Umarex Komplete air rifle.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
This report covers:
- Weight
- Fill
- Rationale
- Test
- Benjamin Single Die pellets
- JSB Exact Jumbo RS
- RWS Hobby
- Shot count
- Nitrogen and air are close to the same
- Summary
Today we see how well the Air Venturi PCP Conversion for Umarex Komplete works. I received it Monday and I tested it Tuesday, though this report took a few days to make it through the queue.
The Air Venturi PCP Conversion tank for the Komplete is longer than the NitroAir cartridge.
Weight
An empty NitroAir cylinder weighs 12.4 ounces / 351.53 grams. The empty Air Venturi PCP Conversion weighs 15.4 ounces / 436.58 grams. So it’s just slightly heavier.
The rifle with the conversion tank installed.
Fill
The conversion tank fills to 3650 psi / 251.66 bar. The coupling is a standard male Foster fitting, so I attached it to my RovAir compressor and turned it on. Ten minutes later when the compressor gauge needle had not moved I shut it off and moved over to a carbon fiber air tank. When I opened the valve air rushed violently out the threaded end of the Air Venturi tank.
So I emailed Tyler Patner and told him what had happened. He responded with, “You didn’t try to fill the tank while it was off the gun did you?”
So I said, “I just did it to demonstrate what happens when someone is foolish enough to try doing it that way.” Then I attached the tank to the rifle and my RovAir compressor filled the Air Venturi PCP conversion tank from empty to full in about 3 minutes.
Rationale
This conversion tank changes the Umarex Komplete from a too-costly-per-shot PCP to an extremely affordable PCP that costs nothing to fill, once you have the gear. And please don’t tell us that the gear needed to fill the gun is expensive. Your car isn’t worth more just because you have put $5,000 worth of gas in it. You’re either in the precharged game or not and if you are the Komplete is now an extremely affordable way to go.
Test
I tested the rifle with the same pellets I used in Part 2 to test the NitroAir cylinder. Let’s begin.
Benjamin Single Die pellets
I began with Benjamin Bullseyes. In Part 2 with the NitroAir cylinder they averaged 928 f.p.s. with a 17 f.p.s. spread from 921 to 938.
With the Air Venturi conversion tank they averaged 918 f.p.s with a 15 f.p.s. from 911 to 926 f.p.s. In terms of energy the Bullseye develops 26.77 foot-pounds at the muzzle.
The discharge noise with the nitrogen cylinder was 107 dB. With air it was 107.6 dB.
JSB Exact Jumbo RS
Next up was the JSB Exact Jumbo RS pellet. With nitrogen ten of them averaged 946 f.p.s. The spread was 18 f.p.s. from 936 to 954 f.p.s.
On high-pressure air ten averaged 938 f.p.s. the low was 932 and the high was 952 for a spread of 20 f.p.s. It develops 26.24 foot pounds at the muzzle.
RWS Hobby
The last pellet tested was the RWS Hobby wadcutter. On nitrogen Hobbys averaged 972 f.p.s. The low was 957 and the high was 984 f.p.s. That’s a difference of 27 f.p.s.
On high-pressure air ten Hobbys averaged 977 f.p.s. The low was 965 and the high was 987—a difference of 22 f.p.s. At the average velocity this pellet developed 24.97 foot pounds at the muzzle.
Shot count
After these three tests I shot another string of Benjamin Bullseyes. This time the average was 911 f.p.s. with a low of 891 and a high of 922 f.p.s. That’s a spread of 31 f.p.s and the rifle fell off the power curve at the end of the string.
With the same Bullseye pellet here are the next 10 velocities:
Shot…..Vel
1………..898
2………..881
3………..871
4………..838
5………..826
6………..826
7………..800
8………..802
9………..769
10………756
Nitrogen and air are close to the same
The performance of the high-pressure air tank is very close to what the nitrogen cylinder gives. It had fewer shots this time but I don’t know what pressure I filled to. I set the RovAir to stop at 3,500 psi because in the past we learned that it fills higher than indicated. So there is no good way to test the fill pressure, but these results are close enough for me and, as mentioned, the fill cost nothing.
Summary
This air tank just changed the game for the Umarex Komplete. Except for no way to load single pellets easily, this PCP is almost complete.
I don’t expect the accuracy to change and there are several more pellets I want to try, so the Air Venturi PCP Conversion has put us back in the game.
Tom,
“The performance of the high-pressure air tank is very close to what the nitrogen cylinder gives.” Considering that air is 80% nitrogen I’m not surprised.
Siraniko
PS Section This Report Covers 1st paragraph 2nd sentence “I received it Monday and I (am) tested it Tuesday, though this report took a few days to make it through the que (queue).”
Siraniko,
Fixed it. Thanks,
BB
BB
Did the air cylinder go flying around the house taking you along for the ride?
