Today reader Ian McKee, whose blog handle is 45Bravo, tells us about the Zelos — a new precharged air rifle from Umarex.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, Ian
Umarex Zelos precharged pneumatic air rifle: Part One
by Ian McKee
Umarex Zelos.
This report covers:
- Design and ergonomics
- Getting down to business
- How fast does she go?
- Hot-swapping
- It’s the little things
- It’s all about the feel
In Greek mythology, Zelos (or Zelus if you choose that spelling) was the daimon (a Greek mythological god) that personified emulation, dedication, rivalry, envy, jealousy and zeal. The English word ZEAL is derived from his name.
Today we are looking at the Umarex Zelos precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle. Umarex calls it the big brother to the Umarex Notos carbine/pistol PCP that was introduced about a year ago, and has been a very popular airgun.
Design and ergonomics
The Zelos is a magazine-fed rifle with a bullpup design, meaning the action and most of the moving bits are located behind the pistol grip at the rear of the gun. The Zelos uses a sidelever action that is quite smooth and positive in its movement and is conveniently located just above the pistol grip within easy reach.
Your interface with the rifle is nice and comfortable. There is a rubber-textured AR-15-compatible pistol grip that feels very nice and grippy. The cheek piece is a very high quality synthetic and feels good on the cheek. Overall the rifle is solid with no wiggles or jiggles to hinder your accuracy.
Getting down to business
The specs and list of features of the Zelos read like an air rifle of a much higher price bracket.
Starting with things most airgunners expect from a modern air rifle, it is regulated, with an externally-adjustable regulator. The 250cc air cylinder fills to 250 bar (3625 psi), with the regulator being able to meter that pressure down to anywhere between 1000 psi minimum, and 2000 psi maximum.
It has an adjustable trigger that is adjustable for travel, weight and all the other adjustments we are used to. But wait, there’s MORE! The trigger is also mounted on a shaft like a 10 meter target rifle or pistol. Giving you the ability to adjust it for position up and down, and also allowing you to rotate the trigger blade around the shaft to let you fine-tune your preferred contact patch of your finger on the trigger.
Not your average trigger for a gun in this price range.
The all-aluminum receiver has a 21-slot Picatinny rail milled into the top for mounting optics of various sizes. There is an eight-slot Picatinny rail mounted on the air tube for attaching a bipod, light or other accessories.
How fast does she go?
The Zelos is available in .22 and .25 caliber, and has an advertised velocity of 1100 fps in .22 caliber, and 1000 fps in .25. We are looking at a .22 caliber, so that will be tested. Without optics it tips the scales at exactly six pounds.
With an overall length of 36 inches, Umarex has managed to squeeze a 26-inch barrel into this compact easy-to-handle package. The barrel is shrouded, so there is some measure of sound moderation from the factory. The muzzle end of the shroud has a 1/2 X 20 threaded end cap to attach your choice of moderator if so desired. The barrel/shroud is also free-floated for greater accuracy.
The Zelos is shipped with two rotary magazines. The .22 has a 20-pellet capacity, and the .25 holds 18. The magazines are loaded into the receiver from the right side, and are held in the gun by two rare-earth magnets. The magazines are loaded in the same manner as many of the modern airguns. You rotate the cover counter-clockwise, putting tension on the spring. You then insert the first pellet from the other side of the magazine skirt first, then start to turn the cover counter-clockwise, loading the rest of the pellets in the normal way.
Hot-swapping
The manual is well written and illustrated. It covers trigger adjustments, regulator adjustment and says the air cylinder can be swapped without degassing the gun as long as there is at least 500 psi in the tube. I may test this feature in the future.
It’s the little things
One of the things I noticed while handling the gun is that it is equipped from the factory with rubber protective covers on both gauges. At first I thought they were just painted black, then I looked closer. The aluminum lower receiver that your hands touch even has a soft feel to it.
No counting pennies here; rubber gauge covers, rubber pistol grip, and rubber butt pad bring the FEEL of the Zelos to the next level.
