Umarex Markpoint air pistol.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
This report covers:
- Velocity
- Bolts
- Accuracy
- Summary
Today we look at the velocity and accuracy of the Umarex Markpoint air pistol when shooting airgun darts. Darts are the reason I selected the Markpoint to test in the first place because that was how Umarex positioned it at the SHOT Show this year.
I’m combining both velocity and accuracy in one report because there isn’t that much to report. This will be the final report I do on this air pistol.
Velocity
We’ll look at velocity first. I was somewhat concerned because with 5.25-grain Sig Match Ballistic Alloy (tin) pellets the Markpoint averaged 430 f.p.s. through the chronograph. That’s pretty fast. We know that darts slow things way down, but would it be enough?
It was enough. I shot two feathered darts and the low went out at 157 f.p.s. and the high was 163 f.p.s. That’s an average velocity of 160 f.p.s. which is about where you want the darts to be for shooting at a sisal dart board.
To stop those darts without loosing them in the rubber mulch pellet trap box I put a heavy piece of cardboard in front of the trap box. Both darts went through that cardboard and buried themselves nicely in the rubber mulch pellet trap box.
After passing through on heavy piece of cardboard the two darts buried their points in the rubber mulch target trap box.
At this point I knew that the pistol is shooting darts at about the velocity I would have chosen if I had been in charge. Maybe this thing really is a good airgun for darts!
Bolts
I had to test the Marksman bolts for velocity as well. So I loaded one, being careful to hold the barrel level because the bolt is smaller than the bore of the barrel.
When I fired it there was a detonation (explosion) and nothing made it to the cardboard that was three feet away. No velocity was recorded. I found that dart on the floor of the garage where I had fired the pistol. So bolts are out for the Markpoint.
Accuracy
I set the sisal dart board about 14-15 feet away and fired six darts at it. My aim point was the center of the target on the board. Three darts stuck and three bounced off. One that bounced off was shot a second time and stuck then. One of the bouncebacks might have hit a steel ring on the board.
Three darts stuck in the board (red at the bottom) and I laid a fourth one on the board for scale.
Summary
This test series has been a surprising journey for me. I came into it expecting one thing and I learned many other things that weren’t apparent at the start. The Umarex Markpoint is a fine pellet pistol that is one of the best deals on the market for the price.
B.B.
Seems to like the feathered darts. Maybe a new bar game?
-Y
Yogi,
Interesting!
BB
BB,
I noticed in your summary you said “The Umarex Markpoint is a fine pellet pistol that is one of the best deals on the market for the price.” You did not comment on it being a fine dart pistol.
RR,
And…?
BB
And what?
Thanks for the well-done report. The failure of the bolt to launch is interesting. I would guess there was too much air bypassing around it and the rifling grooves only added to the problem. Did the detonation create enough heat to notice any deformation or melting on the plastic fins of the bolt?
Anyway, I agree this pistol seems to be a fine one. And the feathered dart test success is a feather (pun intended) in its cap…
Elmer,
The bolt fins have no distortion. That heat is instant and gone, so it seldom does things like that.
BB
Tom,
The only way those bolts will possibly reliably launch from this pistol is if somebody bothers to glue barrel cleaner wads to the rear of those bolts to produce a reliable seal. This will help retain the bolt in the barrel and create a seal for the air to push against at the same time. Of course this adds work to what should be a fun past time.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I modified my bolts by wrapping the “hip” with a thin strip of Aluminum tape to make them fit just snug in the bore. Shooting from five meters, they fly too fast for use in the Markpoint pistol. They bounce ten feet back from my homasote target backer. However they fly in a nice, predictable arc when shot from a Crosman 1377 with two pumps.
As BB shows, the heavier tufted darts work better with the Markpoint.
Enjoy!
Will
i was revisiting previous entries of this pistol and at the top of part 5 in this series when i click the link to part 4 it doesn’t work. it can be searched for on the main blog page, just that link isn’t right.
springman3000,
Apparently Pyramyd AIR IT has made changes to the blogs that have disrupted the links I programmed. They have been lost in several blogs beside this one.
