by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Air Venturi TR5 Target Pro repeating pellet rifle. This is the one with the target sights.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
This report covers:
- Velocity
- Trigger pull
- Loading
- Sight-in
- The test
- R10 Pistol
- Sig Match Ballistic Alloy
- Qiang Yuan Training pellets
- Once more with Hobbys
- Summary
This is Part 8 of the report on the subject rifle. The first 6 parts were about the Air Venturi TR5 Multi-Shot Target Air Rifle and Part 7 was about the new Air Venturi TR5 PRO .177 cal Target Air Rifle. I told you all the differences I could see between the two rifles in Part 7, so today I’m going to fast-forward to the accuracy test of the Pro. But before I do, let’s establish the baseline performance.
Velocity
The first rifle shot Hobbys at an average 548 f.p.s. with a 16 f.p.s. spread between 539 and 555 f.p.s. The rifle is rated to shoot 500 f.p.s.
This Pro rifle shoots Hobbys at an average 539 f.p.s. The spread on this one is from 535 to 544 f.p.s., so an 11 f.p.s. difference. That puts the two rifles pretty close.
Trigger pull
I was able to adjust the single-stage trigger pull on the first rifle down to 3 lbs. 2 oz. This Pro starts out at 3 lbs. 14 oz. and I was able to drop it a full pound (2 lbs. 14 oz,) after adjusting, but the pull varied from there to just over 4 lbs. I think this trigger needs to be broken in to work best.
Loading
I had several pellets fall out of the clip while inserting it into the rifle, so I started seating them deep with a ballpoint pen. Every pellet I seated would pop when its skirt went past the start of the chamber in the clip. The table below kept them all level with the end of the clip. Once seated they never fell out again, and accuracy did not change.
I pushed all the pellets into the clip with a pen. They went in with a pop.
Sight-in
It took quite a few pellets to sight in until I noticed that the rear sight was sliding off the top of the receiver! The forward recoil loosened the clamp screw on the base of the sight. I tightened it a second time but even that wasn’t enough. I had to make the clamp really tight before it held still. Then I could sight in and start shooting.
The test
I shot the rifle from 10 meters. Since the website tells you that RWS Hobbys are the pellet of choice, I started with them. I shot 5-shot groups from a rested rifle. I used a modified artillery hold that seemed to work well. My open off hand was just forward of the triggerguard, which is the balance point of the rifle.
The first group of Hobbys measures 0.737-inches between centers, so right off the bat this rifle has met the 3/4-inch (0.750-inch) specification. But I thought it could do better, so I shot a second group after adjusting the rear sight a little to the left.
The TR5 put 5 RWS Hobby pellets in 0.737-inches at 10 meters.
The second group was smaller. It measures 0.552-inches between centers.
The second group of Hobbys is even smaller — at 0.552-inches between centers at 10 meters.
Now we know this TR5 can shoot; what about other pellets? I tried RWS R10 Match Pistol pellets next.
R10 Pistol
Five R10 Match Pistol pellets went into 1.131-inches at 10 meters. Four of them on the right looked good, but one off to the left spoils it.
Five RWS R10 Match Pistol pellets made this 1.131-inch group at 10 meters. This is not the pellet for the TR5.
Sig Match Ballistic Alloy
Next to be tried were five Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets. They are often among the most accurate target pellets I test. But not in the TR5. At 10 meters five went into 1.3-inches. Notice how open this group is — not like the R10 pellets where 4 are close and one is apart.
Five Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets went into 1.3-inches at 10 meters.
Qiang Yuan Training pellets
The last pellet I tried was the Chinese Qiang Yuan training pellet. Like the Sig Match pellets, these are often very accurate. In the TR5 the first 10-meter group they produced measured 0.749-inches, or right at the accuracy threshold of 0.750-inches.
Five Qiang Yuan Training pellets made this 0.749-inch group at 10 meters.
The first group was so pleasing that I shot a second group as well. This time five Qiang Yuan pellets went into 0.882-inches — just over the maximum specified.
The second 10-meter group of Qiang Yuan pellets measures 0.882-inches between centers.
Once more with Hobbys
I was satisfied that this TR5 Pro is living up to its advertised accuracy, but after shooting 45 shots I wondered if I could do it one more time. This is more a test of me than the rifle. This time five Hobbys made a group that measures 0.556-inches between centers. It’s the second-best group of the test. Yes, Hobbys are the best of those tested, the TR5 exceeds spec and old BB can still shoot when he has to!
As a final test of both me and the rifle I shot a third group of Hobbys. Five went into 0.556-inches at 10 meters — the second-best group of the test.
