The Seneca Sumatra 2500 with .22 Caliber is a long-standing market option.
It is the most powerful air rifle, as well as the sports competitor’s air rifle in the world of PCP.
This air rifle comes with a lever-action, can shoot exceptionally well whether slinging pellets or even with cast lead slugs.
It is proven to deliver the best results in time with high power and accuracy .
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 has a rotary magazine with six-shots, giving the look of an old revolver from the west.
Its barrel threads are 10mm x 1.0.
What makes it a fantastic hunting tool is that it is extended enough to lever the pellet easily.
Likewise, it comes with a fixed blade front sight & an entirely adjustable rear.
Also, the air rifle has an option to mount any scope you wish to choose an 11mm dovetail rail.
The lever-action of the air rifle allows you to handle it very quickly while shooting to make sure you have easy follow-up shots.
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 has an engraved receiver, classic lines reminiscent of hunting shotguns, barrel
And air tube with a deep blued finish, and attractive hardwood hardware.
If you are looking for a high power air rifle for varmint hunting, target shooting, and pest control, the Seneca Sumatra 2500 is unbeatable with its unique, traditional, and yet distinctive appearance.
(For more on the best air rifle for rabbits, see this post)
With excellent accuracy, the Sumatra 2500 allows you to shoot heavy pellets for enormous knockdown power.
None of the reviews of this particular rifle have given a negative or unsatisfactory comment.
Even if you are going to take part in sport shooting
And wish to have something sturdy and correct, the Seneca Sumatra 2500 will deliver you the best result.
This is best for experienced shooters who want a more powerful weapon.
Without any doubt, the Sumatra 2500 is a loud and heavy air rifle.
Therefore, this air rifle is not a family-friendly everyday plinker .
This is specially manufactured and designed for hunters in a real sense.
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 has an easy to cock, lever-action repeater with the consistency of 6 shots.
It has two built-in chambers (500cc as a whole) that hold a high-pressure air of 3000 psi from a scuba tank, compressor, or hand pump.
Additionally, the air rifle also has an adjustable cheekpiece.
With the two-stage adjustable trigger, the air rifle has an option to choose double or single action.
The Sumatra 2500 air rifle has a fixed front sight.
For windage and elevation, the ramp-style rear sight is adjustable .
When it comes to shooting, power and accuracy are the tools that matter the most!
The adjustable power wheel has 13 settings, making this one of the most versatile air rifles on the market.
The 500cc reservoir delivers a lot of potent and accurate shots so you do not need to refill them so often.
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 is your gun when you are ready to have some serious hunting!
Here, I will discuss the powerful Seneca Sumatra 2500 in detail, so that you can have a complete idea of its merits.
Table of Contents
Seneca Sumatra 2500 500cc Reservoir Air Rifle Review
Speed And Accuracy
For any shooter or hunter, it matters a lot to have a reliable weapon when he/she is in the field.
Below, the table shows the speed and accuracy of the Sumatra 2500.
Pellet | Muzzle Velocity- Average | Muzzle Energy – Average | Accuracy |
Gamo raptor platinum 9.7 grain | 1356.7 fps | 39.71 ft/lbs. | Good |
H&N field target trophy green 14.66 grain | 1345.29 fps | 40.31 ft/lbs. | Excellent |
RWS hobby 11.9 grain | 1286.53 fps | 43.74 ft/lbs. | Excellent |
Crosman premier hp 14.3 grain | 1232.71 fps | 48.26 ft/lbs. | Excellent |
JSB jumbo exact 14.35 grain | 1225.59 fps | 47.87 ft/lbs. | Excellent |
H&N field target trophy 14.66 grain | 1231.82 fps | 49.40 ft/lbs. | Best tested – excellent |
H&N Baracuda match 21.14 grain | 1110. fps | 57.89 ft/lbs. | Excellent |
The table, as mentioned above, shows the muzzle velocity within the range of 1100 fps to 1350 fps with all standard HAM test pellets.
