I finally got to shoot my new Katana a few days ago. Weather was not the greatest - about 50 degrees and some light winds. Made for some cold fingers!

21.2 gr Beeman Kodiaks, starting at just over 2000 PSI:

Shot Vel
1 689
2 696
3 708
4 705
5 708

6 711
7 715
8 714
9 712
10 715

11 718
12 720
13 715
14 714
15 715

16 716
17 714
18 714
19 719
20 711

21 716
22 716
23 710
24 708
25 709

26 703
27 697
28 694
29 690
30 684

Ending pressure was 1000 psi.

For 30 shots, average MV was 709 fps and ME was 23.5 ft lbs. Max was 720 fps and 24.3 ft lbs. Nice 23 shot string (#3 to #25) that varied only 12 fps.

Best 5-shot group was .6" ctc at 50 yards. Accuracy was good until the last five shots; that group had some vertical stringing.

Also shot some 14.8 gr Beeman FTS pellets; accuracy was almost as good as the Kodiaks; velocity ran from 808 at 2000 PSI to a max of 845. Most varied from 820 to 837 once the valve lock was passed.

A few 25.3 gr JSB Monsters gave about 645 fps but poor accuracy; will do more testing with those.

Overall the shot-to-shot variation was usually under 5 fps for all of the pellets tested. The trigger is also very good. You can argue about the looks (wonder who made the call on the action inletting) but not how it shoots.

Paul

Sounds like a shooter for sure. It may well be the ideal set of features for some.

Those who buy guns to look at rather than shoot probably weren't all that interested in the first place. I doubt many sales are being lost there.

Thanks for the first hand report.

Doug Owen

I wouldn't mind owning one of these rifles. It's a Discovery with a "nicer" stock and the Marauder's adjustable metal trigger assembly. Lightweight and very accurate too from reading the OP. I would alter the stock if I got one; mark the centerline of the resevoir tube, plane the top down to that, shorten the forend a bit and round it off. No more inletting gap, no more top heavy or too long look, no more difficulty with the bolt handle being so close to the wood.

Is the trigger guard plastic or steel?

I'm not sure about the trigger guard, having never seen one, but I'd be suprised if it's not plastic, wouldn't you? Then again the Marauder one should fit fine.....

Doug Owen

I recall a lot of flames over the shape of it, the same sort of stuff you hear about such things not being metal.

I bet that puts some of the nay sayers in a bind.....

Thanks for the information.

Doug Owen

those results are really good, and with some pretty heavy pellets with plenty of kinetic energy or ft. lbs energy to do the work once it gets there..14.3s would be faster for those few who may not take that into account on first blush.
I for one am glad to see this post about a gun that I knew nothing about and am impressed with due to your post.
please give us more information as you develop it.
Q\ : are you thinking of using the 18 grain pellets for it should accuracy prove up to your specs ?
q : what other pellets are you considering ?
thanks for the review.
dk

dk,

I have many more pellets that I will be testing over the next few months. Probably fourty or more. I just started with the Kodiaks since a few folks mentioned that they worked very well in the Katana.

I also want to do a full report on the CO2 performance once it warms up in late spring. I am in southeast Georgia so I will not have to wait too long.

Paul

I am in La. would have to wait till next week here.. lol... first real cold in a good while.. I look forward to your reports.. it is exciting isn't it..??
dk

Dan,

Yes, it is exciting. I also have a set of Crosman bulk-fill guns to test - a 111, 112, 114, 115, and 116. I need to do seal work on all five and I am looking forward to being able to plink with them this summer. Still looking for a 113.

Cold here, too. Lows in the 20's until at least next week.

Paul