Lovely rifle which has had rather a cult following for many, many years. The addition of the Walther barrel is brilliant. However, SMK is looked down with derision by gun snobs and antiChinese rifle shooters in general. Rather surprising as so many 'class' guns are now Chinese made. I have eight rifles in my collection, four of them CO2 rifles converted to regulated HPA and they will stay with me to my dying day. My S400, Theoben Evo, and one of my Ultras were all passed on but my Chinese rifles remain. Why? Built like a brick sh!thouse, accurate, totally reliable and FAR MORE FUN than any other rifles I have ever owned. Tuned and converted to air these cheap little bolt action rifles simply bring the biggest smile to your face. When the guy next to you with his Steyr 100 asks what the hell you are shooting as the 50 yard spinner at the club just hasn't stopped spinning. When told it was a £100 Chinese CO2 converted to air he simply stood up, cased his £1200 Steyr (retirement present to himself), shook his head and muttered 'the shop told me nothing could match this' and trudged off. To be fair he was a returning shooter and probably rusty but the point remains...he didn't need to spend £1200 to get reliable accuracy and I do wish gun shops would recognise that a returning shooter just does not need to spend that sort of money. A 2nd hand S400/410 or similar would have been perfectly adequate. He took the gun back, taking a considerable handling loss and returned much happier with a 2nd hand Daystate MK2. He still couldn't hit the 50 yd spinner consistently but he's getting there.
Good review on a budget underlever. I can live with the safety. The good looking stock, German barrell and good handling outweigh the wonky safety. Also impressed with the fps readings. Scott in USA
Great review Andy, I'm working my way through your channel and have to say how much I'm enjoying it. I have one of SMK's earlier Underlevers in .22 that must be 15 years old and it's absolutely faultless, rock solid and the perfect back up to my pcp. Keep up the great work bud and best wishes
I own the US Browning version of this rifle. The pallet of choice is RWS Super Dome. I am hitting spray can nozzles and 50 yards with a very loose Artillery hold. It took almost 1000 shots with RWS misterklugin wad cutters to break it in. I’m not sure if I’m spelling that correctly. I didn’t know that it was used in a Walther barrel now I know why it’s so accurate. Thank you
Hi Gene, That's great to hear mate the XS38 is a wonderful bit of kit. I never knew they were also sold as Browning's I'll have to take a look. Thanks mate.
Cheers Dan, just ordered an ex display xs38 in .22. Hope it’s in good shape and turns out to be as good as you say. Im sure it will be as your review of the Cometa 300 I purchased, turned out bang on. I’ve always wanted an under lever but can’t stretch to the hw77 I dreamed of so I know I’m going to love it for the price. Keep up the great reviews.
Cheers for representing the SMK, rifle, I ground out a new seat engagement point on the piston, this increased air intake , gave the spring full compression and fitted a Olympic gold spring. I will say no more,dont wannabe get nicked.
How do you find the milbro scopes on the springers? I'm looking to scope up a hw35 and since it's only a back up gun I don't really want to spend a lot of cash on it. Great looking underlever! Looks like some half tidy bluing too.
The Milbro Clearview is a cracking scope for the money Andrew and they're nice and clear. The only thing I find distracting with them is that they use a half mil-dot Christmas tree style reticle. Other than that though for the money they're superb!
Ive got a few rifles , but after watching this im going to buy one , reasoning is ive not got a underleaver rifle , too the Walther Barrel as I have a Walther R8 and that shoots WONDERFUL ! My mates got a AirArms TX200 that is a rolls Royce compared with this , but same principles , every one ive looked at gives it top review and good marks out of ten , I love the old styling wood effect too, as a 12 year old I had a WEBLEY & BSA , WHICH HAD THIS LOOK , MY PISTOL THEN WAS A GAT GUN , IT COULD NOT HIT NOTHING BUT WE USED THEM TO SHOOT EACH OTHER THEY WERE THAT SHIT , ANY way ON FRIDAY IM BUYING ONE FOR SURE I NO WHERE THERES ONE FOR SALE FOR SURE FOR £100, it says shop soiled , ive brought one b4 like that it was scratched around filling port I just coloured it in with a bic ,
Hahahaha that made me laugh regarding the Gat gun Delroy you're not the first person to tell me about those! You really won't be disappointed with the XS38 mate they're a tremendous bit of kit and the accuracy speaks for itself. The only thing that shows their price a little bit is the notchy trigger but to be honest even that was getting smoother the more it was shot.
Hi Ade! Thanks mate it means a lot. Well I just so happen to have Pneupump staring me in the face right now.. it might have to be done in the near future but first I have to get a Kozak reviewed before the guys and girls hunt me down and force me to review it. Thanks for watching mate!
Hi Big Dan . Mate I have bought ,spent , invested and enjoyed shooting thanks to a hell of a lot of good advice and reviews from yourself. However I have seen some other independent statements and reviews categorically stating that this SMK XS38 is a copy barrel. Watching this review I feel obligated to ask you if you are absolutely certain that this barrel is a walther barrel as your review states.
Great review Dan 👍 If you had to chose between this and. Remington Warhawk what would be your choice. I can't find much between them to say me either way. Pro advice welcome as I have £200 I'm itching to spend 👍🏴
Hi mate! I'd go for the XS38 personally. The Warhawk for whatever reason doesn't use Remington's excellent two stage adjustable unit and the plastic fore end feels nastier than that on the XS38, it is lighter than the 38 but because of this it kicks worse. There's no denying that the stock is prettier on the Warhawk though. I'd go XS38, it's a nicer to shoot rifle that feels more solid and you'll be saving yourself some cash too. Thanks and I hope this helps!
