Umarex Talk me out of a Umarex Gauntlet 2 sl30

I am fairly new to air rifles but not firearms. I have been shooting my Airacuda Max in .22 and enjoy it. I would like a .30 Cal for bigger game. Airgun Channel has convinced me that the would be a good choice. I have done a bit of research and I really like the following features: Bottle 4500 PSI air tank, supported by Hajimoto, upgradable, accurate, will shoot slugs if I want, and side lever. The weight is certainly a thing but it's not much heavier than the Airacuda. I would like to keep my budget under $800. I have looked at the Hatsan Blitz but I don't need semi or full auto and would rather have accuracy. I realize the M60b is in the same arena but I cannot find it in .30 cal, Am I missing anything?
 
I am fairly new to air rifles but not firearms. I have been shooting my Airacuda Max in .22 and enjoy it. I would like a .30 Cal for bigger game. Airgun Channel has convinced me that the would be a good choice. I have done a bit of research and I really like the following features: Bottle 4500 PSI air tank, supported by Hajimoto, upgradable, accurate, will shoot slugs if I want, and side lever. The weight is certainly a thing but it's not much heavier than the Airacuda. I would like to keep my budget under $800. I have looked at the Hatsan Blitz but I don't need semi or full auto and would rather have accuracy. I realize the M60b is in the same arena but I cannot find it in .30 cal, Am I missing anything?
I don't know where you are or if you're looking for something used but I'm in Florida and I have a "FX Mavrick Sniper" .30 I'm looking to let go of.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Firewalker
Although the gauntlet SL .30 is long and unwieldy if you're not going to be doing stalking or running and gunning it's a good platform for the money.

My first PCP was a gauntlet .25 and that was poop to shoot, BUT it shot great. Took about 2k shots for the bolt to finally "smooth" itself.

The SL30 is miles ahead of what the first gauntlet was like. With a heavy slug you can get close to 120fpe and 100fpe is standard on the gun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BABz58
I bought a Gauntlet 2 in .25 in the classifieds here. I still like it and bought a Gauntlet, not a 2, as a second .25 because I want two of everything. The second one had some problems but it got sorted and shoots very well. Both are big and a bit heavy but not my heaviest and well priced. No reason for me to rule them out in the future. I also have an Anschutz target rifle that cost more than both Gauntlets combined and is easily my heaviest rifle. Different critter for different needs but I would buy the Gauntlet again.

Rick H.
 
Cons:

I never had a .30 or side lever. But it took three .25s to get one that mostly did not leak. The quality was poor. All three rifles had "repairs" to the finish with Magic Markers. The bolt came loose on all three, it took a winch to cock the thing. The rifle is way too big, way too heavy for a hunting rifle. And it is fugly. Sometimes if I look at something long enough the appearance I might become accustomed to, not in this case, it has no redeeming aesthetic aspects. No parts availability, no phone to call, no support.

If I got another, it would be the .30SL. I would cut the shroud off or cut it down or sleeve the bare barrel. I would get rid of the stock somehow or cut it up also. I would spray paint or Cerakote or hydrodip the ugly thing to give it an even uglier finish than black Magic Marker on black paint that rubs off. And put a carbon fiber bottle on it so that to knock some weight off the front.

Pros:

The magazines I think fit in my M-Rods, if I recall or vice versa. Maybe I am not remembering that clearly. Otherwise they seemed reasonably accurate and powerful.
 
Last edited:
Cons:

I never had a .30 or side lever. But it took three .25s to get one that mostly did not leak. The quality was poor. All three rifles had "repairs" to the finish with Magic Markers. The bolt came loose on all three, it took a winch to cock the thing. The rifle is way too big, way too heavy for a hunting rifle. And it is fugly. Sometimes if I look at something long enough the appearance I might become accustomed to, not in this case, it has no redeeming aesthetic aspects. No parts availability, no phone to call, no support.

If I got another, it would be the .30SL. I would cut the shroud off or cut it down or sleeve the bare barrel. I would get rid of the stock somehow or cut it up also. I would spray paint or Cerakote or hydrodip the ugly thing to give it an even uglier finish than black Magic Marker on black paint that rubs off. And put a carbon fiber bottle on it so that to knock some weight off the front.

Pros:

The magazines I think fit in my M-Rods, if I recall or vice versa. Maybe I am not remembering that clearly. Otherwise they seemed reasonably accurate and powerful.
The owner of this site (Dana) does custom builds for UX as well as other guns, he also prints body kits, which lighten the weight of the rifle by 2lbs

 
Cons:

I never had a .30 or side lever. But it took three .25s to get one that mostly did not leak. The quality was poor. All three rifles had "repairs" to the finish with Magic Markers. The bolt came loose on all three, it took a winch to cock the thing. The rifle is way too big, way too heavy for a hunting rifle. And it is fugly. Sometimes if I look at something long enough the appearance I might become accustomed to, not in this case, it has no redeeming aesthetic aspects. No parts availability, no phone to call, no support.

