HAM Test Rating	93%
Value For Money	Expensive but gorgeous.
Best For	Hunting varmints and small game. Could double for FT shoots.
Best Pellet Tested	H&N Field Target Trophy
Street Price at Time of Test	$1588
Caliber Tested	.22
RateAGun Score	Easy to Shoot

VALUE FOR MONEY

At a selling price of $1,588.47, the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Premium Bundle tested by HAM is not cheap.

Of course, there are many different interpretations of the words “Value for Money”. If value for money is interpreted as “the most Bang for the Buck”, the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Premium Bundle tested by HAM doesn’t stand a chance.

But if value for money is seen as being the price paid for a thing of beauty and perfection that will give the owner joy in use and pride of ownership for ever, the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo is clearly outstanding value for money.

Most buyers of the S510 will take the latter view and so this HAM rating is given in that light.

As HAM tester Doug Rogers wrote in his testing notes, “It’s very hard to find any faults with the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo. This gun spoils you for going back to ones you own”. He also added “Boy, if this gun was in .177 caliber, I’d buy it in a heartbeat for my own Field Target shooting!”. The others in the HAM test team agree: we think you will, too.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR

Air Arms S510 Xtra FAC PCP Air Rifle Bundle, Poplar Stock

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The Air Arms S510 is not designed to give super-high muzzle velocities. It delivers solid, practical muzzle velocities in the 950 – 1000 FPS range in .22 caliber with the vast majority of pellets, combined with great accuracy with mid-weight and heavy pellets. This is a combination that will find favor with knowledgeable, experienced airgun shooters who understand that “all out” highest muzzle velocity alone is not the most important criterion for great practical shooting.

Muzzle energy with the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo tested in .22 caliber increased with pellet weight, as you would expect for a PCP air rifle. With pellets above 14.3 Grains weight, muzzle energy is consistent in the 29 – 30 Ft/Lb range. This is good for hunting pests and small game, which is an ideal use for the S510 in .22 caliber.

As you’ll see from the test targets below, accuracy was outstanding with all the heavier pellets in the standard HAM test range. But the lighter RWS Hobby and H&N Field Target Trophy Green pellets gave poor groups. HAM tester Doug Rogers noted that if the pellets dropped easily into the magazine when loading, they shot well. If the pellets needed to be pushed in – as was the case with the Hobbys, FTT Green and one Gamo Platinum PBA pellet, shot 9 – then accuracy suffered.

Realistically, it’s very unlikely that any purchaser of the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo will expect to use any other than mid-weight or heavy pellets. And, as the test target for the Gamo Platinum PBA pellets shows, if lighter pellets drop easily into the magazine, the S510 will shoot them well, too, if required.

So, the HAM test finds that it’s easy to know if a pellet will shoot accurately in the S510, simply by observing how it fits into the magazine. This is a very useful feature that enables the shooter to be sure of the accuracy before pulling the trigger.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
H&N Field Target Trophy .177 Cal, 8.64 Grains, Domed, 500ct

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

Average trigger pull weight for the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo tested by HAM was 1 lb 11 oz.

Note that – as always in HAM testing – this applies to the gun as it is “out of the box”. We don’t adjust the trigger even though it’s easy to do in many cases, such as with the S510.

The S510’s trigger gives an effortless first stage and a very clear, precise “glass-like” break with the second stage. HAM tester Doug Rogers described it as “one of the nicest triggers I’ve ever used”. Doug, we’re with you!

The manual safety is located in the trigger itself. It has a push across action that solidly blocks trigger travel. If we’re being picky, the safety is very small and it’s fiddly to operate until you’re used to it.

Cocking is butter-smooth and satisfying, courtesy of the sidelever action. Cocking effort on the S510 tested by HAM was just 7 lb 11 oz. This action is just a pleasure to use!

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

Interestingly, few claims are made for the US-specification Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight air rifle by the US importers, Air Venturi. The primary ones are that it will give a muzzle velocity of 920 FPS in .22 caliber and that the muzzle energy is 30 Ft/Lbs.

In HAM’s testing, the S510 easily exceeded the muzzle velocity claim with all but the heaviest – 21.14 Grain – H&N Baracuda Match pellets. It also exceeded the muzzle energy claim with those same Baracudas.

Here, for once, is an air rifle that could stand some more marketing claims!

CONSISTENCY

The Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo delivered very consistent results.

If used with the appropriate pellets – see the Speed and Accuracy section above – the 510 gave very consistent accuracy, as is shown by the test targets. Steer clear of tight-fitting pellets as these caused the only real break from outstanding consistency in HAM’s testing.

The average Standard Deviation (variation in FPS between shots) averaged 8.62 FPS across the suite of standard HAM test pellets. HAM has tested airguns with better Standard Deviations, but the variability here was not great and clearly had no impact on the outstanding accuracy.

Consistency of trigger pull was consistent as well as light, with a minimum pull of 1 lb 9 oz and a maximum of 1 lb 11 oz in HAM testing. That’s outstanding!

NOISE LEVEL

The Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight air rifle has a shrouded barrel that is effective at reducing the report when fired.

Subjectively, the HAM testers feel that this is a quiet air rifle that’s entirely suitable for use where noise is a concern. But it’s not as whisper-quiet as, say, the Benjamin Marauder that’s regarded by HAM as the “gold standard” for quiet shooting.

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

The Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight is a scope only air rifle. So, the BKL 300 MB rings and Aeon 8 – 32 x 50 Classic scope included in this Pyramyd Air combo are essential parts of the overall package.

HAM testers agreed that the Aeon scope gave a beautiful image. Eye relief was good and the image bright. Sharp and clear, it was easy to focus and good for rangefinding – an essential for hunting and Field Target use. The side wheel was smooth and precise in action – it would undoubtedly be even better fitted with the optional accessory Aeon Side Focus Wheel.

As regular readers will know, HAM testers all agree that an air rifle scope must have AO (Adjustable Objective) combined with a very fine mil dot reticle. The etched glass reticle found on this scope is superior to the wire reticle found on many scopes and enables a very fine reticle pattern.

The Aeon 8 – 32 x 50 Classic scope is a dedicated Field target model and has a complex “Christmas Tree” reticle with fine, 1/4 MOA mil dots (1/2 MOA is standard on many scopes) with no less than 7 horizontal cross hairs, as you can see below. This complex reticle is specifically designed for easy and accurate holdover when shooting in Field Target competition.

This reticle is perfect for en experienced and knowledgeable air rifle shooter who is prepared to put in the necessary time and effort to learn how to use it to best effect. But then that’s just the type of shooter who will buy the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Premium Bundle in the first place.

Although scope rings are often taken pretty much for granted, it was clear to the HAM team that the BKL-300MB rings supplied in this bundle are a clear cut above most scope rings. HAM tester Doug Rogers found them easy and precise to fit, with a definite feel of quality. The auto-centering clamp legs help here as they move equally as the clamping screw is tightened. Most other scope rings clamp tight with movement on one side only, with a tendency to warping as the clamping screws are tightened.

SHOOTABILITY

HAM testers found the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo to be lighter than it looks – I guess that’s the reason for the “Superlight” part of the name! On the scales the complete S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo tested by HAM weighed-in at just 8 lbs 14 oz.

HAM testers found that the S510 was very comfortable to shoot, it was easy to bring up to aim and the ambidextrous stock design gave excellent cheek weld and hold for both left- and right-handed testers. The design of this air rifle makes it easy to hold consistently – a big part of repeatable accuracy in the field – and this was combined with the excellent balance of the scope and rings supplied in the tested bundle.

