Short review of the Umarex Gauntlet 2 .30

[TangoDown36]

First post and i thought of making it a constructive one. Been a reader a long time though. Anyways,back to the subject.

I have the gun for several months and i dont understand why it isnt discussed more as it s a great riffle for the price.

My gun arrived with no leaks,no marks of any sort,half filled and in general great shape. I threw a cheap setup on it to see what it does. A cheap 50$ bipod and a mediocre SFP walther/umarex mildot scope.

The good:

Very very accurate at 30/55/110 yards. If it wasnt for the shaky gun combo,wind and myself, at 30 and 55 would be almost one hole groups.

Cheap, especially for you guys in the states

Shoots slugs even better than pellets. The trajectory of the jsb knock outs is far more linear than the jsb pellet. Zeroed at 55 yards i get 4 dots down at 110 yards with pellets and just 1.5 dots down with slugs,for reference.

Accurate to the manufacturer s claims. Swinging the jsb 44.75g at 1010 fps consistently.

Adjustable power with the external screw.


The bad:

Cheap plastic stock as you would expect for the price.

Very hard to cock. Compared to an fx m3 which is like a feather.

Bad trigger. Just bad overall. If i was at the states i would get a haji 2 stage trigger first thing.

Very very loud. Definitely not back yard friendly.

Lack of regulator pressure gauge. Again expected for the price. You need a chronograph to adjust power if you decide to do so.

And the last thing that annoys me the most. The foregrip m lok shroud. It flexes. It is impossible to stabilise the gun with a bipod.

In general i love the gun,i m satisfied with it and with a couple of add ons it will be solid. Below are a couple of groups that i did a couple of days ago. Unfortunately there was a lot of wind moving me along with the gun,making the 110 yards impossible.

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[Red_Ryder_Sniper]

First post and i thought of making it a constructive one. Been a reader a long time though. Anyways,back to the subject.

I have the gun for several months and i dont understand why it isnt discussed more as it s a great riffle for the price.

My gun arrived with no leaks,no marks of any sort,half filled and in general great shape. I threw a cheap setup on it to see what it does. A cheap 50$ bipod and a mediocre SFP walther/umarex mildot scope.

The good:

Very very accurate at 30/55/110 yards. If it wasnt for the shaky gun combo,wind and myself, at 30 and 55 would be almost one hole groups.

Cheap, especially for you guys in the states

Shoots slugs even better than pellets. The trajectory of the jsb knock outs is far more linear than the jsb pellet. Zeroed at 55 yards i get 4 dots down at 110 yards with pellets and just 1.5 dots down with slugs,for reference.

Accurate to the manufacturer s claims. Swinging the jsb 44.75g at 1010 fps consistently.

Adjustable power with the external screw.


The bad:

Cheap plastic stock as you would expect for the price.

Very hard to cock. Compared to an fx m3 which is like a feather.

Bad trigger. Just bad overall. If i was at the states i would get a haji 2 stage trigger first thing.

Very very loud. Definitely not back yard friendly.

Lack of regulator pressure gauge. Again expected for the price. You need a chronograph to adjust power if you decide to do so.

And the last thing that annoys me the most. The foregrip m lok shroud. It flexes. It is impossible to stabilise the gun with a bipod.

In general i love the gun,i m satisfied with it and with a couple of add ons it will be solid. Below are a couple of groups that i did a couple of days ago. Unfortunately there was a lot of wind moving me along with the gun,making the 110 yards impossible.

View attachment 348873

View attachment 348874

View attachment 348875

View attachment 348876

View attachment 348877

Thank you for the info, have been thinking about getting one of these...that stock has to go though lol.

 

[WorriedMan]

Tango,
Thanks, appreciate the post. My first PCP was a Generation One Umarex Gauntlet .25, while I enjoy the same accuracy as you, the length and weight of the Gauntlet, as well as the "clunky" bolt action, relegates the platform to an earlier time. Modern designs from China, like Air Venturi, DAR and JTS Airacuda offer accurate shorter, lighter guns with smooth side-lever actions, all which seems more desirable to today's airgunner. If Umarex overhauled the platform to a more updated version I think it would gain in popularity. WM

 

[bltmonty]

I just bought my first pcp air guns several months ago, an Airforce Talonp and Gauntlet in .30. My experience with the Gauntlet 30 is the same as yours--very accurate and consistent velocities. I am a long-range shooter, 500 yards + and reloader with regular firearms, but I am tired of paying 10 centers per primer, plus powder, and plus bullets, so I enjoy getting great groups at 50 yards with the Gauntlet; I use mostly Nielsen slugs right now.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Thank you for your review... For the money the 30 gauntlet maybe hard to beat..

