Monthly Archives: November 2010
RWS 350 Feuerkraft .22 cal W/ UTG Droop Compensator & 3-9×40 AO, MD, IR Scope
Airgun Review – Written By,
Rick Eutsler
Editor / Owner www.AirGunWeb.com
editor@airgunweb.com
Review Product & Supplies
Provided by: www.pyramydair.com
When you need to have both power and accuracy, then there is one rifle that I recommend over nearly all others, all other spring guns that is. There is no denying that I absolutely love the RWS 350 Magnum. In fact one of my regrets is sending back the .22 caliber RWS 350 Magnum Striker Combo that I tested about a year ago (video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-IvM7DO08E) So when I had the chance to take another look at the RWS 350, this time the Feuerkraft (literally translated “firepower”), I jumped at the chance.
The RWS 350 Feuerkraft is identical to the Magnum as far as mechanics go, but the stock and sights are very different. The RWS 350 Feuerkraft has a very simple ambidextrous stock that is in no way flashy. You won’t find any checking or raised cheek pieces, but you will find classic styling in a rich hardwood.
The RWS 350 rifle is not meant for youngsters. It is a man’s gun for sure. It is big and relatively heavy at over 10 pounds with my Leapers 3-9×40 scope, rings, and UTG Drop Compensator mount. The specifications say that it cocks with only 33 pounds of force. I’d say that it takes a bit more, mainly because it is very stiff until it breaks in.
The RWS 350 is mostly wood and steel with very minimal use of plastics. The back cap near the automatic safety and the safety itself are plastic. The trigger guard and trigger may be composite but it is hard to really tell without physically scratching the finish. RWS chose to use a time tested and reliable way to secure the barrel to the receiver by incorporating a spring loaded bearing to “lock” the barrel back into place between shots. I’ve come to expect such quality from RWS products and I’m satisfied that this rifle is very well built.
One significant difference with the RWS 350 Feuerkraft over the RWS 350 Magnum is the type of open sights that were chosen for the rifle. If you are going to have open sights on a gun, then having bright, fiber optic sights are the way to go and that is exactly what the RWS 350 Feuerkraft uses. The front sight uses a red acrylic rod while the fully adjustable, micro-click rear sight uses two green acrylic rods for contrast. If you are a classic shooter that prefers open sights, you are going to love this rifle.
Just about every airgun manufacturer has their “flaws” and RWS is no exception. The one complaint about RWS has been their scope rail. The metal they use is not hard enough and the hole for your stop pin is not deep enough, allowing scope slippage and ultimately, damage to the rifle’s receiver. Another complaint about breakbarrel rifles in general is called barrel droop. Barrel droop is when the barrel points down somewhat relative to the receiver. While this is not a big deal when using open sights, the problem comes when you try to mount and adjust a scope. Often the scope will run out of vertical adjustment and the pellet continues to strike too low.
Both of these issues are easily eliminated with the use of the UTG Droop Compensator. This $18 part eliminates both issues by creating a very sturdy, slotted weaver mount that cannot shift whatsoever. Also, the mount is angled slightly to adjust for barrel droop, thus allowing for plenty of vertical scope adjustment. By converting to a slotted weaver style mount, the rings lock into place and prevent any scope shift. This is really the ideal scope mounting platform. Not all breakbarrel rifles suffer from barrel droop. For those instances, UTG has created a mount that does not have any angle but still provides a rock solid mount and converts the 11mm rail to the sturdier slotted weaver style. (According to PyramydAir.com, barrel droop is not a significant issue for the RWS 350 rifles.)
While the looks of the RWS 350 Feuerkraft may be “plain Jane,” don’t let looks deceive you. This rifle is all business when it comes to performance and knockdown power. Most .22 breakbarrel rifles hover in the 600 FPS to 700 FPS range with standard lead pellets. It is unusual to see 800 FPS with lead pellets, despite what the advertising says on the box. In our tests, the RWS 350 Feuerkraft shot the 11.9 GRN RWS Hobby Pellets at 887 FPS, which translates into 20.81 FTLBS. Our most accurate pellet, the 14.3 GRN Crosman Hollow Point Premiers, shot an average of 836 FPS, generating 22.23 FTLBS. At these velocities, the RWS 350 Feuerkraft is useful out to 85 and maybe even 100 yards if the conditions are right.