@@bigdansairguns83 Thanks Dan! That really helps a lot, I needed that advice to just sway me one way or another, and I had a gut instinct that the Remington was more style than substance. I still can't believe this gun is this good for the money. Well I'm going to find out and buy one that's for sure. Many thanks again for your great help, and awesome reviews 👍🏴
Very very good information about air gun. I think it is made in China if I am not wrong. Never see before in my area, wood seem to be beach wood therefore one question from u. What is the price of this airgun?
Thanks Phillip! I actually had a few technical issues with this one which delayed it quite a bit but it looks like it came out okay in the end, those XS38's are fantastic rifles.
@@bigdansairguns83 must agree very nice, but i like my hw 97k which i have tinkered with to much , but for a first time buyer you can't go wrong at that price 👍
@@phillipsharpe6459 Yep I won't lie to you Phillip I'm a 97 man myself haha, I've got to review my 97 one day but much like my Webley vs 77 review I'll have to try to be as unbiased as possible...... Maybe.
Hi Dan, Please confirm the 2stage adjustable trigger. I have a warhawk and it's supposed to be the same gun with the thumbhole stock!!? The warhawk trigger isn't adjustable and doesn't feel like it's 2stage. Keep up the great reviews.
Hi Joe, thanks for watching mate. Well I haven't shot a Gamo Elite just yet but it's an interesting looking rifle for sure. Regarding the XS38 though I can say that it's a hugely accurate bit of kit as as long as you don't mind a bit of weight then I think you'll fall in love with it. Thanks Joe!
I've been trying to find a good and thorough review on this rifle, well actually here in Canada I think this is known as the Xisico 46U, and I found this video. I can buy this one today,..Feb.12 2020 for 149.31 pounds ( your currency ) delivered to my door. I think I'll take a chance and order this one, first thing in the morning. I've subscribed to your channel, Dan, as I like the way you do things,..if this video is a good example of your work here. Cheers!
There good rifles, honestly, they not made to same premium qaulity of hw77, some parts are plastic or stock isn't as nice its £200 less for budget version for it, if don't mind plastic parts, and that's it entry level it's great gun
Hi Reg, You won't regret it mate they're a lovely rifle. The trigger needs tweaking to get the most out of it but there's no complaints when it comes to accuracy. Thanks for the complements Reg is means a lot. We've hopefully got a Norica Dream Hunter underlever to review soon which could be interesting competition to the XS38.
My TX 200 also has a Walther barrel, but is three times the price. I’m sure it’s not as well-made, but extremely good value for the money. Definitely a good choice, for someone wanting to dip their toe into target/HFT shooting, without breaking the bank. Are there Tuning kits available? 😊
Hi big Dan, love your air gun reviews because they are very professional. I am the son of a big Jim, my late father was 6' 4" and let am known as big Oscar. Dan where can I find your shop? I live in Northern Ireland and would have to purchase through a dealer because air guns in NI have to put on a firearms cert. Are you able to sell to NI? Do you know if air gun suppressors need to be added onto a cert. in NI? Lastly, do you think this gun would be any good for rat shooting?
Xs208 deluxe sporter or this xs38 ? You seemed to like the xs208... a lot and rightly so by the look. You seem also to like this one a lot too. Which do you suggest is better if you had to choose just one? The 208 and 38 are my final choice... just need a little help choosing between them Loving your reviews.. really helped me arrow down my choices
Hey Williebink! I'm glad to be able to help. Ooof that's a hard question.. it would totally depend on what I was using the rifle for. If I were to be out hunting I'd probably choose the 208. It's a lighter rifle and easier to manage/reload. Potentially dropping pellets into that breech is a real possibility with the 38 especially with cold fingers and you don't want to be faffing about tilting a rifle upset down to empty a lost pellet in the bush. For target shooting or shooting from a rest I'd go XS38, the weight won't be a problem there and will actually work to its advantage as it'll be more tame to shoot from a rest and probably a smidge more accurate because of it. Sorry for the wall of text Williebink but that was a tough one. I hope this helps!
@@bigdansairguns83 It helps greatly thanks. The xs38 it is. Pesky magpies in my garden been playing heck with the garden birds nests since they started to hang around my area the last 3 or 4 years .. cheers
I've just picked up a brand new one of these for £66.66! It's £75 off atm so I definitely wasn't turning it down! I've a few tins of solid top spec pellets for it so I'm hoping this lives up to your review of it!
Excellent review Dan I picked one of these up second hand was very impressed the only fault with it is the front fibberoptic sit is broken but she shoots like a all my rifles which is very very well
Hi Anthony, That's great to hear mate it seems like the XS38 has garnered more love than I originally credited it for. They really are an excellent rifle aren't they and that barrel is superb! I can get in touch with SMK if you want and see if they can send us through a new insert for your XS38. I can't promise anything but I can inquire if it helps.
@Phil Martin ive got the smk xs 19-18 and for the price its a belter 😆 also used to put food in my belly during tough times i still have it its had a few mods and its even better and stll puting food on the table 👌
I know a place currently selling these for £125! I decided to try the XS36 first as a bit lighter I got one from the same place ex display for £79! No rattles and shooting well so far.
Hey Mr Patch! I wouldn't say the best but it's definitely up there amongst them.. in my opinion there is no "best" sub £200 rifle as they all offer something. For me it'd come down to the Hatsan Mod 55/60S, Cometa 220 carbine or 300, Accumax, Remington Sabre and the XS38. All are great rifles and it's very difficult to choose between them.