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Trigger should be great! Google up QB78 trigger mods/adjustment. It really is an excellent trigger unit as issued, just needs adjustment. You might enjoy the "QB78 plunger mod" tho I wanted single ounces so skipped it. Mine in a little .177 gen1 but the same I believe. Cocking on the .30 likely has a stiffer spring but otherwise should be very smooth. Pull you bolt and lay it on glass and roll it. IF needed smack the high spot with a hammer (easy does it).
No need to spend a penny on your trigger tho.

Give it a look and let us know how that trigger really is.

John

 

[silvershooter589]

Unlike my Guantlet 2 .25 which needed some work, the very early production run Guantlet 2 30 I have (it just says "Guantlet 30" on the side instead of Guantlet 2 30 like most of them) has a really smooth trigger. It does take some getting used to compared to some other triggers, but I've found the trigger itself to be an asset in the accuracy department.

I will say I've never found a slug that will out-group JSB/FX 44.75 grain -- but darn close. @TangoDown36 , I am surprised you haven't mentioned that most slugs are difficult to jam into the breech. You haven't had this issue? I am using Griffin 64 grain .300 CBHP on recommendation from others here. Very accurate and they slide in without a need to shove the bolt especially hard. I am getting well above 120 FPE.

What's interesting is the accuracy shooting those JSB/FX at 1020 fps is nearly as good as shooting them 900 fps and certainly accurate enough for hunting. What's also interesting is turning down the hammer spring to minimum power, doubling your shot count, and still having a 70 FPE rifle (that is actually relatively quiet). If you really want to hole-in-hole some groups I suggest giving that a try as well. You will need to aim a little higher though

Pretty loud out of the box, yes. But I'm using one of the smaller moderators "Donny FX" and it does the job very well.

Well, I've given my full review on here before. Umarex could have done a better job on the fit & finish but nonetheless, at this price point, I would even recommend this 30 cal as a first PCP for someone that has somewhere to shoot some longer range targets. It is a very satisfying gun to sit down with and shoot some groups at a distance. This one deserves a quality scope. I have more expensive guns, but my Guantlet 30 wears my best scope.

I also recommend a barrel band because in stock configuration there can be some point of impact shift if you bump the barrel, which usually happens to me between shooting sessions. Very frustrating until installing the barrel band took care of that.

 

[orangeokie]

I would recommend you Gauntlet guys check out Haji’s new air stripper kit. Could go along ways toward backyard friendly status

 

[Geezerhood]

As I have posted previously here, the one I have had for 6 months now, shoots very well with pellets and the slugs I cast with an NOE mold. It shoots slugs better than my 700mm FX M3 set up for slugs or my RTI Prophet II, and about the same as the FX and better than the Prophet II with pellets. My trigger is different, but very clean breaking once I got used to it. The cocking effort is incredibly strong. Strong enough that I think it would break the linkage of an FX M3. Mine would not chamber slugs as it shipped from Umarex without beating on the bolt handle with a rubber mallet. I had to open up the throat just enough to close snugly with moderate pressure on my NOE slugs. No change in accuracy with the slugs or pellets, but no more bruised hand from trying to shut the bolt.

The stock is pretty bad.... I do think you could stiffen up the fore end with maybe some type of metal along the bottom to reduce flex. I installed an M-Lock plate farther back where there is no flex and can use a bipod extension attached to that with a solid rest on the bipod, though I almost never shoot from a bipod. Usually using M-lock on a ball head / tripod or a Caldwell precision rest clamped on the stock just about where the gauge is from the bench.

I got a moderator from Buck Rail and it tamed it down quite a bit. A bargain for the price and no change in accuracy.

I still haven't shot it on paper at 50 or 100 but it will produce 1/4 to 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups at shorter distances, so an inch at 100 might be do-able with my cast slugs. I hope to be trying 50 and 100 this week now that the snow is finally gone. This is probably one of my current PCP guns that I will hang on to for a while because it shoots well and only cost me $353 on sale, delivered, which is less than just the barrel kit for the FX or the Prophet.

 

[TangoDown36]

Tango,
Thanks, appreciate the post. My first PCP was a Generation One Umarex Gauntlet .25, while I enjoy the same accuracy as you, the length and weight of the Gauntlet, as well as the "clunky" bolt action, relegates the platform to an earlier time. Modern designs from China, like Air Venturi, DAR and JTS Airacuda offer accurate shorter, lighter guns with smooth side-lever actions, all which seems more desirable to today's airgunner. If Umarex overhauled the platform to a more updated version I think it would gain in popularity. WM

Yeah i agree with you on the chunky part. I cant imagine hauling it around with me for hunting. It needs to be benched. I wouldnt call the bolt clunky,it s just too heavy,mostly has to do with the spring. In all weirdness i like the rough style of the gauntlet,reminds me of my days in the army. New era 2000$ plus airguns are too "feelless",for lack of better words... Also the g2 is a completely different animal than the g1. I think they overhauled enough. Plus the g30 is different than the g2

I just bought my first pcp air guns several months ago, an Airforce Talonp and Gauntlet in .30. My experience with the Gauntlet 30 is the same as yours--very accurate and consistent velocities. I am a long-range shooter, 500 yards + and reloader with regular firearms, but I am tired of paying 10 centers per primer, plus powder, and plus bullets, so I enjoy getting great groups at 50 yards with the Gauntlet; I use mostly Nielsen slugs right now.

