Umarex 850 M2 Air Rifle Review

Umarex 850 M2 Air Rifle Review – Some airgunners are of the opinion that Co2 air rifles are little more than toys. I can kind of understand that. Afterall, Co2 is the power source of choice for most BB rifles as well as many pistols and replicas.

And it’s true that most of us use Co2 guns to have a bit of fun with – usually involving tin cans and other improvised plinking targets in the back garden.

But ‘toys’? Really? Even me, as someone who hunts and deals with pests for a living – who am I to loftily dismiss what floats so many peoples’ boats? It’s all about fun after all, isn’t it? And one person’s sneaking about the hedgerow dressed as Rambo is another person’s tin can blatting.

Unfortunately, prejudices still exist, and our sport is not lacking when it comes to devotees of one branch sneering at others for how they enjoy their sport.

If that sounds like, let’s say ‘someone you know’, then you might invite ‘them’ to take a look at the Umarex 850 M2 – a full-size, full on sporting rifle that is powered by Co2.

At £439.99, the Pro Kit offers incredible value for money comprising, in addition to the rifle itself, a 3-9x scope, mounts, a silencer, 6-9” Harris style bipod, a tin of pellets and even some targets to shoot at. Everything in fact to get you started other than a supply of Co2 cannisters.

STOCK TAKE

Measuring 1,180mm and tipping the scales at a little under 4kgs with all the toys attached, the 850 M2 looks and feels like a full power ‘proper’ air rifle. And with good reason as much of the rifle borrows from the successful Walther RM8 PCP platform.
The ambidextrous stock itself is plastic/polymer/synthetic. Call it what you want, the reality is that it is superbly finished with no rough edges or burrs and will withstand all but the harshest of treatment.

It’s also nicely proportioned, providing a 360mm length of pull and balance point a little more than an inch forward of the magazine, again with all the extras fitted. There’s no adjustment to the curved rubber shoulder pad that is semi-ventilated but quite firm.

The cheek comb provides good down-the-scope alignment for the open sights – a pair of green fibres at the rear and a red hooded fibre at the front. However, most will want to make use of the scope that comes with the rifle. For them, a taco shell like extension snaps very firmly into place on the butt to improve eye alignment further.

The steep pistol grips fits the hand comfortably and has a criss-cross line pattern on either side. I found it most comfortable with a thumb up grip, but it will accommodate those who prefer to wrap their thumb around.

Either way, access to the trigger is fine and although it is plastic and a little creepy, there are two stages, adjustable via a screw accessed by a hole in the trigger guard, and the let off is predictable and clean.

The forend is nice and long, affording plenty of grip for your lead hand. It bulges slightly a few inches forward of the trigger, presumably to accommodate the Co2 supply, and more criss-cross chequering makes it very comfortable to hold.

Pushing an underside clip releases the forward half of the forend, which has short accessory rails on both sides and underneath, to reveal the Co2 cavity into which a single 88g cannister is screwed. The cover then snaps back firmly, and I noticed no play or looseness when handling the 850 M2 on the range.

Those accessory rails will allow you to attach a torch, IR illuminator or any other kind of shooting aid, including the 6-9” Harris style bipod that is included with the rifle and has yet more Picatinny attachment potential.

TAKING AIM

Those who have shot one of the Walther RM8 series of pre-charged pneumatic rifles will feel at home handling the 850 M2. Despite the very different power delivery systems, the rifles share several features.

For example, the cocking bolt which, when pulled back, sets an automatic safety catch at the rear of the action. Many shooters find it irksome to have to make the rifle safe before each shot. However, it’s easy enough to depress the small raised central catch before pushing the whole button in. Doing so reveals a red dot to indicate the rifle is live. The safety catch is also resettable should you change your mind about taking a shot for any reason.

Pushing the bolt forward cycles a pellet through the eight-shot rotary magazine – another component borrowed from the RM8. And like that rifle, releasing the magazine first requires a sliding catch on the right side of the breech to be pulled back.

Pellets are simply pushed into the chambers in any order you like before the magazine is inserted into the breech once more from the left with the small silver ‘cog’ side facing you. Cycling the bolt forward picks up and sets the sliding catch to lock everything in place once again.

Enabling you to mount a scope low to the barrel, the magazine sits within the action and the 63mm long 9-11mm dovetail scope rail is uninterrupted, allowing the placement of a scope to achieve perfect eye relief.

