Others Air Venturi Alpha .22 PCP. First Impressions

[Dark Wolf]

I’d have no problem recommending this airgun to someone new or experienced. Maybe with the bigger tube or aluminum bottle. I’ll be surprised if this airgun doesn’t have its own cult following like the Notos. I can’t wait to see all of the mods. I almost wish I had some Starlings to shoot lol.

I am quite pleased with my Alpha, as well.
On the UK forums there is a thread that is nearly 140 pages talking about mods and upgrades, so there is a pretty good sized following over there (as the Snowpeak AP900).

DW

 

[bchannell]

When I first saw this rifle, I was really impressed, but then I saw the shot count in the compact tube....the first version released, and I was wondering.... Why would any manufacturer design a gun that gets 15 shots per fill. I think the Notos was the bare minimum, and the one I had got more than 25 shots. When the cf bottle versions are released, I'll get interested again, but until then, I'm out.

 

[Pumacarl]

When I first saw this rifle, I was really impressed, but then I saw the shot count in the compact tube....the first version released, and I was wondering.... Why would any manufacturer design a gun that gets 15 shots per fill. I think the Notos was the bare minimum, and the one I had got more than 25 shots. When the cf bottle versions are released, I'll get interested again, but until then, I'm out.

Playing devil's advocate here, most people are not as into airguns as we are, and these airguns make perfect sense for someone who just wants to open the back door and pop a pest. They take less air so they are easy to fill to pressure quickly with just a handpump. The form factor is small, so not as bulky behind the door. And they cost less, so people are more likely to buy them. Not being able to do a lot of shots is what makes them appealing to those people, and the manufactures designed it for them. The extended and expanded models were always in the works for the airheads like us.

As far as long term business decisions and ramifications go, I still think the importer screwed the pooch for getting a bonded moderator put on it, and I'll die on that bridge, even though I do realize that it does make it convenient for the end user that's not really into airgunning but just needs to shoot something outside.

 

[Billm]

Playing devil's advocate here, most people are not as into airguns as we are, and these airguns make perfect sense for someone who just wants to open the back door and pop a pest. They take less air so they are easy to fill to pressure quickly with just a handpump. The form factor is small, so not as bulky behind the door. And they cost less, so people are more likely to buy them. Not being able to do a lot of shots is what makes them appealing to those people, and the manufactures designed it for them. The extended and expanded models were always in the works for the airheads like us.

As far as long term business decisions and ramifications go, I still think the importer screwed the pooch for getting a bonded moderator put on it, and I'll die on that bridge, even though I do realize that it does make it convenient for the end user that's not really into airgunning but just needs to shoot something outside.

I actually put the supplied moderator back on mine. The narrow area for an extended 1/2-20 adapter was a PITA. The 3d printed ones don’t last and the original moderator worked well enough and was threaded. If you don’t add an extension, you have to unscrew most moderators to fill up. With the original, you don’t have to remove it or use an adapter to fill the tube as it is tapered. I use steel threads with 3d printed moderators, but there’s no enough room on the compact Alpha. Now that the weather has warmed up, it’s getting a couple of extra shots.

 

[Pumacarl]

I actually put the supplied moderator back on mine. The narrow area for an extended 1/2-20 adapter was a PITA. The 3d printed ones don’t last and the original moderator worked well enough and was threaded. If you don’t add an extension, you have to unscrew most moderators to fill up. With the original, you don’t have to remove it or use an adapter to fill the tube as it is tapered. I use steel threads with 3d printed moderators, but there’s no enough room on the compact Alpha. Now that the weather has warmed up, it’s getting a couple of extra shots.

It has never been about the attributes of the moderator itself, it's been about legality, rights, and losing what's not worked on. I really don't care if it's the most silent thing in the world, if I can't take it off. I don't want the decision made for me, it really bugs me. I've only got one vote, but I use it.

 

[Billm]

Understood. In the vain of common SPA QC, buyers are reporting one of three things: secured with red thread locker (mine). Somewhat secured with some kind of white stuff or not secured at all. Kind of pointless if random, But, it all comes back to vague government regulations. These vague regulations will probably never be remedied, as no public forum allows them to be discussed.

