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The post Memorial Day Airgun Sale! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Memorial Day Airgun Sale!
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Memorial Day Discount + The New Walther PPS M2 🇺🇸
The post Memorial Day Discount + The New Walther PPS M2 🇺🇸 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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More Ballistic Coefficients! HAM Adds More Airgun BCs To Its Database
Hard Air Magazine already had the largest database of airgun BCs. But now we’ve added the results from more pellets…
In total, the Hard Air Magazine airgun BC database now has 111 airgun BCs. These are made up as follows:
.177 caliber – 49 BCs
.22 caliber – 52 BCs
.25 caliber – 8 BCs
.30 caliber – 2 BCs
This latest batch of tests included more pellets from H&N and Crosman.
You can find our complete database of airgun BCs from this link.
The importance of the Hard Air Magazine Ballistic Coefficient data its consistency. We’ve taken considerable efforts to make the data for the airgun BCs we generate as consistent as possible.
This means that you can compare one Ballistic Coefficient to another from the Hard Air Magazine database. This is not possible where airgun BCs are generated from multiple sources – as in other collections of Ballistic Coefficient data.
To achieve this consistency, we always shoot with the same FX Impact air rifle. As well as being a high quality airgun, the Impact is regulated. So it meters a very consistent amount of air to propel each pellet. This contributes greatly to the accuracy of the HAM data.
Another benefit of the FX Impact is that it can readily be configured for multiple calibers. This enables the HAM Team to determine airgun BCs using just one gun for .177 cal, .22 caliber, .25 cal. and .30 caliber pellets. Again, this reduces variables and makes the HAM data more reliable.
To further reduce variables, we use a Labradar Doppler radar system. This allows us to measure pellet velocities at multiple different ranges from one instrument, again maximizing consistency of our airgun BCs.
Ten pellets of each type are shot for the HAM Ballistic Coefficient calculations. We then use the average of these velocities to determine the pellet’s BC.
As Ballistic Coefficients vary with velocity, the HAM database of airgun BCs also includes the Muzzle Velocity FPS and the velocity at 30 yards. This provides further validation of our BC data.
Note that in HAM testing, we have found that the FPS of individual pellets varies very significantly beyond about 30 yards. This means that BCs generated at ranges beyond 30 yards are likely to be less accurate. It’s also why we generate the HAM airgun BCs using the pellet velocities at the muzzle and at 30 yards.
To find out more about how the HAM team generates airgun pellet BCs, check out this link.
I hope that you find this data useful!
The post More Ballistic Coefficients! HAM Adds More Airgun BCs To Its Database appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Exclusive First Look At New Benjamin Traveler Portable HPA Compressor
The long holiday weekend gave the HAM team a first chance to see the new Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor.
So far, the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor is not even featured on the Crosman web site, so this HAM report really is an exclusive first sneak peek at this exciting new product!
We first reported on this portable HPA compressor from the 2018 SHOT Show, where it made its debut appearance. There are – as you would expect – some differences between the SHOT Show sample and the one we have here. However, the basics are the same.
The Benjamin Traveler is a very small, portable compressor that’s designed to fill PCP air rifles directly. It’s not intended to fill large HPA tanks – it’s actually a product to replace these tanks for many users. And yes, it’s very light and portable…
The core product is this box. It provides High Pressure Air at up to 4,500 PSI. Power comes from a 12 Volt car battery or 110 Volt AC home supply, using an included transformer.
Now here we should also say that there MAY be differences between the model we’re seeing here and the final production models of the Benjamin Traveler. It’s scheduled to appear later in the Summer.
We’re saying that because the serial number of this particular unit is 20180001 and because it’s not in final packaging, nor does it have any documentation.
On one side of the box is a pressure gauge. This is graduated in both PSI and Bar. It also provides a means of setting the maximum fill pressure by adjusting the central, white knob.
The main Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor box is connected to an air rifle using this flexible connector tube. The brass screw looks like the bleed and there’s the expected standard female quick disconnect at either end.
The black and silver housing contains a filter that could be an inline oil/water separator. Multiple filters are included with this Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor we received.
The Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor is supplied with clips and cables to attach to a 12 Volt car battery. There’s also a second, much smaller, cable that is used to connect the compressor to the transformer.
Here it is!
And here’s the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor and transformer connected together for use.
If you prefer the car battery approach, simply set up the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor like this…
Here we see how the flexible hose connects to the compressor. That cut-out shape is the pressure gauge we saw in close-up above.
