Air Venturi Alpha Compact Tube.
This report covers:
- The test
- RWS Hobby
- JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain dome
- JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned
- Sound level
- Shot count
- Trigger pull
- Does it hold?
- Summary
Today we look at the power of the .22-caliber Air Venturi Alpha Compact Tube precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle we’re testing. Step one was to fill the rifle to 3650 psi / 250 bar. I did that quickly with my RovAir compressor and the test was ready to begin.
To preserve the seals and o-rings inside the gun I applied high flashpoint silicone oil in the fill process. I just dropped some into the connector on the fill hose before attaching it. The air rushing into the reservoir would take care of the rest.
The test
Because I’m testing the Compact Tube model that gets about 20 shots per fill I decided to shoot 8-shot strings for velocity with each of three pellets. That way I get both the averages and the shot count more quickly.
RWS Hobby
For a light pellet I tested the RWS Hobby wadcutter. They averaged 935 f.p.s. That means this 11.7-grain pellet is developing 22.72 foot-pounds / 30.8 joules on average.
The low was 922 and the high was 949, a difference of 27 f.p.s. / 8.53 m/s.
JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain dome
Second to be tested was the JTS Dead Center 18.1-grain dome. They averaged 833 f.p.s. / 253.9 m/s which develops 27.89 foot-pounds / 37.81 joules at the muzzle. The low was 829 and the high was 837—a difference of 8 f.p.s. / 2.44 m/s.
JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned
The third pellet I tested was the 25.39-grain JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned. They averaged 734 f.p.s. / 242.01 m/s, which makes them develop 30.36 foot pounds / 41.16 joules at the muzzle. The low was 731 and the high was 736 f.p.s., a difference of five f.p.s. / 1.52 m/s.
So with the right pellet the Alpha is pretty consistent. And with others like the Hobby it isn’t.
Sound level
The rifle discharged with 108.5 dB, as shown here. That’s with the built-in silencer.
I read one customer comment that said the muzzle cap unscrews and a DonnyFL Ronin silencer can be attached, so I tried it. I could not get this one to budge with padded Channellock pliers. There are no flats or Allen wrench sockets that I would expect if removal of the cap was possible. I didn’t want to damage the gun since it isn’t mine so I left it alone.
Shot count
The rifle got 18 full-power shots before falling off the curve. I note that the rifle I’m testing is more powerful than the one described on the Pyramyd AIR web page, and that may account for two shots fewer. And this illustrates quite well why a chronograph is an important tool when testing a PCP.
Trigger pull
Stage one of the two-stage trigger pulls to 2 pounds 6 ounces / 1.077 kg and stage two breaks at 3 pounds 10 ounces / 1.644 kg. Stage two isn’t as clean as I would like it, but it is light enough and clean enough for me to work with. If I discover during accuracy testing that the trigger needs adjustment I’ll do it then. For now I’ll take it the way that it is.
Does it hold?
The last thing I did was photograph the onboard gauge, so we can compare it some time in the future. I had oiled the connector before filling, so everything inside should be okay. We shall see.
This is where she was when I put her away. Next time I’ll photograph this before starting.
Summary
So far this one is testing well. Let’s hope it’s accurate, too!
It looks nice, Hopefully it shoots as well as it looks.
At that energy level, that would be a great small game gun.
Look out squirrels!!
Happy Friday everyone
Ian
Or Iguanas
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/environment/2025/04/10/youll-never-guess-what-this-marco-iguana-hunter-has-for-breakfast/82882798007/
Deck
It is a rather nice-looking air rifle. The price is pretty good also. I am not crazy about the fill pressure though. That is higher than anything at RidgeRunner’s Home For Wayward Airguns. I just thought my BSA was high.
The usual early morning commenters may be recovering from Christmas cheer, explaining their absence. Or perhaps they are busily unboxing and getting acquainted with their new airguns. Happy Boxing Day, to whom this may concern. 😉 Nice rifle featured today; it would make a good iguana-taker.
We can slowly start the game to compare the different new PCPs from the many new unknown brands hitting the Western market, and learn from which Chinese receiver, grips, reservoir, stock they were built together.
At this point, most new PCPs are just the same Chinese modular OEM parts over and over again.
