.22 RAW HM1000X Chassis Rifle Review

Several weeks ago, I ordered from Utah Airguns, a new .22 RAW Chassis Rifle, equipped with an Element Helix 6-24x50 FFP scope and Accu-Tac bipod. I paid the extra for the cerekote finish. It arrived approximately a week ago, in perfect condition, well packaged, and with sufficient shipping notification.

As I already owned a .25 RAW in Walnut, I knew about what to expect. I also own a Red Wolf in .22, tuned for the 25.39 Jumbo Monster Redesigned pellets, shooting them like a laser at about 920 fps, so I was anxious to see what the velocity was as tuned by Utah Airguns and shipped.

The first thing I did was clean the barrel - it wasn't too bad. The second thing was to adjust the scope eye relief to suit me. I then proceeded to adjust the POI to dead on at 18 yards using my indoor range. By using this POI, I can always make adjustments and verifications regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. Also, I knew that with this pellet at the 920 fps velocity, it should print dead on at 50 yards, which it did when tested.

One real surprise was the moderator, not the carbon fiber offset moderator like on my .25 walnut, and the moderator shown on the sales literature on line. Instead, it is a long cylindrical plastic affair stuffed with foam. At first, I was really disappointed as I can't imagine the new design is as durable as the old one. But after shooting it, there is no doubt the new one is lighter, and it is much quieter than the original design as on my .25. So I am ok with it.

Just as with my .25, the receiver and rest of the rifle are built like a tank. I like the M-lock accessory options and the much lighter frame of the chassis rifle over my walnut rifle, though they both have their purpose.

The rifle shoots like an absolute laser. It came out of the box shooting almost exactly the same speed as my tuned Red Wolf. At 50 yards, it shoots dime to nickel size holes over 10 shots - dead center. At 89 yards, my maximum available distance at home, the real surprise associated with this rifle is that two slugs shot better groups than did the pellets. See the accompanying test chart.

All in all, I am very pleased to add this rifle to the stable, as their is no doubt as to its simplicity, durability, and accuracy. And while I love my Red Wolf. this rifle performs equally well without all of the needed electronic concerns and attention from time-to-time.

I have attached my testing info for your review, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

DZ

1 - Receipt Photo 1.08.17.21.1629668218.jpg
2 - Receipt Photo 2.08.17.21.1629668218.jpg
3 - Utah Airguns Accuracy Test.35 yards.08.12.21.1629668218.jpg
4 - Performance Test Results.08.21.1629668219.jpg
5 - JSB Jumbo Monster Redesigned 25.39 Gr 50 and 100 yard tests.08.1629668219.jpg
6 - Griffith .217 22 Gr DB HP Slug.87 yards.1629668220.jpg







 
DZ, congratulations on your new .22 RAW HMx LRT Chassis! It looks great cerakoted and the moderator looks better with the decals for sure! I also have a HMx LRT Chassis in .22 with a conventional reflex LDC. Mine is tuned with a cut spring to shoot 18gr pellets @ 950fps and NSA 17.5gr .2175 @ 935ish on same tune…..more ammo affordable to me this way! They were built for the JSB Redsigned 25gr but do exceptionally well also with 18gr. Enjoy that beautiful RAW! All RAW’s are still built by a Martin in TN and sent to AF for distribution FYI.

33A03C6E-EF3B-4A6C-9899-F14FBBF0BF4D.1629672772.jpeg

 
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Thanks, Kenny, great to hear from you. I hope you and your family are well. I’m sure you will enjoy your Crown.


And Ranchibi, that is what makes this hobby so great, this terrific forum of wonderful people sharing so we can learn from each other, and the flexibility these rifle platforms allow to give us an opportunity to individualize them to our needs and preferences.


Thanks to both of you for the kind words.
 
I bought my .25 HM1000x used and it came in the chassis stock. The design is well thought out and very functional - and would overall improve the gun as a hunter. But I preferred the wood stock based on my .30 RAW, so when one came up available on the AGN classifieds I bought it and sold my chassis set up. Since I only shoot my RAWs off the bench, I much prefer it.

My .25 was, I guess, first gen after the AF acquisition so it had the offset moderator (which I didn't find to be all that effective). A couple of emails to Neil Clague solved that issue and now the .25 looks more like my RAW built .30, although Neil only had metal in stock at the time so I got that instead of CF. I will say that the Neil Clague moderator looks better, is very well constructed, is lighter and quieter than the OEM, and I think that accuracy has improved just a bit. Good stuff! It is a bit longer, but I'll take that as it functions so much better, and the HM1000x is not a short gun anyway.

I haven't shot slugs out of my .25, but I did test some various weight NSA's in my .30 and it liked them a lot. Groups with the NSA's rivaled, and sometimes bettered groups shot with pellets.

Here is my red (originally chassis) .25 with the OEM moderator and then with the Neil Clague (in comparison to the original RAW supplied moderator on my .30).

IMG_1702B.1629676511.jpg


IMG_1797.1629676512.JPG


I've often wondered about an HM1000x in .22 cal, and it is great to know that they shoot just as well as their bigger brothers. Congrats on the new gun.
 
I bought my .25 HM1000x used and it came in the chassis stock. The design is well thought out and very functional - and would overall improve the gun as a hunter. But I preferred the wood stock based on my .30 RAW, so when one came up available on the AGN classifieds I bought it and sold my chassis set up. Since I only shoot my RAWs off the bench, I much prefer it.

My .25 was, I guess, first gen after the AF acquisition so it had the offset moderator (which I didn't find to be all that effective). A couple of emails to Neil Clague solved that issue and now the .25 looks more like my RAW built .30, although Neil only had metal in stock at the time so I got that instead of CF. I will say that the Neil Clague moderator looks better, is very well constructed, is lighter and quieter than the OEM, and I think that accuracy has improved just a bit. Good stuff! It is a bit longer, but I'll take that as it functions so much better, and the HM1000x is not a short gun anyway.

I haven't shot slugs out of my .25, but I did test some various weight NSA's in my .30 and it liked them a lot. Groups with the NSA's rivaled, and sometimes bettered groups shot with pellets.

Here is my red (originally chassis) .25 with the OEM moderator and then with the Neil Clague (in comparison to the original RAW supplied moderator on my .30).

IMG_1702B.1629676511.jpg


IMG_1797.1629676512.JPG


I've often wondered about an HM1000x in .22 cal, and it is great to know that they shoot just as well as their bigger brothers. Congrats on the new gun.

2 beautiful RAW’s you have there! I do think that with poly barrels, the larger calibers are less slug fussy than the smaller cals. Neil makes the best LDC’s one can get for RAW’s and AZ makes the most quiet suppression with his baffled shrouds I’ve listened to. Just like you guys, I just enjoy how well made these are and so functionally simple.