If I got another, it would be the .30SL. I would cut the shroud off or cut it down or sleeve the bare barrel. I would get rid of the stock somehow or cut it up also. I would spray paint or Cerakote or hydrodip the ugly thing to give it an even uglier finish than black Magic Marker on black paint that rubs off. And put a carbon fiber bottle on it so that to knock some weight off the front.

Pros:

The magazines I think fit in my M-Rods, if I recall or vice versa. Maybe I am not remembering that clearly. Otherwise they seemed reasonably accurate and powerful.
I decided to kee my my SL .30 and will be sending it to Terminadorindustries to get it cut crowned and looked over. 700cc bottle is getting swapped for a 500cc and the barrel is going from 28" to 19" still putting out over 80fpe for 4-5 mags
 
Ok, here goes: Gauntlets are heavy, long, unwieldy and made from subpar materials.

I literally gave my Gauntlet away....
If you can fx liner convert it like the notos, go for it. The liner is the real magic of the fx beyond being regulated. Imho. My impact is heavy long and made of wizards teeth according to the price. If you can have the accuracy on a more affordable platform I will be the first to tell you to do it.
 
Daughter has a Gen 1 gauntlet in .22 that has killed a lot of squirrels over the past 5 years….really no complaints with it.

My primary gun has been a hatsan at-44 long so I will deal with heavy and unwieldily if it can shoot slugs accurately (1 major drawback on the hatsan).

I just received my sl30 but haven’t even had a chance to shoot it yet as I am waiting on slugs from Griffin, which won’t arrive until later this week. Just wanted to let you know, that if price is a major part of the equation, you are not going to find anything close to what the gauntlet can offer for the same price point.

Sportmans Guide just had a 15% off everything site wide sale, with free shipping, and a three month membership for only 15 bucks… Which after putting all of that together got me a brand new SL 30 shipped to my door for a final price of $348 (including tax).... I really don’t think you’re gonna find that kind of deal on any thing else that can shoot .30 cal slugs at about any range, with really good power.

And if the sportsman guide sale has ended, I bet they’ll have something similar on Black Friday.

Anyway, some other things I was looking for were an adjustable cheek rest, since my site mark wraith has a bit of a unique eye relief and getting a good cheek weld was really not possible on my hatsan (especially since I had to mount a picatinny adapter on the Weaver/dovetail rail).

Anyway, this gun checked all the boxes for me and I also now have the trigger adjusted to where it is breaking really crisp and light…

Feel free to follow up with me in a week or so, after I’ve received the slugs and can confirm that it shoots as well as everyone on YouTube says it does….

I realize I’m not doing a good job of talking you out of it, but these are the reasons why I chose to purchase a gauntlet last week😁

IMG_9918.jpeg


IMG_9917.jpeg
 
  • Wow
Reactions: JaceSpace1369
Daughter has a Gen 1 gauntlet in .22 that has killed a lot of squirrels over the past 5 years….really no complaints with it.

My primary gun has been a hatsan at-44 long so I will deal with heavy and unwieldily if it can shoot slugs accurately (1 major drawback on the hatsan).

I just received my sl30 but haven’t even had a chance to shoot it yet as I am waiting on slugs from Griffin, which won’t arrive until later this week. Just wanted to let you know, that if price is a major part of the equation, you are not going to find anything close to what the gauntlet can offer for the same price point.

Sportmans Guide just had a 15% off everything site wide sale, with free shipping, and a three month membership for only 15 bucks… Which after putting all of that together got me a brand new SL 30 shipped to my door for a final price of $348 (including tax).... I really don’t think you’re gonna find that kind of deal on any thing else that can shoot .30 cal slugs at about any range, with really good power.

And if the sportsman guide sale has ended, I bet they’ll have something similar on Black Friday.

Anyway, some other things I was looking for were an adjustable cheek rest, since my site mark wraith has a bit of a unique eye relief and getting a good cheek weld was really not possible on my hatsan (especially since I had to mount a picatinny adapter on the Weaver/dovetail rail).

Anyway, this gun checked all the boxes for me and I also now have the trigger adjusted to where it is breaking really crisp and light…

Feel free to follow up with me in a week or so, after I’ve received the slugs and can confirm that it shoots as well as everyone on YouTube says it does….

I realize I’m not doing a good job of talking you out of it, but these are the reasons why I chose to purchase a gauntlet last week😁

View attachment 510510

View attachment 510511
That's a crazy low price!
 
$800-$1000 will get you a nice used FX Maverick in the classifieds. Checks all of your boxes and will outlast 10 Hatsuns or Gauntlets. Good friend started with a Gen 2 Gauntlet in 25Cal and quickly decided he wanted something nicer. It shot ok for a budget pcp but the stock was super awkward for both him and me. The super long length after adding a mod and the heavy weight were also turn offs.

What kind of game or pests are you after? What distnaces? In my opinion you can do pretty much everything with a strong 25Cal at a cheaper cost. The Stoeger XM1 Scout can do 40fpe in 25Cal which is plenty for Racoon sized or smaller pests. A Maverick in 25Cal can make 100fpe with the right setup. I think anything that needs more than that is really asking for a box or powder burner.