It seems reasonable to assume that like many other components, the Walther parts bin was raided for the 600mm barrel which, like the rest of the metal work, has a quality black finish.

It protrudes around 265 mm from the end of the stock giving the 850 M2 a well-balanced aesthetic. Already quiet, the addition of a good quality Umarex silencer that attaches to a ½” UNF thread makes the rifle very quiet – garden friendly in fact – to shoot.

ON THE RANGE

Despite their many advantages, the biggest drawback with Co2 rifles is that air temperature will affect power output. Simple physics means the colder it is, the less oomph and fewer shots you’ll have. The consequence of this is that the rifle you put away a week or two ago is likely to be different when you get it out again, especially with regards to accuracy.

My day on the range was numbingly cold – hardly fair conditions in which to test a Co2 rifle. However, having screwed in a fresh 88g Co2 cannister, I was able to extract just under nine ft/lbs and around 180 shots.

Having tested other 850 M2 rifles several times in the past, I know that well over 200 shots and 10.5 ft/lbs is possible on warmer days.

The reality though is that depending on what you plan to use your 850 M2 for, you will need to take weather conditions into account. If you plan to shoot a few tin cans and punch a few holes in some paper targets, all you’ll need to do is re-zero to ensure accuracy according to the temperature.

However, if you plan to hunt or deal with some pests and its cold outside, I’d say that the kind of power output I was able to achieve is simply too low and you’re better off waiting for things warm up again.

Back to my range session though and having zeroed the scope that came as part of the package to 20 metres, the 850 M2 was easily capable of 10p coin sized groups at 20 yards using .22 calibre JSB Hades pellets. The limitation of the free scope was, I’m sure, a factor of the groups widening at 30 yards.

Consistency was good though, with a variance over ten shots, taken in what I guessed to be in the mid-point of the Co2 supply, of 17 feet per second.

SUMMARY

Umarex 850 M2 Air Rifle Review – Co2 rifles like the Umarex 850 M2 most definitely have a place in the air rifle universe. Like springers and PCPs though, they have their good and bad points. On the plus side they are quiet, offer magazine fed shooting and are convenient, especially if you shoot only occasionally.

On the downside, performance is weather reliant and Co2, whilst convenient, is expensive. The four 88g cannisters I bought for this test cost £28 from Amazon, although the purchase of an adapter means you can use cheaper 12g capsules instead.

Having said all that, the Umarex M2 sits at the top of the Co2 rifle mountain. It’s extremely well-made, looks good and performs even better. And, bought as a kit, offers almost unparalleled value for money.

UMAREX M2 AT A GLANCE

Price: £439.99 for kit. £369.99 rifle only
Length: 1,180 mm
Muzzle to breech: 725mm inc. silencer. 600mm without
Calibres: .177 and .22
Weight: 3.9kgs including supplied silencer, bipod, scope and mounts
Trigger: Two-stage adjustable
Safety: Manual, resettable
Test rifle power: 8.95 ft/lbs on test. Cold weather affected.
10 shot FPS variance: 17 feet per second

Umarex 850 M2 Air Rifle Review, the Umarex 850 M2 is ideal for on the range, plinking in the garden and, when weather conditions allow, a spot of close-range pest control.

The curved and ventilated shoulder pad ensures a comfortable shooting position.

Pistol grip has plenty of texture and sets you up to hold thumb up or wrapped around.

The safety catch sets each time you cock the rifle. Simply push the central switch down and the entire catch in.

An eight-shot rotary magazine inserts into the breech from the left and sits below the action.

Rear open sight is adjustable and has two green fibres.

Single foresight is a hooded red fibre.

A good quality silencer is included and screws on to the ½” UNF thread.

There’s a decent 6-9” bipod too.

The 3-9×40 scope is basic but good enough to get you started.

Plenty of rails for accessories.

The bolt is positive to operate but requires a firm hand.

To release the magazine you’ll need to slide back the locking catch first.

A cheek comb extender snaps onto the butt to help perfect eye alignment.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Shop Address: Just Air Guns, Trimex House, Pier Road, Feltham, TW14 0TW
Website: www.justairguns.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0330 999 5224
Blog Title: Umarex 850 M2 Air Rifle Review
Blog Author: Richard Sanders
Published By: Mark Watts