In this first post in HAM, Chad Kentner reviews his Daystate Red Wolf PCP air rifle. Take it away Chad…

The Daystate Red Wolf wraps up all of the British company’s cutting-edge technology into one beautiful package.

Over the past few months I’ve had the pleasure of owning and shooting this rifle both in competitions and informal plinking with friends. The consistency and accuracy that I have experienced has truly helped to build my shooting confidence.

As an example, Last year I went from shooting a best score of 23/60 and 40/60 on a two day event at the Pyramyd Air Cup, to now consistently shooting around 50/60 in several local events and at the Crosman All American Field Target Championships and placing 9th overall.

I also shot a .22 caliber Daystate Red Wolf at Extreme Benchrest this year and was happy with my first effort there.

BTW. As you can see, the gun I shot at Extreme Benchrest had no shroud…

Let’s begin with a look at the performance I have experienced with the Daystate Red Wolf…

I have been using JSB 10.3 grain pellets that have been slightly lubed. Wanting to really stretch the rifle and it’s capabilities, I choose to go beyond the standard 5 shot groups and up the challenge to 10 shot groups. Out to 30 yards it is a laser, producing almost single hole groups with 10 shots using shooting bags and a folding table in an open field!

At 50 yards I was able to produce ¾ inch groups with 10 shots. With both wind playing a factor as well as my stability shooting off a makeshift bench, I feel confident in saying that my groups at this distance have the potential to be much smaller given better circumstances.

Since we know that the Daystate Red Wolf can perform as advertised, let us take a closer look at the rifle itself.

It has a beautiful pistol grip laminate stock while –  for the traditionalist – it is also available in walnut. There is  a true carbon fiber shroud together with a factory attached moderator that makes this absolutely whisper quiet.

The stock is adjustable with the ability to raise and lower the cheek rest, a two way adjustable butt pad for the perfect fit, an adjustable trigger blade and two stage trigger. At the bottom of the grip you will find a small trap door for battery removal which is needed to charging and or replacement at some point in the future.

The heart of the Daystate Red Wolf is the Map Compensated Technology or MCT electronic system. As a traditionalist, I was both leery and curious as to how this would impact my shooting experience. All that I can say is that it is just as enjoyable if not more enjoyable than any mechanical system I have tried yet.

The MTC system uses solenoid powered valve to regulate shot to shot consistency. This prevents regulator creep and provides a huge number of shots you get on a fill. Also as a result of this electronic system, it has become extremely easy to cock the new sidelever.

This is a result of not having to pull a hammer back against the spring to cock the rifle. Remember we are talking about just reseating a electronic solenoid to shoot your next round!

The rifle also comes equipped with a LCD readout that shows remaining air pressure, your current power setting (Low, Medium and High), magazine shot count, low battery indicator and a menu when adjusting options.

One of my favorite features is the magazine and how the electronics prevent you from firing once you have expended all your shots, which prevents the unacceptable misfire.

The battery that gives the Daystate Red Wolf electronics life has been a bit of a debated topic among owners and onlookers reading online forums. I have seen this portion of the rifle called “cheap” and others have even suggested that this was “overlooked” by Daystate and should be improved. Let’s take a quick look at some of these possible concerns and I’ll explain my thoughts as well.

The first of many of the complaints I have seen state that there should be an external charging port so you do not have to remove your battery for charging. I understand that there is a bit of an inconvenience factor here but let’s also look at it from a safety perspective…

Lithium Ion batteries do go bad and when they do, they can become a explosive fire hazard if not handled correctly. By having to remove the battery, you are now also quickly able to examine the battery for possible replacement. The number one telltale sign of failure is that the battery itself will begin to swell.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you get thousands of shots off a single charge so you don’t need to charge as often as you would have with old style of batteries.

Some have said that the battery is a cheap foreign made product. My first response to this is does it work? The obvious answer is “yes” and it works well too! Secondly and much more importantly in my mind, is that this means it can be easily replaced by various retailers down the road and it won’t be prohibitively expensive to do so.

Something else that I have read is the concern that the battery must be removed before removing the stock. Although this is a true statement, I would argue it is like saying you have to remove a screw to take off the stock. It is just the nature of the beast and a moot point. Especially since you only need to remove a single screw and the battery which takes all of a minute to do.

Now that I have addressed a few of my feelings on the general complaints, I do have a few areas that could be improved on the Daystate Red Wolf.

I should state that these are by no means a deal killer and I would still make the same choice to purchase the rifle after knowing these things…

First on my list are the wires from the MCT electronics to the battery plug. They appear rather small and potentially fragile, unlike the wires coming off the battery itself. Only time will tell if this is actually an issue and from what I have seen inside the electronics they could be easily replaced if damaged. That’s why I’m thankful for Daystate’s robust 3 year warranty.

Another area to take a second look into is the battery charger. It comes with a plug for the European Market and needs an adapter for a US outlet to work. Mine did at least come with the adapter!

The charging port also is a bit confusing with a four prong receiving port where the battery only has a three prong plug. Duh!!!

Knowing that the battery is made of two cells, you can quickly determine that the plug goes all the way to the right so that the lights for cell one and cell two light up as charging. However for those who are not familiar with these chargers, this could easily become confusing. Not to mention the directions don’t explicitly explain how this works.

All in all as both an owner and reviewer, the Daystate Red Wolf is as near to perfection as I have seen an airgun get and would highly recommend that if you get a chance to shoot one that you should.

Even better yet, place an order and own the pride of the Daystate pack and see what all the fuss is about!

BUY FROM AIRGUNS OF ARIZONA

Daystate Red Wolf, Laminate

The post The .177 Caliber Daystate Red Wolf – An Owner’s Perspective appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

How much CO2 is there in 12 Gram CO2 cartridges?

The obvious answer is “12 Grams”. But actually, that’s not likely to be the real answer. In practice, there’s always very minor variations in every sample of a manufactured product – even if they are exactly “the same”.

We see this manufacturing variability in HAM pellet test reviews, for example, where there are very slight differences between each individual pellet. It’s the same with the 12 Gram CO2 cartridge.

So we gathered 12 Gram CO2 cartridges from six different brands. To make a statistically-significant analysis, we tested 25 cartridges from each brand. HAM Tester Doug Wall weighed each one full. He punctured them to release the CO2 and – once they had completely dried out – weighed them again using our incredibly-accurate milligram balance.

(Rapid release of CO2 from any container causes a significant temperature drop. This causes icy frost to form on the outside of the cartridges from water vapor in the air. That’s what had to melt and evaporate before the empty cartridges were weighed.)

So here we have a HAM mega-test of CO2 cartridges from ASG, Crosman, Daisy, Gamo, SIG AIR and Umarex. Thanks to all those companies for supplying their products!

For simplicity, all weights are measured in Grams. All charts are given the same scale as to be easily-comparable to each other.

We’ll investigate each brand separately first, in alphabetical order. Then we’ll summarize and give conclusions.

ASG 12 Gram CO2 Cartridges.

ASG – Action Sports Games – is probably better-known as a supplier of airsoft products. However, they do sell some airguns and their 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are quite widely available, with the Ultrair brand name.

ASG 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are supplied in boxes of 5. They are manufactured in Taiwan.

The company also supplies Ultrair CO2 Lubrication Cartridges. These include a built-in quantity of oil that will blow through the gun when it is fired, lubricating metal parts and swelling O rings to prevent leaks. We did not include these interesting cartridges, however, as we could not be sure of exhausting all the oil and – thus – possibly recording incorrect CO2 weights.

First, HAM Tester Doug Wall weighed 25 ASG 12 Gram CO2 cartridges. Then he weighed them full and empty. The difference between the weights for each cartridge represented the amount of CO2 contained in it.

