Today reader Ian McKee, whose blog handle is 45Bravo, tells us about the accuracy of the new Zelos he is testing.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, Ian
Umarex Zelos precharged pneumatic air rifle: Part Three
by Ian McKee
Umarex Zelos.
This report covers:
- Umarex understates…
- … and over-delivers
- |Something a little different
- Retraction
- Out to 55 yards
- Lighter pellets
- Trick shots
- Zelos needs a bipod
Umarex understates…
Umarex seems to be an airgun company that under-advertises their airguns, or at least they seem to do it with the Zelos. In part two, I mentioned the aluminum air stripper, and the fact that the rifle generates more energy and a higher shot count than is advertised.
… and over-delivers
I am here to add two more features that are not mentioned in the marketing materials. The first is an adjustable butt pad that adjusts up and down to increase shooter comfort. The second is an adjustable hammer spring under that butt pad that lets you balance the force necessary to open the valve after adjusting the regulator.
An adjustable butt pad on the stock is another feature to add to the long list of features the Zelos brings to the shooting bench
Something a little different
I will show paper targets but will also insert a link to a few videos. I was using a Side Shot camera mount that looks through the scope through a prism. It redirects part of the image to your cell phone, and allows you to view your target through the scope normally.
I bought the Side Shot used at the last Texas airgun show, and just haven’t used it much with airguns.
Please excuse the shaky video. They say video makes you look fat, I am here to tell you it also shows exactly how shaky you are. I am still learning to be smooth and how to use the Side Shot setup.
I have removed the audio from the videos as there were several of us shooting that day and a backyard BBQ was going on. Some people’s language is not blog friendly and the music is copyrighted.
Retraction
A retraction: in Part 2, I said 25 yards is the new 10 yards. Apparently with the Zelos, 50 yards is the new 10 yards.
My first three groups with JTS 18.1-grain Dead Center pellets, AEA 18.3 grain pellets, and Benjamin 14.3 grain Single Die pellets all resulted in single hole groups at 25 yards.
Five 18.1-grain JTS Dead Center pellets grouped like this at 25 yards. All groups are five shots.
Five 18.3-grain AEA pellets made this group at 25 yards.
Five Benjamin Single Die (BSD) pellets made this group at 25 yards. No reason to keep wasting lead at 25 yards.
Out to 55 yards
Since 25 yards was going to be boring, I went directly to 55 yards. My first shots at 55 yards were on a steel plate just to see where I was hitting. I could see an imperfection in the spray paint covering an old hit, and used that for an aiming point.
First shots on steel
My first shot went exactly where I expected it to, and the next four went on top of each other.
I mentioned AEA pellets. A lot of competitors at recent events have been using them with great success. I understand that Pyramyd AIR does not sell them now, but they may be carrying them in the future. [Editor: I think they almost have to!]
The JTS pellets are hole-on-hole at 55 yards, as are the AEA and the FX 18 grain pellets. The Zelos does not seem to be pellet picky, or hold sensitive. I was shooting off of a bag, with no rear bag for support.
Five FX 18.1 grain domes did this at 55 yards. It doesn’t get much better!
Lighter pellets
The wind was blowing from left to tight at about 5-7 mph so the lighter 14.3 grain pellets started to string left to right with the wind gusts. Remember in part two, the 14.3 grain pellets were leaving the barrel in the high 900’s. When the wind was not blowing, the Benjamin Single Die pellets grouped well at 55 yards. And at that distance they showed no tendency to spiral.
After shooting the paper groups for the blog and a few short videos for the Zelos Facebook group on steel targets, I started relaxing and shooting targets of opportunity with my friends and letting them enjoy the Zelos.
Trick shots
While we were shooting, You Tube trick shot Rick Rhem who goes by the handle Shooter1721 sent me a short video of him shooting the Seneca air shotgun. The man is a phenomenal trick shot, and a really nice guy in person. He is always ready to help anyone and is a great ambassador for the airgun hobby. Tom recently wrote a blog about him and his talent using an out-of-the-box RAW Mini Hunter air rifle. If you have not seen him, please go check him out. He is a big supporter of Pyramyd AIR.
Not to be outdone, I picked up an empty 5.56 shell casing and stood it on a target stand at 55 yards, hit it first shot. BB says sorry folks but that video is a You Tube short and Word Press doesn’t like them. You can see it on 45Bravo’s You Tube page, but I could not see the cartridge case before he hit it, so I have to take him at his word that it fell.
Then I started trimming weeds at 55 yards with the Zelos using AEA 18 grain pellets. Please click on the link.
Zelos needs a bipod
The only issue I had shooting the Zelos is one I have always struggled with when shooting from a bag instead of a bipod. That is canting the rifle. It’s easier to maintain a vertical plane when on a solid bipod. But it is easy to slightly tilt the rile left or right when you have a round tube in the notch of a sandbag.
The next blog about the Zelos we will explore heavier pellets, and maybe some slugs at longer ranges. I have not and will not make adjustments to the regulator yet, I want to see how far we can reach out with factory settings.
Please tell me what you think about my adding some links to short videos in the blog. I am starting to figure out how to keep the target and reticle in focus.
