Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Airgun Shooter

ADRAS BECOMES A STUD The Adras bipod has been a great success since its release in 2017, but it was designed to be fitted only to rifles which had a Picatinny rail under the forend – unless you equipped your rifle with a special adaptor. That’s all changed now with the introduction of the Adras V8, because this variant fits directly to a regular quick-detach sling swivel stud. The V8’s features mimic the Picatinny original, with legs that extend between 5” and 9”, move independently and can be deployed in the traditional 90 degree position or facing to the front or rear. The V8 also allows the shooter to pan the rifle over a 30 degree arc, as well as adjust for cant so the gun remains level on uneven…

The owner of a nationally famous fishing venue is turning his Midas touch to airgun shooting. Wold Farm Fisheries and Country Pursuits has established itself as an angling Mecca over recent years. The picturesque grounds of mixed woodland and carefully managed lakes are a favourite with the fishing media and regularly attract “celebrity” anglers to take part in high-profile competitions. But Wold Farm owner Dax Miller is a shooter at heart and wants to encourage people of all ages and abilities to embrace the sport he has loved since boyhood. Situated between Bedford and Wellingborough, the venue already features a remarkable array of shooting opportunities for airgunners, from zeroing ranges to HFT courses, and Dax laid on a free open weekend in August to show people what he can offer.…

Ruger is one of the biggest brands in shooting and makes some superb, affordable products, with the Targis Hunter being a case in point. At just under £300 for a package that includes a 3-9x32 parallax-adjustable scope, mounts and sling, this represents excellent value for money. At 1,140mm and 3.9kg fully dressed, the Targis Hunter is a full-size rifle, the prize on offer here being in .177 calibre. The black plastic stock is relatively slim and is finished to a good standard with a couple of attachment points to accept the provided sling. A rubber ridged shoulder pad is integrated into the butt, and patches of stippling on the forend and pistol grip make it unlikely the Targis Hunter would slip in your hands. Shallow scoops on the pistol grip…

The purpose of today’s session is crop protection. Pigeons and corvids are targeting leftover grain on a stubble field which is to be redrilled. If left to their own devices, the birds will decimate the next crop before it has time to establish. The farmer tried using bangers to keep them at bay but his efforts haven’t had much effect, so it’s time for more positive action. This sort of protection is often carried out with a shotgun to maximise returns by taking birds on the wing. However, the area the birds are targeting on this farm is very close to buildings and a road, so the 12-bore is not an option. With a more subtle approach required, I am going to be using my sub-12 ft-lb BSA R-10 TH.…

Having previously mentioned to you all about the ongoing modifications to my Walther LG400 target rifle via weight reductions, all that was now left for me to do was to use the gun in its more manageable form and try to maximise my performance in genuine competition. It’s one thing practising for something, but you really need to enter a genuine, properly organised competition to see if your preparations have actually made any difference to how you will perform following any modifications to either your equipment or your mental or physical self. Still a bit odd mentally, as normal, and as fat as ever, it would be down to my equipment to see if I could manage to reach a score within the low 50s (ex-60) on the HFT course…

I’m 19 years old and having been brought up around airguns and field sports from my grandad, I have developed a keen interest in gamekeeping and the impact it has on the rural economy. My grandad taught me the principles of airgun safety, as well as their care, maintenance and marksmanship. I regularly use legal-limit airguns for pest control, mainly rats and rabbits, and plinking. I own several air rifles, most of which I inherited from my late grandad. These include an Air Arms S410 in .22, an Air Arms Pro Sport in .177 and a Weihrauch HW97 KT in .22. Others include BSA, Feinwerkbau and Webley. I’m a student at Reaseheath College in Cheshire, which is renowned for its great efforts towards agriculture and conservation. I want to become…

MTC is beefing up its collection of King Cobra scopes, with the original 6-24x50 F1 now being joined by the first of the new entrants – the 4-16x50 F2. This is a second focal plane scope, but anyone who’s familiar with the first focal plane original will feel right at home with this new optic as it’s similar in terms of its length, weight, control layout and – with one exception – the way it looks. When choosing a telescopic sight, or any other item of shooting equipment for that matter, we all know that its specifications, suitability for purpose, ease of use, build quality and value for money should be the top priorities. But if we’re honest we also know that the way something looks can also influence our…

Founded in 2015, Reximex is a relative newcomer and its rifles have been scarce in the UK. Now though, Range-Right has signed an exclusive distributor deal with the Turkish company and will market three of its PCP rifles as well as a pistol. Reximex’s Tormenta model is being sold as the Myth over here. It’s dressed in a high quality black synthetic tactical stock, is non-regulated, has a twin air supply design that certainly looks the part and comes in a plastic hard case. At 2.8kg, the Myth is light, and at 870mm it’s compact, although removing the fluted muzzle cap to fit a silencer to the ½ inch thread will add a few inches. The sculpted pistol grip is comfortable for both handers and the butt pad, which fits…

