FX FX Airguns DRS Pro: How Significant is This Really?

[genericAGuser]

Epic and revolutionary, except for the Artemis SPA M30/M30C, Alteros M24, and Remington Vought.
The pro is in a $1600 chasis, that is more than the cost of a whole M24. The M30 were $350 in 2020, now they are 600-800 euros. The Vought is 500 euros. So a done thing at a new higher premium price, none for me thanks. Unless Fred wants to send me one for free, then I'll make a video singing it's praises, sell it and get some dental work done

 

[INSIX]

Very cool rifle. I hope for the expected $3500 its robust enough to take some bumps. A chassis rifle is top tier and does help with shooting tighter groups. My MPA chassis on my RAW HM1000x has certainly tightened up my groups and comfort A+. I don't think it makes the Panthera obsolete. The Panthera can compete in PRS and can be a 1 MOA rifle. They are rifles for very different budgets.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

I'm going to bow out of this thread before it gets anymore heated. Take care gents.

 

[jps2486]

I had the chance to talk with Johan today at the Shot Show. He is very enthusiastic about the platform and it's potential.
The biggest drawback for me is the Magazine style plenum. It just looks out of place and hokey on a dedicated air rifle. I'm not in favor of trying to look like something it isn't.

The trigger is a major improvement over the Impact.

View attachment 428343

Isn't this magazine/plenum feature designed to allow changing of plenum sizes by just swapping it out?

 

[Raider03]

Very cool rifle. I hope for the expected $3500 its robust enough to take some bumps. A chassis rifle is top tier and does help with shooting tighter groups. My MPA chassis on my RAW HM1000x has certainly tightened up my groups and comfort A+. I don't think it makes the Panthera obsolete. The Panthera can compete in PRS and can be a 1 MOA rifle. They are rifles for very different budgets.

Does the DRS make the Panthera obsolete to FX, no further refinements or updates?
That's my concern.

 

[Raider03]

Isn't this magazine/plenum feature designed to allow changing of plenum sizes by just swapping it out?

It could be used that way, but current design is also intended to make the airgun look more like firearm. The design wasn't an after thought.

 

[jps2486]

Bitch, bitch, bitch. If you don't like it don't buy it, that's your vote. I said the same thing about the Panthera, but apparently, it has a following.

 

[INSIX]

Does the DRS make the Panthera obsolete to FX, no further refinements or updates?
That's my concern.

I don't think FX will drop innovations for the Dynamic block. They have so many new rifles using that block. Dynamic, Panthera, and the King.

 

[UpNorthAirGunner]

Lots of good conversations here on the FX DRS Pro. Here is a long response to get all my thoughts out after reading comments over the past 24 hours. The point of my original post was the goal of making an airgun design as close to the form of a firearm has a lot of historical examples and has a meaningful purpose.

I am a HUGE military training rifle collector and military history nut. Also, U.S. Army Veteran Tank Gunner whose secondary job was a Unit Small Arms Armorer for my unit. I LOVE the mechanics of rifles just as much as I love shooting them. Do I work in the airgun industry? Yes. Do I live and breathe this stuff daily? It is a diagnosable obsession!

So what was the point of my original post? TONS of history has led up to the FX DRS Pro design and ya, I am pretty excited about it. The historical aspect that interests me most about all this is looking at the FX DRS Pro as the ultimate airgun training rifle.

The military figured out a LOOOOONG time ago that the more trigger time you get your troops the more proficient they become as an expert marksman. .22LR was the chosen approach for a good part of the 20th century as a cost-effective way to do so. Furthermore, it opened up WHERE marksmanship training could be performed and no longer needed hundreds of yards. Hell, they even used gallery gun power level .22LR shorts to shoot indoors!

They figured out right away that just going to the .22 caliber wasn't enough and needed to make training rifles that had as close to the same form factor as the primary issued service rifle of the time. This is my collection of every .22LR dating from pre-WWI through WWII of every single U.S. military-adopted .22LR training rifle (yes I love this stuff). The two specifically I want to point out are the 1922 Springfield .22LR (uses the actual Springfield M1903 action) and the H&R 65 .22LR (very similar form factor to the M1 Garand). These two specifically were created to mimic the manual of arms and ergonomics of their full-sized service rifles of the M1903 Springfield and the M1 Garand.

I know there are quite of few Brits here on Airgun Nation and y'all did the same thing. The Mossberg 42MB (5th from the top) was adopted by the Brits as a training rifle as it has a very similar ergonomic design to the Pattern 1914 Enfield and Lee Enfield No.1 and No.4.

The small-bore / .22LR / and now airgun training rifle concept is alive and well in modern times and we see companies and products like Bergara B-14R in .22LR use a AICS style magazine that accepts .22LR cartridges to mimic its center-fire big brother. I don't know if you've checked prices on 6.5 CM ammo lately, but if you think airguns are expensive. Try burning through a few hundred rounds of Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match Ammo and let me know how much lighter your wallet feels or if your credit card has melted.

