How could a gun this cheap be this good?

[harleyflhxi]

After watching a review of the Ruger Blackhawk Elite on myairgunreviews (YouTube), I was intrigued and decided to pick one up at Walmart about a week or so ago.  In that review, Kenny (the reviewer) was frustrated with how long it took his RBE (Ruger Blackhawk Elite) to settle down - over 150 shots before the velocity stopped varying widely between shots.  Once it did, and once he Loctited all of the bolts/screws, it became highly accurate and consistently powerful.  After a rocky start, he came to really like his RBE.

Before I installed the scope, I put over 150 pellets through mine.  I was just aiming along the top of the barrel, but I was getting fairly tight groups at a short distance (5 meters in my garage).  I noticed that the bolts/screws did not loosen up during this period.

I installed the scope, carefully Loctiting the screws on the rings, and let it sit unused for 24 hours, per the directions on the Loctite tube.

Last night I finally shot it with the scope and after about 50 shots I found the accuracy diminishing.  I checked the stock bolts and found that the one adjacent to the trigger was loosening.  I removed that bolt, found Loctite on it, but not enough, and cleaned/prepared the surface, then re-Loctited it.  Again, another 24 hour waiting period for the Loctite to cure.

Tonight, I shot 80+ pellets through it and no fastener-loosening of any kind occurred.  The last 20 shots were incredible - two groups of ten, each the diameter of a pencil eraser.

Unlike Kenny's RBE, mine has really been terrific from the start.  And, it's even better now!  The scope is very usable, once I focused it for the distance I'm shooting.  It is clear and undistorted at the center of the crosshairs, but it gets distorted the further you get from the center.  That's okay, since the periphery is not used for target shooting, anyway.

The gun is mechanically solid, the finishes are good, the stock is comfortable and strong.  It is quiet when cocking, but has a pretty good twang when shot, although it seems to be getting somewhat quieter as the shot count increases.  The trigger is getting more serviceable with use, too.  Not wonderful, but acceptable.

Up to now I've predominantly shot with open sights.  This is my first prolonged shooting foray with a scope.  This gun has little to no droop and the scope was quickly dialed in without shimming.  It took me a while to get used to shooting with a scope (kind of like driving a car with really quick, touchy steering), but I'm refining my trigger motion and becoming steadier.

This gun appears to be made better than the Airhawk I briefly had a year ago.  It seems like the quality of airguns is improving without the price increasing.

If a RWS 34 is a lot better than this, it must be incredible!

Anyone else share my observations with their RBE or Umarex Surge?

[renowntwo]

Thanks for sharing your review and Congrats on the new purchase.

[Kailua]

If you want a trigger upgrade you may want to read this post.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=63099.0

[Gertrude]

an EXCELLENT review, ... and it sounds like you, (and it), are right on track.

My good buddy just received his 2 Airhawks from MM with full tunes, and he is waiting for me to come over and get them dialed in for him.
I'm expecting that we will get to where you are now, within 100 shots.

 Both the AH's and the BH's (BHE's). have a faithful following with very impressive reviews.
Everybody just seems to LOVE them.
 They are both "clones" of the D34, and from what I have researched,... They just simply can't be beat for the value vs. cost.

I'll be mounting a couple of CP's on them from Wallyworld, and I'm betting they will be pretty hard to beat.
Heck,... they may even give my Mrod  PCP's a good run for the money ! LOL !

Enjoy your new toys 

[Austin E]

I had to ask myself the same question. I recently bought the airhawk on CL for $40 from a young kid. After tightening all the bolts, the thing is a nail driver. A pleasure to shoot, I love the trigger, and my only regret is buying the crosman and gamo before this. It far surpasses those two guns, and is a joy to shoot. The only gun I like shooting better is my R1, and that is not by all that much, considering the price difference.

