Umarex Problem zeroing airgun: Umarex Notos

So recently I installed the Plenum kit, and got a new threaded barrel from the mighty @Firewalker . And a buckrail moderator, sometimes the base one and seeing which works better (I have damages hearing so either or sounds the same to me)

Gun looks great! Quiet too, the mechanical hammer is louder than the shot itself.

But I’ve noticed as I’ve been trying to use my airgun as of late since then, it seems like the power is not always there?

For example I recently got a winchester AO 2-7x32 airgun scope and some vortex high, hunter scope rings.

When zeroing at about 30ish yards my shot are almost always incredibly low. Using an Optima 4x-32 on Bushnell Banner rings, Simmons 3.5-12 on Vortex Pro rings, and the Winchester 2-7x32 on Vortex High hunter rings, it seems I almost always run out of elevation.

I currently am removing the winchester and seriously judging my ability to zero my scopes. I was able to zero my powder burners no problem but I cannot for the life of me get my airgun scopes zeroed and 5 inches short of center.

On the rare occasion I once had my Umarex Notos zeroed, it would easily hit 1-2 inch groups based on how well I tried. Even with it not zeroed it still hits great groups, sometimes within the same hole. The hammer is at max power and I currently use JB Jumbo 18gr, CPHP 14 gr, JB jumbo 15gr. All very similar groupings and I still run out of zero.


When using my Vortex Venom or Viper micro red dots however, I can zero it easily and with no trouble.

I am currently trying using electrician’s friction tape as shims for the scopes incase if they are moving about, or Im tightening wrong (I always go from front to back and alternating front right/left to rear right/left. So they are evenly pulling down)

IMG_7616.jpeg


IMG_7617.jpeg
 
So recently I installed the Plenum kit, and got a new threaded barrel from the mighty @Firewalker . And a buckrail moderator, sometimes the base one and seeing which works better (I have damages hearing so either or sounds the same to me)

Gun looks great! Quiet too, the mechanical hammer is louder than the shot itself.

But I’ve noticed as I’ve been trying to use my airgun as of late since then, it seems like the power is not always there?

For example I recently got a winchester AO 2-7x32 airgun scope and some vortex high, hunter scope rings.

When zeroing at about 30ish yards my shot are almost always incredibly low. Using an Optima 4x-32 on Bushnell Banner rings, Simmons 3.5-12 on Vortex Pro rings, and the Winchester 2-7x32 on Vortex High hunter rings, it seems I almost always run out of elevation.

I currently am removing the winchester and seriously judging my ability to zero my scopes. I was able to zero my powder burners no problem but I cannot for the life of me get my airgun scopes zeroed and 5 inches short of center.

On the rare occasion I once had my Umarex Notos zeroed, it would easily hit 1-2 inch groups based on how well I tried. Even with it not zeroed it still hits great groups, sometimes within the same hole. The hammer is at max power and I currently use JB Jumbo 18gr, CPHP 14 gr, JB jumbo 15gr. All very similar groupings and I still run out of zero.


When using my Vortex Venom or Viper micro red dots however, I can zero it easily and with no trouble.

I am currently trying using electrician’s friction tape as shims for the scopes incase if they are moving about, or Im tightening wrong (I always go from front to back and alternating front right/left to rear right/left. So they are evenly pulling down)

View attachment 525178

View attachment 525179
if you think you are low on power, you might check the barrel o rings.. mine from the factory had crumbled one.. got replacement from firewalker.
Mark
 
  • Like
Reactions: EmersonWaved
I would advise against shimming of any kind. If your scopes dont have enough elevation the better solution is either adjustable rings or a different scope. Shimming puts addition stress on the scope tube due to the scope tube not being parallel with the ring plane. I know lots of people will disagree and say they do it all the time and never had any problems but I will never understand it.

It sounds like your cheaper scope just dont have enough elevation adjustment. If you play with your windage I bet you will find there is a little more movement in the elevation turret.
 