Hi Dan . The rear stock is 2 decrees out of line . the place ( anti bear trap )sits, is from Diana.Diana has there safety at this place. Overall , it is a Diana 52 :)) I will spend ,safe more money for a better gun!!
the diana 52 is one of the king air rifles the tx200 the pro sport and the 52 air king md the hw80 this is not even in the same dimension let alone league lol
great video and a great rifle just because its smk its not crap there great rifles and when run in and a slight tune not for power a little lube there great and I will have two soon xs38 and a b2 I had ago with both of these rifles and they bring back the challenge and I like that yes I shoot hw rifles and there very good and a little challenge but a bigger challenge and I like that until next time best regards
Hi Stephen, There's nothing wrong with the XS38 mate make no mistake about that. It's a beautiful rifle to shoot the only thing they need is a trigger fettle as it can feel notchy. There's an idea for a future video... XS38 vs HW97 just to see how close the XS38 can get to a premium German brand.Hmmm....
@@bigdansairguns83 i got the xs38 and love it not put 500 pellets through it yet, as this virus i am in lock down but i like it used the open sights and got its zero at 25m, and it like rws superdomes in 22cal and rws hobby in 22 cal shoots great but its scoped in on a hawk 3+9x40 and scoped at 30m, and with mildots shoot out to 45m, and cocks so smooth and the trigger is very good i like it and lay back trigger is very good not hw but its not meant to be but a bloody good second , the shooting cycle great very little recoil and no twang the wood is very good the bluing is as good as any i have seen i find no bad things to write about, a great rifle £200 to your door i bought one and no regrets,
I’ve looked everywhere Dan, and the brochure on SMK , site that imports, and no were can I find any evidence of a Waltha barrel , ? We’re did you get this info from please cos it seems to be very wrong ,, information abit like saying my Ford car has a Roll Royce engine ! Cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧
Good review as always. I want to get into shooting with air weapons. Max budget around £250. Not into killing things, but want a 177 for target shooting, maybe joining a club. One of these, crosman vantage np, remington express or a bsa supersport se?
A HW99S is about £230 new, and so are some Diana's. The Remington Express and Sabre are well thought of, the Pest Controller/XS19 type rifles are decent. Hatsan and Walther also make afew in that price range. Tbh none of them are terrible. But factor in a decent £50 minimum scope.
Hi I have a smk 17 do you think it's any good I use it for target practice in the garden do you know the range of it got it of a friend for £40 pound thanks.
Dan if you read this would you recommend this over a crosman phantom mk 2 and a gamo maxxim elite the 10 shot magazine one, narrowed it down to those 3 if you have any other suggestions for that price range would be glad to hear it. It is for my first rifle main uses will be small game and target shooting
Hi Matt, Unfortunately mate at the moment I've had zero experience with the Crosman Phantom and although I've handled a Gamo Maxxim I've yet to actually fire one. What I can say though is that the XS38 will be the heaviest out of the bunch so if you plan on lugging the rifle around for a while that may be a concern. That being said however the XS38 is also tremendously accurate and it has a pretty superb barrel as standard. If you're after a target rifle then you won't go wrong with the XS38 but if you're after an easy handling hunting rifle then the XS38 may not be your cup of tea. Thanks mate.
Hi Dan! Great review and a beautiful and accurate rifle! But I agree, the safety is a bit strange and could confuse you, especially when you're used to Gamo or Crosman safeties... I am looking forward to your next reviews! Best wishes Martin
Thanks Martin! It's the only thing that lets this rifle down if I'm honest mate.. I know it's more of a niggle than anything but I think the "push to deactivate" safety toggle on the XS19/Pest Controller is a better design even if it isn't automatic, at least you're pushing away from the trigger to switch the safety off and not towards it! Other than that though Martin the XS38 is phenomenal and surprisingly well balanced too!
Hi Dan. Yet an again another awesome review. I am very interested in a XS38 in .177.......Would i need a license to own it?..(i do live in England). Thank you.
It's a sub 12 ft lb rifle so as long as you're over 18 then no you won't need any license. Just don't be a clown and fire it out of your garden or permission lol.
Hello big Dan thanks for the review, like all the others it's very good. However I do struggle to see your metal targets, perhaps a white painted wood background would be helpful. Thanks again. 👍
Love to see some .25 springer reviews 12ftlb of course. Its my favorite calibre and underestimated at 12ftlb. It would be good to do a few different makes of .25 spring rifles.
I can agree to that 100%! I'd love it if SMK could create something like the XS19 in .25 calibre as they'd make a cracking ratter. I'll tell you the truth Robert the only .25's I've shot are the Artemis M30 and the P10 "shorty" and I was genuinely surprised by the lack of pellet drop compared to what I was told they were like. Also seeing huge dents into wood at 25 yards compared to a neat little hole from a .177 is great haha.
@@bigdansairguns83 like i say when you get used to the .25 its brilliant. But like you i would like to see an smk rifle in .25 make them affordable in stead of having to pay extra for a .25 from the top gun manufacturers. Good reviews as always dan.
Hi Thomas, The XS38 does not come with a scope unfortunately which is why we had to fit our trusty Milbro Clearview AOEG on top for the review. Thanks Thomas and if you ever have any other questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
These got walther lothar barrels no way its worth it for the barrel alone id have tjat off re lathed to fit one of my weirauch rifles tuere factory barrels are good but a 12 grove walther lothar is king
Hi Dan, you mentioned that the trigger is adjustable for pull and weight, however most other reviews suggest it’s a non adjustable single stage trigger. I recently bought a browning leverage in US, which is essentially the same gun rebranded. Though the box read two stage adjustable, the gun does not have any adjustments. Can u pls confirm if the this feature is only available for the UK version or was updated at a later stage
Hi mate, It's an interesting looking little thing but it might take me a while to review it as I currently don't stock Gamo, I'll do what I can do though as if it's anything like the Phox it'll be a capable little rifle.