The stock design is largely responsible for this consistent hold, with its thin wrist, comfortable comb and carefully-curved forend. It just makes it so easy for the shooter to adopt a consistent, comfortable hold!

The S510’s 10-shot clip (or “magazine”) was easy to load and foolproof in operation. There were no jams or misfeeds during the HAM testing.

The side wheel AO focusing and mil-dot reticle of the Aeon 8 – 32 x 50 scope made it easy to adjust for accurate shooting on targets at different distances. Although not included with the tested combo, the addition of the 3 1/2-inch Aeon Side Focus Wheel would make rapid and precise focusing even easier and would be mandatory for Field Target use.

It’s clear that the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo in .177 caliber and with the Side Focus Wheel would be an outstanding tool for Field Target shooting.

The only drawback HAM could find in this category was the small safety that’s fiddly to operate.

Overall, this is a very easy air rifle to shoot well, as is confirmed by its outstanding RateAGun score of just 3.1.

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

Spectacular!

The appearance and finish of the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo tested by HAM was beyond reproach. Everything about this gun gives the appearance of deep, yet understated quality.

This air rifle is simply beautiful. HAM tested Doug Rogers described the S510 as “the nicest looking air rifle I’ve ever seen” and the other members of the test team agreed.

Stock design is elegant and flawlessly finished, with beautiful curves and fine checkering. The poplar wood is  attractively-figured but not too flashy.

Metal parts are entirely devoid on machine marks and finished to perfection. The depth of bluing and mirror finish of the air tube, in particular, has to be seen to be believed.

The BKL 300 MB rings and Aeon 8 – 32 x 50 Classic scope included in this Pyramyd Air combo were also beautifully finished and a good match to the quality of the air rifle.

The only improvement the HAM testers could suggest – and we were really trying hard! – is that a set of sling swivels be factory installed on the gun. This would obviously make for easier carrying in the field. Could the owner do this him self (or herself)? yes, of course, but the quality and cost of the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo makes us shake at the thought of even approaching this gun with the sharp tools necessary to make the installation ourselves.

BUYING AND OWNING

It’s easy to find the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight for sale online, at Pyramyd Air and some other specialist dealers. But don’t expect to walk into any “big box” sporting goods store and fine one. This means that most S510 buyers will not have had the chance to actually see and hold this air rifle before they buy it – unless, that is, they know someone who already owns one of these gems.

Air Arms guns sold in the USA carry a lifetime limited warranty provided by the importers, Air Venturi.

The owner’s manual for the S510 is very comprehensive, well-illustrated and well-written. It’s waaaaay ahead of many owner’s manuals supplied with many other air rifles!

The low power setting makes a significant reduction in muzzle velocity, with no reduction in accuracy – as is shown by the final test target. The reduction to 580 FPS from 954 FPS with JSB Jumbo Exact pellets brought the muzzle energy down to just 10.73 Ft/Lbs, making the low power setting ideal for indoor practice shooting when the weather’s too bad to shoot outdoors.

The power adjuster turns by hand and has detents just for maximum and minimum power. For HAM, that makes this a “two power” gun, as it would not be possible to repeatably select an intermediate power setting. But realistically that’s not a big issue, we feel.

Are there any downsides? Yes. But we’re struggling a little…

As mentioned above, HAM would like to see factory fitted sling swivels for safer carrying in the field.

The S510 is filled by using a dedicated probe. It requires a special adapter to hook up to the 1/8-inch NPT Foster-type quick disconnect that’s typical in the US for PCP airguns, but this is a one-time issue that’s easily resolved at purchase.

And US shooters will need to learn to use the SI Unit of measurement for pressure – Bar – as this is how the S-510’s pressure gauge is calibrated. 200 Bar, the maximum fill pressure for the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo is 2,900 PSI.

In comparison to the owner’s manual for the gun itself, that supplied with the Aeon scope is very poor. It’s just a cheap generic sheet that’s worse than some documentation supplied with $30 scopes (Leapers springs to mind here as being much better). Yes, buyers of the Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Premium Bundle probably already know very well how to use this scope, but this sheet is not a good compliment to the otherwise excellent quality of the scope.

And the BKL rings give no torque specifications for tightening the clamping screws. This is an unusual omission considering their precision.

Just don’t forget to have plenty of high pressure air available, preferably from a tank – you’re going to want to shoot this air rifle a lot!

TEST TARGETS

LOW POWER TEST TARGET

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR

Air Arms S510 Xtra FAC PCP Air Rifle Bundle, Poplar Stock

This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.

The post Air Arms S510 Extra FAC Superlight Combo
Air Rifle Test Review .22 Cal appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Shown for the first time at the 2105 IWA trade show in Germany, this “concept” rife was a surprise exhibit by the British airgun manufacturer Brocock.

The new Brocock PCP air rifle itself is completely new and based on what is called a ‘semi bullpup’ configuration. That is it is not the full rearward slide of the mechanical action as found in a full-on bull pup style rifle but something somewhere in between, with some of the advantages – but not all of the radically shorter style.

One of the advantages you do get from this concept is reduced cost, as bull-pup rifle are more expensive to engineer as well as more conventional looks; important when the rifle is aimed at the mainstream shooter.

The Compatto (this is a working title for the Brocock PCP concept air rifle and is sure to change before the launch of the eventual rifle) has an overall weight of around 6 pounds and a is just 34 inches long, with a cylinder capacity of 150cc it has plenty of air to allow for higher power where the company are estimating a healthy 30 foot pounds being on tap.

Main features include:
150 cc High Pressure Air (HPA) capacity for 30 shots at high power (30 Ft/Lbs) and 120 shots (12 Ft/Lbs) per charge.
Removable self indexing 10 shot rotary magazine – with optional single shot tray.
New synthetic ambidextrous stock.
Optional walnut stock.
Slingshot hammer system.
Two stage trigger.
Paddle safety catch.
Full length, built in fully baffled silencer (carbine) with optional adapter for second stage silencer.
Available up to 30 ft/lbs muzzle energy.
Weight 6.1 lbs.
Length 34 inches.
Available in .177 or 22 caliber.

More details will be available as we hear them!

The post New Brocock PCP Air Rifle Concept
Shown at IWA 2015 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

S/R Industries, the owner of the Marksman/Beeman brands and subsidiary of SAG (Shanghai Airgun Company), the owner of Industry Brand, announce that their range of CO2-powered air rifles will henceforth be sold under the Beeman brand and no longer as Industry Brand products.

Specifically, this Beeman QB78 air rifle branding change affects the following CO2-powered air rifles: QB78, QB78 Deluxe, QB79, AR2078A and AR2079A.

The reasons for this change are two-fold:

1. The renewed popularity of these air rifles.

2. To develop a more consistent brand story.

S/R Industries plans a rolling change from Industry Brand to Beeman QB78 air rifle branding, the timing will be as inventory of Industry Brand products has been depleted.

The initial inventory of Beeman-branded products will be in brown boxes with the product having the Beeman logo. Subsequent products will come in retail packaging.

Hard Air Magazine knows of no change to the air rifles themselves, the only change is branding.

The post Beeman QB78 Air Rifle Branding Announced. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) proudly invites the top junior shooters from around the country to Port Clinton to compete for the gold at the 2015 Three-Position JROTC National Championships, held March 19-21 at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. High school cadets from Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) units will meet on the firing line to complete a journey that has been months in the making.

Over 8,025 junior shooters participated in the 2014-2015 CMP Postal Competition back in October 2014, with the highest-scoring shooters in each branch qualifying for the JROTC Regional Service Championships in February 2015. Top shooters and teams from each Regional location then earned a spot at the National Championship, where the overall winners will finally be determined.

