For some time, I had been thinking about getting into a high pressure air rifle. I was looking for something in .22 caliber, possibly for use on small game or anything else interesting. After looking around some, I came across the Umarex Origin. After a bunch of questions to Umarex, here we are with a great all around pcp air rifle. The Origin also comes in .25 caliber, if that’s your thing.

Umarex has been making air guns for some time. In fact, they have all different types and styles, from spring air style through Pre-Charged Pneumatic, or “PCP” as they are commonly referred to. The Origin is a PCP style air rifle with a few unique attributes. The most notable attribute is Umarex’s “Ever Pressure Tank” system. The EPT allows you to fire a shot without having to fully charge the high pressure air tank. One might ask “How do you charge the Origin?” In this case, it’s from a high pressure hand pump. Think bicycle style air pump, but for pcp air guns. The Umarex Origin can be purchased with or without the pump. I received the version with the pump. Without it, you would need a high pressure air tank to get filled at an industrial or scuba store. Because it takes around 140 pumps to completely fill the Origin’s air tank, this is where the EPT system comes into play. If you only need 1 shot, you only need to put around 13 pumps into the Origin’s tank. If you completely fill the Origin’s tank, you can expect around 30-40, usable, full pressure shots.

Even though the Origin is considered an entry level pcp air rifle, it is not. The Origin will do pretty much anything more expensive pcp rifles will do. For instance, it has a 1:19 twist rifled barrel that will shoot standard 22 caliber pellets, as well as 22 caliber slugs. The slugs are essentially a bullet and don’t have your normal pellet look to them. I did some experimentation and found that this particular Origin will fire up to, and including, 23 grain slugs with decent accuracy and velocity. More on that later. The Origin also has a built-in scope rail. This rail is unique in that it will accept 11mm dovetail mounts as well as standard picatinny/weaver mounts. A huge advantage of pcp air rifles is that any scope can be used. There is no need for a special air gun scope with a pcp rifle. Lastly, this not so entry level pcp has an adjustable trigger. You can adjust the trigger pull weight down to around 2.5lbs. It also has a “travel” adjustment, which is kind of like pre-travel. Then there is also an over-travel adjustment. Even with this adjustment, the trigger has more of an entry-level feel to it. It is not as crisp as I would have liked it to be. The Origin also comes with 2 ten round magazines.

Now that we have the general rundown of the Umarex Origin, let's get into it. The Origin is a side lever bolt action style, but only kind of. The cocking handle actually rotates out and back to cock the rifle. Pushing the charging back forward, loads one of the rounds from the magazine. When the magazine runs dry, the Origin won’t allow you to push the cocking handle forward, thus letting you know that it’s time to change magazines. The safety is behind the charging handle and is pretty self explanatory. The magazines worked well for me, though I do need to get 2 more of them, for a total of 4. The reason for more magazines is that I can get 40 full power shots out of a full air charge. The stock on the Origin is polymer and resembles a varmint style full length stock. I found the stock to be comfortable even though I don’t care for the semi-finger grooved pistol grip. The length of pull might be a tad long for some people. There are no sling studs or QD mounting points in the stock, so carrying it in the field might present a challenge. The complete rifle is fairly long also, at just over 43”. The air cylinder sits below the barrel and extends out to the end of it. It kind of gives the Origin an over/under shotgun look. The air fill port is on the bottom of the stock, just in front of the trigger. There’s a plastic dust cover that goes over it. The tab holding the cover from being lost, broke after about 5 uses. The dust cover still holds on, but no longer is attached when filling the tank.