Great review Dan. Solid all round gun. Can't fault the price tag. Try out a hatsan dominator that's a similar gun may be a little bit better. Cheers Lawson
Hey Lawson thanks for watching! Solid is a good word for the XS38 the build quality isn't as far away from the Germans as you might think and the accuracy is knocking on their door as well. I'll add the Dominator to the list.. it's an unusual looking thing isn't it?
I liked the set up. Barn, wood pile, the tin wall....all real! In America its always hoopla & special effects. I guess i have the f.a.c. version i crony at 900 consistantly & accurately . Totaly agree on the trigger but y8u get used to it.
Hi Mike! thanks for liking our "studio" haha it means a lot. At 900fps unless you're using feather light pellets then that will definitely be FAC. The trigger isn't the worst I've ever used but it's far from the best, as you've said you do get used to it and to its credit it is actually fairly predictable. Thanks Mike and all the best!
Why have a safety in the trigger guard, whatever the design you are tempting fate ,put one on the side or the back away from the trigger, just my opinion, 😁👍
hi people,wow that safety placement sheer madness i reckon the anti bear trap release catch should be the safety and the safety should be the release catch for the anti bear trap they've got them the wrong way round who ever thought that pulling a short slippy piece of metal towards the trigger was a good idea er! yeah good rifle actually with some small changes could be very good keep em coming Dan springers rule baby atvb Dave
Hi mate, I do agree with that quite a bit it'd be nice if there was some more metal on the front end but in doing so it'd also bump the pricing up so a balance had to be struck. The worst offender is the Remington Warhawk.. it has that beautiful stock and is then ruined in my opinion with that plasticky shroud/underlever release.
This gun does not have a Walther barrel. It has a Snowpeak barrel. I won't buy Chinese new for moral reasons if I can possibly help it, but slightly used, I'd definitely be up for one.
Hi David! We'll see what we can do, we don't have any XS38's available at the moment but I'll see if I can get a Warhawk reviewed. Thanks for the idea! I'm stealing that one.
Hi Barry, We've since updated our sound recording equipment in our new videos but you're right with our earlier reviews the wind noise and such was a pain to deal with. Thanks for the criticism mate it helps up grow. All the best.
Instead of saying that a lefty could use it, why don't you say that they could've just as easily made this ambidextrous? It would certainly be more useful to us lefties, as they might take more notice from reviewers like yourself. As it is, loads of us are saying 'f*ck 'em'! Can't be good for business, eh?!
Hey Martyn. I do sympathise with the lefties as there's sod all dedicated rifles out there to suit them. Ambidextrous is good but a dedicated stock option would be lovely.
@@bigdansairguns83 Thanks for the reply Dan and yes that would be great, but I can see that to do that would increase their efforts in the tooling, but if they just made all of them ambi in the first place, they would sell a whole lot more. As a lefty, I can assure them that a cheekpiece on the other side isn't intrusive in any way, and sure, I could use a righty, but that leaves us lefties without one at all. Maybe we'll come out of the dark ages one day and the discrimination will stop, but I doubt it!
I was informed it was a Walther by the importer themselves. Springs can also break on expensive rifles. At the end of the day it's a very accurate underlever that had its spring break for around £150. Considering this exact same thing happens to underlevers costing £600 I find it a little harsh to attack the XS38 in such a way, especially considering it's not a common problem at all.
What an interesting review: clear and broad coverage of what this nice gun is and can do. Thanks Dan.
You're welcome bud!
Lovely rifle which has had rather a cult following for many, many years. The addition of the Walther barrel is brilliant. However, SMK is looked down with derision by gun snobs and antiChinese rifle shooters in general. Rather surprising as so many 'class' guns are now Chinese made. I have eight rifles in my collection, four of them CO2 rifles converted to regulated HPA and they will stay with me to my dying day. My S400, Theoben Evo, and one of my Ultras were all passed on but my Chinese rifles remain. Why? Built like a brick sh!thouse, accurate, totally reliable and FAR MORE FUN than any other rifles I have ever owned. Tuned and converted to air these cheap little bolt action rifles simply bring the biggest smile to your face. When the guy next to you with his Steyr 100 asks what the hell you are shooting as the 50 yard spinner at the club just hasn't stopped spinning. When told it was a £100 Chinese CO2 converted to air he simply stood up, cased his £1200 Steyr (retirement present to himself), shook his head and muttered 'the shop told me nothing could match this' and trudged off. To be fair he was a returning shooter and probably rusty but the point remains...he didn't need to spend £1200 to get reliable accuracy and I do wish gun shops would recognise that a returning shooter just does not need to spend that sort of money. A 2nd hand S400/410 or similar would have been perfectly adequate. He took the gun back, taking a considerable handling loss and returned much happier with a 2nd hand Daystate MK2. He still couldn't hit the 50 yd spinner consistently but he's getting there.
Good review on a budget underlever. I can live with the safety. The good looking stock, German barrell and good handling outweigh the wonky safety. Also impressed with the fps readings. Scott in USA
Hi Scott!
They're a nice rifle the XS38 and plenty accurate too. The trigger lets it down slightly but as a project rifle it has a ton of potential.
Great review Andy, I'm working my way through your channel and have to say how much I'm enjoying it.
I have one of SMK's earlier Underlevers in .22 that must be 15 years old and it's absolutely faultless, rock solid and the perfect back up to my pcp.
Keep up the great work bud and best wishes
I own the US Browning version of this rifle. The pallet of choice is RWS Super Dome. I am hitting spray can nozzles and 50 yards with a very loose Artillery hold. It took almost 1000 shots with RWS misterklugin wad cutters to break it in. I’m not sure if I’m spelling that correctly. I didn’t know that it was used in a Walther barrel now I know why it’s so accurate.