[Paul68]

Yeah, sounds like you got a good one. Always nice when a rifle does well out of the box. I'll probably buy another soon as well. Or get an XS25 from Flying Dragon. Great rifle to have on hand for getting a buddy out shooting with you and into AG's.

I think the thing that puts these Rugers over the top is the low severity of the issues they do have when one is not shooting well out of the box, and the high availability of aftermarket parts and ease of servicing. Even when you get one that isn't performing great, $30.00 or so and a couple hours time will have em up to snuff easily.

 

[62hotrod]

  I have (2) Ruger Blackhawks they are very hard to beat for their price point in my opinion. I plan to super tune each just to make them smooth operators. I did tons of research after I bought my first one and have been very pleasantly surprised on everything I've read about them. The bad reviews I've read almost always seemed to have been self induced by most. Clean that barrel really good before you shoot it a whole lot more. When it settles in after that you'll be amazed with it, most esp. with the pellet it really likes and some good glass on it. Do some searches on it, see for yourself.

[harleyflhxi]

Walmart has the Umarex Surge (essentially same as a RBE) right now for $83.81.   

I forgot to mention in my original post that I also cleaned the barrel before shooting it, using GooGone.  It wasn't too dirty.

[GunnerAl]

If a RWS 34 is a lot better than this, it must be incredible!

Along with a Diana 34, I have an Airhawk (Airhawk and Blackhawk ARE the same except for the stocks). I haven't even totally run my 'Hawk in yet,, just too much to do lately and not enough time to do it. I have however, been putting small handfuls of shots through it just to help the break-in process. Every now and then I go over the screws etc, watching for loosening and/or any other possible break-in issues that pop up sometimes. It seems to be most of all that poeple say the Ruger twins are - well made, powerful enough, well mannered, as a matter of fact they (and all the other clones which ARE also the same rifle in disguise) may well be some of the "best buys" around at the moment. I'm quite sold on my 'Hawk, even though I haven't had the pleasure of properly grouping or indeed, taking it out for a proper outing yet. Mostly it was the price that sets the mark. Bang vs buck is great on this particular rifle.

However, stacked up against its parent Diana 34,, well, I'll refer you back to your original statement - "If a RWS 34 is a lot better than this, it must be incredible". It IS.. There are differences between the two that a cheaper pricetag just can't compensate for and as of yet, even though my Hawk hasn't been group tested, the 34 has, and it has set a nice little benchmark for the Hawk to try to follow. If it does, I'll be even happier, knowing that I will have two good shooters. The 34 though, is my most valued all-round air rifle. While not the most powerful of my collection, it still has more than enough to please me,, I only shoot at paper targets anyway but I just love shooting it, well at least I used to, since lately I haven't had the time thing on my side. It is a very well made air rifle and needs no comaprison to be able to show it. The T06 trigger is a blessing, even though I will shoot any air rifle with any trigger and enjoy it. Basically, the 34 is about all I ever wanted in an air rifle. That's not to say the Hawk doesn't stack up though. It is such a great buy that I am in awe of what you seem to get for the cheap price you pay. Just that if the two are side by side and even if they weren't barnd stamped or labelled, you'd soon know which was which...

Without breaking into a complete whole book of comparisons, I can only say that in my opinion, the Hawk is a 95% air rifle, while the D34 is 99+%.
There's no such thing as 100%...

Enjoy your new Hawk,, I just know you will...!!

[mikeiniowa]

Walmart has the Umarex Surge right now for $83.81.   

I forgot to mention in my original post that I also cleaned the barrel before shooting it, using GooGone.  It wasn't too dirty.

  If it wasn't too dirty then you may have not gotten all the gunk out, they come really loaded with the preservative. But if it's shooting good just leave it, will clean itself by shooting it...

[harleyflhxi]

Mike, it won't hurt anything if I clean it again, will it?  Or, does it need to build up a lead surface?

BTW, my wife love's her XS12 and I love my XS28m!

[mikeiniowa]

let the lead build up and see how it shoots

[harleyflhxi]

let the lead build up and see how it shoots

Will do!   

