Hammerli 850 AirMagnum - Part Two

12 ft lbs with most pellets in .22 caliber

 I run it through all the normal paces; accuracy-wise it is about a 7 + on a scale of 10. I would venture this is more a result of shooting the CO2 too quickly than the rifle's capability. When CO2 is shot quickly it cools down, and delivers less energy. This means the point of impact will change and become progressively lower. With an eight- shot magazine this is easy to do. I decide to use it for some backyard shooting and bring it outside with me while cutting the lawn. I let it lean against the house while I perform this most important of husbandly duties. It is early spring and less than 70 degrees outside.

I remove the scope and try a red dot plus laser 

After about an hour I return and take aim at a random target and pull the trigger. Nothing. The sun has heated the CO2 and caused the valve to lock up as the pressure is too high for it to work. The best thing to do is to put it back in the basement and allow it to cool. I'm sure it would be fine by tomorrow, yes that would be best, but I start to question myself. Did I mistrack my shots? Did it leak? Hmmm. Let’s see, I start to unscrew the cylinder and I hear just the slightest hiss. Maybe it is almost empty? I give it a big turn and the blast is huge as the entire 88 grams empties out. The smell of CO2 is unmistakable.
I know I have just blown the seal out, but I use a another 88 gram cylinder to confirm it. It empties immediately as soon as it is installed.

I call Greg at Umarex and send the rifle for a vacation in Texas. The repair is free if I pay shipping both ways. Interestingly Umarex blames the Crosman CO2 for the issue stating it is full of dirt. Once back in my hands, I admit I am concerned about using it outside. I give it a try again and the same thing happens, an hour in the sun and she will not shoot. It is then relegated to an indoor shooter only and becomes a platform for laser sights, and all sorts of testing.

Big and pricey, but dirty???

Conclusion, these guns have (or had) a cult- like following, and are commonly converted to hold air instead of CO2, but with the continued price drops on PCP's that comes with greater competition, I think that is less of a strong suit. As far as using them with CO2, care must be taken to keep the rifle within its optimum operating range, which means not too hot or too cold, kinda like Goldilocks’ porridge.

I rate it as an okay and accurate enough plinker, but would still pick a PCP over it for the versatility. Also any economy of the lower initial cost is soon lost with the 88 gram cylinders. Bulk fill would lower the expense. Check here for more info: The 850 Store.