If we look at the Gamo Raptor platinum, we can check that the accuracy level fell a bit due to having lighter alloy pellets.
But, it was still not that bad, but even better than anticipated beforehand,
As the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle is famed for its ability to deal with heavy pellets.
In a real sense, the real strength of the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle is its ability to produce high muzzle energy with heavier pellets.
The HAM test had the peaked value with the H&N Barracuda match 21.14-grain pellets for the muzzle energy
The weight of the heavy pellets increases and becomes the reason behind the muzzle energy increase.
The HAM test results show that the .25 Calibers version would be much more powerful.
As the HAM tester Doug Rogers mentioned in one of his notes: If he were searching for the best hunting air rifle, then the Seneca Sumatra 2500 would be on his list!
Note that the muzzle velocity recorded during the test was with the Seneca Sumatra 2500’s power adjustment wheel positioned at its lowest setting.
While changing the muzzle velocity to a higher value would increase the muzzle velocity by 6 to 7 percent.
AdjustableTrigger and Cocking Effort
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 is being known for its best performance among the shooters.
The trigger pull weight averaged 3 Pounds 7 ounces.
Such pressure is excellent for hunting without any disturbing.
The primary purpose of the Sumatra 2500 is to make air rifles comfortable for the hunters.
The trigger has two-stage actions, but during the test, only one single could be detected by the HAM team.
Moreover, the trigger of the air rifle is adjustable for weight pulling, and there is a manual instruction guide to give instructions for how this is to be done.
During the analysis of the trigger, the setting was left as done by the manufacturers.
If you fire many shots, the cocking lever might be a little uncomfortable on the back of your hand.
Compared to the side-lever, the cocking effort is looking hard.
Of course, if you shoot consistently, then it would become smoother or more manageable.
During the HAM test, the cocking effort for the Seneca Sumatra 2500 measured at around 21 lbs.
Along with this, the manual safety is conveniently located just behind the trigger.
It is a push that worked well for the HAM testers.
Overall, the performance of the trigger and cocking effort is satisfactory;
You can have a powerful air rifle with surety in your hands for next hunting or shooting experience.
Rick Eutsler from AirgunWeb has tested this gun intensively in the video below:
Impressive Sight And Scope
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 has a set of simple iron sights.
There is no need for any screwdriver need to alter the elevation for fiber optic or the rear sight.
Many shooters may choose to fit the scope instead of any of the views; rather, they take it as a backup.
The air rifle has the “premium bundle,” which includes a Tech force-branded 4 – 12 X 40 A0 Scope and leaper high profile rings.
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 carbine air rifle with a tech force scope is well balanced in size and efficiency for better results.
It includes AO (adjustable objective) for sharp focus down to the 7.5 yards range,
And the 12 X magnification is as high as most of the hunters can exploit proficiently in the field.
Here, we can close that the optical quality of the air rifle seems good.
The air rifle has a mil-dot reticle in the scope considered to be an essential and indispensable tool for practical airgun use.
The mil-dot reticle has selectable red and green illuminations when required by the shooter if he/she has a low-light shot.
The air rifle has a front focusing ring which is somewhat best for warmer or moderate temperatures.
But it is not that suitable for the snowy time like January in upstate New York.
Consistency
The Seneca Sumatra 2500, while the test revealed that it has excellent accuracy, has a wide range of pellets.
It was only Gamo platinum PBA pellets that showed the result which was not that good but better than the expectations at least.
Overall, the accuracy of the air rifle is classified as excellent over a wide range of pellets.
Measurement of the muzzle velocity consistency/standard deviation for the Sumatra 2500 tested by the HAM team.
The air rifle was consistently inconsistent!
The range for the standard deviation was between 14 to 21 fps, with an average of 17.38 fps.
The reason behind it is its unregulated design.
As soon as you fire, the next shot will be slower because the pressure is reduced for the air rifle.
