The Aimco M300 / MOD 300 Under-Lever Review

[supershaji]

SuperShaji's
AIMCO M300 Review

M300%20-%20PaperArtist_2013-04-20_01-35-20.jpeg_resized.jpeg

As requested by the seniors here, here's a basic review of the extremely good looking, heavy boned, under-lever air-rifle -

the Aimco M300
Under Lever Air Rifle

M300%202013-04-20%2012.43.25_resized.png

(aka " Aimco MOD 300 ")


please click on pictures for larger view

Aimco%20M300%20engraved%20mod%20300%20_resized.jpg

M300%20open%20UL%2020130417_180806-1%20(1)_resized.jpg

M300%20cocked%20UL%20-%2020130417_181259-1_resized.jpg

Date of Purchase: 08-04-2013
Aimco.co.in Price: INR 6,000/-
Shipping (to Hyderabad): 500/-


Specs:

Calibre: 0.22" (5.6 mm)
Weight: 4 kgs
Overall Length: 47" / 120 cms
Shot Capacity: 1 (Single shot)
Front Sight: post globe (?)
Rear Sight: Windage & Elevation adjustable
Scope-able: No
Trigger / action: Brass / Single-action
Stock: Polished Seasame Wood *
Buttpad: Rubber
Action: Under-Lever
Power Plant: Spring Piston
Safety: none
Barrel: Rifled *
Barrel Rifling: 1/16 twist *
Barrel Groove: 3000-4000 *
Barrel Length:
*update as per input from YoYo's findings from Aimco

Test findings:

Velocity: Max 538 fps **
Power: 6.9 ft.lbf **
**according to the mobile chronograph app Connect Chronograph

Chrony%20M300_resized.png

Yet to establish:
Trigger Pull: ?
Cocking effort: ?

--
soap bar test on Page 3
--

NOTE:
Synopsis continues in following posts below (can't upload more than 6 pics in each post apparently)

[supershaji]

... Cont'd

Aimco M300 review


Synopsis:


Order and Delivery:

I ordered my M300 from aimco.co.in on a Monday and had my consignment delivered by an extremely impressive Gati courier service on a Sunday! Not bad considering it came from across the country (Kolkata - Hyderabad) and more so, that they delivered on a weekly holiday.
it arrived tightly packed (with cloth & paper lining/stuffing) leaving no space for any movement inside a wooden case. It was received in a heavily oiled state.

Wooden%20box%20aimco2013-04-20%2015.31.16-1_resized.png

This acquisition cost me INR 6,500/-
(6k for the AR and 500 for shipping).

I bought the desi M300 not only because I was curious about all the online hype & debate around this beauty, but also that I wanted to use a decent under-lever, and my research had me inclined towards this one, aesthetic reasons mainly.

By the looks of it, it certainly is an attractive rifle - it's a tall beauty - It has a lovely polished wooden stock and, being heavily built, gives a pretty good feeling when you hold it too.

It did not come with any user manual or any product write-up, nor with any guarantee card, just a bill from Aimco.

The front sights are made of metal.

The trigger is a brass direct type trigger and is quite easy to pull.

The under-lever has a button to release it from the barrel, which then gives a little play area in order to get a grip to pull the lever & cock the gun. Cocking-effort is quite easy (I haven't measured it yet).

UL%20and%20muzzle%20-20130417-08056_resized.jpg

UL%20button%202%20-20130417-08058_resized.jpg

I loaded the gun from the tap-loader on the top, right behind the rear sights, where the ammo feeder is. Its opened and closed by turning the round tap / dial on the side.

M300%20open%20loader%20-20130417-08061_resized.jpg

M300%20loaded%20-20130417-08064_resized.jpg

Overall, the look and feel of this Under Lever Air Gun is fantastic!

Shooting a tight grouping right out of the box, makes you wonder - is it the gun, or just me?

M300%203%20shot%20grouping%20-20130417-08051_resized.jpg

Naah, its probably just me!
Ten-Shot grouping test below


Well, personally, I got this gun for myself because I wanted a different type of springer - an under lever, and I'm happy I did. After all, its a hobby, and this addition made me happy!

[brahmastra]

Thanks for the review supershaji
the gun looks pretty cool. Accuracy is also pretty decent for the money but i had few questions
to make --------
1) what pellets did u use (grains? )
2) how far u were from the above said target (distance? )
3) is there any way to check the rifling, everything seems to be pretty sealed up.
4) r the pellets makin clean round holes on paper target (atleast for a distance
of 10m). The pellets will make bigger n
out of shape holes if not stabilized properly by the rifling.

[Ahmaq]

As good as your review was, I am afraid that three shot groups are hardly the best way to determine potential accuracy. At the very least, a five shot group is required. The standard is a ten shot group, which can actually indicate the potential accuracy.

[Moin.]

Badiya review sheview kiye miyan. LADKI joi hai so behetreen lag raeee. Apki aur bhandookon ke saath saath tasveeran leko post karo to maja aaengaa...

[Skyman]

Moin, i forsee 6.5 K leaving your pocket soon....

[supershaji]

Thanks for the review supershaji
the gun looks pretty cool. Accuracy is also pretty decent for the money but i had few questions
to make --------
1) what pellets did u use (grains? )
2) how far u were from the above said target (distance? )
3) is there any way to check the rifling, everything seems to be pretty sealed up.
4) r the pellets makin clean round holes on paper target (atleast for a distance
of 10m). The pellets will make bigger n
out of shape holes if not stabilized properly by the rifling.

