Umarex Markpoint air pistol.
This report covers:
- The test
- JTS/JSB pellets
- Air Arms Falcons
- H&N Finale Match High-Speed
- Qiang Yuan Training
- H&N Excite wadcutters
- Air Arms 8.4-grain dome
- Discussion
- Summary
Today we begin looking at the accuracy of the new Umarex Markpoint air pistol. I think you’re in for a surprise!
The test
I shot the pistol at 10 meters with the barrel rested on a sandbag. The long barrel made it very easy to rest the pistol that way. I wore +1.25 diopter reading glasses and the sights were clear and crisp. I used a 6 o’clock hold on the bullseye.
The trigger is currently too heavy to pull with my trigger finger so I used the middle finger of that hand and the index finger of the other hand. That made it easy to stay on target with no movement of the pistol.
I shot 5-shot groups so I could try more pellets. I tried seven pellets in total but two of them hit the paper too low to include in the report.
JTS/JSB pellets
I tried both the JSB Simply wadcutter and the JTS 8.7-grain Dead Center dome. Both hit the paper target at the bottom so I will not show their groups. I will note that all shots from both pellets went into 0.75-inches between centers.
Air Arms Falcons
The first pellet I shot for record was the 7.33-grain Falcon dome from Air Arms. Five went into 0.77-inches between centers. They are fairly well-centered in the bullseye.
The Markpoint put 5 Air Arms Falcon pellets into a 0.77-inch group at 10 meters.
H&N Finale Match High-Speed
The second pellet I tried was the 7.87-grain H&N Finale Match High-Speed wadcutter. This one is no longer available. The Markpoint put 5 of them into a 1.021-inch group at ten meters. They are also pretty well-centered in the bull.
Then Markpoint put 5 H&N Finale Match High Speed pellets into a group measuring 1.021-inches between centers at 10 meters.
Qiang Yuan Training
The third pellet I tried was the 8.2-grain Qiang Yuan Training wadcutter. At 10 meters the Markpoint put five of them into 0.76-inches between centers. And this group is also well-centered in the bullseye.
The Markpoint put 5 Qiang Yuan Training pellets into a 0.76-inch group at 10 meters. This is the best group of the test.
H&N Excite wadcutters
Next I tried the 7.4-grain H&N Excite wadcutter. The Markpoint put five into 0.841-inches at 10 meters, which is pretty good for an economy pellet.
Five Excite wadcutters went into 0.841-inches at 10 meters. Not bad for an economy pellet.
Air Arms 8.4-grain dome
The last pellet I tried was the 8.4-grain Air Arms dome. Five went into 2.03-inches. That’s way out of profile for what the Markpoint has been doing.
The Markpoint put five 8.4-grain Air Arms domes into 2.03-inches at 10 meters. This is obviously not a good pellet for this pistol.
Discussion
I am impressed by the accuracy of the Markpoint test pistol. I’m also impressed that it shoots where the sights look.
The Markpoint’s ease of cocking is also impressive. The trigger, though, is underwhelming. I think I will remove the lawyer trigger spring and reshoot this test again.
The JTS and JSB pellets I didn’t report were accurate; they just didn’t shoot where the sights looked. If I modified the front sight to get them into the center of the bull, the other four pellets would hit too high.
Summary
I am very impressed with this Markpoint pistol from Umarex. It has the features of a more expensive air pistol and now we know that it also shoots like one. I think the Markpoint might well be a best buy for 2025.
B.B.
Middle finger trigger pull….lol.
Hope you can “fix” the trigger?
-Yogi
I hope Tom will pull that spring and reshoot!
I remember back in the day there used to be a Chinese, spring piston air pistol available for around $15. At that price I figured, why not? I seem to recall that I could not adjust the sights far enough to match the point of impact, but aside from that it was a solid and a functional air pistol. I’m sure that if I had bent the barrel a little I could have corrected the issue with the sights and I may have even done so. I don’t remember now.
The thing I came to realize however was that it didn’t really matter. Once I had satisfied my curiosity about it I had absolutely no desire to shoot it anymore. That’s the real problem with a lot of the very cheap airguns. Unless there’s something that really stands out about it and makes it unique or enjoyable you just don’t feel any desire to actually shoot it.
SawneyBean,
I agree with you. I bought two of those for the same price and reason. However, I still have them. Kind of how I began collecting airguns. There was always another new one to check out.
Same with CO2 pistols and I believe BB agrees, they all shoot about the same but once in a while one will stand out like the realistic Colt SAA’s, German Lugers and Broom Handle Mauser. All nice replicas, but they are not really very cheap ones.
CO2 pistols that are powerful shooters stand out with me. Like the Daisy Powerline 5170 and Barra 1858 Cowboy.
No doubt that replicas add to the enjoyment. I am really impressed with the current Ruger Mk IV springer pellet pistol. A real standout replica. Not too big, powerful or weak, a real nice break barrel plinker.
Then you get one that is
“I think I will remove the lawyer trigger spring and reshoot this test again.”
BB,
That’ll be great; I’m curious to see if that tightens up these groups, which are already quite decent for an economy plinker at this price point. 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
P.S. You definitely made the right call on this. 😉
“The JTS and JSB pellets I didn’t report were accurate; they just didn’t shoot where the sights looked.