Thank you
Hi Gene,
That's great to hear mate the XS38 is a wonderful bit of kit. I never knew they were also sold as Browning's I'll have to take a look.
Thanks mate.
Cheers Dan, just ordered an ex display xs38 in .22. Hope it’s in good shape and turns out to be as good as you say. Im sure it will be as your review of the Cometa 300 I purchased, turned out bang on. I’ve always wanted an under lever but can’t stretch to the hw77 I dreamed of so I know I’m going to love it for the price.
Keep up the great reviews.
Cheers for representing the SMK, rifle, I ground out a new seat engagement point on the piston, this increased air intake , gave the spring full compression and fitted a Olympic gold spring. I will say no more,dont wannabe get nicked.
THX Dan ! Is the recent (?) SMK XS 41 underlever someting you would like to review ?
How do you find the milbro scopes on the springers? I'm looking to scope up a hw35 and since it's only a back up gun I don't really want to spend a lot of cash on it. Great looking underlever! Looks like some half tidy bluing too.
The Milbro Clearview is a cracking scope for the money Andrew and they're nice and clear. The only thing I find distracting with them is that they use a half mil-dot Christmas tree style reticle. Other than that though for the money they're superb!
Ive got a few rifles , but after watching this im going to buy one , reasoning is ive not got a underleaver rifle , too the Walther Barrel as I have a Walther R8 and that shoots WONDERFUL ! My mates got a AirArms TX200 that is a rolls Royce compared with this , but same principles , every one ive looked at gives it top review and good marks out of ten , I love the old styling wood effect too, as a 12 year old I had a WEBLEY & BSA , WHICH HAD THIS LOOK , MY PISTOL THEN WAS A GAT GUN , IT COULD NOT HIT NOTHING BUT WE USED THEM TO SHOOT EACH OTHER THEY WERE THAT SHIT , ANY way ON FRIDAY IM BUYING ONE FOR SURE I NO WHERE THERES ONE FOR SALE FOR SURE FOR £100, it says shop soiled , ive brought one b4 like that it was scratched around filling port I just coloured it in with a bic ,
Hahahaha that made me laugh regarding the Gat gun Delroy you're not the first person to tell me about those!
You really won't be disappointed with the XS38 mate they're a tremendous bit of kit and the accuracy speaks for itself. The only thing that shows their price a little bit is the notchy trigger but to be honest even that was getting smoother the more it was shot.
another great reveiw Dan .
still waiting for the nova reveiw though .
looking forward to seeing you in the new year .
Hi Ade! Thanks mate it means a lot.
Well I just so happen to have Pneupump staring me in the face right now.. it might have to be done in the near future but first I have to get a Kozak reviewed before the guys and girls hunt me down and force me to review it.
Thanks for watching mate!
Hi Big Dan .
Mate I have bought ,spent , invested and enjoyed shooting thanks to a hell of a lot of good advice and reviews from yourself.
However I have seen some other independent statements and reviews categorically stating that this SMK XS38 is a copy barrel.
Watching this review I feel obligated to ask you if you are absolutely certain that this barrel is a walther barrel as your review states.
Great review Dan 👍 If you had to chose between this and. Remington Warhawk what would be your choice. I can't find much between them to say me either way. Pro advice welcome as I have £200 I'm itching to spend 👍🏴
Hi mate!
I'd go for the XS38 personally. The Warhawk for whatever reason doesn't use Remington's excellent two stage adjustable unit and the plastic fore end feels nastier than that on the XS38, it is lighter than the 38 but because of this it kicks worse. There's no denying that the stock is prettier on the Warhawk though.
I'd go XS38, it's a nicer to shoot rifle that feels more solid and you'll be saving yourself some cash too.
Thanks and I hope this helps!
@@bigdansairguns83 Thanks Dan! That really helps a lot, I needed that advice to just sway me one way or another, and I had a gut instinct that the Remington was more style than substance. I still can't believe this gun is this good for the money. Well I'm going to find out and buy one that's for sure. Many thanks again for your great help, and awesome reviews 👍🏴
Very very good information about air gun. I think it is made in China if I am not wrong. Never see before in my area, wood seem to be beach wood therefore one question from u. What is the price of this airgun?
Nice one dan , keep them coming 👍
Thanks Phillip! I actually had a few technical issues with this one which delayed it quite a bit but it looks like it came out okay in the end, those XS38's are fantastic rifles.
@@bigdansairguns83 must agree very nice, but i like my hw 97k which i have tinkered with to much , but for a first time buyer you can't go wrong at that price 👍
@@phillipsharpe6459 Yep I won't lie to you Phillip I'm a 97 man myself haha, I've got to review my 97 one day but much like my Webley vs 77 review I'll have to try to be as unbiased as possible......
Maybe.
Hi Dan,
Please confirm the 2stage adjustable trigger.
I have a warhawk and it's supposed to be the same gun with the thumbhole stock!!?
The warhawk trigger isn't adjustable and doesn't feel like it's 2stage.
Keep up the great reviews.
Nice review mate. If you suppose to choose between Smk xs38 .22 and Gamo Elite, which one would be your pick? Cheers
Hi Joe,
thanks for watching mate. Well I haven't shot a Gamo Elite just yet but it's an interesting looking rifle for sure. Regarding the XS38 though I can say that it's a hugely accurate bit of kit as as long as you don't mind a bit of weight then I think you'll fall in love with it.
Thanks Joe!
That would be very good of you thank you dan
I've been trying to find a good and thorough review on this rifle, well actually here in Canada I think this is known as the Xisico 46U, and I found this video.