The  JROTC National Championship event is a 3×20 air rifle event, meaning competitors fire 20 record shots from three positions: prone, standing and kneeling. Visitors are welcome into the range to observe the National Championships at any time during the match – with free admission. All are encouraged to come witness this unparalleled display of young talent.

Larry and Brenda Potterfield of the MidwayUSA Foundation have donated over $400,000 through generous endowments to winning teams and individuals of the JROTC Championships. The MidwayUSA Foundation is a public charity that helps communities and organizations raise funds to support youth shooting teams and activities.

The Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center is the completed result of the $1.1 million-dollar expansion to the formerly known CMP North Marksmanship Center, located inside Camp Perry in Port Clinton, OH. The expansion includes an open reception and common area, fully equipped classrooms, cylinder filling room and CMP retail store. The impressive addition also includes projection screens and flat-screen television sets throughout the building.

Connected to the new expansion is the existing 80-point air gun range, equipped with 10-meter firing points and state-of-the-art electronic targets to accommodate air rifle, air pistol or National Match Air Rifle shooting. The electronic targets, used in some of the most elite ranges in the world, update scores automatically and are displayed on large television monitors within the range – allowing spectators to keep track of the intense competition.

For those unable to attend the event, more information and scores for the JROTC National Championship are also available for viewing online through the CMP website.

The post CMP to Host 2015 JROTC National Championship at Camp Perry appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Gletcher, a brand under Sport Manufacturing Group Inc. that specializes in the production of CO2 replica firearms, introduces, the M1891.  This is a popular CO2 version of the cut down Soviet-styled rifle with a functioning bolt system. This classic look-alike operates like the original.

The Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol is an airgun replica of the classic sawed-off military rifle, is designed with precision and attention to detail. The heavy barrel is matched in weight and length with its predecessor. Gletcher claims that it provides provides accurate shoooting at up to 427fps.

Another small touch Gletcher added to the M1891 is an adjustable front sight, reflecting the dynamic appearance of the classic Soviet-styled rifle.

This sawn off Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol is an unusual air gun that offers realistic cycling with a metal sliding bolt and smooth single-action trigger. An active magazine holds a maximum of 16, cal .177 steel BB’s and incorporates a 12 gram CO2 cylinder that is creatively positioned within the magazine itself.

The stock of the M1891 CO2 pistol is made of polyurethane composite and is durable and easy to maintain, yet has a look and feel of natural wood.  Gletcher offers an 18-month warranty with the M1891.

Readers seeking more information on the Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol can visit www.gletcherguns.com.

Gletcher M1891 Specifications
– Magazine Capacity:    16
– Weight:        5.6 lbs.
– Length:        22” 7/16
– Muzzle Velocity:    427 fps
– Projectile:        .177cal steel BBs
– Propellant:        CO2
– Warranty:        18 months
– MSRP:            $199.99

The post New Gletcher M1891 CO2 Pistol Announced appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

HAM Test Rating	74%
Value For Money	Great accuracy, trigger and bundled scope at this price.
Best For	Hunting small critters and birds
Best Pellet Tested	H&N Field Target Trophy
Street Price at Time of Test	$300
Caliber Tested	.177
RateAGun Score	An Enjoyable Challenge

VALUE FOR MONEY

At a Street Price of around $300, the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is probably not an obvious choice. Its’ muzzle velocity is lower than that of many competitive spring/piston air rifles at this price point and it does not feature modern gas ram technology. There’s no silencer. And there’s no .22 caliber version for the greater knock down capability required to hunt larger critters.

What the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact does offer is excellent accuracy with most pellets, an unusual appearance and the strong perception of quality German engineering. Within it’s capabilities, it’s an excellent hunting air rifle.

For those making a purchase decision based on muzzle velocity, “bang for the buck” and latest technology, the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact air rifle is not a strong contender. But for those whose interest is in quality, accuracy and the ownership of something just a little different, it looks very attractive.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact

BUY FROM AMAZON
Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact air rifle

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact Air Rifle clears the magic 1,000 FPS muzzle velocity hurdle with ease, with both lead free pallets and the 7.0 Grain RWS Hobby lead pellets. As is to be expected, muzzle velocity tails off when shooting heavier weight pellets, falling to 814 FPS with the heavy H&N Baracuda Match 10.65 Grain pellets.

Muzzle energy (knock down power) for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro is somewhat variable. It ranges from just 13.68 Ft/Lbs with the JSB Exact Diabalo pellets to 17.33 Ft/Lbs with H&N Field Target Trophy Green alloy pellets.

Accuracy is outstanding with 5 of the pellet types used for HAM test reviews. It’s very difficult to pick the winner between the accuracy obtained in this HAM test by Crosman Premier Hollow Points, H&N Field Target Trophy and H&N Baracuda Match pellets.

Although best accuracy in this test was obtained by the H&N Field Target Trophy pellets – just! – the outstanding accuracy of the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact air rifle tested by HAM with Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets was very significant. This is because the majority of airgun shooters simply go to Walmart and buy the pellets they see there.

As Crosman Premier Hollow Points are available at Walmart stores everywhere, the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact will probably mostly be shot with them. Fortunately, the results will be excellent.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
H&N Field Target Trophy .177 Cal, 8.64 Grains, Domed, 500ct

BUY FROM AMAZON
H&N Field Target Trophy, .177 Cal, 4.52mm, 8.64 Grains, Round Nose, 500ct

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

Trigger pull weight was very low on the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact tested by HAM. The average trigger pull weight was just 1 lb 6 oz.

Of course the RWS 34 series are fitted with the Diana T06 trigger, which is renowned for its excellent characteristics. This is a 2-stage trigger with a smooth, comfortable metal blade. HAM tester Paul Manktelow found the trigger of the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact tested by HAM to be quite smooth and – being a long-time RWS 34 owner himself – he expects it to improve further with use over the long term.

The safety is automatic. It’s disengaged by pushing the knob at the end of the compression chamber, as generations of RWS/Diana air rifles. As always, HAM testers prefer a manual safety, but this one is easy to operate, and doing so soon becomes second nature.

Cocking effort was heavy, as expected from the very short barrel. The HAM tests found the cocking effort to be quite stout, at 42 lbs. That confirms the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact as a specialized hunting airgun for pests, birds and some small game. The heavy cocking effort rules out an afternoon of happy plinking with this gun!

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

Compared to the maker’s claims, the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact gives a mixed performance.

At an average of 1 lb 6 ozs, the trigger pull weight on the gun tested by HAM was far below the 3.3 lbs claimed by the manufacturer. That’s great as the trigger remained safe at that pull weight and displayed no tendency to go off unexpectedly.

Cocking effort is another matter…

Umarex USA shows a cocking effort for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact of 33 lbs. Strangely, this is the same as that for the regular RWS 34 which, having a much longer barrel, would be expected to have a lower cocking effort. Maybe this is a mis-claim as the cocking effort recorded by HAM far exceeded the claim at 42 lbs.

The manufacturer’s specification for weight of the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is 7.75 lbs – the same as the scopeless Model 34. Again, this is probably an error as the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact tested by HAM weighed-in at a surprisingly heavy 9lb 12 oz with the scope fitted.

A final disagreement between manufacturer’s claims and actual tested results concerned the recoil pad. This is described as being made of rubber. On the gun tested by HAM it was hard plastic instead. We would have much preferred the rubber buttpad promised in the specs!

CONSISTENCY

Consistency is a strong suit for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact!

Of the standard HAM test pellets, only the Gamo Raptor Platinum and RWS Hobby pellets gave less than excellent accuracy. This gives the HAM team the confidence to predict that most users will likely find great accuracy with their choice of pellets.