First we have the full weight for the ASG 12 Gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM. This is how they are when you buy them.

As you can see, the average full weight is 40.863 Grams. The lightest weighted 39.998 Grams, the heaviest 40.863 Grams.

After puncturing, we find that the weight of the empty ASG 12 Gram CO2 cartridges averaged 28.824 Grams. The lightest was 28.109 Grams, the heaviest 28.824 Grams.

So, taking one from the other, we find that the average weight of CO2 in the ASG cartridges is 12.039 Grams. The minimum was 11.342 Grams of CO2 and the maximum 12.039 Grams. That’s a variation of 6.14% in the cartridges tested by HAM.

That’s pretty good manufacturing consistency for ASG. But how does it compare to the other brands? Let’s move to the next in line: Crosman Powerlets.

Crosman Powerlet CO2 Cartridges.

Crosman, of course, is the company that started the whole 12 Gram CO2 cartridge standard. Although – as we saw in a previous article – their “Golden Powerlets” were originally specified to contain 12.5 Grams of CO2.

Crosman Powerlets are available in multiple pack sizes, including 5, 15, 25, 40 and 500. They are manufactured by Crosman (now called Velocity Outdoor) themselves at their headquarters in Bloomfield, New York.

One immediate observation is that Crosman Powerlets are heavy!

The average full weight of the Crosman Powerlets tested by HAM was 43.292 Grams. That’s 2.429 Grams heavier than the ASG 12 Gram CO2 cartridges.

Where does that weight come from? Well one source is the amount of steel from which each Powerlet is manufactured. The empty weights of the Powerlets tested by HAM varied from a minimum of 30.665 Grams to a maximum of 31.567 Grams.

The average was 31.077 Grams – that’s 7.8% more steel in every Powerlet compared to the ASG cartridges.

So how about the amount of CO2 in Crosman Powerlets?

The average works-out to be 12.215 Grams. The minimum was 10.444 Grams and the maximum 13.223 Grams. That’s a variation of 16.9% in the amount of CO2 contained in the Powerlets tested by HAM.

In the second part of this HAM mega-test, we’ll move on to investigate Daisy 12 Gram CO2 cartridges. Stay tuned!

The post How Much CO2 Is There In 12 Gram CO2 Cartridges? HAM Investigates. appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The biggest sale of the year is here!

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Sean McDaniel won the Hunter PCP Class at the 2018 Pyramyd Air Cup. For his prize, he chose a beautiful, Ataman M2S target rifle valued at $2,400. What a fantastic prize!!!

So what does he feel about his new air rifle, some weeks later? Here’s Sean’s highly-personal opinions on his new dream gun…

First A Little Background.

To better appreciate how I came into possession of the Ataman M2S Field Target Rifle I’d like to fill you in on how I got here.

It was at the end of last year (2017) that I made the decision to try and take my shooting to the next level. I was at DIFTA and managed a 57/60 which was my highest score to date.

While I had done well at monthly matches, the 2-day Grand Prix shoots were where I typically came up short.

At the time I was shooting my FX Streamline and it was shooting well. But it was with the help of the Dennis and Tom Himes – well downright nagging would be more appropriate! – that I finally took the plunge to really try to improve my scores.

My first Grand Prix of 2018 was at the Cajun Classic in April and I tanked. There seemed to be many dark shots I think and I had never ranged dark targets. Another lesson learned!

The Importance Of Practice

I continued practicing and working to improve my scores at our regular monthly FT shoots. By the time of the Crosman All American Field Target Shoot in July I was in a good place. I ended-up finishing third.

[Note, Sean is also Match Director for the CAAFTC, so he’s actually running the shoot, not just participating. This makes his score even more creditable – Stephen Archer].

Finishing this well at a Grand Prix showed me that my hard work was paying off. The Himes brothers then doubled down and got me to go visit them for a weekend to work on my shooting.

Personally, I think they wanted some competition to make life interesting!

After spending the weekend with Dennis and Tom Himes, I saw just how much practice they put into this sport. I also saw how much preparation they put into each match: sorting pellets, cleaning barrels, tuning their rifles.

Above. Tom Himes encouraged Sean, along with his brother Dennis.

As much as I didn’t want to, I started sorting my pellets because I saw the difference first hand. This, I believe, took care of the occasional flyer.

And when it comes down to a point between placing and not placing it’s those couple of flyers that can make or break you!

I also got back into doing several daily practice sessions in my basement at 10 yards trying to knock down a 3/8-Inch target in both standing and kneeling positions.

The 2018 Pyramyd Air Cup

Then came the Pyramyd Air Cup in September 2018. I had typically finished in the top 15 but being a big Grand Prix, I just couldn’t break that barrier.

I worked hard the week prior on my standing and kneeling shots. My rifle was in good shape and shooting well. But 50 people in my division?

There are some really good shooters out there…

Day 1 came and went and when the scores were posted I was in first place for Hunter PCP!

Great, but I still wasn’t expecting anything given my day 2 history. Yet when the Day Two scores were posted I remained in first place. I had won the class!

At the Awards ceremony, someone asked me what prize I wanted, and I hadn’t even thought that far ahead. So, I went to the table and looked. There was the Ataman M2S. It’s a 12 Ft/Lb gun, but absolutely stunning with its red, white, and blue fully adjustable laminate stock, and stainless barrel.

Something about it drew me to that Ataman M2S, but would I get it? Not sure as numbers still had to be drawn for pick order. Well, it was my crazy lucky day as I also drew first pick!

I’m pretty sure I floated up to Tyler Patner to pick up my First Place Cup and claim my prize…

Above. Sean, left, receives his prize from Tyler Patner. Photograph by Janice Himes.

It’s My Dream Gun!

Having a gun as nice as the Ataman M2S is a dream for most and mine had come true.

As much as I wanted to go try it out, the Field Target Nationals were due in a couple of weeks. Clearly it wouldn’t bode well to change equipment mid-season.

So reluctantly I put The Ataman M2S aside and would pick it up and admire it in the meantime…

After two and a half weeks, I returned from the Nationals and proceeded to take my scope off my current rifle and put it on the Ataman. I then set about changing the stock to suit me, something I’d never had the opportunity to do before…

The length of pull was brought out as far as it would go, and I adjusted the height of the butt-pad to better suit my large build. I pulled out the fill probe and got it filled up to 300 Bar.

Next, I put the Ataman M2S in “Trigger Test” mode to get the feel of it and thought for sure something was wrong because I didn’t feel any stage. It just kept going off…

Oh, the joys of having a rifle that is WAY superior to what you have ever owned before!

The trigger on this rifle is maybe an ounce or two. And first stage is so light it’s easy to pull right through. If your finger is cold, then forget it because you won’t feel the second stage.

After some time on the trigger, I then turned it on to get the velocity and start sighting it in. The velocity came in at 825 FPS with JSB 8.44 Grain pellets. After getting it zeroed at 30 Yards, I was making a single hole at 30 Yards with a bucket and bipod and some wind. Great!

Then I took the Ataman M2S out to 55 Yards and while I wasn’t getting single hole groups I was getting half inch or less with unsorted pellets.

Keep in mind that I shoot with the scope at 16x, so getting those groups at that magnification is, IMHO, doing very well!

Being able to fill up once every 200 shots is just crazy! I could fill it up and have it last me an entire Grand Prix weekend.

I’ve already put several hundred rounds through my new Ataman M2S and can see that my accuracy is getting better.

I didn’t realize just what a difference a trigger this light can do for you. The light trigger means that you must be crazy aware of gently squeezing the trigger. It also means that when it’s time to take the shot there is a lot less pressure required that would then be transferred to the shot.

The rifle is longer than the Streamline, which suits me well. I also think that having the bipod placement farther away also works in my favor.