Deck
Deck,
Funny, but no. Not enough time to build pressure.
BB
BB, thanks for the well-done report. I wonder how many people (who haven’t read this report) will try to use a hand pump (in vain) to fill the tank while it isn’t in the rifle? 😉 This new air tank accessory does change the game for those of us who have equipment to fill it with. When we add the cost of the air tank accessory to the cost of the gun the total increases substantially. There are some other PCP rifles in the same price range of that total cost. However, this one is the only one that I know of that can use the nitrogen tanks (if needed).
EF
Those who tried to fill the tank separately should learn the role of RTFM…
Besides that every serious pcp airgun maker should offer the nitrogen option. They would benefit from it.
Bill,
You can fill any other PCP with nitrogen. Some do. The cost to most is prohibitive, but not to some. Some use helium, which works even better. You had better have a very thick wallet though.
When we were brazing copper refrigeration piping, we would typically purge, and then let enough flow through the inside of the piping to keep air out, with dry nitrogen from a tank. This kept oxidation from happening on the inside walls of the piping. The result was a clean piping system for the refrigerant to flow through.
I think if I were to spend several thousand dollars on a high-end PCP rifle, I just might consider using nitrogen in it to hopefully avoid any potential oxidation (rust) forming inside the gun. Just one opinion…
RR
What I have in mind is an adapter for those nitrogen cartridges not bulk filling. Airforce used to offer a CO2 filling option. I had one though I don’t know if they still do. A simple adapter for the nitrogen cartridges would complement any pcp meant for “survival” situations, like the Escape series. Just in case the hand pump fails.
Bill,
The AIRROW Stealth has a fitting to use the 88 gram (actually the small diameter neck thread of many commercial available cartridges) in place of the Catalina Paintball Cylinders and fittings; they even had a device to allow use of the smallest 8 and 12 gram cartridges in an emergency.
All that and three and one half decades ago…nothing is truly new under the Sun ;^)
shootski
RidgeRunner,
” ” (DITTOS)
FYI, the AIRROW Stealth from back in the 1990’s was made to be fill on breathing air, Nitrogen (N²) as well as Operate on CO².
Although it may seem like the Komplete’s performance is similar on N² there is the question of could that also be the result of flow restriction differences in the gas path design and/or regulator operation.
Not that it will matter to the typical buyer of this airgun.
It will certainly prove to be cheaper in the mid to long term even with the conversion price and cost of the most expensive refill method chosen.
If it gets more folks into shooting PCPs or airguns in general that is to the good.
shootski
PS: I know you know this but many readers do not: Helium (He) is a very tiny Monatomic gas that is almost impossible to contain without leakage only Hydrogen (H²) a diatomic molecule is smaller and worse for leakage as well as for its well known Hindenburg EFFECT.
shootski,
Filling a PCP with O2 can be quite disasterous. I can well imagine that filling one with H2 would not be a good idea either.
RidgeRunner,
As long as it’s pure Hydrogen I don’t see a problem. It’s when Oxygen gets into the mix is where the problem rears it’s ugly head.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
IF there is a method to ensure ONLY Hydrogen is in the system it would be fine.
Unfortunately just like in most of the operational experience with the Zeppelins proved. In the case of the Hindenburg something happened just as i suspect would happen with hydrogen filled airguns.
One likely thing comes immediately to mind…just imagin the individual who concludes how much MORE POWER a spark introduced in the bore could generate.
The Hindenburg ignition was very likely caused by a corona discharge commonly called St. Elmo’s fire.
Aside: i have used a pencil to collect St. Elmo’s fire off of the inside of canopies and and then hurl the Plasma at my rear seater.
The German builders used containment bags (Hydrogen Cells) with well ventilated areas around the cells to eliminate any explosive air/Hydrogen mixture forming. An internal leak or intentional Hydrogen venting during the mooring maneuver are likely causes of the explosive fuel-air mixture. The airship’s skin was doped with Aluminum and Iron Oxide which proved very flammable as well
Exactly what happened to the Hindenburg will be debated forever given how much theorizing on causes has been done since the event.
Hopefully no one tries a Hydrogen airgun fill!
shootski
There’s a term associated with the sort who would try. I think it is “natural selection.” The same folks look down the barrel of their gun to see why they misfired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgmMPth01jc&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
True, but that caveat needs to be documented IN the manual. Even if that is the case, what happened to Tom is a reminder we the airgun people aren’t immune to mistakes – hopefully they will always be only minor ones that don’t hurt the gunner and/or the gun.
If I was just starting out with the PCP world, this would most definitely be the way to go. Where are the pom poms and skimpy outfit? 😉
Another oops?
Test
I tested the rifle with the same pellets I used in Paer (Part) 2 to test the NitroAir cylinder.
