What do you think about the new EDgun Matador R5M?

I'm the proud owner of a couple of Ed's creations. I own a EDgun Morara in .25, EDgun matador R3 Gen2 .30 and since two weeks ago I also own the new R5M Long in .25 caliber. Ok, I will start saying that I do like the rifle, but, I think that EDgun lost his soul with this rifle. The first ones, before the R3 and R3M, where rifles that you can take anywhere, a few allen keys and spare O-rings, and you know that the rifle no matter what happened, will never let you down.

 With the R3 and the R3M (including all the changes that the rifle had over the time), he lost something, but IMHO, they where the best EDguns. The new R5M shots great, the trigger is much better, the moderator is better, etc. But it looks like a Storm Trooper assault rifle and foe the first time, it comes with several plastic parts. The EdMU gauge, it's been a PITA. The first day that I finally had some time to test the rifle, the gauge didn't turn on. I spoke with Brian and he told me that it should be the Battery (it uses a watch battery, the CR2032), anyway, I change the battery and the Gauge is broken. I will try again, if Brian send me a new one under the rifle's warranty, but I think that the electronic gauge is something that ED should never put in his rifles, like the plastic parts. If I don't have any lucky with the second EDMU, I will install a trusty analog Wika.

  But that's off course is my opinion. What do you think about the new line of edgun rifles?

Regards,

Alex

Morning Alex,

I don't think change is always easy.           I started my EDgun adventure with a R3M Short .25, then a R3M Long .25. I have had too many EDguns to list since. Now, I own a R5 .30, and am on the list at EDgunWest for a R5M .25.

I personally like the LOOKS of the R3's way better than the R5s. The wood looks nicer and seems to have a more appealing finish on it. The lines of the gun look way better to me. Hell, they even came with nice padded carry bags too, which I use regularly to transport.

But, in terms of function, I shot my R5 .30 recently and quit shooting a string after 50 shots at 895fps, yes FIFTY, on one fill, and I stopped the string early.  Dayum! I mean my last .30, a 2nd gen R3, could not get HALF  that many shots on a fill, and it wasn't shooting at 895, more like 880, was all I could get out of it. This is out of the box. Also, it's a definite improvement that I don't have to retighten the hst anymore; they work loose over time.

So, I'm gonna have to get used to its looks. I've still held onto one R3M, my Long,  because I love the R3s. But for me, there's no denying the performance of the new ones, at least this R5, have obviously reached new heights. 

I agree the electronic gauge is more change, better? Probably. just more learning, supposed to be way more accurate for pressures. And yes, maybe someday I'll use all the functions... It is cool when filling the gun to watch the pressure rise, and to have an accurate # when checking it.

I'm really looking forward to the forward cocking on the R5M too.

@ TX - how do you like that Morana? How do you use it? Bench rest like it was "meant" or otherwise?

I've been eyeing that up for a while now, but the length scares me. I'd use it more for hunting as that's mostly what I do.

Sorry if I sidetracked this..

Hi,

  Please, don't feel sorry, this is the right place to ask everything that we want to know about our airguns 😉

I bought the Morana about two years ago, maybe a little more. It's the walnut version, with the longer and more effective moderator, in cal .25 (I'm not sure if Ed made one in other caliber). I'ts very accurate, even more than the R3M long in the same caliber, but, it's a long long rifle and only, if you will use it as a  bench rest rifle or standing hunting, I don't recommend it to anyone. It's very heavy, very long, it feels very fragile (something very weird in an Edgun rifle), I'm sure that the rifle will not break easily, but is not as strong as the other Edgun rifles. 

  The rifle know cost $800 less, so I think it's a good opportunity to get a great bench rest rifle or standing hunting rifle. It comes with a better trigger and it's a rifle, not a bullpup, so you can adjust the stock, etc. I think that maybe, I will put a HUMA regulator (the high power version) on it, to shoot the JSB 34 grains and with the longer cylinder, maybe I will get 40 shots, at 905-910 fps  ?  

  Regards!

I'm sorry, but you both said it IS good and ISN'T good for bench rest and standing hunts.

I assume you me IS. Correct?

Thanks

Hi,

 I should be sorry for that. it's  ....IS

Alex