Umarex Adult .177 Pellet Gun with Scope

This is my first air rifle, so I can only compare it to other firearms I own, including a Benjamin air pistol, several .22s and other higher powered handguns. As my title indicates, it amazes me that for under a “C note,” delivered, such quality and features can be obtained. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine how the numerous folks in the money chain, from the manufacturer, international shipper, importer, U.S. distributor, retailer, and finally, UPS to my house. How can it be done?

I have to imagine that “China Incorporated” must be subsidizing so much of their manufacturing base. I remember when it was that way with Japanese products, but now they’re making up for it; not much cheep from Japan these days. As much as I hate supporting the Chicoms I fall into their trap from time to time, but go out of my way to purchase from the free world when a good alternative is available. Anyway, down to the product.

This rifle is very solidly built, has abundant power and so far seems to be quite accurate. I’ve only shot it in my basement at 15 yards and it holds good groups. Until it warms up a bit and I get a chance to take it outside will I be able to provide more information about accuracy and durability. However, this thing is well built, tolerances and materials seem to be excellent, and it’s more overall than I expected. As others have indicated, this is a heavy rifle and a bit loud, at least when not yet broken in. I also suspect heavier bullets (subsonic) might quiet things down a bit.

As the opportunity presents, I’ll update my finding. I just mounted the scope, so I can’t honestly provide a review on it, but it seems to be adequate for what I need, if it holds up okay.

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Update: After much frustration with not being able to hold a decent group, and the poor scope mount, I sent it back. Cudos to Amazon for their punctual rebate and ease of return. I didn’t give up on finding a decent air rifle and ordered the Benjamin Trail NP synthetic, and am extremely happy. It grouped within 1/2″ (at 10 meters) right out of the box, and the scope was so much better. After a couple hundred rounds, it’s grouping down to about 1/4″. It’s twice the money, but well worth it.

The Gift:

I bought this rifle as a gift for my son on Christmas. First off this is not a Red Rider BB gun, nor is it designed to shoot BBs. This is relatively high powered .177 caliber spring air piston rifle. It is powered by retracting a very heavy spring inside the gun by snapping the breech of the barrel open where the barrel meets the stock of the air rifle. You fully compress the spring inside which becomes your stored energy, load a pellet into the breech and then reorient the barrel in line with the air rifles stock with a positive lock.

Hold gently for accuracy:

When you pull the trigger it releases a spring, the energy from this release generates a recoil action very similar to a .22 rifle (firearm), that recoil is the spring directing energy into a air compression piston, that piston action rushes forward to compresses air and then sends that shot of air to propel the pellet out of the barrel.

This is important because spring air rifles require finesse to keep your pellets on target. The felt recoil happens prior to the pellet leaving the barrel. Which is why it is ever so important to learn how to hold this air rifle so that is essentially resting on your support hand instead of being actively held and pushed back into your shoulder, which is something you would normally do for a firearm or other types of air rifle. A very light touch is all that is needed while you let the air rifle gentle pat [recoil] into your shoulder. This method is called the “Artillery Hold” and I highly recommend it.

First Impressions:

This is NOT a toy. The black composite body feels very good in the hands and has an excellent weight to it. The balance favors the back of the air rifle which is just fine in this application because you will be resting the rifle on your body instead of pulling it into your shoulder. Speaking of shoulders the butt plate has a nice oversized rubber stopper on the end. The break barrel mechanism holds the barrel true and provides a positive un/locking action. The piston spring locks positively in place at the end of spring cocking travel.

Out of the box I had a very straight shooting rifle using the adjustable fiber optic sights. Zero on windage was actually zero. I always like to do skill shots with the iron sights [fiber optic] before I put the scope on. The shots went exactly where I pointed them and within the accuracy I was willing to strive for in my excitement to get this air rifle setup for my son to shoot.

The Scope:

The 4×32 scope that came with it was DOA. I contacted Ruger / Umarex for a RMA and they sent out a brand new scope with rings after I shipped the broken scope back to them. That all happened within 2 weeks of Umarex receiving it (insured / return receipt). Once I received the functional brand new scope I set about to getting it zeroed. Zero is when the gun and the scope point at the same place on the target. Anytime you remove or place the scope it MUST be zeroed while mounted on the gun to the range you plan on shooting in.

Since the new scopes arrival I have been driving tacks with this thing at 100 Feet. And by driving tacks I mean that I am able to consistently group shots through the same hole (or a hole about the size of a plastic thumbtack) in my targets.

Some people will tell you to ditch the scope for something better. I don’t necessarily agree with that. This air rifle system is extremely accurate for a off the shelf air rifle. But it is NOT a Match level air rifle. Putting a huge scope on this rifle would be like putting high performance tires and a spoiler on a economy car. You will see very little benefit for the cost and you may wind up with too much scope for the ranges you will be shooting.

Pellet Selection:

While wad cutters (flat nosed) pellets will work just fine in this rifle at close ranges as you move your target out longer distances you may find that the wad cutters are breaking the sound barrier. If you hear that distinct crack or you are not getting neat round holes punched into your targets you will know that your pellet is tumbling instead of flying straight. Tumbling affects accuracy. So keep that in mind.

Unless you are specifically hunting rodents / varmints you will gain no advantages in accuracy or range from pointed and / or hollow point pellets.

I would highly recommend dome shaped pellets for maximum accuracy, as well weight and being able to handle the velocity created by this air rifle. I am not going to endorse a specific brand. But I will encourage you to get samplers for each brand and run 10 shots groups and see which ones perform best for you. Every gun is different.

Final Thoughts:

All in all if you are an amateur looking to get into a nicely powered spring air rifle, or looking for something to handle varmints / rodents, or simply looking to get more trigger time. This is a great beginner – intermediate air rifle and the price with scope is a pretty good deal ~$120 through amazon prime when I purchased it. This air rifle is great fun to shoot, consistent and accurate.

Personally I have dusted off the daisy of my youth and purchased this rifle for my son so that I can teach him marksmanship, gun safety and created an opportunity to have quality family time for the whole family.

Finally if like me you can’t find ammo for your firearms or can’t afford to shoot your firearms as much as you like then air rifles are a great tool to improving your skills and correcting flinch, grip and recoil habits.