by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
The Air Javelin from Umarex.
This report covers:
- Quick review
- More arrows
- Setup
- Sight in
- At 10 meters
- At 20 meters
- Raise the sight
- Summary
Today I shoot the Umarex Air Javelin at 20 meters with a dot sight that has been sighted in. You finally get to see the sort of accuracy that I saw at the SHOT Show in January. The range there was set up for about 25 yards and it seemed like the arrows all went to nearly the same place! You will see that today.
Quick review
Part 4 was a test with a dot sight too, but I also tested the Umarex CO2 adaptor that allows you to use two 12-gram CO2 cartridges. Unfortunately the Tasco Pro Point dot sight I used for that test could not achieve the elevation that was needed to hit the target at 20 meters. I also shot wide of the target bag when I shot an arrow that had been damaged in the rear from a Robin Hood. I didn’t know it was damaged until I pulled it from the fence and examined its base.
The adaptor only gave me 8 powerful shots. A reader told me that he gets 12 powerful shots. He asked me to check the ends of both cartridges to make sure both had been pierced. I did and both had been pierced for sure. I learned years ago when using multiple CO2 cartridges to back off on the piercing screw to allow the gas to push the bottom cartridge up away from the piercing pin and flow better.
The same reader also said that the holes in the CO2 cap are to allow the gas to exhaust the end of the run, and indeed that is correct. However, I discovered that the adaptor was stuck in the gun after shooting until I inserted an Allen wrench into one of the holes to break it free — so what I said about using the hole for that purpose also applies.
More arrows
In Part 4 I lost one of the three arrows that came with the AJ and a second one was damaged by another arrow hitting its rear in a Robin Hood shot. So I emailed Umarex and asked for a couple more arrows to continue testing and by the end of the week they had sent me six. Those arrows made today’s test possible. With the one arrow I have that gives me 7 to test.
Setup
For this test I installed a fresh 88-gram CO2 cartridge in the AJ. I didn’t want anything to spoil the test. I also switched from the Tasco Pro Point red dot sight to a UTG Reflex Micro green dot. I knew from experience that this sight has a wide range of adjustments, which the AJ I’m testing needs.
I mounted the UTG Reflex Micro Dot sight forward on the AJ.
Sight in
I learned a valuable lesson last time. Always sight the AJ in at close range after installing an optical sight, or you may miss the target bag altogether. This time I started at 5 meters. The arrow hit high enough but to the left of the bull. I adjusted the sight to the right for the second shot and it landed inside the bull about an inch away at the same height. That was enough for me, so I took the target bag out to 10 meters and shot again.
At 10 meters
This time the arrow landed at the bottom center of the bull. A second shot hit next to the first one. Neither arrow was damaged, bit I learned that 10 meters is too close to sight in. We don’t mind pellets going into the same holes when we shoot, but with arrows it’s a completely different story.
Maybe the lesson should be expanded to pull each arrow as it’s shot when you are sighting in. The centers of these two arrows are 1/2-inch apart. But I didn’t pull them out of the bag.
From 10 meters the Air Javelin put two arrows within a half-inch of each other.
At 20 meters
Now I moved the target bag out to 20 meters and fired again. This time the arrow hit about an inch and a half lower and maybe an inch to the right of the two shots at 10 meters. I left all three of these arrows in the bag., I expected the arrow to drop at 20 meters, but the sight should be able to compensate for it.
Raise the sight
I adjusted the UTG Reflex Micro dot sight up by 11 clicks. I didn’t know exactly what that would do at 20 meters, but I do know that the clicks move the point of impact quickly with this sight.
The first shot hit inside the bull and slightly above the centerline. It was almost straight up from the previous arrow that had been fired. Through dumb luck I had adjusted the sight up by the correct amount. I bow hoped to shoot a group of several arrows for you, but then a bad thing happened.
The second shot at 20 meters was a Robin Hood that damaged the back of the arrow shot just before. Okay — even 20 meters is too close to shoot the AJ without pulling the arrows after every shot! I need to move the target bag out to at least 35 yards before I test the Air Javelin again. And, I am writing this reminder to myself for that test. Put three clicks of left adjustment into the sight and then pull each arrow as it is shot at 35-40 yards!
Here are all the arrows shot at 10 and 20 meters. Even with the sight adjustments and the different distances , the centers of these arrows are just 3-inches apart.