[keeper89]

Got a BHE back in early Feb., wanted to shoot during wintertime without freezing. Was way on the left side of the curve but learning is taking place. Initial breakin was not bad, but poi shifts were troublesome....groups would tend to open up after about 50 or so shots. Cleaning with patches soaked in Ballistol would show lead particles until 6-8 were pushed through. Accuracy would pick up and then drop off. Thought about it a while, did some research, and ran patches coated with JB bore paste through. Followed up with Ballistol patches and then dry patches until clean---rifle is shooting under dime sized groups regularly at 27 ft. in the cellar with CPHP 7.9 and RWS Superdomes 7.9. Also, I lubed the rifle according to instructions with RWS oils and that smoothed things up. At this point I am nearing 1000 shots and the rifle is steadily getting smoother....I am even getting accustomed to the trigger...anyway, it's been a bunch of fun for a very little money....

[harleyflhxi]

Keeper, I just got a Umarex Surge from Walmart for the $84 deal, and last night I shot it for the first time, putting several hundred pellets through it.  My experience with it is much like what you describe with your BHE... it took a LOT of shots and a lot of barrel cleaning to become consistent and accurate, but it did eventually come around.

[keeper89]

Harley---what the he-- else am I supposed to do other than fiddle about with stuff---some of that fancy global warming would help up here in far upstate NY--otherwise known as Cuomo's Siberia....lol

[Gtownjake]

I have the Surge. Bought it at Academy Sports and Outdoors for $99. Cabela's has the Surge XT for $169. (on sale for $119 now). The difference is the Surge says it's a 1,000FPS and the XT is 1,200FPS. Total overkill in MHO.

As my signature says, I have an Adventure class scope on it that is magnificent. I have put probably 1,500 to 2,000 rounds through it and I can consistently get 1/2" groups at 20 yards.

Head shots on mice and rats from 7 to 25 yards is cake walk.

Mine really likes the Beeman FTS copper plated pellets (.177).

When I first bought it I just wanted something to plink around with  and pest some pigeons, maybe, if it was good enough.....it is. 
I have been totally surprised by its performance and I am looking to redo the trigger as that is the only thing I can see that needs to be worked on with this AG.

On a scale from 1 to 10 I would place this at a 7. 8 if the trigger was smoother.

Very pleased.

[Sandspike]

Please don't misunderstand me. I mean you no harm. But when you finally dance on the Darkside, you will only brag about dime size groups at 50 yards, not 27 feet and 20 yards will be reserved to one ragged hole.

But I used to be on your side and it's like deja vu to read the above posts.

[Gtownjake]

Please don't misunderstand me. I mean you no harm. But when you finally dance on the Darkside, you will only brag about dime size groups at 50 yards, not 27 feet and 20 yards will be reserved to one ragged hole.

But I used to be on your side and it's like deja vu to read the above posts.

No harm.  Completely understand.  Seen enough videos and talked with enough guys to know that the PCP AG is ubber more accurate and consistent than any springer on the market. And believe me when I say I'm doing my best to run and jump head first into the dark side as soon as I can afford to but for now and how I use my little $99 jobber. Well, it's awesome. Besides, there really is no difference between my head shot on a pigeon and what I see Ted do with his $2,000+ FX rig. (save for the distances of course, which I don't have those long 40 to 50 yard and then some shots so.....) 

Besides, I have yet to hear a pigeon or rat stand there and tell me "Nope, not gonna happen fat boy. That's a cheap @@@ springer you got there in your chubby little corndog lookin' fingerd hands. So just go kill some paper and come back when you have a PCP then I'll fear you. Until then, wet off."

Dead is dead and if I can get it accomplished without investing in a $300 'nicer' springer or a $500 entry level PCP (gun and needed gear) then all the better....especially since I really didn't expect it to shoot so freakin' well to begin with.

[Benwaller]

+1