Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Airgun Shooter

Conventional backpacks are great. They spread the load, are well-balanced and are secure. But if they’re so good why do people like motorcycle messengers wear bags that go over just one shoulder? While hipster types might say it makes them look cool, the real answer is the fact that a bag like this is quicker to take on and off, and also offers easy access to the contents of the bag while it’s being worn. The EDC Sling Backpack from Helikon is a great example of a messenger bag that’s useful for both the airgun hunter and the club shooter, while also offering great carrying capacity in any non-shooting environment as well. The bag shown here is in a two-tone tan scheme called Coyote, but if you want one for…

LETTER OF THE MONTH NEW HORIZONS I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis and neuropathy and was looking for a low-impact and sedentary hobby. I took up cycling, but the arthritis in my neck pinched the nerves that affected the use of my left hand so my bike was mothballed. Whilst at my GP’s waiting room I perused the donated magazines whilst waiting to see the doc. Whilst flicking through the pages I discovered an interesting article … about this bloke that seemed to have a grudge against grey squirrels and magpies. The weapon he was using was an airgun! It didn’t look anything like the guns that I remembered as a kid. My old .22 airgun took the Power of Greyskull cocking the thing, so I was intrigued to learn…

This ground has produced some good shooting through late spring and early summer. Short stalking sessions regularly yielded bags of five or six rabbits, but the bunnies are starting to wise up and it’s getting difficult to creep within range before they spook and bolt off into cover. Following a successful breeding season there are still plenty of rabbits around – enough to cause significant damage – but my tallies are beginning to dwindle as they become more educated. The change in the rabbits’ behaviour means that I need to change my approach – and that means a switch to static hunting. Stalking rabbits is one of my favourite forms of hunting: I enjoy the challenge of pitting my wits against their survival instincts, plus it’s a tactic that enables…

Many of us will at one time or another have taken part in some form of shooting competition with our air rifles. This usually allows us the opportunity to pace ourselves, even though time constraints may exist such as with Field Target, which stipulates that both shots must be taken within two minutes following the target being initially viewed through the scope. But at the present time I am not aware of any competition that relies upon snap shooting at a target that either appears only briefly or is actually moving. Years ago, I remember that Running Boar was a serious shooting sport that involved shooting a target air rifle such as a scoped up Feinwerkbau 300 at a moving target of, you’ve guessed it, a miniaturised boar. These skills…

One of the most fascinating things about airgun hunting is the surprises it frequently throws up, and part of that is down to the large variety of pest species we are able to target right through the year. One of my recent outings highlights the point very well – I turned up expecting one thing and ended up doing something completely different. The original purpose of the trip was to visit a friend’s woods so that we could draw up a plan to get the resident population of grey squirrels under control. Sure enough we saw quite a few squirrels and plenty of signs of the damage that they are causing to the trees. I had my BSA Ultra SE with me just in case the chance of a shot…

It’s always a pleasure to find specialised products that are built or designed by the same type of people that actually use them, and that’s exactly what we have here with the Helix 6-24x50 from Element Optics. Element is a new US/Swedish company, and its diverse geographic identity makes sense when you see who’s involved. Matt Dubber from South Africa and Ted Bier from the United States are both airgun enthusiasts, competition shooters and YouTubers, while Johan Axelsson of Sweden is best known for his work with FX Airguns, which is run by his father Fredrik. There are three models in the company’s current catalogue – the Helix, the Titan and the Nexus. The Helix, the subject of this review, is a second focal plane scope. The magnification range is…

If a rifle’s shooting poorly, the problem could be an excess build-up of lead in the bore, and a decent cleaning regime is all that is called for. But sometimes it’s faulty machining or deterioration of the barrel that is the culprit, and that’s where the Teslong Wireless Borescope Model NTG 100 W from Walker Rifles comes into its own. If your barrel is not performing perfectly you’ll be wasting time and money with each squeeze of the trigger, but it’s impossible to know what’s really going on without the use of a device like this. A borescope also lets the would-be buyer check the bore of a second-hand air rifle before handing over their cash. Borescopes have always been fairly expensive, making their purchase hard to justify for the…

Hawke’s Sidewinder scopes have found favour with airgun enthusiasts shooting a raft of disciplines for many years – and the company has now completely revamped the line-up with a brand new selection. Named due to their side parallax feature – and after the venomous pit vipers of the same name – these new Sidewinders have even more bite. All models feature Hawke’s new H5 optics, which provides a 24° ultra-wide field of view with 100mm of eye relief. Precision locking turrets with 1⁄10 milliradian clicks now feature a witness window with a red marker, giving shooters who like to dial in their shots an instant visual guide to the position of their elevation turret. Sidewinder scopes are available in both First Focal Plane (FFP) and Second Focal Plane (SFP) models,…

Amid all the bullpups and tactical rifles, Webley is here with a gentle reminder that the making of a traditional sporter is far from being a lost art, thanks to the appropriately named Raider Classic. This multi-shot PCP costs a wallet-friendly £449.99 and comes with two high-capacity magazines, offering 14 shots in .177 calibre, like the gun being offered here, and 12 in .22. It’s definitely old school, as it has an ambidextrous sporter stock that’s made of walnut. Traditionalists don’t have it all their own way though, as this scope-only rifle features a hybrid rail that will accept conventional dovetail mounts as well as Picatinny. The package is rounded out with a fill probe and a very welcome set of spare O-rings. The Webley Raider Classic has an exposed…