Summary
The Air Venturi TR5 was supposed to copy the IZH 61 that no longer can be imported into the U.S. The Pro model that I just finished testing does a good job of replicating the final version of the IZH 61.
The TR5 is a kid-sized sidelever springer with a decent trigger and decent accuracy. It’s light, easy to cock and adjusts for length of pull. So, big kids can use it, too. If this was a rifle you always wanted and didn’t get one, here is your last chance — again!
B.B.,
Nice day of shooting!
Potentially a fun rifle(s) for plinking parties! Two or three of them would keep the pew, pew, pew going non-stop!
Spare five shot clips for under US $10.00 is nice as well as a UIT rail. I think I would get a hand stop for it
shootski
LOL! If you are not careful you will drop more into accessories than the rifle costs.
Ridge,
You have that right. It isn’t hard to spend more than the $180 the TR5 Target costs on accessories.
Michael
Michael,
Most especially when those accessories are for a 10 meter air rifle. I know. Been there. Done that. Did not even get a T-shirt.
RidgeRunner,
Yep, I hear that. The one saving grace about 10 meter air rifle is that the technology is always improving, and the manufacturers are always coming up with something “new and improved.” Therefore, perfectly excellent equipment that is 15 or 20 years old loses an awful lot of its resale value. A world-class 10 meter shooter could win with a ten year old Anschutz, but nobody who is world-class uses equipment more than a year or two years old because they get all of it for free as endorsers.
Many sports are like this, of course. A new, state-of-the art tennis racket is probably a couple thousand dollars, but one which was a thousand dollars ten years ago goes for $30-$40 at Play-It-Again-Sports. In five more years it will be marked $8 at a Goodwill.
Michael
Michael,
I sure wish the price of a FWB300 series air rifle would come down.
As a little side note to the ability of old stuff to still perform, in 2008 a young lady from Cuba won the Pan Am Games with a FWB601.
Another thought; just because it is newer does not mean it is better. I still use a flip phone. “Beam me up Scotty, there is no intelligent life down here.”
RR
And listening. Why do you wish the FWB 300 would come down?
So you can get another one?
Or you think they are to high?
I have the urge to play with one for awhile again. If I should pick up another one, after a bit I would modify it.
RR,
FWB 300s’s can sometimes be had for surprisingly little on this side of the pond. I picked up a mint condition 1974 300s in Germany for the paltry sum of 154 euros recently.
Bob,
Go ahead and rub it in why don’t you. Over there they are probably everywhere. Only so many made it over to this side of the pond. I had two and foolishly let Gunfun1 talk me out of both of them.
RR,
I had a smart phone for years, but early last year I went back to a flip phone. I thought I’d get a reaction from the twenty-something guy behind the counter, but he was non-chalant. Then, disappointed, I asked him why he didn’t seem surprised by my choice, he replied, “Actually we get a lot of people going back to non-smart phones.” The wind was taken out of my sails.
Regarding FWB 300s air rifles, I think in the U.S. their price has risen slightly during the last couple years. I have a standard lefty and a lefty Junior model (which I would never part with except very grudgingly). The Jr. models are about 1 1/2 pounds lighter, if I recall correctly. They lack the heavy barrel sleeve of the others. I bought mine maybe six or seven years ago when they were still quite cheap, but that Jr. cost me a bit more than the other.
Michael
Michael,
I am not in the least bit surprised. Those so called “smart” phones cost a whole lot more to operate than the Star Trek specials. Doesn’t sound so smart to me.
I just get the urges every once in a while. If I just calm down and plink with one of the other old gals here at RRHFWA, it goes away.
RidgeRunner,
Remember I would be coming back from the Dark Side where, as you know, accessories almost always cost way more than the rifle/pistol! The hand stop really makes the repeatability of the hold much easier; one less thing that takes up shootski’s already limited processing power! The 5 shot clip reminds me of my Biathlon rifle so I guess I will need at least an extra 3 of them along with a holder to mount them on the forestock.
Also a loading aide to replace B.B.’s ballpoint could be printed/fabricated.
shootski
Shootski,
LOL! Oh I do understand. I was sorely wanting one when I owned a FWB601 and I did have one on my AirForce Edge. I could see a hand stop being added to my Tomahawk.
Another little trick I learned of recently is to take one of the stick on rubber nubs and place it on the back of the stock where you would rest your trigger hand thumb so that you can repeat that grip also. You would be surprised how much the placement of that thumb can change POI.
When you make/have made your loading aid, have a small round ball made on the other end to be used in repairing bent pellet skirts. There used to be a tool like that available.