Shoot safe, and have FUN!
Ian
“Five FX 18.1 grain domes did this at 55 yards. It doesn’t get much better!”
Ian,
Yeah, one big ragged hole at 55 yards…it doesn’t get much better, for sure…impressive! 🙂
Great report,
Blessings to you,
dave
Ian,
Boringly accurate. This rifle really is for long range shooting. Can the accessory rail be relocated or is it fixed in location to the air cylinder? If it can be relocated where will you place it along with the bipod?
Siraniko
Yes the lower picatinny rail can be relocated to anywhere along the length of the pressure tube.
I will have to try that next time to see if the placement of the bipod location has an effect on the accuracy.
Ian
Here is the link to the 5.56 case video.
It blends into the log but you can still see the shoulder of the case where it breaks a dark line on the log.
It doesn’t just fall, it just disappears…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/n7m9Il0-1f0
Ian
Ian, nice shooting. Sorry for my late comment. I notice that your 25 yard targets have very clean holes. Is that due to the backer behind the paper target? Or perhaps it is the velocity? At 50 yards, the different target paper makes for a less clean hole, but also perhaps the pellets have slowed down a bit? Are you using a similar backer as used at 25 yards? Usually one gets cleaner holes with wadcutters rather than domes, even at 10 yards. I have a great way of getting clean holes from domed pellets. Wondering what your formula is. Thanks.
My 25 yard targets were actual target paper for scoring.
They are or were made by the National Target Company and are the 50 ft small bore rifle targets.
Years ago, I bought 500 sheets from a sporting goods store that was going out of business.
A good $20 investment.
I was shooting them taped to a backer made from, Well I don’t know what it is exactly called, its a 2mm thick pressed cardboard with a paper laminate on each face. Advertising placards come pinted on them, and there are blank ones separating the printed ones I get the pressed cardboard from work for free. see photos below.
Sometime instead of the cardboard sheets, we get a 2mm thick plastic that signs are printed on they work well too.
Clean holes in the front, and a huge exit hole.
The 55 yard targets are the splatter targets on corrugated cardboard. it does not make precise holes for scoring, but they are easy to see.
The 55 yard targets is what our host had set up to shoot with both airguns and .22 LR.
Ian
and the front of the backer
the side profile
the back side of the backer
Ian,
Seems like a winner, winner chicken dinner….
How easy would it be to attach a bi-pod to this gun that looks like a Super Soaker water gun?
Sure shoots well,
-Y
Yogi,
Very easy as long as the bipod likes Picatinny rails. As Ian points out to Siraniko, the rail can also be slid along the length of the pressure tube. It can also be rotated left or right.
Ian,
I am starting to not like you and BB. The two of you are making it extremely difficult to not have Chinese airguns and pellets here at RRHFWA. The only possible saving I have is I have as yet to shoot one of my recent acquisitions. If it shoots as well as I have heard, I will be able to calm down my upsettedness for you gentlemen.
It will not be easy though. I have wanted a Zelos since I first saw a picture of one. That was back before Umarex even started marketing them. I must resist.
Ridgerunner.
Sometime in the near future, if you were to pay the airfare.
We might be able to arrange a temporary exchange student visa.
Just to see if there is a cultural compatibility there.
Ian.
Ian,
LOL! The issue would not be the “airfare” so much as the “exchange student”. I have more than enough airguns around here now without having another “drop by” for a visit. After I get rid of a couple around here now, I MAY allow some “old gal” to move in here for a bit, but most definitely not a “young’un”.
As it is I have three air pistols and three air rifles I have not shot yet and even more than that I have not written about. I think I have enough to keep me busy for a bit. Now maybe after I have a few more years on me, I might be interested in this “young’un”, but there are others I am also interested in. We will have to see what happens on down the road a bit.
I do thank you though.
Thanks for another excellent report. I loved the videos, please keep em coming. Your comments regarding controlling cant have me interested in trying a bipod. I have never even considered one before. What are some features to consider when looking for a relatively inexpensive bipod?
A lot would depend on your intended use of the rifle while on the bipod.
If benchrest shooting, then a solid heavy bipod is best.
If shooting at different “targets of opportunity” then a bipod with a pivot built in might be suggested.
I would look at your intended use and then choose one that would fit the shooting style you will be doing.
Ian.
Thanks Ian, that’s very helpful. I think a solid heavy bipod suits my current uses well. Now I know what to start looking for. 🙂
I think you need two 🙂
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA
At least two! 🙂
Wowee! Call FM astounded – of course, Ian is a good shot. Otherwise the targeting results would not be as good. You can have the most accurate rifle in the world but, in the hands of a not-so-accurate shooter like FM, you will not see the true potential of the gun. As for links to videos, bring them on unless it makes the editor’s job too challenging, of course.
It is refreshing to see a product that not only performs beyond expectations out-of-the-box but also does not come out with a bang of flashing smoke-and-mirrors marketing hype.
I was looking at the Zelos photos on Pyramid Air web page and note two socket head screws near the fill gauge and was wondering what their purpose was?
