Z.50 Prototype Tests: Standard Umarex HDR50/TR50 and Tuning-Kit Comparison

This edition preserves the original tests, product plans, sponsorship and legal statements as the video's historical account.

Z.50 prototypes in the standard Umarex HDR50/TR50 and with the tuning set

Welcome to the Z-RAM YouTube channel. Today Z-RAM wants to see on the chronograph how the Z.50 projectiles perform in the standard HDR50 and then compare that with the tuning set: how the Z.50 projectiles perform once with the standard version and once with the tuning set.

Here are the Z.50 prototypes, currently around 4.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.2 g. They will be a little heavier later. There is also one with a slightly thicker wall, weighing 6.5 g. Z-RAM has made a few more test shots and finds it not so bad, although the caption's wording, “it doesn't weigh so badly,” is unclear.

In the first test, the thin-walled ones flew perfectly and always reached the target perfectly. The thicker-walled ones sometimes arrived at an angle or backwards, which Z-RAM did not like so much. After a few more test shots, however, the thicker-walled projectile almost always arrived straight.

This means Z-RAM will probably increase the wall here from 0.7 mm to 1 mm, probably reaching approximately 4.7 or 5 g. For now, Z-RAM will fire the four thin-walled projectiles with a new capsule; the fifth shot will use the thick-walled one. Then the tuning kit will be installed, and the same test will follow again with a new capsule. Z-RAM will set it up now, then meet the viewers at the chronograph.

The 11 J test and projectile shape

The weapon is loaded, with the projectiles now in place. The last shot is the 6.3 g projectile. Z-RAM strikes the capsule; it is armed now, and five shots follow. As mentioned, this is the 11 J version without a tuning kit, the standard version. Now it is time to see how the projectiles ended up here.

Here is the first one; it went the furthest. The second also flew perfectly straight. Here is another of the thin-walled ones; the next one also flew perfectly straight. This thin-walled one also flew straight. It looks as though the heavy projectile is too heavy for the standard HDR50. Here is the heavy projectile: it was lodged a little crookedly, leading Z-RAM to conclude that it still turns slightly in flight.

The walls are simply too thick: 2 mm here, compared with 0.7 mm here. Z-RAM thinks that, with 1 mm, this will be a perfect projectile with the perfect shape. The angle here is 80°. An angle below 90° was important to Z-RAM because it makes the projectile more aerodynamic and lets it penetrate deeper. The weight distribution is then also ideal, with the front heavier than the back. Z-RAM thinks the best has been achieved with it. Now it is time to see how the whole thing looks with the tuning kit.

Opening the Umarex HDR50/TR50 and the already-installed parts

Now it is back to the workbench. Z-RAM will not show the power-kit and barrel installation in detail here, perhaps just a few short scenes. Countless YouTube videos explain it in detail, so Z-RAM does not need to make another one and will show it only very briefly.

All the screws around the outside are loosened here. Z-RAM always leaves the screws in their holes and then simply lifts the part off afterwards. The screws have now been loosened and left in place. There are more screws here; they are all loosened now, followed by careful levering. They have all been loosened, and the assembly is slowly levered open with a screwdriver, lifting a little from all sides. These screws have also been left in place. It then looks like this. It is best to take a photo so it can be reassembled later without any problems.

This part can now simply be lifted out. It is fixed here and just plugged in there. This spring is under tension, so lift it out carefully. There will be a short jerk, but it can be held with a hand. Z-RAM will leave it all in place now; the point was to show that the pin has already been installed, as has the valve at the back.

Z-RAM removed the block. Briefly, once this part is out, the bolt is pulled over the chamber here. This little black bolt fits over the whole part, and there is a pin inside the black bolt. Here is such a pin. It can be unscrewed, but the black bolt should be heated at the point where it is screwed to the pin; the pin can then be unscrewed with the screwdriver.

Unfortunately, Z-RAM did not succeed: it broke off, and the pin then had to be drilled out. That worked without any problems. The new pin is in, and everything is clean and works. The black part here is the bolt, and the pin is inside it. Once it is taken apart and examined, what to do will be immediately apparent.

The rear parts and reassembly

Then there is this part at the back. It can be turned open with thin pliers like these: reach into both holes and turn. There is a block inside, with this part lodged in it. It can then be pushed out from the back and left out. Then simply screw the part back in, and it is done. No big deal.

Then there is the valve at the back. The new valve is already in place. Depending on the version, it can be unscrewed with a normal screwdriver or pulled out with the long screw included with the power kit. It is not screwed in firmly and is not under pressure or anything like that. Then simply screw the new restrictor back in, and it is done. The whole thing can then be reassembled. It is not a big deal; the important thing is to take a picture of how everything fits together, because later it may be unclear where everything belongs.

Z-RAM had a small spring left over and did not know where it belonged. Later, its position was found: in between here. Z-RAM will put it back now and then reassemble everything. Everything should then work again, and the tests can continue.

The tuning barrel is already installed. It is a bit longer and has a cap like this at the front, or the longer version, onto which the barrel extension can still be screwed here. It is then another 10 cm longer. That means the pin is in, the block is out, and there is a different valve, the tuning barrel and the tuning-barrel extension.

