Rip it up with the RP5 Air Pistols

Back to Blog
Rip it up with the RP5 Air Pistols
Category: Product News

Since its launch in 2019 the Umarex RP5 air pistols have been a very popular choice of air pistols for all types of shooters.  When you first see this pump-action CO2-powered air pistol you just want to get your hands on it. Umarex has a reputation for doing great things when it comes to pushing the limits of CO2 airguns and design, this offering from the German giant is definitely no exception. The RP5’s real standout feature has to be the pump-action that drives its sliding five-shot magazine, but there’s a lot more to this airgun than that. It also boasts a remarkable degree of versatility in the shape of a raft of purpose-made accessories, including accessory rails, shoulder stock and interchangeable barrel shrouds. The basic platform also comes in two main variations, including a 9ft-lb carbine model.

Rip it up with the RP5 Air Pistols

  • Umarex, Germany
  • Pump-action, multi-shot CO2 pistol
  • Pellets 177 (tested) and .22
  • Ambidextrous manual saftey
  • Pistol Overall length: 42cm
  • Pistol Barrel length: 30cm
  • Pistol Weight: 1.2kg
  • Pistol Power 2x 12g CO2 capsules

Constructed from black anodised metal and a tough polymer, the ambidextrous RP5 looks neat and feels good in the hand. Although they’re fairly basic, the grips are comfortable and feature grids of textured grooves on both sides for an improved purchase, as does the forend. The air pistol fires lead pellets and have a smooth barrel that is choked to improve accuracy. It floats inside a neat vented shroud that’s also threaded for the attachment of a silencer. The RP5’s muzzle report does have a fair snap to it, so you may well want to fit one of these to prevent your back garden plinking sessions from getting on your neighbours’ nerves. If you do, you’ll need to make sure that it doesn’t get in the way of the front sight element, which sits atop the barrel shroud. The rear element, meanwhile, is adjustable for windage and elevation by means of a screwdriver. Available accessories include an underside accessory rail and a Picatinny-type scope rail, though dovetail rails do come fitted as standard. That means you can easily kit out the RP5 with a telescopic sight, and I do think it’s sufficiently accurate to justify the additional outlay.

The supplied instructions are vague, to say the least. Fortunately, operating the RP5 is pretty straightforward and loading up with 12g CO2 capsules is very easy. Simply slacken off the front piercing cap, then screw the whole cap section off the front of the cylinder.

  1. Press down the side button and the forend slides back and forth to cock and reload the pistol
  2. Tip out the spent capsules (if any) then insert fresh ones.
  3. Put capsules in the right way around, so make sure the first goes in neck-end first and the second goes in neck-end last – so that the thick ends of both are touching in the centre.
  4. Screw the front cap back on, tighten down the piercing cap and both capsules exhaust into the cylinder.

Fluctuations in power levels and shot capacity are a niggle you have to live with when using CO2-powered airguns. You can normally expect an increase in both in hotter conditions.

Innovative features are something of an expectation on Umarex pistols, and the RP5’s pump-action and neat five-shot magazine (it comes supplied with two) so will not disappoint.

When the magazine is fully loaded, you simply snap it back into its seating – it has a lug to ensure that it’s correctly aligned for this – and push the forend grip forwards to probe home the first pellet. The gun is now loaded and cocked, ready for you to enjoy the fast-fire fun offered by its pump-action mechanism.

The RP5’s trigger exceeds all expectations for a CO2 pistol: it is actually very good! The wide, gently curved blade transfers plenty of feels and is very positive in operation. There’s a safety catch positioned just above the pistol grip. It slides on and off very positively and can be operated from either side. It’s safe in the forward position and you push it back when you’re ready to fire. The pump-action won’t slide when the safety is engaged, and the gun won’t fire when the forend grip is in the rearward ‘open’ position.

Rip it up with the RP5 Air Pistols

The front of the barrel shroud is threaded to accept a silencer – and most people will probably want to fit one. The pump-action cocking and loading system enables you to rattle through a full five shots in just a few seconds. There’s a button on the right-hand side that has to be depressed for the forend to slide. You need to carry out the whole forward-and-back process with a firm grip because it is quite stiff.

The five-shot sliding magazine works flawlessly and makes for great quick-fire action. That’s not exactly the competition standard, but this gun’s real strength is the fun factor of its quick-fire potential, and it’s more than accurate enough for blatting tins out to 15m and beyond. This German-made recoilless CO2 pistol boasts an extremely clever cocking and loading system that promises to deliver hours of entertainment.

Rip it up with the RP5 Air Pistols

There are two different models available from Just Air Guns, the first is the pump-action pistol and the second is the carbine set.

Take a look at the Umarex RP5 Co2 air pistols now on special offer only at Just Air Guns.

For more information about Airguns please see our information page at www.justairguns.co.uk

Share this post

Back to Blog