Beeman Air Rifle RX 2 Air Rifle

       So how do you describe the most powerful barrel cocking air rifle in the Beeman catalog? It's a bit of an enigma. Large, muscular, graceful and concealing a very different power plant; this air rifle makes me think of a R9 that skipped finishing school and went for a gym membership. Not that the Beeman RX2 doesn't have any manners, it's just more practical about them. Also it's not without subtitles. What's not subtle is its performance.

     In fact of all the Beeman Air rifles I think this one is the best dressed. The metal to wood fit is close to amazing and attention to detail is evident. See the picture looking down on the breech block. Observe the built up laminations that fill the space between the action and the contour of the forearm. Very nicely done. Like the stock the metal finish is also first class. All visible metal surfaces are cleanly machined and aside of the trigger and trigger guard are treated to a nice deep blue. When you pick up the RX2 you know your holding something substantial.
 

   A button on the right side is depressed to fire. a trigger like lever at the very front of the guard is depressed to reset the safety. It makes an audible click which might not be so great while hunting but its action whether fire or safe is very positive.

    A visible and tactile safety off indicator is located on the right side of the trigger guard. As good as the safety is the trigger is not the famous refined Rekord unit as found on other top quality Beeman air rifles.

     The big story on this air rifle is what is living in the power house. On the left side of the breech block is a stamped word. THEOBEN. This is the only visible clue to the gas ram air spring installed inside.

     Theoben is an English company nearly synonymous with this technology. A gas ram looks like an automotive shock absorber with the energy to propel a pellet stored in a captive volume of air. When the rifle is cocked a relatively large volume of air is compressed in the ram. When the trigger is pulled the captive compressed air in the ram is allowed to expand sending the piston forward compressing a different and smaller volume of air inside the compression tube. This forces the pellet down the barrel. This air rifle has no conventional main spring and none of the problems that are associated with very powerful spring piston air rifles. The other clue is the pronounced “Thrack” produced when the action is triggered. Interesting how much faster the air ram releases it's energy than a conventional spring.
 

This fast “lock” time doesn't make the pellet fly any faster but it does speed up the firing cycle which acts in the benefit of accuracy. It also makes for the hardest recoiling air gun I've ever shot.

The recoil really is still very minor compared with most centerfire rifles and I even found it pleasant reminder of how powerful this air rifle really is. Last words about the action are related to cocking. It takes nearly 50 lb. of force to cock the RX2, it's very smooth and the lockup is very positive.

  
   I used a Bushnell 4x12x40 AO: Matte Finish Banner Dusk & Dawn® Riflescopes feature Dusk & Dawn Brightness™ (DDB) multi-coated lenses for clarity in low and full light, so you can get the most out of your hunting day. A fast-focus eyepiece and wide-angle field of view let you focus on and follow game easily.

     On Beeman 5040 one piece mounts/rings for precision work. The one-piece construction affords the greatest area of grip, and the four screws along the side give even clamping pressure for a sure hold. The recoil pin is invaluable for use on the piston airguns to prevent scope creep