My buddy is trying to get me into the .22 rimfires. But with the price of the ammo and the amount i spray down the range every time,i dont see it happening....

 

[TangoDown36]

Trigger should be great! Google up QB78 trigger mods/adjustment. It really is an excellent trigger unit as issued, just needs adjustment. You might enjoy the "QB78 plunger mod" tho I wanted single ounces so skipped it. Mine in a little .177 gen1 but the same I believe. Cocking on the .30 likely has a stiffer spring but otherwise should be very smooth. Pull you bolt and lay it on glass and roll it. IF needed smack the high spot with a hammer (easy does it).
No need to spend a penny on your trigger tho.

Give it a look and let us know how that trigger really is.

John

John thank you very the info! I ll see if i can make the trigger any better. I think you are right on the bolt spring. It s the main reason the bolt is that hard. Apart from that,the action doesnt feel "wrong". Doesnt feel like it s catching somewhere or wobly. It s smooth but hard.

 

[TangoDown36]

Unlike my Guantlet 2 .25 which needed some work, the very early production run Guantlet 2 30 I have (it just says "Guantlet 30" on the side instead of Guantlet 2 30 like most of them) has a really smooth trigger. It does take some getting used to compared to some other triggers, but I've found the trigger itself to be an asset in the accuracy department.

I will say I've never found a slug that will out-group JSB/FX 44.75 grain -- but darn close. @TangoDown36 , I am surprised you haven't mentioned that most slugs are difficult to jam into the breech. You haven't had this issue? I am using Griffin 64 grain .300 CBHP on recommendation from others here. Very accurate and they slide in without a need to shove the bolt especially hard. I am getting well above 120 FPE.

What's interesting is the accuracy shooting those JSB/FX at 1020 fps is nearly as good as shooting them 900 fps and certainly accurate enough for hunting. What's also interesting is turning down the hammer spring to minimum power, doubling your shot count, and still having a 70 FPE rifle (that is actually relatively quiet). If you really want to hole-in-hole some groups I suggest giving that a try as well. You will need to aim a little higher though

Pretty loud out of the box, yes. But I'm using one of the smaller moderators "Donny FX" and it does the job very well.

Well, I've given my full review on here before. Umarex could have done a better job on the fit & finish but nonetheless, at this price point, I would even recommend this 30 cal as a first PCP for someone that has somewhere to shoot some longer range targets. It is a very satisfying gun to sit down with and shoot some groups at a distance. This one deserves a quality scope. I have more expensive guns, but my Guantlet 30 wears my best scope.

I also recommend a barrel band because in stock configuration there can be some point of impact shift if you bump the barrel, which usually happens to me between shooting sessions. Very frustrating until installing the barrel band took care of that.

Silvershooter i m almost positive that all g30 say Gauntlet30. I havent seen one that says gauntlet2 and it s a 30. The main reason is that the g30 is the first of it s kind. There wasnt a g1 in 30 so no g2 in 30, just gauntlet30. Also the g30 is different than the g2. No external pressure regulator on the regular g2 for example.

As for the slugs,yeah, at the beginning they wont chamber. The barrel needs to be "run in" a little. After 150 pellets i tried jsb knockouts and nielsen 54(?) grain. Neither of them wouldnt chamber. Now after 1000+ pellets, the jsb s chamber fine,havent tried the nsa s again yet. I have some zan on the way though.

I m making my own silencer,basically i already did. I just need to do more testing,more or less baffles,size,felps etc. As for the scope, the 8-32x56 i have on it right now is adequate to 100-150 yards. I ll replace it with an ffp soon. Thought about the barrel band,but as of now,i m ok,because i baby my guns. I even set them down lightly on the bench!

I would recommend you Gauntlet guys check out Haji’s new air stripper kit. Could go along ways toward backyard friendly status

Ah i wish! I d definetely get the air stripper,2 stage trigger,a harder spring etc.... But Haji is in the states and i m in europe. He wont ship to europe if i remember correctly and there isnt someone that carries his products over here...