It’s all about the feel
I have over used that word in this blog, but I haven’t experienced an airgun like this in a long time. Many of you know I am always talking about how a gun feels. With airguns and firearms I am picky about how they feel in the hand and on the shoulder. If it is creaky and the stock is wobbly, or pieces move and they shouldn’t when pressure is applied to them it makes the gun feel cheap.
If the grip or cheek weld is not comfortable, or you have to adjust your hold because things just don’t fit you quite right, you will not enjoy shooting the gun. And airguns are supposed to be FUN!
The Umarex Zelos feels well-made, smooth and, well, to overuse the same word again, it just feels right. Once we start shooting it for accuracy, we will see if I still feel the same way about it.
Shoot safe, have FUN!
Ian
Ian,
This rifle has an interesting look with the distance of the tank to the barrel I’m thinking that the slim tank can be swapped out with a fat cylinder tank for larger capacity. Either that or there is an overly large barrel jacket supplied to help suppress the noise this PCP is surely going to make. I mean in this day and age this would be a very extreme way to tell everybody that this has a free floating barrel.
Siraniko
In the hot swapping section, the tank is easily removed, and yes could be swapped for a bottle.
Noise level?
It’s quiet, and that will be covered a little more in part 2.
Ian.
Where is the link to the PA website where this might be purchased?
-Yogi
If you click on the photo of the rifle it will take you to the product page.
Ian.
Yogi,
I’m sorry. Do you want to buy a Zelos? I can ask the folks here at the Pyramyd AIR Cup to hold one for you.
BB
B.B.
This gun reminds me of the “Supper Soaker”. Maybe if it could blow bubbles I would be interested?
-Y
Yogi,
The only time I have seen PCPs blowing bubbles is when they have a leak.
The Buck Rogers Ray Gun look is pretty stupid! Maybe they should adopt the Light Saber look?
-Y
Yogi,
I for one like its looks. An airgun does not need to look like a firearm.
Ian,
Do you happen to know the company that manufactures this for Umarex?
This looks to be a direct competitor to the overly expensive FX Impacts, RTIs and such coming out of Europe. I also have never understood why less costs more. Manufacturers strip away everything and charge more for something.
I am not crazy about the very high fill pressure, but most manufacturers have become lazy and have discovered they can raise the shot count by raising the fill pressure. I guess they have figured out that they have achieved terminal velocity, so the new high number they are going for is the shot count between fills.
Despite my apparent negative criticism of this air rifle, this is one that is tempting me to allow one of Uncle Xi’s airguns into RRHFWA. Even though they are one of the “new kids on the block”, they are learning fast what it takes to be truly competitive in this market. Now if the commies would just let free enterprise work.
I for one will be keeping a very close eye on this particular blog series. I am very interested in how well that trigger performs and just how accurate this gal is. Maybe after I have completed several of the “projects” around here I can persuade Mrs. RR to let another “gal” move in, even if she is oriental.
RR,
I strongly believe that the Zelos is a Snowpeak and the bottle version of the Zelos is known as the M60B.
http://snowpeaksports.com/series/details/199.html
kevin,
It does appear that you are correct. Diana has used Snowpeak for quite some time for their less expensive airguns.
Both Snowpeak and Nova Vista (Avenger and Avenger-X) have been paying real close attention to the USA market.
Wang Po Industries has come a long way since they started copying Daystates, Feinwerkbaus, etcetera. Like I have just recently stated, even I may let them into RRHFWA. 😉
RidgeRunner,
shootski is putting you in TIMEOUT for this comment:
“I am not crazy about the very high fill pressure, but most manufacturers have become lazy and have discovered they can raise the shot count by raising the fill pressure.”
Ian wrote:
“The 250cc air cylinder fills to 250 bar (3625 psi), with the regulator being able to meter that pressure down to anywhere between 1000 psi minimum, and 2000 psi maximum.”
According to the Gas Laws that is the maximum logical pressure to fill a PCP reservoir. The folks that are going with fill pressures with air over 310 BAR (4,496.17 psi) and above are the ones that don’t understand the absolute volume compressibility curve fall off of breathable air.
