Umarex 850 M2 Empire Kit

Everybody has different requirements when it comes to choosing a suitable airgun. The good news is that CO2 power is a good alternative to a basic springer or an entry-level PCP. This is because the rifles that use it as a power source, like the Umarex 850 M2 on test, can offer multi-shot capability, zero recoil, ease of use, and the same discrete muzzle report as a PCP, and crucially, you don’t need an expensive pump or a dive bottle to refill it, just CO2 capsules! So, what’s the catch? Well, you do have to sacrifice some power. This, however, is not an issue if you just want to punch holes in paper, shoot tin cans, or ding some knockdowns!

Everything you need
The Umarex 850 M2 Empire Kit is only available in .177 calibre, and it represents a comprehensive package for anyone looking to get started as quickly and easily as possible. Pull off the outer cardboard sleeve and you will find a polystyrene box containing the rifle, a rotary magazine, a silencer, a bipod, some targets, pellets, a scope with mounts, an Allen Key, instructions, and an additional cheekpiece element. All you need in addition to this is some 88-gram CO2 capsules.
On closer inspection, the Umarex-branded 3-9x40 scope is pretty basic, offering no adjustable parallax. So, although it works, and given the huge selection of affordable optics on the market, I imagine most people will upgrade it, allowing them to select an optic that suits their requirements perfectly.
I was pleased to find that the supplied silencer was a K3 Neo, made by Umarex. These have a solid reputation, are well made, and do a good job reducing the rifle’s muzzle report. Another welcome addition was the Harris-clone bipod. It is well made, lightweight, has notched legs, and offers approximately 3” of height adjustment, which is more than enough. It also boasts a Picatinny accessory rail on each side, and it mounts to the rifle via a Picatinny clamp that is tightened with a Phillips screwdriver. It doesn’t offer pan or tilt, but I wouldn’t expect either at this price point.
Finally, as well as getting some standard 14x14cm card targets, you also get a tin of Mosquito wadcutter pellets. As per the rifle on test, they are .177 calibre and weigh 8.03-grains.

All in black
The full-sized, ambidextrous synthetic stock shows a sporter profile and has a quality feel to it that belies the price point of the rifle. It feels solid rather than hollow, doesn’t flex or creak, and has a lovely textured feel throughout. This is further complemented by the panels of moulded-in ‘chequering’ on the sides of the forend and the decent-sized pistol grip.
Starting at the rear, the butt shows a curved butt pad that is 1” thick, giving the rifle a decent length of pull measuring 14.25”. Although the pad is ventilated and looks like rubber, it is in fact quite hard. Its shape ensures it fits in your shoulder’s pocket nicely, and the lack of flex doesn’t matter given the rifle produces no recoil.
The cheekpiece is a clever bit of design, as in its standard configuration, the height on offer promotes good eye alignment with the iron sights that are fitted to the rifle. It is at this point that a lot of rifles struggle when it comes to fitting a scope, as the cheekpiece is then too low, and the shooter must hover over the butt to get a decent image through the scope. Umarex has solved this issue by including an additional cheekpiece element that simply clicks into place over the standard cheekpiece, thus raising the height by around 12mm. What a great idea!
Moving forward, the pistol grip is pretty standard and leads into an integral trigger guard. In front of this, there is 15” of forend ahead, giving the shooter plenty of space for their leading hand. It is at the tip of the forend, however, that we find out where the rifle’s power comes from. Look underneath and you will find a flexible tab that is part of the moulding. Push this and the forend’s tip can be removed, exposing the housing for a single 88-gram CO2 capsule. Importantly, this removable tip is incredibly solid when locked in position, showcasing the quality of the materials used by Umarex. There are also three Picatinny accessory rails attached to the forend’s tip, allowing the user to attach lights, lasers etc, or the bipod that comes in the kit. Nice! The ones mounted on the sides can be removed using a screwdriver, while the one underneath is moulded in. So, overall, a decent piece of furniture that looks and feels good.

