by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Throttle rifle from Umarex brings a lot of value to the table.
This report covers:
- Cocking effort
- RWS Superdomes
- RWS Hobby
- H&N Baracuda Match
- Trigger pull
- Stock flex
- Evaluation
Today we look at the velocity of the Umarex Throttle air rifle. As a quick reminder, I am already impressed by this rifle, just from the brief handling I did in Part 1. Today should advance that. Let’s get right to it.
Cocking effort
It would be easy for me to measure the cocking effort, then “guess” in writing that it will be somewhere close to that. I don’t do it that way. When I guess, I haven’t measured it yet. Today is when we both discover what the real cocking effort is. I guessed it would be around 33-36 pounds of effort. When I measured it on my bathroom scale the number was 28 lbs. Less than I expected. I am impressed!
RWS Superdomes
The first pellet I tried was the 14.4-grain RWS Superdome. No particular reason, other than it is a medium weight .22 caliber pellet and I wanted to start near the center of the weight range. The specs say the Throttle will get 1000 f.p.s. from lead pellets, and today I hope to test that for you.
The first shot registered 782 f.p.s. After that the next highest shot was 768 f.p.s. and I got a super-tight spread of 9 f.p.s., ranging from 759 f.p.s. to 768 f.p.s. If I include shot number one in the 11-shot string the average is 765 f.p.s. By eliminating it the average is 764 f.p.s. At that average the Throttle generates 18.8 foot-pounds of energy with this pellet.
I am impressed by the stability of this brand-new spring piston rifle with its gas piston unit that Umarex calls the ReaXis. It is smooth and vibration-free and the discharge sound is quiet.
RWS Hobby
I wanted to learn what the maximum velocity is with real pellets someone might actually use, and nothing is better suited for that than the 11.9-grain RWS Hobby. Hobbys averaged 806 f.p.s. in the Throttle, but the spread was pretty large, at 45 f.p.s. The low was 789 f.p.s. and the high was 834 f.p.s. At the average velocity, Hobbys generate 17.17 foot-pounds from the test rifle. This is an unusual case where a heavier pellet generates more power in a spring-piston rifle than a lighter one. Given the large velocity spread, Hobbys may not be the right pellets for the Throttle.
H&N Baracuda Match
The final pellet I tested was the 21.1-grain H&N Baracuda Match. I shot the one with a 5.51mm head, but I doubt the head size makes much difference to the velocity. Baracudas averaged 592 f.p.s over 10 shots, with a 10 f.p.s. spread from 589 to 599 f.p.s. Though the velocity is on the low side, Baracuda Match pellets sound like they are worth a try.At the average velocity this pellet puts out 16.42 foot-pounds at the muzzle.
Trigger pull
Okay, this is an area several people have keyed on. The Throttle’s trigger pull is listed at 5 lbs., and that part of the trigger is not adjustable. I think it’s heavier than that, and again, I haven’t tested it yet when I say that. But the break of stage two is crisp, and that covers a multitude of sins. I once handed former reader Kevin Lentz my Wilson Combat 1911 pistol and told him to dry-fire it. He estimated the trigger at a pound when it was really 3 pounds. That’s what a crisp let-off can do.
The test rifle’s trigger breaks at 3 lbs. 15 oz. That’s less than 4 lbs., so I was over in my estimate. I think it’s fine for a hunting rifle and for general-purpose shooting.
Stock flex
One negative point needs to be mentioned. The synthetic stock flexes at the forearm and sounds hollow when handled. I tried tightening the forearm screws but the flex is still there. It’s not a deal-killer for me, but some of you are more sensitive to things like that.
Evaluation
I’m seeing features and quality that far exceed the Throttle’s low pricetag. I think we may have a winner here. It will all hinge on the accuracy test that comes next. I am not just impressed by the power — I am delighted! Here is a spring rifle with reasonable power instead of beating you to a pulp for that last foot-pound. This is a rifleman’s air rifle!
BB,
Caption for the first picture for the rifle?
Jim
Jim,
Good catch. 😉
B.B.
B.B.,
The tight velocity spread is really impressing me. I don’t recall from previous reports, and I am about to go to bed, so I’m not going to research it as I normally would. Is that a characteristic of air pistons vs. springs? Do you think the turned around design might help there? This could really be a ground-breaking design development for springers if this air rifle is a success.
Like you I am quite eager to see if it’s accurate.
Michael
Michael,
I wouldn’t say a tight spread is characteristic of a gas piston. This one is really performing.
B.B.
