Career Ultra 9mm Test

By John Burrough
reprinted from a 2001 airgun magazine

TECHNICAL DATA

Mechanical system	Precharged pneumatic lever-action repeating rifle.
Power storage	Two built in air chambers 380cc
Caliber/Ammunition	.35 cal. (9 mm)
Magazine capacity	Multi-feed horizontal magazine clip 6 to 8 pellets (depending on the size)
Total length	41.5 in
Weight	9.5 lbs.
Muzzle velocity	Adjustable: UP to 900 FPS (80 grain)
Front Sight	Hunting style ramp with bead.
Rear sight	Fully adjustable open-square notch.
Stock	Indonesian Walnut.
Trigger	Two stage trigger, adjustable to appoximately two pounds.
Barrel	Rifled, right hand, 23.5"
Safety	Positive Cross-Bolt

When the Shin Sung sent me the new Career Ultra 9mm for our preview, at first I was skeptical. This rifle was on its way to South America for use as a military trainer.

We first saw the repeating 9mm at the last Shot Show and we were not too impressed. It looked like the Western Career with a 9mm barrel. This model is all new from the butt pad to the barrel threads (12mm X 1.0). My first impression, a giant Winchester, but its 9.5 lb. weight balances surprisingly well and its off-hand open sight shooting is no more strenuous than its brother, the 707. I am glad to see Shin Sung abandoned the concept originally intended, which would have offered the Ultra in all calibers; no point in reinventing a winner and compromising the 9 mm potential.

The larger reservoir tubes (504cc Vs 707's 380cc) give upwards of 40 usable shots per 3000 psi charge. Shot speed, as with the 707, is easily adjusted by the receiver's silver power wheel. In our tests the rifle produced 30 usable shots at over 700 fps with the Eun Jin 9mm 60 grain dome pellets. The power range is 200 to 1000 fps in 10 increments (3000psi). The gun showed no signs of locking even at 3500psi. A slight lock at 3000psi would be nice and could easily be induced with a coil or would give more useable shots with a slight power reduction.

Early Career 707's had no means of adjusting the trigger and discriminating shooters complained the trigger pull affected groups. The Ultra has a clever first and second stage trigger adjustment accessible under cocking arm. For a rifle of this size, the 2 pound second stage is perfect. I would like to see this trigger find its way into the 707 along with integral dovetails. These high-power hunters deserve great optics, and bolt-on scope rails have reached their expiration date.

I am glad to see this design start from a nearly fresh sheet of paper. Components like the power wheel, charging adapter and cocking lever are derived from the 707. The appearance suggests an untamable beast but precise craftsmanship is obvious and superb groups are easy to achieve. We were able to shoot one ragged hole at 20 yards and a 1" center to center at 50 yards. The factory has developed a longer pellet for the gun that they say will make it group even better. The removal of the adjustable pellet stop will allow the gun to use the bespoke pellet and projectiles a few millimeters longer.

My only concern is the report on high power, but, unlike the single shot 9mm, you can turn this one down. The threaded barrel accommodates various off-shore noise suppression devices and the charging system is the Career probe standard. Everywhere we look we find new innovations: charging adapter fits in the bottom reservoir, two stage adjustable trigger and the scope rail and receiver are now one piece. The fill gauge is beautifully installed on the back of the bottom reservoir under a forearm window. It would be nice if the gauge was calibrated in psi; the rep hinted that this feature could be coming. The pellet feed can accommodate projectiles up to 11mm in length. Career quality is here on a 30 percent larger scale (even the exhaust valve).

This superbly designed 9mm Ultra is the best big bore hunting or target rifle available today. Shin Sung and Pyramyd Air have a great winner on their hands. It comes in #1 stock and a superbly crafted #3 stock carved from Indonesian Walnut. No one comes close to the basic performance and specifications of the Ultra 9mm.