In my eyes the Ataman M2S Field Target Rifle is a functional and precise work of art, and who doesn’t like to show off their art?

Sean, thanks for telling us about your new air rifle. Now we need to see how you perform with it in the 2019 season. No pressure!

We also need to mention that Sean is passionate about helping others start and enjoy airgun shooting, as in the case of this photograph above. He’s Match Director for Field Target at the Rochester Brooks Gun Club in upstate New York and a HAM contributor.

Sean also writes his own Field Target blog, “Confessions of a Field Target Junky”. Take a read, if you’re into Field Target, you’ll enjoy it…

The post The Ataman M2S Field Target Air Rifle – A Personal View appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

In the first part of this HAM 12 Gram CO2 cartridge mega review, we covered the background to our tests. We also looked at 12 Gram CO2 cartridges from ASG and Crosman. Now it’s time to move on to examine Daisy, Gamo and SIG SAUER CO2s…

Daisy 12 Gram CO2 cartridges.

Daisy-branded 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are manufactured in Taiwan. They’re available in boxes of 5, 15 and 25.

As you can see, the packaging includes a card spacer to hold the necks of the cartridges and prevent them from moving around so much in shipping.

As before, HAM Tester Doug Wall weighed the cartridges using an incredibly-precise, laboratory-grade balance. Here’s what he found when he weighed the Daisy 12 Gram CO2 cartridges straight from the box.

As you can see, the average weight of the Daisy 12 Gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM was 41.065 Grams. The lightest was 40.312 grams and the heaviest 41.473 Grams.

After puncturing, the weights of the empty cartridges can be seen in the chart below.

With an average empty weight of 29.330 Grams, the lightest Daisy cartridge weighed by HAM scaled 28.720 Grams. The heaviest weighed 29.502 Grams.

After taking one set of weights from the other, we’re left with the amount of CO2 that had been contained in the Daisy 12 gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Daisy 12 Gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM contained an average of 11.734 Grams of CO2. The smallest amount of CO2 was 11.410 Grams, while only one cartridge that we tested actually contained more than 12 grams. That was 12.124 Grams.

The variation between largest and smallest CO2 content was good, however, at just 2.8%.

Gamo 12 Gram CO2 Cartridges.

Gamo 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are available in packs of 5 and 25. Although Gamo and Daisy are actually owned by the same holding company, these Gamo cartridges are manufactured in a different country. It’s actually Hungary.

As you can see, the 25-count Gamo CO2 cartridge box was the strongest of all, being double-walled card. All the other boxes were lighter, single-wall card.

The Gamo 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are also unusual in having paper labels attached to them. All the other cartridges HAM tested has the labeling printed directly on to the steel surface.

As curious minds will want to know, we included the weight of the label in our measurements!

The average weight of the 25 Gamo 12 Gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM was 41.746 Grams. The lightest was 41.206 Grams and the heaviest 42.097 Grams.

The empty weights varied between 29.100 Grams and 29.970 Grams. The average was 29.609 Grams.

That means that the average weight of gas in the Gamo 12 Gram CO2 cartridges tested by HAM was 12.137 Grams. The lowest fill was 11.840 Grams and the highest 12.306 Grams. That’s a variability of 3.94% in CO2 content.

SIG SAUER 12 Gram CO2 Cartridges.

These 12 Gram CO2 cartridges are available in packs of 5, 15, 25 and 40. Like those from ASG and Daisy, they’re manufactured in Taiwan.

Again, there’s a card spacer to prevent movement in transit.

As we can see from the chart below, the SIG SAUER – now SIG AIR – 12 Gram CO2 cartridges weighed an average of 40.779 Grams straight from the box. The lightest weighed 40.348 Grams and the heaviest 41.914 Grams.

After piercing the cartridges and bleeding off the CO2, the empty weighs of the SIG SAUER 12 Gram cartridges tested by HAM averaged 28.895 Grams. The lightest was 28.456 Grams and the heaviest 29.181 Grams.

As we can immediately see from the chart below, that one heaviest cartridge had by far the most CO2 in it – actually 13.113 Grams. The smallest amount of CO2 in these cartridges tested by HAM was 11.557 Grams, giving a tight manufacturing fill variation of 3.46%. The average weight of CO2 was 11.557 Grams.

As we can see, only 6 out of the 25 12 Gram CO2 cartridges actually contained 12 Grams of CO2 or more.

For the final part of this Hard Air Magazine 12 Gram CO2 cartridge mega review, we’ll check out Umarex cartridges and summarize our findings. Stay tuned!

The post The HAM 12 Gram CO2 Cartridge Mega Review – Part Two appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

This time, we’re talking about PCP efficiency, including managing hammer bounce and the SSG – Stopping Spring Guide.

If you have been following the first 5 articles in this series, you should have a pretty good idea of how PCPs work, and what it takes to get maximum power from them. In addition, you should understand the basics of how to use the two primary ways to tune, namely port size and hammer strike.

You will have also heard me reference that too much hammer strike can keep the valve open until after the pellet has left the muzzle, wasting air. But there is another way that air is wasted…

That’s by the hammer bouncing and reopening the valve after Elvis has left the building.

All hammers bounce to some degree. Depending on the mechanical setup, and the way the gun is tuned, they may bounce hard enough to open the valve a second (or third, or fourth) time.

This releases air so late in the firing cycle it does nothing but make noise in what can sometimes be heard as a “BURP” or “BRRAAAPPPP”. It can even be so violent as to empty the reservoir completely, with the gun dry firing like a machine gun!

Enter the Hammer Debounce Device

There have been many attempts to tame this air wasting phenomenon. Some rely on friction to slow the hammer on its return stroke. Some use a mechanical device to try and “catch” the hammer on the first bounce to prevent a second strike.

Another version uses a hammer where part of the mass (the actual striker) moves independently of the spring driven carrier.

You can use a Short Stiff Spring (SSS) that rattles around behind the hammer and allows it to have a short “free-flight” before striking the valve stem. This method was brought to my attention by my good friend Lloyd Sikes (developer of the ePCP system used in the Crosman Rogue). The SSS works well to conserve air, but increases the cocking force required.

My idea was developed from the SSS, but reduces the cocking force by introducing a preload into the spring, which rides on a “Stopping Spring Guide” – SSG. This stops the spring just before the hammer strikes the valve stem, and allows it a short free-flight before it opens the valve.

When the valve closes and throws the hammer back, it hits the end of the guide, which is preloaded into position. It then takes significant force before the SSG can be compressed and store enough energy to relaunch the hammer. The hammer rattles around, coming to rest, hopefully without reopening the valve and wasting air.

The SSG Can Increase Shots Per Fill

The SSG is not a very complicated device, either in concept or to make. It amazes me that mainstream PCP manufacturers are not yet using this idea, since it is in the public domain. Here is all that is required:

The upper item is a Rear Velocity Adjuster from the Challenger PCP. Below it is the first SSG that I made, and here is the first test in a 2560 PCP (2260 with a .25 cal. Barrel, unregulated):

The gun went from 5 shots using nearly 800 psi of air with the Challenger RVA, to 7 shots using less than 650 psi of air, with no other changes than the SSG. That was an increase in efficiency of about 70%. Here is the SSG installed, uncocked…

And here is the SSG cocked. You can see the spring guide has moved back with the hammer, and is sticking out behind the adjuster:

The adjusting bolt, instead of changing the preload on the spring, adjusts the gap between the end of the spring guide and the back of the hammer.

When you increase the gap, you not only increase the free-flight distance of the hammer, but you reduce the distance the spring is compressed on cocking. Hence the hammer energy and momentum available to open the valve is also increased by the SSG.

The two nuts on the end of the spring guide are used to set the preload of the spring, and the small O-ring acts as a buffer to keep them from slamming into the end of the drilled adjusting bolt.

