https://www.umarexusa.com/Umarex-NXG-APX
The top rail on the APX can be used for a scope (which comes with the APX). With the fun of BBs, and the skills needed to use pellets and a scope, this gun is a fun teaching tool.
Every kid needs a BB gun. I’m often asked how old they need to be before they should get one, and which one to get. My answers are almost always delivered with a long list of qualifications. Some six year olds are ready. Some 14 year olds need one-on-one adult supervision. It just depends on the maturity of the kid. Regardless, they need something they can work with, and the Umarex NXG APX is a rock solid air rifle for those who are ready to step up their shooting skills.
The APX is a familiar pattern. This gun will compete well with the pump rifles from Daisy and Crosman, but this one has a couple of features that will set it apart. Like the competition, the APX shoots BBs and pellets. Hand loading the latter one at a time can get old, but only for those of used to sticking magazines into our ARs. For a certain type of new shooter, one who appreciates the speed generated by the compressed air behind an alloy pellet, the effort required will be half of the fun.
The Umarex NXG APX, with an MSRP of $81.14, would make a great stocking stuffer. Get a long stocking.
One unique feature of the APX is its safety system. When you work the pump, the safety is engaged. This automatic safety has to be disengaged before shooting, though it can be reengaged at any point. Simply stick your finger into the trigger guard and push it forward and the APX is ready to go. This helps prevent you from shooting your eye out (though safety glasses come with the gun).
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The safety comes on every time the pump is actuated. A finger in the trigger guard pushes it to the fire position.
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The safety in the ready-to-shoot position can still be thumbed back to safe.
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The gun is light, compact, and reasonably accurate. We shot it with BBs, lead pellets and alloy pellets. The box advertises speeds of up to 800 feet per second, and that’s with the alloy pellets. The lead pellets shoot well, and carry a bit more weight behind them, but they are slower. I was frustrated by the BBs. The pellets flew straight and true, and were easily aimed. The BBs though, arced out and broke like a curve ball close to 25 yards away from the muzzle. The odd thing is, they did so reliably, which meant you could compensate easily enough. Under 25 yards, their path was more true. The BBs are fun and easy to load and shoot. The pellets are more accurate. Two in one.
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The clays lined up on the bank were easy to clip with the pellets, but they simply punched holes in them which are hard to see from 25 yards.
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The pump’s lever is long, which makes pumping is easy.
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If I were looking for a holiday gift for someone who might be ready to graduate from their lever-action BB gun, this would be it. The gun works exceptionally well. It is light enough for smaller shooters. The 800 FPS reading is possible, making this a viable option for keeping squirrels off bird feeders–permanently, and it still has that cool factor with its angular design that makes it appealing to whipper-snappers.
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The alloy pellets are supposed to hit 800 FPS. The heavier lead pellets move well, too.
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At five pumps, the heavier lead 7.0 grain RWS Diabolo Basic pellets were slower.
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I never did get super tight groups with the APX, but the gun is accurate enough for back yard plinking. These shots are from 25 yards with the Diabolo pellets and iron sights.
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Pellets have come a long way since I was a kid. These wad cutters fly fast.
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The front sight glows in full sun, but isn’t obnoxiously bright.
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The rear sight is adjustable for elevation, which allows shooters to fine tune their sight picture–important for those learning more complicated skills.
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The BBs feed from the left and feed easily. It will hold 75 BBs.
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The gun is large enough for adults to use with ease.
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The design of the stock cuts weight and adds stability.
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At 25 yards, irons work well enough.
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The APX is polymer, which allows for ample branding.
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The box makes some big claims. We didn’t get the pellets to 800 fps, but did get several close–averaging 770 from 10 pumps.
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The 4×15 that comes with the APX is a good introduction to scopes.
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Check out the Winchester AR clone. bb or pellets, powered by two co2 cartridges. Mine is poserful and accurate and is the spitting image of M4 black rifle.