Also included with the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor HAM received is a set of O rings and seals, a “dead head” and tiny screwdriver (for adjusting the pressure setting, we think). The fill probe with adapter looks like it could be for the Benjamin Pioneer AirBow. We’ll be checking that out, of course!
The ever-improving price/performance of PCP air rifles makes low-cost, reliable and simple HPA compressors the obvious next step for many manufacturers. Crosman is obviously getting there fast with the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor!
Back at the SHOT Show, Crosman was talking about a price of around $650.00 for the Benjamin Traveler portable HPA compressor. No word yet on a final price, but that will doubtless be released fairly soon.
HAM will carry another report on the Traveler once we’ve had time to fire it up and fill some air rifles. Stay tuned…
The post Exclusive First Look At New Benjamin Traveler Portable HPA Compressor appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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17 Gifts that Will Put a Smile on Dad’s Face this Year
Make sure you stay dad’s favorite. | View in Browser
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The post 17 Gifts that Will Put a Smile on Dad’s Face this Year appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Now is your chance to save 10% on Umarex!
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The post Now is your chance to save 10% on Umarex! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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The Countdown Is On For The Airguns Of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes!
Back in 2016, HAM first gave readers a sneak peak at plans for the Airguns of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes. Yes you read that right. The chance to win a real, full-size, working, pristine truck!
Since then, the plans turned into actuality and the sweepstakes has been running. Now it’s countdown time…
You see, the Airguns of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes ends on July 4th 2018.
The winning entry will be drawn around the end of July and the lucky winner announced in early August.
It’s easy to enter. Just go to the AoA website and click on the link. You’ll find all the details there.
To learn more about the truck you could win in the Airguns of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes, check out this new video from Steve Scialli of AEAC and AirgunNation’s Michael Wendt.
Interested? Then you need to enter the Airguns of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes before it ends on July 4 th.
The post The Countdown Is On For The Airguns Of Arizona Win A Truck Sweepstakes! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum Pellets 10.5 Grain .177 Caliber Test Review
VALUE FOR MONEY
At a specified weight of 10.5 Grains, Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets are significantly heavier than the majority of Crosman pellets in .177 caliber. Hence the “magnum” title.
As with the majority of Crosman pellets, they are priced very attractively. Online price is typically just 1.99 Cents each at $9.95 for a tin of 500 pellets. You can find even lower prices by selecting the “buy four tins get one free” offers from Pyramyd Air or Airgun Depot or by buying in-store at large big box retailers.
The graph below puts this pricing into perspective. The price of Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets compares to the average (mean) price of .177 caliber lead pellets of 2.7 cents each. That puts these pellets into the “bargain” end of the market.
And if you want to buy US-made pellets, here they are! Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets are manufactured at the company’s corporate headquarters at Bloomfield, NY.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum .177 Cal, 10.5 Grains, Round Nose, 500ct![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Crosman Copper Magmun Pellets .177 Cal 500 Ct
TEST DATA SUMMARY
| Price per Pellet | 1.99 cents |
| Most Common Weight | 10.60 Grains |
| Pellets at That Common Weight | 18% |
| Variation in Pellet Weight (Smallest to Largest) | 2.96% |
| Most Common Head Diameter | 4.56 mm |
| Pellet at That Common Head Diameter | 16% |
| Variation in Head Diameter (Smallest to Largest) | 2.47% |
| Most Common Length | 6.68 mm 6.69 mm 6.76 mm |
| Pellets at That Common Length | 12% |
| Variation in Length (Smallest to Largest) | 2.25% |
COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS
As usual, Crosman makes few claims about their pellets. The company claims that there are 500 pellets in a tin of Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets. HAM found this to be exactly so. There were precisely 500 pellets in the tin we tested.
The manufacturer also claims that Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum have “more energy at long range”. This would be true compared to the regular 7.9 Grain Crosman .199 caliber pellets due to the heavier weight of the pellet, as heavier pellets have more energy.
But it’s particularly true due to the relatively high Ballistic Coefficient of 0.023 which these pellets have. Again this is higher than most of the regular 7.9 Grain Crosman pellets. Higher Ballistic Coefficients mean increased energy at long ranges.
However the pellets tested by HAM were rather heavier than the claimed 10.5 Grain weight, as we’ll see below.
CONSISTENCY
There were no damaged or malformed pellets in among the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets tested by HAM.
However, the head diameters found in the pellets tested by HAM were very varied. They ran all the way from 4.45 mm up to 4.56 mm, as you can see in the chart below.
This is a very large spread of 2.47% between largest and smallest. It’s far below the average consistency we normally find when testing head sizes.