--

Dear Janaab Briha,

You're most welcome; this thread was on your request; the Orion vs M300 is next if God Wills

The answers to your questions

1) Pellet used were .22 Master Shot 'Wad Cutter' - 15.70 gr.*
(* according to a post here on IFG, the weight of the pellet is, however, NOT mentioned on the box the product came in)

Master%20Shot%20Wad%20Cutter%2015.2%20gr._20130421.jpg

2) distance between muzzle and target was 15m

Stage%20is%20set%20at%2015%20m%202013-04-20%2001.42.59.png_resized.png

3) Tried to get pictures of rifling out in the sun, didn't work, then took a picture with my phone, didn't go far.

M300%20rifling_20130421.jpg

4) you're right - I shot a few random shots with both the new M300 and the Orion (hadn't shot for a while), and the picture below will show you the difference between the holes made by both rifles' shots, the yellow highlighted perfect round holes were made my shots fired from the Orion with the same pellets (I was saving this info for the comparison :p ), the other paper tear type holes were made by the M300

random%20Shots%20M300%20n%20Orion_20130421.jpg

I'm hoping that laser-eyes Moin doesn't notice the 'shadow' on the target paper in the picture above, it just might bust my secret-hidden-from-the-common-man alter-ego!

Please also refer to next post in the thread (below) as suggested by Ahmaq

[supershaji]

As good as your review was, I am afraid that three shot groups are hardly the best way to determine potential accuracy. At the very least, a five shot group is required. The standard is a ten shot group, which can actually indicate the potential accuracy.

@ Ahmaq,

There you go, a 10 shot grouping, from 10m (shot with Master Shot Wad Cutters.
Note: I fired ONLY 10 shots (all hit in the black), the three holes in the white area are ricochets of the first few fired shots, after which I stuffed some cardboard to avoid the pellets ricocheting back at us sitting 10 m away, one hit my 5 year old kid's foot!

M300_10%20shot%20grouping_20130421.jpg

[supershaji]

Also, it seems to me that the front sights are a bit tilted to the right when I hold the gun straight, noticed that I had to twist my hold a bit when I aimed.

M300-front%20sight%20tilt_20130421.jpg

M300%20front%20sight%20right-tilt_20130421.jpg

[supershaji]

Centre of Gravity:

M300%20center%20of%20Gravity_20130421.jpg

[supershaji]

Badiya review sheview kiye miyan. LADKI joi hai so behetreen lag raeee. Apki aur bhandookon ke saath saath tasveeran leko post karo to maja aaengaa...

Moin Ustad,

Sharmindda nakko karo ghareeb ku yaaro, humari photu ku khufiya rakhe toich ahhca hai, public dar ke bandde phekingee, computeraan tut jaainge falthu ke!

Aur uppar se in logaan full kaamaan lagariyn mereku, koi to bi eak Hyderabadi se ittay kaamaan karaate kya? Kya to bi zamaana aagaya ki ye!

Moin, i forsee 6.5 K leaving your pocket soon....

iSkyMiyan sahi pehchaane, aisich dikhra ke Moin Miya ke paakit me se ab painsat sao ke patthiyan dheele hone waale hai vaisa!

[brahmastra]

Nice work supershaji.
U gave precise answers. But boy u got a. 25 cal rifle for the price of. 22, lucky u
jokes apart those holes (made by m300) looked pretty out a shape indeed. Rifling also looks pretty shallow. But again u cannot expect much from these crudely made rifles right.


n one more thing i am not janaab briha i am brahmastra. But am also waiting for briha sir's
comment on yur review.

[supershaji]

Nice work supershaji.
U gave precise answers. But boy u got a. 25 cal rifle for the price of. 22, lucky u
jokes apart those holes (made by m300) looked pretty out a shape indeed. Rifling also looks pretty shallow. But again u cannot expect much from these crudely made rifles right.


n one more thing i am not janaab briha I am brahmastra. But am also waiting for briha sir's
comment on yur review.

My apologies Brahmastra, its only so much I can read on my teeny-tiny BlackBerry's screen, and that's what I've been posting all my posts from

Sorry again for my silly mistake.

[FN-Five-Seven]

Also, it seems to me that the front sights are a bit tilted to the right when I hold the gun straight, noticed that I had to twist my hold a bit when I aimed.

Every time I am in Esplande ( an area in Central Calcutta ) , my work makes me walk past the shop / establishment J Biswas & Co , manufacturer of Aimco Air Rifles . I was thinking of picking up a M300 soon . But I am having second thoughts now . Hope your front sight can be rectified without much hassle .
And Thanks for the review .

Regards
F-N-Five-Seven

[supershaji]

Also, it seems to me that the front sights are a bit tilted to the right when I hold the gun straight, noticed that I had to twist my hold a bit when I aimed.

Every time I am in Esplande ( an area in Central Calcutta ) , my work makes me walk past the shop / establishment J Biswas & Co , manufacturer of Aimco Air Rifles . I was thinking of picking up a M300 soon . But I am having second thoughts now . Hope your front sight can be rectified without much hassle .
And Thanks for the review .

Regards
F-N-Five-Seven

The scope tilt is just my feeling, I could be wrong too, that's why I posted pictures for comments.
The gun, nonetheless, seems to be shooting pretty good groupings even through the hands of a rookie!

I'm sure superficial stuff (such as if the front sights) can be fixed.

I would sure recommend the gun, if nothing else, atleast for its look and feel, it also shoots well without doubt.

I have a Precihole Orion too, but I feel its in another higher/serious-shooter type league altogether; but i will compare them soon in another post anyway for thrills.