Quick and dirty... I traded away an Impact .30, picked up a Uragan 22, and I might really enjoy where it takes me!! Read on if you are curious about my reasons and comparisons...
I finally moved on from my Impact MKII .30. I owned it longer than any other rifle the two years I've been into air rifles. I never had a single issue with it. Ken Hicks must have done some great work in setting it up, because I never experienced any of the problems some people have. I picked it up as my second Impact, because it was too good of a deal to pass up at the time. I have considered trying another rifle, but I was so happy with the Impact, that I had no reason too. The feel, accuracy, and quality have been perfect for me. My wife is shocked that I traded it. With more time to spend shooting due to the effects of the virus on the economy, and Michaels fun weekly targets coming up, I started shooting a lot more. The .30 pellets never seemed so expensive when I was shooting 50-100 at a sitting, but shooting 1-2 cans per sitting every other day, it starts getting expensive. I decided it might be a good time to find a good trade partner and pick up a 22 or 177, so I can shoot a little more cost effectively and keep shooting a lot.
In comes the offer for an Uragan. This was one of the few rifles that I have wanted to try out, and knowing that it was tuned by a fellow trustworthy AGNer, I had to make the trade work out. We came to an agreement that I think we both liked, and now I'm shooting some cheaper pellets and don't need to refill my tank near as often!!! 34-40 shots versus over 100 is a nice change!
I think we have all seen some pretty good reviews of the Uragan and the only worry seems to sometimes be the factory regulator. It may not be as quick and easy to tune by moving a couple knobs, but it can obviously be tuned to perfection if you know what you are doing. Sure it needs to be taken apart to adjust equally, but it can still happen. As it came to me, the first 41 shots of 18gr JSBs had an ES of 6, and a SD of 1.2! How is that possible?? Dang!!!! You have some skills sir. While you didn't do the work for me, but for the last guy, I still appreciate your work!
The package came in and I ran outside (didn't really care that it was a windy day) and had to get some shots in before the rain came. Got the scope mounted and sighted in, wind was howling and it was immediate how much the wind moves a 22 more than a 30 at even 50 yards, so I put it aside and grabbed my other new rifle (another story for another day) and sighted it in. The wind started to die down, so I went back to the Uragan. All 5 of the 5-shot groups I quickly took were inside of 0.5" with one being 0.175 and two more under 0.25. That was the first day sitting down with the rifle trying to hurry before the rain came! I think I am going to be extremely happy with this rifle. I was starting to shoot a lot at 100 yards with my Impact before the trade, and while I think the 18gr pellets are at a disadvantage, I can't wait to see what it can do out to 100yds.
Overview (my very early comparisons):
I know it doesn't count if you don't have pictures, but I forgot to take pictures that day. I took my scope off, and sold it to buy several more scopes. Now I am waiting on my new scopes to arrive, so I can get back out there. I really wanted to wait until I had some new pics, but I couldn't wait to share any longer. I'll get some more pics up as I get to shoot it some more. There aren't many articles up on the Uragan, so I wanted to be sure to share. Thanks!
The second rifle obviously isn’t the Impact and I’ll review it later when I get a real scope.
I finally moved on from my Impact MKII .30. I owned it longer than any other rifle the two years I've been into air rifles. I never had a single issue with it. Ken Hicks must have done some great work in setting it up, because I never experienced any of the problems some people have. I picked it up as my second Impact, because it was too good of a deal to pass up at the time. I have considered trying another rifle, but I was so happy with the Impact, that I had no reason too. The feel, accuracy, and quality have been perfect for me. My wife is shocked that I traded it. With more time to spend shooting due to the effects of the virus on the economy, and Michaels fun weekly targets coming up, I started shooting a lot more. The .30 pellets never seemed so expensive when I was shooting 50-100 at a sitting, but shooting 1-2 cans per sitting every other day, it starts getting expensive. I decided it might be a good time to find a good trade partner and pick up a 22 or 177, so I can shoot a little more cost effectively and keep shooting a lot.
In comes the offer for an Uragan. This was one of the few rifles that I have wanted to try out, and knowing that it was tuned by a fellow trustworthy AGNer, I had to make the trade work out. We came to an agreement that I think we both liked, and now I'm shooting some cheaper pellets and don't need to refill my tank near as often!!! 34-40 shots versus over 100 is a nice change!
