Umarex .22 calibre 850 M2
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: Technical
Forum Name: Reviews
Forum Description: Rate your airgun or pellets here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=789
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 8:50pm
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Topic: Umarex .22 calibre 850 M2
Posted By: mercs
Subject: Umarex .22 calibre 850 M2
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2023 at 12:19pm
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Rifle comes with a few new features including clip on cheek riser, threaded barrel and accessory rails. Purchased for sub 12ft/lb target shooting. Powered by 88 gramme CO2 cartridge Comes with 1 magazine and extras are $70 each Initially a little difficult to latch bolt back and safety release is also tight, both improving with use. Pellet trials Sig venom ok JSB Jumbo RS very good RWS Super Field best group so selected this for further evaluation Crosman Premiere very good Gamo Match ok H&N Field Target Trophy very good Clip on Cheek riser fitted. Black rubber stock extension fitted (Pachmayr decelerator slip-on) transferred from my Hammerli 850.  Fitted up with ZeroTech 3-12 x40 scope.  5pm Cloudy and strong breeze from right POA was right hand number 6 firing 8 shot magazine Wanting to do better than .177 in wind so I was pleased but will have to have both rifles set up for true comparison.  4pm with just a gentle breeze and in the sunshine (full concentration). Bench rest using shooting bags. Now need to build on distance. 
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Replies:
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2023 at 2:55pm
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Rws is great grouping. Be interested in what distance it is still pushing 5fpe at, and if its over 43.74yards (40m) what it groups like at 30m (32.81yrd)and 40m (43.74yrd) If you have a interest in pushing it a bit further. (hunting practicality testing) just curiosity on my behalf. Great shooting by you at 20yards for sure. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2023 at 3:05pm
| Let us know how many shots per 88grm bottle too. |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 09 May 2023 at 2:51pm
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Shots per CO2 bottle, count was over 130 when I changed the bottle as it started to drop off however it must have been cooler weather as quite some CO2 remained to be discharged. Stated count is 150 pellets and no reason to doubt that in the summer. Struggling to get consistency out at 25 yards and beyond with the RWS or JSB. Mechanism seems to be more affected by cooling effect after multiple shoots than previously experienced. I tend to buy up CO2 bottles in winter for summer use so perhaps I am expecting a bit much for this time of year. Working with Crosman Premiere pellets currently. I remain hopeful of using this rifle at outdoor 30 metre sub 12 ft/lb club competition but currently I would be better with my .177 Hammerli 850.
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Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 17 May 2023 at 3:51pm
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30 metres bench rest off shooting bags to hopefully tighten up on results to no avail. Struggling in cooler outdoor conditions and my .177 definitely out performs the .22. Will persevere and perhaps need to try some heavier or different head size pellets. 30 metres .22 Umarex 850 with Sig Venom pellets and Zero Tech scope. 77mm OD  30 metres .177 Hammerli with RWS Super Field pellets and Tasco scope. 33mm OD  |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2023 at 3:33pm
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Hi Mercs, Are those big 88gr canisters re-fillable? Pete. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2023 at 2:08pm
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No, they are one time use, so at $30 each are convenient but not very economical options. There are adaptors designed for refillable paintball type bottles. Umarex make a 2 x 12 gramme cartridge adaptor which I would definitely use if available in NZ. The 12 gramme are more often on special for larger orders and the device actually seals allowing it to be removed from rifle and refitted when charged with gas.  |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2023 at 10:00am
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8 months with the M2 with mixed results, it has never became the reliable target rifle at 25 yards as hoped. I get good results at 15 - 20 yards but cannot turn that into a credible score at club distances. Being sub 10 ft/lbs the .22 version just does not perform like the Hammerli .177 850. The same CO2 power applied to the cross section of .22 calibre is potentially more effective but clearly loses out at a distance. Following a careful barrel clean using BoreTech products, this eight shot spread through the chronograph still had disappointing fps on shot 1 and 6 which would have let me down at the targets. I was careful to space the shots out to avoid any chilling effect from the CO2.
M2 has been dressed up with a side focus ZeroTech 3-12x40 and as long as I stay within 20 yards I get decent results. H&N FTT 14.66 grain with a 5.54 head size. Good result but pellets are quite tight when loading.  |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2023 at 3:18am
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Interesting. Did you notice poi change with shot 1 and 6? It's not a big change in speed. Have you opened the gun up to check the hammer or valve system? A slightly sticky hammer from a rough factory edge can certainly have a bearing on pellet speed, especially with the lower velocity for .22.
