Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2021 i Airgun Shooter

While the specification of some air rifles remains unchanged from year to year, companies like FX Airguns take the opposite approach, constantly seeking to modify, enhance and upgrade, with the latest rifle getting this treatment being the brand new Impact M3. The most obvious change from the previous MkII model is the addition of a second regulator, something FX introduced with the Maverick. The first regulator, which sits inside the valve stem of the rifle, reduces the air pressure before it enters the second regulator. The second reg is then able to deliver a more consistent pressure, all the while reducing the amount of stress on the components and minimising any variation in velocity. The Impact has always been a popular rifle to tune, and the M3 is no exception…

Professional Airgun Optics designs and manufactures a range of hunting, target and tactical air rifle scopes, including entry-level fixed-focus 25mm (1”) tubed 4 x 40 budget models through to 30mm scopes with objective lenses up to 56mm and magnification up to 24x. PAO’s 25mm range has been revamped and restocked, with all models now coming with black flip-up lens covers. The line-up includes a 2x20 pistol scope as well as 4x32, 4x40, 3-9x40, 3-9x50 IR and 4-16x50 IR PA rifle scopes. Let’s take one of these scopes as an example, the rather lengthily named PAO Topaz Pre-Mount Mil-Dot 3-9x50 IR Rifle Scope. This particular scope, which is fixed-parallax, is supplied with two-piece high mounts already installed. Then there’s a fast focus eyepiece/ocular lens as well as mil dot reticle that…

LETTER OF THE MONTH GOOD GOLLY, MISS MOLLE Having eagerly read my latest issue of Airgun Shooter, I was intrigued by the Airgun Answers about field organisation by Lee Perryman. His idea of the Ridgeline Bumbag is great, but I would also recommend airgunners with similar kit-carrying issues have a look at the MOLLE systems for further inspiration. Originally developed for the military, usually made out of tough cordura with the signature attachment straps, which are both strong and flexible. An enormous range of belts, pouches, backpacks etc are available online that allow the user to completely customise a setup for their requirements. I have a specific mobile phone pouch and multidirectional torch holder on my hunting kit, plus a pouch for a flask or drinks bottle. There are even…

Shooting always throws up unexpected surprises and that is certainly the case here. This particular hide site was originally set up to ambush squirrels when they turned up to visit a feeding station, but it has now created a useful opportunity to thin out the corvids that are causing problems nearby. Much of this estate is grazed by sheep, and the crows have been targeting vulnerable lambs. Add the fact that rooks, jackdaws and magpies have been making a nuisance of themselves around the poultry sheds, and there is certainly justification for keeping their numbers in check. It just so happens that my feeding station has already attracted the attention of corvids. With a few extra tweaks, it appears that I could be able to bring some of these scavenging…

Continuing with my high-end target rifle reviews I believe the increasingly popular Rapid Air Weapons TM1000 is well worthy of a mention. With RAW recently announcing their new UK supplier (Elite Optical Distribution), now is a suitable time to talk about these amazing rifles. Currently the Rapid Air Weapons (RAW) TM1000 is one of my personal HFT and Benchrest rifles, therefore I feel well qualified to offer a small insight into what has made these rifles so successful as they continue to stand their ground in the target shooting world. Evolved from the iconic Theoben Rapid, the RAW TM1000 soon became “the most winning air rifle made in America” after earning itself the title from its ongoing success in various Field Target and Benchrest competitions. The Rapid Air Weapons brand…

Just a few years ago it seemed that anyone wanting to get into recoilless shooting would have to shell out a considerable sum for a rifle they’d want to hang onto, or buy an entry-level offering with the expectation of having to upgrade it. But with the Stoeger XM1 – the American firm’s first PCP – it seems you can have your cake and eat it too, as this regulated, bolt-action, multi-shot gives you everything you need to get started. And chances are you won’t want to part with it any time soon. The Stoeger XM1 comes as package called the Synth Combo, which includes the rifle itself along with optional pistol grip inserts, optional cheekpieces, optional butt pad spacers, Picatinny rails for attaching bipod legs and storing spare magazines,…

In the late 1990s British shooters were getting to see imported European CO2 air pistols, but Daisy had been at it for years and their back catalogue filtered through as the market opened up. The Power Line Model 92 looks like any other Beretta replica today, but this dates unbelievably from the 1980s. Like nearly all Daisy models it is plastic, so some pistoleros may be drawn more to the modern metal blowback clones. And the venerable non-blowback Umarex 92 FS fires pellets, so what’s to like about this gun? it’s a repeater – a Daisy speciality. The 92 chucks 12 pellets out of its rifled barrel as fast as the trigger can be pulled. The 92 does this all without a removable magazine too. The simulated guide bar is…

Whether you’re starting out or you’re already an experienced shot, the idea is the same – to place that pellet exactly where you want it every time – and one rifle that will help you achieve that is the Meteor Evo from BSA. The Evo is the latest chapter in the incredible success story of the Meteor, and for the first time it offers the potent combination of a full-power action along with a chequered hardwood stock. It’s a spring-powered break-barrel, which means you’re in for hundreds of hours of enjoyment in a self-contained package, with no need for any additional charging equipment. The BSA Meteor Evo also represents an upgrade to serious hunting rifle status, having the potential to fulfil the demands of the field as well as the…

