s200, best version?

[oyster]

I want a project rebuild and am wondering which is the best version of a S200 and why?

[Raj]

I would start with a 2 piece stock Mk1 or 2. in .177 because it suits me better than the 1 piece version.
As I get to work on it I would take care about the following .... Single shot .... Custom stock allowing stock length / cheek piece height / shoulder pad and fore end height adjustment (or make one / get one made that takes care of all these measurements for you) .... floated barrel ... tuned trigger ..... regulated .... air stripper .... Hunter cylinder if you can manage it.

[oyster]

I have been advised the earlier models, MK 1 + 2 are preferable to own. As is the .177. Any thoughts?
What are floated barrel' and will a larger cylinder interfere with a future silencer?

[Dan]

The floating of the barrel means you'll remove the top half of the barrel band .I'm sure raj won't mind putting a picture up to show you exactly what he means .

[Raj]

Ta da !!!

The barrel band joins the barrel to the air cylinder. In the S200, all the movement of the firing valve actually takes place inside the air cylinder causing the cylinder to jerk. This can translate into wider groups. Freeing the two from each other helps with precision.

[kevingambrell]

I put a Rowan engineering barrel support on mine and left out the O ring. With no O ring you get about 25 thou of float, for mine that was enough but I can imagine some rifles may need more float to take account of the barrel to cylinder axis.

[wastrel]

The barrel band joins the barrel to the air cylinder. In the S200, all the movement of the firing valve actually takes place inside the air cylinder causing the cylinder to jerk. This can translate into wider groups. Freeing the two from each other helps with precision. [/quote]
this is of course, utter twaddle! (C`mon Raj- I know you Know-Y`know?)
the S200 is one of the most accurate guns on the market, needing no modifications whatsoever to put pellet on pellet hits all day long!
some (including me) think the plastic cocking arm is flimsy & needs replacing, so, I did,
other than that, buy an S200- enjoy!
there`s loads of guns out there that benefit from `fettling` -the S200,-- does exactly what it sez on the tin!

[Raj]

Wastrel ... humour me, mate and give this a try.

1. Do a 10 shot group at the start of your sweet spot with your rifle as it is.
2. Now take the barrel band right off (only a couple of screws) and do another 10 shot group and post it on here ... You will be surprised.

I know you have a one piece stock so this is really easy to do on your rifle.
You can put it all back as it was after this test.

[raygun]

The MK1 S200 had a floating barrel anyway.

The forestock was "hung" at the front from the cylinder with a thin plastic tube. The MK2 had the fig 8 bracket which I always thought didn't actually do anything.

To answer the OP I would go for a MK1 S200T in 12FPE (as all the first ones were). You will get an adjustable stock (which can be improved). Fit it with either a longer cylinder or Reg or both (as per Raj). Keep it single shot.

ATB
Ray.

[oyster]

The MK1 S200 had a floating barrel anyway.

The forestock was "hung" at the front from the cylinder with a thin plastic tube. The MK2 had the fig 8 bracket which I always thought didn't actually do anything.

To answer the OP I would go for a MK1 S200T in 12FPE (as all the first ones were). You will get an adjustable stock (which can be improved). Fit it with either a longer cylinder or Reg or both (as per Raj). Keep it single shot.

ATB
Ray.

OK, where do I find a budget one of those??