Yes, as you and i know, much can be accomplished at lower pressures at far less cost and higher levels of SAFETY especially for the new (or uninformed; a kind word for stupid) to ultra high pressure gasses.
But the ZELOS needs the Marketing hype numbers to stand a chance with the UNWASHED and uninformed masses!
shootski
shootski,
Timeout it is. Ian did indeed state that the regulator does bring the high air pressure down to one that is usable. What many fail to realize is that the high fill pressure is the new velocity for the marketeers. They (the marketeers) used to brag about how fast the pellet left the barrel. Now it is the fill pressure. I have become sick of this mess and where it is going.
RidgeRunner,
Yup! On all counts.
shootski
I too am curious as to how this compares to the FX Impact series. Not my type of gun really but I see so much out there about the Impact MK 3 and 4 that I want to be educated about this style of gun. Ian, thanks for doing this series. You are off to a great start!
HB,
Yes, this is made in China. It does help to illustrate that you can reduce something to function over form. it appeals to me because there is almost no stock, and what is there is polymer. All of the “old gals” that are on display at RRHFWA have almost no stock. What happens to be there is walnut. The rest is machined, cast or stamped steel.
We have journeyed from function to form and now back to function. If it did not cost so much, I would be filling my home with Impacts, RTIs and Daystates. We do not even consider or mention some of the others. This not only illustrates that your do not need all of that dress’em up, but less should cost less. Yes, for a Chinese air rifle this is pretty expensive, but not near what an FX will cost.
It is true that various government subsidies, slave labor, etcetera do help to reduce overhead costs. What has been a true eye opener is that the commies have come to realize that if they are going to truly compete in the “marketplace”, they will need to improve the quality of products they intend to export.
Thanks for the great report Ian. I have the Umarex Notos. So, I might relate to this series differently than some other readers. Looking forward to the next report. The magazine location is right next to the shooter’s head. Do you notice it when shooting the rifle? And it appears to me that there isn’t any way to use this with a single-shot tray (unless I missed something).
Ian,
Thank you for your typically excellent blog entry for BB.
The Umarex Zelos reminds me of a car without a body. This is a modern, minimalist, tool design made of tubes and boxes that is all business. It could be a world beater in how well it shoots, but uggh, it’s so ugly.
The flip side of this coin is that serious shooters need a tool that will give them all the advantage as they can get, and who don’t need pretty to tackle the job of winning a competition or to perform humane pesting.
As you say, be safe and enjoy the hobby, whatever you shoot.
Regards,
Will
45Bravo,
Ian, thanks for the well done ZELOS introductory blog.
Looking forward to the follow on blogs.
shootski
B.B. and Readership,
I commented above about Hpa (High Pressure air) and started feeling remis in not providing some important information about the risks involved. The airgun community has any number of mythical stories about cylinder and reservoir explosions. Those are very uncommon but fitting and hose decompression/injetion incidents aren’t; as well as simple hose to fitting disconnects can causing physical damage to things and people.
For more information if you are interested or curious:
https://dan.org/safety-prevention/diver-safety/case-summaries/compressed-gas-tears-skin-penetrates-body/#:~:text=Typically this can range from,psi can penetrate unbroken skin.&text=These wounds require immediate medical,how benign they might appear.
shootski
Thank you shootski, for sharing this important information with the readers.
I like the part about “Cases like the above should not increase fear but rather remind us to be respectful of the potential consequences of inattention.” The same can be said of any type of gun or weapon or tools.
Be careful AND have fun.
Cheers.
Roamin Greco,
PCP airguns require mindfulness in “unloaded” handling to a far greater extent than even firearms.
They are actually only to be considered unloaded when they are completely depressurized.
In many PCPs that means not just the reservoir but potentially also the plenum and valve as well.
shootski
Same goes for CO2 guns stored with pressure.
As always, Ian, an excellent report on an interesting airgun. I will be looking forward to Part 2.
