Tuning Secrets of the AGT Vixen PCP Airgun, a Compact .177 Caliber Backyard Friendly Pellet Pusher

The Vixen from AGT, or Air Gun Technology, is a pre-charged pneumatic rifle that has been on my radar for a while, so when the chance to put one through its paces appeared, I pounced.
I was planning to do my regular Box to Bench treatment on it, but the unit that was available had been a demo unit and wasn't shooting at the specified velocity. I could, however, take it home from the Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge and work on it here. One in the hand being worth two in the bush, I decided that the timing was right so I said, "let's go." The one that was available was in .177 cal, perfect for backyard pest control.
In the spirit of full disclosure this video is sponsored by @UtahAirguns and you should expect to see other videos with this pellet rifle in the near future.
What you'll see in this first video is a description of what to do if you have a restrictor installed, how to degas the airgun, what the regulator will look like in the normal range of adjustment and how to adjust the hammer spring to balance the regulator pressure. I also discuss how I tune to achieve that balance and ultimately arrive at a stable tune with a workable velocity spread. I also shoot a pair of groups to give you a (very) rough idea of the air rifle's accuracy potential.
I say rough (very) idea because I'm using an unmagnified red-dot at 15 yards. While it's adequate for tuning work and fast-action plinking, at my age it's hardly the solution for precision shooting at small targets. This (and possibly the final tune) will be revisited in a second video in the near future. I have an optic on the way that I think is going to be a great compliment to this lightweight pesting rig.
From everything I can surmise, AGT built the Vixen to be adjustable (hammer spring up or down) but not really fully tunable (regulator adjusted). You might ask, why do a tuning video on it? The answer is simple. Others might get one, like I did, with an air-restrictor installed, or one that had the regulator adjusted ineffectively, and since I was going through the process and learning new stuff, I might as well share that knowledge with you.

[@ronrichmond4694]

Very informative / nicely done video. Anxious to see the magnified optic and accuracy (to at least 30 yds) video. 👍👍👍

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@ronrichmond4694 that’s in the works.

[@frankarmstrong9414]

I own a vixen short in 177 here in the uk sub 12. And well impressed with it

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@frankarmstrong9414 nice. Thanks for sharing.

[@davechadwick9181]

Me too buddy

[@jasonlox27]

what you rate hatsan?? thinking of one myself do they blow hw45 out the water?

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@jasonlox27 I don't think Hatsan has anything that's a direct competitor to the HW 45 pistol. If you are comparing Hatsan break barrels to the Weihrauch line I think it's an unfair comparison. You may have some Hatsans that are excellent shooters but I don't think they are up to the level of fit and finish of an HW97K.

[@larryguinn8969]

Unfortunately I may never go on an iguana hunt but if it does happen I have an iguana’s worst nightmare….Vixen L .22 , custom carbon fiber shroud with Donny FL fat boy, and HUMA regulator. And best of all, an Immersive Optics 14X50 scope! I’m surprised you didn’t mention the double mag holder and the fact that the charging probe can be stored in the grip. Great video! Thanks BTY. Maybe you can get me on an iguana hunt sometime and I’ll let you use my rig 😊

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@larryguinn8969 the grip storage is an added bonus.

[@larryguinn8969]

If you have never tried an Immersive Optics scope you owe it to yourself to try one. The caveat……you will discard all your other pesting scopes!

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@larryguinn8969 I have one of the Element Optics versions, and another one on the way and they are awesome.

[@andriessluiter4269]

Have the Vixen 177 long. Like it very much. Did drill a little hole in the grip where the hammer set screw is. A lot easier to adjust. Also made an plug from delrin to close the fill hole. Did try 13 gr Zan slugs which it shoots quite well considering the CZub barrel is set for pellets.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I've tried those Zan's in my Wildcat and it likes them.

[@marksanderson1332]

Informative video, I've got a sub 12ftlb version in England. I haven't touched it apart from a Form pistol grip & a Donny fl fat boy mod on it. Love it .

[@WiscAirGunners]

So far I think there is a lot to like here.

[@frankarmstrong9414]

Same here mate got the short with the donny fat boy on up in the north east ov england and its my favorite gun by far

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@frankarmstrong9414 awesome!

