Unusually, we have spread our review of the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle over several posts. This is because the HAM Team believes that this is a game-changing product that will revolutionize the entry level PCP market.
In this post, we’ll summarize our views on the Origin. For additional details, please check-out these previous HAM posts.
First Look
Pumping and Shot Count
Single Shot Tray
Shooting the Origin
Differences from the Air Venturi Avenger
VALUE FOR MONEY
First off, it’s clear that the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle is a clear HAM Gold Award winner! This is because it offers outstanding value for money.
For the MSRP of $349.99, you you receive a 10-shot, shrouded, sidelever PCP air rifle, together with a dedicated HPA hand pump. In price/performance/features terms, it’s the clear market leader at the present time.
All you need to add is a scope and some pellets. This makes it the ideal first PCP air rifle for a newcomer to airgunning, or a previous breakbarrel user.
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Umarex Origin PCP Air Rifle with Hand Pump 0.22![]()
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Umarex Origin PCP Combo
SPEED AND ACCURACY
The Umarex Origin PCP air rifle tested by HAM delivered 60 shots at an average of 28.31 Ft/Lbs. That’s an average of 944 FPS – don’t forget this is a .22 caliber-only air rifle.
Accuracy testing showed the Origin’s ability to group 10 shots inside a Quarter at 25 Yards, straight out of the box. These results were produced using a Leapers Bugbuster scope and JSB Jumbo 15.89 Grain pellets. That’s certainly very acceptable for the gun’s intended target market.
The Origin’s a shooter!
TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT
The Umarex Origin PCP air rifle tested by HAM had an average trigger pull weight of 2 Lb 5 Oz. Out-of-the-box, the trigger was not exactly in the “glass break” class. However, it was perfectly serviceable and very acceptable at the price point.
Knowledgeable owners will likely make use of the trigger adjustment screws to fine-tune the trigger pull length, pull weight and overtravel. These adjustments are accessible from underneath the gun using Allen wrenches.
The manual safety is simple to use, easy to access and effective.
The Origin’s sidelever action is easy to operate and a definite step forward from the bolt actions that are typically fitted to most air rifles in this price range. (Note that we added O rings to the test gun’s sidelever. This made it even easier to operate).
Compared to the sidelever actions on high end air rifles, it feels rather “muddy” in operation. However I admit that it’s definitely not fair to make comparison to the action on $1,000 PCPs!
The real comparison is that it’s waaaaay ahead of the bolt action you’d expect to find on other PCPs at this price range for smoothness and ease-of-use.
COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS
Umarex claims that the Origin includes patented technology that reduces the number of pumps required to fill the tank gun’s HPA tank to full pressure. This is definitely true. The Origin is very easy to fill with a hand pump.
Indeed, I was able to fill to the maximum 3,625 PSI fill pressure without very much difficulty. That’s amazing!
Umarex claims a maximum Muzzle Velocity of 1,100 FPS for the Origin using alloy pellets. We recorded 1,090 FPS using 9.7 Grain Gamo Raptor Platinum lead free pellets. So that’s right on the money!
There was only only area where we could not agree with the company’s claims for the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle. This was the claim that a full power shot is available after 13 pumps.
13 strokes of the hand pump produced about 1,450 PSI. (We tried it three times). That gave us an average of 885 FPS using the same Crosman 14.3 Grain pellets we used for the comprehensive shootdown test . The average of that shootdown test was 944 FPS over 60 shots.
So 13 pumps clearly gives a good power level. However, it is somewhat less than the “full power” claim – at least with the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle tested by HAM.
CONSISTENCY
As we saw when looking at the FPS figures, the Origin gives a remarkably consistent shot curve for an un-regulated PCP air rifle. This is a great practical benefit for anyone shooting this gun.
NOISE LEVEL
Thanks to the built-in barrel shroud, the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle has a much-tamed report. While not the quietest air rifle HAM has ever tested, it definitely qualifies as “backyard friendly”.
