The Air Venturi OmniStorm comes with a scope and a hand pump to adjust the power for $200!
This report covers:
- Adjustable gas piston
- The OmniStorm
- Remember the ASP20?
- What I hope to see
- $200 air rifle
- Move!
- From SHOT
Today will be a quickie, but an important report all the same. Today we talk more about the Air Venturi OmniStorm breakbarrel rifle that comes with a user-adjustable gas piston.
Adjustable gas piston
This idea was first put forth successfully by the Theoben company that made user-adjustable gas piston air rifles in the 1990s. Their flagship was the Eliminator that the Beeman Company rebranded as the Crow Magnum. I had one that started life as a .25-caliber rifle and was changed to a .20-caliber while I had it. That rifle cost me over $1,200 in the 1990s and the special hand pump that was needed to adjust the gas spring cost another $150, so the whole package was up over $1,350.
Beeman’s Crow Magnum was a Theoben Eliminator. This was mine that cost $1,350 with the pump.
This was a big deal in the 1990s! It was a breakbarrel that produced over 30 foot-pounds. Mine made a trifle over 33 foot-pounds. But when it was adjusted to that power cocking it was like stringing the bow of Hercules! I recorded close to 60 pounds! My 1,000-shot longevity test was taken 50 shots at a time and took days to complete.
The OmniStorm
When I saw the OmniStorm at the SHOT Show this year I wondered if the same things would happen again. Would owners pump their rifles up to the max and then perhaps try to stretch them just a bit farther, turning them into pneumatic slide hammers? Believe me, guys—there is nothing fun about shooting a gas spring rifle that’s hard to cock and then slaps you in the kisser every time it fires.
Remember the ASP20?
One of the main reasons I liked the Sig ASP20 breakbarrel rifle was because it cocked easily and did not slap me silly when it fired. My .22 had just over 25 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle when it was new. I finally got my Crow Magnum down to a reasonable point when I let a lot of air out of the gas spring. The Crow then cocked with 45 pounds of effort where the ASP20 was 35-36 pounds. But once the air was let out the Crow was far more comfortable to shoot. That’s why my interest in the OmniStorm isn’t how powerful it can be but the other end of the power scale! Until you have gone through this yourself it’s difficult to understand.
What I hope to see
Air Venturi told us at the SHOT Show to expect the OmniStorm around May of this year. If they can pull that off it will be wonderful and I will be one of the early ones to test it (I hope!). I’m looking for three important things. First, I want to see how accurate it is. Second I want to test it slow and fast and see if it holds its pressure at both ends. And third, I want to see if it slaps me in the kisser every time the trigger is pulled.
$200 air rifle
Let’s face it folks, no $200 air rifle on this planet ever came with a good scope. Yes, you will get a scope with your OmniStorm and I reckon you can use it for a while, but plan on upgrading as soon as possible.
Heck—they are selling you an adjustable gas spring rifle for just $50 more than the optional hand pump cost for the Crow Magnum twenty-five years ago! If it’s accurate and reliable who cares that the scope needs to be changed? Maybe they could consider offering a scope upgrade package deal.
Move!
I’ll tell you one thing. There’s practically no profit in this rifle selling at $200. I predict once they start shipping and don’t see many returns the price will have to go up to where it needs to be. Therefore—get it soon or expect to pay more.
From SHOT
And now, sports fans, as I promised last week, a new video. This one was taken at SHOT and held until now. Enjoy!
Tom,
I earnestly do hope it doesn’t become a “Waiting for Godot” situation with the Omnistorm.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Me too!
BB
Siraniko,
I have NO compassion.
I find Theater of The Absurd to be abhorrent Dreck.
You all can wait for the AV OmniStorm…in the meantime i will shoot my Non Adjustable SIG ASP20s right now and often for as long as they hold gas. I will be finding joy in their Quality and their having been manufactured by people living at Liberty.
I do hope the OmniStorm comes to market if for no other reason than the opportunity to see how it does in the marketplace.
shootski
It’s really nice to see companies listening, watching and learning before making a product. That small shock absorbers’ pump was just the solution for most of the HW 90 owners who couldn’t find, or didn’t want to pay for, the original Weihrauch pump. I wonder if putting a set of really good iron sights instead of the cheap scope would hurt potential sales. That front plastic sight assembly always puts me off as much as a cheap scope.
Anyway this is going to be an interesting project.
