The Reximex Pretensis is arguably the best PCP airgun at its price point. I have been using one of these budget airguns for a year or two now, and I struggle to find fault with it.
As you can tell, I hold the Pretensis in very high regard, although it is fair to say that the original model is quite long and can be a bit of a handful when shooting in tight spaces around farm buildings. So you can imagine how pleased I was to hear that a carbine version was coming – and that scaled-down model is the subject of this review.
As with most airguns with a “K” in their name, the Reximex Pretensis K is a carbine variant, which generally means that it offers a shorter option. Distributed in the UK by Range Right, it has a recommended retail price of just £615. If this airgun is as good as the original, that price will amount to extremely good value for money.
The days of Turkish airguns feeling cheap and flimsy are long gone. Consequently, the Pretensis K feels nice and robust – just like my original Pretensis – and the finish is tidy. At 870mm long, it is pretty compact and (on my scales) it weighs just a shade over 3kg. It is kind on the eye as well as on the wallet and feels nicely balanced when tucked into the shoulder.
Below: Don't be fooled into thinking that there's anything cheap about the Reximex Pretensis K - although affordable, it is still a well-made sidelever PCP
This airgun’s good looks are enhanced by its Turkish walnut stock. It is a decent bit of timber but nice grain, though I reckon it could be enhanced with a drop of stock oil – an easy enough job to do for yourself. The stock is an ambidextrous design with long forend grooves that make for a very comfortable hold. Fitted as standard are front and rear studs for sling or bipod attachment, and the Pretensis K is suppled with a removable underside Picatinny accessory rail.
Moving back along the ambidextrous stock, there are panels of forend stippling just in front of the trigger guard. The stippling looks good but is positioned quite far back, so I think it is fair to regard it as being more for aesthetics than function. The same stylised stippling is present on both sides of the pistol grip were it serves as a very tactile contact point. The grip has been nicely profiled to give good trigger attack, and it feels comfortable whether you shoot thumb-up or thumb around.
One of the features I really like about the Pretensis K stock is its height adjustable cheekpiece. You just slacken off the locking screws and then shift it up and down to get correct eye alignment with your scope before locking it back in position – the gun actually comes supplied with the correct Allen key for the adjustment screws along with a load of other useful bits and pieces. The butt section is finished with a grippy rubber pad, which delivers a comfortable and secure shoulder mount.
Below: The stock is equipped with QD studs, removable Picatinny accessory rail and an adjustable cheekpiece
The Pretensis K has a 420mm barrel. The review gun shown here is .22 calibre, but it is also available in .177 and .25. The barrel has a half-inch UNF thread for silencer attachment and I imagine that most shooters will want to put one on there as it is quite noisy without one.
This airgun has the versatile the Reximex dual rail system for scope mounting, which means you can use either Picatinny or dovetail mounts. That rail is in two sections, which straddle the magazine, and they give you a total clamping space of about 150mm. You will see from the photographs that I only actually had to use the rear section to achieve correct eye relief with the little Konus scope I used for my testing.
Below top: The barrel on the Pretensis K is threaded for silencer attachment
Below bottom: Reximex's dual rail system makes for versatile scope mounting
The Reximex Pretensis K runs the usual multi-shot magazine that will be familiar to a lot of Reximex owners – you also get a single-shot loader which is really handy. The multi-shot magazine holds 12 shots in .22 calibre and 14 in .177. It is easy to load, kind to pellets and even has a counter to show you how many pellets or slugs you have left in there.
Quick cocking and loading come courtesy of a very positive sidelever action on the Presensis K. As a right-hander, I found the lever to be very well positioned, but it can’t be reversed for lefthanders. In operation, it was utterly reliable during my testing and kept the shots coming without any hitches.
Clean, reliable trigger release is important on any airgun, and that is exactly what you get on this one. In fact, overall trigger performance easily exceeds the Pretensis K’s price point. The wide, match-type blade provides plenty of feel and can be adjusted for height and angle. You can also adjust the release mechanism, but I have tested it on its factory setting as usual because triggers should be set up properly straight out of the box. This one was actually set up very well indeed. First stage travel was quite short and light, but there was a very clear stop point followed by a creep-free and totally predictable second stage break. If they all leave the factory like this, there won’t be much need for shooters to make any adjustments.
A crossbolt type safety catch is conveniently positioned just above the trigger blade. It does make a bit of a click but, for hunters who demand total stealth, it can easily be muted by applying a bit of resistance on the opposite side when pushing it across. You push it in from the left to make it safe, then push it back across from the right when you’re ready to shoot.
Below top: You get two magazines and a single-loader with the Pretensis K
Below bottom: Trigger design and performance are exceptionally good
The Reximex Pretensis K is equipped with a regulator. The regulator on the review gun was keeping shot to shot deviation within 12 fps over a ten-shot string. Regulator pressure is displayed on a gauge just in front of the power adjustment lever. That little lever has nine stop points and reduces muzzle energy by up to about a third if you wind it down all the way. Alternatively, you can use the stop points to make smaller adjustments, which in some instances could help to tighten up grouping with certain ammo.
On full output, the .22 calibre test gun was running at around 11.4ft/lb. Onboard pressure is displayed on the gauge at the front of the cylinder, and you can expect 80 or so shots from a full 250 bar fill. To refill, you pull the collar off the front of the cylinder to expose the inlet and then plug in the supplied probe. I was initially concerned that it might not be possible to get the collar off with a silencer fitted in front of it. I needn’t have worried as I was able to get it far enough off to access the inlet before it reached the back of the silencer.
Below top: The power adjuster is positioned close to the regulator dial
Below bottom: Air pressure in the main cylinder is displayed on a very clear gauge
In terms of accuracy, the Pretensis K is pretty good, although it’s simply not realistic to expect match-winning accuracy from a PCP costing around £600. That said, it’s not too far behind the leading pack. Off the bench, it was churning out ragged single-hole groups at 30m and was generally grouping within 20mm centre to centre at 40m. That is a pretty solid performance – more than good enough to consistently topple targets on the range and sufficiently accurate for pest control if you shoot responsibly.
The Pretensis K is another exceptionally good affordable airgun from the Reximex stable and I really like it. It is a no-nonsense, sensibly priced PCP that looks good and puts pellets in the right place. Add that nice trigger, its regulated firing cycle and other touches like the spare magazine and adjustable cheek-piece and I’d say it delivers remarkably good value for money. It should be a great choice for anyone making a start in the world of PCP airgun shooting or more experiences airgunners who want a dependable and relatively compact rifle that doesn’t cost a fortune.
MAKE: Reximex, Turkey
MODEL: Pretensis K
UK DISTRIBUTOR: Range Right
PRICE: £615
LENGTH: 870mm (34.2in)
WEIGHT: 3kg (6.6lb)
BARREL LENGTH: 420mm (16.5in)
MAXIMUM FILL PRESSURE: 250 bar
Article first published 29th June 2026
