by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Umarex Forge.
This report covers:
- Mounting the scope
- Sight in
- The test
- Poor scope
- JSB Exact RS
- Falcon pellets
- H&N Hammer pellets
- Don’t care for the flex
- Evaluation so far — world class!
- Next
Today I mount the scope that came with the Umarex Forge and I’ll step back to 25 yards to test the accuracy. Part 3 was a blessing because I found two good pellets and I also learned the best way to hold the rifle That sped up today’s preparation time a lot.
Mounting the scope
Mounting the scope was easy. The rings have two screws per cap, so there is no need to tighten them in any pattern and the base is a Weaver that fits the Forge’s Picatinny rail well. Since I knew the Forge doesn’t recoil too much, I also knew the mounting screws only needed to be snug.
Sight in
Once the scope was mounted I shot a single shot from 12 feet and discovered the rifle was hitting high and to the right. I adjusted the scope and fired several shots to get it into the bull at 25 yards. It took six shots to get the scope adjusted where I wanted.
The test
I shot from 25 yards off a sandbag rest, using the artillery hold. My off hand was stretched out as far as it would comfortably go under the forearm.
Poor scope
The 4-32 scope that’s included with the rifle is another tent peg! The image at 25 yards is blurry and I could not adjust the eyepiece to get the reticle lines sharp. I had to guess where they intersected. The only good thing I can say about this scope is it adjusts correctly and without stiction. In other words, when an adjustment is made, you don’t have to fire a shot to get the scope to move. It moves with just the adjustment.
JSB Exact RS
The first pellet was also the one I used to sight in — the JSB Exact RS dome. I checked the first shot with the spotting scope because the 4-power scope on the rifle was both too weak and too blurry to see the pellet holes in the black. After that I didn’t look at the target again until I went downrange to change it.
Ten JSB RS pellets made a group that measures 0.973-inches between centers. Nine are in 0.674-inches. That’s not too bad, considering the poor scope. Do I think this rifle can do any better? Probably, but not by a large amount. I think we are seeing its representative accuracy here.
At 25 yards the Forge put 10 JSB RS pellets into 0.973-inches. Not bad!
Falcon pellets
I tried the Falcon pellet from Air Arms next. It is the other pellet that did well at 10 meters in the last test. At 25 yards the Forge put 10 Falcons into 0.826-inches. That’s an even better group, overall, but the one shot that opened the JSB group might have been due to the scope.
The Forge put 10 Air Arms Falcon pellets into 0.826-inches. This is a good one.
H&N Hammer pellets
For the final pellet I decided to try the H&N Hammer. The description says these are for plinking, when pinpoint accuracy doesn’t matter. Looking at the 1.536-inch group they produced, I would have to agree with that sentiment. The group is vague and open, unlike the other two.
Ten Hammer pellets went into 1.536-inches at 25 yards.
Don’t care for the flex
As I shot this test I could feel the synthetic Nucleus Rail flex every time I cocked the rifle. I don’t care for that feeling. It, along with the heavy trigger, detract from an otherwise world-class breakbarrel spring rifle.
Evaluation thus far — world class!
And yes, that is my evaluation of this Forge air rifle. It is definitely world class. It offers accuracy, decent power and good looks at a price no other air rifle has been able to match. Cocking is easy and the firing cycle is relatively calm. It has adjustable open sights that are easy to use.
On the down side the trigger pull is too heavy and the Nucleus Rail flexes when the rifle is cocked. For all this rifle offers I can tolerate those few things.
Next
I will mount a better scope on the Forge and test it one more time. I think this rifle deserves a fine scope, to compliment its accuracy.
The accuracy of a Diana 34 at half the price with twice the beauty.
Not a bad effort from Umarex.
BB you did well with your prediction that the 10 yard results would scale to 0.8 at 25.
Sean,
Do you want to bet that after the initial shipment the manufacturer will start cutting corners and the quality goes down?
You are a glass half empty sort of person aren’t you? 😉
I prefer to hope Umarex are delighted by what they have, give it a big marketing push, which forces other manufacturers to match them. The springer version of Mrod.
Mine is usually empty.