If the guide protrudes from the back of the receiver (as in the photo above) there is some danger of getting pinched when the spring guide moves forward on firing, but in some guns you can hide it inside like on the Xisico XS-60C (AKA the Ruger Fusion):

There have been at least six functional variations (by myself and others) on the basic SSG design since I introduced it. One I particularly like is where the spring travel limiting rod is fixed but adjustable (threaded into the adjusting bolt) and does not move back on cocking.
There is a sliding plastic spring guide sitting against the back of the hammer that compresses the spring when the hammer is cocked, like this one I made for my Beeman Chief:

The hammer must be drilled deep enough to clear the end of the limiting rod when cocked, of course. The advantage is that nothing moves behind the adjuster to pinch you. If you use the same pitch threads on both the rod and adjuster, you can set the preload without changing the gap by holding the rod with a screwdriver and turning the adjusting bolt. Or, each can be adjusted separately, of course.

Efficiency Without Excessive Cocking Force

I mentioned earlier that the SSG has less cocking force than an SSS, for the same hammer energy. Here is a graph showing how the various types of hammer springs compare for cocking force, when all are producing the same hammer energy:

The hammer spring in most PCPs is preloaded when uncocked, like the blue line above. The SSG uses virtually the same spring in this example, but preloaded with a gap to the hammer (yellow line). The cocking force is essentially the same.

The red line is a stronger spring with no preload, and requires more cocking force. (This case, with no preload or gap, is often very prone to hammer bounce).

A short stiff spring (SSS) with the same gap as the SSG (grey line) requires an even stronger spring to get the same average force and hammer energy. The force required to cock all three springs for 1” of hammer travel is on the right end of the graph.

Both the SSS and SSG have the potential to reduce or eliminate hammer bounce (and save air) because of the gap, and free-flight of the hammer. If you have enough length, you can use an even lighter hammer spring with more preload, and reduce the cocking force even further. This is the BEST way to make an SSG, and produces the smoothest, easiest cocking.

Regulated PCPs Can Benefit Too.

A properly tuned, regulated PCP can be very efficient, but even on those, an SSG can save air, if there is any air-wasting hammer bounce present (and it can be so subtle you may not even be aware of it). Here is the shot string from a regulated HPA conversion of a Beeman QB79 with a tune I was quite proud of:

While here is the same gun, pellet, regulator and air pressure, with an SSG fitted:

I gained 10 shots, and over 10 fps, on the 13 CI bottle from a 3000 psi fill down to the 1200 psi set point, and the shot-to-shot variation was a bit tighter as well. That was a 16% increase in efficiency.

But I don’t claim to be the first to have used free-flight for a hammer to control hammer bounce…

The SSG combines that with the idea of stopping a pre-loaded spring guide in a system that can be retrofitted into many existing PCPs.

There are many variations possible, and no reason a manufacturer can’t apply them, as they are now in the public domain. Once in a while even a blind squirrel finds a peanut!

The SSG does have some limitations. Unless there is enough length and hammer travel, you can run into the same problems in Big Bores as before That’s not enough hammer strike for large calibers and high pressures.

The key to solving that problem is a balanced valve, and that is the subject of my next article.

PCP Manufacturers, are you paying attention yet? Imagine what you can do with both!

The post Conserving Air In PCPs – Hammer Bounce and the SSG appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The biggest sale of the year is here!

THE BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR IS HERE!     2018 Black Friday Deals are here. Today’s the day to grab your airguns and gear. These deals are limited to supplies on hand, so act quickly! Check Out The Deals! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Airguns of Arizona | 1970 W Elliot Rd., Suite 109, Gilbert, AZ 85233 Unsubscribe airgundeals@hardairmagazine.com Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by sales@airgunsofarizona.com in collaboration with Try it free today

The post Black Friday Deal Are Here! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

For the final part of this HAM mega review, we bring you the scoop on our Umarex 12 Gram CO2 cartridge sample. We also summarize the conclusions from all HAM Tester Doug Wall’s careful weighing…

Umarex 12 Gram CO2 Cartridge Data.

Umarex 12 Gram CO2s are available in boxes of 12 or 288. The company takes a different approach to all the other 12 Gram CO2 cartridge vendors by including a separate printed instruction sheet in every box. It’s actually quite useful!

Like several other 12 Gram CO2 cartridge suppliers, Umarex has theirs manufactured in Taiwan.

Out of the box, the Umarex CO2s averaged 11.697 Grams in weight. The heaviest weighed by HAM was 11.954 Grams, the lightest 11.307 Grams.

Empty weight for the Umarex 12 Gram CO2 cartridges averaged 28.716 Grams, with the lightest being 28.395 Grams and the heaviest 29.109 Grams.

As before, these numbers allow us to calculate the amount of CO2 present in the cartridges.

The maximum amount of CO2 present in any Umarex 12 Gram CO2 cartridge tested by HAM was 11.954 Grams. The minimum was 11.307 Grams. This means that the average weight of CO2 was 11.696, with a manufacturing fill variability of 5.72%

12 Gram CO2 Cartridge Conclusions.

So where does HAM Tester Doug Wall’s heroic efforts of weighing leave us?

Well, we can see that not all 12 Gram CO2 cartridges actually contain 12 Grams of CO2 – as we rather expected before starting this mega review.

But, the average weights of CO2 included in the various companies’ cartridges were all pretty close to 12 Grams, as we can see from this chart.

In the 12 gram CO2 cartridge samples tested by HAM, Crosman clearly provided the highest average CO2 fill, followed by the Gamo cartridges. As we saw earlier, the Crosman Powerlets are manufactured in the USA. The Gamos are produced in Hungary.

All of the other 12 Gram CO2 cartridges in this HAM review were manufactured in Taiwan. Although I don’t know for sure, it seems likely that there’s only one company in Taiwan manufacturing CO2 cartridges. It’s called Banza Stamping.

So, all the Taiwanese cartridges – branded ASG, SIG SAUER, Daisy and Umarex – probably came from the same production line. This leads us to conclude that – whatever their other benefits – the average 12 Gram CO2 cartridge produced in Taiwan is likely to contain just a little less than 12 Grams of CO2.

But before we get too excited about these results, remember that whenever a 12 Gram CO2 cartridge in loaded into a firearms-replica air pistol, there’s almost always a little blast of CO2 as the cartridge is pierced.

That’s a waste of CO2. And I’d be prepared to bet that it’s more gas lost than the amount any of the CO2 cartridges we tested contained less than 12 Grams of CO2!

So, in future, when we count the number of shots available from any 12 Gram CO2-powered air pistol, we’ll need to allow for the manufacturing variation found in this review, plus the gas lost during the piercing process.

The problem is that there’s no way to know how much CO2 is actually in any individual 12 Gram CO2 cartridge before you actually use it. Oh well…

Finally, A Note On Pricing.

12 Gram CO2 cartridges are pretty much a commodity product, yet prices are all over the map! A simple Internet search shows widely different prices being asked by different retailers for exactly the same product!

However – as you would expect – there is a trend. If you buy CO2 cartridges in larger packs, they’re generally cheaper than a small number per pack. Of course, that’s also true with bottled water, beer and paper tissues, among many other products.

Yet there are some pricing “rules of thumb”.

12 Gram CO2 cartridges typically retail for about $1.00 each in packs of 5. That unit price drops to about $0.60 to $0.70 each in boxes of 15 to 25. The “floor price” at retail seems to be about $0.44 each. If you can buy them for less that that, either you’re really doing well, or the retailer made a mistake!

The post How Much CO2 Does A 12 Gram CO2 Cartridge Contain? Here’s The Answer… appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

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VALUE FOR MONEY

As with other two-part hunting pellets, Predator Polymag pellets are expensive. This is understandable, given the obvious extra stages of manufacture involved in making and inserting the polymer tip into the lead skirt.