This is the target paper with all the arrows removed. The two holes on the left are the 5-meter sight-in. The two holes at the bottom of the bull were the next two that were shot at 10 meters. The bag went out to 20 meters and then I shot the lowest hole on the target. The sight then went up by 11 clicks and I shot shot the two holes at the top right at 20 meters.
Rather than waste arrows I plan to shoot another test at a longer distance. I will probably also pull the arrows as I go.
Summary
I now have 6 good arrows left — one of the three that came with the AJ and five of the six that Umarex sent me to continue this test. It’s obvious that I have to be very careful because the AJ wants to put all the arrows into the same place. This accuracy is very equivalent to what we saw with the Sub-1 crossbow at close range. But the AJ is well over a thousand dollars cheaper.
Whenever I’ve hunted with a bow I used broadheads. Could this lob them with enough power at 30 yards for a pig?
Edw,
It is tempting because of the price, but you would be better served hunting with this.
/product/umarex-airsaber-pcp-air-archery-rifle?m=5135
Another excellent option is buying an air rifle that can use Air Venturi Air Bolts. That way you have an air rifle that will shoot arrows, pellets and slugs (bullets).
There is another option that has not been released yet, but I think it will likely be out by the end of this year.
/product/hatsan-hydra-qe-pcp-air-rifle-walnut?m=5155
Right now it has three caliber top ends, but they were showing an arrow top end at the last Shot Show.
Edw,
Probably. I don’t shoot them because of how difficult they are to remove from the target bag.
B.B.
B.B.,
Either you need to obtain more target bags or you are going to have to put up with a lot of walking. When somebody asks me if I play golf I usually reply that I don’t like chasing after a ball I just hit. Shooting this in the backyard and pulling the arrow after every shot is going to feel like that. Maybe you could make more targets by stuffing old clothes into sacks. That way you can shoot 5 or 6 arrows before you have to retrieve them.
Siraniko
PS: Section Quick Review 2nd paragraph last sentence: “I learned years ago when using multiple CO2 cartridges to back off on the piercing screw to allow the gas to pusah (push) the bottom crtridge (cartridge) up away from the piercing pin and flow better.
Section Raise the sight 2nd paragraph 3rd sentence: “Through dumb luck I had adjusted the sight up by the correect (correct) amount.”
Siraniko,
Fixed. Thanks,
B.B.
Sirianiko,
When practicing archery I set up two targets about 30 yards apart in the bush. I shoot a single arrow at the target and pace off the distance as I go to retrieve it, I then approach the second target and shoot at it through the trees, again pacing off the distance to retrieve the arrow. By choosing different approaches and shooting one arrow at random distances (and confirming them by pacing off the ranges) I am simulating hunting conditions so I don’t feel like I am just chasing arrows. Like practicing like this, I get bored easily just shooting at one distance.
For an archery target, the best thing that I found is to stuff a burlap bag with tightly wadded plastic bags. This stops an arrow (even from a hunting weight bow) without damaging it and the arrows are easy to remove.
Hank
Hank,
That makes it into a better game. For added difficulty I imagine you would be walking as quietly at possible too.
Siraniko
Yes, stalking the target as if it was a trophy buck 🙂
Close to the hunting season I would practice wearing all the gear that I planned to hunt with. Learned the hard way that tucking my new rangefinder into my jacket pocket would push the pocket button into the bow string path …the button, arrow and a very nice buck disappeared into the bushes never to be seen again LOL!
BB
Siraniko has the right idea.
But do something similar to like I do. I put nine 1/2″ dots on one paper. That way you don’t need 5 or 7 target stops. You only need one target stop.
GF1,
Good idea. I like nit.
B.B.
BB
I think it should work out for you. I do it all the time with my pellet guns. I most of the time shoot 10 shot groups at each dot. But sometimes I will take 1 shot at each dot to see how close my gun is shooting to aim point.
And of course you can also make your dots what ever size you like to match it to whatever your sights are on the arrow gun.
BB,
GF1 has it. Archery target blocks will have multiple targets on each side so as to allow you to shoot one arrow at each target and avoid “Robin Hoods”. Arrows can be quite expensive.
20 Meters – First sentence – Now I moved I moved the target bag out to 20 meters and fired again.
RR,
Got it. Thanks,
B.B.
Off topic.