Standard Deviation – the measure of shot-to-shot variation in a string was outstandingly good, dropping to well under 3 fps with both H&N Field Target Trophy Green and JSB Exact Diabalo pellets. Overall, the average Standard Deviation for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact tested by HAM was 9.21 fps. If the huge outlying figure for the Gamo Raptor Platinum pellets is omitted, the Standard Deviation for the remaining 6 pellet types drops to just 4.97 fps. This is great consistency!

Tested trigger pull weight was again very consistent, with only one outlier above 2 lbs, the remaining 6 pulls registering in the 1 lb 0 oz to 1 lb 8oz range.

Overall, consistency for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact tested by HAM was excellent.

NOISE LEVEL

Noise level for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is about average for a spring/piston air rifle of this power level. Note that the large caring around the front of the barrel is NOT a silencer!

As with any air rifle of this power level, shooting lead free pellets with a muzzle velocity of over 1100 FPS may just break the sound barrier and cause a loud sonic boom. Sticking to heavier lead pellets removes this possibility and keeps the noise level down to manageable levels.

Below. This is NOT a sliencer!

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

The RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is bundled with an RWS-branded 3-9 x 40AO scope and RWS one-piece “Lock Down Mount”. This is NOT a bundled scope and mount that you will want to replace immediately!

The 3-9 x 40AO scope focuses down to 10 yards and is a sharp, clear optic for the price. The scope turrets operate well and are supplied with covers so that they will not be moved accidentally when hunting in the field.

As a long-time “Model 34″ owner, HAM tester Paul Manktelow has some valuable advice for those mounting the scope to the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact for the first time.

He says: “Note that the large-headed screw at the rear of the scope rail is NOT a scope stop. If you try to use it in that way, it will shear off. I removed that screw to mount the scope on this gun. (It doesn’t hold the rail to the compression tube) before installing the scope mount. Also, never try to remove the hex looking screws on the scope rail – those do hold the rail to the compression tube. They are peened over inside and are meant to never to be removed”.

Thanks Paul!

The bundled RWS Lock Down Mount is a “drooper type” mount that counteracts the well-known tendency of RWS/Diana air rifles to exhibit barrel droop and shoot low. It’s a solid mount that provides good attachment of scope to rifle. Remember to use both scope stop screws provided in this mount and engage them precisely in the holes in the scope rail during installation. This will avoid scope creep under recoil.

SHOOTABILITY

Every time any of the HAM testers picked up the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact they were struck by how much heavier it feels than it looks. But that weight balances very well over the forward hand position taken when shooting, so it’s actually not a big issue when shooting.

The very short barrel makes the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact easy and quick to handle in the field – it has a carbine look and feel to it. But that same short barrel has the downside of making this a heavy gun to cock – which could be an issue if you plan to take many shots in one session.

The nice T06 trigger helps considerably with practical shooting accuracy. Accurate shooting is also aided by the excellent cheek weld to the ambidextrous stock obtained by the HAM testers when shooting. Before starting the review, we – or at least primarily Stephen Archer – felt that the scope looked to be mounted too high. But that was an incorrect conclusion. Scope positioning was just fine in practice!

Of course, as a high power spring/piston air rifle, the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact requires use of the light “Artillery Hold” to achieve best accuracy. As mastering this technique is not intuitive for many shooters – particularly those coming from a firearms background where a tight hold is normal – the Meisterschutze Pro Compact takes a relatively high RateAGun score of 8.9. This score qualifies it as “an enjoyable challenge” to shoot.

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

The RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is a fine-looking air rifle of elegant simplicity.

The stock is very simple in shape and finish, with no checkering or fancy shapes. This is “old school” design yet it still works well. The wood is fairly plain with excellent wood-to-metal fit. As observed elsewhere in this review, the HAM testers would prefer a rubber buttpad, instead of the hard plastic one fitted to the test gun.

Metal parts of the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact are given a matt black finish that more resembles Parkerizing than regular bluing. It’s a tough, practical finish that’s not given to making strong reflections – ideal for its hunting purpose.

Just a hint of cheapness is provided by the unfilled screw holes in the barrel that would be used to fit rear iron sights. This is the result of the obviously-sensible use of a standard part in manufacturing, but the HAM testers would fill them with setscrews in their own gun. (If you want to do this yourself, you’ll need a couple of Metric M3 setscrews).

The short barrel and oversize barrel weight/cocking grip give an attractive and unusual carbine appearance to the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact. It also emphasizes the length of the slender wood stock. This a break barrel air rifle that certainly stands out from the crowd in looks!

BUYING AND OWNING

As a “specialist” model, you’re unlikely to find the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact sold in your local big box sporting goods store. But it’s readily available online from a number of vendors.

The feeling of quality that you get from this air rifle is endorsed by the limited lifetime warranty provided by the US importers – Umarex USA Inc. Wear parts – such as seals and mainspring – are warrantied for 18 months.

Ensure that you benefit from this warranty by mailing the warranty certificate supplied with the gun to Umarex within 30 days of purchase – or register online. And note that – in the unlikely event that you do need to take up this warranty – you are responsible for the cost of shipping the gun to Umarex USA, together with a prepayment of $30.00 for return shipping to you.

The owners manual for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact is a generic, English only, leaflet that conveys the basics of operation. It covers trigger adjustment in a basic manner, as does a separate leaflet from the Diana factory. Instructions for the scope are a very basic, generic leaflet that – among other things – advises that the scope be sighted-in at 100 yards range! That’s a small let-down compared to the overall quality of the buying and owning experience for the RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact .

TEST TARGETS

 BUY FROM PYRAMYD

Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact

BUY FROM AMAZON
Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact air rifle

This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.

The post RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact Air Rifle Test Review .177 Cal appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The UK-based Fieldsports Channel has revealed Crosman Corporation to be the most recognized airgun brand as part of their comprehensive Global Hunting Survey.

This survey, conducted December 2014 – January 2015 and reviewing nearly twenty segments of the outdoor industry, covers worldwide owning and buying habits of hunting enthusiasts. Among the Top 50 most recognized brands, Crosman ranked 16th overall. Crosman ranked top airgun brand in survey in the airguns section.

Crosman views this as a testament to their company’s appeal and reputation as an innovative producer of quality outdoor products.

Fieldsports Channel is an online producer of outdoor programming covering the gamut of hunting, shooting and fishing, generating over 1.5 million monthly YouTube views, making it one of the most widely watched programs of its kind.

“Fieldsports Channel is watched by serious hunters and shooters around the world and for that audience to recognize Crosman at this level, it is an honor,” said Chip Hunnicutt, Marketing Manager for Crosman. “Ranking 16th overall puts Crosman in the company of industry giants such as Realtree, Federal, Bushnell and Mossy Oak and is a clear indication of the brand affinity the company continues to cultivate among consumers.”

Complete results of the Fieldsports Channel Global Hunting Survey is accessible online at fieldsportschannel.tv.

The post Crosman Ranked Top Airgun Brand in Survey appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will kick off the next phase of the 2015 CMP 3PAR Air Rifle Championships with the Regional Championship, held in the world-class Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, March 26-28, 2015. Top junior marksmen involved in 4-H, Scouts, American Legion, club or JROTC air rifle programs will compete to determine who will move on to the final stage of the Championships.

This year, 2,445 juniors participated in the CMP Postal Competition on the road to the National Championship in June – set in Anniston, Ala. During the Postals, participants are issued official targets to be fired upon at their home ranges and returned to CMP for scoring. Top teams and individuals of the Postal Match are invited to participate in one of three CMP Regional Championships – held at Camp Perry, Ohio (March 26-28); Anniston, Ala. (April 9-11); and Sandy, Utah (April 9-11).