And yes, a spare magazine holder only makes sense. You are not going to want to stop your plinking session every five shots to reload the clip. I myself would probably go for at least five spares. That’s thirty shots between clip reloads. That is enough to fend off most feral soda can attacks.
RR,
The same small “stick on rubber nubs”,… are also good for cheek weld position/repetition. The “nibs” I am talking about are for cabinet door bumpers. There are other ones for small item scratch prevention. They usually come on a card, most of the time clear, various sizes often on one card and adhesive/stick on mounted. Then,.. there is the felt variety.
By the way,… I have four 1″ felt ones on the bottom of my laptop to facilitate ventilation/case cooling. Maybe 3/16″ thick.
For the trigger,.. A small vinyl bolt cap (sold in various sizes) can be used over the trigger. Select a size that will accommodate a bb inside. The bb is placed inside and as the cap is worked onto the trigger,… work the bb to the front of the cap. this produces a very pin point area in which you can place your finger in the same place each time. It also increases trigger “feel”. I have that type of set up on my .25 M-rod and simply love it.
Chris
Chris,
That bolt cap sounds interesting. I may have to give that a try.
RR,
Shrink tubing would also work,… but after shrunk,… the bb would be locked into position.
It also adds some “grip” to the finger tip contact area. Your thumb position indicator is also a good idea. I would for sure use something like that on a springer. With those,… it seems that everything matters in repeating holds.
You may get 10 in a 1/2″ with one hold and 10 in 1/2″ with another hold,.. (with the same rifle),… but mix the two holds off and on,…? Suddenly that 1/2″ blew up into 1″ because of POI shift (caused by inconsistent holds from shot to shot).
Bottom line,… do not be afraid to go unconventional when trying to find something that will help you shoot better. Most of the time I will see a rifle shooting feature and then see if I can make something that is similar in concept. The bolt cap and bb idea was bourn from trying to copy something like the Red Wolf has for a trigger blade. Smaller, adjustable with more feel.
Chris
Chris,
When I had a Gamo CFX I could shift grouping between two spots just by moving where I place my thumb.
RR,
Also,…. with the T post and adjustable trigger blade type set up,… there is also a “button” option that (replaces) the blade. I have seen it quite popular in the Euro crowd. I do not have one. I think that I would prefer that even over the stock RW trigger blade. Really,… the bolt cap and bb accomplishes the exact same thing in concept/function,.. albeit much less refined.
Chris
Chris,
I have seen these myself and thought them most interesting. Quite suitable for target, but I don’t think it would work well for hunting.
Shootski,
I use a plastic swizzle stick.
Michael
Michael,
All my swizzle sticks are way to busy swizzling our drinks, Lol!
I was actually thinking of an indexing (to the pellet clip) loading aid that would seat all five at the same time and the same depth every time. My bullets and pellets for each of my guns, where the bolt doesn’t seat them to the optimum depth, has an individually former seater. Thank Diana that most of my pistols and rifles have proper functioning bolts.
shootski
A somewhat new air rifle for youths from Crosman is the Tyro. .177 break barrel. Almost noting about this air rifle on the web yet. Maybe they dropped the older Raven? I know how busy you are, BB, but I would love a review on this back friendly air rifle. There is one youtube video from an English gent.
BB,
Not a bad little plinking ‘pup. If I did not have such a large selection of plinkers right now I would give it serious consideration.
I would like to see someone bring out a top shelf sproinger ‘pup. I guess I will just have to hunt around for one of the old gals. 😉
B.B.
Just curious, as a comparison to the TR5, how accurate was the IZH 61?
Thanks,
Hank
Hank,
From all that I’ve read the 61 was about this accurate but not more so. That includes the early steel models. The very early (but only very early) IZH 60s were the ones that made the reputation for accuracy of these. So if one can find a metal action IZH 60, there is a chance it is early enough to be a special one, but just a chance. Maybe 50-50? Of course that is only a guess. :^)
Michael
Hank,
The early ones with metal receivers were much more accurate. When they went to plastic receivers and especially plastic magazines, the accuracy devolved to just about what we see here.
B.B.
/blog/2007/09/izh-61-part-4-new-gun-now-were-cookin/
Thanks Guys!
Hank,
I have one of the later model IZH 61’s and it gives quarter inch ctc 5 shot groups at 10m with pellets such as H&N FTT, H&N Finale Match and even cheap BSA Elite. Unlike the TR5 Target Pro though, it hates RWS Hobby.