Shooting the RWS 350 Feuerkraft will take some getting used to. It is a long, heavy rifle that takes a fair amount of technique to shoot well. Also, it takes a lot of force to cock the gun so it may not be great for plinking in the back yard. Consider the RWS 34P for such tasks. One aspect that you won’t find hard to use is the trigger. The RWS 350 Feuerkraft uses the T-05 trigger. This is a pretty nice 2 stage adjustable trigger that is a joy to shoot compared to the standard triggers from Gamo and Crosman. Both bench shooters and field shooters should really enjoy the T-05.
Accuracy was really something with the RWS 350 Feuerkraft. The most accurate pellet at 20 yards was the Crosman Premier Hollow Point. Here are two groups. The first is only .413” center to center and the second is even better at .268” center to center.
As I stated earlier in this article, I had no intention of letting another RWS 350 go back to PyramydAir so I bought this one to add to my collection. Without exception the RWS 350 Feuerkraft and the RWS 350 Magnum are my top recommendations for a .22 caliber magnum breakbarrel springer. The RWS 350 Feuerkraft is only $339.95. Given the German reputation with airgun craftsmanship and precision it will remain my top recommendation until something proves to be more worthy. If you are looking for PCP class velocity and accuracy out of a breakbarrel, then the RWS 350 Feuerkraft is a serious contender.
Beeman R9 .177 w/ Leapers 4-16×50 AO, MD, IR Scope
Airgun Review – Written By,
Rick Eutsler
Editor / Owner www.AirGunWeb.com
editor@airgunweb.com
Review Product & Supplies
Provided by: www.pyramydair.com
If you are an “old timer” in the airgun community, you don’t need anyone to tell you about the virtues of the Beeman R9. But, if you are new, or just curious about what a true precision airgun can do, then please read on.
One of my first review jobs was to review the entire line of BAM/Xisico rifles. In that lot of rifles I was immediately drawn to the BAM B26. Later I learned that the B26 was a copy of the venerable Beeman R9. My quest to own the R9 started there.
As I’ve come to learn, copies are seldom as good as the original. That holds true in this case as well. While the B26 was a good option at a decent price, it is no Beeman R9. The R9 is quite literally an airgun work of art. Everything about the R9 shows the high level of craftsmanship that goes into this rifle.
I call my R9 “Goldilocks” because it is “just right.” It is not too long, not too short. It is not too heavy and not too light. It shoots not too fast and not too slow. You all get the point here, from my perspective, the Beeman R9 suites me perfectly.
The beautiful hardwood stock is ambidextrous, simple and traditional. The grip and forearm are checkered and the overall color tone is rich and even. The metal on the rifle is many steps above what you’d expect from an “airgun.” The bluing is dark and looks oceans deep. The machining is exceptionally clean and demonstrates the tight tolerances and quality control implemented in its manufacturing.
The Beeman R9 is a classic breakbarrel with a spring loaded detent barrel locking mechanism. This ensures 100% accuracy when the barrel is returned to the locked position. It is here that the quality and craftsmanship really stands out. Normally, this is a weak point on many break barrel rifles. My first “high powered” airgun had a major flaw with the barrel joint and almost permanently tainted my opinion of breakbarrel rifles. I’ve talked to many folks that have had the same experience. Let me assure you that if it is done right, you need not worry about the accuracy of your breakbarrel rifle. The R9 is the perfect example of how to do it right.
At the front of the barrel you’ll find a weighted muzzle break that helps with cocking, accuracy, and protects the barrel. There are no open sights on this version of the Beeman R9 so I chose to mount my Leapers 4-16×50 AO, MD, IR Scope to the receiver using a two piece Leapers Accushot mount. Because of the unique recoil of a spring powered rifle, you need to have either a scope stop or rings with an adequate stop pin to prevent a serious problem with scope slippage. The receiver has three holes on the top for your choice of mounting hardware.
