Walther Rotex RM8 – one of the most affordable PCP air rifles around
Walther’s first bolt-action PCP stacks up – especially as its asking price makes it one of the most affordable PCP airguns on the market, says Colin Fallon
Walther Rotex RM8
Price as reviewed: £420
The Walther Rotex RM8 runs an eight-shot, rotary magazine made of CNC-machined aluminium. It’s driven by a side-bolt that automatically cocks and loads a pellet directly into the choked, 500mm Lothar Walther barrel. (Read this review of the Walther Rotex RM8 Varmint Ultra Compact.)
The bolt-action breech
Although it’s not supplied with open sights, there’s a generous, full-length dovetail (11mm) atop the breech, and while a scope adds to its 3.85kg, balance remains good in the shoulder.
Made by Italian stockmaker Minelli, the Walther Rotex RM8’s beech stock is ambidextrous with laser-cut chequer panels on the grip and all the way around the chunky, stylishly shaped fore stock. With an angular cheekpiece profiled on both sides to give a good scope/eye alignment, the butt features a reverse-cut belly that’s very akin to the livery of BSA’s 10-shot flagship R10.
There’s an integral manometer in the forestock
…and the supplied filler probe plugs in next to it
Buddy bottle air supply
Indeed, the Walther Rotex RM8 also sports a buddy-bottle air supply courtesy of a short and stubby, 200cc tank up front, which is filled to 232BAR (refilled at around 70BAR) via a plug-in probe that locates in the forestock, adjacent to the integral manometer.
At the business end, there appears to be a silencer but, in fact, it’s actually a well-executed, black-anodised muzzle weight (550 grams) which is grubscrewed to the barrel.
The latter is 1/2in UNF threaded, however, so a silencer can be fitted once the collar has been unscrewed. Our initial thoughts are that the report is such that the rifle can be comfortably shot without noise suppression.
The wide trigger offers let-off adjustment…
The trigger, though plastic (like the guard) offers let-off adjustment and is wide enough to provide good feel. Our example slipped away the shot quite cleanly and the blade falls nicely to your finger courtesy of a well-raked pistol grip.
well-raked pistol grip
The safety catch it’s backed up by is a manual affair. Located at the back of the cylinder and looking similar to Umarex’s 850 AirMagnum, its plastic construction features a centre lock that must be disengaged before being pushed ‘off’. It’s also resettable.
Removing the stock and looking inside, the Rotex RM8 looks a simple but well-engineered mix of alloys and brass, and we rather like the ‘fillet’ above the buddy bottle. Similar again to the BSA R10, this serves to marry wood and metal in a very neat manner.
Our overall impression is that of a very well thought-out rifle which is pleasing to the eye by way of familiar design elements.
The safety catch features a centre lock that must be disengaged before being pushed ‘off’
