JBC Airgun Review

[snyper]

Post your reviews or feedback about the JBC airguns that you have owned or used.

[heightaddict]

I got my FIRST PCP a couple of years ago. Coming from a co2 platform and doing what I do best (field ?) I dunno what to expect, except I knew for sure this PCP could reach my targets further. Started from firearms when I was young, the only airguns I had experience with is my Crosman 100? And my cousin’s Estrella Parco. Further down the road, I had my own 22lr to go shoot out in the farm.

Back to airguns, So I got my JBC. Generally I liked it since this is MY FIRST PCP! I also had the privilege to visit JBC shop when I was in Manila a few years back and the first time I saw those guns I WAS HOOKED! Got to get me some of that…I thought. One thing about JBC guns is they really give emphasis on craftsmanship. I mean you can really appreciate the handiwork that it gone thru, the metal and wood..everything.

I got the folding stock model. Swing type with 19 inches of brass barrel in steel shroud. Its kinda heavy compare to my stock armscor. It is very slim feeling rifle compare to other air rifles. I really cant compare it to other pcp since this is my first one. I spent the next hour pumping air to my regular steel tank, (they only have regular steel tanks), and tried it. I shot it without a moderator, that time my moderator wont fit the barrel since I was using it on my CO2 rifle with bullbarrel from Cebu. I mounted my SimmonsMag6-20 and shot some targets @40yds. I was consistently hitting my targets, holding my emotions since I did not imagine it was that fast!…..coming from a co2 format.

Loading was done by swing opening the breech either to the left/right. The rifle comes with a resizer since loading with unresized pellets is very difficult sometimes impossible(various pellet size).

After loading the rifle and closing the breech, you just simply thingy the hammer and shoot. The trigger is smooth and crisp its also adjustable for creep. Hammer is easy and light to thingy. It has a screw just at the bottom of the grip for fine-tuning if one needs to.

Scope is mounted directly to the barrel via a dovetail cut at the top. Scope more than 50mm will require another dovetail or picatinny to raise the scope and clear the barrel. Short scopes will also require some special mounts (offset) to get the proper eye relief.

The design of the folding arm can be made to swing left or right according to your liking, mine swing left to collapse. I also prefer my swing breech to open to the left but made a change to open to the right by simply changing the allen screw position at the bottom. I found out that during stalking the pressure from my thumb sometimes inadvertently opens the breech.

The LOP and my check rest on this rifle is my only disappointment. Its short about 2”, a problem solved with duct tape and some socks. A rubber grip to add some bulge into my grip…I’m not a fan of thin grips.

The barrel 19” turned down in diameter where it goes into the receiver. it has 2 set screws holding it in place. It's free floated but in a free-floated barrel, especially one that thick, I would have expected stiffer.

The reach to the trigger is really long. The side of the trigger hits my index finger about 1" from the tip. That means I have to adjust my hold on the pistol grip to get the tip of my index finger around the front of the trigger blade.

When I chrono’d it, I was only getting 820fps with 30-35shots. Looking back, I would have tuned it to 780-800fps since I only have the regular tank.

A year passed and the gun is at its best. Mounted a Lothar barrel and T6 Bigboy tank. Tuned it to 900fps and getting sub1” groups at 60yds. Im not stopping there though. Some people say local barrels can be at par with Imported German Barrels, that’s their opinion and I respect that. Its kinda ridiculous that we can be at par with German Engineering..so I wont discuss this further. There are some few things I did to get that kind of accuracy and still few things to do to get the best out of those barrels, and its worth a try. German Barrels on Production rifles like the Theoben promise a 1 ½ @ 70yds…that’s conservative, some guys can do better, that is why we tune and tinker. If you got the time DIY is the way.


Now as I keep saying, the opinions expressed are solely those of this writer and do not necessarily reflect the experience that others may have. This is just a little info based on my impressions from a handling of the rifle.


ACCURACY SPEAKS
height

[batmon]

nice review bro very detailed.

[allancoscos]

hey pal, can you give me an address and Telephone No. of JBC, I here that they are somewhere in Manila, I have those rifle a bolt action, but its very old ;D

[opensight177]

sir as i know sa valenzuela ang shop nila.try this no. sir 2925215.can you share pictures of those airgun.thanks

[gary]

Any pix on JBC AG please.

