Video review: Snowpeak M30 B and M30 C

Contents:

1. Where does the M30 store its air? A cylinder around the barrel
2. Wood or polymer: how do the M30 B and M30 C differ?
3. Bolt, safety and integrated moderator: what the M30 comes with as standard
4. How to load the M30 magazine
5. How we tested the M30
6. What customers liked and criticised about the previous M30
7. M30, T-Rex W, M25 or Reximex Lyra?
8. What to buy with the M30 to start shooting straight away
9. What do the M30 B and C get right, and what would we criticise?
10. Who the M30 is for, and who it is not for
11. Frequently asked questions about the Snowpeak M30 B and M30 C

Where does the M30 store its air? A cylinder around the barrel

The M30 is a PCP air rifle from Chinese manufacturer SPA (Snowpeak), with its air cylinder housed in a shroud around the barrel; neither a bottle nor a cylinder protrudes from the rifle. The barrel is 615 mm long, which is sufficient for accurate shooting at longer ranges too. The maximum fill pressure is 250 bar, not 300.

This is an updated version of the classic M30, which we introduced in our first M30 video review. The most noticeable change is the rail: the older M30 had an 11mm rail, while the new M30 B and C both have a standard 22mm Picatinny rail. Underneath are two pressure gauges: one shows the cylinder pressure, the other the regulator pressure; beside them are the regulator adjustment and the fill probe port.

Wood or polymer: how do the M30 B and M30 C differ?

The M30 B and M30 C differ only in their stocks ; the barrel, cylinder, regulator, bolt and power output are identical, and according to the product listings, both weigh 3.0 kg. With the tactical polymer stock, the air rifle feels lighter, but there is virtually no difference on the scales.

There is no need to worry about the build quality of the polymer C version; the plastic feels high-quality. You can adjust the rear section of the stock to the position you need and replace the AR-15-style grip with another compatible one, even a wooden one. You can attach a bipod, torch or laser to the lower Picatinny rail.

The B version is a traditional rifle with a wooden stock for anyone who wants wood and a classic appearance.

Bolt, safety and integrated moderator: what the M30 comes with as standard

The M30 B and C both come with a conventional turn-bolt action, a manual safety in the trigger, an integrated sound moderator, two magazines and a single-shot tray. Anyone wanting really fast follow-up shots may not find the bolt ideal; those familiar with it from firearm rifles can operate it fairly quickly. The safety is easy to reach and is not automatic, so once disengaged, you can keep shooting.

With the single-shot tray, you place a pellet or solid lead slug in the groove and push it into the barrel. The tray is held in place by a magnet: leave the bolt handle back and slide the tray out sideways. Single-shot loading tends to be slightly more accurate, but is of course slower.

How to load the M30 magazine

The M30 magazine is a rotary drum that is wound up by turning it before loading; it holds 10 pellets in 5.5 mm calibre and nine in 6.35 mm.

1. Leave the bolt back and remove the magazine.
2. Turn the drum to wind it up.
3. Insert the first pellet and hold the drum with your finger.
4. Insert the remaining pellets head-first so that they all face the same way.
5. Slide the magazine into the air rifle from the left and close the bolt.

How we tested the M30

We shot at targets at 20 metres on our indoor range, using M30 rifles in 5.5 and 6.35 mm, both brand new and straight out of the box. We did not adjust anything; we simply fitted a scope, filled the cylinder and started shooting. In 5.5 mm we used JSB Exact Jumbo pellets weighing 1.03 g, and in 6.35 mm we used JSB Exact King pellets weighing 1.645 g. We do not select pellets to suit each rifle or tune the air rifles: we test them as you receive them. At 20 metres, accuracy was not our primary focus, as it also depends on the shooter and ammunition selection. We focused on power, velocity consistency and the overall shooting experience.

5.5 mm calibre: sixteen shots between 305 and 306 m/s

In 5.5 mm, the chronograph recorded 16 shots, all at either 305 or 306 m/s, equivalent to 47.9 – 48.2 J. I loaded the first eight using the single-shot tray and the next eight from the magazine; there is no visible velocity difference between the loading methods. This is the sort of velocity consistency found in much more expensive air rifles.

(Chronograph velocities from the video, JSB Exact Jumbo 1.03 g pellets. Energy calculated from velocity and pellet weight; it matches the values in the video captions.)

6.35 mm calibre: seventeen shots at around 61 J

In 6.35 mm, the chronograph recorded 17 shots from two magazines at between 270 and 274 m/s, equivalent to 60.0–61.8 J; the averages work out at 272 m/s and 61 J. Velocity consistency is slightly poorer than in 5.5 mm, but this may vary from one rifle to another; even a 4 m/s difference between the slowest and fastest shots is perfectly acceptable and has virtually no effect on accuracy.

(Chronograph velocities from the video, JSB Exact King 1.645 g pellets. Energy calculated from velocity and pellet weight.)

