Yeah. So it finally came full circle, i caved in and got me a Zone too.
Uhu. Own a Throne Gen 2 and a really really nice and well performing Daystar since previous..
But me and my local vendor got talking, one thing led to another and here we are.
If iīm correctly informed Reximex... i know theyīre imported into Canada but it has been the hot agenda when the US is to follow.. why these posts of mine will hopefully be of use to some at least.
So what is the Zone then? Seeing the hype surrounding its cousin the Throne Gen 2.
Iīll do a short and sweet checksum on that, itīs in essence a modern take on the Artemis/Snowpeak P-15. With a twist.
Now, it just so happens that i own a P-15 too and truly enjoy shooting the thing. The Artemis gun though being shorter and lighter still. Especially the latter as the P-15 weighs of nothing.
This one is no lump either, but iīd say along the lines of 3,5kg at least (where the P-15 is 2kg+)
As my vendor was as curious as I as far as how this thing is put together.. down the rabbit hole.
Ok. So it being a sidelever is nowadays a downright must to me, and the Zone certainly is. Whatīs more it sports a regulator stock, just way simpler to the install than on the Throne and similar guns with reg adjustment from the outside.
The Zone is SORTS of built on the older ideas.. However Reximex made them such that the entire tube/tank assy comes out as one part, itīs just that itīs in essence three parts bolted together.
So first up the valve assy. Nothing new there.. then the piece sporting the regulator and the plenum for it and finally the reservoir in itself.
The pieces go together buttery smooth.. So as i regard it the only real "drawback" to it is that the gun needs to be degassed to have regulator pressure adjusted and as i run a compressor and several scubas.. not an issue. To me.
For those that insist on using a hand pump tho = murder iīd say.
In that picture there, notice the insanely long spindle for the poppet. Why setup such you say?
Well.
it works like this that the hammer bore is off axis vs the pocket for the valve. Thus the poppet pin isnīt only supported by the valve housing but by the main block as well. This also means that as the hammer comes rushing it does NOT hit the pin dead center but rather off center..
I guess they opted to do it this way for a more compact setup on a whole.
The thing comes with a rather sturdy plastic carrying case, just.. as moronic as always.. one that wonīt fit as you install any appreciable scope on there.
So. Out of the box the thing was adjusted to a mere 120 bar. As iīve touched upon before the industry is really moving in one direction.. better and better accuracy and more and more power.
As a regulated 22cal gun itīs setup on a mere 4,5mm transfer ports and that sure wonīt amount to a powerhouse any day soon seeing them 120 bar.
Hammer spring tension in turn is as adjustable as they come itīs just that.. the spring is so meek you wonīt believe..
Adjusting reg pressure, the resolution of it, is about on par with most other similar regulators like Huma, Altaros and what not. In short you do not turn that screw X number of revolutions but more so.. like a quarter of a turn is LOADS.
Thereīs a kicker to this though. The poppet return spring is by FAR the most heavy duty so iīve run into! MASSIVE!
But. As it turns out itīs a dead ringer for the hammer spring so.. trade places and youīve got yourself an entirely different ballgame!
That said however.. ports on 4,5mm right. So. I upped reg pressure to approx 140 and let her rip with the hammer spring adjusted as far in as itīd go using 25,4īs.
Nah. Not really. What the chrono told was approx 750fps. Duh!
Yeah. You guessed it. Came out slow out of the hole though and settled for a mere 5,5mm. Which of course is a rather substantial difference in area. Notice how deep that exhaust port is for the thing in turn. Yep. Porting comes to mind here, and be adviced that that there 90deg turn spells death to flow.. So yes, porting does help. In some instances loads even..
Be that as it may though.. this is a budget offering from Reximex. One of their cheaper guns, but truth be told.. Hm.
As many of you are aware i in that wasps nest of "midrange hangtag guns" find both Kral and Reximex great value, and this Zone is certainly no exception.
Itīs strikes me as well made.. through out, with a few exceptions.
Like.. the same moronic idea of keeping a piece of picatinny rail in place via ONE anchor bolt. HELLO!!