Having the FX DRS Pro with almost the EXACT form factor as my centerfire Begara 6.5 CM (or any other Rem700 form factor rifle) you can now burn off 1000s of rounds for a fraction of the cost of the center-fire equivalent platform and the same can be said for the .22LR version too because you're not feeding your precision .22LR bulk green box Remington. You're spending $15-$25 a box of 50 rounds Match Grade Ammo. Airgun slugs are a small fraction of the cost.

So to this point of, "why make an air rifle look like something it is not"... I personally think it is an important approach to marksmanship training and our history as shooters. If the FX DRS Pro design doesn't appeal to you and you want super high shot count or super compact design, well... they have those designs too! I just think it is cool that I can now have an airgun that feels and operates almost EXACTLY like my precision centerfire rifle and I personally will be a better shooter the more trigger time I get behind it.

 

[LongRangePrecisionA.R.H.]

Because your local Karen doesn't go to airgun depot and look at all the new cool guns. They see a big fat air tank on a gun, they think it's a super soaker like little Johnny has.

Not everyone is hip to airguns.

As for nitpicking. If the manufacturer would've knocked this model out of the park, everyone's tone would be different.

I don’t see Karen’s roaming around farms and in the woods or out in the desert when I’m shooting my airrifle. I hope you’re not whipping your airrifle out at Walmart or the public park.

 

[UpNorthAirGunner]

Does the DRS make the Panthera obsolete to FX, no further refinements or updates?
That's my concern.

No way! I think the Dynamic Block serves a different purpose than the DRS platform,. With so many different configurations, I think the Dynamic based offerings from FX will be at the core of their product offerings for quite some time. Love the valve in that thing! Super powerful and efficient.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

I don’t see Karen’s roaming around farms and in the woods or out in the desert when I’m shooting my airrifle. I hope you’re not whipping your airrifle out at Walmart or the public park.

Not at all. I shoot at home alot, as do alot of members here. Most airgunners I think shoot in their backyard, hence why there are so many "backyard friendly " air rifles on the market.

 

[qball]

Does the DRS make the Panthera obsolete to FX, no further refinements or updates?
That's my concern.

Zero chance DRS will take over Panthera/dynamic. It is however an iteration of the dynamic block, DRS stands for dynamic rifle system. This seems fairly clear to me is the lower power platform of the dynamic block and dynamic/panthera/king is the higher end and higher powered dynamic platform. With low shot count alone should be enough to differentiate, but obvious can’t count out a bottle adapter to add a bottle in the future. This is aiming squarely at Dreamline/wildcat segment to me, meaning 1000-1500 dollar range with the exception of the chassis.


To OP’s original question of is it significant, saw a lot of comments on both side but mostly negative. Yes, it is a departure and personally I really dislike the fake mag or real gun look, I really do. BUT the internal change with simplifying the internals while still making it adjustable even though it’s not a simple dial anymore is awesome and very significant. There are Tons of FX haters that complains about the moving parts, complexity, reliability Nd number of orings which has some truth to it, this new design should eliminate all that. Most FX owners don’t turn the dials like i do, so simplify features that doesn’t get used much while still have the options to fine tune the gun is amazing!

Obviously the real question is will this gun be significant enough for me to buy it to replace my Dreamline? For me the answer is not yet, I really want to see the DRS gets a field target chassis then I’ll order the sub12 version immediately! Still keeping my dynamic, compacts, Dreamline compact, crown……they are just too much fun as legos. I do see this replacing my Dreamline for FT since I don’t change anything on it.

 

[Centercut]

Does the DRS make the Panthera obsolete to FX, no further refinements or updates?
That's my concern.

I doubt it since the Panthera/Dynamic is capable of considerably more power, and can be had in .30 and .35 caliber. The DRS Pro is pretty much a .22 only gun. Yes, .25 is available but not at the power level to shoot heavier .25 slugs.
The Dynamic block is also available in the King, so it seems much more versatile and adaptable than the DRS version. The next Impact M4 will more than likely be based on the Dynamic block as well.

One thing the OP seems to gloss over is the “upgrades” that he calls “versions”. It comes with the 230 bar aluminum tube, and can be upgraded to a CF tube. Nitpicking? Maybe…. I’m sure we’d all like to know the price of the basic “version” and the upgraded “version”.

 

[UpNorthAirGunner]

I doubt it since the Panthera/Dynamic is capable of considerably more power, and can be had in .30 and .35 caliber. The DRS Pro is pretty much a .22 only gun. Yes, .25 is available but not at the power level to shoot heavier .25 slugs.
The Dynamic block is also available in the King, so it seems much more versatile and adaptable than the DRS version. The next Impact M4 will more than likely be based on the Dynamic block as well.

One thing the OP seems to gloss over is the “upgrades” that he calls “versions”. It comes with the 230 bar aluminum tube, and can be upgraded to a CF tube. Nitpicking? Maybe…. I’m sure we’d all like to know the price of the basic “version” and the upgraded “version”.