Mel83
It’s obvious by now that Spa/Artemis or whatever brand name they use is the biggest maker/supplier of airguns right now. It’s good though that they make partnerships with many western retailers, especially in the USA, so they present interesting products. If only the quality could be on par with the old western world’s standards as well… Even at a higher price tag.
I’m torn on this topic.
The time when one factory makes a whole product is long gone. Every car is an assortment of modular parts. I guess I could set up a rifle company and assemble a whole rifle from Hogue stock, Shilen barrel, Timney trigger etc etc without making a single part myself, and yet get a very good result.
But it bears the danger that one big Asian company steamrolls everyone in the field, and we get a hodgepodge of kludged together PCPs which are really just the same over and over again, and are sold to us as different brands.
Mel83,
It’s already happening with the gun Turkey is producing I think.
Siraniko
Tom,
The silencer / moderator should come off, based on Sub12 AirGunners disassembly of the SnowPeak AP900 but the version from Air Venturi may have Loctite on the threads. This would require the use of a heat gun on low or a hair dryer on high to loosen the thread sealant. This is what I did for the silencer on my Chaser rifle kit to remove the silencer to use on either barrel with the kit.
Mike
Mike,
I have a heat gun. I’ll give it a try.
BB
BB,
I posted the review on PA about removing the factory moderator and mounting a Ronin. From what I’ve found from other Alpha reviews is that some have thread sealant and some do not. My silencer did not have loctite. But it was on VERY tight. The air stripper attached to the barrel that secures the carbon fiber shroud had some type of permanent thread sealant on it and it was a bear to unscrew. I scarred the aluminum air stripper badly and until I had it 90% unthreaded I couldn’t tell if I was unscrewing it or spinning the barrel in the receiver and mangling the seals. But I was committed at that point.
The Alpha is a marvel, if you ask me. I love everything about it. But it is too loud for my yard and the shooting I want to do. I added a larger diameter shroud tube, a longer vented air stripper, and a DonnyFL Ronin. It is much quieter, but I don’t think I’m getting any great gains from the larger shroud. If I were to do it again I would leave the shroud alone and just add a big can.
I can verify that the stock air stripper is drilled to vent into the barrel shroud. The shroud however has no seals at either end. No o-rings, no glue, just a tight friction fit. I didn’t notice any air blowing by, but I wasn’t looking for it.
ProfSteelToe,
Good to know. Thanks!
BB
B.B.,
P AIR description: “…the barrel is shrouded and has an integrated moderator that leads to quieter shots than expected for an air rifle at this power level.” ????
Hopefully you have been able to remove the ineffective, 108.5 dB, built-in sup-pos-ed moderating device!
“I could not get this one to budge with padded Channellock pliers. There are no flats or Allen wrench sockets that I would expect if removal of the cap was possible.”
One of the questions was: “The plastic bag that the misc. accessories were packed in included a 1/2-20 threaded end cap and a short length of steel tubing (maybe 1″ OD x 2-1/2″ long with a hole drilled in it). What is the steel tube for? Is the barrel threaded 1/2-20 inside that fixed moderator?”
Another person wrote: “The silencer is threaded and will unscrew. Mine was very tight and I had to put pliers to it, but there wasn’t any glue or Loctite on the threads. If you put tools to it to loosen it, protect the carbon fiber shroud and only grab the black aluminum with your pliers. You might put several wraps of masking tape around the parts that the pliers teeth will grab to protect it. I put a DonnyFl Ronin on it and it is doing a fine job.” Probably our own PST
If your’s is not off yet i would have used nitrile or latex glove shod hand(s) to get a good grip on the moderators body; i find that often works on more than just Sauerkraut jar lids ;^)
IF that doesn’t work then i reach for a wide Rubber Oil Filter Strap Wrench like the ones sold at Home Depot well before going near the Channellock® or Vice-Grip® pliers.
108.5 dB is far too much for a pesting gun in my opinion. I have a Donny FL Sumo on my .22 caliber Benjamin Marauder (under 82 dB) that allows me to hear the pests while shooting without ear protection.
Your Donny FL Ronin might get you close to that low noise level on the Compact Alpha.
shootski