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Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2023 at 2:45pm
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Test were through the Chronograph to ground so no POI reference. I have not disturbed anything as still under warranty. Loading mechanism, safety and I suspect valve, operation were very firm when new but has freed up with use. Very difficult to get through a magazine of eight pellets without at least one abnormal flight. Good point, I will have the unit serviced and valve checked before warranty ends in April. cheers
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Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 5:48am
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Unit sent for inspection under warranty and nothing untoward identified. They returned it with sample 18 metre groupings in line with what I produce. With the warranty out of the way I will now do some work on lifting the 8ft/lb power output closer to 10ft/lb. I have enjoyed many a summer evening plinking and getting very good results out to 28 yards with the reflex sight from standing position. Recently changed to JSB 13.73 grain wadcutters which appear to be performing well so i will also measure energy and group size at 20 and 25. Umarex dressed up with Stealth Reflex sight which needed a dovetail to Picatinny adaptor. The extra height works well if I am walking about and making a relatively fast acquisition with the red dot. The M2 came with a cheek riser which also helps in this configuration.  The fitted Picatinny rail with Accu-Tech QD bipod. Not really better than a sandbag or fencepost but brings this in line with the .177 Hammerli.  Initial 13yard group after sight-in. 0.62 inch OD so falls short of its .177 companion.  |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 5:51am
| Oooooo nice. I've always wanted to tinker with one of these. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 5:52am
| They always look like they need an oversize suppressor on the front haha |
Posted By: Andy-A
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 10:00am
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I owned one of these a few years back, nice rifle. I like this guys YT vids, and and did the mod he suggested in the video, it did make a difference uploads/585/ham11.jpg" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_yoiYmnuQA Sorry for the big pics, had a bit of a wrestling match to get them on..     |
Posted By: Andy-A
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 10:34am
I don't know if you've had it apart yet, but just passing on some info, from memory, don't pull the cocking leaver (I think) back too far, it has the smallest spring in the world, holding the smallest ball bearing in the world, which will launch itself into oblivion, given half the chance, I had to send off to UK for replacements and ended up using one of those food dome nets to capture it when refitting the bits :-)  |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 11:32am
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i appreciate the advice and great pics, same mod done apart from blue plastic pen was sacrificed for spacer. Rifle, assembled and back out this afternoon, shot some nice targets and plinking out at 26 yards definitely hitting harder well worth the time. Nice one Andy.
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Posted By: Andy-A
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 11:51am
| Good to know ... |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 2:55pm
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This was rather pleasing. 5mm spacer placed behind hammer spring. 11.5ft/lb Definitely improves options for pest control. 25 yards, warm and calm evening. Bench rest using shooting bag. .22 JSB Wadcutters, Stealth reflex sight, 150mm target Reticle dot and ring with horizontal and vertical lines which aligned perfectly with the target outside diameter. 5 shot Group OD <1"  |
Posted By: Andy-A
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2024 at 3:07pm
A happy bunny  , well perhaps not a bunny, they're in for it  FYI I flicked you a message, re coms I had with Umarex techs in Germany |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 05 May 2024 at 2:39pm
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As Billbobnz suggested needed a decent size suppressor like Andy-A's. I am also using the JSB Exact 14.3 grain which I note were in Andy-A's pictures.
With the suppressor and bipod brings mine in-ine with the Empire kit sold in the UK.  Newly arrived CO2 adaptor lets me use 2x12 gramme capsules when plinking at home. Adaptor can be removed pressurised, so I can make the rifle completely safe without venting CO2.  |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2025 at 10:12am
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Summer conditions test of M2 CO2 usage with Walther 12 gramme cartridge adaptor ($200) 60 shots without any discernible change in performance. I was surprised at the high shot count so immediately repeated the test with same result. Warm afternoon at 23 degrees Celcius. These were my preferred genuine Crosman capsules at $2.50 each. Prices range from $2 - $3 and bulk purchase can reduce costs. Walther adapter with US 1 cent coin between the capsules ensures an effective pierce of both ends.  Adaptor is valved so can be pressurised and then safely inserted or removed from rifle.  |
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2025 at 10:30am
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Accuracy follow up. I continued to have "fliers" despite numerous changes to the rifle, pellets and technique. Not using the bipod mounted on fore-stock picatinny rail was last piece of puzzle to prevent “fliers”. Any forward pressure from bipod transfers to the barrel. I have checked the barrel fit and mechanism and there is nothing loose so I believe the barrel deflects. I do not notice this with my almost identical Hammerli .177 which has a bipod retro fitted. There will be a difference in barrel cross section and subsequent strength. Hammerli Barrel OD 15.1mm ID 4.5mm Umarex Barrel OD 14.9mm ID 5.5mm The OD difference was unexpected. Invites a future comparison strength test with some weights and dial gauges.
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