Kenny Kormandy of the Youtube channel, and Facebook page, Myairgunreviews.com tested this airgun and found a problem with heavier pellets. So, try some lighter pellets, and a heavy one or two , like over 16.3, maybe the H&N Field Targets, and see what happens. He says any pellet under 680 fps won’t be out of the barrel when the piston slams home, causing wild shots. The difference is like night and day. He believes, if they shortened the barrel two inches, it would handle the heavier pellets well.
I hope I’m not stepping on your toes, Tom, but, if you didn’t test the heavier pellets, you wouldn’t know there may be a problem.
By the way, Kenny was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and is going through some rough times.
Birdmove,
I saw the same today. First time on Ken’s site. I was searching more info on the action and stumbled across it. I am not sure what yardage he was shooting at, but he estimated a 2 foot drop at 20 yards. So yes,…. beware. I wish him the best with his health. I think he did a fine job in his video.
Thanks for the reply. Kenny is a good man and does very good video reviews also. Like Tom Gaylord, he tells it like it is. Mostly he shoots at either 10 or 20 yards. I hope he gets well!!
BB,
As you mentioned, the flexing of the stock may be a bit of an issue. I do not want it to feel like I might break it if I do not handle it carefully. This is something I might be able to fix, but it would be at the price of additional weight.
With me the operation of the safety is most definitely an issue. It is one that I could possibly overcome by removing it altogether. It would not be the first air rifle or pistol I have owned that did not have a safety.
The trigger pull is not that much of an issue with me as long as it breaks clean as you have described. Most sproingers have a trigger pull in that range and do not break clean to boot.
The light cocking is a most definite plus. That and the fact that you have not stated that it did not slap you side the head every time you shot it, which I have found is not uncommon with gas sproingers.
I guess the main thing here will be can it shoot? Does that StopShox gimmick really help? Does it neutralize the recoil so as to allow any hold to work? Is the packaged scope worth keeping? Will the AO focus for close shooting? Will it hold focus through repetitive shots?
I would like a nice, light synthetic stock gas sproinger that shot well without beating me to death.
RR,
On weight,.. Umerex list this as 9.5 so the 8.3 on the P.A. site must be gun only. The Syn-Rod list at 7.3, gun only. So,… this is not light weight. I am starting to pay more attention to weights,.. looking for something to carry in the woods. I guess that if you get any springer/gas with a quality build, any power and a synthetic stock,.. 8.3 is the range you will be playing in. Heck, I am not even sure that synthetic stocks reduce weight. I do like them for ease of care though.
That Maximus is looking better everyday. 🙂
Chris,
An air rifle that I have been hearing real good things about that you might consider is the Brocock Compatto. It is under seven pounds without scope, has a synthetic stock and is very accurate. It is made in the Daystate factory in the UK. It is a bit pricier than the Maximus, but you get what you pay for. It is on my very short list. It is carried by a retailer located in the southwest part of the country.
RR,
Check it out I did. Very nice and does address several (most) of the things on my wish list of features. I even went to the Brocock site and watched a few videos. However,… at 5X the price of a Maximus,.. I think I will pass. Like you said though,… you get what you pay for. (Thanks) for the info./link. Man,…. there is just so much out there to consider,.. especially on the higher end stuff.
Chris U
You should think about a Marauder pistol.
Talk to Buldawg about the Marauder pistol he just got. I use to have one. I talked Buldawg into getting one. He got it right around when I got my Maximus. Hes happy with it and even says he ain’t going to touch it shoots so nice. My buddy still has the one I had. Still shoots nice and has never had to take it apart. It’s probably close to 5 years old now.
But they are nice short lightweight guns. They’re shrouded plus use a rotary magazine similar to the Mrod’s. Oh and they are .22 caliber and they do like the JSB 15.89’s.
GF1,
Interesting. Can it be stocked? Longer barrel?
Chris U
I think buldawg is putting a moderator on his to make the barrel longer. But the beauty of the short barrel is walking around in the woods and not bumping the barrel into every tree and branch you walk by.
And Dave’s adapter for the AR butt stock is what I done in the past. Oh and they have a fully adjustable two stage trigger and even a adjustable trigger stop. Here check this out.
/product/benjamin-marauder-air-pistol-ar15-stock?m=3511
GF1,
Yea, Dave’s 360 adapter would be perfect for offset and cheek rise. 🙂
And,….. LOP!
GF1,
Just watched the P.A. video. I see the stock comes with it. That might be a real contender to the Maximus,…. on multiple fronts.
Chris U
Cost more than the Maximus but also has all those added goodies.
