Beeman RX-2 owner's experiences

[Bryan Heimann]

I probably want one of these more than any other airgun that I've never had the privilege to shoot.  The RX-2 appeals to me in every way except for the price tag.  It's not just the power, or the gas ram, that appeals to me.  It's a beautiful gun!  Probably the best combination of form and function out there.  Please share your RX-2 experiences with us!

[PakProtector]

hey-Hey!!!,
I just got one in 20 cal. It just ate a Bushnel Trophy XLT...so I'm on a backup BSA 4x30 Tactical now. Probably going to get the BSA 3-9x40AO Tactical to replace it. I spent yesterday putting a few hunnerd pellets downrange and getting frustrated by the failing Bushy...

Don't let the cocking effort get you worried; it is light enough to be a fine workout and you will grow into it...

To repeat, if I knew how much I was gong to like it, I would have gotten one looooong ago.
cheers,
Douglas

[tjk]

The RX/HW90 series rifles are great hunting rifles with both power and accuracy. Like everything else, you get what you pay for, and quality comes with a cost. While they shoot out of the box like a tuned rifle, rebuilding/refining them with rudimental tuning practices and quality lubricants make them 'oh so much better'. You need the proper tools,.....mainly a pump and hose, for assembly, but then you can really have some fun tweaking for comfort, best pellet, best power and accuracy with different pellets, stacking pellets, the tight groups on paper, and that unforgettable sound of a 16 grain JSB launching a BT from a tree branch or bird feeder. The RX/HW90 is about the most versatile break barrel piston rifle you will ever find besides the really high end Theoben rifles. Buyers remorse is very minimal for folks that own one. I'm in remorse for selling my 'sledge hammer' .22 But I know it is in a good home and I may get it back one day My advice, never let cost dictate your buying decision. Especially with quality Airguns,..... Or anything else for that matter.

[glassman98]

Bryan,
I got mine a yr ago for the same reason. I just liked the look of it. Like Douglas said, they are scope eaters. If you get it, you will love it.  Craig

[Nikoman]

What do guys mean by calling them scope-eaters?
I've had a Leupold 3-9 on my RX-1 for over 14 yrs now, thousands and thousands of pellets later and it's still going. Maybe the the so called "supercharge" by Beeman helped? I had the gas replaced with some other inert gas to smoothen the cycle back in 1997. I'm new to airgun forums so excuse my noob-ness. Do  these RX guns really hurt scopes? I've heard of other powerful springers breaking cross-hairs but I thought the RX series weren't guilty of this.

[PakProtector]

What do guys mean by calling them scope-eaters?
I've had a Leupold 3-9 on my RX-1 for over 14 yrs now, thousands and thousands of pellets later and it's still going. Maybe the the so called "supercharge" by Beeman helped? I had the gas replaced with some other inert gas to smoothen the cycle back in 1997. I'm new to airgun forums so excuse my noob-ness. Do  these RX guns really hurt scopes? I've heard of other powerful springers breaking cross-hairs but I thought the RX series weren't guilty of this.

What caliber, and what energy are you shooting?

Since the last post I wrecked the BSA...got a Vortex Crossfire and under a warranty exchange/upgrade I am getting a Diamondback. The interim 4-16x40 Leapers is showing a bit of a wandering POI...will probably see them for some warranty work too.
cheers,
Douglas

[Nikoman]

Hi Douglas,

I'm shooting .20 at full power (around the 21ft/lb range). Like I said, the gun was sent to Beeman right after I bought it and they changed the gas in it (whatever that means). All I remember is that the gun cocked and shot a little smoother after that. The velocity didn't change much, it was a little higher. Call it luck but I don't know why mine hasn't busted a scope yet. Could it be the mounts? I think mine has the old Dampa mounts (or something like that). Maybe it's the scope? I'm using the same make and model scope on my Theoben/Crow Magnum III and that thing is still thumping along with the scope intact. The Crow Mag is shooting .25 caliber at full power as well.

As for the OP on this thread, my thoughts (after having this rifle for over 14 yrs) is I would not buy an RX series today. You see back then (1997) the rifle sold for around $600 new and I think I paid around $500 for mine (brand new) from my local dealer. I'm only talking price here, that's the deal breaker for me. The rifle is awesome but for a little more cash you can have a Theoben. I nearly fainted when I saw the current RX-2 prices.

[Bryan Heimann]

I bet it's got something to do with that optic.  So, is the theoben more hold sensitive?