I can buy this one today,..Feb.12 2020 for 149.31 pounds ( your currency ) delivered to my door. I think I'll take a chance and order this one, first thing in the morning.
I've subscribed to your channel, Dan, as I like the way you do things,..if this video is a good example of your work here.
Cheers!
There good rifles, honestly, they not made to same premium qaulity of hw77, some parts are plastic or stock isn't as nice its £200 less for budget version for it, if don't mind plastic parts, and that's it entry level it's great gun
Hi Reg,
You won't regret it mate they're a lovely rifle. The trigger needs tweaking to get the most out of it but there's no complaints when it comes to accuracy.
Thanks for the complements Reg is means a lot. We've hopefully got a Norica Dream Hunter underlever to review soon which could be interesting competition to the XS38.
@@bigdansairguns83 I'll be here to see this one,...Thanks for your efforts.
My TX 200 also has a Walther barrel, but is three times the price. I’m sure it’s not as well-made, but extremely good value for the money. Definitely a good choice, for someone wanting to dip their toe into target/HFT shooting, without breaking the bank. Are there Tuning kits available? 😊
Hi big Dan, love your air gun reviews because they are very professional. I am the son of a big Jim, my late father was 6' 4" and let am known as big Oscar. Dan where can I find your shop? I live in Northern Ireland and would have to purchase through a dealer because air guns in NI have to put on a firearms cert. Are you able to sell to NI? Do you know if air gun suppressors need to be added onto a cert. in NI? Lastly, do you think this gun would be any good for rat shooting?
Xs208 deluxe sporter or this xs38 ?
You seemed to like the xs208... a lot and rightly so by the look. You seem also to like this one a lot too.
Which do you suggest is better if you had to choose just one? The 208 and 38 are my final choice... just need a little help choosing between them
Loving your reviews.. really helped me arrow down my choices
Hey Williebink!
I'm glad to be able to help. Ooof that's a hard question.. it would totally depend on what I was using the rifle for. If I were to be out hunting I'd probably choose the 208. It's a lighter rifle and easier to manage/reload. Potentially dropping pellets into that breech is a real possibility with the 38 especially with cold fingers and you don't want to be faffing about tilting a rifle upset down to empty a lost pellet in the bush.
For target shooting or shooting from a rest I'd go XS38, the weight won't be a problem there and will actually work to its advantage as it'll be more tame to shoot from a rest and probably a smidge more accurate because of it.
Sorry for the wall of text Williebink but that was a tough one. I hope this helps!
@@bigdansairguns83 It helps greatly thanks. The xs38 it is. Pesky magpies in my garden been playing heck with the garden birds nests since they started to hang around my area the last 3 or 4 years .. cheers
I've just picked up a brand new one of these for £66.66! It's £75 off atm so I definitely wasn't turning it down! I've a few tins of solid top spec pellets for it so I'm hoping this lives up to your review of it!
That's a cracking deal. A B2 can cost that much or more these days.
Haha same got mine for 70 from pellpax , cracking buy !!
Excellent review Dan I picked one of these up second hand was very impressed the only fault with it is the front fibberoptic sit is broken but she shoots like a all my rifles which is very very well
Hi Anthony, That's great to hear mate it seems like the XS38 has garnered more love than I originally credited it for. They really are an excellent rifle aren't they and that barrel is superb!
I can get in touch with SMK if you want and see if they can send us through a new insert for your XS38. I can't promise anything but I can inquire if it helps.
@@bigdansairguns83 )j
nearly bought one of these a while back, but came home with an xs19, purely as it looked less bulky,
They're both great guns mate to be honest you can't go far wrong with an XS19 especially only at around £100.
@Phil Martin ive got the smk xs 19-18 and for the price its a belter 😆 also used to put food in my belly during tough times i still have it its had a few mods and its even better and stll puting food on the table 👌
I know a place currently selling these for £125! I decided to try the XS36 first as a bit lighter I got one from the same place ex display for £79! No rattles and shooting well so far.
Hi I'm torn between remmington pest controller walther century gt or smk xs38 any opinions on choice thanks
Great review 👍😎
Nice review, thanks.
Hi Gary,
yes mate I'm sorry about that this was in our pre-lapel mic days.
Thankfully our new videos have much better sound.
Cheers mate.
@@bigdansairguns83 No worries pal, planning on buying my first rifle this year so very handy review.
hi dan would you say this is the best sub £200 rifle
Hey Mr Patch!
I wouldn't say the best but it's definitely up there amongst them.. in my opinion there is no "best" sub £200 rifle as they all offer something.
For me it'd come down to the Hatsan Mod 55/60S, Cometa 220 carbine or 300, Accumax, Remington Sabre and the XS38.
All are great rifles and it's very difficult to choose between them.
Hi Dan . The rear stock is 2 decrees out of line . the place ( anti bear trap )sits, is from Diana.Diana has there safety at this place.
Overall , it is a Diana 52 :))
I will spend ,safe more money for a better gun!!
the diana 52 is one of the king air rifles the tx200 the pro sport and the 52 air king md the hw80 this is not even in the same dimension let alone league lol
great video and a great rifle just because its smk its not crap there great rifles and when run in and a slight tune not for power a little lube there great and I will have two soon xs38 and a b2 I had ago with both of these rifles and they bring back the challenge and I like that yes I shoot hw rifles and there very good and a little challenge but a bigger challenge and I like that until next time best regards
Hi Stephen,
There's nothing wrong with the XS38 mate make no mistake about that. It's a beautiful rifle to shoot the only thing they need is a trigger fettle as it can feel notchy.
There's an idea for a future video... XS38 vs HW97 just to see how close the XS38 can get to a premium German brand.Hmmm....