The Regional Air Rifle Championships is a 3×20 air rifle event, meaning competitors fire 20 record shots from three positions: prone, standing and kneeling. Visitors are welcome into the range to observe the Regional Championships at any time during the match at all locations – with free admission.

To reward the hard work of dedicated junior athletes and coaches, the CMP administers $21,000 towards teams who qualify for the Regional events, with an additional $21,300 for teams and individuals reaching the National level. A scholarship check for $1,000 is also available for the Top 3 highest-scoring senior athletes in both the sporter and precision classes at the National competition.

Additionally, Larry and Brenda Potterfield have donated nearly $275,000 through generous MidwayUSA Foundation endowments to winning teams of the CMP Regional Championships. The MidwayUSA Foundation is a public charity that helps communities and organizations raise funds into their MidwayUSA Foundation account to support youth shooting teams and activities.

The Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry includes an open reception and common area, fully equipped classrooms, projection screens and flat-screen television sets, as well as authentic Olympic memorabilia and other notable items from the outstanding career of the most decorated marksmen athlete in U.S. history, Gary Anderson. Connected to the new expansion is the existing 80-point air gun range, with 10-meter firing points – each equipped with state-of-the-art electronic targets to accommodate air rifle, air pistol or National Match Air Rifle shooting.

For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org for more information and program descriptions.

The post CMP 2015 Regional Air Rifle Championships Start Today appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Hard Air Magazine carried an announcement of the new Gletcher M1891 air pistol just a few days ago.

Now, hot on the heels of that, a package arrived at the HAM offices containing one of these very unusual BB-firing air pistols for us to review.

I couldn’t wait to open it and write this Gletcher M1891 air pistol review!

Long ago, I owned a beautiful Soviet 1891/30 Mosin Nagant sniper rifle (firearm). So I’m very familiar with the action and operation of this type of gun. Although – like most people – I’ve never handled a real cut down “Obrez” version of the M1891 that this replica copies.

My reaction to this Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol is that it’s an incredibly realistic copy of the Mosin Nagant action.

You can buy from Pyramyd Air at: Mosin Nagant M1891 Air Rifle

The Gletcher M1891 air pistol comes in beautiful packaging, complete with an exploded parts diagram on the inside cover of the box. It has a nicely-printed, well-intentioned owner’s manual in English, German and Russian.

The bolt cycles with exactly the correct, clunky feel of the M1891 action. It even has the same “clack clack” noise as the action is cycled. (if you own a Mosin Nagant firearm, you’ll know what I mean).

Like the firearm version, it’s a two-piece bolt with a separate cocking piece that flies forward with a satisfying thunk when the gun is fired. It can be rotated to safe, just like the firearm cocking piece. Note that pulling back the cocking piece cocks the bolt and – if the trigger is thenpulled – the gun will fire. But, like the firearm, no projectile will have been loaded into the breech and so the resulting shot will not fire a BB.

The single stage trigger feels right, too, although the pull weight on the sample reviewed by HAM was 3 lb 4 oz – somewhat less than that of most Mosin Nagant firearms.

The Gletcher M1891 bolt disassembles in almost exactly the same way as that of the original firearm, too.

BBs and CO2 are loaded into the substantial metal magazine assembly that snaps up into place in the single-stack magazine of the firearm. The magazine is released by a catch positioned just in front of the trigger guard, replicating the latch for the magazine floor plate on the firearm.

There’s an extremely realistic look, together with a very realistic weight and heft to the gun.The sample tested by HAM weighed 5 lb 13 oz, which I guess to be about right for this cut down version.

For our Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol review, HAM loaded it with Umarex steel BBs. In the cool 60 degree F temperature of our range, the pistol showed an average muzzle velocity of 400 fps. This is close to the 427 fps claimed by the manufacturer. Of course, like all CO2-powered airguns, the M1891 CO2 pistol will shoot faster in warmer ambient temperatures, so that muzzle velocity claim will almost certainly be achieved at higher temperatures.

We experienced no jams or CO2 leaks when making this Gletcher M1891 CO2 pistol review.

Accuracy was clearly in the “minute of soda can” range that’s expected for a BB pistol.

Is there anything that seemed less than completely realistic?

Well, if I’m trying hard, really hard, I can find just a few very minor faults…

The plastic stock looks very realistic, but it would be just perfect if the wood pattern on the cutdown ends of the stock showed a radial “cut across the wood” pattern, instead of an “along the grain” effect.

The front sight is a single piece part, representative of 1891/30 and later-type models but without the drift adjustment for windage found on M1891-type firearms.

And although the rear sight looks to be an excellent replica of the late-model M44 carbine sight, I would have expected this Russian Civil War-era cutdown version to have the longer, older pattern rear sight.

But these are very minor gripes!

Truthfully, when making this Gletcher M1891 air pistol review, I didn’t really know how to hold the gun. For me, it’s waaaaayyyy to long and heavy to hold as a pistol, yet the cut down buttstock is too short to hold it as a rifle. In the end, I used two hands to shoot and held the gun as if there was an invisible full length rifle buttstock in place.

I acknowledge that this Gletcher M1891 air pistol review is more personal than HAM’s usual test reviews. That’s because it appealed to me so much at an emotional level. I think you’ll find the same, too.

I would really love a full length rifle version of this airgun!

You can buy from Pyramyd Air at: Mosin Nagant M1891 Air Rifle

The post Gletcher M1891 Air Pistol Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Just as the new Gamo Coyote is making its appearance in the USA, there’s indications of a second version of this new PCP air rifle.

The Gamo Coyote Black Whisper air rifle has been advertised by Gamo in the international trade press.

Like the regular Coyote, it’s said to be available in .177 cal as well as .22 and .25 calibers and the basic action is obviously the same.

As a reminder, the regular Coyote looks like this.

Differences between the Gamo Coyote and the Gamo Coyote Black Whisper appear to be these…

1. Stock. The regular Coyote has a wood stock of fairly traditional Monte Carlo profile. The Gamo Coyote Black Whisper has a synthetic thumbhole stock with adjustable cheek piece.

2. Silencer. The Coyote Black Whisper has an integrated barrel-end silencer. The regular Coyote has no silencer, but the barrel is threaded to attach one.

3. Scope. The Coyote is sold without a scope – so the choice is up to the owner. The Gamo Coyote Black Whisper is shown with a scope in a solid one-piece mount. This MAY indicate that it will be bundled with a scope for sale in some countries.

4. Availability. The regular Coyote is available now in the USA and has been available in Europe for somewhat longer. There’s no date given for availability of the Coyote Black Whisper.

As always, HAM will keep you in touch as we find more.

The post Gamo Coyote Black Whisper PCP Air Rifle – First Sighting appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

AirForce International has announced that prices on their airguns will be reduced effective April 1 2015 in response to the strengthening US Dollar abroad.

A stronger US dollar means that it takes less US dollars to buy the same item abroad.

“You always hear about prices going up in response to changes in foreign exchange rates,” noted AirForce Airguns CEO John McCaslin. “Well, when we looked at our costs given the current state of foreign exchange, we saw that import costs had dropped. I decided to pass that savings along to the customer.  It may be April Fool‘s day but we’re not fooling.”

The current AirForce International line-up includes the Lynx and the brand new Orion pre-charged air rifles, Models 94 and 95 spring rifles, and the Indian air pistols. These are some of the best buys from Europe and with the current strength of the US dollar, they are now more easily affordable.