[Nikoman]

The Theoben is very easy to shoot and it's VERY easy on the eyes. I've read several different comments on how people say this rifle is hard to shoot, it's very hold sensitive, etc..
I found none of this to be true, except for the part about shooting from a rest - that part is true. This gun needs to sit in your hands so the jolt is naturally cushioned on human flesh (don't know how else to put it). Other than that, after a few warm up shots (when I first bought it) I was producing 5 shot groups in the same hole at 25 yds and I'm no sniper by any means.
Not sure why but the Theoben seems to weigh much less than the RX-1, maybe it's the way it's balanced? Not sure but whenever I swing it to my shoulder it just naturally aims itself at the target. The RX-1 is a beast, don't get me wrong I love this gun and I'll probably never part with it but it is not in the same class. I also can't believe some people complain about the Evolution trigger and how the Rekord trigger is much better, I say HOGWASH. First of all, I don't think the RX series even have the Rekord trigger, I heard it doesn't work with the Theoben gas ram in the gun. And second of all, after all these years the two stage RX trigger micro creep still drives me bananas (I'm going to bust out the tools to fix this). The evolution trigger is a dream, it's VERY crisp and predictable - it breaks like glass. My avatar is an actual pic of my Theoben's trigger

[VPilot]

I purchased my first RX1 in .20 about 3 years ago.  From the moment I first shot it, I was hooked on the gas spring power-plant and bought another RX1 in .177,  then a Theoben Evolution in .20 cal and immediately afterwards purchased my true love ... the RX2 in .22 cal.  I found it dominating my shooting time ever since.  That's saying a lot since I have a decent collection of high quality springers to choose from including 2 Prosports, an HW77, R7, R9, English made Longbow, RWS 54, and have since sold the Theoben Evolution, an English made Stingray, 2 R1's, an RWS 24d, and an RWS 34, a Steroid Sheridan and a few others.  I might note that I sold off all my PCP airguns thereafter as well.  The RX2 simply filled every need I had for enjoyable airgun usage.

To put this all in perspective, I should mention that I love to use the airguns more for hunting than punching paper.  Consequently most of my guns are .22 caliber - when available and relatively high power.  The RX2 in 22 cal is, in my opinion, the quintessential hunting air rifle.  It is fully self contained, built like a tank, packs a powerful punch and is very accurate .... As accurate as any 20 ft lb gun could possibly be when shooting from the typical hunting positions.   Out of the box, the RX2 shoots like a steel springer only hopes to achieve after much work tuning, lubing and installing aftermarket replacement parts.  There is zero torque from a decompressing spring as experienced in many higher power steel spring guns.   The RX also can be reduced in power to deliver a superbly smooth shot cycle while maintaining more than enough power for small game out to 50 yards.  I've dialed mine to 18 ft lbs and absolutely love it.  Easy cocking while maintaining plenty of knockdown power.

You'll also see me say this time and time again, but it's usefulness is often overlooked at first.  The RX2 also has a resettable safety which allows you to re-secure the loaded and fully charged gun when a shot opportunity is missed.  Very handy if you hunt with the RX2 and I find myself using it frequently.   Meanwhile, since the ram never takes a set when fully charged, the gun can be carried cocked, loaded and ready for hours with no loss of power when the shot is finally taken.  Finally, expect the gas spring (ram or whatever) to last for tens of thousands of shots between rebuilds.  The rebuild requires no spring compressor and is quite cheap - requiring only 4 o-rings and a new piston seal (although you will need the appropriate equipment to recharge the gas spring).

All in all, I feel the RX series guns represent the zenith of spring piston air gun design for overall performance,  accessibility, serviceability, durability and value.  If the time ever comes I had to choose only one gun to keep, the RX2 .22 cal will be the one.

Tim
VPilot

[Nikoman]

Great post, Tim. I enjoyed reading it.
Nice to read more and more about this great rifle. Did you manage to get the slight creep out of your trigger? I read somewhere that could be adjusted so I busted out some tools last week and couldn't find anything that fits that small (almost hidden) screw - I think it was a hex screw but can't remember. If anyone knows the particular size, chime in because I'd love to adjust that. That's really the only real beef I have with my RX-1.

[VPilot]

Great post, Tim. I enjoyed reading it.
Nice to read more and more about this great rifle. Did you manage to get the slight creep out of your trigger? I read somewhere that could be adjusted so I busted out some tools last week and couldn't find anything that fits that small (almost hidden) screw - I think it was a hex screw but can't remember. If anyone knows the particular size, chime in because I'd love to adjust that. That's really the only real beef I have with my RX-1.

Thanks Niko.  Actually I simply adapted to the trigger.  I don't find the creep very noticeable in any case.  Unless a trigger is so grossly difficult that it's impossible to enjoy (like the Webley Tempest),  I typically leave them alone and learn to shoot them the way they are.

Tim
VPilot

[Clark]

Thanks Niko.  Actually I simply adapted to the trigger.  I don't find the creep very noticeable in any case.  Unless a trigger is so grossly difficult that it's impossible to enjoy (like the Webley Tempest),  I typically leave them alone and learn to shoot them the way they are.

Tim
VPilot

Great advice!  If only more air gun shooters would realize that this is a much easier solution than complaining about their trigger and paying someone else to make it work to their spec's.

Clark

[Nikoman]

I actually prefer the Tempest's trigger over the RX series
At least it's more predictable......20lbs later

Seriously, nothing annoys me more than trigger creep but I know my RX-1 can lose that with some adjustment.
I guess I'm used to good triggers like the Hurricane and Tempest