I think we have all seen some pretty good reviews of the Uragan and the only worry seems to sometimes be the factory regulator. It may not be as quick and easy to tune by moving a couple knobs, but it can obviously be tuned to perfection if you know what you are doing. Sure it needs to be taken apart to adjust equally, but it can still happen. As it came to me, the first 41 shots of 18gr JSBs had an ES of 6, and a SD of 1.2! How is that possible?? Dang!!!! You have some skills sir. While you didn't do the work for me, but for the last guy, I still appreciate your work!
The package came in and I ran outside (didn't really care that it was a windy day) and had to get some shots in before the rain came. Got the scope mounted and sighted in, wind was howling and it was immediate how much the wind moves a 22 more than a 30 at even 50 yards, so I put it aside and grabbed my other new rifle (another story for another day) and sighted it in. The wind started to die down, so I went back to the Uragan. All 5 of the 5-shot groups I quickly took were inside of 0.5" with one being 0.175 and two more under 0.25. That was the first day sitting down with the rifle trying to hurry before the rain came! I think I am going to be extremely happy with this rifle. I was starting to shoot a lot at 100 yards with my Impact before the trade, and while I think the 18gr pellets are at a disadvantage, I can't wait to see what it can do out to 100yds.
Overview (my very early comparisons):
- Looks - Tie. To each their own, but I really like the looks of both. Hard to choose one over the other.
- Size - Tie. I don't know the exact specs, but they are close enough for me. Length and weight are fairly close it seems.
- Adjustability to the shooter - Impact. Would be a tie in base form, but the Impact does have accessories that allowed me to adjust it to me (stock, cheek, bipod rail). Hopefully, some new rings and will help my fitment to the Uragan.
- Tunability - Tie. I would have definitely said the Impact had I not received a perfected tuned rifle. It may take a little more work to open it up and get it right, but even my Impact didn't have a single digit ES. And it may be a good thing having to work a little harder to tune an Uragan. Having all those available knobs gets a lot of people in trouble! You have seen the posts here.
- Accuracy - TBD. Right out the gate, having two rifles tuned by very good tuners, they are both very accurate. I have much more time with the Impact, so it wouldn't be fair to give this to either. I have come close to outshooting my 22lr a couple of times with my Impact, and the 22lr was a winner. Both can be sub MOA at 50 in my quick test of the Uragan. I will get it out more soon to really compare. Until I shoot some of my 50 yard paper games for a good comparison, I couldn't say. Groups aren't a real comparison. The real test will be after 50.
- Mechanics - Impact. The side cocking lever is better on the Impact. The Uragan feels a little clunky, but not bad, just not as smooth. I personally like the trigger better on the Impact (at least for now, but maybe it is because I am much more familiar with it). I didn't like the Impact at first, as it is much different than my previous rifles, but it grew on me. I do not dislike the Uragan either. They are just different.
- Magazine - Impact. I only say that due to the number of pellets it holds. The Uragan is simpler and faster to load, but they are both easy to load.
- Cost - Huge win for the Uragan. Obviously it starts several hundred less than the Impact, and if the accuracy really is as good as it seems in my very limited test, and I can get comfortable with the setup, the Value will be even greater to me. I was able to use some of the proceeds to help buy another rifle. What is not to like about 1.3 rifles versus 1?
- Overall - Too early to tell. Come on guys!! The Uragan has been shot less maybe 100 rounds. But, I will say that the Uragan definitely looks like it might come out of this the winner if the accruacy can hold up in the wind. That is as much the pellet as it is the rifle, but that is part of what my particular comparison is about. I am moving calibers and rifles. Can I be as happy with the 22 Uragan as I was with the 30 Impact? We will find out!
I know it doesn't count if you don't have pictures, but I forgot to take pictures that day. I took my scope off, and sold it to buy several more scopes. Now I am waiting on my new scopes to arrive, so I can get back out there. I really wanted to wait until I had some new pics, but I couldn't wait to share any longer. I'll get some more pics up as I get to shoot it some more. There aren't many articles up on the Uragan, so I wanted to be sure to share. Thanks!
The second rifle obviously isn’t the Impact and I’ll review it later when I get a real scope.
Out of the FX stable my favourite has to be the crown. Hopefully they make a crown 2 with a bigger plenum etc. Anyways it was time for me to try something new and it's been great fun learning the uragan, at least in part because there isn't a huge database of information on it.