I looked at my current production Zelos, and it does not have those screws.
I think that was an early prototype that photos were used in the advertising.
I suspect they were to retain the pressure gage block in the main pressure tube in a certain orientation, i.e. gauge on left, right or bottom..
Ian.
Great shooting Ian! I own this rifle in .25 caliber and really like it. It feels solid, well built, and it is a shooter. The only negative that I am experiencing is the magazine. It never wants to stay in place. When I go to push the cocking lever forwards, sometimes it will not advance, due to the magazine not being flush. In order to rectify this issue, I simply push the mag (left) toward the gun. I am not sure why this issue is reoccurring. Certainly not a deal breaker, but annoying none the less. I wonder if anyone else is experiencing this issue as well.
I have not had that issue in .22 caliber.
Does it do it even when you are not “on the gun” as in its not against your shoulder?
Everyone has different ways of holding their rifles.
Some people hold their rifles across their body in a bladed stance where a right handed shooter could inadvertently press the magazine out of position.
Especially in the offhand position.
Ian.
Ian. I am indeed a right handed shooter and do shoot almost exclusively off hand. You may be on to something. I will pay more heed and see if I can determine the exact cause for the magazine displacement.
Excellent shooting Ian!
Good to see feature rich, accurate airguns at that price-point.
I’ve become a lot more tolerant of non-traditional rifle configurations in my old age. Even then, I find the Zelos to be a bit odd looking. I’m thinking that it would look better fitted with a bottle reservoir.
That being said, you can’t see the rifle while looking through the scope and a bit of ugliness is ok if the performance is good 😉
Thanks for the report!
Cheers!
Great blog post, Ian. I appreciate the amount of work you did here incorporating videos into your text along with photos. Now the problem is do I get a Zelos or an Avenge X? (I’m waiting for Mr. Fudd to reciprocate from my comment to him and tell me I need both).
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA
That’s a tough call.
And something that only the individual shooter can decide.
While they are both excellent and accurate rifles so far.
In sheer flexibility, the nod would have to go to the AvengeX.
You can change your stock, you can change your reservoir configuration, you can change the caliber, you can change the barrel length, all while using original OEM parts.
The Zelos is a very minimalist design that after almost 1500 rounds into the gun so far I have no complaints.
But you do have to stop and think, how often will you really change caliber on an air rifle?
I mean, I have a gun power stealth that came in 22, a friend of mine built a 177 caliber barrel for it.
I shot it in 177 for several months decided 22 caliber was much better suited for that Rifle in the philosophy of use that I use the rifle. The 177 caliber barrel has been sitting in a drawer for several years.
Ian
You definitely do need both. And if you change your mind after-the-purchase, the Elmer Fudd Foundation gladly does accept donations…. 😉
Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. I plan to go wabbit hunting but which wifle to choose…..
I know, Elmer. But I need to sell a few first but there aren’t any I want to sell. Not even the Chinese B-3 amputator rifle (easy to lose a finger if the sear slips when you are loading a pellet). Boy, Howdy!
Fred etc
You know, that just might be a good subject of a blog.
Exactly how many people have ACTUALLY been injured by the B3 design closing when not intended.
I have an example:
I own a 1911 Winchester semi auto shotgun.
It is dubbed “the widow maker” due to it not having a cocking handle on the bolt.
It is a long recoil design like the Browning A5 and was designed by John Browning (the subject of a future blog).
In my searching i can actually only find 2 instances of people in writing or news stories of people being injured by that gun.
One was in the 1920’s, while clearing a jam, the bolt closed on the thumb of an acquaintance of a popular gun writer of the time and the extractor pierced his thumb.
The other was in the late 80’s or early 1990’s one was found at a crime scene. The police officers were trying to figure out how to unload it without a cocking handle. The gun was discharged into the ground, and two or three officers suffered minor industries due to the shot blast. ( the news account is rather vague.)
But everyone knows that model shotgun as the Widow maker.
Hmm..
Any internet sleuths want to take up the B3 challenge?
Ian
Ian,
Yvette Hicks of AirForce Airguns used to work for Compasseco and can tell you of one amputation, or semi-amputation. One of their customers had a B3 sliding chamber close during loading, I believe Michol Ann Munson, one of the owners, told me about it years ago. She is no longer with us, but I bet Yvette remembers.
BB
Even one injury is too many in my opinion.
But i still wonder how many have there actually been.
45Bravo,
First things first, very nice shooting.
Thomas Crossley Johnson was the Winchester Designer who designed the 1911 Winchester semi auto shotgun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._C._Johnson
J.M. Browning designed the repeating shotgun that became (best i can tell) the Remington Model 11, Savage Arms Model 720, and Browning Arms Co. A-5.
shootski
Ian
I have that Winchester. It’s been in the family 100 + years. Never thought it was a M1 thumb hazard but it did discharge unexpectedly while hunting alone for bushy tails. I had pulled the barrel back into the receiver and locked it in the bolt open position. After placing a shell in the chamber I pushed the unlock button and got a slam fire into the ground. No harm was done but I never took it hunting again. I have tested it several times since and no slam fires.
Thanks for the fine report.
Deck