Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup.
This report covers:
- What’s a bullpup?
- Features
- Adjustable buttpad
- The stock
- The trigger
- Sidelever
- Leftys?
- How many shots in the magazine?
- The scope base
- BB’s take
- Surprise coming
- Adjustment of the Price Point PCP threshold.
- Summary
This report published on Saturday and I had to take it down. I believe the problem this time was me. I think I forgot that there was a weekend and just scheduled the blog for the next day. We are back on track now and this will be a four-day week for BB, who will take this Friday off as his Christmas holiday.
Today we begin our long look at the Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup. It’s a precharged pneumatic repeater with a sidelever, a user-adjustable regulator, user-adjustable power, a fully shrouded and baffled barrel, dual gauges — one for fill pressure and the other for the regulator and I’m going to stop there. If I went on to tell you every feature this rifle has I would be writing most of this report in the introduction.
What’s a bullpup?
Bullpup is the name given to a certain kind of short rifle where the barrel length isn’t sacrificed as much to make it carbine-length. Instead, the buttstock is shortened dramatically. Sometimes that makes for a rifle with a very short length of pull (distance between the butt and trigger) that turns the shooter into a “ship-in-a-bottle” marksman. The EDgun Lelya 2.0 is an example of that. Remember the toothpick crossbows?
Well, the Avenger bullpup isn’t that way. Yes, the buttstock is short, but the layout of the rest of the rifle makes it feel larger than its overall length of 33 inches implies. The barrel, alone, is 22-inches, so little power is lost. The pull is a man-sized 14-3/4-inches. I will tell you right now that BB Pelletier isn’t a fan of bullpups, but when he first hefted the Avenger bullpup it changed his mind. This one feels right to me!
This rifle comes in .177, .22 and .25 caliber and I am testing a .25! That’s right, sports fans, this is the quarter-inch bore. Advertised power for the .177 is 22 foot-pounds. It’s 34 foot-pounds for the .22 and for the big .25 it’s 45 foot-pounds. I know, I know — you want to know if, when you adjust the regulator this way and the hammer spring that way, will you be able to tune in Radio-Free Europe? And the millennials all said, “Whaaaaaat?”
Features
This air rifle has features upon features that aren’t found on PCPs costing four times as much. “Quick, BB, tell us — does it have a single-shot tray?”
Why, yes it does. It comes from the box with the single-shot tray installed and one of the two magazines they give you is stored in the compartment under the butt. The other one is inside the box, just so you can get some practice inserting it into its storage place in the butt.
There is also an adjustable cheekpiece, but unlike any you’ve ever seen. This one slides straight back!
The Avenger bullpup cheekpiece slides back.
Why would you want that? Well, the design of the rifle already puts your head up high for the scope. This sliding cheek rest probably allows you to position your head more comfortably. I’ll have to play with it to find out.
Adjustable buttpad
The specs said there is an adjustable buttpad, but I didn’t see any place to insert the Allen wrench. That’s because it doesn’t need one! Simply pull the spring-loaded pad straight back and then move it up or down to suit yourself. The range is limited but in concert with the adjustable cheek rest you should be able to find something you’ll like.
The buttpad is up.
The buttpad is down.
The stock
This bullpup stock is completely synthetic. But it isn’t a hollow butt, cheap synthetic. It’s good stuff! In fact it’s such good stuff that the three Picatinny accessory rails are made from the same stuff. Even the two that can be removed are made from the same stuff as the stock.
The trigger
The trigger is often one of any bullpup’s weak points. Typically a long linkage is required to mate the trigger blade that is considerably forward with the sear that remains in the back. Since the pull on this rifle is 14-3/4-inches it’s a full adult size and then some! That distance can cause the trigger to have slop and jerky movements — creep, if you will. “So, tell us, BB, how is this trigger?” I will tell you — in Part 2. And stop your whining! Pookey, pookey. Do I have a surprise coming for you!
I will tell you that the Avenger trigger is adjustable. And that is all I’m gonna say.
Sidelever
Does it really have a sidelever? Yes, it does. The bullpup design puts the lever that cocks the rifle by your right cheek, but the Avenger isn’t that hard to cock, so the lever’s placement isn’t a problem.
