Air Venturi Alpha Compact Tube.
This report covers:
- Compact
- Materials
- Experiment
- Degassing
- Other models
- Sights
- Accessories
- Silencer
- Circular magazine
- Trigger and safety
- Regulator
- Stuff
- Accuracy
- What’s so special?
- Summary
Today we start looking at the Air Venturi Alpha precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle. I am testing the Compact Tube model but the rifle also comes in a Standard Tube model, an Aluminum Bottle model that’s both standard or compact and finally a Compact Carbon Bottle model that weighs just 4.75 pounds / 2.15 kg yet gets up to 55 shots per fill to 3650 psi / 250 bar. All Alphas are in .22 caliber at this time.
Compact
The term compact describes this air rifle well. The model I’m testing weighs 4 pounds one ounce / 1.84 kg and is just 33.5-inches / 85.1 cm long. Add a scope, even a powerful one, and you’re still at just about 5.5 pounds / 2.5 kg. And for that you get 20 shots at 26 foot-pounds / 35.25 joules. That screams hunting and pesting to me.
Materials
The receiver, reservoir tube and silencer are all metal. The rest of the carbine is synthetic, and it’s that real nice stuff that we’re seeing today.
Experiment
The Alpha fills to 3650 psi / 250 bar which makes it ideal for an experiment I have been wanting to do. After shooting I will depressurize the reservoir to around 1200 psi / 82.74 bar and see if the o-rings are preserved between uses. If so we may have found the way to keep a PCP from leaking.
The reservoir is filled with a probe that comes with the airgun. It does end in a male Foster fitting and you can leave it in full time if you like.
Degassing
In case an owner should need to degass the rifle for maintenance there is a screw at the right rear of the forearm just for that.
Other models
The three other air tanks offer more shots per fill—something that hunters seldom require but other shooters consider important. The Standard Tube model gets 35 shots at 36 foot-pounds / 48.81 joules. The Aluminum Bottle version (comes in both standard and compact versions) gets 60 shots and the Compact Carbon Bottle (26 foot pounds) gets 55 shots, yet only weighs 4.75 pounds / 2.15 kg.
Sights
The Alpha has no sights but the receiver is topped with a Weaver/Picatinny rail for optical sights. The cheekrest does not adjust but the folding buttstock does move up and down a little during installation, giving you some cheekrest and buttstock height adjustment.
The Alpha stock folds to the left where magnets hold it in place.
Accessories
The aluminum forearm is riddled with M-LOK slots all around. Accessories like night vision, bipods and flashlights can be mounted, though as light as the rifle is I would think most hunters will want to keep it clean.
Silencer
This model has a built-in silencer. And yes, it is baffled. No, an aftermarket silencer cannot be attached, so we will look at the sound level in Part 2.
Circular magazine
The rifle comes with two 10-round circular magazines. They are not spring-loaded which makes them very easy to load! And they load into the receiver easily as well, once the single-shot tray that they don’t even mention in the manual is removed.
The Alpha circular magazine is easy to load!
Trigger and safety
The two-stage trigger does adjust for both pull weight and sear engagement. I would set the pull weight to your preference and leave the sear engagement alone. For a hunting and pesting rifle this trigger is entirely nice. Stage two may not be glass-crisp, but it’s close enough that any real rifleman or woman shouldn’t care.
Regulator
The Alpha is regulated. Reviews of the rifle indicate a very consistent velocity. It is not user adjustable but with what I will announce at the end of this report no one should expect it to be.
Stuff
Besides the two magazines the carbine comes with a set of o-rings and the Allen wrenches for all the adjustments including degassing.
Accuracy
Accuracy is another place where a hunting rifle must shine and the online reviews of the Alpha say it hits the mark. Naturally this is something we will test thoroughly! But Tyler Patner has already tested all of these things for us in his Insyder video.
What’s so special?
What is so special is the price. The carbine I am testing goes out the door at $270! It wasn’t a decade ago that I was dancing in the street about a Price-Point PCP. This one is and in my opinion, this is the model most people will want. Sure the other Alphas are more powerful and get more shots but they also weigh more and cost more.
The Alpha Compact Tube in the box.
Summary
The Air Venturi Alpha Compact Tube is released just in time for the holidays and it seems to have checked all the boxes we like. We shall see. Stay tuned.
Tom,
I suppose we will find out in Part 2 to what pressure the regulator is set?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I suppose we will.
BB
I would say – a nice one! Very interesting so far.
If it is only going to be available in Germany…
B.B.
Why does the “Standard Tube” model gets 35 shots and the aluminum “Standard Tube” model gets 60 shots per fill? Are the standards different?
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
-Yogi
Yogi,
There is a misprint somewhere. The aluminum “Standard Tube” should be the “Aluminum Bottle”.
Yogi and RR
There are five models. There is a standard model with an aluminum tube that gets 35 shots and a standard model with an aluminum bottle that holds more air and gets 60 shots.
BB
Guys,
There is also a Compact model with the aluminum bottle that also gets 60 shots.
BB
Fanner 50,
Well, I have to say that for most this will be something they should seriously consider. I do not like the high pressure, but the compactness and lightness of it are big pluses. It is almost a shame that I had just picked up a P-Rod at the NC show and am talking to Lloyd about making it into a P-Rod Double.
We will have to see how this thing does. If it is halfway decent, I can see this as a big seller for AV.
