Air Venturi Avenger Review Summary And Conclusions

Unusually, we have spread our Air Venturi Avenger review over a large number of posts. This is because the HAM Team believes that this is – like the Umarex Origin – a game-changing product. In this case it’s one that will revolutionize the $300-level PCP market (and possibly beyond) for those enthusiasts who want to use a variety of regulator pressures in their PCP air rifle.

In this post, we’ll summarize our views on the Avenger. For additional details, please check-out these previous HAM posts.

Overview

Factory Tune

Full Power Tune

Tune Overview And Hand Pump Power Tune

Hand Pump Tune

Difference Between Air Venturi Avenger And Umarex Origin

VALUE FOR MONEY

At a Street Price of 1 Cent less than $300, the Avenger represents remarkable value for money. Yes, there are other regulated, multi-shot, silenced PCP air rifles out there but the Avenger adds sidelever cocking and – the key feature – a regulator that’s easily adjusted from outside the gun.

Combined with good power, a strong shot count, light weight and great accuracy, this is a close to irresistible product for the “enthusiast” air rifle shooter and tinkerer.

Below we see the Air Venturi Avenger review gun. We added a Leapers UTG 3-9×40 AO scope and UTG rubber-armored bipod for the photograph. (We also shot the gun using a Leapers 3-9 x 32 Bugbuster scope. It worked well too, as you can see from the 25-Yard test target below).

Below, Here’s the part that’s causing all the excitement. It’s the externally-adjustable regulator setscrew.

Then there’s a pressure gauge to indicate the regulator set pressure on the right side of the breech.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Air Venturi Avenger, Regulated PCP Air Rifle 0.177

BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Air Venturi Avenger

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The graph below shows how our Air Venturi Avenger review sample performed in factory condition. It produced 85 relatively-consistent shots at an average of 919.55 FPS with H&N Field Target Trophy pellets. That’s an average of 27.53 Ft/Lbs Muzzle Energy.

As can be seen from the graph, the test gun exhibited a strong tendency to shoot faster as the pressure of HPA in the tube reduced – at least until the regulator set pressure of 2,900 PSI was reached. This is a clear indication that the hammer spring tension was set too light.

Fortunately, hammer spring tension can be adjusted easily on the Avenger. Indeed, it needs to be to give best results with different regulator pressure settings. We can see how this worked-out in the table below.

We’ll also explore this data further in the “Consistency” section of this Air Venturi Avenger review below.

Accuracy was excellent in the test gun using 14.35 Grain JSB Jumbo Express pellets using our “Hand Pump Tune”, as is shown in this test target.

HAM Field Target Editor Greg Shirhall purchased a .22 caliber Avenger for himself. Using his personal Avenger, Greg produced groups of less than 1-Inch at 45 Yards shooting 18.23 Grain JSB Jumbo Heavies.

Accuracy was still better than 2-Inch group size at 75 Yards, with which Greg was very happy. Of course, this was from a different gun with different tune settings from the one featured in this Air Venturi Avenger review.

Greg’s gun was achieving 970 FPS with the 18.13 Grain pellets – that’s a Muzzle Energy of around 38 Ft/Lbs. He had it well cranked up by adjusting the hammer spring tension!

Greg summarized the performance of his gun so far: ” Very very happy with the initial 45 yard groups. I need to get it back out on paper at 45 and see if the accuracy is still there and bump the velocity up or down if needed. As the reason for the purchase was pests,  I’m not really concerned about shot count. If the 50 yard +/- accuracy is there……..that’s all I need!

Of course, finding the best combination of pellet, regulator pressure and hammer spring tension for accuracy at your desired range and use is part of the experience of owning many high-end PCPs. So there’s nothing actually unusual about the Avenger, except one thing…

This sophisticated approach to tuning is available here in an air rifle that costs just $300!

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

The two-stage trigger fitted to the subject of this Air Venturi Avenger review gave an average pull weight of 1 Lb 12 Oz. That seemed to be a good out-of-the-box setting. However, the trigger is externally-adjustable for pull weight, length of pull and sear engagement.

Slots are provided in the molded stock/trigger guard for adjustment using a 2mm Allen wrench, as we can see below.

There’s a simple, effective manual safety lever on the right side of the breech. It’s in an easy-to-use location directly below the side cocking lever.

The Avenger’s sidelever action is easy to operate and a definite step forward from the bolt actions that are typically fitted to most air rifles in this price range.

Compared to the sidelever actions on high end air rifles, it feels somewhat “muddy” in operation. However it’s rather unfair to make comparison to the action on $1,000 PCPs!

The real comparison is that it’s far superior to the bolt action you’d expect to find on other PCPs at this price range for smoothness and ease-of-use.

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

The manufacturer claims a maximum Muzzle Energy of 34 Ft/Lbs for this airgun. The maximum shot count is given as 60 shots per fill. As can be seen from the data presented in this Air Venturi Avenger review, the manufacturer’s specifications are very conservative!