I’ll see what I can do.
BB
nickel sized pellet groups are impressive for a $35 spring pistol. i wish we could get a chinese/ taiwanese copy of the izh 46m, even if it wasn’t as accurate as the original. i’d be plenty happy with nickel groups from it. while i’ve never held a 46m i just think i’d like it better than the overlever of the p17 and the like. more like my avanti 753s. i will certainly still get the air venturi bullseye when it comes out. i just can’t rationalize $800 for an izh of unknown age and condition.
The Chinese made a copy of the IZH 61. It was a dismal failure. As for a 46M, they are superb. I would not get rid of my Izzy for any amount. It will be going to my grandson.
Are they worth $800? Wow! I am certainly glad that was not the price tag on mine. Something to keep in mind though is the price of a FWB 100 series. From what I understand, they are better pistols but typically they cost a couple hundred more.
If you take a good look around, you may find one at a better price, but do not hold your breath. They are very well-made air pistols, and it would be hard to abuse one to the point it was not worth it.
$800 is roughly the higher end of the going rate for them. of course when one pops up for lower i can’t swing it. just how the second hand market seems to go for anything and everything, vehicles, what have you. you have the money and you’re looking there’s nothing to be had. money’s gone and all the deals come out of the woodwork.
Of course, that is the way it is. You should expect about $600 for a decent one. When I bought mine way back in 2009, they were $300 NIB.
That’s Murphy’s Law. I’m happy to keep an eye out for you. I stumble into all sorts of deals.
Springman, just to clarify, am I keeping an eye out for an IZH 46, 46m, a Chinese copy, or an FWB spring pistol (what Model #)?
i appreciate the thought, but i won’t be in a position to afford any of them until at least autumn if not next year sometime unless it was the deal of the century at less than half their relative value. in a perfect world i’d like to find either the latest iteration of the 46m, being the air venturi branded one, the one just before it which i believe was the mp-46m, or any of the fwb SSP’s which i think were the 100, 102, and 103. they’re all a pipe dream i’d like to have one day. if i had to pick just one i would say the air venturi av-46m, but the last one i saw was a whopping $750. i’m focused on the mtr77 right now. first spring hit too hard, second was too soft. one of the two arriving monday should be just right (hopefully).
You never know what you might find and at what price. I love looking at what’s available online. So if I can find a deal for you, hey, I’ve done a good deed for the day.
Send me an email at my handle followed by the number one at g mail dot com.
FYI:
http://www.ctfirearmsauction.com
Lot 287
This one needs a little TLC, but the current bid is low for now. Interesting, though.
BB
The best I have been able to do with the MarkPoint pistol is about 3″ by 3 ” at 12 feet . The pistol is held at 6 o’clock. For the money, it’s not bad.
Kind Regards
jda001
BB
For the extra 15 dollars, the Mark 4 is a better pistol for darts. Same 12 feet, I usually manage groups sized 2.25 by 2.50 inch. Have to aim 1 inch higher,
Kind Regards
jda001
I really must get a dart board.
Would be nice if there was a version with “favorite” politician/leader faces printed on the wedge sections – it could be done in a bipartisan spirit, with face-choices to satisfy people from all sides of all aisles. 😉
FM,
We will just have to apply our own to suit us.
Everyone,
The dart board is used for dart games, rather than just hitting the bull. Although BB shoots the bull to demonstrate accuracy for the blog. Once accuracy is established, shooters can play Cricket, 501 and Baseball, using the numbered pie wedges. The shooting distance from the board is such that one can regularly hit an individual pie wedge, but not TOO easily. That distance in my shooting lane is fifteen feet. Shooting darts from an air pistol, or a multi pump gun like the Crosman 760 or Daisy 880 on one pump adds a little fun variety to our hobby.
Regards,
Will
i usually go around the board in a circle. if using light colored darts only aiming for the black wedges and with darker colored darts aiming at the white wedges for best visibility.