Excel Arms Accelerator ?

[subsonic]

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.excelarms.com/images/550_xcel10130_Jan24_0432PM.JPG

When I saw one today, I thought "Auto Mag!". But alas, it was not.

Still a pretty cool pistol. Trigger reach is not for the small handed, as I could *just* get a proper finger position.

http://www.excelarms.com/handguns/mp22.html

Supposed to be a 5.7x28 version coming.

[tacklebury]

Nope, but price seems pretty sweet. Didn't see any dealer info, where did you see one?

Nevermind, found their dealer links and non here in Michigan. Might have to send them some info on an FFL or two here and see if they'd drop ship. ;)

[subsonic]

Nope, but price seems pretty sweet. Didn't see any dealer info, where did you see one?

Nevermind, found their dealer links and non here in Michigan. Might have to send them some info on an FFL or two here and see if they'd drop ship. ;)

Some on gunbroker.

If you get one, post about it.

Gunblast did a review and said it was quite accurate, with the worst 50yd group being slightly over 2".

[subsonic]

Well, I bought one!

I took it out for the first time yesterday with mixed results.

I had planned to stop and pick up ammo at Cabela's or a local shop before heading to the range, but ran out of time and decided to try Wal-Mart.... shouldn't have. They had Dynapoint 45gr and some Super-X Winchester 40gr JHPs on the shelf.

I mounted a spare Bushnell TRS-25 and started sighting in at 25yds. I put targets at 50yd and 100yd to see what kind of drop and groups at each range.

To make a long story short, avoid the Dynapoints and Wal-Mart to feed these!

The first mag functioned 100% with the Dynapoints, but they sounded like .22LR instead of .22Mags - with some sounding weaker than others. The gun looked real dirty in the action and groups were patterns at 25yds once I got the red-dot close. By the time I had fired 3 mags of these, I started getting failures to extract and had to use a cleaning rod to bump the cases out of the chamber so I could extract them with small needle nose pliers. The cases were covered with gunk. I think 1/2 the powder charge in these Dynapoints is charcoal...

I switched to the Super-Xs and they were much better. They sounded like "magnums", threw an impressive fireball and shot into about an inch @ 25yds, but the action was dirty enough now from the Dynapoints that even these were stove-piping and having failures to extract.
I made it through most of the Super-Xs with about 50% functioning, but the last mag was all-jams and I decided to call it quits for a good cleaning and going over. I will probably put some STP on the trigger parts while it's apart as the pull seemed inconsistent toward the end - might have just been all the gunk from the Dynapoints.

I will report more later.

I shot one group of 9 shots at 50yds that could be covered with a gatorade lid. Almost all the dispersion was horizontal - the wind was blowing hard yesterday. Drop was nil from 25yds. I didn't shoot at 100yds.

I think this thing likes the "hot" stuff. I plan to try the Winchester Supreme 34gr JHPs and some Remington Premier Accutips next time out.

[subsonic]

Well, I tore this thing down for the first time last night and I'm impressed. Whoever designed these had their thinking cap on. Very simple, very modular, very easy to get apart and back together.

While I had it apart, I worked the trigger over and cleaned and lubed it real well.

With the much better trigger, I think groups will shrink....

[subsonic]

Here is a pic of the 50yd group. The ones that are low and a bit scattered are from adjusting the sight. I wanted it to hit at 12 o'clock so that it might be dead on at 100yds. And the group was only 6 shots - I said 9 up top.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P8210734.jpg

[tek4260]

Do they have a quality "feel" to them?

I see they shoot good and look better than a PMR-30.

[subsonic]

And here are some pics from when I took it all apart and worked the trigger over:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp235.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp221.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp222.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp223.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp224.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp226.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp227.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp228.jpg

[subsonic]

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp230.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp231.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp232.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp233.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/mp234.jpg

[subsonic]

Do they have a quality "feel" to them?

I see they shoot good and look better than a PMR-30.

They are no Freedom Arms... they are about what you might expect from Ruger - as a matter of fact, the guts reminded me of a cross between a MKII and an Auto-Mag. The finish is about like you would expect. The slide is cast, including the serrations, then machined off to make it flat and shiny, so there is a little porosity in places.