Yessir — that’s a sidelever all right.
Leftys?
At this time the Avenger Bullpup, like the full-sized rifle, is just made for right-handed shooters. The stock and trigger are ambidextrous but the lever can’t be moved to the other side of the receiver. However, that isn’t as big a problem as you might think. The sidelever cocks so easily that a Lefty probably won’t mind it.
How many shots in the magazine?
There are 10 pellets in the .177 and .22 magazines and 8 in the .25 mag. And there is also that single-shot tray that BB plans to start using right away.
The scope base
There are no open sights so a scope base is provided. It’s a Picatinny rail that stands proud of the barrel jacket more than an inch. I can tell just by looking at it with the butt on my shoulder that any good scope is going to line up with my sighting eye.
I want to mount a nice scope on this rifle! My new Meopta 4-20 is scheduled for the TX 200 Mark III when I get it back into action, but I have some other nice scopes to choose from.
BB’s take
I have done some things with this rifle that I haven’t told you about today, because this is an Avenger. The last Avenger I tested I almost bought because it was so nice. That one was a .22 and if I didn’t already own an Air Arms S510XS I would have bought the Avenger. If this one tests out, I will have to say that Avengers are the best value on the market.
Oh, I am biting my tongue to keep from spilling the beans! I wanna talk!
Surprise coming
Besides my surprise that won’t come until Part 2 there is a second Avenger surprise coming your way this week. Oh, boy! And (note to self) it’s gonna have to happen soon because old BB Pelletier is taking this Friday, December 24, off for Christmas, as a part of his four annual holidays.
Adjustment of the Price Point PCP threshold.
Time passes and things do change. Costs go up, so BB is adjusting the threshold for a PPP up from just under $300 to just under $350. It doesn’t matter that much in the grand scheme of things, but I want you guys to know where I’m coming from when I make pronouncements. That puts the Avenger in a synthetic stock into the PPP category, with this bullpup just a little higher.
Summary
Is it too early to proclaim a winner? I suppose if this bullpup just won’t group or if it only gets 12 shots per fill I will have to say something, but this is an Avenger and I have high hopes
BB,
We have a premature delivery today from WordPress! Hopefully it won’t publish late on Monday or whenever this is supposed to be published.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Yep, this was scheduled for Monday. I took it down and rescheduled it.
BB
BB,
I can see the pom-poms you are hiding behind your back!
Siraniko
PS Section This report covers: 1st sentence: “Today we begin out (our) long look at the Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup.”
Siraniko,
I fixed it, though you’ll have to wait until Monday to see it.
Thanks,
BB
BB,
I’ve read the article twice and those large pom-poms are already twitching behind your back. This would qualify as a Gen 2 type bullpup for Gunfun1 I believe because the cocking handle is still located in the rear. Then again what would one expect at the level of a PPPCP? This is already cheap champagne on a beer budget!
Siraniko,
This is a Gen 1 as all they really did to make this a bullpup is move the action back and put a long link for the trigger. Gen 2 is where you move the cocking lever to above the trigger.
Siraniko
Yep like RidgeRunner said. It is a gen1. If they make changes to it then it will be a gen2 and so on.
I’m really hoping this one comes out as a winner.
I still believe that Bullpup design goes side by side with semi auto function. In any case lever must be operated without losing sight picture. Otherwise…
I wonder if Benjamin will follow with a Marauder Bullpup or, even better, a Semi Auto Pistol.
I have been thinking about getting a bullpuppy for a long time. I was thinking about the P35 system by Diana Skyhawk with a laminated stock. It’s a beauty, but the Germans still want 750 euros for it. 🙂
I think this Avenger will get a high score in the BB test. It’s too synthetic for me, and I know it only looking at the photos.
……. But this laminated Diana Skyhawk… how to explain to my wife that I really need it! 🙂 Most people who purchase P35-like system never resell it.
Tomek,
“how to explain to my wife that I really need it!”
BB has the reputation for being an “enabler” showing us all these wonderful airguns and encouraging us to buy them (like I really need encouragement to buy a new airgun eh? LOL!)