[quickshot]

heightaddict, i agree that lothar walther barrel is accurate because ihave one mounted to my armscor .22 but my barrel is .177 24 inces, i used this for my hunting hobby, im satisfied of it

[cobra]

Dear Heightaddict,

When it comes to metallurgy, you can't beat the Germans in that technology but as for ballistics it is basic. Just give a Filipino a machine used by them then you will know how great is Filipino craftsmanship.

I seen scopes and binocular that are made in the Philippines but it is using imported materialsand it is better than those made in China under a well known brandname also. I always hear it in Dubai that most well known brands are now made in China.

Do you know that the German manufacturers are sending their raw materials in China and manufacture it there. The Chinese simply modify them, put their own local brandname.

Now you see Chinese AGs (like Gomo AG) in the market which is cheap (65 Dirhams or less than 1000 pesos) but nothing compared to our own Armscor AG in craftmanship.

[cgdeleon]

The JBC Bolt Action PCP Air Rifle


Below are JBC Bolt Action PCP Air Rifles owned by airgunners Bayabas and Regin, the one at the bottom is mine.

Specs;
All medium Tank(courtesy of FK), Regin's tank is in Cebu..all with pressure gauges,
Ordinary Wood Competition stocks, Regin's is a semi-sporter/comp. style stock, mine with a Butler Creek recoil pad,
All in 0.22 cals. Bayabas is 20"-11 deg. crown, Regin's is 19"-JBC Crown, both "new" JBC barrels, mine is around 20" - HW 0.22,
Stainless steel bolt and bolt handle, mine is steel only.


At first look, the JBC Bolt action PCP Air Rifles look like real rifles.




kocking the bolt is very easy, just put your thumb at the back of the grip with the pointing and middle fingers in the bolt handle and squeeze back.


A pellet tray is conveniently located for you to put the pellet for loading. Put the pellet and push the bolt and you're ready to shoot. A safety lever is provided as a feature.


The trigger is a single stage adjustable trigger thru an allen screw at the bottom of the trigger guard, squeezing it is very crisp and can be made lighter for competition shoots. The trigger guard is integral with the trigger assembly.



The fullstock ordinary wood for all of the above air rfiles are dark walnut stained finish.



A small hole below the forearm is located for the shooter to monitor his tank pressure. Bayabas' and Regin's are installed with UK-made gauges, 0-5000 psi with 1000 psi graduation, mine is equipped with Boblong miniature gauge with 200 psi readings, also up to 5000 psi max.


The powerplant(tank) are made of T6 aluminum tanks, 38mm OD. They are provided with q quick fill port 3/8" dia. at the tip of the tank for convenient filling either thru a scuba tank or a manual high pressure pump. Bayabas ordered a scuba tank adpator while Regin and I have our manual pumps to fill.


The barrels are brass barrels on steel sleeves with the new featured 16 micro-grooves by JBC. Bayabas requested for an 11 deg. crown, Regin's has the JBC crown. My barrel is a 16 mm OD HW barrel.


Out of the box setting of the air rifle of Bayabas is around 930 fps average. Regin's was set to around 820 fps. Mine, I set to around 870 fps but I adjusted it now to around 900 fps in preparation for the Bulacan Shoot this coming May 31, 2009.


All were tested with 19 grains superzero pellets. Accuracy? I was able to have a 0.405" group for Bayabas' JBC Bolt and for Regin's, I got 0.3425" both tested at 45 yards. Mine is shooting at around the same groupings also.
(Accuracy test to follow...)

[batmon]

thumbs up bro. what about your armscor pcp?

[snyper]

Thanks bro CG! now that is a very nice review. Bro, I remember there was one unit that was ordered by someone here in Davao. We have not yet seen anybody joining our (WAGS) fun shooting activities using JBC AG's. I was just thinking he might be interested. Could you let him know there is an active group that shoot regularly, though he may also be into hunting. Ganda sana kung meron din JBC AG's na makasali.

Also, if not asking too much, baka pede ka post ng step-by-step takedown pics when you do maintenance, or take it apart. IT would be a very helpful guide. We have a thread dedicated for the purpose you can find it here: TAKEDOWN AND DISASSEMBLY section.

Thanks again bro for sharing a very informative review.