@@bigdansairguns83 i got the xs38 and love it not put 500 pellets through it yet, as this virus i am in lock down but i like it used the open sights
and got its zero at 25m, and it like rws superdomes in 22cal and rws hobby in 22 cal shoots great but its scoped in on a hawk 3+9x40 and scoped at 30m, and with mildots shoot out to 45m, and cocks so smooth and the trigger is very good i like it and lay back trigger is very good not hw but its not meant to be but a bloody good second , the shooting cycle great very little recoil and no twang the wood is very good the bluing is as good as any i have seen i find no bad things to write about, a great rifle £200 to your door i bought one and no regrets,
I’ve looked everywhere Dan, and the brochure on SMK , site that imports, and no were can I find any evidence of a Waltha barrel , ? We’re did you get this info from please cos it seems to be very wrong ,, information abit like saying my Ford car has a Roll Royce engine ! Cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧
If you are being honest?
Good review as always. I want to get into shooting with air weapons. Max budget around £250. Not into killing things, but want a 177 for target shooting, maybe joining a club. One of these, crosman vantage np, remington express or a bsa supersport se?
Buy a second hand HW 95 you cant go wrong, and when the time comes to upgrade or you no longer want to shoot you will sell it for £250. Awesome gun.
A HW99S is about £230 new, and so are some Diana's. The Remington Express and Sabre are well thought of, the Pest Controller/XS19 type rifles are decent. Hatsan and Walther also make afew in that price range. Tbh none of them are terrible. But factor in a decent £50 minimum scope.
Hi I have a smk 17 do you think it's any good I use it for target practice in the garden do you know the range of it got it of a friend for £40 pound thanks.
Dan if you read this would you recommend this over a crosman phantom mk 2 and a gamo maxxim elite the 10 shot magazine one, narrowed it down to those 3 if you have any other suggestions for that price range would be glad to hear it. It is for my first rifle main uses will be small game and target shooting
Hi Matt,
Unfortunately mate at the moment I've had zero experience with the Crosman Phantom and although I've handled a Gamo Maxxim I've yet to actually fire one.
What I can say though is that the XS38 will be the heaviest out of the bunch so if you plan on lugging the rifle around for a while that may be a concern.
That being said however the XS38 is also tremendously accurate and it has a pretty superb barrel as standard.
If you're after a target rifle then you won't go wrong with the XS38 but if you're after an easy handling hunting rifle then the XS38 may not be your cup of tea.
Thanks mate.
Hi Dan! Great review and a beautiful and accurate rifle! But I agree, the safety is a bit strange and could confuse you, especially when you're used to Gamo or Crosman safeties...
I am looking forward to your next reviews!
Best wishes
Martin
Thanks Martin!
It's the only thing that lets this rifle down if I'm honest mate.. I know it's more of a niggle than anything but I think the "push to deactivate" safety toggle on the XS19/Pest Controller is a better design even if it isn't automatic, at least you're pushing away from the trigger to switch the safety off and not towards it!
Other than that though Martin the XS38 is phenomenal and surprisingly well balanced too!
Hi Dan. Yet an again another awesome review. I am very interested in a XS38 in .177.......Would i need a license to own it?..(i do live in England). Thank you.
@Ian Mangham Thank you Ian.
It's a sub 12 ft lb rifle so as long as you're over 18 then no you won't need any license. Just don't be a clown and fire it out of your garden or permission lol.
Hello big Dan thanks for the review, like all the others it's very good. However I do struggle to see your metal targets, perhaps a white painted wood background would be helpful. Thanks again. 👍
Love to see some .25 springer reviews 12ftlb of course. Its my favorite calibre and underestimated at 12ftlb. It would be good to do a few different makes of .25 spring rifles.
I can agree to that 100%! I'd love it if SMK could create something like the XS19 in .25 calibre as they'd make a cracking ratter.
I'll tell you the truth Robert the only .25's I've shot are the Artemis M30 and the P10 "shorty" and I was genuinely surprised by the lack of pellet drop compared to what I was told they were like.
Also seeing huge dents into wood at 25 yards compared to a neat little hole from a .177 is great haha.
@@bigdansairguns83 like i say when you get used to the .25 its brilliant. But like you i would like to see an smk rifle in .25 make them affordable in stead of having to pay extra for a .25 from the top gun manufacturers. Good reviews as always dan.
Are you doing a review of the XS19?
Robert Taylor I had a bsa lightning in .25 it was a hammer on rats but past 15m it was kinda useless rainbow trajectories lol
Hi, is this the 177 or 22 version please,?
Amazing for the price!
What type of scope did you fit to it and does it not come as standard?
Hi Thomas,
The XS38 does not come with a scope unfortunately which is why we had to fit our trusty Milbro Clearview AOEG on top for the review.
Thanks Thomas and if you ever have any other questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
A walther barre!!!
Do all smk xs38s come with that?
Hi mate,
I haven't heard anything differently at the moment so that should be a yes.
Thanks mate.
These got walther lothar barrels no way its worth it for the barrel alone id have tjat off re lathed to fit one of my weirauch rifles tuere factory barrels are good but a 12 grove walther lothar is king
The barrel is worth more than the whole gun????? Someone is dreaming. It is very accurate though.
Good review✌️
Hi Dan, you mentioned that the trigger is adjustable for pull and weight, however most other reviews suggest it’s a non adjustable single stage trigger. I recently bought a browning leverage in US, which is essentially the same gun rebranded. Though the box read two stage adjustable, the gun does not have any adjustments. Can u pls confirm if the this feature is only available for the UK version or was updated at a later stage
how's about testing the gamo GX40 mmmm made in UK.(gamo phox reboot maybe??)
