Over the past year, I’ve fully embraced the latest advancements in airgun technology, trying to merge my traditional shooting style with modern innovations. However, this journey has been intense, involving thermal hardware, rifles that communicate with me, and multi-platform optics. As a result, I find myself in need of a shooting detox—something simple and fun to remind me why I love shooting in the first place. Enter the Accumax S1, a distinctly styled and uncomplicated rifle that promises to deliver just that.

Unboxing the Accumax S1

I received the Accumax S1 from its importer, A.S.I., and I specifically requested it without a scope, technical notes, or any pretest information. I wanted a pure experience to evaluate the rifle for myself, especially given its low price of £150. The reputation surrounding the Accumax S1 suggested it was remarkably well-designed, so I was eager to see if it lived up to the hype.

A Simple Yet Clever Design

The Accumax S1 features a black synthetic stock with a contemporary design that breaks away from traditional sporting lines. Despite its modern aesthetics, the rifle is ergonomic and functional. The angles of the synthetic cocking aid, fore end tips, grip panels, and cheekpiece align seamlessly, showcasing what I’ve come to understand as "clever simplicity."

Basic Mechanics

This rifle is a single-shot, breakbarrel springer, equipped with fibre-optic enhanced open sights and dovetails for scope mounting. It generates over 11 ft.lbs. of muzzle energy (11.3 ft.lbs. in the .22 calibre test rifle). The trigger is a two-stage, non-adjustable model accompanied by an automatic safety catch. Cocking the rifle requires moderate effort—easily manageable, as I demonstrated by asking a 10-year-old girl to do it with little trouble.

Recoil is surprisingly gentle for such a lightweight rifle, with minimal reverberation upon firing. Instead of the typical twang, it produces a metallic ‘thud’ and a slight lift from the muzzle. Notably, there’s no torque, so the rifle maintains linearity during discharge.

Loading Made Easy

Cocking the rifle reveals a crowned breech, which simplifies the seating of pellets, making it more efficient than pushing them into a sharp-edged barrel breech. This thoughtful design detail aids in achieving consistent pellet launches by ensuring uniform pressure as the piston forces air through the transfer port.

Real-World Testing

My plan to avoid scopes and maintain a basic accuracy evaluation held strong as I tested the Accumax S1 in a casual shooting session at a friend’s construction site. I returned to my roots, shooting at various fun targets like cans and containers. Initially allocated a half-hour, I ended up shooting for over an hour, thoroughly enjoying the experience. The glowing open sights were highly effective, allowing for precision even at short-to-medium ranges.

Stock Design

The stock’s design proved perfect for training with springer rifles. Its contoured grip allows for minimal muscle tension, promoting the correct resting technique crucial for consistent accuracy. Although the cheekpiece height is more suited to open sights than a scope, adding a layer of self-adhesive neoprene could easily solve this alignment issue.

The Trigger: A Mixed Bag

The Accumax S1 features a non-adjustable, faux two-stage trigger. While it performs well for casual shooting at close ranges, it limits the rifle’s ultimate accuracy potential. Despite this drawback, I managed to achieve sub-20mm groups at 30 yards and around 25mm at 40 yards when using a scope. With some modifications, such as sear honing, the trigger can be significantly improved, making the rifle a viable hunting option.

Final Verdict

Considering the performance and affordability of the Accumax S1, it’s challenging to find a better-value rifle on the market. I had a fantastic time shooting with this surprisingly effective lightweight break-barrel rifle, which kept me smiling throughout the session. For just £150, it’s incredible how much Accumax has packed into this rifle.

Tech Specs:

  • Name: Accumax S1
  • Manufacturer: Accumax
  • Country of Origin: Turkey
  • Type: Ambidextrous, spring-piston, breakbarrel sporter
  • Calibre: .177, .22
  • Cocking/Loading: Break-barrel
  • Pellet Loading: Manual, direct to barrel
  • Trigger: Non-adjustable, 2-stage, with resettable automatic safety
  • Stock Type: Ambidextrous synthetic (also available in wood-effect and camo)
  • Weight: 2.6kg (5.8lbs) (rifle only)
  • Length: 44 in. (1,117mm)
  • Barrel: 432mm (17 in)
  • Muzzle Energy: 11.3 ft.lbs.
  • Importer: A.S.I.
  • Price: £150