I've decided I'm definitely buying a Evol rifle.. my caliber of choice is a 22cal. My main use is small game hunting.. for me it's squirrel... Squirrel season is my Christmas! My go to rifle for the past couple of years has been my RTI Prophet compact v1 ( I swap barrels on it from 177, 22,25 but the 22 barrel is my go-to when squirrel hunting) that rifle really checks all the boxes.. I like everything about it.. it has never let me down. So those of you that have experience with a Evol mini or Evol 15" in 22cal... How will the Evol compare to my RTI compact and and out of the 2 Evol choices which would be more comparable in 22cal and why... I keep leaning towards the 15" but if the mini is just as capable as my RTI compact in 22 I'll be all about it.. help me out... Your thoughts??
American Air Arms Evol mini vs Evol 15"
- Thread starter Jasonmc
- Start date
From my experience with .22 cal specifically, 15" is about the shortest you want to go if you want to be sending pellets around or just over the 900fps mark. Take that into consideration. I believe the guys with the mini tend to tune for just a bit over 800fps.
No idea how they all compare, but just stating my observation on how barrel length will affect power output while still keeping the gun efficient. Efficient in terms of good shot count, low valve dwell, quieter report, ect.
No idea how they all compare, but just stating my observation on how barrel length will affect power output while still keeping the gun efficient. Efficient in terms of good shot count, low valve dwell, quieter report, ect.
Upvote 0
I have been on the fence also about an Evol also. But I won’t try to compare it to my RTI’s. The RTI’s are capable of so much more power and that power really makes them versatile even with short barrels. The best advice I can give is sell off all your .22 RTI stuff. Then you have to buy an Evol to fill that void. The pellets and squirrel void. It won’t make a better squirrel gun than your miniature RTI, but it will be absolutely effective and something different to carry. I need something bad to happen to my Taipan so I have no excuse but to order one.
Upvote 0
Lucky for you I've owned all 3, Evol 15", Mini and RTI Compact .22. I'll need to go through my notes about the RTI as I can't remember but power wise the 15" would be more comparable but can't remember. 1900psi reg and your at 880fps with the 25.4gr MRDs I don't think the RTI with 400mm could push that. My mini at 2000psi reg is pushing 890fps with 16gr JSBs maxes out around 925fps at that setting. I will say I sold my RTI Compact once I got my Evol Mini. I really like it that much more. And I loved my RTI.
Upvote 0
I have an evol mini .22 and I am sending my hades around 870 fps with great consistency and the rifle can easily push them to 900 fps no problem. With the tune at 870 fps I can shoot 18.13 pretty close to MOA at 100 yards , the rifle can out shoot me.
The 15" is 5 inches longer but from what I am told its a very handy rifle, but imo there is no handier small game pester than the Evol Mini, I will never not recommend one if small game pesting is your goal.
The 15" is 5 inches longer but from what I am told its a very handy rifle, but imo there is no handier small game pester than the Evol Mini, I will never not recommend one if small game pesting is your goal.
Upvote 0
I don't own and have never shot an RTI, so I can't make that part of the comparison. But, I'll speak to the Mini vs. 15" as I have both of those.
IMO the Mini is a great airgun for up to ~30fpe. Smaller platform but very handy, accurate and a joy to shoot. For projectiles 18gr and under. I've detuned mine for Crosman 14.3s @ 800 fps and it's very accurate out to 45-50 yards - prob further, but don't have the option to shoot further most of the time.
The 15" is a much more powerful option. Easily tuned to the 45-50 fpe range and very accurate with the MRD and also slugs in the 20-23gr range. Could also be de-tuned down to ~30fpe and will be quieter than the Mini at that power level and get more shots per fill.
The choice between the two really comes down to your size and power requirements. Either one will serve well.
IMO the Mini is a great airgun for up to ~30fpe. Smaller platform but very handy, accurate and a joy to shoot. For projectiles 18gr and under. I've detuned mine for Crosman 14.3s @ 800 fps and it's very accurate out to 45-50 yards - prob further, but don't have the option to shoot further most of the time.
The 15" is a much more powerful option. Easily tuned to the 45-50 fpe range and very accurate with the MRD and also slugs in the 20-23gr range. Could also be de-tuned down to ~30fpe and will be quieter than the Mini at that power level and get more shots per fill.
The choice between the two really comes down to your size and power requirements. Either one will serve well.
Upvote 0
I've got a Mini 15", and an RTI Compact version I. Both in .22 . I only shoot pellets.
Both are shooting at just over 800fps, very accurately to about 50yrds. I'd say that, that speed is plenty for a little farther distance, as the pellets splatter to mostly, nonexistence, pretty good when hitting steel targets.
Both guns were easy to tune to that speed. Although I did turn the regulator down in the Mini, which required an expensive tool to remove the barrel. The work to do so is easy, just a little time consuming.
