The BSA Ultra CLX is a refined evolution of a British favourite, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern engineering.
Launched at this year’s Great British Shooting Show, the BRK Ranger XR2 is another one of those rifles that falls firmly into the “want to own” category as soon as you start shooting with it. What’s more, there are four variations of the new XR2 – the Ranger Compact, Ranger Lite, Ranger Recon and, on test here, the Ranger Tactical – so there genuinely is something for everyone in the new lineup.
The build quality across the range is excellent, and this Tactical model feels especially solid thanks to its aluminium rear section. That extra mass gives it a nice neutral balance compared with the lighter-butt versions.
BRK has also revised the forend, extending the underside Picatinny rail to provide more room for accessories. Lightening cut-outs along the sides help keep weight under control, although the aluminium construction means it still feels reassuringly robust – there’s no plastic flex here.
As you would expect, a rifle of this quality requires the very best regulator, and as with its other PCP rifles, BRK has installed a HUMA unit that is linked to a floating hammer system. There is also a variable-power dial on the right-hand side of the action, which allows you to dial the power down – handy for shooting at close quarters in your back garden or within the confines of a small barn when ratting and suchlike.
Charge to the recommended 250 bar and shoot it down until the regulator drops off at around 100 bar. No fuss, no drama. This regulator also comes into its own in the FAC versions, which are available in .177 (18ft/lb), .22 (27ft/lb) and .25 (30ft/lb).
Being on the taller side, I found the adjustable length of pull and trigger-blade position truly useful rather than merely nice to have. Once set up, the rifle shoulders naturally and stays put on target with ease.
I really liked the pistol grip on this Tactical model, being more akin to an AK style rather than an AR pattern. The flatter profile of the AK grip allows the action to sit slightly higher, resulting in a shallower overall layout.
As far as the barrel is concerned, it’s a classic 17in Lothar Walther, and for those who shoot FAC there is also a longer slug barrel option for the higher power models. This rifle also comes fitted with a split Picatinny scope rail up top in addition to the long, single one underneath.
If you like a sidelever on your rifle, you’re really going to love this one. It has been ergonomically designed and employs a relatively short stroke that requires minimal effort to cock the rifle. It features a machined aluminium drop-down handle, which sits really well between your thumb and forefinger when cocking.
I particularly liked the way it has been drilled out to reduce weight and add some grip for security of operation in wet weather, which, incidentally, just happened to be the conditions during my first hunting session with the rifle.
BRK’s self-indexing magazines are also superb. You get 11 shots in .22 and 13 shots in .177. They are the flip-up cover version and extremely easy to load – turn the inner of the magazine all the way clockwise and drop a pellet in to hold it in place, then fill the remaining holes with pellets, flip the lid back over and you’re done. The magazine inserts from right to left, and it’s a magnetic one that clicks into place and stays there. The rifle also comes supplied with a single shot tray.
When it comes time to fill the 150cc bottle, the Ranger XR2 uses BRK’s quick-fill probe. The fill port is cleverly housed underneath the main body of the rifle, under a magnetic fill port cap that simply pulls off.
The XR2 features BRK’s classic two-stage adjustable trigger unit, plus a manual safety “switch” housed inside the trigger-guard immediately in front of the gently curved, flat trigger-blade. The .177 rifle sent for testing had been set up with a reasonably short first stage, which came to an abrupt halt as it reached the second stage, which then took very little effort to pull.
It’s clean, crisp and easy to get used to – as you would expect from a BRK unit. The safety catch sits at the front of the trigger-guard (left for fire, right for safe) and is simple to operate.
This was another one of those rifles that I really struggled to put down. It really is such a joy to shoot. This Tactical model is a “one size fits all” rifle, with a wide range of adjustments for all body sizes. I also found that it handles extremely well.
The .177 test rifle produced roughly 5fps difference between each step on the 13-point power adjuster, topping out at around 11.6ft/lb and averaging 785fps. Shot count was in the region of 130 per fill, and with careful air management you could probably squeeze out a few more.
Accuracy is exactly what you’d expect from a BRK Brocock rifle – it’s pinpoint. Once I had found the right pellet, my groups were happily stacking through the same hole out to 30m, with the smallest deviation out to 40m – the maximum distance available during testing. I’m in no doubt it would perform at this same level further out in more capable hands.
What started life as a competition pistol project has evolved into a genuinely versatile compact rifle platform. The new Ranger XR2 lineup shows BRK is listening to its customers and responding with a range that actually makes sense. The Tactical tested here is perhaps the most adaptable of the lot. It is equally at home on the bench or in the field, and backed up by the accuracy and build quality we’ve come to expect from the brand. For anyone who liked the original Ranger but wanted a bit more flexibility, this latest generation might just be the sweet spot. I really have given this rifle a proper thrashing during the short time that I have had it and have enjoyed every second.
The BSA Ultra CLX is a refined evolution of a British favourite, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern engineering.
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