Make ready
It couldn’t be easier to fit a CO2 capsule. Simply remove the tip of the forend as described above, then, using the words of Umarex “Screw the 88-gram CO2 capsule into the valve thread until the end cap is pierced. Continue to turn until firmly tightened and then slacken by one quarter (1/4) of a turn in order to equalize tolerances between brands of CO2 capsules.” After doing this, I normally fire off a few blank shots to ensure everything is working as it should.
The 850 M2 comes with a single rotary magazine. It is simple, manufactured from aluminium, and has an 8-shot capacity. The pellets are secured in position by a rubber band around the circumference, and the band even features an arrow to show you which way it should be loaded. Simply push a pellet into each chamber, ensuring each one sits flush and does not protrude from the other side, and you are done.

At the very centre
Just like the Walther Rotex RM8 Varmint UC that I tested last month, the 850 M2 features a low-profile, matte-black receiver that features a full-length 11mm dovetail for scope mounting. This is uninterrupted, meaning the magazine sits low enough not to interfere/foul on any scope that is fitted, ensuring your chosen optic sits as close as possible to the bore line.
The familiar bolt action is simple and effective, and it operates reliably if cycled with deliberate movements. In other words, don’t baby it! To cock the action, simply grasp the bolt knob and pull it back to the rear. To load the rifle, you must first pull the magazine retention catch below the bolt to the rear. Next, insert a loaded magazine from the left-hand side and return the retaining catch to its forward position. Finally, push the bolt forward and you are ready to go.
The barrel measures 23.5” in length and shows a light layer of blueing. It is threaded ½” UNF for the supplied K3 Neo silencer, and you also get a metal thread protector. To add to the rifle’s versatility, it features a set of fibre optic sights, with the front unit showing a red element and the rear unit showing two green ones. The front sight blade is protected by a hood, and it can be drifted left or right for windage. Meanwhile, the rear sight can be moved up or down its ramp for elevation. Overall, the iron sights are a great addition to the rifle.

Controls
Look inside the integral trigger guard and you will find a 2-stage trigger that offers some adjustment of the first stage travel. This can be done via a hole in the base of the trigger guard, which gives you access to a flat-head screw. In use, the trigger offers a pull weight of 1 lb 8 oz, which is not too bad. The stages are slightly vague, but this was no hindrance when printing groups down range.
The safety catch is positioned at the rear of the receiver, and is automatic, meaning that it engages each time the rifle is cocked. Now, this won’t be to everyone’s taste, but you soon get used to it. Plus, if a youngster is having a go, then it can only be a good thing. The catch itself is thumb-tip-sized and features an inner blade that must be depressed in order to disengage the safety, limiting the risk of it getting accidentally manipulated.

Shooting
For the range test, I was sent a selection of H&N pellets, including some Finale Match Light, Field Target Trophy, and Baracuda 8s. With the bipod, scope, and silencer fitted, and while shooting from a bench, I managed some pretty tidy groups (See Ammo Table), with the Field Target Trophy coming out on top with a 0.5” group at 30 yards and 0.7” group at 40 yards. Nice!
What about power? Well, I must confess to not particularly liking CO2 as a power source, as the power/muzzle velocity generated by the capsule can be significantly affected by the ambient temperature, mainly when it is cold. Long shot strings or a rapid rate of fire can also reduce the power. To my surprise, however, the 850 M2 managed to change my mind, proving that a CO2 rifle can offer excellent performance. At an ambient temperature of 18°C, I managed to get just shy of 160 shots (20 magazines) from a capsule before I noticed a significant point of impact shift. The Baracuda 8s were generating an average velocity of 666 fps, before dipping to 630 fps, signifying the start of the power decline. The velocity was 570 fps by shot number 170 and 476 fps by shot number 187. I decided to stop there and vent the remaining air by removing the capsule slowly, as I didn’t know how quickly it would tail off, and I didn’t want a pellet stuck in the barrel! Within the 160-shot power band, the 850 M2 also managed velocity spreads in the single digits. Nice!

Conclusion
So, if you are after some fuss-free shooting and like the 850 M2, you are looking at an RRP of £494.95. All you need to buy in addition is a few CO2 capsules (circa £6.00 if you buy a few at a time) and some premium pellets. This way you will be smashing 0.5” spinners at 35 yards all day long! Just be aware you are not meant to store the rifle with a capsule installed, so you best shoot all 160 shots off. Oh no, what a hardship!