The Beeman Commander is a new PCP air rifle that’s becoming available now. In fact, HAM readers saw a prototype version of the Commander in our report from the 2019 SHOT Show. There it appeared as the “Model 1517”, obviously before the name was decided.
Compared to the SHOT Show prototype, the production models of the Beeman Commander maintain the same basic configuration, but with a couple of small changes.
This is an unregulated, magazine-fed PCP air rifle which uses Beeman’s own 10-shot magazine. It’s available in .177 and .22 calibers. The stock is of ambidextrous thumbhole configuration.
An excellent safety feature – in the HAM Team’s opinion – is the provision of a pressure gauge in the underside of the stock. This prevents the need to “look down the barrel” to check HPA pressure, as is common on many PCPs – and not only value-priced ones either…
Changes compared to the SHOT Show prototype are the addition of iron sights. The barrel band has been moved back to give a longer sight radius, for this reason. Although this causes the Commander to look superficially like the Diana Stormrider, these are – in fact – completely different designs.
(There’s no similarity to the Brocock Commander PCP air rifle either, except for the name).
Also present on production models is a small silencer assembly around the muzzle end of the barrel. The SHOT Show gun had what looked more like a muzzle brake.
The Beeman Commander is bundled with a 4 x 32 scope and rings. These were not present on the prototype, however Beeman documentation available at the SHOT Show indicated that would be included in the configuration.
This Commander has a claimed maximum Muzzle Velocity of 1,100 FPS in .177 caliber and 1,000 FPS in .22 cal. HAM has not tested this gun, however we would expect these figures to be attainable with light lead pellets. Previous HAM testing of Chinese-manufactured (like this one) Beeman air rifles has always closely-matched the FPS specs.
The manufacturers claim up to 100 shots per fill in .177 caliber and 80 shots per fill in .22 cal. This may also be true, however as the Commander is unregulated, there is no way these can be “consistent” shots. Considerable changes in FPS should be expected, similar to that of the Beeman Chief air rifle tested by HAM previously.
The Street Price is $219.99.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Beeman Commander PCP Air Rifle Combo 0.22![]()
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