So yep. Same solution as i pulled for the Daystar of mine.
Pulled that last job last night before heading home from the shop.
At first, hammer spring as far as itīd go. Stock 4,5mm ports, 140 bar = 750fps using 25,4 grain JSBs.
Now..
Stiffer hammer spring but NOT adjusted anywhere close to the limit, 5,5mm ports and approx 160 bar = shy of 900fps.
So sure. Thatīs quite a jump but see.. in my book this thing should hand me inxs of 1000 at 180 and i beg to differ cause i have a REAL hard time seeing that becoming reality where weīre at.
Poppet? Yeah, poppet. Works on a 3mm spindle and then a piece of what seems to be PEEK works as the "seating piece" vs the valve seat on the valve body.
The through hole beneath the poppet is on a full 7mm already stock but.. weird.
Huh?
Yeah cause just ahead of the poppet.. return spring right and this thing needs a retainer the other end. So for some reason that piece, on the aluminium body, sports a mere 5mm through hole? Like.. whatīs going on there?
The actual seat in turn is aīla the Kral guns. In essence a 90deg jobbie that sports like a thin ridge around the circumferance of the valve seat to increase unit loading.
However..
The through hole on 7mm right and that ridge.. The poppet outer though is at a full 10mm for some reason? Cut that back to 8,5mm for starters knowing all to well whatīs at hand here.
So yes. Need to dig a little deeper on this one and what will be absolutely imperative is, as for the Throne as power climbs, more plenum volume.
It is a simple fact that for a regulated gun plenum volume is needed along the lines of 10ccīs for every 10fpe approx as you start opening them up, and in this case weīre nowhere NEAR that.
Seeing how the tank/tube assy is that much shorter than the barrel/moderator setup though.. room for growth right there.
On the barrel in turn. Took the measure out and got approx 480mm. In short that thing ends WAY shorter than it looks, and that last bit of what LOOKS like a shroud is as per the old P-15 a moderator.
Baffles inside though this time out of what seems printed plastic and whatīs more with WAY closer tolerances than on a P-15.
My only complaint, having noodled around on this a bit, is the through holes on the baffles. I presume they use the same baffles no matter the caliber, and it shows.
So going to look into that i believe, but that said at least where iīm at current this thing is still backyard friendly iīd say.
However.
For some reason that shroud is not. As in,thereīs no diffusor the front of the barrel. Just a piece of steel that sports an o-ring to center the shroud on the barrel. No ports leading rearwards what so ever...
So think iīll dwell on that a bit and modify that to becoming a working shroud.
Now. I get that Reximex cheaper offering canīt very well outrun the Throne, both being bullpups. Of course. That said though the Zone shows great promise as a platform, on a cheaper basis.
For instance.
On the Zone we per usual see the "power adjuster" so typical to all Kral and Reximex guns just in this case the thing is made on a 8mm bore, leaving that opening the port up from them 4,5mm to 5,5mm is doable right there and then using a simple drillbit.
Btw. In drilling the port out to a full 5,5mm i did so from the top. Then inserted the "power adjuster" and drilled that using the now existing hole as a guide.
Stock the barrel is held in place by a pair of M5 allen stoppies... and i took the lazy route here and just tapped that 5,5mm hole M6.
Yep. NOT entirely correct, but seeing the rather limited loading of that there screw.. whatever. It works as long as youīre aware of the limitations.
Would a Zone benefit from the longer 585mm barrel for the Throne and Daystar in turn? Most certainly.
First up though is getting this thing to haul with the parts on there from the start.
Got a few more pics to show, just for some reason Pixlr which i use to resize them has put a limit of two pics per day or the likes..
Whatever. Iīll get back to you on this Reximex Zone due time.
Oh! Before i forget! For some reason the Zone is imported up here with the synthetic stock and 22cal only. I by no means fret the 22cal however iīd MUCH rather have the walnut offering for stock option.
As things have progressed then iīve come to learn a new friend who just so happens is into PCPīs and live down in Turkey.. So an order for one walnut stock for a Zone coming up!