For the last couple of airgun purchases (HW50S and HW30S) I’ve blamed BB saying that he MADE me do it. 🙂
…My wife is very understanding of (retired) boys and their toys. Good luck with a Skyhawk!
Like you I don’t care for plastic stocks, they have their place but I prefer wood. Why don’t you get an Avenger and make a wood stock for it? I’m planning on making a firewood stock for my Maximus and a maple one for my HW50. It’s not difficult to do if you have access to a table saw.
Hank
Vana2 – this is a good idea, I blame BB for making me buy it! 🙂 There are 2 more airguns on their way, need to wait until they will be finally delivered first. There is a potential mayor risk of receiving all toys at the same day 🙂 hehehehe.
Sometimes synthetic stocks are not so bad, it very depends on the “whole thing”. But usually wood is wood.
I have HW50 in the laminate stock painted black from FWB 🙂 This is crazy! I was able to adapt it to the system, far lot better then original one.
tomek
I have a hw30 in what they call black pepper that is a laminate stock. Well it’s my oldest daughter’s for a few years now.
Here it is.
tomek
Have you seen the Kral xs? With the walnut stock and the forward side lever it could be exactly what you want, in 24 inches.
B.B.
I do not remember you being so excited about a gun in the first instalment. I hope your enthusiasm lasts throughout the testing process!
-Y
Yogi,
So do I. I haven’t tested this airgun yet, so I sure hope that it comes through as well as thr other Avenger I tested.
BB
BB,
“a “ship-in-a-bottle” marksman. The EDgun Lelya 2.0 is an example of that.” I am afraid you lost me on this one. I ain’t never heard o’ that afore.
Generally speaking, I am not a big fan of bullpup air rifles as so many of the “inexpensive” ones are so klugey looking. I guess that producing a Gen 1 bullpup helps to keep the cost down as there is less redesign and parts. A decent trigger linkage is going to cost you. I imagine if you throw in a decent cocking linkage, that is another expensive part.
Personally, I have always liked the Lelya. To me, it is a bullpup. Everything is in nice and tight. I like the Ataman BP17 also, although I would prefer to not have the wood painted black.
There are a few other ‘pups I like, but they are all very expensive, mostly I guess because they are so popular. People will pay that much for them, so they charge that much for them. I guess I will just have to do without since I am not a six figure dude.
RR,
Try shooting a “nice and tight” gun sometime. Then you may understand what I mean by a ship in a bottle marksman.
BB
R.R.
I just mentioned to tomek about the Kral xs. It might suit you as well. Beautiful stock, short and the forward lever can be switched to the left side so you can shoot without losing grip or site picture. And modestly priced.
Bill,
I had forgotten about the XS. Now if I can just scape up the money and find it in stock somewhere. It is not the Lelya, but it is much more reasonable.
I’m afraid you must take a look at the Old World. Netherlands is an airgun friendly country…
Bill,
That is where I was looking. Not in stock. I will have to save my pennies for a bit anyway.
Does anybody know why they are called bullpups? I would think bullpumps are more appropriate.
-Y
Yogi,
The term bullpup comes from the world of firearms and it at least 50 years old, if not older. Where it originated I can’t say.
BB
A quick look on Wikipedia found this:
British firearm expert Jonathan Ferguson researched the origin of the term in 2019–2020. He found early references in 1930s firearm magazines implying that “bullpup” is derived from an analogy of such rifles to bulldog puppies (colloquially called “bullpups” in England during the late 19th and the early 20th century), which were considered “squat, ugly but still aggressive and powerful”. The original meaning of the word to describe dogs has since fallen out of use, but the term has remained within the firearm industry.
See here under etymology
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullpup
Maybe the 30 minute editing period had something to do with it.
I’m in the UK too, so maybe that messes up the time or something?
I’m in the US. What I meant was that there is a 30 minute editing period, so if a reply was made to my post during that time my comment would not be visible yet.
Here I post to the post.
Mike
the post to the post is visible.
Roger,
I posted to the post and posted to my post and it came up right away. Then I deleted it and the post and my post to the post went away.
Sometimes it does take a minute or few for a post to show.
