Kral Empire XS owner’s opinions

Jay Butts

Jay Butts

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As many of you know, you could cut me in half and I’d have ‘Springer’ written through me like a stick of rock. However, I’ve had a call to return to my permission lately and really don’t fancy lugging close to (or well over) £1k worth of springer around a field. I’m probably keeping these for BR and future HFT…. And they’re way too handsome to drag through hedgerows. 😂

Now, I’ve just posted on another thread about the Kral Empire XS for use on my permission. At the price, I really wouldn’t have a give a toss about it. Obviously, I wouldn’t go out of my way to damage it but if I did it wouldn’t matter.

Has anybody got real world experience on these guns, with permission use if possible? Obviously, shot count not important but accuracy, reliability and build quality are.

One place near me is flogging one for about £450! If these guns are ok, it may be worth a punt.

Many thanks in advance….

Jay.

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Cannot comment on the XS, but I have the standard Empire and it does what I need it to do.

I did a HNGD thread and hunting thread about it.
 
Can't speak of the Kral but if I am the first to say P15 or P35 I may not be the last. Gettable for about the same money, very light at 2kg, 250 bar fill Ti tube and, as owners of good ones know, very consistent through the chrono and very accurate.

You can get a rough one but there's rough examples of all other makes and models, including Kral. 🤷‍♂️
 
If I could get a P35 at the time I wanted a bullpup, I would have bought that, it was my first choice for the purpose.

I do not like bullpups, but it was a practical call, and the Kral was available, and it has proven capable.

My thoughts, positive and negative, as well as some results, can be found here…

 
I had one and it was great - except for part of the cocking mechanism scratching on the top of the air cylinder and pellets were clipping when a mod was fitted
 
mulletman6 said:
I had one and it was great - except for part of the cocking mechanism scratching on the top of the air cylinder and pellets were clipping when a mod was fitted
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Were they clipping due to the mod supplied with the gun? That’s a concern….
 
Jay Butts said:
Were they clipping due to the mod supplied with the gun? That’s a concern….
Click to expand...

I have read, on the XS, an additional mod attached to the shroud using an adapter can cause clipping.
It was resolved by removing the shroud and just adding a mod to the barrel.
I have also read it was on early versions and has been resolved.

All of this just what I have read across various forums.
 
Kola said:
I have read, on the XS, an additional mod attached to the shroud using an adapter can cause clipping.
It was resolved by removing the shroud and just adding a mod to the barrel.
I have also read it was on early versions and has been resolved.

All of this just what I have read across various forums.
Click to expand...
Excellent info mate, should I go ahead it’ll be brand new so hopefully the issue has been resolved.

Cheers. 🍻
 
I'm in the process of modifying mine, but as stock they are a good little rifle.
Definitely needs a good moderator. Early ones had a problem with the stumpy little shroud sometimes causing clipping. Later ones are fixed.
Good shot count with a reasonable power curve stock from 180bar down to 100bar in 177. Might shoot a bit low on power out of the box.
The trigger will need adjustments, but a few turns with an allen key get it to a reasonable, consistent let off.
Get height adjustable scope mounts. It can take a bit of back and forth to get comfy, but once right it shoulders well.
CARM mags are far better than the stock ones. Get the compact ones. My nose just touches the full size and the stock ones.
The only thing that really needs to be done is to pack the front loop of the trigger frame to the air cylinder. Stock it floats and it just allows the scope rail to move relative to the action causing a slight zero shift in and out of a slip.

Inside they are basic and although it'll hold air it'll likely have damage to virtually every O ring from assembly.
Definitely benefit from a internal clean and regrease with appropriate amounts and types of lubricant.
The barrel will be filthy from the factory.
Easy to work on and modify. Apparently respond extremely well to modification to suit sub 12, which hopefully I'm about to find out!

Not particularly pellet fussy IMO, but they can have a bit of a tight choke. Mine definitely prefers a diet of something with a smaller head diameter.

5p groups at 30m off a tripod rest, prone.
 
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If you remove the shroud and add a mod direct to the barrel take a close look at where the shoulder behind the thread meets the mod. OD of the thread is 12.6mm and the barrel is only 14mm. I've had to turn up a little delrin cap that slips over the barrel and gives a larger land to screw the mod down onto. Otherwise it goes a bit cattywompus as you tighten. Could just be my mod though.
 
