GEARED-UP GAS GUN

A lot of shooters make the mistake of dismissing CO2-powered airguns as being little more than a compromise between a cheap springer and a PCP. They are missing out; guns like the subject of this test are great fun to shoot, surprisingly accurate thanks to their recoilless firing cycle and, in some cases, powerful enough to tackle live quarry.

Over recent years, the Umarex 850 Air Magnum has established itself as something of a classic among CO2 guns; easy to use, kind on the eye and churning out quite a clout, it is a serious piece of kit. The iconic gun has received a revamp in the shape of the 850 M2, and I have spent the last few weeks testing it in the Empire Kit version. Distributed in the UK by John Rothery Wholesale, this recoilless German airgun package retails for