[@williamr9537]

I got the Vixen long in .177 a few month ago from Talon Tunes. The power was adjusted in my opinion well for light 8's to 10 grain pellets. Speeds for 8.4 grain AA pellets were 940 fps but still shot accurately. H&N 10.65 Match pellets were going at 880 fps and very accurate. Lastly H&N 10.0 grain slugs were going at 855 fps were very accurate and still expanded in ballistic at 40 yards to .230". I bought this rifle like you to hopefully do an iguana hunt. Like you said the rifle is light and compact. The trigger breaks very cleanly and is easy to hold on target. I get over 70 shots as it is set-up. Things I don't like is that the finish is a rough texture which attracts dirt. The pressure gauge is very small and hard to read. The large metal shroud seems to echo a little. I know over in Great Britain someone is making carbon fiber shrouds that look better to me and are lighter in weight. I installed a Saber Tactical arca rail for tripod use and 3d printed a magazine holder for three magazines. I installed it on the rear portion of the picatinny rail. The scope I am using is a newer Athlon model Heras 2-12x42 which is mil/mil SFP and is fairly light and compact. Features include 10 mil per rotation, a zero stop, side focus and large adjustment turrets. Plus the scope is under $350 and work well with my Side Shot camera. I think the second focal plain will be good for iguanas hunting so no matter what magnification the scope in on the crosshairs will remain bold and not get lost in trees and vegetation.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@williamr9537 all good points. Thanks for watching and adding some valuable ideas.

[@pushinpure]

Man I wish you was still here in Wisconsin. Shout out to Utah Airgun.

[@WiscAirGunners]

There are things I miss too!

[@dennischristian9448]

PJ, first off great vids. I love the idea of compact air guns. I have been looking at the Krate and the Panthera hunter. I've also seen a tease from UA of a Dynamic compact take down 350mm barrel that fits in a molded briefcase. Getting back to the Vixen most of the videos are 2-3 years old, thank you for the most current installs. Can you do a video on the available upgrades and were to find them? Such as carbon fiber shroud, metal hand Garde, and extended pic rail. Again, enjoy all of your content.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@dennischristian9448 if I can find some of those items I’ll put something together. It took me a while to find an opportunity to put my hands on one of these, and I’m glad I was persistent.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@dennischristian9448 and I love the Krait. It’s a very well made airgun. Compact and accurate.

[@dennischristian9448]

@@WiscAirGunners Would the Krate be good for Field target?

[@dennischristian9448]

@@WiscAirGunners I know most places are on back order,

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@dennischristian9448 It's accurate enough. If you like the bullpup design and can attach a hamster or any of the other accessories you might want.

[@pushinpure]

Man I wish you was still here in Wisconsin.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks, again.

[@devenair681]

Very informative video. What ft/lb did you get once you removed the restrictor?

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@devenair681 about 16 fpe.

[@jp8351]

Thank you for this video👍. Vixen 177 is on my next rifle short list😋. You see a lot of videos on how accurate it is but very little on how to tune it. How does it sholder for you? not too short? I would love to see if it likes the new KO MK3 10gr with the big hollow point . That combo would be a super stalker if the gun like that slug. But I might need the long for that combo?

[@WiscAirGunners]

I like how it shoulders. I'm running a Hawke Vantage 1-4 on it now and the eye position is just right. I'm not sure about slugs. I have another rig set up in .177 for slugs, so I'm unlikely to re-tune this one. It likes the 10.3 grain pellets.

[@Chiacaffevergreen]

The wildcat, maverick, are compact too, 27", but 500mm barrel

[@WiscAirGunners]

That would be an interesting pro-con list. The FX rifles are more expensive, and internally have more possible failure points. .177 caliber isn't FX's primary design focus. I've had good luck with my .177 Wildcat, but have chatted with others who found it hard to tune for. The Vixen is lighter. FX wins the shot count and power potential platform, is designed for more tuning options and intended for caliber changes. If you want light and just want to shoot and not tune, I'd say Vixen. If you want the adjustability and can handle the extra pound or two, then look to a Wildcat or Maverick. There's nothing wrong with having lots of choices, unless you don't pick and do nothing.

[@ronrichmond4694]

Would be nice to see some decibel readings at final tuned speeds. 👍👍👍

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@ronrichmond4694 I’m not satisfied with the scientific accuracy of the meters I have access to, but I’ll see what I can do.

[@stedyone1090]

AGTs are nice. That GOLIATH GIANT SHROUD is so silly..😮😮

[@WiscAirGunners]

It reminds me of the Ingram Snake Plissken took with him into the Manhattan Island Prison. So I like it.