What the measurements tell us: manufacturer specifications, accuracy and range

The manufacturer quotes 300 m/s and 46 J for 5.5 mm; this corresponds to a pellet weighing around 1.02 g, effectively the same as the one we used. Our rifle was 2 % faster and delivered 4 % more energy. The product listing does not specify energy for 6.35 mm; with 1.645 g pellets, we measured around 61 J.

The velocity spread has virtually no effect on accuracy at 20 metres. A 4 m/s difference between the slowest and fastest shots in 6.35 mm shifts the point of impact by just under 1 mm at 20 metres and roughly 5 mm at 50 metres; in 5.5 mm, with a 1 m/s difference, it is just under 1 mm at 50 metres (calculated without air resistance). With an output of 48 to 61 J, I believe shooting at 50 or even 100 metres is possible; we will therefore take them out to 50 metres in the next test.

There are around twenty shots on the 5.5 mm target, some loaded using the single-shot tray and some from the magazine, and the group is roughly an inch across. The first magazine in 6.35 mm produced a group of less than an inch.

What customers liked and criticised about the previous M30

Our customers praise the previous M30 version for its build quality and accuracy; their criticisms concerned the bolt handle, bipod attachment and single-shot loading. One of our customers, for whom the M30 was his first PCP air rifle, highlights the trigger safety, integrated sound moderator, magazine and good balance. He notes that the bolt handle could be larger and protrude further, and that a bipod could not be fitted to the previous version. The new M30 C addresses this with its lower Picatinny rail. We stock spare parts.

M30, T-Rex W, M25 or Reximex Lyra?

Of these four, the M30 is the only one with a cylinder around the barrel and, at 3.0 kg, the lightest; the T-Rex W is the shortest and most affordable, while the M25 and Reximex Lyra have the highest power output in 5.5 mm. If you want the look of a traditional rifle without a protruding cylinder, choose the M30; if you want wood at a lower price, choose the T-Rex W.

What to buy with the M30 to start shooting straight away

For the M30, you need a compressed air source with a quick-release coupling, pellets and a scope with mounts for a 22mm rail. At the longer distances that the M30 has the power to reach, a scope is essential.

• Pellets: in the test, JSB Exact Jumbo 1.03 g in 5.5 mm and JSB Exact King 1.645 g in 6.35 mm. Every air rifle needs fine-tuning and pellets that suit it; try two or three types.
• Scope and mounts: for 50 metres and beyond, around 16× magnification, for example the Valiant Lynx 4- 16x50 with a 30 mm tube and mounts for a 22mm rail.
• Air source: a diving cylinder or manual PCP pump; fill the cylinder to no more than 250 bar. You will find the procedure in the article How to Fill PCP Air Rifles.
• 1/8" BSP quick-release coupling for the filling hose; we also sell the M30 fill probe separately.
• Bipod: for the lower Picatinny rail on the C version.

What do the M30 B and C get right, and what would we criticise?

Who the M30 is for, and who it is not for

The M30 B and C are for shooters who want a powerful, regulated PCP air rifle with traditional rifle looks, no protruding bottle, and who take their time, shooting one shot at a time. Anyone wanting to shoot in the garden should choose 5.5 mm; the 6.35 mm version, with an output of around 61 J, belongs on a shooting range. It is not for anyone wanting fast reloading with a sidelever or the highest possible shot count per fill; a bottle-fed air rifle is better for that.

Frequently asked questions about the Snowpeak M30 B and M30 C

What is the difference between the M30 B and M30 C?

Only the stock : the M30 B has a wooden stock, while the M30 C has a tactical polymer stock with an adjustable rear section and an AR-15 grip. The barrel, cylinder, regulator and power output are identical, and according to the listings, both weigh 3.0 kg.

How powerful is the Snowpeak M30?

The manufacturer quotes 46 J in 5.5 mm. We measured 48 J from our rifle with 1.03 g pellets, and around 61 J from the 6.35 mm rifle with 1.645 g pellets.

Where is the M30's air cylinder, and how much air does it hold?

The cylinder is housed in a shroud around the barrel, so it is not visible; its capacity is around 230 to 280 cm³ . The maximum fill pressure is 250 bar.

Can I shoot the M30 in 6.35 mm in my garden?

No. With an output of around 61 J, it exceeds the 50 J threshold, above which shooting is only permitted at a shooting range. The 5.5 mm calibre is suitable for garden use.

Which pellets should I use in the M30?

In the test, JSB Exact Jumbo 1.03 g in 5.5 mm and JSB Exact King 1.645 g in 6.35 mm. Each barrel prefers something different, so it is worth trying two or three types.

Can a different sound moderator be fitted to the M30?

Yes, but only with a 1/2 UNF thread adaptor; the M30 has an integrated moderator and no thread of its own.