When they first appeared, many dismissed bullpups as a flash-in-the-pan gimmick. Now, despite being true Marmite guns, they are an established part of our sport. Manufacturers are always looking to give us the next thing and though they’ve existed for a while, the last couple of years has seen an increase in the number of tactical rifles. So named because many of them mimic designs used by the military, just about every air rifle maker has added a tactical model to their line-up. In a new twist to the genre, many tactical rifles have a modular design, allowing you to swap out standard parts for third party items. I don’t think it is quite accurate to say the FX Impact started things off, as military-style rifles predated it, but with…

Whenever I’m asked by a fellow shooter what pellets they should try in their new gun, I have a few recommendations that make good starting points, and Rangemaster Sovereign is always on that list. These pellets are billed as being suitable for general shooting, field target and hunting, and while that might make them sound like a jack of all trades, they are definitely the masters of some. But that recommendation is based on my experience with the .177 version of this versatile pellet, while the ones on test here are in .22 calibre. Like the .177 variety, they’re made by JSB in the Czech Republic to Daystate’s specifications, and are a waisted diabolo domehead. Overall quality of manufacture in my tin of 500 was high, but I did have…

While there are plenty of airgun hunters who relish the relative simplicity of an old school lamping session, plenty more have embraced technology and employ night vision gear – and with the LumenMAX 900 IR we have a device that offers something to both camps. This all-inclusive kit from Professional Airgun Optics contains the main torch body, two end caps offering the choice of pushbutton or remote switches, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, two coloured filters and a Universal Scope Mount that connects the lamp to scopes with both a 1” (25mm) or 30mm body tube. This is a great feature as you can swap the lamp from one setup to another regardless of what optic your rifle’s wearing without having to worry about finding a mount of the specific diameter.…

Mention the word “slugs” and most people will naturally think of .22, .25 or .30 calibre ammo. But .177 is still a contender, so as well as the larger calibres, Pro Hunter Swaging has introduced a comprehensive line-up of .177 hollow point hand-swaged slugs, these being offered in a choice of 13 grains, 15 grains or 18 grains. Accuracy will be the major consideration for the airgun hunter, but impact and expansion also have a role, so Pro Hunter Swaging makes two styles of slug in each weight category. Premium High Impact Slugs offer the greatest expansion, while Premium Standard Slugs have a smaller hollow point, but are cheaper as the design is simpler and less expensive to produce. Prices range from £10.83 to £21.24 respectively. Husband and wife team…

I was idly flicking through an old copy of Airgun Shooter when I saw it; a polished object of desire, my new airgunning muse. Like all the best discoveries, it was completely unexpected. Something I hadn’t known existed until I turned the page was suddenly all I could think about. It was there in a photo in a full page advert. Let me paint the scene. In the foreground, two rifles lean against a tree in a grassy meadow. Both have scopes and slings, and one has a chunky moderator. Their butts are partially obscured by long grass. Summer sun glints on their metalwork and glows in their stocks. Looking handsome and purposeful, they’re waiting to be picked up and put into action. Just beyond the tree and slightly out…

Speed-shooting with an air rifle isn’t something that’s seen all that often outside of dedicated time-restricted competitions like turning targets or breakable disc, or on the plinking range where a high volume of fire means a high volume of fun. Nevertheless, shooting a rifle quickly has a definite appeal, especially with a magazine-fed pre-charged pneumatic, and there are some practical benefits beyond the obvious feelgood factor as well. Historically, the earliest form of speed-shooting with a firearm dates back to the days of the musket, typified by the battles of the Napoleonic wars. Whichever side could produce the largest volume of volley fire at the highest rate would typically emerge the victor, all other factors remaining equal, with the British infantry having the advantage as they formed up in ranks,…

STRUGGLING with a scope? Having hassles with your hunting? Well, don’t despair because you’ve arrived at the right place to discover remedies for your airgun anxieties! Whether you’re looking for a quick fix to a nagging problem or simply want advice on your next piece of gear, email us at airgunshooter@futurenet.com or write to us at the address below: one of our experts will soon get you on the right track! Airgun Shooter, Future Publishing, Units 1 & 2, Sugarbrook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove B60 3EX HUNTING KNIVES Q I’m thinking of treating myself to a new knife to take along on my airgun hunting forays, but there’s so much choice. What should I be looking for when purchasing a knife? YOUR EXPERT PHIL SIDDELL A AS A BIT of…

Too many shooters regard spring-powered airguns as a compromise. The assumption is that they offer an affordable solution for those who can’t stretch to the cost of a recoilless PCP and an easier option for those who don’t want to be burdened with the hassle of charging gear. While there is more than a grain of truth in that, if you spend some time with an air rifle like the Weihrauch HW98, you might just discover that a spring gun can actually deliver the best of both worlds; combining accuracy and simplicity in one low-maintenance package. The model that I have been testing over recent weeks is the new Grey Laminate version of this acclaimed German air rifle, which is distributed in the UK by Hull Cartridge. The slinky new…

Readers may remember an earlier Gun Room in which we looked at the iconic bolt-action safari-style Crosman Model 70, a .177 CO2-powered single-shot pellet-firing classic. This rifle has escaped under our radar for far too long and is so nice that here it is again… Erm, well no actually, because this is a different airgun that’s made in Spain, not America. There were wheels within wheels at Crosman, and at the end of its life in the United States the Model 70 resurfaced after a cosmetic job. Yes, in Spain! The Spanish had been allowed to play freely with CO2 without restriction when we in the UK were not. There were many other older names associated with CO2 airguns there, not just Gamo. When UK CO2 licensing was lifted in…