If I modified the front sight to get them into the center of the bull, the other four pellets would hit too high.”
I wonder if that trigger guard was actually designed to accommodate a two finger pull. I tried that out on some pistols, and it really helps. Need to pass that info on to my ex for when I leave the home. She has weak hands.
I remember doing that as a kid but obviously grew out of it and do not target shoot much where trigger control is important. Can’t believe I overlooked that simple solution for so long.
BB,
I am really looking forward to you retesting this air pistol after you remove that lawyer spring.
FM wonders if, when company lawyers meet to discuss trigger spring safety matters, the meetings are known as “Springtime for Lawyers?”
FawltyManuel,
Only if they produced it!
Siraniko
BB
Arthritis has forced me to use the second pad of middle finger on all but match triggers and Records for years. Whatever gets the sear released without lateral tension works.
I like your idea of using index finger of left hand on top of right hand middle finger. It’s stronger and should help avoid lateral tension. I use fingers on both hands on rested pneumatics and some non hold sensitive springers. Only the gun’s trigger and trigger guard are touched by me. There is no lateral tension force that I can detect.
Deck
BB,
You shot well with that trigger! I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still am, having shot with that heavy trigger myself at ten meters.
You have also shown that we have to experimentally find the pellets that hit where the sights look.
Oh the tricks we learn here, the two-finger trigger pull, using both hands! That was born out of necessity, when you have to hit with what you’re holding. Decksniper, thanks for elaborating on how and why you do it. What a swell gift of knowledge! I am a 12-year in, new guy.
Regards,
Will
Nice shooting BB. This looks to be a worthwhile fun little pistol. Might be just the one to try out to see how spring piston pistols suit me.
BB,
Well, I confess that when you started this series I was a bit skeptical, but you are showing us that we have to look deeper before passing judgement. What they say about books and covers? You are teaching us to be more open minded, and that is very good.
On a personal note, if it was mine I would definitely try to improve the trigger – otherwise it won’t be picked up again. I have a lemon worse than yours collecting dust, half way between the trash bin and the work bench. Its future still uncertain.
Henry
B.B.,
Sadly the manual SAFETY SWITCH on the Markpoint is NOT configured for BEST Practice.
In a way that actually brings me a degree of happiness.
WHAT?
It means the Chinese continue to practice EXPEDIENCE in yet another area of Arms. That means they are just as vulnerable as a few other countries have been in their adhering to clear patterns in their approach to things La guerre.
They just don’t (and won’t) know how to shoot from behind the trees, concealment, and natural cover.
But back to the Markpoint BACKWARD “SAFETY” that is just not good FORM in my opinion. But i see why they did it in the EVP (Exploded View Parts) that i have perused…pure simple EXPEDIENCE.
shootski
Shootski
Ataman P16 also has a backwards safety. China made millions of guns copying Russia’s arms. Maybe they copied the safety idea too.
Deck
Decksniper,
“China…copying Russia’s arms.”
They have a maritime force that looks to my eye (trained over decades of watching both) as a copy of the U.S.S.R.’s former naval forces.
We know what happened to that rust bucket fleet shortly after the C.C.C.P’s collapse; China’s PLA(N) is about to follow in their wake.
BEGINNING OF RANT
I just hope all the internal United States of America haters fail in their attempts to STOP one of the greatest strategies since Ronald Reagan introduced his plan by saying, “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall!” Our USA 5th Collum members tried to derail that successful AND PEACEFUL takedown of what had been predicted to never ever happen as well, but then they like to rewrite history instead of learning a little from it!
END OF RANT
shootski
I’m a little late to the party. I bought one. I left a detailed reply at the end of the comments section of part 1. I won’t repeat it here, but suffice it to say, with a little tinkering, I’m starting to like this pistol. Its soul role is shooting cans in my 25 foot basement. It is well suited for that task.
So far, I’ve only taken off the one grip side. I do wish there was a way to access the cocking slot, and add a little TIAT, but I can’t really see how to get to it.
BB:
Too late to edit, but I must say, that’s mighty fine shooting for a recoiling spring pistol. IMO, the hardest airgun platform to master. You have shamed me, sir.
jiminpgh,
No shame. I had that pistol rock steady. As long as it was reasonably accurate it was going to be good.
BB
B.B.,
Could you try shooting it unrested using your two hand extra finger technique before any modifications. PLEASE.
You have an enviable pistol shooting track record so no chance of embarrassment; just the comparative FACTS.
I for one would be interested to see how much the dispersion increases in the hands of a good shooter. This is at best a PLINKER pistol in my opinion and most owners won’t shoot feral soda cans rested.
shootski
shootski,
I’ll do one 5-shot group with the best pellet.
BB
B.B.,
Thank you!
I could not ask for more; i hope a bunch of your Readership will enjoy the results as well!
shootski
Shootski,
Excellent point. Real world shooting as opposed to controlled accuracy shooting. At least we know what it is capable of now. The rest is up to the shooter.
Tom,
Shootski is asking for an off the bench group seems to be a good addition (unfortunately) to the test series. Shooting the gun from the position it is most likely to be used in the wild will present a more realistic depiction of expected accuracy for the future buyers. Or what is a reasonable factor of group size multiplication between rested groups and offhand? I know practice can make a huge difference between shooters. Some shooting better with rifles and some shooting better with pistols.
Siraniko