 

[Linehauler73]

This is a flat out excellent gun for the money. I got the compact aluminum bottle. Mine does seem to be a little hotter than others I’ve seen on YouTube. 860 fps with 15.9 gr FX. That might count for minor gains with the aluminum bottle. The gun loves those FX 16 gr. At 35 yards I can get 35 good accurate shots. If I really pay attention with the chrono however it falls or certainly starts to fall off the reg at shot 30. It’s fine, I like the 26 fpe and easy squirrel head accuracy at the max 45 yards I’ve shot it. Plenty of distance for squirrel hunting. Spread was less than 10 fps for a little over 20 shots. Stayed 14-15 fps approaching 30 and jumped to 20 fps spread on shot 30. Im actually thinking of just putting a 220 cc CF bottle on to make a super light woods walker. Should still get around 25 shots out of it I suspect. Great gun that would be a superb choice for a first time pcp buyer.

 

[Billm]

This is a flat out excellent gun for the money. I got the compact aluminum bottle. Mine does seem to be a little hotter than others I’ve seen on YouTube. 860 fps with 15.9 gr FX. That might count for minor gains with the aluminum bottle. The gun loves those FX 16 gr. At 35 yards I can get 35 good accurate shots. If I really pay attention with the chrono however it falls or certainly starts to fall off the reg at shot 30. It’s fine, I like the 26 fpe and easy squirrel head accuracy at the max 45 yards I’ve shot it. Plenty of distance for squirrel hunting. Spread was less than 10 fps for a little over 20 shots. Stayed 14-15 fps approaching 30 and jumped to 20 fps spread on shot 30. Im actually thinking of just putting a 220 cc CF bottle on to make a super light woods walker. Should still get around 25 shots out of it I suspect. Great gun that would be a superb choice for a first time pcp buyer.

Glad you also like it. In my mind it’s one of the best values in under $500 airguns. The velocity and shot count has actually improved on mine after several shooting sessions. The SD is very good. I’ve done no pellet testing yet. I’ve been shooting mostly 17.6gr norma pellets. I have shot a few AEA 18.5gr pellets. It does well with both. It puts pellets or slugs on steel at 100yds, not really meant for that though.

 

[Dark Wolf]

I just rolled over 1600 total shots through mine at work last night. The only things I have done amount to a good cleaning of the bore, and swapping the factory moderator for a 1.2" Buck Rail modular.


That target was shot indoors at 40 yards, 1/2" dots. And I am a relative newcomer to using optics. Lots of room for improvement on my part, not the gun.

DW

 

[Hylander]

I took the barrel, shroud and moderator apart tonight. Then, I made a video and some photos with the bore scope before I cleaned and polished the barrel. Disassembly was very easy. There was a liberal amount of red thread locker present. As suspected from the first inspection with the bore scope, there is a relatively thick layer of cosomoline in the bore, especially near the breech. Not a big deal, it's there to protect the barrel from rust, but should be removed before shooting if you want the maximum accuracy. I slugged the barrel. My barrel is bored at .2175 a nice standard bore. I've read somewhere that the bore is unchoked, but I measured a slight choke of .21675. But without using an "Air Gap" measuring device, I'm not sure how accurate my measurements are. Maybe @AirVenturi will be nice enough to confirm whether or not the barrel is choked. So far, I'm not finding anything that I don't like for the price. It's been too windy to shoot today. The weather is weird, it was 78f yesterday and in the fifties today and in the forties tomorrow.
Before and after cleaning/polishing.

Looks good.
I'm curious what bore scope.
I need to replace mine.

 

[Billm]

Looks good.
I'm curious what bore scope.
I need to replace mine.

This is what I used: Teslong Rifle Borescope for Phone... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRP8LPF8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Billm]

I’m going to be breaking my Alpha out in the next day or two. I received a couple of purchases yesterday that will double my shot count

 

[duchunter007]

I’m going to be breaking my Alpha out in the next day or two. I received a couple of purchases yesterday that will double my shot count

Are you going to share that information?

 

[Billm]

Are you going to share that information?

Not yet, I need to test it first lol. It’s not exactly an off the shelf solution.

 

[duchunter007]

Not yet, I need to test it first lol. It’s not exactly an off the shelf solution.

Fair enough!