Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Airgun Shooter

KIT / NEWS / PEOPLE / EVENTS / INSIGHT ZEROING IN NEWS AND MORE FIRST IMPRESSIONS BSA has added a new flagship to its inventory, the R-12 CLX Pro, which looks set to be another winner. This model builds on the successes of both the R-10 TH and the 160th anniversary version of the Ultra CLX, offering a monobloc receiver, a regulated sidelever action, a thumbhole stock and a 12-shot magazine system. The R-12 CLX Pro was designed, developed and manufactured at BSA’s headquarters in Armoury Road in Birmingham, and the rifle was put through its paces before being launched, being subjected to more than 50,000 test shots. While the monobloc platform reduces the components required, reducing complexity while improving reliability and efficiency, the obvious feature is the sidelever action.…

A new range of high-quality leather shooting gloves has been launched under the iconic Parker-Hale name by Hampshire-based John Rothery Wholesale. Last year saw the development of the new Parker-Hale leather shooting luggage, and this proved to be so popular that the natural progression was to expand the range into more shooting-specific accessories. So with inclement weather just around the corner, now is the time to think about keeping your hands warm, dry and safe whilst out shooting. John Rothery managing director Sean O’Driscoll explained: “We looked at a number of manufacturers before deciding on the company that we selected. We wanted gloves that were made to the same quality as the Parker-Hale luggage, but at prices that are equally competitive.” Parker-Hale leather shooting gloves are available in three colours,…

THE COUNTRYMAN GREY SQUIRRELS WHY WE SHOOT • Songbirds, red squirrels and dormice are more likely to thrive when competition from grey squirrels is eliminated • Grey squirrels are extremely damaging to trees so controlling their numbers is beneficial to their woodland environment • Squirrel control helps the forestry industry, which loses out on millions of pounds every year as a result of their damage • Spending time in the woods keeping grey squirrels in check is a great way to relax and watch wildlife Woodland shooting can be tricky before the first frosts and storms of winter strip the trees of their leaves and open up the canopy again. When grey squirrels are hidden in the foliage, feeding stations are usually a reliable way to lure them out to where…

INSIGHT AND EXPERTISETO HELP YOU RAISE YOUR GAME YOUR EXPERT ANDY McLACHLAN In the never-ending search for the ultimate in airgun accuracy, most shooters agree that the main aim is to find a gun platform that fits them well, is comfortable to shoot and can achieve the standards of downrange accuracy that they think fits their own abilities and experience. Most of the time, the shooter finds themselves with a combination of gun and optics that allow them to achieve that level. Once the correct ammunition for the gun has been identified, most shooters will be happy that they have maximised their own level of performance and will concentrate on improving their technique. Obviously, there is a significant difference in the levels of accuracy that are available from guns at…

FIELD TEST RABBITS AND THERMALS I doubt very much that rabbits appreciate it, but there is a subtle difference between pest control and hunting. I’m sure others will have a view, but for me, hunting is the challenge and art of fieldcraft, whereas pest control is all about the removal of certain species because they interfere with man’s plans. Of course, there is a large grey area between the two, but at the end of the day the result is the same - fewer rabbits, squirrels and rats. I suppose it depends on your perspective. Some farmers are happy for you to hunt on their land on the basis that any reduction in the number of pests is going to help. Others see you as a free pest control service…

KEY SPECS MAKER: Niksan UK DISTRIBUTOR: The Shooting Party (shootingparty.uk) MODEL: Archero-S PRICE: £559 TYPE: Multi-shot PCP CALIBRE: .177 (tested) and .22 ACTION: Sidelever MAGAZINE: Two drum magazines CAPACITY: 12 shots OVERALL LENGTH: 103cm BARREL: Shrouded, with ½″ UNF thread to fit moderator WEIGHT: 3.6kg STOCK: Synthetic sporter SCOPE RAIL: Picatinny LENGTH OF PULL: 365mm TRIGGER: Two-stage, adjustable TRIGGER-PULL: 3lb SAFETY: Manual, resettable MUZZLE ENERGY: 11.5ft-lb ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Hard case and combined foregrip/bipod Niksan Defence isn’t a name many airgun shooters in the UK will be too familiar with, but this company has been going for a very long time in its native Turkey. Niksan began as a small business in the 1970s, producing many types of hunting products, especially shotguns, as well as blank-firing signal pistols and fishing products.…

LETTER OF THE MONTH THE MISERY OF MYXY There are a number of valid reasons for controlling a local rabbit population, and I am sure readers are all too familiar with these, especially rabbits digging holes that can be treacherous to horses and cattle, causing broken legs and the need to put animals down. One very sound reason to take a rabbit out is myxomatosis, a severe and usually fatal disease in rabbits caused by the myxoma virus. It is nasty, with the poor creatures going blind from swollen puss-filled eyes. They cannot move quickly and bump into objects whilst trying to find food. Humane dispatch is the kindest thing. I wonder how many pest control professionals (or indeed amateur shooters) have recently come across myxomatosis and is there any…

TARGET SHOOTER GUN CARE In a previous article, I wrote about the considerations that the target shooter must take on board following the fall of some dropping shots. These are the shots that fall well outside of the point of aim and usually end up destroying the good work you have put into the production of a match-winning target card. We have considered how important it is to make sure that your pellets are properly prepared and that your scope allows you to make the most of your combination’s accuracy on the range. If we are confident that all the ancillary equipment we are using is fully serviceable and that we are capable of maintaining proper trigger control, we are now left with the gun itself being of concern if it…

