Today we’re taking an Air Venturi Ascent specs and technology deep dive.
Why? Well, it’s because of the considerable amount of interest that there is in this new air rifle, together with its unusual configuration of being a PCP with its own built-in High Pressure Air pump. Note that, as we covered in a previous article, the Ascent is a “generation 2” version of a model originally sold as the ATI Nova Freedom.
For ease of reading, I have put much of the information into tables. However some key points are called-out with additional explanation.
And – before going further – I would like to recognize the input from Tyler Patner, Air Venturi’s Product Manager. Tyler was very helpful in answering my questions and providing additional background.
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – Price And Performance
The most remarkable thing here is the price. In 2018, the Nova Freedom sold for $380 – and that was a bargain compared to the only other PCP available with a built-in pump! That other model was the FX Independence which was selling for around $1,500 at the time near the end of its production life.
In 2026, the Air Venturi Ascent is selling for $300. Oh, OK, $299.99 to be precise.
Clearly that’s a much-reduced price. However we need to also take into account the significant inflation that has happened in that period. In fact that $380 price would be no less than $507.14 in today’s Dollars!
So comparing the prices in 2026 Dollars, we see that the Ascent’s 2026 price is actually an amazing 40% less than the original Nova Freedom. And that’s combined with more power and more shots per fill WOW!
| ATi Nova Freedom | Air Venturi Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380 ($507 in 2026 Dollars) | $299.99 |
| Muzzle Energy .22 Cal | 30 Ft/Lbs | 38 Ft/Lbs |
| Shot Count .22 Cal (no intra-shot pumping) | 13 to 25 | 29 to 39 |
| HPA Tube Volume | 120 cc | 170 cc |
| .25 Cal available | No | Yes |
| Interchangeable Calibers | No | Yes |
| Full Range of Spare Parts Available | No | Yes |
| Weight (no scope) | 8 Lbs 1 Oz | 8 Lbs 6 Oz |
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – Duty Cycle
Undoubtedly the largest impact on performance has been the onboard HPA capacity. The Ascent’s HPA tube has a 40% increase in volume compared to that of the Nova Freedom. In fact, it’s a very similar part to the long tube of the HAM Gold Award-winning Air Venturi Avenger.
The larger air tube allows the shooter to make more shots without the need to pump again. However, you need to pump more to return to the original pressure…
That larger HPA tube is shown in the photograph below.
In addition – as Tyler explains – the larger tube also allowed for the internal parts to be enlarged and generally beefed-up. Air Venturi confirmed this with a 5,000-shot life cycle test.
In .22 caliber, this took 177 cycles of pumping from empty to 3,650 PSI. No less than 38,000 pumps! “And the gun still functions and pumps as it should after the final cycle,” Tyler told me.
Oh, and the hero who undertook the majority of that testing was Cory from Air Venturi. He shows you how it’s done in this video…
I’m going to add that – if you operate the Ascent in “human regulator mode”, making four or five pumps between each shot – it’s also a certainty that the built-in pump will give an even higher duty cycle compared to the 220 pumps per fill as in the Air Venturi test.
Heat build-up is the enemy of HPA pumps and making fewer at one time keeps the pump’s internal temperature down.
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – Usability Improvements
In addition, the Ascent incorporates a number of changes from the Nova Freedom. Most of these are improvements, particularly the much-improved location of the HPA fill port. Now it’s considerably more convenient to fill the Ascent from a HPA tank or compressor.
The Hi/Lo power transfer port switch of the Nova Freedom was obviously no longer necessary with the improved shot count and power characteristics of the Ascent.
| ATi Nova Freedom | Air Venturi Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Port Switch | Yes | No |
| Pump Lever Lock | In Receiver | In Pump Hndle |
| HPA Fill Port | Under Pump Handle | In Side of Action |
| Open Sights | Yes | No |
| Bundled Scope | No | Yes |
| Scope Rail | Dovetail | Picatinny/Dovetail Combo |
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – Serviceability
Now I would like to say something about parts availability and potential future repairs. That Air Venturi testing indicates the Ascent will be a very reliable air rifle.