Hi mate,
It's an interesting looking little thing but it might take me a while to review it as I currently don't stock Gamo, I'll do what I can do though as if it's anything like the Phox it'll be a capable little rifle.
@@bigdansairguns83 mmm M16 springs to mind lol..looks very coyote tbh.looks like they make a gx250 60ft lb version hmmm
Might as well do bsa then sinds gamo owns that.
Great review Dan. Solid all round gun. Can't fault the price tag. Try out a hatsan dominator that's a similar gun may be a little bit better. Cheers Lawson
Hey Lawson thanks for watching! Solid is a good word for the XS38 the build quality isn't as far away from the Germans as you might think and the accuracy is knocking on their door as well.
I'll add the Dominator to the list.. it's an unusual looking thing isn't it?
@@bigdansairguns83 yes it is . It looks best in the walnut stock. It's a cracking gun . Spot on with a bit of a kick. Comes in 22/ 25 / 177.
I liked the set up. Barn, wood pile, the tin wall....all real! In America its always hoopla & special effects. I guess i have the f.a.c. version i crony at 900 consistantly & accurately . Totaly agree on the trigger but y8u get used to it.
Hi Mike!
thanks for liking our "studio" haha it means a lot. At 900fps unless you're using feather light pellets then that will definitely be FAC.
The trigger isn't the worst I've ever used but it's far from the best, as you've said you do get used to it and to its credit it is actually fairly predictable.
Thanks Mike and all the best!
Ordered a new one of these from pellpax. They sent me a rusty second hand damaged gun. Wish me luck getting it replaced 😡
Where do you put the gas bottle
Hi Sharidon.
The XS38 is a spring powered air rifle so no gas required, just cock it and fire away.
Thanks mate.
Why have a safety in the trigger guard, whatever the design you are tempting fate ,put one on the side or the back away from the trigger, just my opinion, 😁👍
Flyers could be pellets, personally you can't beat JSB exacts. !
A what barrel?
hi people,wow that safety placement sheer madness i reckon the anti bear trap release catch should be the safety and the safety should be the release catch for the anti bear trap they've got them the wrong way round who ever thought that pulling a short slippy piece of metal towards the trigger was a good idea er! yeah good rifle actually with some small changes could be very good keep em coming Dan springers rule baby atvb Dave
Hi David!
Can I have you on the XS38 design team please?
Thanks David!
Shame the foresight and barrel lock up is plastic good rifle but if there using decent barrels ECT atleast add nice fittings
Hi mate,
I do agree with that quite a bit it'd be nice if there was some more metal on the front end but in doing so it'd also bump the pricing up so a balance had to be struck.
The worst offender is the Remington Warhawk.. it has that beautiful stock and is then ruined in my opinion with that plasticky shroud/underlever release.
This gun does not have a Walther barrel. It has a Snowpeak barrel. I won't buy Chinese new for moral reasons if I can possibly help it, but slightly used, I'd definitely be up for one.
Get a set of jewellers scales and weigh your pellets it will eliminate your flyers mate
Hi Michael,
I've been toying with this idea for a while mate I might start doing this in future videos.
Cheers bud.
مش لاقي اي فديو صيانة هذه البندقية
You still selling these bud
Ski xs38 V Remington warhawk .22 thanks.
Hi David!
We'll see what we can do, we don't have any XS38's available at the moment but I'll see if I can get a Warhawk reviewed.
Thanks for the idea! I'm stealing that one.
You do realise there's a rare collectors 2 pence pice that is worth £1,700.00 ?
Hello
It is a Chinese product, what will its behavior be in the long term with wear and tear?
Match trigger for this rifle ua-cam.com/video/zpmBUBp6DwE/v-deo.html&feature=em-comments
Walther is pronounced as Valter.
We ain't in the farterland mate
the sound quality on this vid is terrible
Hi Barry,
We've since updated our sound recording equipment in our new videos but you're right with our earlier reviews the wind noise and such was a pain to deal with.
Thanks for the criticism mate it helps up grow.
All the best.
Are you guys allowed to own real firearms across the pond?
Sorry Dan but it's not a Walther barrel. It's an SMK generic barrel.
Instead of saying that a lefty could use it, why don't you say that they could've just as easily made this ambidextrous? It would certainly be more useful to us lefties, as they might take more notice from reviewers like yourself. As it is, loads of us are saying 'f*ck 'em'! Can't be good for business, eh?!
Hey Martyn.
I do sympathise with the lefties as there's sod all dedicated rifles out there to suit them. Ambidextrous is good but a dedicated stock option would be lovely.
@@bigdansairguns83 Thanks for the reply Dan and yes that would be great, but I can see that to do that would increase their efforts in the tooling, but if they just made all of them ambi in the first place, they would sell a whole lot more. As a lefty, I can assure them that a cheekpiece on the other side isn't intrusive in any way, and sure, I could use a righty, but that leaves us lefties without one at all. Maybe we'll come out of the dark ages one day and the discrimination will stop, but I doubt it!
Oh no I can hear it now "left hands matter"
@@davephilpott6569 😂😂
If I being brutally honest, don’t buy this gun , I did and it ain’t that good ,, As Seen On My Channel cheers Shane Uk 🇬🇧
The whom gun is con😂 had one years ago spring broke in 5 weeks only shot it 100 or so shoots !! And no its not a Walter barrel 😢😢 stop lieing pal
I was informed it was a Walther by the importer themselves. Springs can also break on expensive rifles.
At the end of the day it's a very accurate underlever that had its spring break for around £150. Considering this exact same thing happens to underlevers costing £600 I find it a little harsh to attack the XS38 in such a way, especially considering it's not a common problem at all.
It not a weather barrel😂😂😂 stop lie
According to the importers themselves it is/was.