The reduced pricing is available immediately via the AirForce International website and our retailers – both storefront and online, who can be located via the web site. All AFI wholesalers and retailers have been notified of the price reduction.

“One of the things about importing is that your costs are always sensitive to the strength of the US dollar as compared to foreign currencies. It has a major impact on importers,” commented McCaslin. “Our promise is to provide the best airguns the world has to offer at the best prices we can muster. Well, we just mustered better prices. Passing these kinds of savings and providing world class customer service is our promise to the US airgun community.”

As an example of the price changes, the Lynx pre-charged air rifle is being reduced from an MSRP of $1154.95 to $999.95 and the new Orion will be introduced at $629.95.

The post AirForce International Cuts Prices In Response To Strong US Dollar. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Crosman is bringing its hottest lineup in airguns to the 2015 NRA Show – formally the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits – in Nashville, Tennessee, from April 10 -12.

Attendees can go hands-on with the awesome new Benjamin Bulldog .357 hunting air rifle, Benjamin Armada Magpul Edition, Nitro Piston 2 break barrels and more.

“We’ll have our full lineup of air rifles suitable for hunting small game up to whitetail deer and we’re offering free shipping on orders over $199 plus a free rifle case to the first 50 qualifying orders,” said Chip Hunnicutt, Marketing Manager for Crosman. The company will have over 65 products in its booth, including over 40 air rifles and air pistols for plinking, competition and hunting. Prostaffers will be on hand to discuss their features and capabilities.

2015 NRA Show attendees attendees are encouraged to visit the Pyramyd Air Aigun Range and try out the new Armada, AR-compatible air rifle. Crosman claims that the .22 caliber pre-charged pneumatic is incredibly accurate and features the Magpul M-LOK accessory rail system.

The product range in Crosman’s booth #1107 will include shooting accessories, airsoft, archery, optics and air pistols and rifles. Attendees will have exclusive access to show specials during the event if they register for an account while visiting the booth.

It’s Crosman Corporation’s 27th straight year attending the NRA Annual Meeting!

The post Visit Crosman at the 2015 NRA Show in Nashville. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Pyramyd Air has announced that it will be participating in the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting. As in previous years, Pyramyd Air hosts Air Gun Range for visitors to experience the excitement of airguns right at their fingertips, as well as taking advantage of show specials, giveaways, and airgun demonstrations.

The Air Gun Range at 2015 NRA Annual Meeting, hosted by Pyramyd Air, is a great chance to get off your feet, relax, and shoot some of the newest and best airguns on the market. Qualified shooting instructors will be on hand to guide visitors in airgun safety and functionality.

Available at the range will be air guns and accessories from world class manufacturers such as: Air Arms, Air Venturi, AirForce Airguns, AirForce International, Beeman Precision Airguns, Beretta, Benjamin, Crosman, Evanix, EyePal USA, Hawke Optics, H&N Pellets, Palco, Remington, Sam Yang Big Bore Air Rifles, ShinSung, Sig Sauer, Swiss Arms, Sumatra, Stoeger Airguns, Umarex USA, and Walther.

Visitors to the Pyramyd Air Booth, #442, and the Air Gun Range at 2015 NRA Annual Meeting can enter to win free giveaways, with the grand prize being a .22 caliber Air Arms TX200, beech stock, valued at $629.99 retail. They will also have a chance to win Tanfoglio Witness 1911’s and Sig Sauer P226 air pistols.

Ton Jones of SPIKE TV’s Auction Hunters will be stopping by the Pyramyd Air booth and range. Ton will be available at the Pyramyd Air booth on Saturday, April 11th, from 9-10 a.m. He will be available at the range on Sunday, April 12th, from 10-11 a.m.

The Air Gun Range will also feature semi-automatic demonstrations at 1pm and 3pm daily. These demonstrations are always a crowd favorite and not to be missed!

Range hours are as follows:
Thursday, April 9: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, April 10: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 11: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 12: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The post Pyramyd Air Hosts Air Gun Range at 2015 NRA Annual Meeting appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Gamo is attending the 2015 NRA Meeting in Nashville. The 2015 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits industry event is taking place in Nashville, Tennessee on April 10-12, 2015 at the Music City Center. Attendees will see a number of new products and new technologies from Gamo, BSA Optics, Laser Genetics and Joker Knives.

Gamo Outdoor USA booth number is #1209, located in the main exhibition hall.

Meeting visitors will be able to see, experience and feel all the new 2015 models from the European manufacturer.

Gamo will be showcasing some of its most highly anticipated new air gun products, including the Coyote PCP air rifle and Mach 1 Pigman Edition air rifle along their latest Gamo airgun technologies. BSA Optics will feature its new Prevo and Downrange scope families, while Laser Genetics will do the same with the new and revamped line of lasers illuminators and designators.

NRA members and attendees will have access to exclusive show specials on all airguns, optics and laser designators. These offers wouldn’t be seen anywhere else and exclusively for 2015 NRA Annual Meeting attendees that would come to Gamo’s Booth.

Gamo Outdoor USA also will have a lineup of outdoor celebrities at its booth. Show attendees can meet them and have their autographs signed on three different events (posters provided) as follows.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10th
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm: Michael Waddell (Host of Bone Collector TV Show)
4:00pm – 5:00 pm: Doug Koenig (Host of Doug Koenig’s Championship Season TV Show)

SATURDAY, APRIL 11th
11:00 am- 11:45 am: Pigman (Host of Pigman: The Series TV Show)

The post Gamo is Attending the 2015 NRA Meeting in Nashville appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

VALUE FOR MONEY

With a Street Price of $500, the Gamo Coyote air rifle sells for $100 less than its BSA Buccaneer SE cousin. That’s a significant saving against such a similar model.

HAM Test Rating	75%
Value For Money	Consistent, compact PCP air rifle gives customer choice in an ultra-competitive market.
Best For	Hunting varmints and small game. Target shooting.
Best Pellet Tested	Crosman Premier Hollow Point
Street Price at Time of Test	$500. Plus $150 for typical scope and mounts.
Caliber Tested	.22
RateAGun Score	Easy to Shoot

But, of course there’s an elephant in the room! And it comes from Crosman.

The Coyote enters a US market that is dominated by the Benjamin Marauder. Everyone’s going to make the comparison between these two air rifles.

Obviously any individual’s choice between these guns will be down to personal needs and preferences. Here’s how HAM sees the comparison…

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle

BUY FROM AMAZON
Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle air rifle

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle tested by HAM offers muzzle velocities of up to 1054 fps with light weight Gamo Platinum PBA pellets. With light weigh lead pellets – RWS Hobbys -the muzzle velocity reached 958 fps.

Like most high power PCP air rifles, the Coyote does not like light weight pellets. It gives its best accuracy and highest muzzle energy – knock down power – when shooting mid-weight and heavier lead pellets. As you can see from the table below, muzzle energy was below 24 Ft/Lbs with alloy pellets but rose to almost exactly 27 Ft/Lbs (OK, 26.99 Ft/Lbs to be precise) with the heaviest, slowest pellets tested – the H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 Grain pellets.

Best accuracy in this HAM test review of the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle was achieved with mid weight Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets. As we’ve said in previous HAM test reviews, this is a very significant benefit because the majority of airgun shooters simply go to Walmart and buy the pellets they see there.

As Crosman Premier Hollow Points are available at Walmart stores everywhere, the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle will probably mostly be shot with them. Fortunately, the results will be excellent!

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, .22 caliber

BUY FROM AMAZON
Crosman LPH .22 Caliber Hollow Point Pellets, 500-Pack

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

The Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle is fitted with Gamo’s Custom Action Trigger (CAT). This is a two stage trigger with manual safety – our favored configuration.