Bill, glad you talked about that small shock absorber pump. FM’s HW90 is still set to factory specs – at some point may want to degas the spring a bit to make the rifle easier to cock, as this shooter gets older and, let’s face it, weaker. At one point an airgun company out West offered the HW pump and fitting for that purpose, but seems these may be Unobtainium-grade right now, so will explore the alternative. Guess it may be safer to get the fitting for the gas spring port from Weihrauch, if available. For now, leaving the gas spring alone.
It will be interesting to see the trajectory this OmniStorm takes. Hope it works to the satisfaction of the buyers.
FM
I suppose that in the USA this small pump and a proper adapter is cheap. You should give it a try. On the other hand the Wheirauch pump needs the gauge indicator as well. Very convenient for the company but not for the customers…
FawltyManuel,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294113789707
There are other workable methods you should look in to.
shootski
Appreciate that, shootski – as are any suggestions from the experts, always. Maybe it will be wise to get this now before it becomes Unobtainium and a suitable pump later.
FawltyManuel,
Getting the matching WH pump would bea collector move. Getting the correct fittings and perhaps a gauge would allow you to use any HPA pump or HPA cylinder.
No need to worry about the special HW pump failing followed by the search for more parts ;^)
shootski
In the USA, just pick up a Rockshox Monarch Suspension Hand Pump [600psi] and the Schrader adapter that is optional. It has a gauge and pressure release button. Watching someone at Shotshow 2025 use the air venture pumping unit, the rockshox appears to pump more air per pump, for our 26 BAR MAX ~375PSI HW 90 .25 CAL. Also bought airguns of Arizona HW Adapter which works with a floor pump. Our Benjamin Discovery floor pump needed an extension to move the floor pump connector away from the stock. Otherwise you have to take the stock off to adjust and that’s just a pain. Also markings on our floor pump gauge are too coarse to adjust the HW 90 one BAR at a time.
scooter3
Thank you
That is a way better looking pump compared to what will come with the AV OmniStorm!
I was also looking at other pumps but in the end the gauge resolution, stepped means to dump pressure, and the Schrader (wonder if the Omni is a Presta…LOL) fitting are the keys to the issue.
shootski
Great video Tom
While I have said many times, I am not much of a springer shooter, this one has my attention.
I think this might be a fun rifle for my 10 year old grandson too.
At 500fps, should be easy for him to cock and shoot.
And he’s not burning through pellets in semi auto or on a sidelever pcp.
If it is accurate, it shoud be on the 3B list. (Buy it, Buy it, Buy it!)
Ian
It’s interesting to me how often Air Venturi leads with innovation, from the Dragonfly MKll pumper, to various Seneca rifles, and of course, my favorite import, the TX200. It seems that whenever I become intrigued with a new product, it so often has the Air Venturi name associated with it. I’ve also found that their service department is first rate as well. Let’s see how this promising OmniSrorm enters the fray. Orv.
B.B.
Here is hoping that it is not a “Hunk of Junk”. But at that price point it probably is……
-Yogi
Yogi, I wouldn’t be surprised if at the lower settings it’s a good rifle, but at the higher ones, make a Gamo seem like a Weirauch.
OP,
You have it backwards, at higher ones, make a Weihrauch seem like a Gamo or Wamo.
Why add a $15 4X scope? Maybe it has plastic lenses??
-Y
Yogi,
Until scopes cost above $1,500 nearly all of them have “plastic” lenses. That said, the synthetics in optical instruments are far beyond what we tend to think of.
BB
“We shall see what we shall see…” Wilhelm Röntgen
“All we are saying, is give OmniStorm a chance.”
-FM, asking forgiveness from The Beatles
FM,
Really? I most seriously doubt the OmniStorm measures up in the least bit to your HW90.
I tell you what, I’ll buy one and trade you for your HW90. I will not even take it out of the box. What caliber do you want?
That was just FM being FM, RR. He knows there is no comparison between these airguns. Regret to advise it is doubtful HW90 will be leaving Haus FM until it is pried loose from his cold, dead little hands.
Looks like we will be seeing more about the OmniStorm before long. Yay!
Off topic, I received the borescope and have begun learning a little bit about it. Here’s an interesting photo inside a Marauder with a Lothar Walther barrel. The depth of field for the focus is not very deep. But the transfer port is in focus on the upper right of the photo. We can see that the orange port of the single shot magazine lines up pretty well with the barrel. And we can see how the lands and grooves of the rifling begin. Everything looks well machined to me.
Cool picture!