Mike
Roger,
Now on the next day my post to the post returned and shifted left to under your post, crazy.
Mike
That was weird. Roger’s reply only appeared when I posted mine!
Good morning, everyone. This sounds like an exciting new gun. B.B. sounds like a kid about to open a long, narrow present on Christmas morning.
I wanted to thank everyone that made suggestions for indoor (and outdoor) BB gun targets. Very creative and helpful. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Gunfun1, how did your peep sight scope stop come out?
RG
Not there yet with the sight. Alot going on right now with Christmas and everything else. Getting a bunch of teeth pulled Wednesday and more after the new years and then dentures then too.
My most favorite hobby is eating.
🙂 So probably not going to be a good holiday this year. But got to do it when I’m off for the holiday. We are shut down till next year at work. So doing it now.
Ouch. I hope you have a quick recovery. Maybe the Tooth Fairy and Santa will team up and bring you something extra special this year.
RG
Thanks and hope so on the recovery too.
And Santa has been good to me this year already. So good on that part. 🙂
Hey Gunfun1,
Hope your procedure goes perfectly on Wednesday.
Get yourself some Protein supplement lots of flavors to choose from:
https://www.dymatize.com/iso100
is what I use on extended/multi day sea kayak expeditions to keep up with my Protein intake; so I can keep up with the younger paddlers. Quality Protein is the hardest thing to get in usable form when you can’t chew.
This stuff is way better than the lousy stuff (Ensure) they sell to seniors!
shootski
Shootski
Thanks and I will look into getting some of the protein stuff.
Bummer, GF1! More so this time of year when, yes, we find reasons for enjoying edible goodies with family and friends. From what FM has read/seen/learned, hope you’re getting implants – seems they are the best way to go, though expensive. Pray you’ll recover quickly without too much discomfort.
Off topic questions: My Dad found my first airgun a while ago and gave it to me, a Crosman 760 from the early 80s. The barrel was pretty rusted and the pump won’t hold air. I took the whole thing apart and cleaned and lubed every part I could get to with pellgun oil and nothing. I even managed to put the whole thing back together without any extra parts when I was done! :o) But that’s just the background. I was over at my parents house yesterday after Church, and I was rummaging in the basement cabinet where Dad keeps all the hunting stuff, and I found a case of 12 belt packs of Crosman Copperhead lead .177 pellets and a box of “Quicksilver” zinc plated BBs. The pellets all have a white dusting on them and some of them have a thicker white coating on them. I figure this is lead oxide, and I should not disturb them without a dust mask of some kind. Here are my questions:
1) Are they worth anything?
2) Is there an easy way to clean them up and lube them so I can use them up for plinking? I remember them being plenty accurate at 20 juvenile paces. I remember my Uncle nailing a 1 cup metal measuring cup to a tree and I could make that thing ring like a bell at 20 (10 year old sized) paces with that 760.
3. If cleaning involves washing them in some solution, how do I dispose of it without adding to our already polluted environment?
4. Is there anything else I should know about this project?
Roamin,
If there is any lead oxide on the pellets I would NOT shoot them. Heard that the oxide crystals are very bad for the barrel.
Don’t know if they have any collectiors value, I just melt old/used pellets and cast into fishing jigs/sinkers or slingshot ammo.
Hank
Thanks, Hank. I read the same thing from some sources. See my further comments below.
Roamin,
There are actually quite a few collectors of vintage pellets and pellet containers. The vintage crosman pellets aren’t very rare since so many were made but they sell on ebay often.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165237040860?hash=item2678e526dc:g:~GoAAOSw2fZhu4JT
Mine are packaged in a paperboard box of 12. I’m not sure if I want to make a heath hazard for someone else.
There is a lot of conflicting info out there, but the folks who are conversant in chemistry seem more credible than the guy who said to load up oxidized shot and shoot it through a grouse to clean it (hope he was joking). However, I think the best thing to do is find someone locally who reclaims lead and let them melt the stuff down. From my non-chemist understanding, the flux will reduce (the opposite of oxidize) the lead oxide back into lead. The danger is mainly in inhaling or ingesting the lead oxide powder. Since I have an 8 year old, I am going to double bag this stuff in the meantime. Too bad. It would have been sort of nostalgic to shoot these pellets from my childhood.
