When I clicked today's airgun update and saw the link to this rifle, my first thought was how much it resembled my beloved IZH-60 (now unobtainable for geopolitical reasons). It seems to have picked up many of the key features in slightly different forms, with improvements, potentially another perfect backyard plinker (to coin a phrase).
https://www.airgundepot.com/air-venturi-tr5-air-rifle.html
It is a China gun and still in pre-order, but I will follow this one with interest. Low (mid?) power, side-cocker, adjustable stock length, repeater (like the '61), similar open sights which were good. 5 lb. weight, nice. Perfect kid's gun, great for shooting off the porch.
I really wonder if the barrel is close to that of the IZH. Frankly, "plinker" doesn't do the Russian rifle justice, and is sort of a swipe at the mid-power rating. The IZH is amazingly accurate and while the shot cycle won't win awards, it is an overall pleasure to operate. I hope this new little Air Venturi holds up in the accuracy department, because at the same price point it has the potential to be the new value leader in this class.
It is also available in Kermit green, if you wish to match your AirMax grips (yeah, I have them).
Any real world reviews will be appreciated!
Dave,
I spotted this on Gaylord's blog from the SHOT show, and posted about it a while back.
https://airgunwarriors.com/community/airgun-talk/izh61-is-coming-back-sort-of/
Couldn't resist, and pre-ordered. Due in mid-March. We'll see!
Considering that's a springer, I think it's more similar to the 1970's or 80's vintage Gamo Air Shot Survival carbine that was also a spring-piston repeating carbine. That said, do not expect the gratifying level of easy accuracy from that gun as the IZH-60 was known for.
I had one of the little Air Shots. It was a neat little toy, but accuracy and power were nothing to brag about. Nevertheless, I once took out 7 pecan-raiding grackles with 11 shots from the little Survival carbine; mind you, at distances inside 25 yards.
I have a couple of those little survival rifles, .....unless I sold one.
I also have an IZH 60. The IZH is better made but the little El Gamo is really neat with the folding stock and 21 shot magazine.
I would love to see someone copy the El Gamo Survival Rifle but up it's power to about 600 fps.
David Enoch
I have a couple of those little survival rifles, .....unless I sold one.
I also have an IZH 60. The IZH is better made but the little El Gamo is really neat with the folding stock and 21 shot magazine.
I would love to see someone copy the El Gamo Survival Rifle but up it's power to about 600 fps.
David Enoch
David,
I found one of those Brazilian made (by Taurus) El Gamo Survival rifles nearly new in the box. Shot it for a while, and really liked it. As memory serves, I think I sold it to your brother. Really a nifty little package, and the tubular magazine and repeating breech worked flawlessly with wadcutter pellets. I still kinda miss that one. I currently have an El Gamo 68, complete with the fully functional tubular magazine, but the 68 lacks the scope grooves of the Survival. I was able to scope the Survival and maintain use of the magazine, with a pair of those cheap figure-8 scope mounts. A little off topic, but I really like those compact El Gamo guns. Well-built, a little low on power, but really fun to own and shoot.
BTW, It's great to hear from you guys about obscure low powered spring guns. Something I've missed lately on this forum. Keep it coming!
Hey, thanks all for the responses. I don't have the highest hopes but I guess we'll all find out together. These are the types of spring things I am shooting these days, only because there is naught left to prove in the high power/Olympic accuracy range of springers.
It's just fun to sit under the overhang and shoot at stuff with little effort, given the ceaseless rain.
I’m still considering one myself. I was going to jump in right away but held off. Got busy. Now I am back at the edge thinking about jumping in. I do have a slight hesitation... I hope it has decent accuracy. If it will shoot a dime @ 50’ I would consider it a success. My main thought is having it for my 6 year old son. He shoots a Slavia 618 and it’s pretty wore out and isn’t all that accurate. Sean has shot some of my nicer rifles and he hits what he aims at so the lack of accuracy in the Slavia is disappointing for him. He doesn’t have quite the OOoomph to operate many other spring guns by himself. I’m thinking maybe this TR5 could be the ticket for him? Still wondering....