You remember the first video I posted of my Maximus when I took the synthetic stock off. I put that 1720T trigger grip assembly on it with the 1399 stock. Well Dave makes a adapter to put the AR butt stock on a Discovery which is basically the same as a Disco. So you could by the Maximus and a trigger grip assembly from Crosman for a Marauder pistol and put it on the Maximus. And there is ways to quiet it up if it’s legal where your at.
But I had one of Dave’s adapters on my Discovery back when Dave first started making his adapters.
The 8.3 pounds is too high, atleast for me. I think my Webley Tomahawk weighs that much, maybe a lttle less. I am no fan of gas pistons, either. Grumpy olde man..Yep !
PZ1
B.B.
Why do we have to put up with a poor safety design and non-adjustable trigger?
Sounds like a step backwards not forwards….
-Y
Yogi,
We don’t. We tell them they have messed up by not buying it.
I do not own any Crosman sproingers. Their trigger assemblies are not up to par. When they build a good sproinger, I will buy it.
B.B.,
On the forearm flexing,… could you elaborate? Flexes while cocking? The sides can be squeezed in?
Also,.. like I mentioned to Ridge Runner,… I am paying more attention to weight. I do not know for sure, but I think this is something that you do not report on often. Sites vary and details can be sketchy. I think it would be a nice regular addition to the reports.
Thanks,… Chris
Chris,
I gave the weight from a balance beam scale. I was very clear about what it was — no scope attached. I nearly always give the weight and length.
The firearm flexes when squeezed.
B.B.
B.B.,
See below. Back to my corner and the pointy hat again,…. 🙁
😉 ,….. Chris
B.B.,
I appear to be mistaken on you mentioning weights. (My apologies). I searched back a couple of months and see that you do mention it on new models. Like I said, I am just now giving weight more consideration,.. so this is something that I just “skimmed” over in the past.
Chris U, BB and RR
Maybe they are floating the stock in the action forward of the trigger guard. It’s bolted up solid from the just ahead of the trigger and back. Kind of like a built in artillery hold.
I have that done to my Marauder and the Maximus synthetic stock. The stock doesn’t touch the air tube about 2 inches forward of the trigger guard. I believe it helps acurracy.
GF1,
The entire action actually moves. There is several videos on the Umerex site that show it. It is as if the action is completely floating, but guided,…. and then the entire action rebounds against the StopShox system at the rear. From what I gather, it works on cushioning both the forward and rearward movement. Sort of an attached strut if you will.
Chris U
I’ll have to check out the videos. Sounds similar to what the Diana 54 air king and FWB 300 use.
GF1,
Same concept, but not as sophisticated or as expensive. It also is less bulky and weighs less. If they would fix the trigger assembly, this thing would be a no brainer.
RR
I thought I heard a while back that the stop shock could be put in different spring or nitro guns. Was going to be sold separately. I might be wrong though.
GF1,
That would be nice, but I seriously doubt such. The body will need to be able to float back and forth for the system to work.
RR
Your probably right about the stock.
B.B.,
What do you think of the floating action? How does it compare to the Diana/RWS 54 Air King? I do not know of any others rifles that have that feature. And while this may sound like a stupid question,….. does the trigger assembly move when the action moves?
Chris
Chris,
The low cocking effort of the Throttle is especially impressive because it has a recoil absorbing mechanism.
As I’m confident you know, with the “rail” recoil absorbing systems on Diana 54s and 56s, and FWB 150s and 300s use the cocking lever to move the action (and therefore barrel, too) into place for a shot. This adds a considerable extra amount of effort. Yes, the FWBs cock with only 11 punds of force, but without the sliding action, it would probably be just six or seven pounds. The Dianas are much tougher because they are magnums and because the shooter is probably holding his or her air rifle upright at the time, so cocking is working against gravity to boot.
Michael
Michael,
Thank you for that additional insight. It was just today that I learned that the action on the Diana’s is “positioned” prior to firing. I was not aware of that functioning. I am still learning. This sliding action seems to “just be there” and acts like a strut in that it absorbs both forward and rearward movement. So I guess that it is different in that the action is not “readied” with the cocking action. Still,… a move in the right direction in recoil reduction. Thank you.
Michael and Chris U
The 54 and 300 only move around a half inch. And from what I remember the action doesn’t shift until at the end of the cocking stroke. So you really don’t feel any of the slide movement until the very end of the cocking stroke. And you really don’t feel it. It just stops.
Gunfun1,
While I have never handled a Diana 54 or 56, I have a Feinwerkbau 300s and a Feinwerkbau 150. They can be cocked with one’s pinky, so where in the stroke the action moves to be set or how much it moves does not really matter. What’s the difference between 11 pounds of effort and, say, seven or eight pounds of effort?