Bob,
Nice! 1/4″ groups @ 10 m – would make for a fantastic plinker! Hold on to that one!
B.B.,
The TR5 in this configuration sure is a peach, isn’t it? Decently accurate, well-made, compact, lightweight, light cocking, light triggered, adjustable LOP and affordable. Thanks very much for putting so much time into this series.
Michael
Nice shooting! I still wonder why this one shoots better than the stock version. Is it the clip? Did they tune them? Hmmmmm…..
Have a great day!
B.B.
If this rifle cost $90, I would get one, and mess with it. If I shoot it as is, I’m sure the groups will open up a bit compared to yours!
Part of the fun would be finding the “magic pellet” tho.
For the same money, you could get a Bandit, and with a little elbow grease and a regulator, yea, and a floor pump,you could have outstanding accuracy from a pistol at twenty five yards. I enjoy seeing how many pellets in a mag I can get through the holes on the corner of junction box covers at 25yds. It is very satisfying to fly them through and hit the plate behind. Ok, so I cant get the whole mag through, but a fella’ like you might be able to! Nice shooting,
Robert
Robert,
I have a feeling that thin-skirted pellets such as the BSA Elite and BSA Storm might do well with the TR5.
It has the name “Target Pro” and its only guaranteed to shoot 3/4 inch groups at 10m. Please give me a break. I’ve had $20 Chinese under-levers that would shoot better than that at 10m. In fact, all of them would!
Brent
This is one of those situations where a good salesperson is needed. You know what I mean. One of those salesman that can sell a refridgerator to a Eskimo.
I still dislike both names they gave the guns. I have to keep telling my brain to not listen to it’s first thoughts.
Once I get around that I’m sort of ok with the gun.
Brent,
I agree. They should ditch the aperture sight and the misleading moniker and bundle this baby with an inexpensive red dot sight and call it the TR5 Plinkermeister.
I WANT A GEM! I WANT A GEM! I WANT A GEM! WAAAAAAAAH!!!
I feel better now.
RR
And where you gonna find one at this price? I got a few suggestions. For real. 😉
And figured someone wouldn’t understand my comment. I’m not going to explain either. They will have to understand on their own.
It’s nothing about wanting it all. It’s about naming a product. And dog gone it they turned right around and done it again.
But if I wanted to right now I could do some heavy duty bashing. With comparisons of other guns.
Let’s just say the gen2 TR5 has its competition. The gen1.
Let’s just say it’s a nice little sport/plinking gun.
Ya know what I mean.
Don’t relate it to a 10 mm gun or even a target gun. All I’m trying to get across is they named it wrong. And even a second time around. All I can say is???
GF1,
Hey, my two favorite antique air rifles I picked up for $100 each. It can happen.
RR
They don’t have to be antique.
GF1,
We are talking about a Gem. At least I was. They have not been made for a very long time. I do understand, but I have a nice collection of these old gals that will shoot rings around this thing. I guess if I liked the looks of it, I might try to find a room for it at RRHFWA, but I do not have another room available for a another plinker.
GF1,
And just so you know that we are on the same page, “What’s in a name…?”
I really would like to play with this a little bit, but own it, no.
To many airguns,not enough time and money.
If this is supposed to replace the Daisy 953 in this niche, they’re better bringing the 953 Back.
Brent
Or not. The only reason I would choose the TR5 gen1 or 2 would be to give myself a little challenge if I was 10 m competing. I better we’ll be a accomplished shooter to use it in competition.
I like stacking my odds in my favor if you know what I mean.
I guess all in all Air Venturi accomplished what they wanted out of this gun. And I’m happy for them. But that’s about it.
Somebody saw dollar signs when they dreamed up this gun. Problem is the gun was off somewhere day dreaming. Poor gun. Not it’s fault.
GF1,
Competition? Well accomplished? The best of both of those aside,…. the gun has to be able to land pellets in a tight group (consistently) if you are doing your part. If the goal was to copy an icon,… then they should have put the effort into making one. People will “pay up” if it performs. If it does not perform,… it is just another embarrassing marketing ploy and will not bode well for long term reputation.
Chris
Bottom line,… they should have set out to (beat) whatever the IZH was ever thought to be.
Exactly. A couple more $ and you can get a daisy 753s. Same power and a real 10m starter rifle.
I have a suggestion for a name change. Why don’t they rename it the “Plinking Pro” because that’s what it is. I’m just afraid that someone who has a son or daughter who is getting into 3-position spotter shooting will buy this thinking they are saving money and find out that it is in no way a target rifle.
Brent
Brent
I can accept that.
Plinking Pro.