The Ascent is also supplied with TWO kits of spare O rings. In addition, as we noted above, the Air Venturi Ascent has a complete range of spare parts available. You can find them online, in stock and ready to order at Pyramyd Air.
Also provided on that web page is a series of excellent, detailed parts diagrams.
This level of support is outstanding and – in my opinion – a benchmark for the entire airgun industry!
However I am going to advise you NEVER to try to repair the Ascent yourself, except for very minor changes such as repairing bolt probe O rings, for example. I can tell you that – in spite of my strong level of PCP airgun knowledge – I would definitely not try to make repairs myself.
But why? There’s actually two reasons. Firstly the Ascent is a very complex air rifle. Second is the fact that the gun still has considerable internal HPA pressure in the tube EVEN WHEN THE GUN HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DE-GASSED!
Huh?
The reason is that the Ascent includes a very clever internal system that contributes strongly to the remarkably flat shot curve demonstrated by both the Nova Freedom and Ascent. (You will also find it in the Umarex Origin, another Gold Award-winning unregulated PCP with a remarkably flat shot curve).
In simple terms, the HPA air tube has a pre-set “counter pressure” at one end. This is filled and set at the factory to a pressure in the region of 2,000 PSI.
There’s a “balancer” in the HPA tube (Part 116 and associated O rings) that moves back and forth within that tube as the HPA fill pressure changes. This increases the air volume shown to the firing valve as the remaining HPA pressure drops, giving a more consistent shot-to-shot Muzzle Velocity.
I think of it as something like an air spring mechanism. It could also be regarded as a type of regulator. It’s the reason that the FPS remains quite consistent until it drops like a stone at the end of the shot string.
The point to understand is that this significant “counter pressure” is always in the gun. Even when you have degassed the Ascent (or Nova Freedom) and the pressure gauge shows zero, that “counter pressure” (~2,000 PSI) is still there! It cannot be released without a special tool and jig that are not available for purchase.
Clearly that gives the potential for any repair attempts for the Ascent to become very dangerous very quickly! Again, I strongly urge that you do not attempt to repair the Ascent, in the unlikely event that a problem occurs.
My strong recommendation is that you add Pyramyd Air’s two-year Service Contract when buying your Ascent. That lets you leave any repairs to the professionals. In my opinion, it’s a bargain at $35.99!
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – Don’t Reduce The Hammer Spring Tension
As another part of my pre-review investigations, I tried reducing Ascent’s hammer spring tension. In fact, I backed-out the setting screw by 1 1/2 turns – right out. The result is shown in the graph below.
Compared to the factory setting, we see that the change increases the “full to empty” shot count by 10 – making a total of 39. Yes, the FPS was reduced, but not by much. And the total power (sum of individual Muzzle Energies in the string) for one fill of HPA was increased, as expected.
So is this worth doing?
My answer is no. In spite of the reduced FPS, I still needed five pumps between shots to retain a consistent velocity – the “manual regulator” in action. So there’s no improvement there. Plus, the Standard Deviation (shot-to-shot variability) was worse than with the factory setting.
Also at minimum hammer spring setting the Aspen generated a loud ringing noise – like a bell – whenever the test gun was fired. I didn’t like that at all!
Here’s a case where I believe it’s best to leave well alone, just as they set it at the factory.
Air Venturi Ascent Specs And Technology – What’s The Same?
So here’s the key features and technology that have NOT changed between the two iterations of this design. They show the basic soundness of the original product concept.
| ATi Nova Freedom | Air Venturi Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Built-In HPA Pump | Yes | Yes |
| Balancer System | Yes | Yes |
| Fill Pressure | 3,625 PSI | 3,625 PSI |
| Degassing Screw | Yes | Yes |
| Burst Disk | Yes | Yes |
| 2-Stage Adjustable Trigger | Yes | Yes |
| 10-Shot Rotary Magazine (.22 Cal) | Yes | Yes |
| Sidelever Cocking | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Safety | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Hammer Spring | Yes | Yes |
| Length | 43 Inches | 43 Inches |
I liked the original Nova Freedom, but the “gen 2” Ascent builds on that and seems (so far) even better. Full HAM review to follow…
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Air Venturi Ascent PCP Air Rifle 0.22
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