they sell. Mine is still holding air with no leaks whatsoever, but at one point was sent back to AT to be fixed. I'm wondering if they are putting a different o-ring on the returned Nova Freedom/Seneca Aspen rifles. Is anyone that has had the o-ring fixed leaking?
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