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The Ruger Explorer is specially designed for youth and small-framed adults.
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Test-Fire: The Ruger® Explorer Air Rifle
By J. I. Galan
Air rifles bearing the name Ruger® are among the newest rifles in the exciting world of airguns. The Ruger company needs no introduction, as it has been for many decades among the leading firearm manufacturers. One of Ruger’s new air rifles is dubbed the Explorer, and the sample received from Umarex USA has been given an exhaustive test to ascertain its performance potential and overall quality.
The Explorer is actually a carbine, rather than a full-sized air rifle. Available in .177 (4.5 mm) caliber only, it is perfect as an entry-level pellet rifle for young shooters and even adults of slight build. Despite its compact size, the Explorer’s barrel-cocking power plant can generate a respectable muzzle velocity of approximately 500 fps with a wide variety of sporting-type pellets.
Stylish thumbhole stock has vent holes in raised cheekpiece.
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Distributed under license from Ruger, the Explorer has an overall length of just 37 ¼”, tipping the scales at a feathery 4 ½ pounds, making it ideal for young shooters moving up from their first BB guns. I was particularly impressed by the Explorer’s ambidextrous all-weather composite thumbhole-style stock. It sports an oversize forend, raised cheekpiece, and rubber buttpad.
The Explorer features a 15’ rifled steel barrel with a hard-wearing black synthetic finish. The front sight consists of a red fiber-optic element sitting atop a ramp. The open rear sight is molded and fully adjustable via graduated click knobs. It has two green fiber-optic elements that contrast very nicely with the red aiming point up front. The blued receiver is grooved for telescopic sight use.
The Explorer requires only about 17 lbs. of cocking effort.
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Fully adjustable rear sight has green fiber-optic dots. Famous Phoenix emblem on receiver.
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Automatic trigger safety is located at the rear of the receiver.
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The two-stage trigger is non-adjustable and had a crisp let-off pressure of 4 ½ pounds in the test rifle. The Explorer’s cocking effort hovers around 17 pounds, a decidedly easy figure for young shooters to manager. There is an automatic anti-beartrap safety, plus an automatic trigger safety consisting of a piece that pops out from the rear of the receiver as the barrel is cocked.
Shooting tests quickly showed that the Explorer is a solid performer. At ten yards, most groups averaged a half-inch across. That accuracy level makes the Explorer well suited to plinking activities and even small-pest control chores. In addition, the little rifle’s firing behavior was surprisingly smooth and devoid of any distracting spring vibrations.
In summary, the Ruger Explorer deserves high marks overall, as it is a creditable performer at an affordable price. As with any air gun, be sure to maintain your gun regularly. An excellent way to do this is with a shooter's kit, which gives you everything you need to maintain an airgun.
For more information (specs, 360 degree image, etc):
Ruger Explorer TV Commercial:
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