 

[TangoDown36]

As I have posted previously here, the one I have had for 6 months now, shoots very well with pellets and the slugs I cast with an NOE mold. It shoots slugs better than my 700mm FX M3 set up for slugs or my RTI Prophet II, and about the same as the FX and better than the Prophet II with pellets. My trigger is different, but very clean breaking once I got used to it. The cocking effort is incredibly strong. Strong enough that I think it would break the linkage of an FX M3. Mine would not chamber slugs as it shipped from Umarex without beating on the bolt handle with a rubber mallet. I had to open up the throat just enough to close snugly with moderate pressure on my NOE slugs. No change in accuracy with the slugs or pellets, but no more bruised hand from trying to shut the bolt.

The stock is pretty bad.... I do think you could stiffen up the fore end with maybe some type of metal along the bottom to reduce flex. I installed an M-Lock plate farther back where there is no flex and can use a bipod extension attached to that with a solid rest on the bipod, though I almost never shoot from a bipod. Usually using M-lock on a ball head / tripod or a Caldwell precision rest clamped on the stock just about where the gauge is from the bench.

I got a moderator from Buck Rail and it tamed it down quite a bit. A bargain for the price and no change in accuracy.

I still haven't shot it on paper at 50 or 100 but it will produce 1/4 to 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups at shorter distances, so an inch at 100 might be do-able with my cast slugs. I hope to be trying 50 and 100 this week now that the snow is finally gone. This is probably one of my current PCP guns that I will hang on to for a while because it shoots well and only cost me $353 on sale, delivered, which is less than just the barrel kit for the FX or the Prophet.

Now that s a great idea with the m lok extension! I am very interested to say the least! Do you have any photos of your setup?

Yeah this gun love slugs. I ll probably have it zeroed at 110yards with slugs only and use pellets only for 50 yards and bellow.

 

[Vortecsix]

Silvershooter i m almost positive that all g30 say Gauntlet30. I havent seen one that says gauntlet2 and it s a 30. The main reason is that the g30 is the first of it s kind. There wasnt a g1 in 30 so no g2 in 30, just gauntlet30. Also the g30 is different than the g2. No external pressure regulator on the regular g2 for example.

As for the slugs,yeah, at the beginning they wont chamber. The barrel needs to be "run in" a little. After 150 pellets i tried jsb knockouts and nielsen 54(?) grain. Neither of them wouldnt chamber. Now after 1000+ pellets, the jsb s chamber fine,havent tried the nsa s again yet. I have some zan on the way though.

I m making my own silencer,basically i already did. I just need to do more testing,more or less baffles,size,felps etc. As for the scope, the 8-32x56 i have on it right now is adequate to 100-150 yards. I ll replace it with an ffp soon. Thought about the barrel band,but as of now,i m ok,because i baby my guns. I even set them down lightly on the bench!


Ah i wish! I d definetely get the air stripper,2 stage trigger,a harder spring etc.... But Haji is in the states and i m in europe. He wont ship to europe if i remember correctly and there isnt someone that carries his products over here...

I’m interested in the suppressor you made, care to share any of the details? I was considering trying to make one also, but comparing to powder burners, it’s still stupid quiet.

 

[Rlb40x]

New guy here, been hanging out and reading here for a couple years.
I tuned up the trigger in mine today, the factory settings were a bit much. I changed out the heavy spring to an ink pen spring the fine stoned the sear and trigger. I left it single stage but it’s much lighter, I may go back in and increase it a bit.
Mine seems to like the Griffin 64gr slugs the best, it’s shooting them at 880fps and 3/4” - 1” at 100 yds with the hammer spring turned all the way down. I’ll retest after the trigger job and see how much that improves. I’m using my favorite cheap scope, Arken 4-16.
for a cheap rifle I’m pretty impressed with it so far especially when they are 3-4 times cheaper than my FXs.
The only kill so far is a crow, it sounded like a balloon popping. I had a coyote cross the yard a few days ago, I’ll be watching for him to come by again and meet the dirty thirty.

 

[Buckpcp]

I just bought my first pcp air guns several months ago, an Airforce Talonp and Gauntlet in .30. My experience with the Gauntlet 30 is the same as yours--very accurate and consistent velocities. I am a long-range shooter, 500 yards + and reloader with regular firearms, but I am tired of paying 10 centers per primer, plus powder, and plus bullets, so I enjoy getting great groups at 50 yards with the Gauntlet; I use mostly Nielsen slugs right now.

I’m coming from long range benchrest(600. & 1000 yds) . Components are very expensive and next to impossible to get. Reloading room time suck was another thing that started to get to me. I’m just getting started and have a FX Maverick to shoot benchrest with. Nice thing is I don’t need primers,powder,brass,bullets,presses,annealer,powder throwers,scales,etc,etc…….