And what is wrong with that name?
Brent,
I like that. It rolls off the tongue nicely.
Brent,
There is one problem with calling this the Plinking Pro. There are better shooters out there that do not cost as much. Face it, Wang Po Industries has done it again. They took a cheap Chinese copy of an OK but not great Russian air rifle, made it look tacticool, gave it a typically stupid name and put it out there for us stupid Americans to buy. Air Venturi bought a shipment of them thinking we would snap these up like the IZH61, but fortunately for most of us that would be interested in something like that is we tend to be slightly more discriminating than that. At least I hope so.
RR,
Amazing! Everything you said in that comment is wrong.
This rifle was developed by Pyramyd AIR because they can’t import the IZH 61 anymore.
B.B.
BB,
Really? Wow! Why did they do that?
As for my not knowing what I am talking about, that is not so unusual. You have probably told us that previously, but it fell out.
RR,
They wanted to have a rifle like the IZH. But they discovered that the Russians had been making the rifle for decades and knew everything they were doing. It wasn’t as simple as they thought to reverse engineer it. If they stick with it I’m hoping that it improves over time.
B.B.
BB,
Yeah and they lift the sanctions so it can be had over here.
RR,
I will live with sanctions and tariffs even it means paying more and/or doing without.
We have been taken advantage of for waaaaay too long. What country would say no to free hand outs?
Chris
Chris,
The problem with tariffs is that they are not paid by China, or Mexico. They are assessed on products coming into the US. So, guess who gets to pay those…we do. The US companies will just raise their prices to offset the tariff. It’s really US companies that have placed us in this position because WE don’t make anything here anymore. More, and more, US companies have taken advantage of China’s, and Mexico’s, low manufacturing costs. Their labor costs are much lower (read that as child labor) and they don’t have to contend with environmental issues. There is no way we can compete in that scenario.
I guess if the tariffs are large enough, maybe the US companies will be able to manufacture products here at home again at a lower cost. But this has gone on for a long time and I don’t see any quick way to turn that around. It’s going to take a long time to get back where we used to be with manufacturing. Everybody can’t work in a services industry. Wages in retail, fast-food, etc. are not adequate enough for our kids to save enough to buy a home in their lifetime. And that is why we have a 40 year old son back home living with us, and also a 26 year old grand-daughter. They both work at Meijer and are able to save very little of their meager incomes. Very sad.
Geo
Geo,
Sorry for the delay in reply. I see the penalties as having brought many other “players to the table” for negotiations. What good is it to (not) talk at all? So far,… so good, as I see it. Dropping “their” revenue does seem to cause “them” into rethinking their original (often beneficial) position. We give you a dollar and we get .10 cents,… or (nothing) in return does not sit well with me. We (will not) even go into appeasing warring factions with $.
I try to keep up with the latest of (real) news. I am by no means in anyway an expert on geo/global-economics. I do understand that it is much more complicated than my simplistic views.
Luckily for me I am not a mass (common) consumer. I live pretty simple. We did not get here overnight,… nor will we get it out of it overnight. Rough edges aside,… my gut at this point is that we are better off than before, in many ways. Doing with less or without does not ruffle my feathers.
(I do not disagree with anything you said). Best wishes with the family status getting better. You are not alone in that scenario. Jobs seem to be more plentiful than people these days. Like you said,.. not an easy and a sad situation. I am hopeful.
Respectively,….Chris
Thanks Chris. Appreciate your comments and best wishes.
Geo,
That is the idea. This “trade war” was long overdue. Yes, for a time it will be painful. In the long run we will be better off for it.
I agree with you…
Chris,
I am one of those who does not have a problem with the “trade war” with China. It is long overdue.
RR,
Not just China (ongoing),…. but I think the “playing field has been leveled” more so all around the world. I look at the people in (OUR) own country that are in need and would be grateful,.. and then look at all the money we hand out with little to no return,… not to mention gratitude.
Chris
B.B. maybe you should try to find an SPA SR900 S for testing. It seems that SPA copy Baikal quite a bit. Their CP400 model looks like the MP651 from Baikal. By the way did you have a chance to try the PP700 scoped?
Bill
Just looked that SPA SR900S up. Really interesting rifle. Thanks!
Bill,
The TR5 actually copies the mechanical design of the IZH61 more closely, but the SPA is dressed more like the IZH. I do like that they threw away that schtick clip and went to a rotary. It probably works a lot better.
I wonder where you can get an Artemis SR900s in the states.
Chris,
When I had a Gamo CFX I could shift grouping between two spots just by moving where I place my thumb.