A fresh look at the Umarex Notos: Part Eight

The Umarex Notos.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

This report covers:

• Too much
• Re-scoped
• Single-shot loader
• The test
• JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain
• JSB Hades
• H&N 23-grain 0.218-inch diameter slug
• AEA 18.3-grain Center Punch
• H&N Baracuda 15
• Summary

Today we return to the Umarex Notos precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle to examine accuracy once again.

Too much

I have been doing too many things each time I look at the Notos. As a result I find I don’t really know the rifle. Today I’ll slow down and examine things more carefully.

Re-scoped

The first task was to remount the UTG Accushot 4-16X44 SWAT scope on the rifle. I took it off to mount a UTG 2-7X44 Accushot Scout Scope that Leapers sent me, but the aiming point in the reticle of that scope was too small for me to see. So I went back to the first scope I had on the Notos. That left the question of whether the 13-shot magazine from CARM would be able to be used. After I mounted the new scope I installed the 13-shot magazine and photographed it for you. It just fits.

The big 13-shot CARM magazine fits under the UTG scope.

Single-shot loader

Although the big CARM mag fits well, I used the single-shot loader from Maple Custom Products because I would be changing pellets often.

The test

This will be a large test that covers two days. I’m doing that because I have no idea which pellets work well in the rifle and which don’t.

I’ll shoot five-shot groups today so I can try more pellets. And I’m shooting at 10 meters because this isn’t an accuracy test as much as a day of discovery for me. It’s been over a month since I shot the Notos and I don’t remember much about it.

JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain

I shot the JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain dome for both sight-in and for the first group. Sight-in took just three shots and the last of those was the first shot in the first group. 

Five pellets made a 0.251-inch/6.375mm group at 10 meters. It’s low and to the right on the center of the bull but I left the scope alone because changing pellets will change the point of impact.

The Umarex Notos put five JTS Dead Center Domes into 0.251-inches/6.375mm at 10 meters. It’s okay, but nothing stupendous.

JSB Hades

Next to be tested was the .22-caliber JSB Hades Hollowpoint. Five went into 0.089-inches/2.26mm at 10 meters, earning the Chuckram comparison coin for a group smaller than 0.10-inches. It’s the smallest group of today’s test by quite a lot. This is a pellet I will test at 25 yards.

I will also point out that this pellet landed in a completely different place on the target. This is why I did not adjust the scope after the first group.

The Notos seems to like the Hades pellet a lot! Five went into 0.089-inches/2.26mm at ten meters.

H&N 23-grain 0.218-inch diameter slug

In the last test it seemed to me that this Notos liked the H&N 23-grain 0.218-inch diameter slug, so I tried them again today. This time five made a 0.479-inch/12.17mm group at ten meters. I watched as the slugs flew and saw that this slug is not appropriate for this Notos.

Five H&N 21-grain 0.218-inch slugs went into a 0.479-inch/12.17mm group at ten meters. That eliminates this pellet from further testing.

AEA 18.3-grain Center Punch

Next up was the 18.3-grain AEA Center Punch dome. Five went into 0.256-inches/6.5mm at ten meters. It’s not a bad group, but in light of what the Hades did and what I am about to show you I won’t be testing this pellet further in the Notos.

The Notos put five AEA Center Punch domes into a 0.256-inch/6.5mm group at ten meters. It looks good, but compared to what the Hades pellet and the next pellet did, it won’t advance to 25 yards.

H&N Baracuda 15

The last pellet I’ll test today is the H&N Baracuda 15. The first three shots went into a hole that has no measurable dimension. You can see it if you examine the photo carefully. Shot four enlarged that to a small group and shot five enlarged it further to 0.408-inches/10.363mm — the second-largest group of the test.

Neither shot four nor five was a called pull. I have no idea why they enlarged the group the way they did, but after seeing the first three shots I am selecting this pellet for further testing on Monday. It looked that good when I shot it.

Five Baracuda 15 pellets made a 0.408-inch/10.363mm group at ten meters. The hole at the bottom is where the first three pellets went. After the first shot I saw no enlargement of that hole until shot 4.

Summary

That’s a lot of stuff done today, but I kept it to accuracy issues and not air leaks. After more than a month layoff I had to re-learn the Notos. It is extremely quiet and the trigger releases with a little more effort than I prefer, but I’m going to leave it where it is for now.

Like I said, today was the first of a longer accuracy test because I need to learn the pellets my Notos likes best. So Monday will be a continuation of today, except I’ll start with a scope already sighted in.

Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)

Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

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