June Staff Picks: New Tricks, Old Dogs & Identity Crises
- Vector Air
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 14
June has been one of those months that feels like it should have been sponsored by a weather warning.
The UK has been baking under temperatures that seem increasingly determined to prove a point. If you're still convinced climate change is a myth, we'd encourage you to spend a few hours standing in direct sunlight wearing black clothing and contemplating your life choices. For everyone else, remember the sunscreen.
Away from the weather, the airgun industry has been equally busy.
The FX DRS Mk2 launched, changed names, then promptly changed them back after the entire UK industry collectively looked at the naming structure and decided life was already complicated enough.
Northern Ireland deliveries of restricted items, unfortunately, became a casualty of increasingly difficult customs procedures.
Meanwhile, we announced a partnership with NEO Airguns in London, bringing affordable home delivery options inside the M25, the EPIC Vision returned for its second assault on the UK market, and the latest AP900 shipment disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived.
But enough of the news.
The question we ask every month remains the same:
What would our team actually spend their own money on?
Karl’s Pick: UX Stratix 4.5mm BB Blowback Air Pistol with Hop-Up by UMAREX
Every now and again, a product arrives that makes you wonder why nobody thought of doing it sooner.
The Stratix is one of those products.
If you've spent any time around airsoft, you'll immediately spot something unusual in the specification list: Hop-Up.
Or as UMAREX have decided to call it, a "Shoot-Up", which sounds less like a technical feature and more like questionable shooting advice.
For those unfamiliar, a Hop-Up introduces backspin to the BB as it leaves the barrel. This creates a pressure differential around the projectile that helps counter gravity and extend the effective range. Airsoft players have been benefiting from this for roughly 30 years.
Airguns? Not so much.
UMAREX claim the Stratix is capable of engaging targets out to 50 metres. That's an ambitious claim for a CO2 BB pistol producing around 2 joules of energy. Especially when many 16 Joule air rifles struggle to do that.
Will it completely rewrite the laws of physics? Probably not. Is it one of the most interesting developments we've seen in the replica pistol market for quite some time? Absolutely.
The chairgunners stopped reading when they saw "BB" in the product title anyway, so they'll never know the benefits of using Airsoft tech to improve the old ways.
Craig’s Pick: FX DRS Mk2 380mm ("Micro"/"Mini"/"Carbine"/"Compact")
Speaking of identity crises...
Craig's pick this month is the rifle formerly known as a Compact, then a Micro, then a Compact again.
Whatever FX decide to call it next week, one thing remains true: it's a very good rifle.
The original DRS quickly became a cult favourite, but there were a handful of features many shooters felt should have been included from the start. The Mk2 addresses most of those concerns.
The factory Picatinny rail is perhaps the biggest improvement for UK shooters, finally eliminating the need to immediately start shopping for accessories before you've even mounted a scope.
Luke’s Pick: Rokstad FMA Pan & Tilt Bipod
The bipod market has become a strange place. Most products seem to be either a direct copy of something else or an attempt to turn a camera tripod into a shooting accessory.
The Rokstad FMA feels refreshingly different. The most obvious feature is the toothed leg adjustment system. Rather than relying on springs that inevitably lose tension over time, the legs lock positively into position.
It feels robust and deliberate. Perhaps most importantly, it feels like it was designed to be dragged up hills and through rough terrain rather than spend its entire life on a shooting bench.
The pan and tilt functionality offers plenty of flexibility, while the overall design feels aimed squarely at the growing market for outdoor and mountain-style shooting.
Sometimes innovation isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about building a better one.
Tee’s Pick: VictOptics S6 1-6x24 LPVO FDE Scope & Mount Combo
When asked why she selected this optic, Tee's response was simply: "I just do. It's different."
Which may be the shortest explanation ever provided for a staff pick.
That said, she does have a point.
Most optics are black.
Most mounts are sold separately.
Most budget LPVOs don't arrive as a complete package ready to install. This one does.
The included one-piece Picatinny mount sits at a very practical height for AR-style platforms and modern sporting rifles, making it an excellent option for shooters wanting to experiment with LPVOs without immediately doubling the budget on mounting hardware.
And yes, the FDE finish is probably the main reason Tee picked it.
Let's be honest. If this exact scope were only available in black, we'd probably still be waiting for her answer.
Thankfully, for those who prefer their optics less rock coloured, a black version is available too.
Final Thoughts
This month's selections all seem to revolve around products doing things slightly differently.
Whether that's UMAREX finally embracing Hop-Up technology, FX fixing issues with the DRS, Rokstad rethinking bipod design, or VictOptics offering a complete LPVO package, each product is trying to challenge the status quo in its own way.
So which one would you spend your own money on?
Poll Time
Which June Staff Pick gets your vote?
UX Stratix Hop-Up Pistol
FX DRS Mk2 380mm
Rokstad FMA Pan & Tilt Bipod
VictOptics S6 LPVO
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Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments below.
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I'd probably spend my money on the FX DRS Mk2 Compact. I like the compact design, and the factory Picatinny rail is a big plus since it's ready to set up without needing extra parts. It seems like a well-thought-out upgrade over the original DRS. Block Blast