Umarex Markpoint air pistol.
This report covers:
- What is it?
- Big
- Different feel
- Finish
- Trigger
- Sights
- Cocking
- Safety
- Power
- Summary
Today we begin looking at the Markpoint air pistol from Umarex. This report series will be interesting because it will go in several different ways.
What is it?
The Markpoint is a breakbarrel spring-piston air pistol. That’s something you don’t hear that often. Sure, they exist but these days most air pistols are precharged pneumatics (PCP) and things like velocity and power are the primary focal points. Shooters want to know how to mount scopes and buttstocks on them—turning them into something they are not. That isn’t going to happen with the Markpoint.
The Markpoint is an air pistol that I would have said was designed to shoot BBs, but at the 2025 SHOT Show I was given the impression it was also excellent for airgun darts. Since darts are something of interest to you readers I had to get a pistol to test. As it turns out, the barrel is rifled with a right-hand twist so this is a pellet pistol.
Not single stroke!
On the Umarex website the description says the Markpoint is a single-stroke break-barrel. It IS NOT a single stroke! People unfamiliar with airghuns will say things like that and confuse others. This is a spring-piston air pistol.
Big
It comes in a blister pack and it was there that I learned the pistol was a pellet pistol! I was wrong about the BBs. Let’s look.
The Markpoint package is sitting behind a 12-inch/30.48cm ruler. It’s large!
The print on the package says the Markpoint is a pellet pistol.
When my neighbor Denny saw the package he commented that this big pistol would be a hard one to hold. He never lifted the package so I suppose it looked that way to him. Actually this Markpoint weighs about 1.75 pounds, so it’s not that heavy, but it does feel different.
Different feel
The grip is long, both up and down as well as front to back. I don’t mean to insult it but in my average hand it sort of feels like holding a two by four. I think shooters with larger hands will like it for the grip. I don’t mean sausage fingers—just big hands.
And there is a grip safety. A working grip safety! That is not common on an air pistol and unheard of on one that costs so little.
There is a working grip safety.
Finish
The outside of the pistol is almost entirely plastic. The surface is matte. This does not look like an air pistol anyone will take apart, but watch the YouTube boys prove me wrong. It does have tiny Phillips screws all around.
Trigger
One of our readers who has one commented on the heavy trigger, so I had to try it for you. I have shot competition 10-meter target pistol triggers and even triggers on free pistols that break in ounces, so I should be a trigger snob. The Markpoint trigger is very heavy, but not at all what I was led to expect. It is creepy and the pull is long, but it’s fine for this pistol. Try shooting an old Colt double action revolver like an Army Special if you want to feel a heavy trigger!
Sights
The sights are not adjustable, but they are clear and sharp-looking. I won’t know how well they work until I shoot for accuracy, but at this early stage I find them entirely acceptable. There are NO FIBEROPTICS! Yea, Umarex!
Cocking
The force required to cock the pistol was a great unknown until I shot it the first time. The barrel breaks open butter-smooth and the cocking is light and easy. Ten-year-old kids should be able to cock a Markpoint, though the size of the grip and the weight of the trigger will prevent them from shooting it.
Safety
In addition to the grip safety there is also a manual safety on the left side of the pistol. It is manually-operated so there is no fiddling with an auto safety that has to be released each time before firing. That’s another kudo for Umarex. I tried it and it does work, though I must observe that on this new pistol it’s both hard to put on and take off.
The manual safety is on the left side of the pistol.
Power
The package says to expect 395 f.p.s. with non-lead pellets. Of course I will test that for you, as well as conventional lead pellets and darts.
Summary
The Umarex Markpoint pellet pistol is an unusual breakbarrel spring-piston pistol that has features not seen on airguns costing much more. This should be a fun series!
B.B.
Poor grips and a heavy trigger ruin a pistol for me. Long, but at least it is not heavy. How can the heavy trigger NOT make you pull your shot? It the heavy trigger pull 100% or more(lol) straight back?
-Yogi
PS I wanted to like it. I love pistols, and I love breakbarrels, but poor grips and a heavy trigger pull make it hard.
Yogi,
I won’t know about pulling the shots until I test for accuracy.
BB
I hope this leads to a long series? I would love to know the merits and demerits for this pistol.
Yes, it already has two strikes against it, but something has to be good about it? No??
-Y
It’s cheap. :o)
Yogi,
I think RG figured out what is good about this pistol. Now, I do have big hands, and I really like the idea of the grip safety. The trigger pull does sound like it is going to be a nonstarter though. That might change over time though as it wears in. The trigger is at a much better angle than the one on the Strike Point, so it might even stand a chance.