It also means that some large diameter pellets will be hard to load in a break barrel air rifle – for example – while the smallest ones will tend to fall out.
In fact, the largest head diameters were actually caused by a pronounced seam line between the two sides of the pellet. This is clearly seen in the photograph below.
This pronounced seam accounts for the 4.55 and 4.56 mm head diameters recorded in HAM testing, even though the diameter of the bulk of the pellet is less than this.
Consistency of weight was rather better in the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets pellets tested by HAM.
18% of the tested pellets had the same weight of 10.60 Grains, when weighed on HAM’s incredibly-precise laboratory grade balance. This is somewhat above average. The variability between the lightest (10.49 Grain) and heaviest (10.60 Grain) pellets tested was 2.95%, which is about average.
However, all except one of the pellets weighed more than the claimed 10.50 Grains. The average weight was 10.64 Grains, which is 1.1% higher than the manufacturer’s specification.
Length consistency was also around average for the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets tested by HAM. However, as with the head diameters, we do not find the expected “bell curve” shape to the chart of length variability below. Yet it’s present in the weight consistency chart above!
The most common lengths found in HAM testing were 6.68 mm, 6.69 mm and 6.76 mm.
DIRTINESS
Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets scored well for dirtiness – or actually the lack of it!
Yes, there was a fair amount of the inevitable lead dust and debris present in the tin of Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets tested by HAM. However, it should be remembered that this is from a total of 500 pellets.
In fact, the level of dirt per 100 pellets – the way we measure it at HAM – was actually quite low at just 0.552 Grains.
DOWNRANGE PERFORMANCE
The relatively high Ballistic Coefficient of Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets – 0.023 in HAM testing – gives them a relatively flat trajectory downrange. This is shown in the Chairgun chart below.
The yellow highlighted segment shows that the standard HAM test gun – a Beeman 1074 break barrel model – shoots effectively “flat” from 10 Yards to 38 Yards.
HUNTING USE
That same high Ballistic Coefficient figure means that Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets retain their energy well downrange – as claimed by the manufacturer.
The Kinetic Energy of Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets pellets remains as high as 70% of the Muzzle Energy at 35 Yards and is still 60% at 51 yards. This makes Ultra Magnums good for long range hunting if your air rifle’s barrel likes them.
The HAM soap penetration test shows the Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellet penetrating 60mm into the block. The wound channel entry hole was 7 mm diameter.
The “before and after” comparison photograph below shows that both head and skirt of the 4.51 mm (un-fired) diameter pellet were deeply marked by the rifling.
Also noticeable is that the fired pellet had expanded from 4.51 mm to 4.57 mm diameter on impact, shrinking in length to 6.47 mm in length.
This performance indicates that Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets are well suited to hunting at longer ranges on larger quarry.
BUYING AND OWNING
Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets are widely available online, from big box sporting goods retailers and at your local Walmart. That makes them very easy to buy.
But they’re really, really difficult to open!
The HAM Team finds all Crosman 3-inch diameter pellet tins – including this one – to be extremely difficult to unscrew. Once you’ve got the tin open once, there’s no problem. But sometimes we’ve had to use strap wrenches to unscrew the lid! Sure, that’s an extreme case, but Crosman should set their machines to tighten the lids with a little less torque in manufacturing.
As with most Crosman pellets, these Ultra Magnums are manufactured from a rather hard lead alloy. This means that they’re unlikely to be damaged by rough-and-tumble handling, which is a good practical benefit for many shooters.
TEST DATA
For background details on HAM’s Pellet Test Review methodology, check out this link.
Chairgun is a product of Hawke Sports Optics LLC and is used with permission. Check out http://www.hawkeoptics.com
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum .177 Cal, 10.5 Grains, Round Nose, 500ct![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Crosman Copper Magmun Pellets .177 Cal 500 Ct
Understanding HAM Pellet Awards
HAM Pellet Awards come from the most rigorous, professional and comprehensive pellet testing by any independent publication. They are the result of much precise measurement and analysis using high precision measuring devices and highly-experienced testers.
Note that accuracy is a product of the complete “system” of airgun, scope, atmospheric conditions and shooter ability – not the pellet alone.
This means that no pellet test review can predict the accuracy of a particular pellet with YOUR individual air rifle. That’s why we do not measure accuracy in these pellet tests.
What HAM Pellet Awards do recognize is manufacturing consistency. Inconsistent pellets definitely will be inaccurate, consistent pellets are much more likely to be accurate.