I do recall B.B. commenting that the short-lived version of the TX200 with a similar no-felt-recoil system was significantly harder to cock than the standard TX, and the inherent smoothness of the regular TX200 was enough that the sliding mechanism simply didn’t provide enough benefit to be worth the extra cocking effort (and, perhaps, expense).
Michael
Michael
I had two 54’s and two FWB 300’s.
The slide action doesn’t affect cocking in anyway really. What you feel that is. And yes the FWB 300’s are nice guns in multiple ways.
The 54 wasn’t really bad to cock either. Comparing the 54 to that TechForce 99 I have before I cut the 6 inches of the spring. The 99 was much much harder to cock then the 54. I think the linkage geometry is what helps the 54 cocking wise.
Matter of fact I’m seriously thinking of one of these in .22 caliber. The .177 caliber 54’s I had were accurate guns.
/product/diana-56th-target-hunter-air-rifle?m=3303
B.B.,
Thanks for continuing the reports on this rifle. It’s what I had hoped to see this AM. Still looking for a new spring rifle to augment my collection, and this one is a finalist. In some ways it seems similar to the NP2 rifles that I’ve shot. The power and cocking effort are pretty close, as are the weight, length, and price. Sounds like the triggers are both workable, if not spectacular. Do you share these impressions?
Also, my Stoeger X20S has developed a bump in the cocking cycle. It feels as if there is some discontinuity in the spring guides, or something. Any insights on this? Should I tear into it, or just wait until something breaks? It has been well used, and has been a good shooter since break-in even with the funky trigger.
I hope that your spirits are doing OK. Reading your column helps keep me centered during this discombobulating time of year. Provides needed continuity…
Thanks!
Walt
Walt,
Yes, the trigger on this rifle is very workable.
B.B.
B. B.,
Thanks. Think I’ll roll the dice and buy a Throttle in .22. Will report my impressions.
And thanks again for all you do for us newbies. Because of your educational efforts, I’ve gotten more out of my guns and the hobby in general. Heck, you saved me from frying the seals in my PCP’s and blowing myself up with HPA. No kidding. Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your efforts.
Have a super New Year!
Walt
Walt
B.B.,
Before you answered Chris USA’s question above, your observation that the Throttle flexes had me remembering a documentary on the History Channel that showed how the AK-47 flexes fore to aft enough that in slow motion it is clearly visible. They pointed out that while this was not ideal for accuracy, it contributed to the AK’s relatively low recoil (for its 7.62x39mm round).
Michael
BB,
I would really like to see the StopShox system of this rifle. Would it be possible for you to remove it from the stock and show us how everything goes together? How is everything bolted together yet floating in the stock?
RR
Here check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA7VBXugEwU
GF1,
I see you went there. I too would like to see how it attaches to the action and the stock. I has to do both to work as described. I also would like to under those forearm screw plates. I bet the stock screws ride in a slot/slide of sorts. I think those screws are holding nothing more than a cover.
GF1,
I saw that some time back. I am wanting to see the real thing inside the rifle. How does it fasten inside the stock that allows it to move? How does it do such at the trigger? Enquiring minds want to know?
RR
Well maybe BB can take the stock off and give us some pictures to look at on the next report.
I’m hoping.
I think the Markman 2070 beats this plastic gas bag, at less than half the price….oh well, nice to read ’bout it, B..B.
Yes, I bought a Marksman 2070 thanks to reviews on the Hard Air Magazine.( part 1 and part 2 )
PZ1
B.B.,
Having done some more reading on repairing spring rifles, it’s apparent that I don’t want to get into that just to fix a single cheap rifle, such as my Stogie. The cost of the spring compressor exceeds the cost of replacing the rifle. For now, I’ll just shoot ’em and lube ’em.
Walt
I picked up a 177 throttle on sale in January. Best pellet so far is JSB 8.44. My Chrono shows 850 fps, but the seals seemed flat so I googled and found a Umarex tune kit. The Chrono now shows a bit over 900 fps and very consistent. The trigger is around 4 pounds, but breaks cleanly. Shooting it like you would a springer off the bench I can put 10 shots into 3/4 inch with the JSB’s. A better trigger would definitely help, as would a better shooter. It is pellet picky. I have tried many brands, and 1″+ groups are not unusual. Shooting it like you would a FWB 300 opens the groups considerably. I have to say the recoil system does reduce the back and forward motion, but there is a lot of “omni-directional” movement within the rifle when the trigger is pulled. I cannot shoot offhand and see the impact due to the movement. That said, I like it. I’m looking forward to BB’s accuracy review of the 22 version.