Box to Bench Double with the Niksan Elf .22 and .25 caliber PCP Air Rifles from Niksan USA

In this Box to Bench review we have the chance to look at not one, but two versions of the Niksan Elf, a pre-charged pneumatic pellet rifle. First up is the .22 caliber variant, followed by it's .25 caliber big brother.
In this video PJ runs a full chronograph string, multi-mag accuracy testing at 32 yards, tests trigger pull weight and talks about features, pro's and cons.
Niksan Defense air rifles are imported into the US by Niksan USA, and are available through the DonnyFL website as well as The Pellet Shop and other select retailers.
The scope used in this video is a Leapers/UTG BugBuster 3-9.
In full disclosure, PJ is an employee of DonnyFL, and the video is sponsored by Niksan USA who provided the rifles for testing. The opinions expressed in this video belong to PJ alone and are the results of his testing process.The rifles shown in this video were randomly selected from the warehouse, and the JSB 18 and 25 grain pellets used in testing were pulled straight from fresh tins shipped to us by Predator International.
The pre-charged pneumatic airguns in this video are not firearms as defined by all relevant laws in the United States. The testing of the airguns in this video was conducted on a private range and all relevant safety precautions were observed.

[@MrTimEarl]

Thanks P J Good to see you on the tube!!!

[@WiscAirGunners]

You are welcome.

[@williamr9537]

You did a good review and your evaluation of these two air rifles is on par to what I think. I have to say I did fast forward through the target shooting so the video was not too long to view. These two Niksan are typical of most Turkish air rifles, not bad looking and decent build quality and okay performance. I don't understand why these Turkish air rifle producers don't add an regulator to their rifles which would allow for better accuracy and use of air. Consider that Huma sells most of their regulators for about $100.00. That would mean the cost to add a regulator by the manufacture would probably be less than $50.00

[@WiscAirGunners]

That’s a pretty common comment. If I get another opportunity to talk to the manufacturer, I’ll ask.

[@kolayvideodersleri]

There are models with regulator, you need to buy them

[@kolayvideodersleri]

you try reximex gen 2

[@kolayvideodersleri]

King Puncher Mega 2 also has regulator

[@jjssnb3790]

Awsum video 🤙

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks!

[@philpinkney9238]

Great review, think your right about the tp tuning with a little fettling id think you would get a decent shot count pre regged.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Absolutely.

[@stedyone1090]

Good morning Welcome to Central Florida. You're gonna miss the Wisconsin smallmouth opener. LOL I grew up in Southern Wisconsin And our spring weather is already summer here. What a shocker for you. Let me know when you want to shoot 100 yards. I have a permission right off 95 not far. Never miss your reviews. We could do a video there if you want. 😮

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks for the offer. Much appreciated!

[@TacticalJackalope]

Not crazy about the waffle pattern on the pic rail. If the price on these guns would drop a $100 or so I'd definitely get an Ozark. There are too many Turkish made guns in the 500-600 range and I'm not sure the Niksan guns offer anything substantially better imo.

[@WiscAirGunners]

It’s definitely become crowded in this market segment.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Good news. I talked to the boss this weekend and if you go to the website the whole line is being discounted, so depending on what you are looking for you might see a discount close to what you are looking for.

[@dougbreese613]

Can’t wait to try mine

[@dougbreese613]

HOPEFULLY GOOD GUN

[@WiscAirGunners]

Very reliable. Some of the stocks are stunning. They are all nice, but some are stunning.

[@ikoknyphausen198]

Loved watching your reviews. I am in the market for an airgun for target shooting. Have watched gazillions of reviews. I do appreciate your style. Question: How much better do you think the groups with the .22 could get if you used custom slugs? I am thinking AVS .22xxx dish base slugs. They range from 0.217 to 0.233 in diameter. Each rifle/barrel has a sweet spot.I am considering the Elf and the Umarex Gauntlet. The latter is regulated, which kind of helps with consistency. I dig the Elf for its looks ;-) I am a sucker for wood stocks.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks! That’s much appreciated. First, let me make a general statement. Until you pass 100 yards, pellets typically beat slugs in the precision game. Slugs start to shine past that because they are less effected by external factors, like variable winds. The Elf would have two things working against it when it comes to slugs. The first is twist rate. The barrel on the Niksan rifles is designed around pellets. Pellets are drag stabilized and pellet barrels typically don’t have the twist rate you want for optimum slug performance. The Gauntlet has the same shortcoming. Second, slugs have more friction moving down the barrel due to having increased bearing surface. They touch more. You’d need to bump up the power to make them fly at optimum speeds. You might get hybrids to fly decently…I’ve never tried it. They’d have to be on the light for caliber side. If you want to avoid the pain that exists down the slug shooting rabbit hole, make sure you are starting with an airgun that is designed for slugs. Some pellet guns do ok with slugs. That’s a happy bonus. There are only a couple of companies designing FOR slugs. Neither Umarex nor Niksan are on that list.

[@ikoknyphausen198]

Very informative. Thanks for taking the time.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@ikoknyphausen198 you are welcome.

[@Truth2024-f9e]

I thought that those bull pumps had a adjustable high, low switch valve on the rifle?

[@WiscAirGunners]

Transfer port adjustments. There are no detents in the adjustment mechanism. High and low are easy, but getting to the same middle point consistently is fiddly.

[@joedokes8641]

Nice review . Not a big fan of the cocking lever being in the back forty or the fill probe . Beeman has the standard fill or should be and the underlever system .