Umarex did not build this. This was made by Wang Po Industries in Bang Yu, China.
Crosman has not fixed their trigger in years. What makes you think the Chinese will?
RR
You need to start specifying the China trigger Springer Nitro Piston guns from Crosman and Benjamin.
Crosman and Bengamin Marauder pistol and rifle triggers are excellent. Including the 1720T trigger.
Have you owned any of the guns your talking about and the ones I’m talking about? And no I didn’t say shot any of them. I said owned. And if you have you would know what I mean on both accounts of the guns I mentioned.
GF1,
Well, I figured we were talking about sproingers so everybody would know I was talking about Crosman sproingers. As for their PCP triggers we are fortunate that they were designed when Crosman was interested in making good products. Since then they have designed the Rogue, Bulldog, etc. and they are junk. Now all they are concerned with is numbers. If they designed the Marauder now, I can guarantee you would not be singing it’s praises.
RR
All speculation.
No proof.
Sorry not going there.
GF1,
I was able to shoot the Bulldog that was brought to one of the GTA Fun Shoots by a Crosman employee. I was not impressed with it at all. However, at that same Fun Shoot I had the opportunity to shoot various Marauders and Discoverys. I was indeed impressed with them.
My friend loaned me his Rogue to play with for a few months that year also. I have to say the trigger on it was pretty good really. As for the rest of it, Crosman had the opportunity to hit one out of the park and they struck out.
Crosman has had years to do something with their sproinger triggers. When they brought out there new NP2 series they could have given it a redesigned trigger then, but they didn’t. Tyler just did a review of their newest Trail NP2 SDB or whatever and it has a trigger that breaks at over seven pounds. Really?
I understand the whys and wherefores of manufacturing and mass production and what a design change can mean. I can only hope that one day Crosman will decide to bite the pellet and bring out a world class sproinger.
RR
I agree with you about when Crosman brought out the NP2. Definitely should of had a better trigger figured out by now.
That’s why I don’t own any of them anymore.
But I’ll take the true two stage trigger that’s on the 1720T, Marauder pistol or Marauder rifles. And have to say they fall right in with the higher dollar Weirauch, and Diana triggers. And actually to me can be adjusted better than the German guns I mentioned. But of course can’t compare any of the ones I mentioned to the FWB 300 triggers.
But yes Crosman should definitely by now done something with their Spring and Nitro Piston gun triggers.
In what way does the rail flex?
If you are cocking it by holding the stock by the wrist, and the barrel by the shroud, I don’t see how you can feel it flex.
While I am not a dedicated springer guy, this one has my attention.
This is gen 1, maybe they will improve the trigger and fix the flex in gen 2.
45Bravo,
I wouldn’t hold my breath for that. There is not enough money involved for them to consider redesigning this air rifle. They will rely on it catching the eye of the newbie and after sales fall off they will dress it up a little different for the next time.
45Bravo,
The rail flexes by opening up away from the spring tube. I don’t hold the rifle at the wrist to cock. I hold it at the rear of the spring tube, where the flex is.
I cal also hear and see the flex in the forearm.
B.B.
B.B.,
Shouldn’t the scope be attached to something that doesn’t flex back and forth? The copy from the Forge Pyramyd AIR page says, “This long Picatinny rail is FORGED [emphasis theirs] with the action to reduce noise, vibration, and to maintain your scope’s zero.”
I’m no blacksmith, but I thought “forged” would mean shaped with/to with heat and hammering, or perhaps firmly attached to as in forging a bond. Of course another definition of “forged” is “faked,” although that is obviously not what they mean.
Michael
Michael,
Yes, but I don’t know if this movement is that bad yet. Let me test with a good scope and we’ll see.
B.B.
Agree
With Michael on the flex.
BB,
It sounds like they took a good, long look at Crosman’s NP2 trigger. It breaks at over 7 pounds also.
B.B.,
When you revisit the Umarex Forge can you please show why the Nucleus Rail should flex? I know it is synthetic yet you did mention that it was so tightly fitted that it required a few raps from a mallet to reveal the barrel pivot. Considering your remark that it flexes I am now going to wonder about the longevity of this mounting system for the Picatinny rail. I have seen a few rifles on the internet with synthetic rails pulled off their mounting because of springer recoil. Although with the accuracy it had produced it seems to be working for now.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I’m having the same thoughts. Let me think about how to show the flex. The why may be even harder to determine.
