Smallest air rifle with > 80 fpe, with a magazine, not bulpup if possible.

JDGriz

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Oct 29, 2023
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I don't actually intend to buy one, but more than a year ago I spent some time researching it, and it went like this:
FX Maverick - but way too many o-rings. FX Dreamline in .30 with 30cc extra plenum and more barrel bands, but still maybe too much work to get the power up etc. Maybe Evanix Rainstorm, but magazine looks flimsy. Or Sumatra 2500 - but that's getting too big now. And at that point I stopped researching it and moved to other things. I'm still curious if I haven't missed something (which also isn't too expensive, like the Huben K1).
 
I don't actually intend to buy one, but more than a year ago I spent some time researching it, and it went like this:
FX Maverick - but way too many o-rings. FX Dreamline in .30 with 30cc extra plenum and more barrel bands, but still maybe too much work to get the power up etc. Maybe Evanix Rainstorm, but magazine looks flimsy. Or Sumatra 2500 - but that's getting too big now. And at that point I stopped researching it and moved to other things. I'm still curious if I haven't missed something (which also isn't too expensive, like the Huben K1).
I havent had any problems with maverick so far after one year.
 
I don't actually intend to buy one, but more than a year ago I spent some time researching it, and it went like this:
FX Maverick - but way too many o-rings. FX Dreamline in .30 with 30cc extra plenum and more barrel bands, but still maybe too much work to get the power up etc. Maybe Evanix Rainstorm, but magazine looks flimsy. Or Sumatra 2500 - but that's getting too big now. And at that point I stopped researching it and moved to other things. I'm still curious if I haven't missed something (which also isn't too expensive, like the Huben K1).
Perhaps a Daystate Wolverine in .30 tuned by tenacious airguns
 
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Are you serious? The Evanix magazines are metal! not cheapo plastic!
I've never had one break and I've had every size from .22 up to .50 cal.
It's also the self-indexing aspect that I wasn't sure about, but of course you could say that of 95% of air rifle mags, so yes that's not a fair thing to bring up. It only arose as a consideration in the context of comparing the Rainstorm to the Sumatra 2500.
 
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The new Evol HPS Mini .30 that is due out soon does not make over 80 fpe but being of short stature and making just under 80 fpe is probably going to be the one that gets closest to what you were hunting for. On top of that the Evol line is renowned for its rugged durability.

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The new Evol HPS Mini .30 that is due out soon does not make over 80 fpe but being of short stature and making just under 80 fpe is probably going to be the one that gets closest to what you were hunting for. On top of that the Evol line is renowned for its rugged durability.

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It looks good and the specs are good, but probably a bit pricey, at least for me (but this is a speculative discussion).
 
It looks good and the specs are good, but probably a bit pricey, at least for me (but this is a speculative discussion).
Pricey yes but Tom builds his rifles to hand down to your childrens children. IMO with how they are built, I think he should ask a little more (but am glad he doesn't) but thats just my opinion.
 
Huben is going to be the most power in short stature for the lowest dollar. AEA is not reliable enough to even talk about. Next is going to be Impact m3, AAA and a few others that will all be pricier than the huben. .25 huben will put out over 100fpe.
Absolutely 100% , I remember my huben was shooting 48 gr boat tail at like 980 fps which just breeches 100 fpe but, it was not all that accurate even at 60 yards.
 
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Huben is going to be the most power in short stature for the lowest dollar. AEA is not reliable enough to even talk about. Next is going to be Impact m3, AAA and a few others that will all be pricier than the huben. .25 huben will put out over 100fpe.
I would agree on most AEAs but the varmint has been solid.
 
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Pricey yes but Tom builds his rifles to hand down to your childrens children. IMO with how they are built, I think he should ask a little more (but am glad he doesn't) but thats just my opinion.
For $2,500 plus one would hope so.

I plan to pass down the Marlin model 60, I paid $70 for on sale back in the mid 80's. I think half the cars I've ever owned didn't cost half as much as a Evol .22
 
For $2,500 plus one would hope so.

I plan to pass down the Marlin model 60, I paid $70 for on sale back in the mid 80's. I think half the cars I've ever owned didn't cost half as much as a Evol .22
The people who make comments on the price of the Evol are always people who don't own them, yet people are ok with spending $2000.00 for a stock impact, then put $1500 in accessories onto it, only to have a rifle that isn't first shot reliable and doesn't really compare to what an evol is in terms of reliability/rugged build.
 
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The people who make comments on the price of the Evol are always people who don't own them, yet people are ok with spending $2000.00 for a stock impact, then put $1500 in accessories onto it, only to have a rifle that isn't first shot reliable and doesn't really compare to an evol is in terms of reliability/rugged build.
I will never be the owner of any of those most likely at those prices.

My buddy bought a all metal Hammerli M4 .22lr copy, made in Germany, for under $300. I should have too. It's an amazing rifle for the price, and they are up to $400 now
 
I will never be the owner of any of those most likely at those prices.

My buddy bought a all metal Hammerli M4 .22lr copy, made in Germany, for under $300. I should have too. It's an amazing rifle for the price, and they are up to $400 now
We are discussing air rifles. They are far more advanced and in depth than a powder burner is. Also, we don't discuss powder burners here. Not unless you want your peepee smacked.
 
The people who make comments on the price of the Evol are always people who don't own them, yet people are ok with spending $2000.00 for a stock impact, then put $1500 in accessories onto it, only to have a rifle that isn't first shot reliable and doesn't really compare to an evol is in terms of reliability/rugged build.
I just can't touch em because nobody trades them. Lmao, that means they do not let go of them easy, hence more valuable than others. I may have one one day, but i never pay retail even if new, i will wait it out. I tend to let my trader side get carried away though. I do have 1 permanent slot filled though, Wildcat mk3 .25, it will do what the OP asked as well only 32" with the donnyfl fx mod.
 
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I just can't touch em because nobody trades them. Lmao, that means they do not let go of them easy, hence more valuable than others. I may have one one day, but i never pay retail even if new, i will wait it out. I tend to let my trader side get carried away though. I do have 1 permanent slot filled though, Wildcat mk3 .25, it will do what the OP asked as well only 32" with the donnyfl fx mod.
When the new HPS variants are released I would keep an eye on the used market. Everyone always wants the latest and greatest even when there is nothing wrong with the current. While I have no desire to update my paradigm or evol mini, I do plan on acquiring one of the new HPS models to fit another slot I have open in my collection.