However, hunters generally take relatively few shots and price may not be so important compared to effectiveness in this case. And, of course, by taking advantage of “buy four, get one free” offers from major online retailers, the 7.24 cents per pellet price can be significantly reduced for many hunters.

The polymer tip and lead skirt is intended to give both penetration and expansion in the target, combined with accuracy. This does result in a rather long pellet.

However the .177 caliber Predator Polymag does fit into the common Benjamin Marauder/Umarex Gauntlet type of magazine, as well as that of the FX Impact, for example.

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Predator Polymag .177 Cal, 8.0 Grains, Pointed, 200ct

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Predator Polymag 8 Grains .177 Cal 200 Ct

TEST DATA SUMMARY

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

Predator International makes some big claims for these pellets. They say Predator Polymag pellets offer “match grade accuracy  with incomparable penetration and expansion.” They also say that these are “proven the best hunting pellet made” with “superior accuracy and take-down punch”.

As is well-known, HAM pellet tests do not include accuracy testing, as this is a result of the complete “shooting system” of airgun, pellet, scope, shooter and environment. However the good manufacturing consistency demonstrated by the Polymags we tested does indicate that they should be accurate in many airguns.

Expansion into the HAM standard soap block was very considerable, as claimed. The fired pellet had doubled in diameter to 9.08 mm from 4.53 mm when unfired. This – in itself – will make the Predator Polymag a devastating hunting pellet within its intended range of targets.

However, penetration was not so good. The lead skirt penetrated 35 mm into the standard HAM soap block. The tip separated inside the target and traveled less far. This compared to, for example,  the penetration of 66 mm by Crosman Copper magnum .177 caliber pellets in the same target medium.

The tin of Polymags tested by HAM contained 199 pellets. This compared to the claim of 200 pellets made on the label.

Pellet weight is given as “8 Grains”. The average weight of the Polymags tested by HAM was 8.18 Grains. Given that the claimed pellet weight is given only to one significant figure, the pellets tested by HAM met that claim.

CONSISTENCY

Head diameter consistency was a strong suit for the Predator Polymag pellets tested by HAM.

No less than 92% of the tested pellets had the same 4.53 mm head diameter. That is the sort of figure we would expect from match-grade pellets. Variation in length was also minimal at just 0.44% between the smallest and largest head diameters tested.

Variation in weight was about average for the Predator Polymag pellets tested by HAM.

As can be seen from the chart below, the most common weights were 8.15 and 8.19 Grains. 14% of the pellets tested were found to have either of these weights. This is an above-average performance.

The variation in weight between lightest and heaviest was slightly worse than usual at 3.11%, however.

As always, weight measurements were made using HAM’s incredibly-precise, laboratory-grade milligram balance.

It’s clear that manufacture of two-part pellets like the Predator Polymag carries the potential for more manufacturing variability than conventional, one-piece pellets. However, length consistency was also good in the pellets tested by HAM.

22% of the tested pellets had the same overall length of 9.08 mm – that’s an average figure. However, the variability in length between the shortest and longest pellets tested was just 1.11%, which is an excellent figure!

DIRTINESS

The Predator Polymag pellets tested by HAM showed less than average dirtiness which – of course – is good. There was just 0.170 Grains of manufacturing junk per 100 pellets in the tin tested by HAM.

As the photograph below shows, the majority of this was lead dust ans shavings. However, there’s a few red polymer shavings also.

In spite of this, all normal handling precautions should be taken, as with any other lead pellets.

DOWNRANGE PERFORMANCE

When fired from HAM’s standard Beeman 1074 test gun, Predator Polymag 8 Grain .177 caliber pellets had an average Muzzle Velocity of 872.2 FPS. The low Standard Deviation of 6.18 FPS is a result of the good manufacturing consistency of these pellets.

With a Ballistic Coefficient of 0.012 found from HAM testing, these Polymags shoot effectively “flat” from 11 to 39 Yards, as shown by Chairgun. But, even at 35 Yards, the Muzzle Energy has been reduced by 50%. This makes these Polymags most effective as a relatively short range hunting pellet.

HUNTING USE

HAM’s standard soap block penetration test showed Predator Polymag pellets to give up their energy very rapidly in the target. This led to limited penetration, but large expansion of the lead skirt.

The polymer tip separated from the skirt in the target medium and traveled less far. It ended-up pointing backwards, as can be seen in the photograph below.

This close-up photograph graphically illustrates the manner in which the central, necked part of the lead skirt expands and flattens on impact. This would lead to devastating wounding of the quarry and a high probability of a humane one-shot kill when hunting.

BUYING AND OWNING

Predator Polymag 8 Grain .177 caliber pellets are supplied in small tins of 200 pellets. There’s a foam sheet in the top to provide padding in transit. Tin size and padding are obviously suitable as no damaged or malformed pellets were found in the tin tested by HAM.

As ever, we don’t like the push top tin lid! This is – in the HAM Team’s opinion – always less satisfactory than a screw-top tin. We recommend transferring Polymags to a good quality pellet pouch, or pre-loading into magazines for use in the field.

Finally, you’re very unlikely to find Polymags in your local big box sporting goods store. However, they’re readily available for purchase online.

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

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Predator Polymag .177 Cal, 8.0 Grains, Pointed, 200ct

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Predator Polymag 8 Grains .177 Cal 200 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 Predator Polymag 8 Grain .177 Caliber Pellet Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Normally, Jim Chapman hunts with PCP air rifles. But not today! In this video Jim gets back to basics with this Walther Parrus spring piston air rifles.

The .22 caliber Parrus is powerful and Jim is happy with it. He finds the cocking smooth and the trigger crisp. Possibly because the Parrus is a fairly large, heavy air rifle, Jim likes the solid recoil. He finds it easy to keep on target when shooting.

HAM reviewed the Parrus a couple of years ago. We rated it a great hunting air rifle for the right person. It earned a HAM Bronze Award on test. Looks like Jim agrees…

Overall, he finds the Walther Parrus to be an ergonomic gun and a fine out-of-the-box hunting rifle. But like many of us, he doesn’t like the automatic safety with which this gun is equipped.

In pellet testing, Jim finds both both JSB Jumbo Heavy and RWS Superdome pellets are accurate in this gun. Both deliver around 1,000 FPS. He chooses the JSBs by a small margin.

It looks as if Jim’s Parrus was somewhat more powerful than the sample HAM tested. But that’s not a slam on the Parrus. Some variation between individual models of any product is inevitable, of course.

Jim Chapman hunts Jackrabbits in West Texas in this video. He shoots standing and kneeling, taking the jackrabbits cleanly out to 40 yards. The Parrus/Jumbo Heavy combination clearly works for him!

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Walther Parrus Air Rifle, Black Synthetic

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Walther Parrus Air Rifle

The post Jim Chapman Hunts Jackrabbits With A Springer appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit has been developed by Precision Airgun Distribution for the enthusiastic Outlaw owner. It contains a total of 32 parts and tools that will help you customize and/or repair a Diana Outlaw PCP air rifle.

It’s now available from Airguns of Arizona and Precision Airgun Distribution dealers across the country.

All parts included in the Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit are said to be higher quality replacements for those shipped on the gun. The screws and pins are all stainless steel while the O rings are US-made of VITON material.

All parts are matched to original Diana Part Numbers for easy identification.

Using the Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit you can…

1. Upgrade the trigger and cocking lever pins. These precision-ground, oversize pins replace the factory parts and are much less likely to fall out by accident.

The trigger pins also provide more consistent and smoother trigger operation, says Precision Airgun Distribution. Add a touch of grease when re-assembling for even better results!