In truth, there are very few poor air rifles on sale today. For sure, some are better than others, and price isn’t always an indicator, but most will do a good job of putting pellets within a 10p piece at sensible distances. And surely that is all that matters at the end of the day. Except it isn’t. We also want rifles that look good, are pleasant to operate and simply feel right. Therein lies the problem. Take the cold efficiency of acceptable accuracy out of the equation and everything else is subjective. I like something you hate, and vice versa. When it comes to choosing between springers and similarly priced PCPs, top-end rifles like the TX200 and HW95K have an X-Factor quality that simply doesn’t exist on the PCPs.…

Pulsar has released the Thermion XM30, which is its most revolutionary thermal imaging riflescope to date. This optic combines the latest thermal technology into a day scope-style design, offering a 320x240 12μm thermal sensor which means improved detail and thermal accuracy. The XM30 is 387mm long, weighs 750g and has a magnification range of 3.5-14x (4x digital zoom). It can operate in temperatures from -25C to +50C and can withstand being submerged in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Mounting the Thermion is easy as it’s compatible with 30mm scope rings. It has substantially sized lens focus and dioptre adjustment rings for grip and identification, as well as centralised operational buttons that control recording, power and zoom. The Thermion has a variety of customisation settings, such as…

My interest in airguns started when I was in the Cubs and Scouts whilst growing up. It turned into a hobby in my late twenties, when I joined Basingstoke Air Rifle Club and even competed in a little HFT over the course of a few years. I then put airguns down just before my first son was born. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my young family, and to be fair the money I had tied up in the hobby would only help when starting out on that journey. Now fast-forward 11 years and I’m in the car with my eldest of two sons, Jack, on our way to check out the local airgun range which has recently changed ownership. At this point I knew full…

Mention the word “bench” and two shooting scenarios come to mind. The first is benchrest, a sporting discipline initially associated with US centrefire shooters of the 1950s using the then super-accurate .222 cartridge. But benchrest now applies to airguns too, and can take place over some extremely long distances thanks to the growth in popularity of FAC models. The second bench scenario involves a group of shooters who are now unable to adopt the stances they used to adopt when they were younger. Both of these scenarios are widely adopted and enjoyed today, and our sport is better for it. But there are several other reasons to plonk yourself down at a bench. It’s excellent for setting up a rifle, zeroing a scope, testing ammo, checking a rifle’s muzzle velocity…

“Beware the man with one gun,” as the old saying goes. But is it possible there is one gun to rule them all? I think I found it in the FX Dreamline. The Dreamline is not a single rifle, but a family of rifles, with five Dreamline styles and interchangeable components. The idea was to produce a block around which you could build a rifle that would meet and surpass the needs and desires of the modern shooter. The Dreamline is a beautifully engineered, regulated multi-shot sidelever action. This action can accommodate most airgun calibres (.177, .22, .25 and .30) and be changed quickly and simply using additional barrel kits and a small selection of Allen keys. The engine is slim, angular and like all FXs, has a precision-machined, slick…

In my recent articles you may have noticed that the majority of the airguns I have had to test were all dressed in unique and colourful stocks, specifically designed to enhance the shooter’s technique and accommodate their anatomy. Having had the opportunity to play around with my Rapid Air Weapons TM1000, a close friend of mine decided to buy his own. Even though the stocks on the RAW series of rifles are beautifully made and finished, they do lack a certain level of adjustability compared with other high-end PCP target rifles – therefore, a custom stock would be an added benefit to get the most out of these world class-rifles. Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of following this process as my friend enlisted the skilful…

When it comes to top-of-the range springers, Air Arms’s dynamic duo of the Pro Sport and TX200 are hard to beat, and have for many years sparred with Weihrauch’s HW97 K and HW77 for underlever supremacy. Priced below the Pro Sport, the Arms TX200 MkIII has the classic “over and under” design and has, according to Air Arms, claimed more FT and HFT gold medals than any other rifle in its class. The rifle is 1055mm long with a 395mm Lothar Walther match-grade barrel, whereas the Hunter Carbine HC model measures 995mm thanks to a shorter 319mm barrel. Both weigh around the four kilo mark and are available in sumptuous walnut or beech stocks designed for right- or left-handers, although lefties have to pay a premium. Ornate panels of fish…

With so many airgun shooters moving over to infrared night vision for after-dark pest control, it was inevitable that this equipment would become more affordable. What is surprising, though, is the standard of quality and performance this kit can deliver. Even the more affordable units give a level of viewing that would have cost you thousands of pounds to achieve just a few years ago. The Sightmark Wraith HD digital day and night scope is a great example of the recent advancement of infrared night vision tech. I was so impressed with the value and performance of the 2-16x version sent to me by Scott Country at the start of the summer that we broke away from the usual Airgun Show schedule to let viewers know about it. Print moves…