Due to this reason, the upcoming shot will also be reduced.
The high power output of the air rifle means that this shot-to-shot drop is more distinguished than you would finish
With the lower-powered unregulated PCP air rifles, for instance, the Benjamin Marauder.
Shooting Ability
It is to make clear that the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle is heavy.
Seneca Sumatra weighs 10 pounds and 3 ounces when fitted with the scope.
It is the sign that the shooter must use the sling in the field.
The balance of the air rifle is pretty good on the shoulders, therefore; it gives a good cheek weld.
The Sumatra 2500 is heavy as it is weighted.
RATEAGUN has given it a score of 4.5, which means that it is easy to shoot with the air rifle.
With the six-shot rotary clip, the Sumatra 2500 is accessible in loading and gives a consistent follow-up shooting ability while hunting in the field.
Pellets of the air rifle were also tended to fall out of the clip if it carried around in a pocket for shooting.
So, it is not such an excellent decision to pre-pod clip and transports them into the field.
If you compare two rifles, Benjamin Marauder vs Seneca Sumatra PCP air rifle, you would see that Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle has a more abundant reservoir
This means filling it with a hand pump would take a lot of time.
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle has most of 6 to 20 consistent shots while Benjamin marauder gives you 80 shots per fill.
You can note another feature that the price of the Benjamin is around $600 and the Seneca Sumatra 2500 is for sale at $700.
During the test, the HAM team noticed that a few H&N field target trophy green pellets would not fit into this gun at all.
The Seneca Sumatra air rifle is not manufactured to use with the super light pellets.
It is good to find that the manufacturer of the Sumatra 2500 air rifle has put the features which have increased the protection level for the shooter, indeed.
If we see Benjamin marauder vs Seneca Sumatra, this is the better advantage the Sumatra 2500 air rifle has over Benjamin Marauder.
It allows the gun for “double-loaded” if the shooter loses track of the loading air rifle and firing sequence.
This safety measure makes it better than other air rifles.
Appearance And Finishing
The Sumatra 2500 air rifle is made with wood and metal.
It gives traditional construction.
In your hands, when you hold the Sumatra 2500, it is a beautiful-looking gun more than its pictures.
(For more on the in-depth comparison between synthetic and wood stock, see this post.)
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle looks like an “over and under” shotgun rather than an air gun.
Because it has a double air tube under the barrel, this is an unusual-looking air gun, but with an excellent appearance.
Finishing of the air rifle, Sumatra 2500 is commendable, with reliable and deep bluing for some parts and glossy and shiny black paint.
The receiver, cocking lever, and trigger are all castings, with the receiver having a deeply inserted hunting seen on either side.
We call the Seneca Sumatra 2500 carbine not indexing, as it is the long rifle with a shorter barrel.
The Seneca Sumatra is not auto-indexing but the Benjamin marauder does have the auto-indexing with ten shots repeater.
Wood finishing is generally perfect, with finely checkering.
Slight roughness was detected on the sides of the buttstock.
As a whole, the appearance and finishing of the Sumatra 2500 air rifle are tremendous and satisfying while shooting.
A not-so-quiet air rifle
The Seneca Sumatra 2500, if described for the sound, would say that it is, without any doubt, a LOUD air rifle.
If you are looking for an air rifle with silent volume so that you would not disturb the people around you, then Sumatra 2500 would not deliver this feature.
There is no silencer system in the air rifle.
As it is not a family air rifle and you will not be used in the home backyard.
The Sumatra 2500 uses a lot of air while shooting in each shot.
You may have to wear ear defenders on the range from where you will be hunting.
Without any doubt, the Seneca Sumatra 2500 is not fitted with a suppressor of any type.
Value for money
The Seneca Sumatra 2500 is sold at a reasonable price, about $700 in the market.
The scope and rings account for over $110 of that number.
At such street price, you have a potent and efficient hunting air rifle.
There is of course an additional cost for the air supply, like any other PCP air rifle.