Once the Leapers 4-16×50 was mounted, I began testing and immediately fell in more in love with this R9. I’ve heard tales of the Rekord Trigger, but had never personally experienced it. All I can say is that if you have not tried the Rekord Trigger, you need to find one and see for yourself.
So much about accuracy comes down to trigger control. Sure, a real “marksman” can take any rifle and shoot well. But why make things harder than they need to be. The Rekord trigger on the Beeman R9 sets the new standard for my airguns. The first stage is light and the second stage is very crisp. There were no discernable rough spots anywhere in the trigger pull.
The shooting procedure and characteristics of the Beeman R9 are pretty straight forward. The rifle cocks with about 40 pounds of force, loads easily, and fires with minimal recoil. However, as with any spring gun, hold is going to be important. The Beeman R9 showed a moderate level of hold sensitivity, but this was easily overcome with some extra time on the bench. The only concern that I had with this R9 was hearing a little vibration during the firing sequence. I’m hoping that just using the rifle will take care of that. I would expect that after the gun has a about a thousand pellets under its belt, it will be completely smoothed out.
When it comes to power and accuracy, I’ve shot more powerful airguns, but none that were more accurate. Now my TX200 shoots consistently tight groups, but the Beeman R9 delivered the best group of my young carrier. But, before we look at the shot cards, we should review pellets and velocities.
I found the Beeman R9 to be very “pellet friendly.” Some rifles can really be pellet “snobs,” but the R9 did well with just about any pellet we tested. Even the H&N Field Target Trophy “Green” pellets, a lightweight lead-free pellet, did very well in this rifle. This makes the R9 very flexible for a variety of shooting situations; i.e. paper targets, field target, as well as small game hunting.
The rifle promises a max velocity of 935 FPS with lead pellets as seen on PyramydAir’s website. (Air Venturi is the exclusive importer of the German, high end Beeman Rifles.) Our test rifle came very close to those numbers shooting the 7.0 GRN RWS Hobby pellets an average of 930 FPS and yielding 13.45 FTLBS. The most accurate pellet in our testing was the Beeman Kodiak. This 10.2 GRN pellet averaged 770 FPS, yielding 13.97 FTLBS.
The Beeman Kodaik pellets yielded the following groups at 20 yards. The top group measures only .153” CTC while the bottom group measures an incredible .082” CTC. So much for breakbarrel rifles not being accurate!
The Beeman R9 rifle sells for only $449.95 at PyramydAir.com. I say “only” because I’ve spent several times that on less expensive “copies” trying to achieve what this gun can do. Now some will contend that the TX200 shoots more accurately. I have a TX200 and yes it is VERY accurate, but it has not yet delivered a .082” CTC group at 20 yards.
In my opinion, other than a slight vibration that I expect to diminish with time, this is the perfect spring airgun. I have not found the equal to the Beeman R9 and I enjoyed this rifle so much that I bought it from PyramydAir after I was done with the review. If you are looking to take your airgunning to the next level, consider the Beeman R9 as your next purchase.
Written By, Rick Eutsler
Editor / Owner www.AirGunWeb.com
editor@airgunweb.com
Copyright 2010, Dog River Design, LLC – All Rights Reserved.
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Remington Vantage 1200
Airgun Review Written By,
Rick Eutsler
Editor / Owner www.AirGunWeb.com
editor@airgunweb.com
Review Product & Supplies
Provided by: www.pyramydair.com
Today we are going to look at the new Remington Vantage. At first glance the Vantage looks like any other simple break barrel rifle. In fact it looks very much like the Crsoman Quest but with a much nicer looking stock. Fortunately, the similarities between the Crsoman Quest and the Remington Vantage end there.
The stock of this rifle is a beautifully rich hardwood that is far removed from the “yellow” wood stocks seen on many Chinese imports. It is very simple and fully ambidextrous with a slight raise to the cheek piece that works for righties and southpaws alike. The rifle is not very heavy, but also not too light, it is just right. The majority of the gun is all metal and wood. The few exceptions are the trigger guard and the front and rear sights. The bluing is even and looks very good for a rifle in this price category. The barrel of the Vantage is very ridged and unlike many break barrel rifles, actually worked really well with our Dragon Claw Bi-pod.