HAM Awards also recognize value. There’s considerable variation in the price of airgun pellets. This means that an 8 cent pellet needs to score higher than a 2 cent pellet to achieve an award.
For full details of the HAM Pellet Award scoring methodology, please check out our Pellet Testing page.
For a full listing of HAM-tested Ballistic Coefficients, please see our Ballistic Coefficients page.
This entire article including scoring, data 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 Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum Pellets 10.5 Grain .177 Caliber Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle Test Review
VALUE FOR MONEY
The Umarex NXG APX air rifle was introduced in 2014. It continues to be a strong seller and at a Street Price of $59.99 including a scope, it represents one of the lower-priced air rifles available in the market today. As a multi-pump air rifle, it’s ready to take out of the box and shoot. It’s able to shoot both BBs and pellets. And it’s claimed to reach a screaming 800 FPS with alloy pellets (we all know that faster is better, right?).
The NXG APX is also smartly styled for an air rifle of this price.
As such, the NXG APX is just the sort of airgun that’s in the sights of many newcomers to airgunning. Either for themselves, or as a teaching tool for kids or grand kids – under supervision, of course! Umarex positions the gun clearly as a youth model.
It’s the cheapest air rifle the HAM Team has ever tested. But is it also good value?
Well, the Crosman 760 and Daisy Red Ryder are cheaper. The 760X combo, with scope, is $10 less. A scoped Red Ryder is $5 lower. This means that the NXG APX is in the ballpark for price. It might just look like a slightly premium product compared to the other two for the additional few Bucks.
The multiple safety features give it the responsible parents’ edge as a first youth air rifle. That alone will justify the price in their eyes.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle Combo![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Umarex NXG APX Scope Combo
![Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle Test Review]()
SPEED AND ACCURACY
Firstly we need to say that we tested the Umarex NGX APX with pellets rather than BBs. It shoots both, but pellets would always be likely to be more accurate.
Secondly, HAM Tester Doug Wall felt that 7 pumps was a good number for the Umarex NXG APX air rifle. This gave him very decent Muzzle Velocity, without the three additional very hard pumps. This was an important consideration given that he was making close to 100 shots for this test review!
Below. The pump handle fully open.
In fact, going up to 10 pumps per shot didn’t make much difference to the FPS. Doug found that ten pumps gave a maximum of 697 FPS using the lightweight Gamo Platinum PBA alloy pellets. This was up from 672 FPS with 7 pumps.
In another comparison, Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets achieved 586 FPS with seven pumps, compared to 614 FPS with 10 pumps.
Accuracy at 10 Yards was somewhat “ho hum” with the standard HAM test suite of pellets. It was the sort of accuracy we expected from such a low cost airgun. At least it was until Doug tried the heavier H&N Field Target Trophy and Baracuda Match pellets!
Both these gave outstanding accuracy for such a low-priced air rifle, making one hole groups of around 1/3-Inch CTC. That’s not at all bad for a 10-shot group!
| Pellet | Average Muzzle Velocity | Average Muzzle Energy | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamo Raptor Platinum 4.7 Grain | 672 FPS | 4.72 Ft/Lbs | Poor. |
| H&N Field Target Trophy Green 5.56 Grain | 645 FPS | 5.14 Ft/Lbs | OK. |
| RWS Hobby 7.0 Grain | 599 FPS | 5.59 Ft/Lbs | Poor. |
| Crosman Premier HP 7.9 Grain | 575 FPS | 5.80 Ft/Lbs | Poor. |
| JSB Exact Diabolo 8.44 Grain | 560 FPS | 5.88 Ft/Lbs | OK |
| H&N Field Target Trophy 8.64 Grain | 553 FPS | 5.86 Ft/Lbs | Excellent. |
| H&N Baracuda Match 10.65 Grain | 504 FPS | 6.01 Ft/Lbs | Excellent. Best Tested. |
So, accuracy can be excellent – at least at close range. But how many owners of this $60 air rifle will be willing to spend $13 for a tin of 400 pellets to achieve this accuracy?
Of course, BBs are much cheaper to shoot in the NXG APX air rifle. But accuracy will definitely take a back seat for those that do so…
Below. BBs are loaded through this port in the left side.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
H&N Baracuda match, .177 Cal, 10.65 Grains, Round Nose, 400ct![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
H&N Baracuda Match Pellets .177 Cal 400 Ct
TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT
There’s no getting away from it. Like many low-priced air rifles, the trigger of the Umarex NXG APX was very heavy. In fact we recorded an average pull weight of 7 Lbs 8 Oz in HAM testing.