B.B.
B.B. it is kinda off topic but here in Croatia (now EU) laws are strict for stronger air rifles -but still I kinda want to buy B. Marauder and my only question is from one to ten is it a god or great rifle (or just hyped )!?
Milan,
It’s true. The Marauder is a fine air rifle. great trigger, decent accuracy and power adjustment features that no other rifle has. I like the synthetic stock over the wood, though the new wood is slimmer and lighter than it used to be.
Milan,
I would advise you to wait for an Umarex Gauntlet instead of a Marauder, but since January, all anyone has done with a Gauntlet is wait. There was a prototype passed around at an American Airgunner taping back in April, but none have arrived for sale anywhere that I know of. I suspect unlike the Benjamin Turbo Aire hand pump, which never actually existed except in the form of a mock-up and drawings, Umarex actually was ready to go but then decided they had underestimated their prices (suggested retail, actual retail, wholesale) and production costs, and realized they had promised it at $150-$250 less than they can deliver it for.
Simply to avoid bad press, manufacturers have quietly canceled products in the past for that very reason alone. Consider that no actual photos, only digital renderings, have been released of the Umarex Ace-of-Spades. Sure, it might come out someday, but it and the Gauntlet have been listed as “back ordered” on Pyramyd Air’s website for months, two months for the Ace-of-Spades and about six months for the Gauntlet.
Michael
Allow me to revise the above. Counting the added back-ordered schedule, the Ace-of-Spades has been backordered for four months and the Gauntlet for eight months.
Umarex should realize there is a fine line between building anticipation and losing one’s interest.
Michael
Michael,
That is sad if it is true. I suspect that it is. I suppose it might be a case of a foreign manufacturer not being able to deliver the promised goods to the U.S. in time for prompt delivery/launch. If I were one to keep track of such things and see it on a repeated basis,… I would steer clear of that brand/company,.. on principal alone.
The H&N excite pellet is a pellet I bought because of the graphic on the tin, sort of a post modern design. However the performance was lackluster like the hammer, seems like any pellet I’ve tried with the striations on the skirt have not been the most accurate. I think I’ve seen this style called rifled pellets?
Coduece,
People may call the striations rifling, but they’re not. They are just a mechanical means of grabbing the pellet for certain manufacturing operations.
B.B.
I picked one up and have no plans to mount a stinker 4x scope. Manufacturers would do better to either drop the price slightly and sell without the scope ,or include a decent 3x9for a higher price. Would rather have Pyramid offer scope bundles like a low end Leaper, and mounts. Otherwise a great value for the price
Hey all the best from Croatia!!!! (Europe)
Well yeah, Diana must the better rifle, but in my experience, it has a habit …well just to break springs and that is not cool 🙂
My next rifle is Marauder 😉
Milan,
Welcome back. It’s good to hear that your mother is better!
B.B.
B.B. I’m back from Vukovar and although my laws about air guns/ rifles are restricted I will do my best to help one way or another -glad to see YOU, my friend!
All the best to all noble people in this forum on mine.pigeon ‘ English -yeah I’m back 🙂
Milan
What caliber Marauder you want to get?
I had many Marauders. In all calibers. Wood and synthetic. Generation one and generation two of what I mentioned.
Get one. Excellent guns.
BB et all..
I would have posted this earlier but my internet has been down for a day.
BB – the blog is not reporting replies via email anymore. Any idea what’s happening with that feature.
Just reading thru my blogs from the weekend and have just realized now that I entered some really incorrect numbers. Check the time stamp on the entry – the reason could be that that late at night I was probably bouncing off the walls which definitely affected my writing for the worst.
