The Walther Rotex RM8 Varmint Family, by Pete Wadeson

Airgun Hunter Pete Wadeson gives his views on the standard and UC (Ultra Compact) versions of the Walther Rotex RM8 Varmint by Umarex…

The Walther Rotex RM8 first came to the shooting public’s attention in a wood stock and immediately became a popular and much talked about multi-shot PCP. This wasn’t only due to its level of performance but also its very reasonable price tag. Encouraged by this, Walther released a synthetic variant, however this boasts a far different stock design which also now has a close ‘shorter’ Ultra-Carbine relative – the Rotex RM8 Varmint UC.

After testing all models – it’s the Varmint and Varmint RM8 UC models that have grabbed my attention so what follows are my views on both.

Stock Check

Both boast the same highly individual looking ambidextrous all-weather black synthetic stock with a high and very well defined cheekpiece plus ventilated rubber butt pad. This gives a comfortable shoulder and head position while the elongated thumbhole, slim and quite narrow neck give full access to the steep drop-down pistol grip. The generous palm swell nicely rounded and contoured forward-face of the grip make the ideal platform for hold, feel and fit plus precise operation of the trigger.

To The Front

The forend is equally if not more distinctive as it swells out in a quite bulbous fashion with a thickset overall feel, plus has a well-rounded and gently curving underside. It’s here you find the fill point and neat button size air gauge set adjacent to each other – while at the front there’s a useful Weaver/Picatinny accessory rail which doubles up as a natural hand stop.

The stock is also adorned with very decorative patterning that consists of small raised ridges set in panels at key areas – this being the forend, underside and on either side of the grip.

The 200cc buddy-bottle takes a recommended charge of 232bar which gives approximately 160 shots in .177 calibre and nigh on 180 in .22. The UC offers the same and after much use, I’ve no reason to argue that.

Smooth Operator

The side-bolt is practical and easy to operate but there are a few particular nuances of particular note. Obviously, to remove the 8-shot alloy magazine, the generously sized ‘blacked’ steel, ball end cocking bolt (teardrop shape on the UC) needs to be lifted from its original forward position and pulled back until it locks fully rearward. Then to remove the magazine from the action, you need to slide back the slim, lengthy oblong shape serrated outer edged release catch positioned directly behind the housing on the right. Once slid back you can then lift the drum shape magazine out from the left-hand side of the action.

To fill, you just place a pellet into all the empty chambers with the centre boss facing you. Then slot the mag back into its housing and push the cocking bolt forward and turn down to its original position. Incidentally, the forward operation of the bolt also takes the retaining catch with it to ensure the magazine is held securely.

Trigger & Safety

The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has an auto safety positioned at the rear of the action which engages every time the action is cocked. Also, it uses what is known as a ‘double safety system.’ This requires the slim vertical slide catch positioned on the safety’s outer edge needs pushing downwards and inwards before you can push the main safety button in to fully disengage.

A trait some will like or loathe but after use, you soon adapt to this – a bonus is it can also be manually re-set at any time by simply pulling it back.

Free to Float & Quiet

While the free-floating barrel on the standard model has a very stylish ported muzzle break to protect the screw cut muzzle, the UC comes with a Umarex K3 Neo Silencer already spun onto the ½” UNF threads.

A superb can, it measures 140mm x 32mm in diameter, weighs 151 grams and the matte black anodised finish means no quarry alerting shine. The sensible dimensions and low weight make it unobtrusive, doesn’t add an unnecessary forward weighting and therefore doesn’t affect balance or handling. It suits the UC to a T and makes this fast handling, ultra-compact carbine even more appealing.

Incidentally, I’ve used the K3 on the original Std length Varmint, and although that rifle has a full-length barrel – even in this instance it reduced muzzle report to a very low level.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, both standard-length and UC Walther Rotex RM8 Varmints prove to be robustly built, highly reliable and are very accurate. They handle and balance well, feel solid on aim and prove highly desirable for hunting and pest control duties.