Yes, this is waaaaaay too heavy a trigger pull for most of us. HAM Tester Doug Wall noted that “the trigger has a long creep and is too heavy for most people”. But – as we can see – he was still able to produce some good groups from the Umarex NXG APX air rifle using the heaviest pellets.
Cocking effort is light and pleasant for the first few actuations of the lever. However, it becomes harder work as the internal pressure of the gun rises with additional cocking strokes, as the table below shows.
| Pump Number | Effort For That Pump |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7 Lbs |
| 2 | 10 Lbs |
| 3 | 14 Lbs |
| 4 | 15 Lbs |
| 5 | 16 Lbs |
| 6 | 16 Lbs |
| 7 | 18 Lbs |
| 8 | 19 Lbs |
| 9 | 20 Lbs |
| 10 | 22 Lbs |
Below, With the pump handle open the air compressing piston is clearly visible from the underside.
The automatic safety is claimed by Umarex to be a first in this segment of the market. It locks against the cocking handle and is automatically deployed as soon as the cocking handle is pulled down. If required, it can also be engaged manually. This may be a “trigger block safety”, but it’s definitely a “finger block safety” as it significantly impeded access to the trigger when on.
It’s very intrusive and will certainly never be overlooked, that’s for sure!
COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS
Unfortunately, the Umarex NXG APX air rifle really suffers in this part of the review.
The manufacturer claims a maximum Muzzle Velocity of 800 FPS with lightweight alloy pellets. The maximum achieved with the Umarex NXG APX tested by HAM was 697 FPS with the lightweight Gamo alloy pellets.
The 2018 Umarex USA print catalog we received at the SHOT Show gives a trigger pull weight specification of 3.5 Lbs for the NXG APX. The gun tested by HAM averaged 7.5 Lbs!
The box also claims that the NXG APX is fitted with a Picatinny rail for scope mounting. Sadly, this is not true either. The molded scope rail is far too narrow to make any approximation to a Weaver/Picatinny mount.
Other claims are met, however. These include trouble-free loading, the ability to shoot both pellets and BBs and having modern styling.
CONSISTENCY
Consistency of the Umarex NXG APX air rifle tested by HAM was rather good!
The average Standard Deviation (measurement of shot-to-shot variation in FPS) was very low at just 4.11 FPS. This matches or beats that of some air rifles costing 10x the price!
Accuracy with the standard HAM test pellets was never terrible either. Most of the groups showed about 3/4-inch CTC for 10 shots at 10 yards – until we got to the Field Target Trophies and Baracudas, that is. We’ve certainly seen worse consistency in some other HAM test reviews.
Trigger pull weight varied by – 6 Ounces to + 11 Ounces around the 7 Lbs 8 Oz average. That’s more consistent than we expected, too.
NOISE LEVEL
Of course the Umarex NXG APX is not fitted with any kind of noise reduction system. However, low power shots on – say – 5 pumps or less are subjectively very backyard-friendly.
Noise level increases with the number of pumps, becoming much louder, although not objectionably so. This is, after all, not a powerhouse air rifle and the noise level reflects that.
SIGHTS AND SCOPE
The Umarex NXG APX air rifle is a low-end model and the sights are in tune with this positioning.
The open sights are primitive. There’s a fairly-ineffective red fiber optic in the front sight. The rear sight has a ladder-type elevation system. Some windage can be obtained by loosening the rear sight screw and sliding the notched plate to one side or the other. They’re not good, but par for the course at this price level.
Considerably better accuracy will be attained when using the bundled 4 x 15 scope. Yes, this is not a great optic. But what else would you expect at this bargain-basement price?
However, as we can see from the test targets, HAM Tester Doug Wall was able to make some very good shooting at 10 Yards, with the right pellets. Let’s put this down to Doug’s skill and suggest that any replacement scope will give an improved shooting experience for most shooters.
SHOOTABILITY
The manufacturer positions the Umarex NXG APX squarely as a youth air rifle. So, safety is the Number One priority in shootability!
This means that many of its characteristics are intended to facilitate safe operation by young or first-time shooters, even if they are limiting or off-putting to experienced shooters.
The HAM shootability rating has been considered with this in mind, as a “parent’s view” of the NGX APX for a safe youth gun in supervised use. This is very different from how we normally assess our shootability ratings.
Yes, at 39-Inches long, it’s a decent size for adult shooters. It shoulders well and points well, as HAM Tester Doug Wall recorded in his test notes. It also allows for very stable and convenient off-hand shooting if the leading hand grasps the pump handle.