The Avenger’s packaging claims that it’s highly adjustable. It also claims that – if you’re a tuner or modder – the Avenger should be at the top of your list. These claims are clearly right on the money.

CONSISTENCY

The inherent consistency of the Avenger is fairly good for shot-to-shot variation in Muzzle Velocity. However, this is dependent on the tune given to each individual gun.

As this comprehensive Air Venturi Avenger review demonstrates, consistency of FPS is yet another factor that needs to be considered in tuning, as the following graphs demonstrate…

Full Power Tune

Hand Pump Power Tune From 3,000 PSI Fill

Hand Pump Tune From 2,000 PSI Fill

Hand Pump Tune Compared to Hand Pump Power Tune

Trigger pull consistency was also good, varying by only about 2 Ounces in HAM testing. And it seems to be giving good – or better – accuracy with a variety of heavy lead pellets also.

NOISE LEVEL

With it’s built-in barrel shroud, the Air Venturi Avenger has a much-tamed report. While not the quietest air rifle HAM has ever tested, it definitely qualifies as “backyard friendly”.

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

Wisely, Air Venturi has not included any sighting system with the Avenger. There’s no iron sights as almost no-one will use them. Fortunately there’s no bundled scope either – most of these included with airguns are, frankly, of very limited value.

Both these decisions save cost and allow the user to mount the scope he or she really wants.

The Avenger’s synthetic breech has an effective combination scope mounting system that provides both Picatinny and airgun rails. Now there’s no need to look for the right scope rings to fit your gun. With the Avenger, both types of rings fits without problem.

As a small, low cost, light air rifle, the Avenger is ideally paired with a relatively compact, lightweight scope. The UTG 3-9 x 40 AO scope shown in the photograph above is probably the largest, heaviest scope that most users will find suitable.

SHOOTABILITY

So how does it feel to shoot? First off, the light weight of the Avenger – just 6 Lb 1 Oz plus scope and accessories – is among the lightest for a PCP air rifle of this type. In fact, HAM Publisher Stephen Archer found it too light for him. He also found the Center of Gravity too far forward for his liking.

But, hey, this is a gun for modders, right?

So he removed the rubber buttpad (you’ll need a 3 mm Allen wrench for this) to find a large hollow space. Just ideal to add a 1 Lb pug of electrician’s Duct Seal! Now the Avenger feels and balances just how he likes it! Including the scope, the rig now weighs-in at 8 Lbs 9 Oz.

HAM Field Target Editor Greg Shirhall purchased his Avenger for pest removal as all his other airguns are in .177 caliber. Here’s what he found: ” I figured for $300 it was worth a shot,” Greg explained.

“I could toss a cheap scope on it and leave it somewhere behind a door or whatever so it would be ready at a moment’s notice,” he continued. “The pests consist of groundhogs at no more than 50 yards. Of course, as is always the case, there has not been a single one since the rifle arrived!”

So Greg’s Avenger has clearly been exceptionally effective as a pest deterrent 🙂

The front Picatinny rail and sling swivel mounts are useful, too, for hunters and anyone carrying the Avenger in the field.

An adjustable cheek piece would be an improvement to the ambidextrous stock for practical shooting. However that would undoubtedly drive up the price. On balance, Air Venturi made a good call by sticking to an non-adjustable stock.

However, a single-shot tray is included for those shooters who prefer single-loading their air rifles.

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

The Avenger has a typical “black PCP look” about it. Stephen Archer’s personal opinion is that the stock of the Umarex Origin is more attractive. But that’s purely a subjective statement!

Finish of the metal parts – primarily HPA tube and shroud – is very good. The synthetic parts – stock, breech etc – form the majority. They’re sharply molded and well finished with the inevitable mold line quite well controlled.

BUYING AND OWNING

The Avenger is available – of course – from Pyramyd Air, Airgun Depot and other dealers selling Air Venturi products. So it’s easy to find and buy online.

Realistically, as this Air Venturi Avenger review has shown, you’ll be missing-out of much that this gun has to offer if you do not have a chronograph. Really, it’s essential to have one!

You’ll need to be prepared – too – to put in time, effort and shoot a large number of pellets to really customize the performance to your needs.

For example, the graph below shows how the test gun will need to be set to achieve 30 Ft/Lbs Muzzle energy with 14.66 Grain Field Target Trophy pellets. But you’ll need to run similar tests to establish such settings for your own Avenger as each one will be subtly different.

Given that air in the HPA tank must be exhausted if you need to reduce the regulator set pressure, the built-in degassing capability will also be very useful. This is accessed using an Allen wrench in the screw just ahead of the trigger guard.

The included user instruction manual  is clear and well illustrated. However, it’s in English only.

Probably the only disappointment from the ownership perspective is that the Avenger is only protected by a 12-month warranty. Given that 3-year and 5-year warranties are now commonplace – even on $300 PCPs – this is something that could be improved by Air Venturi.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Air Venturi Avenger, Regulated PCP Air Rifle 0.177

BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Air Venturi Avenger

This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.