If you take the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle, it gives about the “bang of the buck” of any multi-shot PCP air rifle for high power, accuracy, and reasonable price.
There is a manual operating guide for you to get information while buying the Sumatra 2500 air rifle.
The US distributor, Air Venturi, has the full range of all the parts available for the Seneca Sumatra 2500
And provides support for the 12-month warranty on the air rifle.
Manufacturer’s Claim Analysis
The manufacturers claimed that the muzzle velocity of the Seneca Sumatra2500 air rifle in .22 Calibers is 1100 fps.
But while shooting was done during the HAM test, the value exceeded the 1350 fps for 21.14 grain.
The muzzle velocity of the air rifle is extremely conservative, as the test results showed.
As the manufacturers claimed the accuracy of the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle is very likely to achieve by a good shot on an average, calm day.
The HAM team tested the air rifle with a wide range of pellets in 10 shot groups.
Even the makers have not claimed on that level the air rifle Sumatra 2500 works.
The air rifle is an accurate air rifle with great effort and energy.
One more thing, the makers have claimed for the two-stage trigger.
But, when the HAM test was conducted, it was astonishing to see that the team only found the single-stage trigger
And gave the remarks for the trigger being ok and not that impressive.
Pros & Cons
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Specifications
- .22” Calibers (5.5 mm)
- 1100 fps maximum velocity
- Loudness is 5-high
- Barrel length is 24.”
- Overall length is 43.”
- The shot capacity is 6
- Barrel is rifles
- Blade and ramp front sight
- Adjustable for windage and elevation rear sight
- 11 mm dovetail scope-able
- Two-stage adjustable trigger
- Rubber butt plate
- Suggested for hunting
- Lever action
- Manual safety provided
- The power plant is pre-charged pneumatic
- Repeater function
- Maximum shots per fill are 33
- Body type rifle
- Weight 8 lbs.
- Stock is manufactured with hardwood
- Ambi grip
- Brown in color
- Fixed front sight
- Ambidextrous Monte Carlo tock
- Male quick disconnect foster fitting with a cover
- 500cc air reservoir
- Up to 20 maximum shots on high power and up to 33 maximum shots on medium power
Customers Reviews
The reviews of the customers for the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle are mostly positive,
And users are encouraging people to buy the air rifle for the reason that it is precise enormous hitting power with excellent finishing and appearance.
In the same way, the six-shot cylinder magazine is also appreciated.
The look or appearance of the air rifle is of high quality.
It has a lot of power in higher settings as well.
Customers claim that the air rifle is most accurate when adjusted between 800 and 950 fps depending on the weight you are shooting at.
Many customers own the .25 Calibers on a set of medium power and at a distance of 50 yards.
Customers are satisfied with the power of the gun as the comments show that the results are far better than their expectations.
Shooters after the use also like the looks of the air rifle as the Seneca Sumatra 2500 air rifle is made with hardwood
Which gives a traditional look to the air rifle.
After that, when it is used, it looks great in your hands.
There are many things that customers have recommended to change.
The trigger is not two stages, and the adjustment is not that satisfactory.
Among customers, the trigger is not being loved.
The magazine does not have the capability of preloading and carrying in your pocket.
Another suggestion from the customers is for the loudness of the air rifle.
The Sumatra 2500 is so loud that it disturbs the fun during the shooting.
The main focus of the customers is on the noise level as they have experienced.
I would not say that you can avoid the noise; instead, you have to bear if you are an accurate shooter
And wish to have an air rifle full of power and accuracy.
In summation, the Seneca Sumatra air rifle is the rifle for the real shooters.
It is the most powerful air rifle, but it is not the rifle for family use.
We can say that it is not a family-friendly air rifle.
You cannot give it to any untrained beginner; instead, the Seneca Sumatra 2500 is for the trained or professional hunter.
From an appearance point of view, the quality of the wood is also commendable! This is one of the best PCP air guns on the market today!