The heavy trigger makes it more difficult to obtain accuracy – particularly in combination with the gun’s light weight. But that same heavy trigger will undoubtedly prevent a number of unintended discharges from over-enthusiastic youthful shooters – even under adult supervision.
Likewise, the increasingly-heavy pumping effort required for higher FPS may actually be a benefit by making it impossible for many younger shooters to go beyond 5 pumps or so. This restricts the power of the gun and the danger of over-shoots from the inevitable missed targets.
Below. The safety interlocks with the pump handle.
The very invasive – and effective – automatic safety is, again, just the sort of thing to ensure that younger shooters don’t get too enthusiastic without due restraint. It takes a lot of effort to take the safety off so that the gun is live to fire. A good feature is that it can be operated with equal facility from either side . It’s also very easy to set manually.
One of the big pains – literally – with many pump airguns is the potential to have part of your hand trapped unintentionally between the pump handle and action. (Yip, we’ve all done it, haven’t we?) Here the Umarex NXG APX scores very well. The pump handle prevents any chance of that happening with this airgun.
BBs and pellets are loaded from opposite sides of the gun – another good feature for operational safety. However, operation of the charging handle is very heavy, this time for no apparent good reason.
Yet another safety-first feature is that the gun will not fire if the trigger is pulled, even with the safety off, until that charging handle is pushed forward. Again, this is a safety benefit for responsible parents of youth shooters, even if it’s not likely to be met with enthusiasm by experienced airgunners.
APPEARANCE AND FINISH
Appearance and finish were rated highly by the HAM Team for a low end air rifle.
The Umarex NXG APX is a sharp-looking air rifle with a distinctive style. It’s arguably the most stylish air rifle in it’s price and type range.
Finish was pleasantly good, too. The plastic moldings are generally sharp and well done. Mold seams are less prominent than you might expect at this price point. And the contrasting, soft touch sections of the buttstock look good, feel good and are nicely finished, too.
BUYING AND OWNING
The Umarex NXG APX is widely available online and in big box sporting goods stores. It carries a 12-month warranty, however the customer needs to pay shipping both ways in case of work being necessary. As that shipping cost is likely to total a significant proportion of the purchase price, the value of the warranty will be reduced accordingly in the eyes of many owners.
Below. Fitting an alternative scope will be a great benefit in use.
There’s a comprehensive, easy to follow instruction manual provided with the NXG APX. This is in English only, but is accompanied by two sheets of safety information that are in both English and Spanish.
Overall, the finish looks likely to accept the beating the NXG APX is likely to receive as a youth model. The sheet steel covering for the thin, soda straw barrel will also be of benefit in this respect.
One final point. There’s really not enough power to hunt anything with this air rifle. So please don’t use it for that purpose as the only likely result will be wounded, agonized critters. And none of us want that…
SAFETY FIRST. If shooting the Umarex NXG APX with BBs, it’s doubly necessary to wear shooting glasses when firing this airgun. Also do not shoot BBs at hard surfaces or water. BBs tend to bounce off these surfaces and may hit you, or something other than what you intended. If in doubt, don’t pull the trigger!
TEST TARGETS
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle Combo![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Umarex NXG APX Scope Combo
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 Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Must Read: Tom’s Top May Blog Posts
Tom’s Top 5 Blog Posts From May 2018! | View in Browser
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The post Must Read: Tom’s Top May Blog Posts appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Hellboy Now Available
This M4 Carbine was born bad | View in Browser
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The post Hellboy Now Available appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Giles Does It! The Barrel To Barrel Sniper Shot
In his latest video, the Airgungearshow’s Giles Barry tries out the legendary barrel to barrel sniper shot. And he does it with the first shot!
In this fascinating video, Giles shows us how he achieved this remarkable feat, starting with a full power – that’s US spec – Daystate Huntsman HR air rifle in .22 caliber. As his target rifle is also .22 caliber, that’s some great shooting!
As Giles says, “don’t try this at home folks”, but it’s an incredible trick shot and proves that the legendary barrel to barrel sniper shot is possible with an air rifle.
Enjoy!
The post Giles Does It! The Barrel To Barrel Sniper Shot appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Air Venturi Hellboy CO2 BB Tactical Air Rifle – M4 Lookalike – Now Shipping
Pyramyd Air has announced that the Hellboy CO2 BB Tactical Air Rifle is now shipping.
We first saw this airgun at the 2018 SHOT Show. It joins the growing group of BB-firing long arms that are based on military centerfire prototypes.