RR,
I fixed it before your comment was posted.
BB
RidgeRunner,
“Where are the pom poms and skimpy outfit? ”
Do you always taunt the Bull with your Red Neckerchiefs as well? ;^)
shootski
BB,
I have the questionable preference for expending money up front if I can save on the long run. My wife’s hybrid minivan is a good example of this. Back to today’s subject, that is one reason I like the AV refillable tank. The cost of a Rovair or similar compressor will soon be forgotten but the cost of disposable cartridges would irritate me over the long run. I would use the air tank for practice and plinking, and reserve the N cartridges for a hunting trip.
I like almost everything about this rifle as an entry rifle into the PCP world. However, the lack of a before-the-regulator gauge is a minus in my book. I had once a motorcycle with no fuel gauge and I hated that. With that in mind, I think that there are other more attractive options to consider in the same (rifle + AV tank) price range. Just my opinion.
Henry
Henry_TX,
i understand feelings about no supply cylinder gauge and no fuel gauge on your motorcycle but i don’t really agree with it on any number of levels.
Fuel Gauges and the reliance on them is one of the major reasons folks crash Civil Aviation (and even a few Commercial and Military) aircraft a few miles short of so many destination runways! I have flown with any number of pilots that have had the gauge reliance syndrom. They don’t dip their tanks before flights (use a graduated stick to physically measure the depth of the fuel in the tank(s)) or keep a unit of time fuel consumption log and almost never a fuel flow log even if the A/C is equiped with fuel flow gauges. To be honest i hate their lack of professionalism by depending on a single gauge(s) that is a potential single failure point of a rather important system. With the regulator gauge on the Komplete you will at least be able to tell when it drops below the regulator set pressure.
Gauges certainly have their place but there are cost-benefit tradeoffs that are in play. I suspect a fitting with a gauge is out there that could be used with both the Air Venturi PCP Conversion tank for the Komplete and the NitroAir cartridge. It would require some stock modifications.
I am somewhat biased…I have shot most of my PCPs without any gauges on the airgun and have for many decades. I much prefer to spend the money on high quality gauges on my fill devices.
Just my take on gauges,
shootski
They have fuel gauges on motorcycles? Next thing they’ll delete the reserve petcock.
Shootski,
Points well taken, specially regarding single failure points, considering that staying in the air is at play. No objection to verifying with a rod, as well as checking that water didn’t get in the tank.
That said, I respectfully disagree regarding more mundane things. I for one welcome the addition of TPM systems in cars. And fuel gauges in bikes, although I always kept the partial odometer as verification. And pressure gauges in PCPs.
Good points. Thanks,
Henry
For whatever it’s worth I wanted to know what AI thought about the Umarex Komplete. Using a common browser that is getting more and more into AI my search was interesting. The reviews from many sporting sources were generally favorable just as they are on this blog. Pros and cons are the same as here. But accuracy is consistently good for the entire Komplete product line. It is not just that my two rifles and BB’s test rifle are accurate. This helps confirm, at least to me, that a buyer can expect to get an accurate air rifle for $200 or less.
Having sung praises for the Komplete I can’t say the same for their Synergis Elite which continues to think it’s a shotgun.
Deck
B.B. and Readership,
Took delivery on a Crosman Challenger 2021 earlier today :^)
Unboxed it and have begun checking it over. It looks like it has made it through the shipping process well since it was double boxed and Crosman did a great job on the suspension block system (made with that black extruded plastic that is also used to keep pellet tins safe in shipping) appears to be better than the styrofoam Crosman used to suspend my 1st Generation Benjamin Marauder. The precision diopter sight set impressed me more than i anticipated; the proof of course will come in shooting with it. The only issue i have noticed (thus far) is that the barrel band will perhaps need to be adjusted to keep the barrel from being in contact with it; i will do that after some time allowing the reciever-barrel to relax from any set that stacked warehouse storage might have caused. The paperwork indicates that the rifle was leak tested for 72 hours and then degased for shipment to the retailer. I will give it a drop or two of RWS Chamber oil on the fill fitting and gas it up.
I don’t plan on running out to shoot it today for a number of reasons. I want to borescope the barrel to get a baseline look. I want to do at least a 24 hour pressure check. But most importantly, todays winds are W 22 mph (35 kph) and G 32 mph (52 kph) just a bit to high to not cause disappointing groups with a .177 wadcutter pellet.
The Megalink ballistic test report is impressive; far better (NO value under 10 and only one of those and 7 X) then the gun that HAM tested! I will need to mind my Ps and Qs with this one if those numbers hold up.
I will need some time before i decide if i am going to do power increase modifications to take this from a 10 M gun to something a few times longer range. I will mount a scope at some point IF the guns accuracy warrants one.
More soon,
shootski