Beeman R-7 Review

Overall Rating

Quality
Easy to shoot
Accurate

None

R7 Review

After waiting for over 2 months to receive my R7 .20 cal I finally got. Overall the quality of the gun is impressive, it felt solid, the woodwork was finished well and the metal work flawless. I quickly set up some targets (tin cans) and got started reading instructions.

Set up shooting from a sitting position with elbow resting on table and gun resting in hand. First shot went off with a BANG and lots of smoke more like a .22 firearm. The next couple of shots where the same but got quieter and after 10 shots was only producing a minimal amount of dieseling. I started setting up the open sights but was not really concerned about detailed accuracy at this early stage. After putting 50 or so pellets through I took a break and printed out some targets to start zeroing in.

Set up targets at 15 metres and got started. The first shot again had heavy dieseling and gradually reduced over the next few shots. Soon had the sights zeroed in and started shooting in earnest, however every time in put the gun down to set targets, get drink etc the next shot had fairly heavy dieseling. After 200 - 250 shots I contacted the supplier to inform them that the r7 was still dieseling. He advised that it should normally stop by then but to let him know if it continued.

I went to work putting another 400 pellets through but still got dieseling and recontacted supplier who suspects that there may be a problem with the piston seal. I continued to shoot over the next couple of days with the dieseling not getting any better. I will now arrange to have the gun sent back for repairs and a tune.

Gun is back and well and truly broken in with new wasp seals and spring, absolutely no diesel, clean crisp shots every time. It is a real pleasure to shoot and a little more power

Prior to tune was on 536 fps using Beeman FTS (11.5 grain) with a 7.3 FRE, went to 559 FPS and 7.9 FPE. Shooting Silver Bears (9.88 grain) at 612 FPS/8.2 FPE to 636 FPS/8.9 FPE.

Still using open sights for now and will use them to train my sons before getting scope for it. It is produce close groups when I do my job, I know instantly if the shot is off. This comes to the one down side for me, it's just a bit light, not that I am large but I find with more weight the gun steadies quicker with a lot less sway. Actually wore a 2.5 kg wrist weight and noticed a big difference.

The gun is very easy to shoot, may be too easy, I find that I am going through pellets at a rate of knots. It is just so easy to load point and shoot with it. It hits what ever you aim at and the limit is the shooter not the gun keeping in mind the level of gun it is. The quality of finish is first rate (should have got a cheap Chinese one for my son, then I wouldn't mind if it got knocked but now .) the cost is enough to buy 4 cheap air rifles but you would need 4 to last half as long as this gun will.

Generally I shoot 15 metres - 25 metres without a problem and need to adjust sights after the 25 metres to allow for pellet drop. Haven't had enough experience to know exactly how much by yet. There is enough power to make a hole in a tin @ 40 metres. The noise level is low and hitting the target generally makes more noise then the gun.

Overall I rate this gun highly and know that it will be well used by me and my sons. For me it is more a casual plinker/target gun for Sunday afternoon bbqs. I have a JM tuned Beeman HW97k, with the green laminated stock on the way. Note: it has a Beeman stamp and is fully serviced under the Beeman name not Weihrauch. It is second hand and the dealer and myself (all be it remotely) are working through various scopes to find the right one. It will be my SERIOUS gun and I am in the process of building an FT range in my backyard.

Overall excellent the R7 is a gun that everyone one could use and get enjoyment out of it.

Members' Comments onaussie boy's Review

• snickers on 26th Aug 2007

  I found this review helpful because...I was planning on purchasing a R7 but I could not decide between a .177 or .20 Caliber.