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Beeman Sportsman RS3 Dual Calibre

Beeman Sportsman RS3 Dual Calibre

As the calibre controversy rages in airgun circles, and enthusiasts from both camps continue to espouse the benefits of one over the other, the temptation to experiment with each, can be overwhelming.

What if it were possible though, to physically switch barrels in a moment, and thus change calibre? Well now it is, and this new Beeman Dual Calibre package from Sportsmarketing, is an intriguing product, which has been particularly well thought out.

New Concept?

Memories come flooding back with this model, as the idea of switching barrels to change calibre is hardly new.

Indeed, just before I embarked upon a lifetime of airgun sport, I remember my good old uncle John, in the mid ‘70’s, showing me his Webley Hawk; a break barrel model, offering much the same package as my test model here.  Webley went on to up their game considerably, with the introduction of the full power Vulcan; yet the twin calibre concept was always destined to return.

Custom outfits such as Airmasters dabbled with the multiple barrel idea in the ‘80’s, with their top-end Chameleon models, based on the legendary HW77 action, while Venom Arms brought out their break-barrel ‘Snipe’ with a choice of three barrels, so there’s no doubting the appeal of the whole idea.

Well Presented

This new Beeman is an exciting project though, as it offers dual calibre performance at a highly affordable price. It comes extremely well presented too, in a dedicated,  beautifully compact carry case.

A conventional spring piston action is supplied, along with two interchangeable barrels; one in .22 and the other in the smaller .177 calibre, making the Beeman Dual Calibre RS3 fairly unique in today’s market place. A Beeman 3-9x32 scope is also included, along with mounts and the appropriate Allen keys - all as stated, tucked away in the padded carry case. Velcro straps hold everything in place, although in my view, the retention of some of the transit packaging makes sense, such as the sheet of thick cardboard that adds further protection between the barrels and the action., once the case is closed up.

At 34inches long, the entire pack is extremely compact, and if a less obvious approach is needed to your shooting expeditions, then this case will raise few eyebrows, being more akin to a deluxe snooker cue holder than a shooting rig. Yet once this Beeman is handled, it becomes clear that the pint sized carry case belies the full sized, highly capable rifle lying within.

Getting it Together

Assembly is beautifully simple, and just about as streamlined as it could be. Each barrel comes with the breech/ connection end wrapped in polythene to protect the liberal coating of grease applied at the production stage. Just select the barrel/ calibre of your choice; slacken off the large grub screw on the underside of the breech block; gently push home the barrel into the receiving hole in the breech block, taking care to line up the arrow on the side, and finally nip up the grub screw. Job done. Because of the obvious indent where the grub screw locates, any minor misplacing of the barrel soon self corrects, as the grub screw pulls itself into its correct location. In practise, I found the crispness of engineering, and sheer simplicity of the design, meant the whole process worked a treat.

Whilst the breech area is particularly finely engineered however, some of the edges could do with a subtle rounding off, being just a little sharp to touch.

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The Beeman branded 3-9x32 scope and mounts, all come, as previously stated, as part of the package. Mounting is made all the more easy as an arrestor block is set onto the receiver, which is another nice touch, eliminating any chance of creep at a stroke. For the record, this scope is fitted with a conventional 30/30 style reticle (equidistant fine centre lines, and four thick outer posts), variable magnification from 3-9x, and a comprehensively marked front parallax ring. Reassuringly crisp target turrets complete the spec, and on test, the adjustments were spot-on, along with very impressive general clarity.

Overall finish to the woodwork is very good, with a thick varnish, evenly applied, enhancing the natural grain of the beech timber used. As for the metalwork, the occasional machining mark does show under the traditional chemical blueing, yet the overall impression is still one of a solid, slick product, finished to a fairly high standard.

Characteristics

In use, an automatic safety catch comes into play, which means the small tab just in front of the trigger, needs to be nudged forwards before each shot can be taken. Note though that de-cocking the action is possible here.

Cocking the action of this Beeman requires an all in one approach, with the point at which the trigger sear/piston engages, coming earlier in the arc than expected. A fairly short stroke is probably responsible, yet with both barrels being a full 18inches in length, and both sporting a smart ported end piece, leverage is of course enhanced. The firing cycle itself is a pleasant experience, with a snappy action, devoid of spring resonance, and only a slight amount of creep in the trigger. A broad trigger blade helps enormously by spreading the load more evenly across the finger, and the overall release pressure is wholly acceptable.

Take Your Pick!

With the .177 calibre barrel firmly fixed in place, RWS Superfield pellets were tried first, which at 8.44 grains, follow an extremely similar pattern to the all conquering JSB design. These proved pleasingly accurate over 30yds, with clusters forming just a shade over half inch. Whilst energy levels were a little low at around 8.5ftlbs, a switch to Webley Harrier pellets instantly added over a ft/lb, so experimentation, with various pellet brands is obviously vital here.

I have to admit to a fascination with this rifle and the general concept, and to say that I was eager to switch barrels and gauge the outcome is a serious understatement. I felt like Christmas had come early! Having zeroed with the .177, for the record, the groups moved around 4.5inches to the right, once the larger calibre was installed. Air Arms Diabolo Field (JSB) printed groups of around 3/4inch, which again is highly acceptable for a rifle of this type. Energy as expected with the heavier calibre, rose significantly (.22 being generally more efficient than .177), with the Air Arms recording 10.1ft/lbs. For the record, SMK’s own Spitfire pellet brand posted similar groupings, and achieved around 10.4ftlbs.

As usual with airguns some variation is to be expected from one example to the next, and with pellet/barrel compatibility, not to mention variation in the barrels themselves, expect some other examples to be a little more powerful. The muzzle energy will also rise naturally with use as the rifle’s components ‘run-in’.

Calibre Comparison results

Barrels on test:         .22 Calibre:     .177 Calibre:
Pellets: (10 shot string)     AA Diabolo Field     RWS Superfield
Average velocity     532fps     672fps
Average spread           8fps         16fps
Average energy         10.1ft/lbs     8.4ft/lbs
Pellets: (10 shot string)     SMK Spitfire     Webley Harrier
Average velocity         583fps     676fps
Average spread         13fps         15fps
Average energy         10.4ft/lbs         9.6ft/lbs

Success

In this Beeman Dual Calibre RS3, Sportsmarketing (SMK) now have an intriguing product in their extensive line-up. Close range vermin control is of course on the cards, but for the enthusiast who just wants versatility along with hours of absorbing experimentation, all at a highly affordable price, owning this fairly unique rifle makes a lot of sense; the .22’s heavy hitting shock effect or the .177’s flatter trajectory - now you decide!

 

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