The Hellboy CO2 BB Tactical Air Rifle has an 18-shot BB magazine capacity, combined with one 12 Gram CO2 cartridge. Unlike some other comparable BB guns, the magazine contains not only the BBs, CO2 and valve, but also the sear. In effect, the magazine almost is the gun!
This approach has some major benefits, including a claimed very high shot count of 80 or more shots per CO2 cartridge. It also means that in case the Hellboy malfunctions, replacing a magazine is probably the cheapest and quickest way of bringing it back to life.
However, it is combined with a non-blowback action. It’s very tough to have both blowback combined with high shot count in BB guns!
The Hellboy is semi-automatic only. There’s no “rock and roll” full auto capability with this BB gun, even though there’s a three-position selector lever that shows full auto as one option.
Air Venturi says that the hand guard and butt stock are compatible with M4 GI parts. The pistol grip is said to be compatible with some airsoft M4s, however.
The carrying handle/rear sight assembly can be removed to reveal a Weaver/Picatinny style rail, suitable for mounting red dot sights. There’s sling swivels fitted also.
Of course, like any BB-firing CO2-powered firearms replica, the Hellboy is not intended to be a precision shooting machine. It’s a fun gun for short range plinking.
Hard Air Magazine hopes to be able to review the Hellboy in the near future. We’ll keep you posted!
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HellBoy .177 CO2 BB Tactical Air Rifle, Black![]()
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Hellraiser HellBoy CO2 BB Tactical Airgun
The post Air Venturi Hellboy CO2 BB Tactical Air Rifle – M4 Lookalike – Now Shipping appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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The Secret Six Pack has been revealed
Unlock the secret to win Bullseye Bucks! | View in Browser
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The post The Secret Six Pack has been revealed appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Rabbit Hunting In Wyoming Using The Umarex Octane Air Rifle
In this latest episode of the Real Airgun Hunting show, Steve Criner takes us rabbit hunting.
Steve uses his .22 caliber Umarex Octane air rifle, together with RWS Superdome pellets for this hunt. He also shows the importance of using a digital rangefinder – particularly when shooting targets at a higher than you.
The Cottontails fall readily to the Criner/Octane combination in this rabbit hunting video.
Steve does miss one – but he explains why. In this way, there’s probably as much to be learned by the viewer from the occasional miss than multiple hits!
In this rabbit hunting video, you’ll see Cottontails being harvested at ranges out to 55 Yards in the beautiful Wyoming mountains. After the show, Steve’s going to cook and eat them…
The Umarex Octane is a successful, long-running gas ram-powered air rifle. You can read the HAM review of this powerful hunting gun using this link.
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Umarex Octane Air Rifle Combo, Gas Piston![]()
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Umarex Octane Scope Combo
The post Rabbit Hunting In Wyoming Using The Umarex Octane Air Rifle appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Get FUN For Father’s Day! 🎊💸
The post Get FUN For Father’s Day! 🎊💸 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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New Airgun Hunting Laws in Texas? Not Yet!
Back in February we published a story about the proposed new airgun hunting laws in Texas.
Well, sadly it seems that – unlike the recent moves in Tennessee and Arkansas – these positive proposals have not succeeded.
In fact they were rescinded at a public meeting at Lubbock, TX on May 24 
Hard Air Magazine was not at this meeting. However Thurmond Moore from T3P Ranch AirGun Solutions was at the meeting and gave evidence in favor of the new proposals.
Thurmond reports that several notable airgun experts were also present and gave evidence – including John McCaslin from AirForce Airguns.
The outcome from the meeting was – Thurmond reports – that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department intends to re-write the rules. A new proposal is expected to be presented at a meeting in August 2018.
So all is not lost for new airgun hunting laws in Texas!
For more background, check out the story at the T3P Ranch AirGun Solutions website.
Thanks to Thurmond Moore of T3P for keeping us in touch on latest developments with this story!
Our Texas map is a rights-free graphic from pixabay.com. Thanks folks!
The post New Airgun Hunting Laws in Texas? Not Yet! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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National Get Outdoors Day: Free Targets
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The post National Get Outdoors Day: Free Targets appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder
The MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder is an interesting new device from the British company. We’ve seen it at both the SHOT Show and IWA: now it’s a shipping product.
A laser rangefinder is an essential device for the serious airgun hunter. It can also come in very useful for sighting-in and working-out holdover for the Field Target enthusiast.
With a minimum focusing range of 5 Yards, the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder has a claimed maximum range of 1,300 Yards. We tested it out measuring ranges in comparison to a long surveyor’s tape out to 50 Yards. The readings were spot on!
