What are the new SMK XS22/23/24?

[Sprink177]

What are these?. See attached image.

SMK catalogue have added new rifles to their catalogue. They are part of the supergrade line and are named XS22, XS23 AND XS24. I cannot find any other Chinese rifles with this name, so I am wondering what these rifles actually are?. What other rifle platforms are they based on/inspired by? and What trigger are they using?. They retail between £240-£270 so they must be aiming to be premium as the XS208 is around £160.

Due to their absence in the latest SMK catalogue, it seems they may no longer be importing the XS20 (HW95 homage) or XS41 (TX200 homage).

Perhaps Weihrauch/Air Arms legal action got to much for SMK, despite the design changes from the earlier true clones with rekord triggers and more interchangeable parts.

But they still have the 208 line (Diana 34 homage).
So I am guessing these new rifles are also Diana inspired.

Anyone know?.
Thanks in advance.

[mikeiniowa]

There is a good chance they are the Xisico XS-28 ( Diana 350) in different stocks and barrels, velocity numbers would be nice if possible

[Sprink177]

Thanks, I suspect you may be correct Mike. The listed heavy 9.0lb weight of the XS22 is close to the 8.2lbs of the 350 Magnum.

I think SMK are maybe just too legally nervous of importing HW95 and TX200 replicas to the UK these days.

I don't think the UK market has seen any XS28 type rifles before and Diana 350 is not a rifle many people own here to begin with.

So it will be pretty big news for the UK if this thing turns out to be a Diana 350 homage.



Well they will all be UK 12ft pound legal Limit (Without  Firearms Certificate). So velocities not gonna be that useful.

[lefteyeshot]

ThatXS22 looks like a Optimus/Vantage. With the white spacer between the stock and recoil pad and pistol grip cap ans whit spacer Remington Summit. I remember the 208 as an Air Hawk with a thumb hole stock like my Air Hawk Elite but with less power.

[Sprink177]

So Brutuz over on the Chinese air gun forums figured out that the XS22 is a Bam B22/Benjamin Superstreak/Hunter Airgun Strike 1.

Apparently it's related to the B19 platform but upgraded and heavier, longer, bigger. Seems popular in Brazil/Latin nations judging by YouTube. Also mentioned was that the XS23 and XS24 are possibly Artemis clones.

I'm a little disappointed that they aren't German homage rifles.

[L4z4r0s]

These rifles have been around for quite some time now (at least that is the case for Greece). I don't personally have any personal experience with either of them, so what I'm relaying here is information/input from members of a Greek forum that I take part in that either own and/or have tuned these rifles.

The XS22 is known as the BAM 22 around here and it is essentially a Benjamin Superstreak/Hunter Airgun Strike 1. It is quite heavy and long and also quite hard to cock and shoot (it produces a lot of power; the .22 caliber makes around 22 fpe iirc -> will have to cross check once the greek forum is back online).

The XS23 and XS24 are the exact same rifle. Essentially a BAM 19 with a longer and wider main cylinder. The only real difference between the XS 23 and 24 are the stocks. Both are known as BAM rifles around here. Some differences that might be worth noting:

1) The BAM 23 comes with a wooden stock here in Greece and the XS 24 is known as the BAM B23-4.

2) Both of these rifles come in as gas piston/ram rifles here (while SMK lists them as coil spring powered rifles). To be a bit more specific the BAM B23 is known as the BAM23X.

The B23-4 (aka: XS24) is quite well-regarded around here. Out of the box the .22 caliber version (once settled in) produces about 17-18 fpe (again; I don't remember with what kind of pellets that is; will have to check once the greek forum is back up and running). It is a bit hard to cock at first but becomes smoother with use. One of the people that i've talked with about it has opted for a barrel shroud on it as well as a different piston seal (iirc; one for a diana model or sth similar to that). Anyway, he's had the rifle for about 4 years now and he is quite happy with it. The gas ram works really well and the rifle is quite accurate.

Good, budget-minded rifles overall with great potential for upgrades/tuning projects.

[Sprink177]

Thank you so much for such detailed information L4z4r0s. I have still not seen one in real life. And I have not seen anyone review one in the UK yet, but hopefully it will happen soon.

Cheers/Yamas, Greece is one of my favourite nations.