However, there was one aspect to shooting the Origin that I did not like. That’s the high-pitched “twang” that accompanies the shots.
This “twang” seems relatively insignificant at high fill pressures, however it increases markedly in volume as the pressure falls. This became particularly obvious during the shootdown tests.
My guess is that the twang is an artifact of the Ever Pressure Tank System that gives such benefits in filling the Origin. So, it’s probably inherent in the design. With regular use, you’ll probably not notice – or at least accept – it.
While I don’t like this twang, I’ll take it for the benefits the Origin offers in ease-of-filling.
SIGHTS AND SCOPE
Not much to say here. The Origin has provision for Picatinny scope mounting. Unlike spring/piston air rifles, any scope can be used as the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle has just about no recoil.
We mounted a Leapers UTG Bugbuster 3-12 x 32 Bugbuster scope for HAM testing. The combination worked well…
SHOOTABILITY
I found the Umarex Origin to be well-balanced in the hand and comfortable to shoot. I was able to get a decent cheek weld against the stock’s raised comb. In itself, that’s an important contributor to practical accuracy in the field.
With the Leapers UTG Bugbuster scope mounted, the test gun weighed-in at just 7 Lbs 6 Oz. So it’s light too!
The Umarex Gauntlet-style magazines are easy to load. They also block the gun firing when the mag is empty.
Yes, it’s possible to double-feed the Origin if you’re not paying attention. But that’s true with the overwhelming majority of PCP air rifles and so should not be counted as a strike against the Origin.
APPEARANCE AND FINISH
Personally, I liked the appearance of the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle! The design is harmonious and streamlined – in my opinion.
The finish of both metal and synthetic parts is good. The plastic moldings are crisp and sharp.
The only downside I could see was the pronounced mold lines along the top and bottom of the stock. But this is really “par for the course” at this price level.
BUYING AND OWNING
A huge benefit to the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle is the fact that gun and pump are bundled together in one package. This makes it easy to buy. There’s none of the perceived complexities that can often deter customers from buying – and dealers from selling – PCP airguns.
The value of this bundled packaging should not be underestimated! This makes it much more likely that the Origin will be the first PCP air rifle to become really widely available in big box sporting goods stores.
The airgun itself has a 3-year warranty. But note that the bundled hand pump warranty is for 12-months. However, there’s a set of spare parts, tools and instructions that encourage “handy” owners to repair the pump themselves in the event of malfunction.
Another benefit offered by the Origin is the easy degassing capability. But owners will need to be careful here and read the Owner’s manual carefully.
Usually, degassing releases all the air from a PCP airgun and makes it safe for transport or maintenance. However, this is NOT exactly the case with the Origin! Degassing the Origin only removes air pressure from the air cylinder so that no air can be released from the valve.
Below. The degassing screw is directly in front of the HPA fill port.
It’s important to understand that degassing the gun DOES NOT release pressure in the Origin’s unique Ever Pressure Tank System.
Because special tools and procedures are required to safely disassemble the Ever Pressure reservoir, Umarex USA is adamant that no-one except their own trained gunsmiths should make repairs to the Origin’s Ever Pressure system.
They’re not joking on this. The result could be serious injury or even death!
So the significant pre-charged air pressure in the Ever Pressure system means that the Umarex Origin PCP air rifle must be returned to the Umarex USA Fort Smith, AR facility for any repairs to the compressed air reservoir. Again, for full details, RTFM!
Some DIY-capable owners are sure to find this a downside to the Origin – particularly since it’s bundled with a hand pump that Umarex explicitly encourages you to repair! However, in reality, it would only be an issue in the unlikely event that there’s a problem with the gun.
In fact, most owners do not do their own airgun repairs so this will likely not be a deal-breaker for many first-time PCP buyers.
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Umarex Origin PCP Air Rifle with Hand Pump 0.22![]()
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Umarex Origin PCP Combo
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