2. Upgrade the stock bolt and other machine screws used throughout the gun for a more pleasing, professional appearance.

3. Install a non-rotating cocking handle upgrade. This reduces the occasional double-loading problem that can occur with the Outlaw caused by fingers slipping off of the rotating cocking lever handle.

4. Replace the barrel seal – two sets for each caliber are included. In addition, superior pointed, barrel adapter setscrews are provides, together with replacement barrel adapter O rings.

Full details for installation are included in the new Hard Air Magazine book “Choosing and Shooting the Diana Outlaw Air Rifle”.

The Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit provides a lot of upgrade potential for this interesting PCP air rifle. If you’re looking for a low cost way to personalize your Outlaw and really make it your own, this looks like a great way to do it!

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Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit

The post Airguns of Arizona Launches The Diana Outlaw Enthusiast’s Kit appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The SIGAIR ASP20 air rifle is now shipping and one has arrived here at the HAM offices for its test review.

Today, we’ll take a first look at this much-anticipated new air rifle. The full HAM review will becoming soon!

As you take the SIGAIR ASP20 air rifle from its shipping carton, you’ll find the gun packed in a substantial corrugated box with an attractive external sleeve that confirms the product configuration.

Opening the box proves that SIGAIR has spent time, effort and money on the packaging. That’s really important to ensure that your new air rifle arrives in perfect condition – in spite of whatever the parcel delivery company may do to it en route!

As we can see below, the SIGAIR ASP20 is carefully packaged in a high quality foam cutout. There’s more foam under the top lid, too.

This quality of packaging is very impressive and it’s part of a clear trend among some airgun manufacturers to provide improved packaging for their products. It’s waaay better than the minimal packaging protection provided by many other manufacturers.

Of course, receiving a new gun in perfect condition benefits both the customer and the manufacturer. No-one wants to receive a damaged product or to experience the hassle that causes. Full marks to SIG!

Also included with the SIGAIR ASP20 is a hangtag with essential safety information and a comprehensive owner’s manual. In addition, there’s a screwdriver and Allen wrench for trigger adjustment. Because this gun was bundled with the SIG Whiskey3 ASP 4-12×44 scope, there’s also a Torx wrench for the scope ring screws.

(Note that most of the currently-shipping guns do not include the bundled scope).

On the end of the box, SIG includes the manufacturing date of the SIGAIR ASP20 – 12 November 2018, in this case. A separate sticker indicates the gun’s serial number.

Serial numbers for the SIGAIR ASP20 all begin with the initials JDH. This unusual prefix is a memorial to Justin Daniel Heckert, one of the gun’s key design engineers. Sadly, Justin died suddenly before the SIGAIR ASP20 entered production. Serial number one of the SIGAIR ASP20 was presented to Justin’s family as a mark of respect by the company.

As you can see, the HAM test SIGAIR ASP20 is in .177 caliber. It has the wood stock and Whiskey3 ASP riflescope.

The Whiskey3 ASP scope has been designed to operate with a pellet drop compensation elevation turret. This works exactly like the BDC scope turrets which are increasingly popular in firearms use.

The scope is calibrated by first zeroing at a set range – say 30 yards. The turret is then set to that zero range. Elevation changes are then made based on the distance to any specific target. These graduations can be seen in the photograph below. (Note how there is a larger rotational angle between the 70 and 60-yard markers and the 50 – 60 yard ones).

Of course, to work correctly, the pellet drop compensation turret needs to be graduated to the specific combination of airgun and pellet being used. Currently, SIGAIR ASP20 air rifles shipping in .22 caliber have the SBT compensation turret installed.

However, .177 guns – like the HAM test example – have a plain elevation turret. SBT turrets for .177 cal will be available in future.

SIG is also keen to educate airgunners in the benefits of rating airguns by Muzzle Energy, rather than Muzzle Velocity.

The side of the SIGAIR ASP20 packaging sleeve gives a graphic and explanation of this. Again, this is an excellent initiative from SIGAIR. It emphasizes that SIG is trying really hard to do things right in the airgun field, rather than playing the “lowest price/highest FPS” game.

Of course, the “20” in ASP20 indicates the Muzzle Energy. It’s 20 Ft/Lbs!

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SIG Sauer ASP20 Gas-Piston Breakbarrel Air Rifle, Beech

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SIG Sauer ASP20, Beech

The post First Look At The SIGAIR ASP20 Air Rifle appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The PelletgageR was developed to provide an efficient means of sorting many pellets for a narrow range of head diameters. It’s a development of the original Pelletgage which Hard Air Magazine uses in all our pellet test reviews to measure head sizes.

The original Pelletgage has 10 apertures of different sizes. The PelletgageR uses gage plates with 48 identical apertures. This makes it much faster to sort out pellets under and over the diameters of the chosen gage apertures.

So for instance, if you want 4.52 head size, order both a 4.53 and a 4.51 PelletgageR.

Choosing a 4.53 and 4.51 mm plate will allow the user to first find any pellets over 4.53, then use the smaller diameter to find any that fall through, and are therefore under the desired size.

Of course, you can find much data about pellet sizes and variability in HAM pellet test reviews. This can guide you selection of the appropriate PelletgageRs that you choose for use with your particular air rifle and pellet combination.

The gage plates have precisely laser cut apertures have inside diameters within 0.0025 mm (0.0001 in) of the nominal size. They are produced from the same fine grained stainless alloy used in all Pelletgages, specially processed for optimal toughness and stability.

PelletgageR metal gage plates are 3.20 inches square with 48 apertures. Initially, .177 caliber will be offered. Gage sizes 4.50, 4.51, 4.52, 4.53, and 4.54 mm will be available.

Jerry Cupples – the inventor of the Pelletgage – tells HAM that he plans to make .22 and .25 caliber versions available in 2019 if demand is strong enough.

The PelletgageR is sold as individual sized assemblies, one metal gage plate with all the plastic components. Users will generally need two.

Jerry suggests that when you get a new tin of pellets, sample about 50 for head size using an original Pelletgage. This is exactly what we do in HAM pellet test reviews and is the methodology used for old MIL STD statistics.

This – together with a shooting accuracy test – enables you to make a determination of the best head size for your gun. Armed with that knowledge and HAM test data, you can then determine the best PelletgageR gage plate sizes to order.

Then, PelletgageR makes the process of sorting out that size MUCH faster, says Jerry.

Jerry believes that most .177 caliber pellets have a nominal 4.52 mm head diameter, so it will be beneficial to have a PelletgageR for 4.52 sizing.

His theory (backed by experimental testing) is that most guns can shoot a range of pellet sizes, say 4.51, 4.52, or 4.53 and achieve good grouping. However, if shooting a mixture of these sizes, the patterns will open.

In his own tests, Jerry finds his .177 caliber Marauder achieves best groups with 4.53 head size, but the results with 4.52 are almost as good. 4.51 pellets are noticeably worse. He believes that pellets with a head diameter of +/- 0.02 mm or greater variance from nominal diameter are very likely to be fliers.

HAM cannot disagree with these conclusions…

To find out more about the PelletgageR, visit www.pelletgage.com

The post The New PelletgageR Aims To Make Pellet Sorting Easier appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The 2019 Camp Perry Open is an ideal option for those seeking an air gun competition and an escape from the cold of the winter months in Northwest Ohio. For over a decade, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has run this air rifle and air pistol event. Registration is now open for 2019.

Featuring a variety of 3×20 and 60 shot categories, the 2019 Camp Perry Open is set to fire Jan. 18-20, 2019, for adult and junior competitors of all experience levels. An adaptive shooting category is also offered under the World Shooting Para Sport classification system to provide competitive opportunities to all athletes.

On Saturday, there will be a classroom clinic for open and junior shooters, too.