The Remington Vantage comes with an industry standard set of open sights. The front and rear sights are basically plastic with fiber optic inserts. The front sight sports a bright green rod, while the rear sight uses two red rods for contrast. If open sights are your thing, then you will love how these sights look. The rear sight is fully adjustable with easy micro-click adjustments.
Mechanically, the Remington stands out over other rifles in this price range, specifically with how they choose to hold the barrel in place. I’ve seen several different ways to “lock” the barrel back in place after cocking and loading. The three basics that I’ve seen are the (1) ball detent, (2) opposing wedges with one spring loaded to apply pressure (please forgive me for not knowing the technical term), and (3) one spring loaded wedge and a metal bar that the barrel rest on. The lesser expensive rifles use the last method. Some good examples are the new Gamo SOCOM Tactical as well as the Crosman Titan GP. The problem with this method is that they create a wear point at a critical part of the rifle. Eventually, something is going to wear out and there goes your accuracy. If the break barrel mechanism does not apply active pressure to hold the barrel in place, you will have movement and your shots will wander.
The Remington Vantage uses two opposing metal wedges with the one in the barrel spring loaded to “hold” the barrel tight against the receiver. Your better made, more expensive rifles, the Beeman R9 for example, use this method. While others like the RWS 34 and RWS 350, use the ball detent method. (Also a good method as there is pressure actively holding the barrel closed.) This is something to remember the next time you’re out shopping for your next break barrel rifle.
No rifle is complete today without some sort of optics, at least that what most airgun companies seem to believe. In the case of the Vantage, Remington included a simple 4×32 CenterPoint scope by Crosman. Unfortunately, the scope fell apart during the break in period. I’d rather they NOT put ANY scope on the gun and lower the price. Seeing as both the scope and the rings had issues, I replaced them with a one piece Crosman scope mount and a working 4×32 CenterPoint scope. I wanted to stay as true as I could to the “out of the box” Remington Vantage 1200. This scope worked pretty well and I was able to shoot some respectable groups at 20 yards.
The scope was not our only sour note. The trigger, oh the trigger… This is Remington’s “improved” trigger. Well, the trigger still needs more improvement. Because of the trigger, you’ll need a lot of practice to reliably shoot tight groups with this gun. The barrel and the power plant can do it, but the trigger pull is so long and rough, that holding a good sight picture through the 2nd stage takes a lot of work. It should not be this hard. The good thing is that you can replace this trigger fairly easily with a GRT III drop in trigger. If you want a better trigger, spend a few bucks and order one. You won’t be disappointed.
Performance wise, the Remington Vantage 1200 did reasonably well. Remington says it should shoot 1000 FPS with lead pellets and 1200 with lead free pellets. Well, our tests put it a little under those numbers, but we were fairly close. The RWS Hobby pellets at 7.0 GRN, averaged 937 FPS generating 13.65 FTLBS. The standard weight Crosman Premier Lights, at 7.9 GRN, came in at 873 FPS generating 13.37 FTLBS. The most accurate pellet in the Remington Vantage was the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavies which weigh 10.2 GRN, travelled an average of 741 FPS, and generated a modest 12.44 FTLBS.
The best groups averaged just under .5” CTC at 20 yards. With only a 4x scope, I was very happy with these results.
All in all, the Remington Vantage, regardless of the scope & trigger issues, may be one of the best values on the market today. At only about $137 from PyramydAir.com, you get an accurate, attractive, classic break barrel rifle. I really enjoyed shooting this with the Dragon Claw Bi-pod attached, which will run you about $22 more, as it really helped while shooting from the bench. The rifle’s mechanics are sound and the parts that bugged me are easily upgradeable. As a starter rifle or a back yard small pest eliminator, definitely consider the Remington Vantage 1200.
Written By, Rick Eutsler
Editor / Owner www.AirGunWeb.com
editor@airgunweb.com
Copyright 2010, Dog River Design, LLC – All Rights Reserved.