Examining the Umarex Komplete air rifle: Part Three

Umarex Komplete air rifle.

Part 1
Part 2

This report covers:

• No clue
• The test
• Scoped
• Install fresh NitroAir cartridge
• Sight-in
• JSB Hades
• RWS Hobby
• Air Arms Falcons
• JTS 18.1-grain dome
• Last pellet—H&N Baracuda 15
• Summary

Today we begin looking at the accuracy of the Umarex Komplete air rifle. I say begin for many reasons that I’ll explain as the report unfolds.

No clue

For starters I have no clue how accurate the Komplete may be. Given the power we saw in Part Two I selected five pellets to test, but the test was different. I will explain. 

I wanted to see what pellets are potentially accurate, and also to eliminate those that aren’t. That’s why I picked five for today’s test.

Instead of the usual 10-shot groups I decided to shoot five shots with each pellet so I could test more pellets. But I also did that because the NitroAir cartridge only has enough gas for around 40 great shots. After 40 it becomes arguable whether the follow-on shots are doing their best—especially as the distance increases.

And I shot today from 10 meters. I don’t know the Komplete yet and I wanted to keep all the shots in the pellet trap.

The test

I shot five groups with five different pellet from 10 meters. The rifle was rested directly on a sandbag and there were no called pulls. I had to use the rotary magazine because there isn’t as single-shot loader for the Komplete—yet. I only loaded five pellets at a time into the magazine so there could be no mistakes.

Scoped

The Komplete comes with a scope but I didn’t mount it—yet. I mounted a UTG 10X44 scope that looks great on this rifle.

The 10X44 UTG scope looks great on the Umarex Komplete.

Install fresh NitroAir cartridge

Remember the trouble I had installing the first NitroAir gas cartridge? I mentioned it in Part 2. I also knew that sometimes these cartridges pierce so quietly that we can’t tell if it’s happened. That’s what happened last time.

This time I screwed in the cartridge until the resistance increased ever-so-slightly, which should be the point where the piercing pin contacts the cartridge. I then screwed it in another turn and a half. Then I unscrewed the cartridge about a quarter turn and fired the rifle in a safe direction without the magazine installed. The cartridge had pierced!

This demonstrates that the last time BB was wrong. If you follow my instructions for today’s installation they should work well.

Sight-in

Remember I said in Part Two I wasn’t sure whether the Komplete’s trigger is single-stage or two-stage? After today’s test I am certain it is a single-stage trigger. And knowing that I am now much safer when using it.

The Komplete shot WAY low and to the right—even though this scope is shimmed. I had to crank up the elevation a lot and also move the reticle to the left a lot.

I started sighting-in at 12 feet and took five shots to get to the bullseye. Then at 10 meters I took three more shots to refine the scope setting. 

JSB Hades

For sight-in and for the first group I shot JSB Hades pellets. Five went into 0.291-inches between centers at 10 meters.

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Five JSB Hades pellets went into 0.291-inches at 10 meters. It might look like a good group but it’s quite large for 10 meters.

RWS Hobby

The next pellet I tried was the RWS Hobby wadcutter. Five went into 0.561-inches at 10 meters. That rules out the Hobby for use in this rifle in my book!

The Komplete put five Hobbys into 0.561-inches at 10 meters. Not a pellet for this rifle!

Air Arms Falcons

The third pellet I tested was the Air Arms Falcon dome. The first three shots went into the same hole without any apparent enlargement. That’s the round hole at the bottom of the group. But the final two shots opened the group to 0.22-inches. It’s the smallest group of this test so this is a pellet that will be tested again.

The Komplete put five Falcon pellets into this 0.22-inch group at 10 meters.

JTS 18.1-grain dome

I wanted to see what a heavier pellet would do so I tried the 18.1-grain JTS dome next. Five went into a very round 0.227-inch group at ten meters. This is another pellet to try some more.

Five 18.1-grain JTS domes went into a 0.227-inch group at 10 meters. Another keeper!

Last pellet—H&N Baracuda 15

The last pellet I tried was the H&N Baracuda 15. Five of them went into 0.284-inches at ten meters and given what the Falcons and JTS domes did I’m ruling these pellets out for future accuracy tests.

The Komplete shot five H&N Baracuda 15s into a 0.284-inch group at ten meters.

Summary

Today’s test has taught me a lot more about the Umarex Komplete. I now have the rifle sighted in and I know two good pellets to try at greater distances. I also know how to install a NitroAir cartridge in the rifle.

The rifle is scoped and sighted-in for the next test. And I know how the trigger works, as well. This was a good day!

Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)

Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on 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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