[@WiscAirGunners]

How do you like the underlever action?

[@joedokes8641]

@@WiscAirGunners In my opinion for under 300.00 it is a great value . Like the Niksan it is on the chunky side but at this price point not a deal breaker . The trigger is on the stiff side but the spring can be switched out for a lighter one . The underlever is very smooth . Enjoyable to shoot as well.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@joedokes8641 good info, thanks.

[@joedokes8641]

Anytime : sir . 😁👍

[@heathhalfhill6401]

When are these manufactures ever going to stop with these damn fill probes? FOSTER fittings should be cheaper and easier in a manufacturing environment. Still it is a really nice looking gun.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I think, and I’m not making excuses, that the tube design lends itself to the fill probe. Their bottle airguns have foster fittings.

[@jamesoconnor8044]

My Stoeger Bullshark cost under $500.00, is regulated, has Olympic quality accuracy, and only weighs about 6 pounds. The trigger pull is adjustable, and I'm getting 975 fps with 14.3 gr. pellets. It was designed by the people at Beretta and has a 5 year warrantee. It also includes a built in moderator. Nice review, but they have a long way to go to equal my Stoeger !

[@WiscAirGunners]

I’ve heard good things about the Bullshark but have not had the opportunity to try one.

[@ScottH22175]

Yeah, it says "Olympic quality accuracy" in their description so it must be true...

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@ScottH22175 Having fired some Olympic target rifles, that's probably a stretch. That doesn't mean I wouldn't want to try one.

[@davidhagerman7165]

I may be wrong but the gun sounds like is has hammer bounce. If so this could cause additional air usage.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I think it does have some bounce. You also hear some resonance down the tube.

[@randygriffin681]

Great video as always them ain’t bad little guns do you know what the price is on them and do you buy them from Donny fl

[@TacticalJackalope]

The Pellet Shop sells them and they don't charge tax if you are out of NY state.

[@randygriffin681]

@@TacticalJackalope thanks man

[@WiscAirGunners]

They are on the DonnyFL website too.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I was informed that DonnyFL (and possibly The Pellet Shop) are dropping the price this week.

[@marks4925]

Hate it when the price is buried or under-shown. The part showing the specs in the end was great time to plainly list the suggested retail price. Specs are all relative to the price point. Nice presentation on your part but next review put the prices out front and again at the end. These guns are stacking up again the new Avenger releases. How do they compare?

[@WiscAirGunners]

KZbin has issues with listing pricing. I'm looking forward to the Avenge-X release and hope to be able to review one.

[@WiscAirGunners]

FYI-The line is being discounted this week and moving forward at DonnyFL and (I believe) the Pellet Shop.

[@rondolinar]

Why didnt you adjust your point of aim to hit red ? Or adjust your scope ? I see lots of guys shooting and always hitting the same spot without readjusting. Good video though.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Mostly is so we (maybe I shouldn’t speak for anyone else) don’t shoot away our aim point. I like to hit close, but for testing I’m goody being just a few clicks off. Thanks.

[@Light_357]

No hammer spring adjustment?? Either way 650 bucks??? Ummm no

[@WiscAirGunners]

The hammer spring is a captive unit and can be replaced, but not adjusted.

[@prophy4736]

try tuning your microphone the wind in the background makes my eyes water because of how it sounds in my headset. cancel background noise my dude

[@WiscAirGunners]

I had some audio issues on that one. My apologies. It’s the hazard of running everything solo.

[@trollhunter7764]

Definitely lacking for that price range. It is just not possible to get consistent ballistics and accuracy with an unregulated pcp. I can't see spending $500 on an unregulated model when there are so many other options out there.

[@user-tx3nr9ir9h]

Probe and unregulated, see ya.....

[@WiscAirGunners]

It's good to have choices.

[@prophy4736]

these are aea clones. i see another company is buying chinese air rifles and rebranding them. this is a rebranded challenger

[@WiscAirGunners]

Totally different airgun.

[@prophy4736]

@@WiscAirGunners its not totally different they are almost the same exact thing with minor cosmetic changes and use of a different air tube

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@prophy4736 they are both bullpups. If you want to believe one is a copy you can, but having seen both company’s offerings, these are totally different airguns, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

[@prophy4736]

@@WiscAirGunners they shoot the same have the same valve design pressure wise the aea unregulated challnger does the same kind of shot string almost apearing to be regulated at times.. both have almost no adjustments that can be made internally they are full clones imo and externally they are like 70-80% clones. you can put a different airtube and barrel on a challenger but it is still a challenger even if you call it something else

[@le3045acp]

niksans are neat little rifles but why they dont up the price 20 or 30 bucks and regulate them makes no sense to me

[@WiscAirGunners]

I think it would probably add a little bit more than that, but if I get another opportunity to talk with the manufacturer, I will ask the question.

[@le3045acp]

@@WiscAirGunners im just saying Dar and jts have very reasonably priced rifles and they are regulated but it would be nice to know what the manufacture says is their reason personally i only own one un reged rifle a aa s400 all the rest are reged what can i say i love consistancy but they seem to be nice little rifles

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@le3045acp I know JTS has access to it's own regulator design, so no licensing fees over the cost of the unit. I'm hopeful I'll have the chance to ask and I'll let you know.

[@le3045acp]

@@WiscAirGunners that would be aqwesome ty

[@WiscAirGunners]

FYI the price on these is dropping this week.