September 13, 2013
By John Geiger
If you owned an air gun as a kid and haven't shot one in awhile, you're going to appreciate them in a whole new way. When you're hunting small game, like squirrel , you want the right gun for the job. We recently picked up a Umarex Octane and were impressed at the power and accuracy of this break-action .22-caliber air gun.
Photos by Ron Sinfelt
Umarex Octane The Umarex Octane (MSRP, $260;
umarexusa.com ) is a break-open-cocking air gun. With the 3-9x40mm scope that comes with it, the package is about 9 pounds. I'm generally not a fan of the thumbhole-stock look, but the sleek Octane pulls it off.
Suppressor This good-looking .22-caliber air gun comes with a suppressor — not a silencer — and that helps keep the report below that of a .22 Long Rifle. It's a good option for shooting squirrels, ground hogs, rock chucks or even coyotes.
Target Shooting I was able to shoot excellent groups from the bench at 35 and 50 yards. You could have covered the 35-yard groups with a dime. You can expect tight groups at 50 yards. And there is almost no recoil, so shooting all day is a pleasure.
Two-Stage Trigger The two-stage trigger broke at between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds. You can adjust the amount of take-up in stage one, but the weight cannot be adjusted by the user.
Reaxis Gas Piston Much of the power and accuracy of this air gun can be attributed to the Reaxis gas piston. It's explosive. I consistently shot holes through 1/2-inch plywood and the 1/4-inch panel behind it.
Not a Kid's Toy The Octane sends pellets down range at up to 1,050 fps. Lighter pellets definitely make a supersonic report. This is definitely not a kid's toy air gun. The Umarex Octane is a serious small-game air gun that looks, feels and shoots a lot like a rimfire.
Have you tried the Umarex Octane yet? If so, share your experience with us in the comments section!