I do realize this thing is from one of Uncle Xi’s buddies. Also, this thing is in no way comparable to my Izzy. It is also likely to not be held in a favorable light to my Webley air pistols, though you are not likely to pinch your fingers with it. 😉
On the positive side, it is a break barrel, and we all know how you feel about them. 😉
Tom,
I think this is an engineering exercise by Umarex. A plastic fantastic low cost pistol resulting in a lightweight, low effort pellet gun. Hopefully the trigger will smoothen out with use so that the potential accuracy will improve. Here’s looking for part 2 for the cocking effort and the actual trigger weight. This definitely not a target pistol. It’s relatively low power makes it suitable for indoor use. More likely built for people who don’t want to spend much and experience what shooting an air pistol is like. I don’t think this will make a good impression on a newbie though.
Siraniko
PS Section Finish 1st paragraph 4th sentence: “It do3es (does) have tiny Phillips screws all around.”
Siraniko,
Fixed. Thanks,
BB
Siraniko,
Umarex had nothing to do with the design of this air pistol. This is another Snow Peak. All Umarex did was have their name put on it. Maybe they named it the Markpoint, but I would not wager on that.
RidgeRunner,
If by Snowpeak you mean China Generic I agree (who else could make it at that price?), but this particular pistol isn’t listed on the Snowpeak website https://www.china-airrifle.com/
Siraniko
Siraniko,
It also does not show up on their other site, http://snowpeaksports.com/welcome.html, but the Diana p-five does. Just because there is no example shown, does not mean they did not make it.
Hey, maybe there is a new Chinese player in town.
BB,
I had one on my Wish List but decided this was not for me. I am pretty spoiled with my Izzy. Now if I did not have so many really nice “old gal” air pistols to work on right now, I would still probably give this a dart gun try. I do have my Webley Junior which is working now, so this being rifled is not likely going to be one that I spend my money on. Besides, I need some more pellets for my BSA R10 SE.
Yeah, I finally shot it some this past weekend. Wow. I am in love. Not only is she a looker, she can cook also.
I also shot my Texan LSS some also, at least until Mrs. RR made me stop. All I can say is it is a good thing that it is supressed. It looks like I will have to take this honker up to the range and make them there powder burner dudes eyeballs pop out.
RR,
Have you looked into a single pellet loader from CARM to fit the BSA R10?
Dontchya just love that rifle? Yes you do, you just said so. I feel the same as you. What a beauty. She is the best and strongest shooter in my collection.
Will S.
That will be next on my list of accessories for her. I have not seen the CARM one, but AV also makes one. It is available from PAIR. I am certain I will have one by time I have the opportunity to take her out again.
She is not the strongest shooter I have, but she sure is sweet!
BB,
It’s good to see you examining this pistol. I took the chance and removed all those little screws and split the halves. I found a spring behind the trigger that seems to be there only to increase the trigger weight, to make the trigger more appealing to the lawyers. There are two other springs inside whose jobs are to engage the sear and to keep the trigger and the grip safety in the ready position. I removed the spring and the trigger pull dropped from 9.5-10 pounds (4.5 kilo) to about 5 pounds (2.3 kilo). Removing the spring halved the trigger pull weight and it is just as safe to handle as it was with that spring in place. Wow!
Regards,
Will
Will,
Good to know. I might try the same thing.
BB
Will,
Outstanding find with that trigger spring.
I was looking for a nice all day break barrel spring piston plinker a while back and to be honest I never even read the specs on this one. All I could think was, “What were they thinking?” Gotta admit, the price was tempting but I settled for a Umarex Ruger Mark IV and a Diana P Five. Couldn’t make up my mind. They are nothing alike.
If what BB says is true, I’m glad I did. The Mark IV is everything this is not. All metal, it does have an auto-safety, but it is very easy to operate by thumb when holding it. Good design.
The P Five is about as long as this one but the grip is about perfect and its way more expensive at twice the price. Another class of air gun you wouldn’t want to bounce around like a plastic one.
This Markpoint looks like a carefree knock about fun gun and it looks like you just made it more fun.
Bob,
Thank you! You did well with those two purchases, I looked at the pictures you posted and investigated them more on line. I’ve wanted a P Five for years, but thought it would be too jumpy for my poor pistol shooting skills at the time. Would you say that the shot cycle doesn’t affect your accuracy all that much? You probably just get used to it. A good trigger helps!
I like the Mark IV much better after you removed the front stuff. It has very nice lines. I hope she shoots well. I looked up the Woodsman .22LR pistol and that is a beautiful pistol, especially the old ones.