Like most laser rangefinders, the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder is a small, portable unit. It’s not much larger than a tin of pellets, as you can see from our photograph above.
It also comes complete with a comprehensive range of accessories. There’s a case and also an earpiece. Why the earpiece? We’ll find out later in this review…
The clamshell case can be fixed to your belt by the included carabiner. There’s also a wrist strap which can be attached to the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder for security.
The MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder can be used in two ways. As a stand-alone rangefinder, or as a complete, computerized, ballistic correction system.
1. Using the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder as a stand alone device.
The first is to simply take it out of the box, install the battery and press the red button on top. Looking through the viewfinder eyepiece, the rangefinder immediately springs to life and records the range of the target you aim at using the reticle. If you want to select a different reticle pattern, or change measurements from Yards to Meters, this is achieved by pressing the two buttons on top, as explained by the instruction manual.
That’s it. You’re good to go!
2. Using the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder as a complete ballistic correction system.
While the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder can be used “just” as a simple rangefinder, it has huge capabilities beyond this.
To discover and use these capabilities requires you to use a smartphone – iPhone or Android. Download the free Rapier Ballistic Calculator App onto your phone and get ready for a whole new world of computerized shooting assistance!
Now, at this point, it has to be said that the printed instruction manual for the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder does not explain the setup well. But – once you have it running – system operation is outstanding.
Here’s what you need to know…
First it’s essential to understand that once the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder has been connected to the Rapier Ballistic Calculator App, the rangefinder will be controlled by the phone. Yes, you will press the red “fire” button on the rangefinder itself, but everything else will happen on your phone, including turning the rangefinder off after use.
Next, check that the MTC Rapier App has correctly downloaded onto your phone (below, left). Then you MUST go through the “Using The Rangefinder” setup steps, as described on pages 5 and 6 of the manual, even if you are happy with the way the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder works out of the box.
This allows you to make a Bluetooth pairing between the rangefinder and your phone (below, right). I have to say that this step is rather fiddly and not explained at all in the printed manual. However once you have done this, it’s all plain sailing from this point on. But keep your phone on and keep pressing the two buttons on top of the rangefinder.
After a few attempts (in my case, at least, you may do it faster) the phone will pair with the rangefinder. But on my iPhone, the Bluetooth settings screen (right, above) would not record the presence of the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder until AFTER it had actually connected and was refreshed. It continued to show “searching” even though it had actually already connected!
Having achieved Bluetooth pairing, there are some obvious setup steps that are easy to achieve.
First, you need to tell the MTC App the type of air rifle, scope and pellet you are using. The screen below left shows how to do this. As part of this setup, you’ll need to input the Ballistic Coefficient for the pellet. Time to find that from the Hard Air Magazine Ballistic Coefficients page – of course!
Repeat the same process to tell the App about the other airgun/pellet/scope combinations you will be using. (Hit the + button on the right screen, below). You can select the one you want when you’re ready to shoot.
Now for that earpiece! The App will provide details of holdover based on the sighted-in (Zero) distance and other details you fed into the phone. Obviously they will be visible on your phone’s screen (we’ll see the display screen below), but they are also given audibly as well. In a very pleasant English voice, I may add!!!
That’s a great feature, but what about if you’re hunting? Simply pair the earpiece with your phone and you can listen to the instructions. That way the prey is not spooked and you don’t even have to look at the phone to understand the holdover required. Magic!
The Audio menu can be configured to speak just the range, or any other combination of information the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder generates. (See below, left).
Other settings include the angular units for your scope’s reticle (above right) and the environmental settings at the time you’re shooting (screens below). As you can see, the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder App can even retrieve current weather automatically from the Internet if you wish!
So, finally, let’s look at the output display screen of the App (below). The range, target angle and appropriate holdover corrections are all indicated on this screen – and can be spoken to you as we discussed above.
You can also see if your rangefinder has been discovered by the App (the top bar) and the output selection you have made (next bar down). The third bar confirms the scope unit settings you selected and the one below shows the gun.scope/pellet combination profile you’re using now.
Below that is the graphic display for holdover, range, weather etc. That 10 min indicator shows the time before the rangefinder will automatically be switched off. You can change it, naturally.
If you choose to “go the whole hog” and benefit from this great App, it will take a little set-up time, of course. But the results are well worth it for the excellent, comprehensive and immediate results you will achieve when using the MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder in the field.
Have fun!
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MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder
The post MTC Optics Rapier Ballistic Laser Rangefinder appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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Reborn in the USA
Breathing new life into old tanks | View in Browser
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The post Reborn in the USA appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
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