Embarrassing but I need to correct the numbers as follows for 50 yards:
– not mentioned only 5 shot groups
– not mentioned forearm resting on sandbag
– initial 3½” group should be 5½” group
– just under 2″ should be just under 4″
– 1½” to 1¾” should be 2½” to 2¾”
I’ve been out with the rifle several times since but the heavy cocking effort – about 65lbs – just does me in after about 30 shots so only up to about 340 shots in total so far with groups 3½” to 4”.It may take me a while and a bottle of Ibuprophene to get a full tin of pellets through this gun.
Once again apologies for inputting incorrect data.
Cheers
Dave
Dave
I have been receiving email replys. Sounds like something on your end.
Dave,
I have no idea about the emails.
You are posting corrections to a comment you made somewhere else. I’m guessing you are talking about a Hatsan springer (because of the cocking effort).
B.B.
BB
Yes, the gun is a Hatsan Torpedo 155 in .177 cal.
Dave
Dave,
From the cocking effort I would have guessed a 155.
B.B.
Hi BB et all..
Another blog entry completely off topic describing what I’ve been up to for the last 3 or 4 weeks: (I’ve checked all the numbers and they’re all good).
The creek that cuts through my property is roughly 80 feet below the surrounding terrain and cuts an “S” shaped curve enclosing about 5 acres a few hundred yards behind my house. Last spring I had a BobCat cut out two berms on the north bank of the backbone part of the “S”.
I can get a 75 yard clear range and with a little tree cutting separate 100 yard and 150 yard ranges would be possible. For now it will only be a 50 yard airgun and .22LR range. There is also about 1500 feet of mowed path in the trees with about 25 targets at different locations and ranges. Think FT for Action Pistols! It’s a great way to spend an afternoon!
The nice thing is that I can stand anywhere in the creek bottom area and be surrounded by 80 foot creek banks both sides for a full 360°. I have shot all kinds of rifles and shotguns down there. Makes for a nice safe shooting environment.
The 50 yard airgun range with heavy shooting bench is basically finished. One berm has a steel gong and smaller self healing targets made from 1\2″ rubber conveyor belt from the local cement plant. A 7.62x54r goes right through the target and disintegrates in the soft berm leaving a hole in the rubber that looks like it was made by wiggling a thumb tack. It’s funny stuff because a .22LR leaves a hole double the size, like if you wiggled the thumb tack twice in the rubber. A magnum velocity pellet is captured by the surface layer of the rubber enclosing the waist – leaving the skirt out enough to be easily picked out leaving a hole noticeably larger than the others. Sub 650 fps pellets and BB’s leave a round spall and because the targets hang on an integral 1″ strap they’re reflected into the ground directly in front of the target. A little spray paint after a days shooting and the holes just about disappear. The other berm has an assortment of noisy targets for airgun and firearms6.
The range also has a toe rail pistol lane angled into the airgun range with target posts set at 7yards, 10 metres and 15 yards with several moveable target stands out to the two berms at 30 and 40 yards.
On the gong BB’s make a nice ping. The Hatsan Torpedo 155 rings nice and loud and .22LR sounds like a ships bell. The Mosin Nagant makes the place sound like Sunday morning!
At 50 yards only spalls on the gong so far mostly because the gong is made from a piece of AR500 or better armour plate 16 inches square and 1½” thick angled to ricochet into the ground. A stake with a chain a few feet behind the gong pulls it back enough to angle it down but the ground is so soft the heavy plate straightenes itself out after a few groups and the stake has to be sledged into a new location.
Addendum to the above:
!!YAHOO!! Yesterday evening I sold the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and 400 rounds of ammo! No more rotator cuff bruising. I really hated that gun.
I also removed the ground stake that I chained to the bottom of the gong to angle it into the ground.
I’ll only use it for small calibre rounds now. Monday morning, wearing a full face shield, and after about 200 rounds downrange of .22LR at 50 yards, nothing came back to the shooting bench. I think it will be quite safe for the smaller calibres up to 9mm pistol as long as I maintain the 50 yards.
The range is nearly finished now and next week after I place a few stumps for bowling pins ‘n stuff and build a loading table on the pistol range it will be done.
Targets, although, will always be an ongoing job.
It was a fun summer project. I didn’t even begrudge digging the posts in by hand in the 90° weather we’ve been having lately.