[@JESUSvsDEMONS]

I love that big shroud. Reminds me of the Pulp Fiction gun from when he got gunned down in the toilet 😂

[@peashooter950]

Since i saw the Vixen the first time i have been thinking " man if that big shroud was the air tank, and it could have a nice folding stock " Now that was way before FX " invented " the around barrel air tank. From the Vulcan 3 i had, i dont like the no valved AGT bottles, so i immediately changed that on mine, CUZ you loose A LOT of air having to bleed both the big plenum pipe and air tank on the Vulcan 3, and this was before i got my own big bottle refill capability. So yeah AGT should for sure make a gen 2 Vixen, with a external regulator and air tank around the barrel in the big shroud and a folding tacticool stock, and to please all the haters, they probably also want to change to a foster fitting for refilling, there is a lot of haters of fill probes. BTW in regard to the magazines, on my Vulcan 3 if it was pointing up ( 45 deg ) while cocking, a pellet / slug would fall out of the back of the magazine and jam up the pellet probe, this happened for me with both mags + a Carm mag. I fear it is the same issue on my Epic airguns Two that have similar magazine design.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@peashooter950 thanks. That would be interesting with air up front. There’s lots of space there. Airguns designed with air tanks surrounding the barrel were made by at least two manufacturers in the 1700’s and 1800’s and I know of at least one other guy who was building them in the early 1600’s. I’ll watch out for the cocking issue. I’ve seen that issue on a couple other airgun designs, it’s good to know to be alert to it with this mag design.

[@JESUSvsDEMONS]

😮 I though air guns were only a decade or 2 new 😂

[@midwesttacticalair7742]

Was that pellets or slugs at the end sir

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@midwesttacticalair7742 all pellets.

[@amazingairguns6350]

PJ this is Jim an amazing airguns. Someone just sent me posts in the comments from the air gun channel. Nate is telling people that the only reason that gun the red panda one is because it has a custom barrel doesn’t have the original. I have watched those guns shoot and I will say that people without a lot of experience are taking those guns out and shoot and a half inch group three-quarter inch group at 100 yards, I think it is very unfair that Nate working for FXS few in this rhetoric. I’m sure you know of me and how much discussed I have for the worst barrels that are manufactured and that would be by a Fx . And I rather think that FX is encouraging this kind of stuff because they always have encouraged wise to sell their products. Lies about the accuracy. I really enjoy air, Hunter Gerards video where he shows the DRS shooting and it shoots two different POI. It’s hilarious. You should watch it if you have it. Do you know when you were an affected guy? I couldn’t stand you because of those guns but I believe in your product. I believe that that will be the new leader that will be the benchmark for all other guns to strive to be.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Jim, Thanks for sticking with me. I review the airguns I have the opportunity to review and the ones that I buy because they are interesting to me. I'm clear when a review is sponsored and who the sponsor is. Thanks for watching. I'll have a Red Panda review out soon.

[@amazingairguns6350]

@@WiscAirGunners awesome I cannot wait to see you do that video on the Panada

[@Light_357]

Off topic here but will the Karma EQ have both an adjustable regulator and hammer spring pre load ?

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@Light_357 I believe the EQ will have both features.

[@Peter-tb3pq]

PJ I tried to get you a link but I couldn’t do it. Go up on the air gun channel MK four from six days ago go down 16 comments it’ll have a Gray P for the person. It begins the comment saying why not do a review on the Artemis and 30 click on that and then you’ll see what he said.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I found it, thanks.

[@Peter-tb3pq]

You’re very welcome and nice job on that red panda beautiful gun. Exceptionally well done

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@Peter-tb3pq thanks.

[@mikebird8290]

🎯🇬🇧👍🏼

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks!

[@amazingairguns6350]

If you look back in my videos, you’ll find me saying that a Chinese company is going to step up and build the best gun yet. And there it is it happened

[@prestonbinder637]

😂😂. Chinese tofu or Czech made precision?

[@amazingairguns6350]

@@prestonbinder637 either or is good for me. The Chinese have the technology now they stole it from us. And the only thing is they make it better. there are some really good American companies. But the guns are crazy in price. Although if you look at the airforce, airguns price isn’t too crazy and they deliver on power and accuracy. But then on the other side, you look at AEA and you can get a gun for under 400 bucks that I performed the Air Force Texan.