I think the plastic belt pouches trapped moisture from Dad’s basement and the tannin from the oak cabinet combined to accelerate the oxidation. Plus, I don’t think these pellets were coated or lubed with anything, and they came packed in a paperboard box, not individually packed in any kind of plastic clamshell. Perfect storm of conditions for oxidation.
RG, I suggest using a brief soak in a 10% solution of distilled white vinegar. There are others I looked into a while back, but this is easy to find, and benign. It’s natural acetic acid, extend soak time till it works and rinse with water.
Thanks, Jerry. If you know, what is left in the vinegar? Is it harmful, and if so how do you safely dispose of the solution?
There would be a small amount of lead dissolved in the solution. The organic acid breaks down easily. Pour it on the ground after use, it is nearly harmless.
OK, I will try it on a sample. Thanks.
Are you a chemist by any chance?
RG, I am an engineer by education and career. I had two college chemistry courses, and one in metallurgy. I have many times thought that part of my education was the most useful. Tin and lead are elements of solder, and soldering processes were a specialty. Retired nearly six years ago.
BB, Somebody modded their Avenger to a pump action style by putting a link to the cocking lever,
for offhand shooting.This gun probably balances better than my Mrod, which is not made for leftys.
I would definately do that on this one, because it is a straight pull bolt, and it wont
make it any uglier. Ferrari red maybe? Not real Ferrari paint, $400. a quart, Krylon. I like that it is easy to change from a low power tune to a high power tune, definately in .25.
Rob
B.B. and NEW Readers (especially) of the Blog,
Although everyone interested in airguns should do what reader Roamin Greco is doing, he is busy reading every last Blog post from the very first one, a great deal easier start for folks new to airguns, or those with new airguns, is to copy:
things-you-can-do-to-make-your-new-airgun-better
PASTE In the SEARCH box found in the upper right of this page.
There are three parts covering the major powerplants filled with great information.
Enjoy your NEW Airguns!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may you all have a Wonderful New Year of shooting!
shootski
:o)
Great info, Shootski. I would also remind folks eho are searching the blog for info on a particular subject that if they do a Google Advanced Search, they can search the blog for B.B.’s reports as well as the comments, which I don’t think the blog’s search box does. Lots of great info in the comments that might be off topic from the main posts. This is the reason I wanted to try to read the whole blog. I like to learn as much as possible from others.
Hey all, yesterday Gunfun1 was looking for Chris USA’s version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” so using the Advanced Google Search tool, I found at least one version:
/blog/2018/12/tuning-michaels-winchester-427-part-3/#comment-431550
Enjoy.
Roamin,
I clicked on your link and read Chris’s poem again. It still makes me smile. Who knew we had a poet amongst us?
Chris,
Thinking of you… and hoping you are feeling better and hangin tough. 😉
Geo
RG
Thanks for finding it and posting it.
Very nice; second those rhyming thoughts. Hope you get the Blessings of Health this Christmas, Chris. That is the gift that keeps on giving.
Whew! Glad the link worked!
Chris, all the best to you, and hoping to read many more poems from you in the future!
I got to todays party late.
I already own a .22:caliber avenger in a wood stock.
I am on the list for a .177 avenger bull pup, if it shoots as good as my .22, my Air Arms 200s will possibly be on the for sale block…
I think the side lever could be located forward of its current location with minimal work and a steel rod and clevis.
(Air Venturi are you listening?) and raise the price another $20
Several friends have Avengers in both .22 and .25,
I have seen the changes Air Venturi has made in the Avenger since it was first introduced.
Air Venturi does listen to us..
On the forums the owners call them AVA’s for short.
Hope everyone has a great holiday week!
Ian
FM
No place to reply above. Hope you see my reply.
Nope no implants for Gunfun1. Doing it the old fashioned way and getting dentures. Way to expensive for my blood.
If I was to spend that much money I would get me another muscle car. That would bring a smile to Gunfun1’s face even if I was toothless. 🙂