Beeman RX-2 .22 Review

Overall Rating

Power
Accuracy

Weight
Looks
Cocking force

Beeman RX-2 .22:
It has been my desire to include a 20 fpe Springer in my collection of air rifles, pretty much since I first saw my two buddies, Mark L. and Mark W's. Timahawks more than a year ago. I love my PCP hunters (Career 707 and Timberwolf) but there are times when one goes so far a field that it would be nice to have a gun that can reach out there and touch varmints at 70 and 80 yards, without having to worry about how much air I have left, or how far it is back to the scuba tank.

I got a Timahawk for myself shortly after I first saw them, but I discovered that the ergonomics of the gun, and the trigger, really didn't suit me very well. The Timahawk is a really beautiful looking, beautiful functioning air gun putting out an honest 20 fpe, but it simply didn't work for me. I found myself disinclined to shoot it much, and it required practice to shoot it well, so I finally decided to sell it to someone who would get more use out of it.

I really like the Air Arms springer triggers (as on my TX200s) so I decided to try a Pro Sport next. The Pro Elite was also an option, but I had heard some bad things about it and didn't want to have to tune the gun right off. The Pro Sport was a compromise, as the rated power was only 18.5 fpe, but I figured the ground squirrels would never be able to tell the difference. On the plus side, the Pro Sport had excellent ergonomics, a perfect trigger (for me anyway) and was another really attractive air rifle. When the Pro Sport arrived, I shot it a bit and then chronoed it, and discovered it was shooting only 14.5 fpe. I contacted the appropriate entities, and after waiting six weeks for a fix, I finally gave up and sent it back for a refund. What a disappointment!

I found myself running out of options fast. I had tried the Patriot and didn't like it much and there were not many choices left, at least not under $600.00. For months I just gave up on the quest altogether, then suddenly came across the RX-2. I hadn't really heard too much about this gun on the forums, just a bit here and there. Some seemed to like it and others not so much, but the power was there, it was a gas ram, which I wanted to try out, so I finally just ordered one from Robert and waited for its arrival.

A couple of days later the box arrived, packed with AOA's usual care, double boxed and lots of peanuts and bubble wrap to keep things from shifting around. Out of the box this gun is not much to look at. Certainly, the laminate stock is a bit different, perhaps garish, perhaps not, nicely made and well finished, but stylistically, pretty boring. In fact, really boring. I would venture to say that no aesthetic judgment at all was used in the design of this stock Do you get the idea that it is pretty ugly? The front is rounded and plain, the comb is barely usable, the checkering pressed and seemingly an afterthought. Certainly no Tomahawk or Pro Sport.

The RX-2 comes with rather nice iron sights with multiple inserts for the front globe sight, none of which do me much good because of my poor eyesight. I installed a 44 Mag 6.5-20 scope instead, which is a bit of over kill on a hunting rig, but it is what I had available and is mil dot, which is my personal preference. At about 15" long, this is nearly the maximum length scope this gun can accommodate. Mounted in Beeman 5030s, I will have to see if they can hold the scope in place long term, or if the scope itself will hold up on this gun.

Picking the gun up is a shock. It makes me long for my Timahawk. This RX-2 is a heavy Mutha, weighing in at 9.8 lbs unscoped. Even more of a shock is cocking the gun. MAN !!! 46 lbs. of force necessary to cock it, and I can feel every one of those pounds. I have nightmares of becoming a mutant with a way overdeveloped left arm, and a scrawny, atrophied right one. On second thought, as I am right handed, I expect things will even out from me lugging the 10.5-11 lbs of this thing around in the field. I can assure you I am NOT looking forward to that. I think a sling is in order for this gun. Either a sling or a hand truck.

Cocking the RX-2, while a burden, is aided by the fact that it has a very long barrel. Some may find it too long, but I doubt anyone ever considered chopping one of these beasts into carbine trim. It would take a gorilla to cock it. On the plus side, the automatic safety is very nice indeed, and is resettable. I like the location of the safety as well, on the side of the trigger guard where it belongs. This is a really nice feature of the gun.