As to the high pressure possible in the reservoir,, it isn’t necessary to fill it that high. Since the regulator works down to 1000 psi, even a 2000 psi fill will likely give one enough shots for most hunting situations. Of course a higher fill will give more shots,, but that is the choice of the owner. I am happy to see that they are given that choice.
Ed
Ian, perhaps you would consider noting the remaining air in the reservoir after every ten or twenty shots. That would show what I’m talking about.
edlee,
Ed you wrote: “Since the regulator works down to 1000 psi, even a 2000 psi fill will likely give one enough shots for most hunting situations.” That is true for a number of different regulator settings IF that setting results in enough energy on target to get the job done humanely.
Examples would be an estimated four to six shots in typical .22 caliber pellets and bullets (Slugs) at a 1,500 PSI regulator preset with 2,000 PSI for the fill before falling off the regulation.
Interestingly depending on how one can adjust this particular Zelos airgun you could get some overpower shots at that off regulator point just as well as falling power curve meaning a better tune is possible.
But what if a new to PCP shooter takes your advice and sets the regulator to drop reservoir pressure to 1,000 PSI to get lots of shots on 2,000PSI fill on a hunt? If that individual doesn’t own a CHRONOGRAPH (or know about Splatology) they will likely be shooting at very low power resulting in only wounded prey and not humane harvesting.
My point is to educate new to PCP hunters to the need to really understand the actual energy performance delivered by their new hunting tool as well as keeping within the legal hunting guidelines of their regional hunting rules and regulations.
It gets complex quickly. I prefer non-regulated guns for hunting for simplicity.
shootski
Shootski
Very true that the lower regulator level will also lower the muzzle velocity. It will be further down the line of reports before Ian has the chance to develop the different tunes possible with this rifle. It would be interesting to see a low power tune as well as a medium and high pressure tunes. This might be sending him down a rabbit hole he hadn’t intended to fall into, so we may never know without doing it ourselves.
I suppose one could keep the velocity higher by using lighter pellets or slugs, but that would also mean less energy delivered to the target. I guess it depends on the targets involved, too. Softer ones, like rabbits, would require less energy than, say, a squirrel which has much tougher skin. Larger animals would take even more.
As in any hunting situation, it is important to “bring enough gun”, as the powder burners would say. Hunting should be done ethically,, or not at all.
Ed
You will see more in part two.
But it drops about 400 psi per 10 shots at the current regulator setting.
Which is set at 2000 psi from the factory.
Ian.
45Bravo,
Ian, why am i NOT shocked at the 2,000 PSI regulator factory preset…LOL!
Standing by for Part 2 and all the details.
;^)
shootski
Now wait a minute.
Think about it.
Only dropping 40psi per shot at the velocities and energy it’s turning is in my opinion quite good air management, especially with a 250cc cylinder.
Backing the regulator down in any amount SHOULD theoretically increase your shot count…
Ian.
PS:
I saw the Zelos in competition today. It’s turning some heads, and gaining attention.
All with factory settings…
45Bravo,
Ian, i don’t see why i should wait a minute ;^)
A 40 PSI pressure drop per shot with the initial 250 BAR (3625.94 PSI) fill of a 250cc cylinder is very efficient…not knowing the projectile and performance limits any additional comment directly on my part.
Ed was talking a 2,000PSI fill and a 1,000PSI down regulation setting for hunting. We have no information on Hammer/Striker and Transfer Port settings or user ability to adjust.
I gave a back of the envelope WAG to start a discussion of the more important need to know at least muzzle energy if not the far more important retained energy at the target of the hunt for an airgun projectile combination.
As i said i look forward to hunting energy testing as well as target shooting or plinking efficiency setting numbers. Reasonable accuracy/repeatability is of course the first gate that needs to be passed.
I am glad the Zelos is performing well at the range.
Standing by for the details.
shootski
Ian
Thank you. Have you tried going off the regulator to see how much it affects velocity versus air usage?
Sorry,, didn’t mean to push you into a rabbit hole,, unless you like that sort of thing.
Ed