And of course, as every new feature was added, I just had to test it out! So, even though it’s not yet finished, I’ve probably got 2500 rounds down range already!!
It’s been a great summer so far!!
Cheers
Dave
Pretty cool. You could start your own gun club with a set-up like this, or become one of those online shooting personalities.
Matt61
Matt61
Sorry no gun club here – I like my private range and the reason for it is I used to drive to a public range about 30 miles away. It was closed last year due to yahoos using it for dumping old appliances, toasters and fridges etc. then shooting them full of holes and leaving them for someone else to cleanup. A lot of good people used that range but it took only a few bad apples to spoil it for everyone. I think that soured the gun club that set up the public range from ever doing a public range again. That range was convenient for me and I would love to join the gun club there but the membership has been closed for a few years now with no visible openings in the future.
Cheers
Dave
Dave
Don’t you love ballistics.
Gunfun1
Yes, ballistics are a lot of fun!
BTW the Daisy 74 is still being used a lot. It’s a fun gun for plinking on my woods walk. Designed mostly for steel BB Action Pistols the walk has targets up to 25 yards with a few up to 35 yards and if you want to shoot around trees ranges can be much longer. The 74 does real well there and a lot of the time I go through two co2 cartridges.
Cheers
Davey
Dave
Nice.
🙂
B.B.
There seems to be a problem with the “comments RSS” feed. It opens but the topics are just black and if I click on a topic nothing happens. Normally they are blue and once I click on the topic the color changes to purple to indicate that the post has been read. It was working fine this morning but not this afternoon.
George,
I have reported it. I have the same problem.
B.B.
I’m having a little trouble putting all this together. A rifle shooting JSB Exacts that shoots an okay 10 shot group with a smaller subgroup that is okay considering a poor scope and could be better with a good scope but not by that much doesn’t sound like world-class to me. But I haven’t shot the rifle. I’ll just have to look in the PA catalog to see if this gun gets the smiling Tom Gaylord stamp of approval.
I with I had thought to ask if hobnailed boots work on polished floors. I totally wiped out at work. In fact, I was so wobbly on the floors that I was effectively trapped at my desk and even unable to go to lunch. Wiping out at the dining hall with a tray of food would have been too much. I even lost a few pounds towards my diet as a result. I’m reminded of a gun writer reviewing a new flintlock rifle who said, “I was ready to wrap that rifle around a tree!” I was ready to wrap those boots around a tree. Instead of giving me new capabilities and a bit of fashion, the boots didn’t even let me stand up. But after experimenting with other surfaces, I felt better. The boots actually work extremely well on anything but a polished floor. The nails dig into a soft surface like cleats. Even on a hard surface, the nails concentrate the weight and create friction. But when you’re on a polished surface, all bets are off, and you can hardly stand. On the Eastern Front, the Russians should have just sprayed water in front of their defensive positions to create a sheet of ice and the attacking Germans would have gone tumbling in all directions.
I suppose that a polished surface is outside the design envelope of the boots just as the AK gives up extreme accuracy as part of its design. And maybe there is a historical angle. In earlier times, the kind of people who wore hobnailed boots were not the kind of people who walked on polished floors. There is a scene in the novel Huckleberry Finn where Huck’s abusive and alcoholic father shows up in town which Huck discovers when he sees the print of his father’s boots with a cross made of nails on one of the heels for superstitious reasons. A new judge attempts to reform the father and even gives him a room in his house. However, that night, the father sneaks out for a jug of “forty rod” and has such a good time with it that the next morning, they needed to take soundings in the room. The judge takes it badly and says that the only to reform the old man is with a shotgun.
On a similar note, a fictional Roman gladiator who is unfrozen in modern times remarks on the scale and uniformity of products in the modern world. Running down stairs away from hospital attendants, he says that the modern barbarians are awash in iron. It could be that the era of vast, well-maintained public spaces with polished floors are more modern than we think. The Boston Public Library, the first modern library, in 1876 was revolutionary as a large building devoted to public services. The hobnails are an old technology that was disappearing just as the modern cities were developing in the 20th century.
But for myself, I understand that there is a kind of boron paste that is applied to horse shoes to give the horses a grip on slippery surfaces, and that might be the cure for hobnailed boots. If so, it would go to show that there is a mechanical fix for just about everything.