The instructions that come with the gun clearly state that the RX-2 trigger is NOT adjustable. They go on to say that only an experienced air gun smith should attempt to adjust the trigger. So what is the truth Beeman, is, or is not? If not, then what the hell are these two adjusting screws for? So, I tried the trigger out as it came from the factory. First stage was long enough, but very heavy. Second stage was clearly there, and required a bit of oomph to get through. All the elements for a decent trigger were there, so it seemed time to disregard the instructions, and experiment with the nonexistent trigger adjustments.

A bit of tweaking produced a combination of elements that seemed workable. The first stage is still too heavy and I may have to send the gun out sometime to have that worked on, but for now I thought it usable enough to try things out.

The firing behaviour of the RX-2 is springer-like, but distinctly different too. First of all it is fast....I mean REALLY FAST. You pull the trigger and WHOOMP, the pellet is away. No twang, no vibration, just a sharp whack and it's all over. I kind of like it. I tested a few different pellets, CPs, JSBs, Super Domes and FTSs, and found that it really liked the FTS best. With FTS pellets @ 14.6 grains, velocity is hovering just above and below 800 fps for an average of 20.75 fpe. What a relief after that anemic Pro Sport.

Time to shoot some groups. After a bit of practice getting used to this beast, I figured out what the RX-2 was really all about. Heavy trigger pull, even heavier overall weight, terribly difficult cocking, lousy aesthetics.....all that just didn't seem very important any more once I got a handle on this gun and started shooting it. This gun is all about two things, POWER and ACCURACY !!!!

I could post targets, but that is a pain for me to do and you all have seen hundreds of targets anyway. I can tell you though, that I can really shoot this damn thing. I sat down this morning at exactly 38.66 yards, and started shooting groups from a seated, FT position. Why 38.66 yards, you ask? That was where I had to sit so that I could both see the target, and so the sun was not shining in my eyes. My first group of 5 shots measured 5/8" ctc and less than an inch overall. Later in the day shooting at 30 yards (FT style again) I had a group that was the size of a dime. All the groups were good, when I did my part, and it was always clear when I did not. This gun is not forgiving. Let your form lapse for a second and you can count on flyers. Keep it together and expect to impress yourself.

I have only put a hundred or so shots through the RX-2 at this point, but I am pretty certain that it will be a keeper. How could I get rid of anything that shoots so well for me? I expect to head up to MountainLyon's place this weekend and I can see then what it is like in the field. Heavy, I can predict that much, but if I can just get those ground squirrels to hold still for me, I should be able to do head shots at 50 yards pretty easy with this thing, that is, if I am not too tired from lugging it around. I guess I better start looking for a barrel clamp and sling tomorrow.

So would I recommend the RX-2 to anyone? The answer would be a qualified yes. I would recommend it to anyone who was in need of a really powerful tack driver, if and only if the interested person was in good health and good shape. Master this gun, and you won't need no blow up gun.

Just my take. If you have a chance to try one, I think you might like it too.

I just wish it wasn't so ugly.

Oh yeah and so far I have not noticed that it needs to warm up. Have not noticed any change in POI when cold, contrary to rumour.

Members' Comments onbeammeupscotty's Review

• real hunter on 29th Aug 2004

  I think the RX-2 is beautiful.

• Thorr on 7th Mar 2005

  For the complaints that you have had for the Beeman RX-2 could be solved by changing to the RWS 94. Easy to cock, perfectly balanced, light, beautiful. Have no dought it reaches the 20ft lbs it is rated. Had it chronied with H&N match at 846 after 1500 rounds. Accuracy is outstanding. This rifle is made by a small company in spain called Cometa. Far be it from me to tell someone what to do. Just merely suggesting. You seem like you are willing to keep looking for just the right rifle. For the 20lbs you look for, in a light rifle this gun has really pleased me. And my friends have been very impressed. Ta