I suppose you could advance the magazine with the borescope inside the barrel and verify that each chamber aligns properly. Perhaps it may show one chamber does not align perfectly, and you may find pellets from that chamber cause fliers with some consistency. Just thinking out loud.
Thanks RG, yes it is cool to see things like this. I do plan to check each chamber on the multi-shot magazines. I called that orange one a one-shot magazine. But I should have said one-shot loader instead of magazine.
BB,
I am saddened to learn that the HW90 seems to be no longer made. It and the Theoben did set a pretty high standard. What I find scary is no one, not even you have mentioned the trigger. Yes, accuracy is important, but if you have a sloppy trigger, that can be very difficult to obtain. Have the Chinese learned how to make a decent trigger yet? I doubt it.
I predict that due to the lack of mass, this will be a face slapper on the higher powers. Another prediction is Air Venturi will be replacing a large number of piston seals.
Will RidgeRunner be buying one of these? Not likely. If I am REAL fortunate, an HW90 or even a Theoben will show up.
RR,
You doubt that the Chinese can make a good trigger because you never tried a BS4 (copy of the FWB 300) or a B40 (copy of a TX200).
BB
BB,
In both cases that is so. I have not had the pleasure of trying either. So, what is wrong with the rest of them then?
Ridge Runner,
I hope they haven’t stopped with the HW90. I still see them for sale and shows in stock. Maybe once they are gone, that is it though.
Doc
“I am saddened to learn that the HW90 seems to be no longer made.”
Wow where did u get that info please? I will need to start buying consumable spare parts if that is the case.
I’m not gonna hold out much hope for the OmniStorm. I think the returns will be high. I believe most users will want to crank it up beyond the max pressure. Burned piston seals, blown gas rams, bent barrels. This’ll be a crowd pleaser. Guys already overpump their Daisys and Crosman 1377s because they just KNOW it’ll go faster.
BB,
I recently read thru a tuning procedure for the HW90, to say it is long is an understatement. The guy started at the maximum pressure for his particular HW90, at 26 bar with a chronograph, and average the velocity of 10 shots, lowered the pressure by 1 bar then repeat until the pressure was 10 bar. He reviewed the results for two different pellets, those particular pellets in his HW90 were quite different. One pellet liked high pressure in the gas cylinder, near maximum for a low standard deviation. The other liked low pressure, about 16 bar, for a low standard deviation.
I am thinking that the pellet that liked the high pressure moved easier down the barrel, and there is a choke point in the air stream from the piston to the pellet. Where the velocity of the air is at Mach 1 and therefore the mass flow rate is limited by the cross-sectional area of that choke point.
A long way of saying that each airgun needs to be tuned to the pellet chosen. No doubt the Omnistorm will show the same type of story. Each airgun with each pellet will have different results across the pressure range.
Good luck with testing. The testing will be long though hopefully enjoyable!
Mike
I’m using that test as a template to find the best pressure for three pellets, GTO 16.54 grain, H&N Field Target Trophy 20.06, and Hades 26.54. Started at 20 bar then jump to 18 then to 17 bar. Looking for extremely low standard deviation pressure and then I will redo tests for accuracy. Sorting by head size only at this point. This barrel likes .249″ / 6.34mm relative to standard deviation. Also enjoying down the hallway practice at 12 and 15FPE power levels
Fascinating to me, preliminary results are, the GTO’s produce an SD of 3.92 at 20BAR and 10.88 SD at 17BAR. Hades yielded 3.93 at 20BAR and 4.0 at 17BAR. I have a high degree of confidence that the adjustability of the HW 90 will prove useful for producing accurate hits on game / minute of Wabbit.
I’m with Tom on the Omnistorm, it will have high utility in the lower end of the power spectrum. Adjustable power is another training tool, and the maximum power can match the shooters strength. The grandkids will enjoy practicing and keeping pests down at the lower powers.
Please, please, please put a decent set of open sights on the Omnistorm and offer both a scope option and Peepsight option.
Readership,
I hope everyone remembers that there will be NO NEW BLOG posted a midnight US Eastern Standard Time tonight {0500 [5:00 AM Tuesday] Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)} otherwise the Chaos and Confusion that Democrats, Leftists, Marxists and Liberals in the USA are currently suffering from will spread to the entire airgun World in short order.
Do Not allow this to happen to you!
shootski
shootski,
Aw bummer, I was so looking forward to a new post.
Rats!
Once again I forgot something!
BB, enjoy your new schedule.
Mike