YOUR EXPERT I am often asked the best way of learning to shoot to a reasonable standard without having to worry about making those silly mistakes that we all are guilty of when we take on board a new interest. The problem is that it is because of errors that we learn to progress via experience and careful contemplation. I would like to think that most new airgunners will not be learning the basics themselves, but will be benefiting from the advice provided by more experienced shots at either a club or a shooting range. It is particularly important that the new shot has the benefit of being assisted by an experienced shooter who can help to eradicate those basic errors before they become bad habits and are harder to…

The last couple of months have brought some pretty big changes in my life. I have finally made it to the “promised land” of retirement. I don’t think it has really sunk in, because I pictured myself skipping when I made the final clock out from the plant where I have spent the last 25 years of my working life. I just knew that I would be able to shoot all day long, except when taking naps, and tinker on designing new reactive targets, my second favourite hobby. Mother Nature has dialled up the thermostat so much that I don’t enjoy more than a few minutes at a time on my backyard range or in my garage working on targets. But cooler weather will be here before you know it…

The Daystate Red Wolf needs no introduction; it has established itself as one of the finest and most desirable air rifles on the planet since its launch three years ago. This awesome airgun not only boasts ingenious electronic internals that regulate power output and deliver remarkable performance and consistency, but is pretty kind on the eye. Above all, it is extremely reliable and makes the task of landing pellets dead on target feel surprisingly straightforward. It is these attributes that have made the Red Wolf my go to hunting rifle over recent years. Considering how far ahead this gun is from the pack, the decision to give it a makeover might sound surprising, but Daystate has a fondness and enviable reputation for creating limited edition airguns. Disruption caused by coronavirus…

There aren’t that many companies that produce airgun ammunition and it’s fairly common practice for manufacturers to outsource their pellets, usually from either JSB, or in the case of the Weihrauch F&T Special on test here, from H&N. Most of these pellets will be nearly identical to one of JSB or H&N’s own product lines, but there are usually enough subtle differences to make it worthwhile testing these pellets in your rifle too. And that’s what I did here. I have a Weihrauch HW100 in .22 calibre, and the natural thing would have been to have tested these Weihrauch pellets in that particular gun, but to me that seemed almost too easy. Instead, I chose to shoot them in my BSA R-10 SE to prove that manufacturer-branded ammo is well…

Using a thermal monocular to locate a quarry animal by its heat signature gives the airgun hunter a huge advantage, and that high-tech capability has never been more affordable thanks to the new Konus Flame, which comes in two different versions. The KON7950 model, which has a recommended retail price of £575, has a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, a detection range out to 559 metres and a digital zoom range of 0.6-2.4x. It lets you choose between four different palettes and comes with a photo/video recording function that enables the transfer of thermal images via Wi-Fi so that you can see them live on your mobile phone. It’s nice and compact, measuring just over 158mm long and weighing 250g. The second model in the Flame line-up is the…

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How exactly do we put a “value” on the things that we like to do? Do we only need to consider things that cost us money, or do we have to take into account the other benefits as well? The reason I ask is because I have been pondering those very questions myself over the lockdown period. We had all been denied the opportunity to carry on with most of the things we have enjoyed participating in, such as using our precious airguns, but it hadn’t been just the actual physical act of shooting them that had been missed the most. In my case, and I suspect for most people reading this, it is our friends and just getting the opportunity of spending time within the friendly environment of our…

For many of us, airgunning started with a springpowered rifle. Personally, it was an ASI Paratrooper in Uncle Trev’s back garden, followed by an Airsporter S and then an HW80 that I still have. However, with the advent of pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifles, springers, and to an ever greater extent gas-rams, today appeal mainly to those suffering a case of nostalgia or seeking the challenge of shooting one accurately. There is another category of course; the best break-barrels cost the same as the cheapest PCPs, so potential buyers would prefer to choose a top-of-the-line break-barrel rather than a budget PCP. Although gas-rams are a relatively modern evolution, break-barrel springers have been around for more than 100 years. However, it’s a strange quirk of our sport that today we are relatively…

FOR SALE: HW80 Mk1 1980/81. Serial number 901057. Comes with Hawke 3-9x40 MAP scope. Has a few marks on stock. Needs a little bluing. Shoots straight and hard. £350 ovno. Keith Nicklin (Monmouthshire). Tel: 07910129398. Email: kij.nicklin@virgin.net FOR SALE: Steyr LP2 target pistol in silver. Comes with a medium right-hand grip, one silver and one blue cylinder in its original fitted case with filling adapter and tools. Original manufacturer’s handbook included. Believed to be about eight years old, it’s in excellent condition and looks and feels virtually new. Shoots well, smooth, accurate and reliable. I bought it recently as a second gun from a club colleague who had given up shooting, but I no longer need it. Perfect for 10m competition shooting at whatever level you shoot. New price for…