by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Ataman BP17 Soft Touch bullpup PCP air rifle.
This report covers:
- Reasons to rejoice
- The rifle
- Repeater
- The accessories
- Trigger
- Barrel
- Manual
- Fill
- Scope
- Summary
Today we begin looking at the Ataman BP17 PCP Soft Touch bullpup air rifle. It comes in .22 caliber only and I am testing the black one.
Reasons to rejoice
You readers should be glad I’m looking at this one. It’s a full bullpup that many of you say you like. It’s a PCP in .22 caliber and most of you like that. It’s compact, yet delivers a muzzle energy of 25 foot-pounds. I think a lot of you will like this report.
The rifle
The rifle is just under 24 inches long. It weighs 5.1 lbs. according to the description online, yet my postal scale says the test rifle weighs 5 lbs. 15 oz, which is more like 5.9 lbs.
The Soft Touch title relates to the smooth black rubber that covers nearly all of the airgun. It’s firm yet grippy, which seems perfect for a hunter. And because it is synthetic it shouldn’t feel as cold when the temperature drops.
Repeater
The rifle is a 7-shot repeater, It’s cocked via a sidelever on the left front of the gun.
Tyler Patner operates the sidelever located on the left side of the gun.
It has a circular clip seated in the comb, below the top of the surrounding material. It is nowhere near the Picatinney rail that accepts the scope mounts. Additional circular clips stow in slots under the rail, where there is room for 4 more.
Ataman circular clip in the rifle.
Ataman circular clip stored under the rail. There is room for a total of 4 stored clips, plus the one in the gun.
I say “clip” for this part, because the entire mechanism for advancing the pellets is inside the rifle. All this part does is hold the pellets. It has a spring-loaded ball bearing on either side to hold it steady and aligned in the rifle and also when stored. The rifle comes with 2 clips.
The BP17 clip just holds the pellets. It has a spring-loaded ball-bearing on either side.
Ataman even includes a tool to adjust the fit of the clip to the rifle. What I am calling a clip they call a magazine, and the tool allows the user to adjust the tension of the axle to best fit the slot in the receiver.
Adjust the fit of the clip/magazine with the brass tool provided.
The accessories
When I saw the accessory package I knew this rifle was going to be put together right. There are TWO fill probes! One has 1/8 BSPP threads and, for the bulk of the airgun world, the other one has a male Foster fill adaptor. If the Russians understand this why don’t the Brits and Swedes?
Trigger
Because this is a bullpup rifle, this is where I would usually get on my soapbox and complain that bullpup triggers can’t possibly be good because of all the linkage they require. Well, this one isn’t that crisp, but it is super light. Maybe it is crisp, as well, and my trigger finger just hasn’t learned how it works yet. It goes off with stunning lightness, giving little cause to complain.
The pull is 13-1/2 inches long. Remembering that this is a full bullpup, the pull feels good to me so far. The thumbhole pistol grip is very vertical and thicker, front to back, than an AR grip, so your trigger finger doesn’t feel so cramped.
Barrel
The barrel is 14.5 inches long and is encased inside a shroud that has a silencer mounted on the end. It’s one without baffles and sounds loud when I dry fire the rifle. I will have more to say about it when I do the velocity test.
The barrel and shroud/silencer are separated from the forearm and floating. I think that should help accuracy.
Manual
The manual that came with the BP17 is about that rifle and nothing else. It even has an illustrated parts breakdown that’s an exploded isometric projection of how the gun goes together! All the parts are illustrated and given names and numbers on a list!
The manual has a parts list and this illustrated parts breakdown that’s an isometric projection.
Fill
As I mentioned you have a choice of fill probes to use. The probe is inserted from the right side of the rifle, only. Fill the 100cc reservoir to 300 bar (4,350 psi), so it will be best to fill this rifle from a carbon fiber tank that starts out with 310 bar (4.500 psi). You’ll get more full fills that way.
The specs say you get 25 shots per fill. I will test that in Part 2.
Scope
There are no sights on the rifle so I am obviously going to mount a scope. HOWEVER — the BP17 is a bullpup of extremely short length. I’m not going to install the Hubble Space Telescope on it! I’m thinking of all the appropriate scopes I could use. I’m sure you will all help me!
Summary
We have a really different and interesting PCP to test here. Tell me what I should be looking for and why.
I’ve been looking at this one. But it appears to not be regulated.
Ed,
It is regulated at 130 bar per PA description. The lever swaps to the other side and it is ambi stock/grip. Both (very) good things in my opinion. Seems like a lot to like for anyone in the market for a “pup”. The price seems high to me. That amount of $ will buy a lot.
Good Day to you and to all,………. Chris
B.B.
I have only fired a bull pup once. It was a Cricket. The neat thing about it, and this one to, is that with the bolt on the left, use right handers should be able to speed shoot the gun. I would think just about anybody should be able to discharge those 7 pellets in 10 seconds or less…
How easy is it to mount a bipod on? Maybe this one should get a red dot? If it is not regulated, can you add a regulator?
At some point, how about a blog report just on the different types of magazines? The good, the bad, and the ugly…
-Yogi
Yogi,
From the pictures there seems to be no straightforward way to attach a bipod. Clamping on the shroud seems to be inviting lots of accuracy.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
You are right. A bipod on this rifle is like a 2-hand hold with a derringer.
B.B.
Hi Yogi,
I second your idea. Magazines; Personally I think a lot of them are pretty crummy. One of the most elegant ones I think is on the Hammerli 850 and the walther rotex types, I think that includes dominator etc models.
Just a basic hockey puck style. Looks like this ataman has the same.
