A Quick Performance Test of the New QB58 Air Rifle

Here's the results of a brief "real world" performance test of the new QB58 air rifle. This gun is very similar mechanically to the QB57, but the QB58 in a fixed stock format instead of the "take down" and bullpup configuration of the QB57.


I pulled 3 QB58s of each caliber out of the rack - making no selection - and measured the muzzle velocities and weights of each.

The .22 caliber QB58s are all quite dry - much like the QB36-2s I tested a few days ago (see the following post). The .177s, however, had much more oil on them from manufacture and there was a fair amount of dieseling. The muzzle velocities should be understood in that light. As before, these are obviously not "broken in" numbers.

In .22 caliber the QB58s ran an average of close to 600fps with "The Peak" wadcutters. Maximum muzzle velocity recorded was 609fps, minimum was 576fps. At 13.86 Grains weight and an average muzzle velocity of 600fps, this makes the muzzle energy around 11 ft/lbs. The manufacturer's official spec for the QB58 is 580fps, so these guns were performing fairly well above that claim.

As the.177 caliber models were dieseling, there was a greater spread of muzzle velocities. The maximum recorded individual shot was 792fps, the slowest came in at 669fps. Average muzzle velocity would be in the 730 fps range with "The Peak" wadcutters pellets. At 8.6 Grains average weight, the muzzle energy is around 9.5 ft/lbs. The factory spec is 750 fps, so this time the manufacturer's numbers may be a little optimistic, but probably not by very much.

As for weights, the .22s came in between 7lbs 2 oz and 7 lbs 4oz each. The .177s were in the range from 7 lbs 6 oz to 7lbs 7oz.

So, that's what I'm finding with these new QB58s. The finish looks good, cocking is not too heavy, the anti-beartrap features seem to work well and the triggers and safeties worked fine. Although I was not specifically shooting for accuracy, the groups on my test target suggest that the QB58 is accurate and not particularly hold-sensitive, either.

As with the QB36-2s I reviewed a few days ago, I'd say these are fine air rifles for the modest price being asked.