FX DRS Classic Walnut 600 in .22 FAC

Few guns truly stand out and tempt me to buy one for myself, but the FX DRS .177 in sub-12 format proved to be exactly that kind of rifle. However, having grown accustomed to the power of FAC air rifles for ratting, the chance to try an FAC version of this rifle was extremely appealing, as it offered a clear, direct comparison of the benefits of each power level.

Too beautiful to hunt with?
The rifle supplied to me was the walnut-stocked standard, but I couldn’t help but wonder if some mix-up had been made because the grain on display was superb. The key concept of the DRS is that the barrel and STX liner are enclosed within the 34mm-diameter air cylinder, so the gun looks similar to a fully suppressed centrefire rifle. The model on test came with a 600mm barrel to maximise efficiency and power, and it features a capped muzzle thread for a sound moderator, which I would advise adding.
Contrasting harmony
All external metalwork is matte-anodised aluminium, and the mechanics offer a deluxe look and feel with the contrast of the walnut. The action offers an 11mm dovetail for scope mounting, a right-side cocking lever, and a compact, silent, two-position safety catch that moves forward for fire and rear for safe. With the side-lever open, you can remove the spring-driven rotary magazine, which, in the .22 model, holds 14 pellets or slugs up to 11mm in length—ideal for those looking to maximise projectile weight. The magazine has a clear cover, and the locking latch rotates to release it. You rotate the liner all the way anti-clockwise, insert a pellet to lock the spring, and then fill the other 13 slots. Replace the cap, rotate the lock, and it’s ready to go into the gun. The magazine is a snug fit in the machined aluminium receiver, so it won’t shuffle about in use, and the 39mm overall diameter doesn’t require unnecessarily high scope positioning for clearance.

Steel pins
FX uses a pin probe to fill the rifle and recommends a maximum 230bar fill. These pin probes are discreet, which means the rifle doesn’t have a bulky external foster connection. The probes themselves are now made of steel, not brass, so they are far more durable, and spare O-rings are also supplied. The air capacity is 260cc, and there is a single gauge on the left side of this AMP-regulated rifle to indicate pressures.

Not what you think
The underside of the stock visually offers a detachable magazine system, but this is actually a plenum chamber for regulated airflow. FX advertises the rifle with a 60-shot capacity, and it will deliver 60 shots, but I found that 30 to 35 shots was the realistic limit when considering longer-range precision and retained zero. A third magazine showed a significant impact shift at 30m, which is about my realistic required range, but if you do shoot further, you will need to be vigilant and go for a refill. If you are limiting yourself to indoor ranges of between 15 and 20m for rats, you will achieve reliable body shots for more than the 30 shots I decided to limit myself to after experimentation.

Looks to kill
As for the stock, it’s not only a beautiful piece of walnut but it is also elegantly sculpted with classic ergonomic purity to suit a rifle designed for the human form. The fore-end shows a radiused profile measuring 46mm wide and it features subtle stippling. This is most likely laser-cut for additional grip. There appears to be a deep lustre to the oiled finish, and as you might expect, I treated the stock with great care to avoid any marks. There is a pistol grip with a medium-radius to the rear of the action and lower plenum, both of which are neatly inlet without excessive gaps. There is a black aluminium trigger guard on the underside, with more stippling on the sides of the grip, which itself shows a very modest right-hand inclination and palm swell. The Monte Carlo cheekpiece offers excellent scope alignment, where the non-conductive feel of the smooth walnut feels immediately comfortable against the side of your face. Although the cheekpiece and grip are technically right-handed, the gun offers virtually identical comfort and ergonomics for the left-hander. As a hunting rifle, it offers great versatility to those who happily shoot ambidextrously, but the cocking lever is right-side only. The length of pull is 14” (353mm) and there is a soft recoil pad whose radiused edges and non-sticky finish allow the gun to slide freely into your shoulder for fast shots.

Just one stud
The last thing to mention is that there is an underside sling stud on the tapered butt, yet there isn’t a matching one on the fore-end. The synthetic-stocked version had neither, so it seems strange FX has added one and not the other. On a hunting rifle, a sling/bipod is extremely valuable, and I would like to see this addressed immediately. I can’t modify a review rifle, but if it was mine, it would be immediately attended to.
Moving on, I used the rifle from a Bog Tripod shooting rest, whose rubber cradle grips the stock perfectly when shooting from the bench or the prone position. I added a Donny FL Yokozuna sound moderator along with the Primary Arms 4-16x50 scope and FX rings that were supplied. I then went shooting.

Correctly proportioned
Mounting the scope was straightforward, and the compact magazine, paired with moderate eye-relief scope, caused no issues. The decent length of pull enables the overall package to conform to more conventional full-sized rifle dimensions, and the gun never felt too small or swamped by me.
The position and weight of the two-stage trigger are adjustable, and it broke crisply at 300g (10.5oz). This is one of the lightest triggers I have experienced on a factory rifle. I’d usually be a bit suspicious, but the feel and assured character of the trigger shoe, reach to the blade, and precision of the internal mechanism are notably reassuring, even at this incredibly light weight. I would certainly add some weight to it myself, but for those who want or need a super-light trigger, you certainly get it here.

Real conditions
I zeroed the rifle at 30m and began shooting in real-world outdoor conditions with a light breeze—far from the controlled environment of an indoor range. I refilled the rifle before each string and gave the gun 14 fouling shots before I shot groups, although I doubled this for the dissimilar metallurgy of the slugs. I find that once a projectile is chosen, it makes sense to stick with what works to maintain barrel fouling consistency.
The rifle was a pleasure to shoot from the BOG sticks, and the predictable trigger was fine in 15-degree air temperatures. However, if colder, especially if wearing gloves, I would add some weight for greater tactile perception. It was clear that the rifle, equipped with a Superior STX liner, performed better with pellets than with slugs. In fairness, I generally prefer pellets for ratting around hard surfaces anyway. However, for those who wish to focus more on slug usage, a dedicated slug liner is available for the barrel. In certain situations, you may notice slightly improved ballistics with slugs, but keep in mind that this rifle lacks the external tuning features available on some other FX models. There is also no external power adjuster, so if you like to tune, I’d look to the Impact M3 or M4 to satisfy your more technical preferences.

Conclusion
In the current airgun market, where it seems tuning, air capacity, and power are the driving factors, it’s nice to see an FAC air rifle that still has its heart set on dynamic hunting, rather than endless hours at a bench customising every possible variable for peak performance. I love the standard DRS and also like the FAC version, but you do have to accept the crucial factor that all that power needs a lot of compressed air, which invites compromise. If I take a rifle out hunting and get 30 shots from it, I’m very happy. Yes, some may want more, but realistically, does it matter? Yes, you will need to transport additional compressed air, but I’m happy to trade off the ultimate shot count for a slim, elegant rifle with handling similar to a centrefire sporting rifle, which will easily shoot rats in relative silence and safety out to 75m. I do think the lack of a fore-end stud is an issue, and although the walnut is beautiful, with neutral balance and a comfortable feel, it will get damaged on a hunting rifle, and FAC airguns really are only for hunting. Aren’t they?