Ton, good to hear from you and thanks for the report on the Gamo Swarm. Not to worry. I’m all set with my IZH 61 which has a repeating mechanism and is plenty accurate enough for my purposes. Manufacturers, take note of the the niche here.
Matt61
BB—Why do you waste time by mounting and testing the inferior scopes that are included with some rifles ? I know that you want our bloggers to get a good report re the rifle and it,s sights. But you should be able to asses the quality of a scope, without mounting it. Most of the time you replace the scope with a better one anyway, and then repeat the test. I would be more than satisfied if you just said that the scope was sub-par, and than went on to test the rifle (or gun) with a good scope. ——-Ed
Ede,
Sometimes I am surprised. If I never test these scopes we will never know for sure they are bad.
B.B.
BB
Now you sound like what I use tell you all the time about you testing or not testing something.
Yes try. And yes I like good surprises. 😉
GF1,
On Geo’s quest to find a better shooter, is there any single pump or multi-pump that would suffice for 25 yard sparrow pesting? I figured that you might have an opinion with your vast experience. From the comment’s,.. I think that Geo would prefer as scope-able version of something.
Chris
Definitely got a few recommendations.
Definitely a 760 out to 25 yards and scopable. A Benjamin .22 caliber 397. And they are scopable too. But just costs a bit more because of mounting the scope.
And here is definitely a good one if someone wants to build one or get it from the Crosman custom shop. The infamous 1322 or 1377 with a Crosman steel breech and a Discovery or Maximus barrel and a 1399 skeleton stock. And yes scopable with the Crosman steel breech. You remember the one I made from a Discovery. Wood stock and all. Here this one. Very, very accurate guns I just described.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2g7QSCknKI
Meant 392. The 397 is .177 caliber.
GF1,
Well, there you go. I figured that you would have some useful input on a PCP alternative. I just want to see Geo get some peace of mind and pesting satisfaction. Thanks.
Chris
With you on that.
And just wait and see how hard it gets out there pesting without the bench involved.
Even a PCP or pumper has to be held steady to make the shot count. You ever watch anybody plinking standing unsupported. They start doing the figure 8 motion while trying to hold on target and pull the trigger at the right time. The longer they take to make the shot the bigger the figure 8 gets.
Definitely alot to get right to hit on target. Much different than bench resting.
Chris,
A Sheridan blue or silver streak with a Mac1 scope mount for it.
Jim
Jim,
I was thinking something that can be bought new and now,… unless I am wrong on that. Sorry, I am not up on my blue’s and silver’s. Thanks for the advice though. I got the pump and tank and am frankly a bit spoiled by it all. For someone just starting out, with a specific purpose,.. a PCP might be a bit over kill,… on power and cost. Just looking for a solution to Geo’s quandary.
Chris:
A good Sheridan Blue (or Silver) C Series, with a decent scope mount like the Mac1 mount would cost about the same or a little more than a Maximus, Chief, or other low cost PCP. Of course, you would still have to add filling equipment.
A Crosman 2100 might fit the bill. I’m not personally familiar with this rifle but it gets good reviews.
/product/crosman-2100b-air-rifle?m=226
A Crosman Custom Shop 1300KT would also be a good choice.
Jim
BB—- By a good report, I do not mean a deliberately good report on a bad or inferior product. I mean a good report that is fair and honest.—Ed
Test.
B.B.
BB,
I hope you are bringing this rifle to the Teas Airgun Show. I would really like to hold one to see how it feel foe me.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim,
I will bring it.
B.B.
Monsieur Pelletier (said with a french accent, trying something different today),
You haven’t spoke of noise so far. How back yard friendly is this rifle?
I hope TX goes fabulous.
Your Friend,
W
W,
The Forge is as quiet as many spring-piston rifles. It doesn’t break the sound barrier and for a gas spring (they are noisier, usually) it is quiet. It’s not as quiet as a Diana 27 that’s been tuned, or any spring gun that’s been well tuned, but it’s a lot quieter than a more powerful gas spring rifle.
B.B.