Hangtight870 said:
If you remove the shroud and add a mod direct to the barrel take a close look at where the shoulder behind the thread meets the mod. OD of the thread is 12.6mm and the barrel is only 14mm. I've had to turn up a little delrin cap that slips over the barrel and gives a larger land to screw the mod down onto. Otherwise it goes a bit cattywompus as you tighten. Could just be my mod though.
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Thank you mate, great info….
 
Good rifle when they work, bought mine from new, started to leak after a few weeks and wouldn’t cock, went back to Range Right via RFD, returned after 5weeks, fixed leak lasted about an hour, wouldn’t cock again.
Went back again, 8weeks later, still not back, RFD gave a full refund 🙄👍
 
Paynut said:
Good rifle when they work, bought mine from new, started to leak after a few weeks and wouldn’t cock, went back to Range Right via RFD, returned after 5weeks, fixed leak lasted about an hour, wouldn’t cock again.
Went back again, 8weeks later, still not back, RFD gave a full refund 🙄👍
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Oooh, many thanks friend. That’s a real ‘heads up’! 👍👍👍
 
When I opened mine a number of o-rings were damaged, must have been during assembly.
It wasn’t leaking at the time, but probably would have soon.
Replaced all the o-rings and so far no problem.

I also found that the rail, which is mounted around the air tube, could move forward and back by a very small amount, either affecting cocking, or the trigger.
This is also easily fixed if it happens.

I think we are talking you out of an Empire 🤣

I will rather state all the little niggles I found, in case it helps someone.
Now that I have fixed, as described in my other thread, it is very accurate and not pellet fussy at all.
And it is very much a budget rifle to begin with.
 
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Have an early XS with the shorter barrel, as well as a P15 and P35.
XS is heavier than it looks but shoulders well - both of the Snowpeak offerings are lighter by a fair margin.
Length of pull is standard and fits well the Snowpeaks are shorter and can benefit from an after market butt extension.
Accuracy is good - so are the Snowpeaks
Shot count is around the 100 - 110 mark in .22 on mine - as with all Krals I'd expect this to increase with a fettle, with or without a reg, mine's a tad blatty (better than other Krals I have as standard though) suggesting some hammer bounce and wasted air.
The early one's did have issues with clipping, especially with an additional moderator fitted - mostly on mine due to the shroud tube being oval rather than round, along with the number of parts that fit together. Newer models have a lightly longer barrel and don't have the issue - the one in your picture looks like a Mk1 like mine.
I removed the shroud and just put a moderator on - if you do this slip an o-ring over the barrel and into the scope rail/barrel mount - the last part of the shroud assembly actually slots into the gap between the scope rail and the barrel and acts as a support - with out this the barrel will flex slightly on cocking and can lead to the mechanism marking the barrel - I did a thread on this a while back.
Both the Snowpeaks are quieter on muzzle report, this being down to how short the barrel is and limited room to fit a moderator on the early ones, the end of the barrel is shorter by 70mm than the cylinder so you are limited on moderator width.

You really have to be muzzle aware with the XS, especially if shooting from a vehicle or window, it's extremely easy to still have the muzzle inside your shooting point.

Any of the three, assuming you get a good one, will work well and all can be tweaked to be very good. Of mine I go P15, XS then P35 on what I'd prefer to use - the P15 has a forward cocking lever fitted, and although essentially the same gun the P35 doesn't seem quite as well put together, I've had issues with mag feed down to the probe not always lining up correctly and it has an annoying puff of air on firing from the reg breather which isn't present on the P15, still very accurate though.

As ever try all three and see which fits you best
 
Have to admit, it’s looking less likely buying one. I’ve only ever owned Weirauch and Daystate PCP and had no issues at all….

May need to reassess my budget. Thank you all, I’m too lazy to put up with all the faff. 😂😂😂
 
Jay Butts said:
Have to admit, it’s looking less likely buying one. I’ve only ever owned Weirauch and Daystate PCP and had no issues at all….

May need to reassess my budget. Thank you all, I’m too lazy to put up with all the faff. 😂😂😂
Click to expand...

Well, if that is the case, happy to have talked you out of it 🤣
 
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