FOR SALE: BSA R-10 SE in 22 calibre, sub-12 in walnut stock, magazines, all fittings to configure shroud and barrel. Right-hand stock. Adjustable butt pad. Comes with a gun bag, tin of pellets, all info on the gun, sling. £650 ono. FOR SALE: Gamo Coyote in .22 calibre. Wood stock, 1 magazine, filling adapter, moderator, hard case, instructions on gun. Great condition. Good for pest control. £350. Mr M Baker (Denbighshire). Tel: 07780 113749. Email: mal_baker@sky.com FOR SALE: Konus Pro F30 8x-32x56mm first focal plane rifle scope. Excellent condition. £200. Peter Godber (Leicestershire). Tel: 0116 220446. Email: p.godber@ntlworld.com. FOR SALE: Sold as one complete package. Weihrauch HW100T (.177) plus: 4 + years since new. Fault-free life. Sparingly used. All perfect condition. Hawke 4-12 x 50 AO AMX scope, 2 x…

Napier has extended its range of Razorback gun bags, with the Bull Pup DX designed for bullpup air rifles. According to Napier, the Razorback is the most advanced and strongest soft-sided bag on the market, protecting to the standards of a hard-sided case, but being easier and lighter to carry. The Bull Pup DX is made of green bonded canvas and is rain and abrasion-resistant. It’s been designed with offset harness fittings that can be completely removed and stored in the accessory pocket when not required. Balance is maintained whilst leaving both hands free when walking. The accessory pocket can hold spare magazines, ammo, the carry straps, moderator and bipod. It also has an internal zipped compartment and tailored pouches to keep everything in place. Inside the bag there are…

LETTER OF THE MONTH TUNE IN TO NON-FAC SLUGS I must say how much I enjoyed the article on tuning an FAC-rated FX rifle to get the maximum from slugs. I am very tempted to go the FAC route, but for now I am really enjoying shooting a sub-12 ft-lb Daystate Wolverine. While I cannot tune the rifle as Lee Watts can, I can “tune” it by trying different makes and weights of slugs, and it has really been fun doing so. I am very impressed with the slugs I have used, finding them incredibly accurate and amazingly hard-hitting. The squirrels haven’t known what hit them! For those people like me, who hunt using lower-power-rated rifles, don’t think you can’t join in the tuning party. Try different makes and weights…

This Dog-Gone-Good front bag is meant to be used with the forend of the rifle resting in the suede-covered vee. This provides a set height from the bench, but with a little ingenuity it can be configured in a couple of different ways to ensure you’re taking a shot without having to strain any muscles. In the bag’s default mode, the forend of the rifle is being safely cradled at a height of around 15cm. The suede provides a suitable contact surface that won’t scratch the gun, while still allowing it to move under recoil, although this last feature is admittedly of more use for centrefires or rimfires rather than a PCP. With the bag tipped onto its side, it now measures 17cm from the top of the bench. That…

The original Hortitsia established itself as a rifle that performed better than its affordable price tag would suggest. The MkII version has been improved with a new, more efficient regulator, as well as changes to the straight-pull cocking action to make it more robust. The filler port at the front of the cylinder has been redesigned to incorporate a collar that rotates to accept the fill probe. At 910mm and three kilos unscoped, the MkII is light and compact. The grey stain stock option on the earlier rifle has been replaced with a stylish black alternative. In other respects, the Hortitsia is unchanged, which means it is still only configured for right-handers. There’s no stippling on either the forend or pistol grip and the solid, but comfortable, non-adjustable rubber shoulder…

For years, Weihrauch has dominated the spring-powered air rifle market. We have Air Arms to thank for challenging the German company’s dominance. When it comes to break-barrels, Weihrauch pretty much has things sewn up. Some of its models have been in production for 50 years or more, such is their enduring quality and popularity. Compared with the HW35 and HW80, the HW95K is a relative newcomer, and many would argue it is the best break-barrel available. It’s certainly a handsome beast, and weighing a little over seven pounds, or 3.3kg, it is one of the lightest full-powered Weihrauch springers. The Luxus model has chequering on the forend and steeply angled pistol grip. The rubber recoil pad is finished with a black spacer. The slim handle helps hide that the HW95K…

Whether it’s magic or metallurgy, coincidence or consistency, certain barrels simply work far better with some pellets than others. Haendler & Natermann makes some of the finest pellets in the world, with many shooters opting for the Baracuda Match or the Field Target Trophy, but now there’s a third way with the release of the Baracuda 18 in .22 calibre. H&N describes the Baracuda 18 as being a highly accurate, hard-hitting, medium-weight pellet that’s versatile and consistent. The idea behind the 18, which has a chosen weight of 18.13 grains, is to close the gap between the heavy Baracuda Match, which weighs 21.14 grains, and the 14.66-grain FTT. Baracuda 18 pellets come in a tin of 200 and are available in just one head size, 5.52 mm. According to H&N,…

BSA wanted to revamp its line-up in the 1980s, and in a few years the range had been overhauled and a new air rifle had been released to usher in the new decade. BSA’s tap loading system was astonishingly effective, but was getting rather long in the tooth, dating back to 1905. Nevertheless, it had been used to good effect on the fixed-barrel underlever designs such as the pre-war Improved Model D and Standard models, and on the post-war Airsporter line. However, BSA was looking for something new and so the boffins got their heads together, resulting in the Superstar. This rifle appeared in three calibres, with a recoil-dampening scope rail, a new safety and a totally new loading design called the RB2 Rolling Breech. This system saw a large…