Getting close, decision time is upon us.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Manny,

I had lusted after the 25 carbine for 6 years, in the meantime several very fine airguns passed through my hands, including a not so fine Edgun, which arrived with a non-working regulator, a Ranger 45 and a Haley 257 Scandalous.

I bought a 25 carbine on my birthday  this year and realized I had waited way too long.

I lusted after the Veteran and the Vulcan before buying the Sumatra at roughly 60% of what they, the ‘V’ bullpups cost, and the fact that they would need power tunes to match  the power that little gaudy Korean jewel will produce.

Between my power modded Bulldog and 25 Sumatra, I feel confident I can stop the heart on anything that walks where I live.

Go for the Sumatra 25 carbine, you know all too well what it is capable of.

Roachcreek

No kidding, Sumatras are such an underrated gun,.....wonderful hunters.

[VaporTrail]

I think sometimes people get caught up on the looks...especially with that double tube. For me, the pics on the net didn't exactly tickle my fancy...but I had read about the insane power levels that could be achieved. I decided to start saving up, putting function before form.

Fast forward to a year later, and I now own a .25 long. Pictures don't do it justice...she's beautiful when I hold her. And she's gotten many compliments as well.

And she's a fire breather...no doubt about that. 977 peak FPS with a 48gr slug. She's so good to me. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...

Get the Sumatra, my bruddah!! 

I think if you get the RM5, you'll be happy for a little...but your heart's always gonna dance when you read about one of your first loves. 

Oh...and P.S.
You can get 2 Sumatras. Carbine for the quick and agile days, and the Long for when you really wanna put down the hammer.

[avator]

Manny has owned Sumatras before.... he knows what he likes. That's why he's returning to the scene of the crimes.... 

[gendoc]

Manny has owned Sumatras before.... he knows what he likes. That's why he's returning to the scene of the crimes.... 

not just a sumatra, he has owned Piatt sumatra's and there other variants....

[Habanero69er]

You definitely can't beat the Sumatra's amount of power for the buck.
Throw in a Piatt tune & WOW! Just makes a great airgun even greater.   

[Nomadic Pirate]

Ya'll are just Spot on !!!!

[Traum]

I love my taipan. Only downside is the cocking handle is farther back and some people find like that. Takes some getting used too but I imagine its similar to shooting the sumatra having to pull the cocking bolt from videos I've watched.

I know the taipan will outshoot the sumatra on paper and you can probably get to 60fpe without sending it out for a tune.

But...I dont think it can ever put out as much power as those Sumatra's, I may be wrong but I haven't seen anyone pushing theirs to the raw power the Sumatra can get to.

I really like the look of the carbine I just cant justify buying one. I have my .25 mrod which shoots great and I want to do more tinkering on her for a better tune.
Also don't get to hunt anything like pigs or coyotes, deers etc so not much sense in having a sweet powerful hunting gun that I never get to use or only once or twice a year.

I'd get the Sumatra. You posted many a great story when you had those.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I am also a die hard lever action guy, just always loved lever actions

[Tonykarter]

I love my bullpups, but all of them are just awkward to point in the woods.  It can be done, but if you have been hunting with a long gun all your life...

[Fussell]

Manny, I've had two Edguns. The R5M and the R5. Both in .25 cal.
The cocking on the R5M left a lot to be desired for me. My little .22 Colibri put it to shame! I much preferred the single shot bolt action of the R5 of the two guns.
Mike Bricker aka Centercut over at AGN had the same experience with the R5M that I had. He has my R5 now and found the new Nielsen 26.8 gr .25 cal slugs to be a laser in it.
I've never had a Sumatra,but would probably buy one before I tried another Edgun! LOL

[Tater]

I am also a die hard lever action guy, just always loved lever actions

I love that leather on the lever in that pic.

[anti-squirrel]

Could always do a spreadsheet thing like I do.  Top of my list is the Sumatra.  That Seneca Dragonfly is close- want to read a few more reviews on it (I like the Sumatra magazine better)

[Nomadic Pirate]

Was reading some not so stellar RM5 reviews,...to bad,

Sumatras are more and more in the lead   

[VaporTrail]

Manny has owned Sumatras before.... he knows what he likes. That's why he's returning to the scene of the crimes.... 

