Airguns have become increasingly complex. While this added sophistication, particularly the ease of tuning, has attracted shooters who enjoy tweaking and methodically testing different pellets and slugs, many still prefer to open the box and simply start shooting.
BARREL-THROUGH-AIR
The FX DRS system needs little introduction. In my opinion, it represents one of FX’s finest innovations to date. The DRS platform is available in several configurations but essentially still uses FX’s signature Smooth Twist barrel liners, which are now housed inside the air cylinder. This integration offers two significant benefits and, in my view, very few real drawbacks, which is rare in a world full of compromises. The pressure tube, with a 34.4mm diameter, is remarkably rigid, and the rifle still holds 310cc of air at 230 bar, delivering a realistic shot count for this FAC-spec model.
BARREL AND CYLINDER LENGTH
The “Sniper” model features a 700mm barrel, but options of 500mm and 600mm are available for those seeking a more compact, hunting-friendly platform. A threaded muzzle allows for the easy addition of a moderator after removing the end cap. The sleek, integrated barrel and air tube run into a 300mm (12”) long octagonal fore-end that fully free-floats the tube. It’s exceptionally rigid and ideal for accessory mounting. There’s a full-length Picatinny rail on top of the receiver for scope installation, and the fore-end includes both an ARCA rail below and M-LOK slots for further customisation. You won’t have stability issues whether you’re using a bipod or a tripod.
GOT THE LOOK?
It’s hard to ignore the trend, as many airguns are styled to resemble AR-15s, and some execute this better than others. The DRS Tactical offers one of the most visually satisfying designs in this regard. Its proportions are spot-on, and the 500mm barrel mimics the silhouette of a fully suppressed centrefire rifle. A distinctive underslung plenum chamber, designed to work in conjunction with the AMP II regulator, is fitted within the receiver and visually recreates a .223 magazine beneath the rifle.
TRIGGER, SAFETY AND MODULARITY
The trigger guard is machined into the rifle’s aluminium chassis and houses an adjustable two-stage trigger that broke at 350g. It was crisp, predictable, and a real pleasure to use. Staying with the AR-15 theme, there’s a two-position safety lever above the trigger on the right-hand side.
The rifle comes without a buttstock but includes FX’s UG1 rubberised grip, which features stippling and a subtle ambidextrous palm swell. I found it comfortable, with a 70mm reach to the trigger, maintaining solid ergonomics. While the supplied grip is excellent, the rifle is fully AR-15 compatible, which means users can customise it with their own buffer tube, stock, and grip. My review rifle came with a basic Smith & Wesson stock, which was functional, but minimal. Still, the rifle’s modularity means you can go as premium as you like.
Considering its power, consistency, and FX pedigree, the DRS Tactical is very competitively priced, so just remember to factor in your buttstock and other accessory costs.
MULTISHOT
The 12-shot magazine follows FX’s usual format. To load it, rotate the latch 180° to unlock the clear cover, then manually rotate the internal rotor anticlockwise to preload the spring. Next, insert the first pellet to lock the rotor, load the remaining 11, and re-lock the cover, which is recessed to accommodate projectiles up to 14.2mm in length.
When empty, the internal rotor stops the rifle’s probe from moving forward, providing a clear indication that the magazine has been depleted. This also helps prevent the user from wasting air by dry firing. The side-lever has a smooth, silent toggle action and will not open unintentionally.
EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY
FX has equipped the DRS Tactical with a newly designed plenum. Although smaller than the one found in the DRS Pro (SHP plenum), it delivers exceptional efficiency. Unlike the Impact or Leopard platforms, the DRS Sniper has no external manual adjusters for pressure or hammer strike. While some may interpret this as simplification or cost-cutting, I’d argue the opposite. It’s factorytuned and ready to shoot, perfect for those who want to skip the setup and get straight to the range. There is a single fill pressure gauge on the left side, allowing you to focus on shooting and addressing other aspects of marksmanship that are often overlooked when the shooter is fixated solely on tuning.
FX DRS TACTICAL SNIPER (FAC)
Calibre: .25 on test, .177 and .22 also available
Barrel Length: 700mm, 500mm and 600mm also available
Overall Length: 878mm, not including butt stock
Weight: 2.72kg, not including butt stock
Magazine Capacity: 12-shot in .25 calibre
Price: £922.99 (without buttstock)
I STILL LOVE PELLETS
I tested the rifle with FX’s .25 calibre, 34gr pellets. FX claims 52 shots per fill at this tune, which matches my experience. Across a five-shot string, I recorded 884fps with a 12fps extreme spread, equating to 59.3ft/lbs of energy, which is more than enough for most airgun applications.
Over four magazines (48 shots), the rifle remained consistently accurate, producing ragged single-hole groups at 50m. The worst was 20mm centre-to-centre, while most groups stayed within 10 to 15mm. These results were achieved outdoors in real-world conditions, making them even more impressive.
STABILITY
What stood out most to me was the rifle’s phenomenal aiming stability. The long fore-end, ARCA rail, and Tier-One wide-stance bipod that I fitted gave me one of the most stable shooting platforms I’ve used. Without an underslung buddy bottle, the gun’s profile remains low and manageable, with a lower centre of gravity.
The cheekpiece, while a personal preference item, aligned perfectly with my scope setup, and I had ample room for a rear bag. The long Picatinny scope rail allows you loads of space to set correct eye relief, and the smaller magazine allows the scope to remain relatively low.
FX now uses a steel fill probe instead of brass, and I experienced no leaks when refilling.
WOULD I?
FX once again proves that the over-barrel air cylinder configuration used by the DRS series is one of its best engineering solutions. The rifle held zero all week, even after being boxed, unboxed, and jostled around in the back of my truck. FX includes a padded travel case, though I used a larger one to avoid removing the bipod during transport.
If you want a rifle that will deliver pellets with power and efficient air usage, the DRS is a good choice, and with multiple options for calibre and barrel length, I could finally be converted to the AR-15 layout.
The trigger was superb and can be easily adjusted via screws accessible through the trigger guard. If you prefer a slightly heavier pull for colder winter weather, there is ample space within the trigger guard to accommodate gloves. I can’t really comment on the eventual buyer’s choice of buttstock, but in fairness, the S&W unit was certainly comfortable to use.
WHICH BARREL LENGTH?
This rifle keeps things simple and shoots well straight out of the box, just as FX intended. It’s interesting to note that FX themselves publish data on the different power levels and shot counts available from the three different barrel length/air cylinder combos with Superior and Superior Heavy liners. For hunting, I don’t think I’d really be at a loss with the 500mm barrel for pellets, but as always, slug shooters might want that extra time in the bore for air expansion that the longer tubes offer. Plus, the Sniper is the only one available with the Heavy liner; the 500 and 600 have slower twist rates for pellets. Yet, the Sniper, with a slug liner, still shot perfectly with heavy (longer) pellets, so there is still that experimentation required that FX are so famous for. Does the extra friction from the longer barrel justify the extra air usage for your needs?
CONCLUSION
I can’t exactly say why, but the DRS Tactical has really caught my attention.
They all offer so many factors to balance out, but this seems to hit the magic mark for me. But I am predominantly a hunter, not a target shooter. The long fore-end gives exceptional stability from a bipod, and the ARCA accepts any decent tripod. The mags are reliable, the shot count is realistic and the barrel-through-cylinder has impressed me.