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Prairie 2: A 32 Caliber Magnum PCP

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First Photos

This one is packed with features. It's already one of my favorites.

You'll note the family resemblance to the Prairie Class and Tundra Class rifles. An engineer's eye would find alot of differences but; in practice, the rifles carry on the theme of modern good looks, long range bench shooting format, and adjustable power bands.

 

Showing my special Gulf Coast Finish ... wait ... in this rich gold color ... perhaps I'll need to switch to the other coast ... Palm Beach finish perhaps.... Miami maybe? Looks a foot thick doesn't it? Special baked on industrial epoxy. Requires very special application technique.

 

Color laminated stocks full of compound curves

Showing: Integral trigger guard, cocking stud, rear stock mount.

Pressure tube, laminated forestock cradle, billet machined polished barrel bands

Buttstock on out-rigger. Great color blend.

 

Front quick coupler - details

Range testing next ...

Direct e-mail link: prairie2@barnespneumatic.com


Inserted after Range Testing on 10-01-01

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I think you'll agree that this rifle has "possibilities"


Here's some firing Stats: The Prairie Class (like the Tundra Class), can be tuned for various power ranges. This morning, I've been running it off of it's internal reservoir and self metering valve system. It's great to have a rifle which does not "Require" max. tank pressure to give it's optimum performance. The Prairie Class is at home in the 2,500 psi bracket. You get many more fills from a tank than with a rifle that wants a steady diet of 3,000 psi.

Take a look at these numbers:

Fill 2,500 psi, 60.3 grain Barnes Hornet

Shot 1 - 968 fps

2 - 968

3 - 965

4 - 963

5 - 960

Remaining Reservoir pressure - 2,125 psi

Average velocity is 964 for 124.45 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy.

I'm sure it's not lost on you that this is 5 shots @ +/- 8 fps! There are double regulated FT rifles that don't do better shooting 10.6 grain pellets. Actually ... that's because you can't do much better!!! Next stop would be near perfection. So, there's your bench 5 shot group if you want to run on the internal reservoir alone.

If you want to stretch the string to about 10 shots, you'll increase the total spread to about 20 fps. Still an excellent velocity spread for a big bore air rifle.

100 grain bullets flew for 6 shots +/- 12 fps with an average of 827 fps and 151.9 ft lbs.

Max power tested so far was 218 ft. lbs.

Got to the range 9-02-01 with the Prairie 2

(Note the right hand OR left hand format of the stocks)

First three shots down the barrel at the range.

I love to start a session with a new rifle this way!

Playing with different slugs, I later found that this one I started with was not the best!!! Ho ho!!!

I was running on the internal self metering valve for this session: From a fill of only 2,500 psi, I can shoot two 3 shot groups of almost identical velocity (within single digits). (There are other shots available, but these 6 are the cream off the top).

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Each target shows a 3 shot group @ 50 Yards.

These are consecutive groups.

You can see that POI is the same for the 6 shots and the accuracy is excellent.

I Loooove this rifle ......

Direct e-mail link: prairie2@barnespneumatic.com


I asked John Ford to print up these nifty sticky target's for me. I really like them. He pulled my "Man@Work" cartoon and the "Standing Stone" logo and applied that along with my url. Great Target John.


Range testing 9-07-01

Took the Prairie II along when I had to test a customer's Ranger today. After the Ranger session, I shot these groups.

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These were all shot with my "32 Bishop" slug. "Pelletman" casts these for me from one of my custom molds. He does a great job. I've been doing very little sorting and grading.

Just for the new readers: I'll point out again. These groups are from a 100% handmade rifle, shooting handmade slugs, through a handmade barrel. A Barnes PCP is a complete experience.

 


Pricing Structure for Prairie 2 Class of Barnes PCP rifles

 Features

 Details

 Standard

 Optional

 Cost
 Prairie 2 power plant   approx 150 fpe  *    Included
 Magnum Power Plant   approx 235 fpe    *  250
 32 caliber barrel  Barnes match grade - Tested MOA @ 100 yards before shipping  *    Included
 Bolt Action  At caliber loading  *    Included
 1 1/4" pressure tube  3,200 max. fill, 2,500 plateau for groups  *    Included
 1 1/2" Pressure tube with accompaning interior changes  3,200 max. fill, 2,500 plateau for groups    * adds weight  200
 Dovetailed Receiver  60 degree airgun / rimfire  *    Included
 Weaver System Rails  Integral machined    *  100
 Single stage trigger  approx. 1 lb. release  *    Included
 Two stage trigger  target grade    *  100
 American Walnut Stocks    *    Included
 Color Laminated Stocks      *  650
 Adjustable power  100 fpe +/- possible    *  250
 Hot Salt Blue    *    Included
 Bi-Pod Mounting Point, Hardened tool steel  Bi-Pod NOT included    *  $65 each
 Barrel Shroud Tuning System      *  $350
 Base Price        $3,995 US Dollars

 

Direct E-mail Link: PrairieII@barnespneumatic.com

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