The Origin performed far beyond my expectations. It is super accurate with the right velocities and pellet weights. I mounted up an Athlon Optics 2.5-15 and it is a phenomenal scope on the Origin. Part of the reason I chose the 22 caliber is the availability of pellets locally. The Crossman 14.3gr are everywhere. At full velocity, these can reach 1000 fps. Heavier H&N 21.14gr pellets average 950 fps. The Origin does have adjustable shot pressure so you can tune in velocities. I found accuracy improved if I backed this adjustment screw out 1 to 2 turns. These settings dropped the velocities about 50 fps, so not very much. Just like normal rifles, find the pellet or slug weight that works best for accuracy in your particular gun. I was getting under 0.5” groups at 25 yds with just about anything I put through the origin. With this accuracy, getting small game, like a rabbit, at 50 yds should be easy. My best group size was with 21.14gr H&N pellets. I shot a .258” 5 shot group with those. These shoot spectacularly out of the Origin. They also have a respectable velocity of 920 fps. The 21gr slugs also shot very well out of the Origin. They aren’t quite as accurate, but close. They have an average velocity of 880 fps. The slugs also have a way better ballistic coefficient. So much so that they are still going about 700 fps at 100 yds. For me, the 25gr and heavier slugs would keyhole at 25 yds, probably because of the barrel's slow twist rate. Because the Origin has little to no recoil, you can actually witness the pellet trace in the scope. PCP air rifles are not quiet, but they are hearing safe. The Origin is actually louder than I would have guessed, but it is not uncomfortably loud. It does have a built-in “moderator” which helps mitigate a little bit of the sound.

Filling the Origin with the included pump will help you burn some calories. The hand pump is easy to use, but requires a bit of actual strength to fill the Origin up completely. I actually had to put a bit of weight on the pump for the last 30-40 pumps. You are pumping up to 4500 psi in the Origin’s tank, so I get it. To attach the pump to the rifle, there is a little quick connect style fitting that you plug into the fill port. The Origin’s tank has a one way valve, so air in the tank won’t leak back out. I really wish the hose from the pump was longer, because you essentially have to lay the rifle on the ground next to the pump to fill it. The pump has a pressure relief screw on it. Take my word on it, release the pressure in the pump, with this screw, before removing the fill tube. Pressure will stay in the Origin’s tank almost indefinitely. So charge the rifle before you store it away. Then it will be ready to go when you want to use it.

If you are looking at getting into PCP air rifles, you can’t go wrong with the Umarex’s Origin kit with the pump. It has everything you need to get started and costs under $400. The Origin is a fantastic air rifle with great accuracy. I am thoroughly impressed by what Umarex has done with the Origin. I never expected to like the Origin so much. If you are into air rifle hunting, or just want to have fun at the range, definitely go take a look at the Umarex Origin.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Entry level PCP air rifle with non-entry level performance

Target Market:

New PCP air gunners

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Super Easy to Use .22 Caliber Multi-Pump PCP
Patented Pre-Pressurized Air Chamber Design
Shoots at Full Power with Fewer Pumps
120 Pumps Per Fill
40 Shots Per Fill
Develops a Full Power shot with 13 Pumps
Automatic Overpressure Air Release
3-stage, 4,500 PSI HPA Hand Pump and Fill Probe Included
(2) Auto-Indexing 10-Shot Rotary Magazines Included
Compact Side-Mounted Cocking Lever
Combination Picatinny and 11mm Dovetail Optics Mounting Rail
Two-Stage Adjustable Trigger
1,000 FPS with .22 Caliber Alloy Pellets
Barrel length - 23 inches
Overall length - 43.1 Inches
1:19 twist rifled barrel

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

No included air pump

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars at Umarex.com

Perfect first PCP

"Coming from a .177 brake barrel to the Origin .22 has been really satisfying! The gun is a pleasure to shoot and having a rotary magazine compared to using a break barrel is game changing. I did have trouble at first when I double fed the gun so don’t be an idiot like me can be very careful not to **** the gun twice and push two pellets into the barrel. I suggest purchasing an air gun cleaning kit with a rod to go with your new air rifle. I shoot in my backyard at 25 yds the accuracy is a huge step up from my Benjamin Vaporizer. Recoil is virtually nonexistent and with a suppressor on the muzzle the impact of the pellet seems louder than it leaving the barrel. Pumping the gun from empty to full takes about 120 pumps and I get three mags out of it (30 good shots) before I need to top off. Using the pump is fairly easy but I can tell I’ll want a tank or compressor soon. Overall I’m very happy with my Origin .22 it is exactly what it needs to be. "