Beeman R-7 Review

Overall Rating

Accurate
Great Quality
Quiet
Low Cocking Effort

Expensive
Heavy
Small

I just purchased my first adult class air rifle: the German made Beeman R7. I wanted to get a good break barrel air rifle so I did extensive research on the internet in preparation for my purchase. Since I was not really concerned with the price, I decided to get the one that seems to be universally considered the finest introductory, mid-price, adult spring air rifle made.

I own a Crosman 1077 co2 rifle and a Benjamin Sheridan Model 397 pneumatic rifle (also made by Crosman) and their quality cannot compare to the Beeman. The Benjamin Sheridan is of better quality than the Crosman, and the Beeman is of far better quality than the Benjamin Sheridan. The Beeman is in another class all together. Everything about it exudes quality.

The first thing I noticed when I took the Beeman R7 out of the box was its weight. It is heavy and solid. The wood stock is made from a fine, dense hardwood. The stock is so dense I actually looked at it twice to make sure it was wood and not hard plastic. The second thing I noticed was the quality of the metal parts. All metal parts are heavy gauge solid metal. The barrel, trigger guard and trigger are all metal. The rubber butt plate is another nice touch.

Before I ordered it I was a little worried that it would be too small for me. It is only 40" long and is recommended for kids, ladies and smaller shooters. Since I am a smaller person (5' 8" tall), I decided to give it a try. I must say that although I feel comfortable with its size, I might not if I where a bigger person. For me, a full size 45" rifle might be too big, but anything smaller than this rifle would be a bit too small.

The cocking effort needed for this rifle is the least of any rifle of its power that I've seen and the effort is minimal. One cock for 700 f/s compared to 8 pumps of the pneumatic to get the same power in the Benjamin Sheridan.

I was worried that this rifle would not be powerful enough at 700 f/s but this is powerful enough for my needs (target shooting at 10 meters). When I took the rifle out to shoot a few pellets though it, I was please with its power. My first shot was very powerful due to the dieseling caused by the oil burn off in the barrel. The power dropped off and steadied after the first shot but it still feels plenty powerful.

This is my first break barrel spring rifle and I was surprised at the amount of recoil. Although it is considerable, it is not a problem for me. It does not interfere with the sighting of my next shot.

This rifle is rated as the quietest spring rifle in its class. The sound it makes when shot is less than my co2 rifle makes when shot but louder than my pneumatic rifle. If you are shooting in your backyard, this rifle should not disturb your neighbors.

So far the accuracy is good. I am able to shot each pellet though one hole rather consistently. I am still sighting it in and I understand it will take a few hundred pellets before it settles into its consistent accuracy.

The two stage adjustable trigger is a nice touch. I understand that the trigger is factory set at 2 lbs of pull to shoot. The trigger is smooth but a bit touchy for me at 2 lbs. As it is adjustable, I can easily add resistance if I choose.

I notice that the metal barrel retains fingerprints from where I handle it for cocking. As this is such a fine rifle, I want to keep it nice. I wish I had bought a silicone cloth to wipe it down after each use. I intend to buy one soon. I also wish I would have bought a case (either hard case or cloth case) since the box it came in is not really a good storage box. I also intend to get some cleaning and maintenance supplies to keep it in tip-top shape.

So far, I am quite happy with my purchase. The R7 is a great rifle that should last me a lifetime. It was a bit expensive (nearly $100 more than the comparable RWS Diana 24) but it is the nicest air rifle I have yet seen.

Members' Comments onharrisdaraio's Review

• Hoolee on 10th Feb 2007

  Is the rifle .177 or .20 cal.?

• aussie boy on 28th May 2007

  I got a .20 and it shoots hard for a little gun and accurate out to 45 metres