TESTING STATION THERMAL TEST ZEISS DTC 3/38 KEY SPECS MANUFACTURER: Zeiss (zeiss.ly/DTC-3) MODEL: DTC3/38 Thermal Imaging Clip-on PRICE: £3,500 LENGTH: 165mm (base unit) WEIGHT: 650g (base unit) DETECTION RANGE: Up to 1950m FEATURES: Choice of four colour palettes, Bluetooth connectivity for Zeiss Hunting app, storage for multiple zero profiles, integral rechargeable battery, fast and secure attachment system Thermal optics have reached a phenomenal level of performance, and the Zeiss DTC 3/38 thermal clip-on is right at the forefront of technical innovation. At £3,500, it is fair to say that it is out of reach for most of our budgets, but even if all we can do is dream, I still think it is interesting to see what the very best night shooting gear is capable of - not least because the…

TESTING STATION SLUG TEST SLUG HP FROM H&N While slugs managed to stage a massive revival a couple of years ago, it was just that: a revival. Slugs are nothing new to the world of airguns, with boxes of slugs from the 1940s or 50s sometimes turning up on the trestle tables at my local car boot sale. So why did they fall into decline and why did they come back? I believe manufacturers simply found diabolo pellets to perform better in the air rifles of the day, which often had muzzle energies far lower than today’s legal limit. But with advances in technology, FAC air rifles are now well established, reopening the doors to slugs. Just like the Slug HP from H&N. This new ammo line is in .177 calibre,…

THE GUN ROOM At school in the 1980s there was only one break time conversation, and it revolved around air rifles and which was best. Needless to say, we each defended our own particular brand, and spirited debates re-trod familiar arguments in favour of various models of Weihrauch, specifically the HW80, HW35 and HW77, the Webley Vulcan and the BSA Airsporter S. Occasionally we’d give it a rest, declare an amnesty, and talk about the rifles we wanted instead. The Feinwerkbau 124/127 Sport was universally admired, and Theoben’s gorgeous Sirocco Deluxe was discussed in hushed tones of awe with much sage head-nodding. And then one day a new boy to the school joined our little circle and threw the Anschutz 335 into the mix. None of us wanted to display…

If you’ve ever thought about treating yourself to an MTC Rapier Ballistic rangefinder but never got round to it, you might want to get a move on. Supplies have been scarce since the pandemic, and MTC Optics says that once the current stock has run out, the line will be discontinued. Capable of measuring out to 1,000m with an accuracy tolerance of +/− one metre, it is powered by a CR2 3v battery which will last up to 5,000 activations. And at 105mm and 178g, it’s small and light enough to fit into a jacket pocket. But what sets it apart from many other rangefinders is its ballistic calculation capabilities. Paired either to a free app or to the popular Strelok ballistic calculator, the Rapier will calculate point of aim…

Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group may already be well known to many of our readers, and their efforts to help protect the indigenous red squirrel from the invasive grey are appreciated by many. Unfortunately, like many voluntary organisations these days, funding is at a premium. To help bring in some muchneeded funds, PRSG ranger Justin Gryce and HFT guru Ian Bainbridge put their heads together to come up with the idea of a charity HFT (Hunter Field Target) shoot with all proceeds going directly to the group. The group itself was founded in 1994 by locals concerned that they would lose their red squirrels if something was not done about grey squirrels in the North West establishing themselves there, as they have unfortunately done throughout most of the country…

Ask someone to think about the features of an air rifle, then sidelevers, regulated actions and multi-shot magazines may well spring to mind. But none of these will be of much use without the stock. A rifle stock is more than just a handle. If a telescopic sight is an aiming device, then a stock is a pointing device, which will, quite literally, point the barrel in the right direction. And just as a rifle’s action, barrel and scope need care and attention to keep them doing their jobs properly, then so does a stock. How much care and attention required will of course depend upon the type of working life the stock has had, but it will also depend on the material the stock is made from. I’ll briefly…

Few would deny that ambushing squirrels on a peanut feeder is the best tactic for controlling the grey pests. But let’s be honest, it’s often a test of patience rather than hunting prowess and few things beat the challenge of stalking grey squirrels in the woods. One of my permissions gives me the opportunity to do both. The 70-hectare wood in south Buckinghamshire is part of a much larger estate for which lumber is a vital source of income. And by stripping wood from the trees, the squirrels cost the landowner thousands of pounds a year. I’m part of a small team of rangers tasked with keeping the population down. After several years we’d just about got on top of the grey problem. Then the pandemic hit, and the woods…

In this country we are very fortunate to have fairs where we can search for old weapons and other shooting-related collectibles. These fairs attract exhibitors who sell everything from deactivated rifles to antique muskets. Most traders will be dealers, but some collectors also hire tables when they’re looking to thin out their collections. Many fairs cover general vintage shooting and weaponry, with airguns being one of many areas of interest, so it’s not feasible to expect to see thousands of airguns on display. However, some fairs do have airguns and airgun-related items on offer. The foremost fair in the land after many decades is still the International Birmingham Antique Arms & Militaria Fair. The fair is held within the National Motorcycle Museum. Yes, you read it right the first time,…

TESTING STATION COMPARING KIT TRADITIONAL SPORTING AIR RIFLES It’s hard to believe, I know, but there was a time before the airgun world went mad for bullpups, tactical rifles and all things black polymer. Traditional sporter stock rifles are something of a, well, tradition. And whilst other designs and fads come and go, quality endures, and for many a beautifully turned piece of walnut is almost as important as a rifle’s ability to shoot straight and group small. So in this issue we’re turning our back on all things military and ignoring anything that looks like it came off a sci-fi movie set. Instead, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the best, and arguably the most attractive, traditional sporter-stocked rifles. A couple - the Daystate Huntsman Revere and…