The owner’s manual provided with the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle give instructions for how to adjust the pull length of the trigger’s first stage, together with the pull length and weight of the second stage. This offers the ability to customize the trigger that’s expected by most purchasers of air rifles in this price range.

The owners manual advises that the trigger pull weight should not be less than 3 Lbs, to avoid the potential for accidental discharge. But the Coyote tested by HAM was supplied by Gamo with a pull weight of 2 Lbs and did not seem to be unsafe. HAM advises caution and double-checking with Gamo USA on this issue before adjusting the trigger on your gun.

HAM testers found the Coyote’s trigger satisfactory in use and were impressed by its light pull weight and excellent consistency. But all of us found the first stage very light, almost to the point of invisibility. HAM would like to have more feel to the first stage of the Coyote’s trigger.

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

As the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is such a new model, it’s understandable that the Gamo USA website does not feature it yet. So, we’ve taken most of the maker’s claims from Pyramyd Air’s website.

The Gamo instruction manual claims the muzzle energy of the Coyote in .22 caliber as 30 Ft/lbs. The maximum muzzle energy recorded in the HAM tests was 26.99 Ft/lbs. That’s 10% lower than the claim.

The claimed maximum muzzle velocity with alloy pellets is gives as 1100 fps in .22 caliber. The best achieved by HAM was 1054.93 fps, just 4% down. That’s close.

CONSISTENCY

The consistency delivered by the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle tested by HAM was outstanding!

Trigger pull weight varied by only plus or minus 1 ounce from the average of 2 lbs 0 oz.

Standard Deviation (the measure of shot-to-shot muzzle velocity variability) was as low as 1.73 fps with H&N Field Target Trophy pellets. That’s incredible consistency. Even more impressive was the Standard Deviation of 3.0 fps or less with as many as 4 of the pellets in the standard HAM test suite. That’s unprecedented!

The fantastic Standard Deviation figure is a clear indication of the benefits to be derived from the regulated valve system used in the Coyote. This effectively prevents the continuous fall in air pressure in the air tube from being translated into lower output pressure and, therefore, varying muzzle velocity.

Yes, it’s true that accuracy was not so great with light pellets, but it became excellent with mid weight 14.3 grain Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets. Heavier pellets also shot with consistent accuracy.

With the exception of the dislike of light weight pellets – itself common for many powerful PCP air rifles, the Gamo Coyote is probably the most consistent air rifle tested by HAM to date!

NOISE LEVEL

Some Internet sources claim that the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is fitted with a silencer. This is NOT correct.

The Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is fitted with an air stripper at the barrel end, but this makes no perceptible reduction in the noise level of the gun. As you would expect from a fairly powerful PCP air rifle with a relatively short barrel, this gun is rather loud.

The muzzle is threaded for a screw-on silencer, but this requires the owner to source a separate silencer and go through the cost and paperwork involved with obtaining a Federal license to fit and use one legally in the USA. This threaded barrel is a legacy of the British BSA design. Unlike in the USA, silencers are not regulated by the UK government and are actually encouraged to be used freely on air rifles!

The photos below show the air stripper and threaded muzzle of the Gamo Coyote air rifle. Also visible is the pressure gauge and probe-filling port with cover at the front of the air tube.

Gamo has already announced that a future version of the Coyote will be available with a built-in silencer and this will obviously address this issue for those shooters who want a quiet air rifle. There’s no availability date for that model at the time of writing this review.

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

The Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is a scope only model. The choice of scope is left to the buyer.

No iron sights are fitted, but excellent long scope dovetails are cast into the top of the breech. This provides firm scope mounting, together with a wide range of positioning possibilities to accommodate various scopes and eye relief requirements.

Due to the lack of recoil of the Gamo Coyote air rifle – as with all other PCPs – there’s no need for a Weaver/Picatinny mount. That’s only needed for spring/piston or gas ram air rifles with their heavy recoil.

HAM tester Doug Rogers fitted a BSA Majestic 6 – 24 x 44 scope, set at 9x magnification, to the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle for this test review.

The HAM scoring for this section is based on our standardized rating structure. We assume a typical price for scope and mounts fitted to the Coyote at $150.00 and the score at 95%. (Obviously no-one will spend $500 on a Gamo Coyote air rifle and then waste their investment with a scope costing much less than this).

SHOOTABILITY

The Coyote’s regulated design gives it outstanding consistency in muzzle velocity. This translates into exceptional accuracy potential – particularly at longer ranges – as the minimal change in muzzle velocity over large number of shots ensures a more consistent point of impact on the target.

The Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is compact – almost carbine length – and this makes for good balance and easy handling. HAM tester Doug Rogers noted that “The Coyote has a good hold – it’s easy to shoot. It doesn’t feel as heavy as it looks”.

The chunky beech ambidextrous stock has plenty of checkering, again making it easy to hold consistently – an important feature that helps practical accuracy. Practical accuracy is also enhanced by the good cheek weld provided by the stock for both right-handed and left-handed shooters.

The Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle uses a 10-shot magazine that is easy to load. It’s positively retained in the gun by a magnetic “catch” and located by a pin. This is the same magazine as is used in BSA air rifles, so it’s well proven and provides good feeding. Different calibers are indicated by colored rotary pellet holders. Shot numbers are molded in the clip and visible through a window in the top.

A BSA single shot adapter is also available and should fit the Coyote, for those who prefer single loading their air rifles.

The bolt action functioned faultlessly throughout the HAM test. The feel encourages deliberate bolt operation, as is common with many bolt-action PCP air rifles.

As expected, these shootability benefits give the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle an excellent (low) RateAGun score of just X.XX.

Note that – as with most PCP air rifles – the Coyote has no double feed prevention. Don’t operate the bolt action more than once before pulling the trigger or a jam will occur.

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

The HAM team liked the traditional looks of the Coyote.

The chunky wood stock is well finished and has an excellent rubber buttpad.

Metal parts are well blued and the finish is at the expected level – comparable with other PCP air rifles in this price range.

BUYING AND OWNING

As a new model, the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is not yet widely available. Online is the way to go – it’s available directly from Pyramyd Air, for example.

Gamo offers a standard 12 month warranty with the Coyote and its obvious BSA design heritage means that good long-term reliability is to be expected from the start.

The Instruction Manual for the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle is very brief: there’s just 2 pages per language. It covers the basics but HAM would like to see more explicit information about filling the gun with air, for example.

The Coyote uses a probe to connect an air tank to the Coyote. The HAM team would prefer to see a quick disconnect system as we feel that the probe system requires more protection to prevent dirt from being attracted to the probe and entering the gun during filling. Also, most users will need an adapter to connect the probe to their HPA tank.

As the Gamo Coyote PCP air rifle has a maximum fill pressure of 3365 PSI, it’s very tough to fill to maximum pressure with a hand pump. That’s VERY, VERY tough unless you have bodybuilder grade physique!

A High Pressure Air Tank is essential for filling this air rifle to full capacity, otherwise you will not achieve the full number of shots per fill.

The Coyote’s pressure gauge is calibrated in Bar, the International Standard measurement system for pressure. This is unfamiliar to most US users, but it’s easily mastered – stop filling before the needle reaches the red line on the gauge!

But HAM really does not like the position of the pressure gauge on the Coyote. It’s in the end of the air tube and so requires the user to read by looking down from the muzzle end of the gun!

Although this gauge location is also used on some other PCP air rifles, this has to be an obvious safety hazard. Be VERY SURE that the Coyote is not cocked or loaded and that the safety is engaged before checking the pressure. Again, users will become used to this, but a gauge in the more normal position in the underside of the stock has to be a better solution.