Good points about the caliber and based on the specs, I agree that the .22 cal is the way to go. As far as "glossing over", I haven't even seen this rifle in person yet so I can't speak to real-world performance where I know I am going to want to feed it .22 cal / 30-34 gr. slugs and push them up around 950-1000 FPS. So the only specs I can go off of is what we all can see that has been published. It will be interesting to see shot count at the power level I just described and if the upgraded CF barrel reservoir is a must or a nice to have.

 

[Airgun Al]

Im not convinced that the DPS will be limited to less power than its predecessor.
For all we know, FX may offer a larger XXXL plentum, or other options, that offer more power than the Panthera.
Its certainly possible, and what I would expect from FX.
I dont ever recall them going backwards with a new product, in terms of energy.

 

[UpNorthAirGunner]

Im not convinced that the DPS will be limited to less power than its predecessor.
For all we know, FX may offer a larger XXXL plentum, or other options, that offer more power than the Panthera.
Its certainly possible, and what I would expect from FX.
I dont ever recall them going backwards with a new product, in terms of energy.

I think the 65cc plenum is large enough to get some real big power numbers and I am interested to see if the valve is more similar to the Dynamic or the Impact. You can get some really high power numbers with the Dynamic valve without cranking the reg pressure. I am super interested to see what that will be with the DRS. For instance, the FPE level advertised for the Dynamic when it first came out was quite a bit less than what I can get with it in real-world use, and tweaking it a bit with a Tungsten hammer running it up into that 160-170 bar range. The question becomes though what is the minimum shot count acceptable? That is going to be different for different situations. Is it having enough shots for a full PRS stage or a full afternoon of squirrel hunting or going to a dairy to whack pigeons? Each situation is going to "need" a different level of shot count.

 

[Peashooter]

I don’t see Karen’s roaming around farms and in the woods or out in the desert when I’m shooting my airrifle

Now that would be annoying.
But they dont have to, you filming your hobby and the fun you have doing it, and sharing that in public will probably be more than enough for the Karens to latch on.
And i would hate to see us airheads become " those that is not seen or spoken about " and we will have to scurry along walls and hide in the shade to enjoy our hobby.

The reason PCP rifles over .177 got cancelled for buying when 18 YO, was 1 newspaper article on the power of PCP rifles in 2012, and then some punk kids shooting at people in a street,,,,, with a .177 springer.
So now there is just 2 avenues of getting to own a > .177 and that is to procure a hunting licence, which granted are not a insurmountable task, but really still way too much for just getting to shoot papers or other stuff we do ( not talking hunting at all here )

Getting a hunting licence here is a 40 question written exam ( probably multiple choice ) where you need to have at least 36 questions correct, and then a practical part where you must prove you can handle a weapon properly in the woods and discharge it safely, and there will also be some distance to target questions.

The #2 avenue they say we have here, well i have just decided to embark on a journey to prove that that is not at all a option, and so it being mentioned in the law here is nothing but a cruel joke, or proof of the law making assembly's capability to stitch something together that just work is none existing.
So after today having exhausted my options in a hunting related setting, i am now turning my attention to the sports shooting clubs, but i have no reason to think i should have any success here either.

PS. I have in the past 2 days tried to talk to hunters association here, and the 1 of 2 clubs where PRS is shot ( still a hunters thing ), and that is absolutely out of the question for me, and they are not even talking about me not wanting to go all the way and become a registered hunter.
I can not be allowed to shoot air rifles with them, it is center fire or go home.

Of course my undertaking will be for absolutely nothing but my personal torment, and without at least a few 100.000 followers what i come up with will just be ignored at best, and change,,,,, that will absolutely NOT happen on this matter.

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Needs a plenum like this.

 

[Caliber 22]

I don't really have a place in this discussion as I cannot afford a rifle like this even if I really want it. Yes I can buy it but that does not mean I can afford it, it will be irresponsible for me if I do.

BUT,

I do like the looks of it. I don't like the looks of air rifles with big bottles on it, the tubed look is better for me and this one even better.
In the beginning of the .22LR with centre fire look magazine, I did not like it as well, but I came to except it.

It does look simpler in working mechanics than the Impact and similar rifles, like others say, set it and forget it. I like that.

As for Karens that might complain about it. like said before, there are lots of break barrel air rifles and .22LR looking just like centre fire rifles and I don't see to much complaints about that. Yes I did see a video about a Karen complaining about a static display 1/3 scale model of some AR15 or AK47, but you get the extremes on both sides. That boat has sailed a long time ago, the big attention to those people is the big bore air rifles developing more power that some smaller centre fire rifles do and people posting videos about the power output and what they can do with those rifles. Also advocating having such a air rifle If you are not allowed to possess a firearm. Yes I would like to have those as well but here in SA it is considered in the same class as a firearm and you need the same license for it. Then it makes more sense to me to buy a centre fire.

As for the people complaining that FX makes to much money, wow, that is the reason for having a business, to make money and if they are successful with that, good for them. Complaining about the price is just as senseless, then just don't buy it, like me who cannot afford it. I would like to have a new Geländerwagen as well but I don't complain about the price because I cannot afford it. Other people can and do buy it.

Just my point of view.