Manny has owned Sumatras before.... he knows what he likes. That's why he's returning to the scene of the crimes.... 

not just a sumatra, he has owned Piatt sumatra's and there other variants....

oh trust me, I know. Manny's one of the reasons why I joined on here. I've seen the Career collection. 

[anti-squirrel]

Could always do a spreadsheet thing like I do.  Top of my list is the Sumatra.  That Seneca Dragonfly is close- want to read a few more reviews on it (I like the Sumatra magazine better)

  >sigh<   I meant Sumatra Eagle Claw.

I revisited my spreadsheet last night and pretty much sealed the deal on a Sumatra Carbine in .25.  Adjustable power and the ability to hurl arrows, slugs, and pellets is a tough combination to beat. 

[Lastdog]

Peter, what arrows are you referring to? I have been looking but can’t find 25 arrows.

[Lani52]

Not so sure on those arrows, at least for a while.

Yesterday I ordered a Arsenal mold, 251-53, ordered it to drop .254 with pure lead.  I have the NOE sizer and will roll size at first to .252-.253 which seems to be the Seneca barrel diameter from the slugging I have done.  I went with .254 in case I ever get a 25 with a LW barrel or friends that have the Sumatra version.

Roll sizing can be done on a flat surface, I use a granite counter top, and a Alabama Damascus knife blank to size with, but only to determine which diameter chambers best in my rifles as it is slow.

Looks like I will order the .252 sizer from NOE and polish it up towards .253, using Knifemaker’s, method, or until I can get the optimal groove diameter.

Roachcreek

[steveoh]

It is Manny’s fault I bought a Sumatra .25 Carbine. Way back when he had a big collection of Korean lever action rifles. His hunting stories blew me away, and I was smitten by this little rifle that kills piggies.

It’s strange, I originally thought the Sumatra’s, Sam Yangs and Careers to be bit over the edge in gaudy. Once I had a carbine in my hands though, the looks grew on me.

I won’t forget the first time I shot the Sumatra Carbine. First I took the Hill pump out of the box, put it together and huffed and puffed my way through filling the rifle for the first time.

Loaded up a 25 grain or so JSB or Baracuda, and without touching the power wheel I pulled the trigger and was rewarded with a sonic CRACK that announced to the world that I was loaded for bear. I was giddy and greatly concerned that I’d soon have the Gendarmes knocking on the door. I ordered an LDC soon after.

So many Rattus Rattus have fallen to the Sumatra, and recently it slayed a large number of Eurasian Doves when the Marauder and ATN scattered lead every which way. A compact side focus Leapers Scope that Manny recommended so long ago is a perfect size and weight that keeps the Sumatra easy to carry and handle.

I have had a long version of the Sumatra in mind for a long time for even more reach out and smack down power.

I love this little rifle!

[anti-squirrel]

I can roll my own arrows; not depending on store-bought.  Been shooting bows (mostly primitve tackle and my horsebow) for a few years.  Worked every imaginable arrow from oak 3/8" dowels 34" long on to tapered "flight-bow" style arrows. 

Air Venturi purportedly has been promising .25 arrows for a while, but I've not seen them materialize.  Main thing for the Sumatra is adjustable power and LOTS of it.

On the flip side, a .22 Sumatra may end up in my Cart since we have so many good offerings in slugs and pellets in .22 now. 

[Nomadic Pirate]

I can roll my own arrows; not depending on store-bought.  Been shooting bows (mostly primitve tackle and my horsebow) for a few years.  Worked every imaginable arrow from oak 3/8" dowels 34" long on to tapered "flight-bow" style arrows. 

Air Venturi purportedly has been promising .25 arrows for a while, but I've not seen them materialize.  Main thing for the Sumatra is adjustable power and LOTS of it.

On the flip side, a .22 Sumatra may end up in my Cart since we have so many good offerings in slugs and pellets in .22 now. 

.22s are really good for having a big power spread, with the 14gr to 34gr pellets weight options.

.......really fun to power it way down and sling those 14.3gr pellets