RidgeRunner of the Peeples Demakratik Republik of Virginia 🙁
I would probably have gotten one if it had been available when I got my P-Rod. After all the extras, stock adapter, 6 position stock, Huma regulator, moderator adapter, and finally an Impulse Air 1250 moderator. I more than doubled the initial cost of the Marauder. Then I replaced my UTG micro red dot with a Hawke 4x prism.
I would like to know if the moderator can be removed like the moderator on the Chaser, ie with a little heat?
Mike,
It is my understanding that should you try heat, you will likely melt the moderator. As I see it, you would have to heat the moderator to even get to the barrel. It is relatively cheap. If it can shoot, I would just leave it alone. There are a few moderators out there that are close to the price of this thing. It sounds like your P-Rod is as good, if not better than this thing. Like me, why bother?
Pooky. I lost it.
I think that AV has a nice product here. I like the compactness, folding stock, quasi-picatinny rails, the weight, etc. It seems like a handy pesting and light hunting airgun, of course assuming it groups and holds air, which I think it will. BTW, I have a Notos that in three months hasn’t lost any appreciable quantity of air. I always add a couple of drops of silicon chamber oil to the fill port, perhaps it helps.
On the technical side, I found very interesting the magazine without spring. I hope it proves reliable – if so its the way forward for PCPs, IMHO.
Henry
Henry
I’m guessing it is similar to the mag on the Umarex Synergis Elite which does have spring tension that advances mag to the next pellet during cocking. However there is no spring loading tension to deal with when loading pellets. Claws hold mag in place like a boat trailer winch. I have been critical of my Elite’s inaccuracy but I do like the robust magazine that comes with it.
Deck
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Be safe, stay warm, and be thankful for all our blessings.
Happy Thanksgiving Y’all. Well this almost had me. One design element kills it for me and that is the safety. Much like the Springfield Armory M1A under lever pellet rifle the safety is backwards.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2020/10/springfield-armory-m1a-underlever-pellet-rifle-part-1/
I know this does not purport itself to be an AR analog but it kind of is.Muscle memory is a strong thing , When I grab a handgun my thumb starts “looking” for the safety Ala 1911 , if it finds one it gets pressed and my thumb rides there,it better not be up for fire. Garands and M 14 variants , the safety gets pushed out by my trigger finger. Back to my point , I shoot AR’s on the regular and if I owned an Alpha I would push down for fire not up , I would not be able to defeat my muscle memory and if I could it might create bad habits. Ruger makes a fine combat style .22 semi auto pistol that has a frame mounted safety right where JMB decided it should be except you push it up to fire down for safe. I do wish designers would take into account long standing common use designs especially when you are dealing with what is essentially an analog.
Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving! BB slept in until 6:30 am this morning! He is very thankful. Hurray!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and to all – every day should be a Thanks Giving Day for what we have and for our health. Of course, if you are a turkey, you will not share in this sentiment.
Happy Thanksgiving to All in America!
Siraniko
While it is not adjustable as delivered, that cheekrest looks easy as pie to modify cheaply to adjust to a higher position if desired. Simply replace the screws/bolts with a longer version and a couple of simple washer stacks or diy spacers would allow it to be raised and set to accommodate a higher cheek weld and cost next to nothing.
I gave this air rifle some consideration for being light, simple and won’t break the bank. Airguns keep getting better and better with more than ever to choose from, but I just got the Hatsan Blitz 777 and think I have reached the point of satiety when it comes to airguns. I already have light and simple airguns, but it sure is tac-t-cool looking and tempting to add to my collection. I have said things like that before but it’s about time I stick to it, for now anyway. 😉
Might want to read the owner’s comments on PA, noticed they added a leak down test option.
Sounds like my neighbor is hunting for a turkey. I delayed Thanksgiving till Saturday. A real-world necessity for my daughters but wish all a happy T Day.
Shootski,
Looks like I was right on with my call on that MD-11 aircraft. The left engine pylon exhibited signs of fatigue cracks and stress failure, according to the National Transportation Board.
Seems like whenever something is “Under Engineered” for weight and cost they put it on an inspection schedule. Unfortunately, they guessed wrong and overestimated the flight time required for the scheduled inspection. The world isn’t perfect.
Bob M,
I tend to agree on reaching the high watermark on my airguns with the purchase of the Crosman Challenger 2021. It would take a really really spectacular to get my wallet out; well maybe another Quackenbush or two ;^)
On the firearm side i am saving up for a Barrett .416 MRAD ELR that might well be my last centerfire.
“Unfortunately, they guessed wrong and overestimated the flight time required for the scheduled inspection. The world isn’t perfect.” That is why i worked my known failure procedures to the extreme in the full motion simulators and anything i could safely simulate in the real aircraft i flew. I was out with one of the crew a few nights ago who volunteered to fly a P-3 three engine ferry flight from St Johns to Brunswick with me just after having seen ALIENS. He remembered our Navigator asking how many 3 engine ferry flights i had done and my answer: At least seven…six simulated and ONE actual…this one.
I spent many Thanksgivings separated from my family and now i give thanks for still being around to celebrate the bounty that is ours.
Shipmate! May your family’s bounties grow and your load be lightened in the coming year.
shootski
To BB and all readership,
Happy Thanksgiving to all y’all! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate today!
A belated wish for our Canadian neighbors.
And a wish to all for a healthy, bountiful, and accurate year.
shootski
PS: I think i saw an early post (quickly disappeared Wednesday morning) by Tom on the topic of airgun and .22 Long Rifle accuracy comparison…was it real or just a dream?
Thanks, shootski, I thought I saw that, but when I woke up it was gone.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who saw it, LOL! 😉