There is also the tuning drum, which may be useful for projectiles such as these, for example. With Z-RAM's Z.50 projectiles it is not so useful, because this part is aluminum and gives them no grip at all; they slide back and forth here. It is therefore not particularly recommended with Z-RAM's Z.50 projectiles. It can be tried, perhaps with a little grease between them so they stay in place, but this other drum works better with Z-RAM's Z projectiles. Z-RAM will screw everything back together now, then return for the next chronograph test.

The next chronograph test and the recovered projectiles

Now it is back to the chronograph. Z-RAM has reloaded the five projectiles. The first two shots will be without the barrel extension, and the next two with it—or rather, the next three shots will be with the barrel extension. There is a new capsule inside, not yet pierced. Now the test begins. No—328. The second shot was a bit strange; Z-RAM is not sure why, but 328 is about the result tested before. Now comes the barrel extension with the lighter projectiles.

The shots went completely through a cardboard box filled with cardboard. There are several layers of cardboard inside. The projectile went all the way through, ended up here in the box and even made a hole here. As mentioned, it now goes through this entire layer of cardboard. The next description is “67 layer thick towels”; the layer count and wording are unclear. It is stuck here. This is not normal Styrofoam. Z-RAM does not know what it is called, but it is pretty hard. The projectile has also lodged in here.

In any case, they fly great. Z-RAM is curious: if the professional manufacturer makes them to Z-RAM's specifications, they will be even more precise. They are usually even better than the prototypes. That can also be seen with the Z.68 projectiles. Z-RAM's handmade ones are not bad, but having the manufacturer make them produces perfect results. Z-RAM is really curious to see what these will be like once the manufacturer has made them.

These are the results with Z-RAM's Z.50 projectile: once without the power kit and once with it. The projectile will soon be available in the Z-RAM shop; the link is below in the video description. Those were the tests: as mentioned, once with the standard 11 J version, then with the whole power kit and short tuning barrel, and then with the long tuning barrel. As shown, the projectiles consistently delivered great results.

A Smith & Wesson project and the sponsor

Z-RAM is completely convinced by the weapon. It is really fun and produces top results; with these projectiles now available for it, it is even more fun. The next project is the Smith & Wesson, also sponsored by “L” from Silver Archery; the sponsor's full name is unclear in the captions. Z-RAM wanted to take a look at it too and has always wanted a weapon like this. It reaches only 5 to 7 J, but it is really fun. The projectiles are small .43-caliber balls and therefore have a greater effect even with fewer joules.

It is basically a very nice weapon. Z-RAM considered the Walther PPQ, the Glock and the Smith & Wesson, and especially, at the end, the Smith & Wesson and the Glock. Z-RAM then chose the Smith & Wesson because it feels a little better in the hand. It is a very nice piece. The top is metal; this part is plastic, but also of very high quality. The grip can be changed.

As mentioned, it can be bought from Silver Archery, in L's shop. Z-RAM will put the link in the description below; take a look there. It has blowback, .43 caliber and an emergency magazine inside. Of course, it has a little less power than this one here or the FSC, because this chamber is much larger than that one. That is basically just this small part. Z-RAM will look into that too: whether pointed projectiles can be used and what can be done to increase performance.

The original Germany warning and closing message

Tuning is not allowed in Germany. Here in Croatia, it is not viewed quite so strictly, and Z-RAM can test it without any problems. For use in Germany, 7.5 J should not be exceeded with the ammunition used, and the weapon should not be tinkered with. These tuning sets are not allowed to be installed in Germany. The weapons may not even be opened; at most, apply a little grease for maintenance and screw it back together like this. Otherwise, only 7.5 J are allowed in Germany.

In any case, look forward to new videos and look forward to the Z.50 projectiles. Z-RAM thinks they will be fun for many people and receives many requests for them. Z-RAM is happy that the project has reached the point where it can be presented and can now also go into production. Please subscribe, like the video and share it; do Z-RAM that favor. Have fun, and greetings from Z-RAM.

Related reading: Umarex HDR50/TR50 PowerKit.50: Joule Claims for the 7.5-, 11- and 13-Joule Versions.

Current products — separate from the historical presentation

6x Z.50 Z-RAM 4.5g Steel Bullets for Umarex T4E HDR50 TR50 cal. 0.50

This current six-piece .50 projectile offer is titled Z.50 and lists 4.5 g, while its description also uses Z.50v2. The separate 6 g Z.50v2 listing is another offer; neither current listing silently changes the historical video’s stated weights.

View the current offer

NEW!!! 6x Z.50v2 Z-RAM 6g Steel Bullets for Umarex T4E HDR50 TR50 caliber 0.50

This is the current six-piece Z.50v2 steel-projectile offer for Umarex HDR50/TR50, described as 6 g per projectile. It is separate from the historical weights and tests in the original presentation and from the current 4.5 g Z.50 offer.

View the current offer

Watch the complete original presentation

The complete original video accompanies the text above.

▶ Play on YouTube

👺26 joules! Z.50 projectiles Chroni Test & install tuning kit. TR50 HDR50 (English Translation 2021)

Channel: Z-RAM

Related Z-RAM presentation

The separate historical Z-Extension film provides the accompanying product presentation; it is not a repeat of the identical chronograph test.

▶ Play on YouTube

Z-RAM Z-Extension how many Joules? Tuning Valve Chamber Umarex HDR50 etc. (English Translation 2021)

Channel: Z-RAM