Outside of regular competition, the Camp Perry Open Super Finals, which is undoubtedly the highlight of the Camp Perry Open, merges competition and creativity as costumes, music, noisemakers and other colorful elements flow and echo throughout the range. Competitors as well as spectators are encouraged to participate in the action by dressing in store-bought or homemade eye-catching attire (though it is not required to be a part of the fun).

Guests who have never seen the Super Finals are welcome to watch the spectacle take place on Saturday, Jan. 19. Come and see the chaos unfold or join in on the excitement!

Along with real competition experience, those participating in the 2019 Camp Perry Open will be given the rare occasion to compete alongside some of the most talented marksmen in the country. This includes members of the Army Marksmanship Unit and the USA Shooting team, along with talented upcoming junior competitors who are leading the next generation of excellence.

For more background, you can see more about the 2018 Camp Perry Open in this HAM post.

The 2019 Camp Perry Open will be held within the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center, which houses an 80-point indoor air gun range equipped with CMP’s own electronic targets, powered by Kongsberg Target Systems. The targets instantly return shot scores on an LED display monitor located next to each competitor. Monitors overhead also reveal scores to spectators in the crowd as they happen, keeping guests connected to the action on the firing line.

Matches scheduled to be fired during the competition include the Men’s and Women’s 60 Shot Air Rifle and Pistol matches. There’s also 3×20 Junior Air Rifle individual and team events. Informal awards ceremonies will follow both the 3×20 and the 60 Shot Matches each day.

With free admission and ample parking, the 2019 Camp Perry Open is open to the public any time during the event. Whether just curious about precision airgun competition or interested in stepping onto the firing line, all are welcome at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center!

To register and for more info on the Camp Perry Open, visit http://thecmp.org/air/cmp-competition-center-event-matches/camp-perry-open/. There’s more details of the events, awards and squadding at http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/CPOProgram.pdf

The post Grab A Costume and Join the 2019 Camp Perry Open Airgun Event appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

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Ammo Size & Power

In any given caliber or type of projectile launching device, there are three basic variables, the shape of the projectile, the mass of the projectile, and the force of the launch. Changing any of these variables results in different performance based upon the variable altered.   Read the entire article here.

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Copyright © 2018 Umarex USA, Inc., All rights reserved. These messages are being sent to you per your request. Our mailing address is: Umarex USA, Inc. 7700 Chad Colley Blvd. Fort Smith, AR 72916 Unsubscribe from this list Not responsible for typographical errors. Prices may change without notice.

The post Can’t Shoot Without Airgun Ammo! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Jacob Ensign – the owner of Jefferson State Air Rifles – recently contacted HAM to tell us about his growing business. It’s an interesting story and the result is some interesting products. Take it away, Jacob…

“Jefferson State Air Rifles (JSAR) designs and manufactures high performance air gun parts, as well as selling airguns. It evolved from the product development and CNC manufacturing company Rogue Energies LLC which I owned. (I’m a mechanical engineer).

It all started when the head machinist of Rogue Energies, Matt, purchased a newly released KRAL Puncher Breaker air rifle. After receiving the gun and using it for a while, he noticed a few opportunities that would improve his recent purchase.”

Below, This Benjamin Marauder is fitter with JASR’s Marauder AR Stock Adapter Kit.

“Matt suggested Rogue Energies should start making a few upgrade parts for the gun, which could potentially offer a retail outlet for internally manufactured products.

At the same time, the owner of newly-formed Air Rifle Technology, Travis Whitney, was looking for a new manufacturing connection, having just parted ways with Wicked Air Rifles, with whom he was previously partnered.

Boom! Just like that, in early 2017 the path to JSAR was blazed…

Matt arranged a fun shoot for the whole Rogue Energies crew, along with Travis. I quickly saw the value of Travis’ experience and knowledge, in conjunction with the capabilities of his manufacturing business. It was clear this would make a great combo.

Only two weeks after that, Jefferson State Air Rifles was formed, Travis Whitney was hired on as a full time employee, and he closed down Air Rifle Technology to fully devote his time and expertise to JSAR.

The company’s web store, www.jsairrifles.com, was launched in December 2017 with around a dozen products for sale. Over the course of the next year, we have added over 150 new products and have filled close to 1000 orders.

JSAR offers upgrade products for Artemis, Benjamin, Hatsan, KRAL, FX, and Umarex. Our products are designed and tested with the goal of achieving better performance and higher power than what the market currently offers.”

Below. A Kral Puncher Mega converted to .30 Caliber with Lothar Walther barrel by JSAR.

Leveraging on Travis’ expansive knowledge and experience, JSAR offers full tuned versions of Benjamin, KRAL, and Umarex air guns. We’re always focusing on improved performance and can significantly improve the performance of these airguns.

Ultimately, having always had the goal of offering full guns, and not just parts; JSAR has recently teamed with Evanix Air Guns to sell their newly-released, air-actuated, semi-automatic air rifle line.”

Below, the semi-automatic Evanix AirSpeed.

The post Jefferson State Air Rifles Offers Custom Conversions And Parts appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Air Arms TS400 has been introduced by the UK manufacturer as a dedicated design for use in Target Sprint competition.

Target Sprint is a biathlon-type competition. Competitors normally run 400 Meters three times, interspersing each run with making 5 shots with an air rifle at knockdown targets. That’s a total of 1200 Meters running plus 10 shots.

Target Sprint was introduced by the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) in 2013. You can find out more about it at targetsprint.com.

The company says that the Air Arms TS400 has been developed in conjunction with the talented Target Sprint coaches and organizers at British Shooting. It’s specifically designed to help athletes achieve faster shooting times when competing in the exhilarating Target Sprint shooting discipline, they say.

The single shot TS400 air rifle includes Air Arms new cocking system. This allows for a more fluid re-load movement so that the athlete never has to take their eyes off of the target, says the company.

Air Arms claims that Target Sprint competitors will be able to successfully hit the target in a much faster time and move onto the next sprinting stage of the course.

The Air Arms TS400 also features an adjustable butt pad and cheek piece, external rail, and removable cylinders with manometer, in-line 20-micron filter and comes supplied with diopter sights including element set.

The stock is manufactured from poplar. Air Arms says that fully-dipped stocks are available at an additional cost.

Of course, Air Arms is no stranger to manufacturing competition-specific air rifles. The S400 Biathlon Rifle is one example. The TS400 looks to be very similar, except having a single-shot action with the new cocking system.

The Air Arms TS400 is available now in the UK. HAM has no information about availability yet in other countries.

The post Air Arms TS400 Introduced For Target Sprint Competition appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

In this exclusive Hard Air Magazine interview, Herr Hans Weihrauch – the owner of Weihrauch Sport – talks to HAM Publisher Stephen Archer. We met most recently at the 2018 Extreme Benchrest competition in Arizona. Here’s how the conversation went…

HAM: Hans, it’s great to meet you again and a pleasure to see you at Extreme Benchrest for the first time!

Hans Weihrauch: Yes, Steve. Otherwise we only see each other at trade shows like the SHOT Show and IWA. It’s good to see you again, too!

HAM: When did you first start shooting and who taught you to shoot?

Hans Weihrauch: That was quite a long time ago! At about the age of 10-12 years, I started shooting with an air rifle. My father was a member of a shooting club and took me to a German “Schützenhaus”, shooting on a 10 Meter target range. Shooting instructors taught other young guys and myself how to hold the air rifle and to aim at the paper targets.

HAM: What was your first airgun and do you still own it?

Hans Weihrauch: I started this kind of shooting with a HW 55 match type air rifle. This rifle is still standing in my gun cabinet. I still own it and I am proud of it!

HAM: What is your favorite type of shooting now?

Hans Weihrauch: I shoot 50 Meter English Match in cal. .22 Long Rifle as well as Field Target competition with air rifles.