I would advise against shimming of any kind. If your scopes dont have enough elevation the better solution is either adjustable rings or a different scope. Shimming puts addition stress on the scope tube due to the scope tube not being parallel with the ring plane. I know lots of people will disagree and say they do it all the time and never had any problems but I will never understand it.

It sounds like your cheaper scope just dont have enough elevation adjustment. If you play with your windage I bet you will find there is a little more movement in the elevation turret.
That is the thing, I have played around with em after multiple reinstalls and windage has never been an issue, only elevation. The simmons has always been a pain to adjust however so maybe I can put my weaver scope or bushnell banner II on there. But the 4x cheapo scope was able to zero no problem in the past. Was what I used on this all the time before I got the simmons and the plenum kit

If push comes to shove I will look into adjustable rings or a utg bug buster/hawke vantage/use my bushnell banner II. Has been on multiple powderburners from 22lr to 308 and always held zero.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: markhooper
I would advise against shimming of any kind. If your scopes dont have enough elevation the better solution is either adjustable rings or a different scope. Shimming puts addition stress on the scope tube due to the scope tube not being parallel with the ring plane. I know lots of people will disagree and say they do it all the time and never had any problems but I will never understand it.

It sounds like your cheaper scope just dont have enough elevation adjustment. If you play with your windage I bet you will find there is a little more movement in the elevation turret.
I doubt it will hurt the scope to shim if it is on the notos picayinny rail..I think the plastic rail will give first.. but I totally agree with you if it's a metal rail.. I'm not fond of plastic.. for much of anything that could be metal..
on a spring gun, RWS Diana I had a one piece adjustable scope mount that was really good but it would be way overkill in my opinion on the notos..it also had a recoil stop..
Mark
 
  • Like
Reactions: EmersonWaved
Shimming the ring is perfectly safe if done correctly. The conservative maximum is around .020". A PCP rifle does not generate enough recoil to require gorilla-tight ring screws, so scope damage is not a practical risk. Using only moderate torque and reasonable shim thickness are the important parameters. I've used this method for over 50 years and I've never had an issue. Adjustable rings are better, but for many years they were not available.
 
firewalker the specialist has arrived.. happy New Year firewalker.. hope you are doing well
Mark

Happy new year to you all! The grandkids have gone home, the house is clean but for a sink of dishes, bedding washed, carpets vacuumed, bathrooms sanitized and trash taken out.

So begins a new year, full of promise, "winds of change" for us all.
 
From what I can gather, the Notos rail is dead-flat while my Maverick has 20 MOA built in.
Oh indeed, the rail is absolutely flat. The idea of using the irons they “planned” with is terrible because you can’t get your head low enough to use em, and red dots need a hi mount of some type since the cheek weld is almost level with the rail
 
Shimming the ring is perfectly safe if done correctly. The conservative maximum is around .020". A PCP rifle does not generate enough recoil to require gorilla-tight ring screws, so scope damage is not a practical risk. Using only moderate torque and reasonable shim thickness are the important parameters. I've used this method for over 50 years and I've never had an issue. Adjustable rings are better, but for many years they were not available.
How do you shim correctly? Are you advising to shim a 1-Piece base or between the ring and scope body?
 
  • Like
Reactions: EmersonWaved
How do you shim correctly? Are you advising to shim a 1-Piece base or between the ring and scope body?
Between the scope and ring. I cut a coke can to fit in the scope ring flush.

It did slightly help. After I was curious i decided to clean the barrel and got a lot of black crap inside out!

Too cold right now so I need to wait till tomorrow to check zero
 
Are these the rings you suggest, 20 MOA, for most scopes for the Notos or is your suggestion specific for the op? My Notos is on the way from Amazon.

I just grabbed THESE.

They work fine.

I'm sorry you got yours from A-Z, I have a few available NIB that I do a check on before shipping.