FX DRS Classic Synthetic - I Want One!

I can’t say that I have ever known a gun to be perfect, but some do get very close, and when I consider selling a cherished rifle of my own to replace it with a new offering, I know something is appealing. FX are well known for rifles of many specifications, so high-end, easily tuned, high power, multiple calibre types, adjustable stocks, magazines, and accessories aplenty, but what happens when they give their engineers the simple design goal of K.I.S.S?

Keep it simple
Well, the DRS is the result, and although available in FAC and ‘Sub 12’ UK formats, walnut or even chassis stocks, it is great to see some of the finest FX design elements truly honed into a simple hunting rifle. The looks of the rifle really stand out, as FX has made the DRS look like a heavy-barrelled suppressed sporter. They have done this by effectively running the superior STX liner/barrel within the aluminium air cylinder, adding significant benefits. It looks sleek and maintains a low profile for improved balance and more intuitive handling. Secondly, having that slim barrel within a 34mm diameter air cylinder charged at 230 bar keeps it very stiff and much less prone to losing zero if bumped, something that happens when hunting.

Slender layout
The cylinder has a removable cap with a ½” thread for adding a moderator. This DRS is the 500mm barrel/cylinder version, meaning a 208cc air capacity. The cylinder is a tight fit in the synthetic forend but likely stiffer than the forend itself and it certainly didn’t cause any problems. The hard anodised black aluminium receiver carries an 11mm rail for scope mounting, with a centre split for the rotary magazine that holds 16 .177 pellets or slugs. The 12 ft/lbs model is also available in .22 with a 14-shot mag. There is a right-side cocking lever, and a recessed safety catch sits just below it. Simply move it forward for FIRE, rear for SAFE.  It is virtually silent in operation. The trigger is a 2-stage adjustable unit that broke at just over 370-grams (13 oz). I can’t critique it at all as it was perfectly crisp during operation. The blade and shoe are adjustable and hang within a spacious aluminium trigger guard.

Airflow efficiency
Look to the underside of the rifle and you will see what looks like a detachable box magazine, but it is in fact an intermediary plenum air reservoir to work alongside the AMP II regulator within the gun to keep that flat pressure/power curve. The machining and anodising standards are all exemplary, and the facetted shape of the action breaks up any bulk. For an FX, it appears deceptively simple, clean, and uncomplicated, but I find joy in its elegant simplicity. The rifle’s action is secured in place by a single bolt located between the trigger guard and the plenum. When this bolt is removed, the finishing standards show excellent attention to detail. The entire receiver/air cylinder fits snugly in the effectively full-length inlet. Just to note, I have had the rifle in and out of the stock and it held zero within 1cm at 25m, which I consider excellent.

No chassis
The synthetic matte black stock is an injection-moulded example with a soft-touch feel, which is not too rubbery. The forend has radiused facets on the underside, meaning it fills the leading support hand and makes the rifle stable from rest bags. The grip is truly ambidextrous, as is the high Mote-Carlo cheekpiece that enables perfect scope alignment. This is important because you must use tall scope rings to ensure the optic clears the magazine. The recoil pad is 23mm thick and offers a secure grip in your shoulder. The overall weight of the rifle is just 2254-grams (5 lbs), and with the balance point on the tip of the plenum, it is instantly delightful in your hands. The overall length is a compact 930mm (36.5”), with the length of pull showing 343mm (13.5”), which is probably perfect for a zero-recoil air rifle.

Real-world results
I added a SAK moderator to the rifle, Sportsmatch 30mm high rings, and an Element Helix HD 2-16x50, which suited the handling characteristics perfectly. I couldn’t resist a few shots, so started at 20m in the garden. I did this free hand to get a feel for the rifle before going out to the farm the following day. Here, I was greeted by a strong breeze, but more space. It was never going to print bug holes in 25mph winds, so I concentrated on testing functionality, using the magazine, measuring muzzle velocities, and leading up the barrel. I later got into the more sheltered hay barn and shot some small groups that impressed me.

Bug holes
I used three pellet types from JSB and some 10-grain slugs that are designed for sub-12 ft/lbs airguns. JSB’s 8.44-grain Exact Diabolo Pellets shot acceptably for pest control and plinking purposes, with a muzzle velocity of 751 fps for 10.6 ft/lbs. The heavier 10.34-grain version, which is a favourite of mine, developed 703 fps | 11.3 ft/lbs. Finally, the 10.34-grain JSB Hades showed 696 fps | 11.1 ft/lbs. At 25m, these three projectiles produced 9.4, 8.1 and 13.9mm groups respectively. So, given the complex shape of the nose on the Hades pellets, which slightly decreases the ballistic coefficient, I decided to stick with the standard 10.34-grain Exacts.

Slug holes
Day three was when I finally fell for this rifle. I shot the 10-grain Zan slugs for a zero check at 25m, with an effective group size of 31mm. Just to be sure of myself, I went back to the pellets and shot another 8.5mm group to reassure myself nothing had gone awry. I then shot a 10-shot group measuring 118mm at 50m. The pellets provided me with a neat cluster of 21mm adjacent to this. Given the fact that slugs have a better ballistic coefficient (BC) than pellets and, although a little slower, offer less drop of 89mm as opposed to 112mm at 50m from a 25m zero, it wasn’t hard to choose which projectile was significantly more suited to this rifle.

User delight
So, what are my thoughts? Well, the rifle is a pure delight to use. It is light, handles exceptionally well with an excellent grip, and when hunting, it points quickly and intuitively. It will suit smaller shooters with less strength, and it offers excellent scope alignment. As well as being quiet, the cocking lever requires minimal effort and is very smooth to operate. In use, the new FX magazine design has been 100% reliable when feeding new pellets, and with an overall depth of 10.24mm, it enables longer projectiles. This will most likely be of benefit to the FAC spec rifles that will push the heavier/longer for calibre projectiles. After the last shot, the spring-loaded magazine follower blocks the bolt.

Critical
This leads me to the downsides, of which there are only two to comment on. Firstly, the magazine is quite a tight fit in the receiver. Secondly, why do so many air rifle manufacturers seem to ignore sling studs, especially on a true hunting gun like this? They would have been a major benefit. They can, of course, be retrofitted, but that’s not the point.
How many shots?
The critical question is - how many shots from a fill? Well, my findings led me to believe I could confidently rely on 130 shots, and the left-side bottle pressure gauge was a reliable indicator if I did lose count. This is truly indicative of the efficiency with which the DRS is running. The extreme spread over that entire range was sub-20 fps, with a sub-15 fps spread per magazine. The new MK III pin probe is also compact and doesn’t leave anything sticking out of the gun, although a dust cap might be nice for the port on the gun’s left side, adjacent to the pressure gauge.

Conclusion
I have many rifles to choose from, so I can shoot any type I like, but this one really pleased me. If I were to buy it, I would add sling studs and buy a spare magazine, that’s all. It just works, maintains zero, and shoots very small groups, all of which were done sheltered outdoors, but not indoors. I like the ambidextrous handling, and I really appreciate the lower overall height, with no underslung buddy bottle or cylinder that could cause instability. I want to own this rifle, and that’s not a common statement from me.