I find Field Target shooting very interesting and challenging. Shooting at various distances, in different directions on one lane, in different shooting positions and in a limited time frame is very demanding for every shooter.

HAM: Please tell us a little history about the Weihrauch company?

Hans Weihrauch: Our family tradition in working in the gun trade started in the late 1890s. In 1899 our great-grandfather founded his first company to produce hunting rifles. Over the following decades the company grew and a lot of different models followed as well as other products like pedals and cranks for bicycles and hydraulic door closers.

In 1939 the first airgun, an air pistol, was introduced, but due to World War II it never got into production. There is at least one prototype still existing. I’ve seen it myself, but unfortunately it’s not owned by us any more.

In the early fifties of the last century the first air rifles HW 50 and HW 35 were launched. A lot of different models have followed over the years!

HAM: Can you tell us a little about the company today. For example, how many people work at Weihrauch-Sport? How big is your factory? Is everything made in Germany?

Hans Weihrauch: Nowadays our line of air guns offers a wide variety of different models. More than 100 employees produce air pistols and air rifles in a huge number of versions in our premises at Mellrichstadt in Baveria.

All our products are “Made in Germany”. Our major focus is quality and craftsmanship. All manufacturing is undertaken using state-of-the-art machinery. We aim to offer our customers the best possible products!

Below. The current Weihrauch factory.

HAM: Always, the machining and finish of both wood and metal parts is beautiful on Weihrauch airguns! How do you achieve such an outstanding level of craftsmanship?

Hans Weihrauch: Germans have the reputation of being perfectionists. So we happily try to meet our customers expectations! This reflects to all the metal and wooden parts.

The stocks and grips are supplied by outside vendors according to our exact specifications. The metal parts are produced by ourselves in-house. Our workers are proud to produce such products that are well-known all over the world.

HAM: Does Weihrauch-Sport manufacture the barrels for it’s air rifles?

Hans Weihrauch: Most of our barrels are produced in-house. This gives us constant quality control monitoring on each barrel during the whole production process, right up to final test shooting. In this way we can always guarantee our quality standards on each production step of the barrels.

HAM: How important is the US market to Weihrauch-Sport?

Hans Weihrauch: For more than 40 years we have been supplying air guns to the American market. In the beginning, our adult air guns had to compete hard with the BB guns to find their niche in the market. Nowadays US-shooters appreciate our products and, so, this market is important to us.

HAM: Most Weihrauch air rifles use the spring/piston system. Only the HW90 uses a gas ram. Can you explain why gas rams are not used in more Weihrauch air rifles?

Hans Weihrauch: As always, different systems have advantages but also disadvantages. Our spring piston systems work very well. Nevertheless we are always working and improving our air guns to reach the best possible quality to fit our customer needs. We have a lot of customers who love our spring piston air guns and also our gas ram HW 90 model!

HAM: Weihrauch manufactures both underlever-cocking and break-barrel spring/piston air rifles. Can you give your opinion on the benefits of each design?

Hans Weihrauch: Yes, we are producing both versions, break barrel and underlever cocking.

For decades the break barrel rifles have been the main product. They are easy to handle and everyone knows how to manage, load and shot, them. This system is ideal for beginners and for “just for fun” – shooting.

We then launched the HW 77. This new design conquered the Field Target Shooting scene and was copied several times. The scope mount and the barrel/receiver components are one unit and built a stable and fixed system. This design is valued more by the serious and experienced shooter.

HAM: Which model is your personal favorite Weihrauch air rifle and why?

Hans Weihrauch: This is a very difficult question. Each type of air gun which we are producing offers different features for special purposes. So I do have more than one favorite.

HAM: Here at Extreme Benchrest we see almost everyone shooting PCP air rifles. Do you see PCPs as the big future trend for your company, too?

Hans Weihrauch: The EBR event is a special and unique event for shooting taking place in the USA.

The shooting demands are on longer distances and for special disciplines like for example the Extreme Benchrest up to 100 Yards, Extreme Field Target or the Speed Silhouette. There definitely the PCP rifles have their big advantage and will be also the future trend. It is a growing scene and market.

For the “normal” shooter these PCP products are quite expensive, especially with all the necessary charging equipment. He will probably step into the shooting scene on a lower level according to his budget and his aim. And sometimes compressed air isn’t available at all places. Perhaps later he will also join other disciplines.

Therefore we offer our wide range of air guns in various versions and for different purposes. So nearly everybody can find a suitable product for their needs from Weihrauch!

HAM: Weihrauch-Sport manufactures both spring/piston and PCP air rifles. Which do you see as the best use for spring/piston guns in the future?

Hans Weihrauch: Spring piston guns offer shooting at lower costs. They are always ready to shoot, need less care and maintenance, and are easy to handle. So these products will always have their niche and friends. Traditional air gun shooters love to shoot with spring piston guns!

HAM: Can we expect to see any new air rifle designs from Weihrauch in 2019?

Hans Weihrauch: We are constantly working to improve the quality of our products. So permanent developments and amendments are implemented into the production process of the different models.

Furthermore we are also thinking on new projects. Just recently our newest PCP air rifle – the HW 110 ST – was launched in a special carbine version. (Photograph below).

Also in 2019 you can expect something new from Weihrauch. But… wait and see!

HAM: Hans, thanks for talking to me! I’m sure this will be of great interest to the huge number of Weihrauch enthusiasts around the world. I look forward to seeing you again next year in Nuremberg for IWA and in Las Vegas for the SHOT Show.

Hans Weihrauch: Steve, thanks. I look forward to it!

The post Herr Hans Weihrauch Talks To HAM About His Company, Weihrauch Sport appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Daystate Genus is an anniversary model to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its original PCP air rifle. Production is limited to 200 models worldwide.

Daystate’s red carpet event to mark its 40 year, held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, UK, on 3rd December 2018, offered an entertaining insight into the iconic British airgunmaker’s history. Friends, colleagues and members of the press were present at the Royal Armoury in Leeds to remember the company’s illustrious past and open a window into its bright future.

It also but also provided the launchpad for the limited edition Daystate Genus rifle scheduled to arrive in gun shops in early 2019.
The commemorative Genus pays homage to Daystate’s inaugural rifle, the Huntsman of 1978, which has always been a mainstay of the company’s range. Limited to a worldwide production run of just 200, the Genus incorporates all the technology and features that Daystate’s classic PCP sporter has evolved during its journey from ‘Mk1’ to the present-day HR Huntsman Regal.

However, the celebratory model boasts an extra level of detail that reflects its significance to Daystate’s airgun heritage.
The Daystate Genus is presented in laminate woodwork with contrasting grip and forend caps, complemented by metalwork finished in bronze and gold.

Further embellishments include commemorative plaques on the breech and stock. The rifles are individually numbered and are supplied with a matching Certificate of Authenticity, a special edition hard cover book and presentation case.

Available to order in .177, .20, .22 or .25 caliber, at power levels from 12 to 40 Ft/lbs, the Daystate Genus limited edition model will retail at £1,849 GBP in the UK. You can find out more about the Genus on the Daystate website.

The Daystate 40th anniversary event featured some 50 classic Daystate models on display. These included some unusual models that few had ever seen.

There was also a chance to see the first ever successful airgun, the Girandoni that was in fact a weapon of war. This was on loan from the Royal Armoury and is just one of some 29,000 guns they hold as the UK collection of firearms.

Many present had never seen one of these in the flesh and were clearly delighted to have the opportunity given to them.

Below, Simon Cockayne of Daystate (left) examines the Girandoni with Mark Murry-Flutter from the Royal Armouries at the 40th anniversary event.

The post Daystate Genus Limited Edition PCP Air Rifle Unveiled appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.