Open sights on the TX200. Has anyone found a good solution for mounting a front sight on the TX200? Because of the virus right now, I’ve removed the optics from eleven guns to use open style sights at short range. A Williams receiver sight works well in the rear of the TX but so far all I’ve done is glue the Williams ramp to the front. It’s working, but the front sight is easy to knock off. I would drill and tap the front of the shroud, but because of the baffles, that doesn’t seem to be a good idea.
Somebody has surely come up with a good solution. Don’t want to use Loctite as I will be going back to optics at a later date.
Jonah,
I just spent about 1/2 hr. looking at options and there is none unless you want to do some machining.
How about those 3M picture hanger strips that are sticky, but can removed later? Put a front globe sight on with those and you are all set. I bet it would hold just fine. They are really strong.
I had a TX200 once upon a time too.
That is all I got for you,………… Chris
Jonah
I would drill and tap some holes like you mentioned. Just be careful to watch how your drilling so you don’t happen to contact or drill into the barrel. Go slow and easy on the first hole you drill.
And I was thinking just drill and tap one hole for a small diameter Allen set screw and put a few drops of loctite or superglue on the threads and screw it in a few threads. That would act as a front post sight for the time being.
B.B.
How much do arrows cost? More than pellets?
-Y
Yogi,
They cost $36 for 6. Click on the link to the arrows under More arrows and follow it.
B.B.
Jonah ,
Have a gunsmith silver solder a ramp on the shroud , this is a permanent solution . You do not want to use screws as they might be in the pellet path and the shroud is very thin . Another solution could be JB Weld , be sure to sand the surface before mounting and clamp it to cure overnight .
Gene Salvino
Gene,
My 3M sticky tab idea (above) has no merit? Your thoughts?
Chris
Chris USA ,
The sticky tape has merit since he doesn’t want to mar the finish . I just think the epoxy or silver solder will be stronger and the front sight shouldn’t interfere with the optics . I say leave the front sight on the gun . Epoxy or silver solder will do a professional permanent job .
Gene Salvino
Good Morning, B.B.,
One more possible correction: second paragraph under “Raise the Sight”; I bow (now?) hoped to shoot a group of several arrows for you, but then a bad thing happened.
A Good Day to you,
Dan
Very much off topic.
BB,
Do you or anyone knows where these helmets were used for. Is it a experimental model? This is a photo of Lee Miller as War correspondent in 1944 France.
Regards,
August
August
I searched it and it’s a steel and kevlar helment if I got the right helment.
Supposedly a photographer’s helment I believe they called it. In her case photagraphee helment?
August,
Gunfun1 is correct. This is a WW2 US Army Combat Camera Group T-14 photographer’s helmet, an experimental model that saw combat use in Europe and the Pacific.
Only a very limited number were ever made so collectors must be careful since REPLICAS are common and are sold as Original issue (FAKES) in my opinion!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/674273375430756566/
shootski
August
Kevlar was invented by DuPont long after 1944. I mention this only because it could affect the value one way or other.
Deck
Deck,
1965 Kevlar invented.
The T-14 was made using a Standard steel M-1 Helmet. They cut away the front of the helmet and added the hinged piece to allow a motion picture camera body/eyepiece to clear the standard M-1 visor lip area.
shootski
Shootski
Confirmed.
August, this helmet is either a WW2 legit or much later helmet with a faked photo.
Deck
BB thank you for doing a very thorough test of the air javelin. It confirmed many of the things I have found to be true for my example. To the person who asked the broadhead question, there are 50 grain broadheads (bloodbugs) designed just for this weapon, I have not purchased any as I don’t intend to hunt with it. The velocity loss with 100 gr broadheads is significant. Pyramid Air lists the bloodbugs, they are like $29 for 3. I don’t remove the adaptor between uses, and have no local source for 88 gram CO2, so I plan to continue to use the 12 g adaptor with mine. I have come close to buying the big brother to this, the Air Saber, but have seen a number of reviews saying the arrow tube is crooked from the factory, any plans on testing the Air Saber?
So at the end of this test, we are left with the question “what is it for?”
For myself, I had been curious about airbows, but didn’t want to drop a lot of money into one, this gave me a way to explore the Air bow for a reasonable cost. If they become legal for hunting where I live, I would strongly consider something like the air saber, for now I will just continue to enjoy sticking arrows into my backyard deer target for recreation.
Impressed that Umarex could pull off a design that works this well for such a reasonable price.