Very different guns, both easily tunable.
Toss a coin if you can't decide on your own.
Mike
Both are shooting at just over 800fps, very accurately to about 50yrds. I'd say that, that speed is plenty for a little farther distance, as the pellets splatter to mostly, nonexistence, pretty good when hitting steel targets.
Both guns were easy to tune to that speed. Although I did turn the regulator down in the Mini, which required an expensive tool to remove the barrel. The work to do so is easy, just a little time consuming.
Very different guns, both easily tunable.
Toss a coin if you can't decide on your own.
Mike
Upvote 0
Just to clarify, the Mini is 10.5. I like to see expensive tools to remove a properly mounted barrel, shows the manufacturer was thinking about the end user.
Upvote 0
That's what I was thinking for the 15".. I can tune it down easier that tune the mini up.. I do want to shoot slugs from time to time.. that's a nice option.. thank you!!
Upvote 0
You also have to consider some things. If you want the Evol that isn’t held back power wise, it’s going to be 10” longer than your Prophet. I was always curious about the Mini because it’s in the same size range as the compact offerings from bullpup land. But it’s lacking and pretty much a one trick pony.
Upvote 0
What’s your shot count with the Hades at 870 fps? I ask because that’s what I would shoot for if I buy one.
Upvote 0
No actually I never considered OAL between all of them.. i believe the 15" is 6" longer than the full size prophet (without a moderator) depending on choice of moderator that could change... Definitely power wise the mini won't/can't produce the same fpe as my compact (my 22, 177 barrels are 510mm...the 25 is 400mm) the RTI compact has no issues pushing 22 25.4gr a bit over 900fps... It's a little power house... although I shoot 18gr at 890 from it... slowing it down is.. well it doesn't like to go slow...neither does it's big brother.. perhaps I'm comparing apples to oranges here...
The OAL isn't a issue...weight isn't a big deal either.. ease of tuning is important... Quality and build is very important... Being able to tune for 16, 18 or possibly 25.4gr is a big deal to me... slugs naw not so much.. shot count... Hmmm as a squirrel hunter...my state, 5 per day per person.. my personal limit is 2 possibly 3 when I hunt... So either mini or 15" Will be fine... heading out to pop starlings on the farm...yeah shot count is a big deal at times.. but the Evol will be a dedicated squirrel hunter... starling pooper will be for the RTI
Upvote 0
The biggest plus I see, going from the RTI to the Evol is you are going to an air tube and doing away with a bottle. For me that makes more sense in a bull pup type rifle.
Upvote 0
A little over 3 magazines so 33 shots.
Also to touch on your previous comment , yes it can be compared in oal to compact bullpups but as far as it's capabilities to send lead down range accurately I think that it's no comparison.
I can shoot moa at 100 yards with my mini , that's with 10.5 inch of barrel (most of its competitors need double the barrel to do that), essentially a long pistol barrel. A compact bullpup like an impact has 20 inches of barrel, poi shifts and inconsistent first shot placement that's been addressed a bunch. With ONLY a 10.5 inch barrel and 10 inch tube. 33 shots is great and can be detuned (very simply and easily) to get as many as 60.
Mine scoped , aired up, and loaded with a mag is 7.4 pounds , again to compare to the peoples choice, a compact impact bare is 7.15.
It's really all in what you want but I'd not say it's lacking nor would I say it's a 1 trick pony.
I'd have no problem competing with it in an n50 match for instance.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Most people that knock on the evol havnt shot one. If you have, and don’t like it…..that’s fine too. The sport is full of options for everyone. The impacts were not for me. I’ve owned 3. I’ve also owned a crown, maverick, dreamline and wildcat. I’ve sold all of them not because they were bad rifles, but because they didn’t fit what I wanted. The evol mini has been the most accurate and pleasure rifle to shoot to date, and has never disappointed me in any way. So much so, I bought an evol 30 to compliment it. I didn’t want to buy the evol 15” bc I worried I wouldn’t give my mini enough love after getting it.
The evol platform just plain works. For me, I don’t look anywhere else at this point. I’m that much of a fan.
The evol platform just plain works. For me, I don’t look anywhere else at this point. I’m that much of a fan.
Upvote 0
There is nothing to complain about with 30 shots at 870. As far as the FX stuff goes, well that’s the price we are paying for a broad tunable stick of dynamite in a 29” package with a mod attached. With that silent little package comes a price. I completely understand the appeal of the simple life. You’re not sending 30gr slugs close to 1,000 fps like a M3 compact can, but you’re also not getting aggravated by quirks.
Upvote 0
For good reason, and we had a discussion. Nothing posted wasn't a contribution to the topic at hand.
Upvote 0
So he says the exactly same thing about Taipan compact in .177 with his second hand experience. But if I say it its a BFD. See the lol ????
Upvote 0