Snowpeak/SPA/Artemis GU1200s

[stani]

Looking for my first air rifle, I came across a Snowpeak/SPA/Artemis GU1200S (another option is B3). While it's more powerful than B3 and looks safe to user's fingers, it has hardly any reviews and user feedback online. Are there any GU1200S owners here to share your experience? Or maybe someone knows an alternative model name (as it happens with Chinese guns a lot) to search by? Thank you!

[happymecanic]

Hello and welcome on the forum Stanislav!

I have no experience with this model, that I didn't know existed. I believe it was never sold in the Americas (I live in Canada). I did a little search and haven't found any reviews in English or French. Only reviews I saw are from Eastern Europe and South Africa.

It seems to be a well made rifle. I really like the side-tilting breech loading mechanism, it seems much safer than the sliding cylinder of the B3. Also, Snowpeak rifles are usually well built, and their barrels are accurate. I personally would be confident to try it, I do have a few Snowpeak airguns and I like them. Sorry I can't help more .

I wish you a Merry Christmas, and all the best to you and your country!

Francois

[Back_Roads]

 Good chance you will like it, I have many of their PCP guns. Here is the only US supplier that I know of.
https://www.shelterdist.com/air-guns.html

[lefteyeshot]

A seller in your country has them for 114 eros, that's 118.68 dollars. If I could find them in the USA I would have already ordered one.

[stani]

Thank you for your kind words and merry Christmas to you too!

Only reviews I saw are from Eastern Europe and South Africa.

Could you please link some of them if you don't mind? The language doesn't matter, Google translate will do the trick. Thanks!

[stani]

A seller in your country has them for 114 eros, that's 118.68 dollars. If I could find them in the USA I would have already ordered one.

Yes, it's one of the cheapest magnum (or magnum-ish, if you will) rifles here, but still a substantial sum for me, so I have to choose wisely. The stock is kinda weird-looking and the gun seems front heavy, but it is what it is.

[Back_Roads]

 After searching through my YouTube subscriptions  https://www.youtube.com/feed/channels I found this.

[stani]

UPD: I've found a guy who's been using it actively  for a year. In general, he says it's a decent reliable gun in the middle ground between the cheapest B1-B2-B3 Chinese models and well-known brands like Gamo. If anyone is interested in more detailed feedback, I can translate it and repost here when I get his permission.

[stani]

A review by user Speedfire at airgun org ua, (airgun org ua/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=40134)
Quoted from private messages, translated and edited for comprehension

When I was buying Artemis, I didn't know yet what I wanted it for: hunting, plinking, or target shooting. Eventually, I chose sport, shooting paper targets at 10 meters. For this purpose, Artemis is OK, but not enough, compared to BSA Comet Evo GRT I have in my arsenal. When I was a complete novice, Artemis was better or on par with BSA, and definitely more comfortable to shoot. On the other hand, it can't compete with BSA as a target gun. The grouping is more loose, and fiberglass sights are thicker and wider, which affects the accuracy with the iron sights. I didn't use optics with Artemis, because the grouping is clearly lacking.

On the other hand, besides target shooting, I'd prefer Artemis. It's larger, more comfortable in hands, though it has worse balance (it's front-heavy because of the underlever). It's manageable by weighting the buttstock with lead pellets. However, the same is true of BSA which kicked a lot until I weighted it.

For plink and maybe even hunting, I'd choose Artemis. It's more powerful and pleasant in handling, with Monte-Carlo comb and pistol grip. I'm 177 centimeters tall, Artemis fits me well, while BSA's stock is on the short side when used with optics.

I have no complaints about reliability after a year of usage (iron sights only), at least 15 shots daily. The rifle doesn't require degreasing out of the box. The trigger is OK, quite similar to my BSA. Potentially, it can contest B3 and even underlevers in the magnum niche. If you replace the air piston for a weaker one, about 50-60 atmosphere, the rifle's accuracy should be on par with better-known models of its class.

[lefteyeshot]

After searching through my YouTube subscriptions  https://www.youtube.com/feed/channels I found this.

If you like the SPA GR1250s you probably know the SPA SR1250w in a wood stock. About six month ago I bought off Ebay an unbranded generic clone of the SR1250w. The only writing on the gun is a long serial number on the barrel block. It has fiber optic open sights, hooded front sight, scope stop and the pistol grip is checkered. The trigger looks plastic in the pictures but it is the same stamped out trigger as the 1100/1101 with a plastic sleeve slid on it. Nice looking gun and stock.

The 1250s and 1250w and this clone have the same trigger assembly and safety as a Winchester 1100 and Daisy 1101. The vender on Ebay is 'debarnieuwe'. The item number is 266397922007. Type that into ebay's search window and the gun will pop-up. He also has B3's an B1's. He also has unbranded SPA pistols like the CP400 and LP400. The rifle is $124 free shipping. Seems I paid a little more for mine. The CP400 clone I bought from him is more accurate than either of my P17's. Looks like a 1911 Colt but it's the same as a P17 and all metal.

[Back_Roads]

 I got this p2 from them a few months ago, I can say it is a fun accurate pistol also, but my normal MO added a stock to it from a Chaser   https://www.ebay.com/itm/266194319561

[lefteyeshot]

That's a neat little gun.

[stani]

To anyone interested: I've found it's sold in Brasil as TGA Naja 2.0, in both 4.5 and 5.5 (and even with an adjustable trigger and wood stock). There's bunch of reviews of it on Youtube, all in Portuguese, but at least you can figure out the velocity and groupings.