I like it. I wouldn't pay $500 for one.

The triggers on the ones I have felt have been hit-or-miss. This one was the best I have felt, so I got it. I made it very nice with only a little work with a <gasp> dremel and a diamond sharpening stone.

[subsonic]

I keep watching for one of these in 5.7x28 - they are out there, but not many. I could probably re-load those for less than the cost of .22mags! But I'd have to chase tiny brass in the grass...

Don't buy one in .17HMR.....

[subsonic]

I tried some different ammo today for groups @ 25yds (one at 50yds), velocity across the chrono, and functioning. Functioning was still not great, but a little better until it got dirty again. This thing likes to be clean, well lubed, and fed HOT ammo. It could probably stand a lighter slide or recoil spring, but maybe it just needs broken in. My Ruger MKII was a jam-o-matic for the first brick or two and Excel recommends a 200rd break-in on the MP-22.

Here is the ammo I tried:
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P82507382.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P82507392.jpg

And resulting targets:
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P82507372.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P82507362.jpg

Velocities:
Winchester Supreme 30gr JHP
1925,1939,1932,1876,1884
Winchester Varmint HV 30gr V-max
1893,1846,1912,1829,1961 (it liked this stuff!!)
Winchester Super-X 40gr
1627,1646,1600,1644, 1621
CCI 40gr JHP bulk "Troy" edition
1559,1593,1613,1598,1541
Federal 50gr JHP
1415,1447,1465,1438,1413

I didn't mess with the Dynapoints that caused so much trouble last time out....

It seemed like ALL of this ammo shot to the same POA at 25yds, which is interesting, as most pistols don't act like that.

[frankenfab]

Cool, thanks for posting. Do you know if the PMR-30s are still being made, and do you have any experience with them?

[subsonic]

Cool, thanks for posting. Do you know if the PMR-30s are still being made, and do you have any experience with them?

Never messed with them. From what I understand, which could be hear-say, they had some problems and are back to the drawing board. You could probably find more on the KTOG forum. The one I handled in a shop looked like the plastic grip frame was formed "bent" downward near the muzzle.

To be honest, the thing that drew me toward these Excels was that when I saw the first one in a gun case at a local shop, it looked kinda like an old Auto-Mag.
And now with the accuracy and easy disassembly, I'm hooked!
You can see from the link in my signature that I actually have another one of these (bought two from the distributor when I bought mine) that is new in the box, for sale on Gunbroker.

[429421Cowboy]

It looks like it works well enough to actually be worthwhile, i like the styling but in the end only accurate guns are useful! I was sorely let down by the PMR 30, as i thought that was gonna be a nice little gun. Only thing that worries me here is if it will fit my smaller hands.

[subsonic]

I wear a medium size glove and it "just" fits. I have to pay attention to my trigger finger position. Since there is no recoil to speak of, even a small handed person can "handle" this if they shift their hand to get proper trigger finger placement.

[subsonic]

It looks like it works well enough to actually be worthwhile, i like the styling but in the end only accurate guns are useful! I was sorely let down by the PMR 30, as i thought that was gonna be a nice little gun. Only thing that worries me here is if it will fit my smaller hands.

What problems did you have with your PMR30?

[429421Cowboy]

I have not owned a PMR30 but had a friend with one who had accuracy issues and it didn't fit me well at all. When they came out the concept sounded like a great trail gun but once i handled one i knew i didn't want to own one! Just a personal collection of dislikes that ruled it out for me. I wouldn't argue against one i just found that it was not for me!

[frankenfab]

"To be honest, the thing that drew me toward these Excels was that when I saw the first one in a gun case at a local shop, it looked kinda like an old Auto-Mag."

I agree. I always wanted a .44 Automag, but I don't like owning guns I am afraid to shoot, espsecially if I pay $2000-$3000 for them.

I had a couple AMT .22 Mags. They are great guns. I still have a .30 Carbine.

And yes, I am drooling over the .460 you have for sale.

Best,

Frank