The Markpoint costs lunch money for one at a sit-down restaurant. It was too cheap, err…inexpensive, to resist. Is it worth it? Can’t be stealing BB’s thunder! Let’s see what BB thinks.
Will,
Looks like you confused the 60’s Vintage CO2 .22 cal. Plainsmaster (Front stuff) with the Ruger Mark IV break barrel spring pistol selling for around $55. A close replica of the Ruger Bull Barrel .22 LR firearm.
Just found out there is a silver version out there for sale now. Umarex said it may be available at Tractor Supply, or Walmart.
The trigger on the P five has a short free play and a dead stop that is predictable but a bit hard to pull to release. The gun shakes, being a springer, when the trigger is pulled and being hard to pull you must concentrate on your pull to keep the sights lined up. It may ease up with use?
Not sure how it affects accuracy with my limited use so far. It’s a plinker for me anyway. A two-hand grip helps steady it when aiming and pulling the trigger.
Don’t confuse the P-5 Magnum with the tamed down P-five. The more powerful Magnum has a much better trigger pull but gives you a workout cocking it.
Will S.,
I know absolutely nothing about the Ruger, but the Diana p-five is what I would consider a must have if you are into sproinger pistols, even if it is Chinese. I had one for a brief period of time and can say it is without a doubt a very nice pistol. If I did not already have my Izzy, I would have considered keeping it.
Will S
Thank you for the tip . I have attached a photo of the assembly I found online.
I have zero mechanical ability but I hope this helps someone
Kind Regards
jda001
jda001,
A picture is always great. If you pluck out that horizontal compression spring behind the trigger with a pair of tweezers, you will reduce the trigger pull weight by half.
Thanks,
Will
Will,
Thanks I guess that is just the lawyer spring. Does removing it change any other things about the operation of the pistol or just the trigger pull weight?
Mike
Mike,
I do believe it is a lawyer spring and its only function is to increase the trigger pull weight.
Will
I had high hopes for this pistol after seeing it at IWA last year. Unfortunately when I tried it after it’s release in the UK I was sorely disappointed.
I agree with BB that the grip feels like holding a block of wood. It’s just too square. The really heavy, creepy trigger combined with the very light weight makes accurate shooting difficult. I also didn’t like the sights as the post and notch are way too thin and non adjustable.
Although I like the styling this is an example of function over form and I think they could’ve done much better. By the way, the price of this in the UK is around $80!
B.B. and Readership,
Grip not fit my hand:
The abrasiveness of hard plastics requires files with high sharp teeth. Soft plastics are filed in shreds so shear tooth files should be used for this application. For almost every density material, there is a file that will meet the required application.
Grip is rough to the touch now:
Silicon carbide sandpaper is a synthetic paper that is blue-gray, black or charcoal, often with a waterproof backing. It can be used on wet or dry surfaces. Its friable surface will self-sharpen on harder materials, making it the best sandpaper for metal and plastic.
Whine, Whine, no more.
Take charge for heavens sake.
shootski
B.B.,
Things you could cover in the next Part:
On the Grip Safety does it engage and disengage with complete or partial application?
Is there an Anti-Beartrap? Or, is that the (one of the) purpose(s) of the Grip Safety?
shootski
Well, I bought one. I’m not a very good handgun shooter in general, and spring piston pistols are particularly hard to master. I only ever had any luck with an IZH 53M and a Webley Hurricane. Had a Beeman P1 for years that I never could master.
What I like about the Markpoint is A) PRICE! B) ease of cocking, and C) believe it or not, build quality. I know it looks like a toy, but trust me, it doesn’t feel like one.
What I don’t like about it is A) the trigger, (more on that later,) B) the sights, and C) no way to mount a dot sight. It would have been so easy to include a Picatinny rail in the mold.
Over on the yellow, poster Marlflow has done extensive work on this (very sophisticated) trigger group. Surprising at this price point. All I did to mine was lube all the pivot points with Mac 1 secret sauce, and a very slight application of moly on the sear surfaces. I would say maybe 30% improvement.
WRT the sights, they do not adjust at all, and the rear notch is a bit too wide for the front post. Mine was shooting consistently low, so I filed a bit off the front sight.
Is it a great pistol? That’s a hard NO. Is it a bargain? Time will tell.
FWIW, Umarex sells this same pistol in other markets as the 100 with the long barrel, and the 60 with a shorter barrel.
If you buy one, clean the barrel! Yuck.
We’ll see whether this is something I continue to shoot and fiddle with, or if shows up on my table at the next airgun show with a $20 price tag.