Finally, spare parts for Gamo air rifles are not generally available from Gamo, except as part of a repair undertaken by the company. This being in strong contrast to the approach taken by Crosman which make spares for Benjamin Marauders and many models readily available.

TEST TARGETS

BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle

BUY FROM AMAZON
Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle air rifle

This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.

The post Gamo Coyote PCP Air Rifle Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Hard Air Magazine understands that Crosman and Benjamin PCP airguns manufactured after about the start of April 2015 will have the airgun degassing tool discontinued from new airgun packaging.

Degassing tools will still be available as a spare part from Crosman and specialist suppliers such as Archer Airguns.

HAM does not know the reason for this move but guesses it’s an effort to keep down manufacturing costs. Probably only a small proportion of owners use the airgun degassing tool supplied with these models. Yet they are a very useful way to remove all pressure from the air tube of PCP airguns and Crosman has led the way in providing them.

Models effected by this change include the following: Benjamin Marauder air rifles, Benjamin Marauder air pistols, Benjamin Discovery air rifles, Crosman Challenger air rifles, Crosman 1700 and 1701 PCP pistols.

The post Crosman and Benjamin PCP Airgun Degassing Tool Discontinued From New Guns. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Leapers has announced a new scope that’s suitable for use on air rifles, including high power spring/piston and gas ram models. This new Leapers product is the UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE Scope. “T8″ represents an 8X zoom ratio which is cutting edge technology in optics.

The UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE scope is claimed to maximize optical performance at any range. You can use low power for close range shooting, medium power for intermediate distances, and high power for extended long range shots. The side parallax adjustment knob allows you to eliminate parallax down to as close as 10 yards – another benefit for use for use on air rifles.

Leapers’ True Strength (TS) Platform provides bracing against forward recoil – this is what makes the UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE scope suitable for use on break barrel air rifles. It is also completely sealed and 100% nitrogen filled, making it shock, fog, and rain proof.

The UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE scope is built with what Leapers describes as a Smart Spherical Structure (TS Platform) to control inner/outer tube interaction. This structure adds durability to the scope allowing for precise and consistent windage/elevation adjustment throughout its lifespan.

This T8 scope also has premium lockable and resettable turrets for fast and intuitive zero adjustment and retention. Its 30mm main tube offers a bright view and maximum turret adjustment range. There’s an etched glass reticle and emerald coated lenses.

As a bonus, this scope also includes an integral angled sunshade, flip-open lens caps, and Max Strength QD Weaver/Picatinny rings. Most air rifles will require “traditional” airgun/22 scope rings to use this scope on their guns, this would be an additional cost purchase.

The UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE scope carries the Leapers Item Number SCP3-216AOIEW and has a MSRP of $299.97.

The post New UTG T8 2-16X44 CQB/MRC IE Scope appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Details for the second annual, 2015 Pyramyd Air Cup competition have been announced by Pyramyd Air.

All airgun shooters are welcome to compete for top spots in the gunslinger and Field Target competitions, as well as the popular PayDay Challenge. This exciting 3 day event will take place September 11-13, 2015 at the Tusco Rifle Club in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

For the 2015 Pyramyd Air Cup will offer the utmost in competitive airgunning excitement, with competitions to include:
•    Gunslinger: A fast-draw competition combining speed and accuracy for a fun and challenging event. Competitors, paired up against each other, must knock down the designated targets at varying distances in the shortest time possible
•    Field Target: This 2-day event will feature Open, Hunter and WFTF classes. The unpredictable September weather is sure to make striking the “kill zone” much more challenging.
•    PayDay Challenge: Competitors in this event will test their skills to hit targets at 15, 25 and 40 yards, both in benched and offhand positions. The winner gets $200 from a mere $5 entry fee.

Competitors will compete based on airgun type: PCP or springer. For both the field target and gunslinger competitions, prizes will be awarded to top place finishers. The Field Target portion of the event is governed under the rules of the American Airgun Field Target Association, and will be a Grand Prix level event.

The 2015 Pyramyd Air Cup will be held in conjunction with the The Ohio Airgun & Field Target Shooters Association. For more about information about each competition, including the PayDay Challenge, see pyramydaircup.com/competitions.

Not competing? There will also be a “try me” range available to the general public. Airguns, ammo and accessories from leading manufacturers will be available to test – for FREE. New this year: on-site purchases will be available for those interested in taking the product home with them right then and there. Try it – buy it!

“We’re excited to bring back the Pyramyd Air Cup for its sophomore year.” Said Josh Ungier, Pyramyd Air CEO. “Our goal with this event is two-fold: a fun competition to introduce airgunning to those new to the sport, as well as hosting an event where competitors can come together for a weekend of great shooting and camaraderie.”

Register by July 31st, 2015 for early bird pricing; final registration deadline is August 31st, 2015. Hotel rooms have been reserved in the area and on site camping will be available at the Tusco Rifle Club. Click here to register today!

For additional information about the 2015 Pyramyd Air Cup visit PyramydAirCup.com or contact the Cup Manger by email: cupmanager@pyramydair.com, or phone: 888-262-4867 ext. 253.

The post 2015 Pyramyd Air Cup Announced. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Interesting news is that AirForce airguns will be carried by Big Rock Sports – one of the largest outdoor sporting goods distributors in North America. This means it’s likely that you will find AirFirce airguns available at a sporting goods stores across the country.

Big Rock Sports carries over 190,000 product SKUs and services more than 15,000 fishing, shooting, camping, taxidermy and marine retailers across the US, Canada, the Caribbean and eight other countries.

“We are excited to be joining forces with Big Rock to bring these seriously great airguns to local dealers,” commented AirForce CEO and Founder John McCaslin. “Big Rock’s efforts with dealers along with our sales partners at Outtech will help keep AirForce and the domestic precharged airgun market growing.”

“The introduction of the AirForce Texan added a new dimension to our product line,” said McCaslin, “and Big Rock is adding a new dimension to our market nationwide.”

The history of Big Rock Sports goes back almost 60 years to the founding of All-Sports Supply in Portland, OR. They have distribution centers across the USA and Canada.

The post AirForce Airguns will be Carried by Big Rock Sports. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

There were lots of people and lots of airguns at the 2015 NRA Show in Nashville TN!

Thanks to the assistance of our friends at Air Force, Gamo, Leapers and Pyramyd Air, HAM brings you this photographic overview of airguns at the 2015 NRA Show. If you didn’t attend the show, these pictures give a good idea of what was happening…

Did we mention that there LOTS of people attended the meeting? Below we see the entry hall moments before the opening of the 144th NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibitions in Nashville. Photo courtesy of AirForce Airguns and mzphoto.com.

There was plenty of action at the Gamo booth, as these photos by Fedor Palacios, Marketing Communications Manager, Gamo Outdoor USA, show. Fedor also took the “cover photo” for this post. Thanks Fedor!

Of course, there’s a fun side to the show, as well as the more serious business of talking about airguns.

Below we see Eddie Eagle and the AirForce Squirrel meeting at the concert plaza outside the Music City Center in Nashville. Then AirForce Airguns Evangelist Ton Jones showing the new Texan – the world’s most powerful air rifle – to an NRA member. Photos courtesy of Air Force Airguns and mzphoto.com.

Over at Pyramyd Air, this was the scene moments before the show opened (above). Moments later, things were completely different, with people everywhere! Photos courtesy of Stormie VanMeeman, PyramydAir.

HAM will have more coverage of the 2015 NRA Meeting and Exhibitions tomorrow.

The post Airguns at the 2015 NRA Show – 1 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.