I think all those plastic topped types like the m-rod and diana stormrider and even the plastic topped FX magazines are a bit so-so, and at best unreliable. Although FX does offer a aluminum 8 shot or varying hockey puck style mag also (!). They look great, though I never handled one of those.
Also in the light of the recent dreamline magazine happening in this blog, this may deserve some attention.
I know I want to know more.
All the best,
Carel
Carel,
I agree,… I want to know more. It does however seem like a “can of worms” given all of the variables.
It seems that it comes down to indexing position repeatability/consistency.
Or,…. an “off” chamber.
Or,… an “off” pellet.
I do suppose that why the serious competitors single load/tray. Not to mention,… hand sort to whatever degree ( “whatever” = endless )
Chris
B.B.,
Not much choice regarding optical sights for this one. Either something like the UTG Micro Reflex dot sight or possibly the latest Leapers King Bug Buster. Anything else will seem it off place in that small package.
Siraniko
BB
That IPB looks upside down ?
Bob M,
Pooh, you mentioned that before I could. 🙁
Bob,
Thanks.
B.B.
BB,
This is one of those that have been tempting me.
You do not mention it, but the cocking lever can be moved to the other side for the lefties. The small magazine is nice, well built and not in your way. Storage for spare mags is also a nice touch. From what I hear, us trigger snobs think it could be better, but it is not too bad.
This is definitely wanting a compact scope such as a Bugbuster or SWAT Compact as pictured or even a nice reflex sight. A heavy scope is going to want to encourage it to roll to the side when shooting.
The only real down thing for me is it is a coated wood stock. I’d druther it was a synthetic stock. The up thing is you can get it in a nice walnut stock.
The Russians seem to know how to do ‘pups.
RR,
A Bugbuster or SWAT Compact is exactly what I was thinking. Yes, the dot sight is nice but I think the scope is more practical.
B.B.
BB,
I would give this one a try if it is still hanging around down there..
/product/utg-3-12×32-ao-bug-buster-rifle-scope-mil-dot-reticle-1-3-moa-1-tube?a=7972
RR,
That’s one I’m considering.
B.B.
BB,
I think that would work nicely with that ‘pup.
This is the version I would like to get.
/product/ataman-bp17-pcp-air-rifle-sapele-redwood-stock?m=4847
That stock is just begging for a reshape. A few little tweaks and it would be sweet.
I like it at first look. But, at the asking price it had better be very accurate and reliable.
Mike
BB,
I agree that the gun needs to be accurate at this price and I expect that it will with a LW barrel.
I notice that the manual tells you to expect .12 – .2 inches of creep in the trigger. Talk about truth in advertising!! LOL
The manual posted at PA says the weight is 5.51 lbs. If the stock is coated wood wouldn’t that account for the discrepancies?
Half
Half,
Yes, if there is wood in the stock that could account for discrepancies.
B.B.
BB,
where is this gun made? I thought Turkey but I can’t find any info either on Pyramydair’s website or in the instruction manual. The reason I ask is your comment about the air probe fittings under the “accessories” paragraph and your comment “if Russia gets it, why can’t the Brits and Sweden”.
Fred formerly of the DPRoNJ now happily in GA
Fred,
I’m sorry. It’s made in Russia.
B.B.
B.B.,
To me another “reason to rejoice” is that the Ataman BP17 is ambidextrous. Furthermore, when I read Chris USA’s observation that the bolt is reversible I was even happier. That is icing on the ergonomic cake. This just might be the very first bullpup I have seen that is ambidextrous. I’m not a hunter, but plenty of hunters must be lefties like me, and this just might be the ticket for them.
The designers at Ataman are a thoughtful bunch, it seems.
Michael
B.B.,
i just read the weight spec.: 5.1 pounds. That plus the extra leverage one has by not being forced to extend his grip makes this even more ergonomic. Hmmm. It’s in .22 only and a bit pricey to be purchased as a plinker, but this air rifle would be a nice one for sure.
Michael
I’ve been looking forward to this review, B.B.
I don’t have a PCP. Not yet. But I’ve been eyeing this bull pup for awhile. It MIGHT become my first one.
In some ways, it’s an unlikely entry to the dark side. For starters, it’s pricey. And I suspect the handling might take some getting used to. But that may just reflect my bias/experience with long guns. We’ll have to see if the accuracy and performance measure up with the price point.
So why my interest?
I think Ataman got the design just right on this one. Striking looks, without being over-designed. The coated rubber surfacing completes the modern tactical look. Its a unique piece. And I like that. I do see some practical value in the smaller size, for portability. I like the caliber, I like the mag storage under the rail.
I’m willing to pay more for quality. Looks to me like this one is off to a good start.
Guys,
The high fill pressure turns me off. I know what they are trying to do. They want to get the most out of that tiny reservoir with the help of a regulator. What it really means is that it is a gun only for those that have compressors and who don’t mind topping off often. Just my opinion…
David Enoch
Dave,
You are correct about the high fill pressure. I fill my Urban with a hand pump to 3000 psi and that’s not too difficult. With this little rifle having a regulator, you would not have to fill it to the max pressure. I’m do not know how many shots you would get if you only filled it to 3000 psi though. Anyway, it is much too short for my liking. Tyler Patner shot some very good groups at 45 yards with this little bugger though. See his video review.
Geo
David,
As Geo said, you have a great point.
Agreed that lower pressure would be preferred. Especially to make a hand pump feasible, I think the ability to rely on a hand pump is desirable, especially since I dont mind the workout. In fact, Id prefer it. But since I’m not into the PCP’s yet, I have the opportunity to commit to whatever filling vehicle I need to. So in this case, a compressor.
Given the small reservoir on the BP17, I’d probably favor a pump that can run off a car battery in addition to filling at home. Frequent fills, like you said.
StarboardRower