VALUE FOR MONEY

JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets have an outstanding reputation for accuracy – particularly at long ranges. They combine this with a heavy weight, approximately one third heavier than the average 25 Grain pellet in the same caliber.

As lead costs money, this significant weight hike over an average .25 caliber pellet means that the King Heavies command a premium compared to lighter pellets. However this is not excessive, as we can see from this price comparison chart.

The high weight of JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets is combined with a high Ballistic Coefficient of 0.046. This means that these King Heavies are attractive to both the long range airgun shooter and hunter for larger game.

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JSB Match Diabolo Exact King MKII Heavy .25 Cal, 33.95 Grains, Domed, 300ct 0.25

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JSB Exact King Heavy 300 Count

TEST DATA SUMMARY

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

The tin of JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets tested by HAM contained 152 pieces. This compares to the 150 claimed by the manufacturer.

Average pellet weight was 33.97 Grains. That’s just 0.6% heavier than the specification. It’s effectively right-on the manufacturer’s claim.

The manufacturer claims that these pellets are ideally-suited for long range hunting and target shooting. HAM agrees with this!

CONSISTENCY

No damaged pellets were found in the tin of JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets tested by HAM.

Head diameter was extremely well controlled. All measured either 6.38 mm or 6.39 mm head diameter. The difference between these two values – 0.01mm – is 0.00039 Inches.

So, all the pellets had a head diameter within just over one third of a thousandth of an inch. That’s a variation of just 0.16% in diameter. Excellent quality control!

Surprisingly, the weights of the pellets tested by HAM were less consistent that we usually find from JSB. Using HAM’s incredibly-precise, laboratory-grade milligram balance, we found a spread of individual pellet weights from 33.38 Grains up to 34.72 Grains. That’s a spread of 4.01%.

The most common weight of the tested sample was 33.55 Grains, although this was achieved by just 6% of the pellets.

Just one pellet actually matched the 33.95 Grain weight specification. However, the average weight of all the tested pellets was 33.97 Grains – extremely close to the manufacturer’s claim.

Length of the JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets tested by HAM was more constrained. The variation between shortest and longest was 1.73%, which is better than average.

16% of the tested pellets were 8.77 mm long, as can be seen from the graph below.

DIRTINESS

0.879 Grains of lead dust and junk were found in the tin of JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets tested by HAM.

Of course, some manufacturing dirt is pretty-well unavoidable in lead pellet manufacture. This amount equates to 0.586 Grains of junk per 100 pellets. That’s just under average compared to other pellets tested by HAM.

DOWNRANGE PERFORMANCE

HAM used a .25 Caliber Umarex Gauntlet air rifle for our shooting test as the standard Beeman 1074 air rifle does not have a .25 caliber barrel. And even if one were available, it would not be powerful enough…

As we can see from the Chairgun chart below, these JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets shot effectively “flat” between 10 and 38 Yards from the Gauntlet.

The high Ballistic Coeffficient is responsible for the impressive downrange performance. Even at 39 Yards, the pellet will still have a velocity 90% of the FPS at the muzzle.

HUNTING USE

As Chairgun shows, no less than 73% of the Muzzle Energy is retained by JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets even at 60 Yards range. This confirms the King Heavies’ suitability for long range hunting.

For HAM’s usual soap penetration test, Doug Wall positioned two blocks together to make sure that the pellet’s expected penetration could be measured. His expectation was not misplaced, as we can see from the photograph below!

The following photograph shows the fired pellet on the right, after it had been retrieved from the soap block.

The impact reduced the pellet’s length from 8.74 mm down to 8.42 mm. The dead diameter expanded from 6.38 mm to 6.52 mm as a result. The wound channel was 10 mm diameter.

This indicates that JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets would be suitable for hunting fairly large, tough critters that require strong penetration capability to ensure a humane, one shot, kill.

BUYING AND OWNING

JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 caliber pellets are readily available online from specialist retailers such as Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot. As a specialist type of ammo, it’s unlikely that you will find them locally at a big box sporting goods store.

The foam disk included in the tin  – together with the inherent size and robustness of these pellets – ensures that shipping damage will be minimized in transit to you when buying online.

Note that the tin tested by HAM has the old JSB push-on lid. The company is moving to screw-top lids on a product-turnover basis, so you may find that the pellets you buy have the new, improved screw-top lids.

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
JSB Match Diabolo Exact King MKII Heavy .25 Cal, 33.95 Grains, Domed, 300ct 0.25

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JSB Exact King Heavy 300 Count

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 JSB Exact King Heavy MkII 33.95 Grain .25 Caliber Pellet Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

In a previous post, we fitted a bipod to the Virtus. Now we move to the back and try a different SIG Virtus PCP stock.

As the Virtus uses a 13 cubic Inch PCP air bottle, it can be fitted with some alternative stocks found for paintball markers. We tried this and here you can see the results…

The factory SIG Virtus PCP stock is a simple buttplate that clamps to the HPA bottle using a bolt.

This buttplate has a fixed length and a vertical sling slot.

As an alternative, we used a First Strike 13 ci Floating Air Stock. This provides a multi-length capability and a horizontal sling slot.

The First Strike stock slides over the HPA bottle. It’s supplied with a “stock bar” that’s affixed to the end of the HPA tank. This allows the stock to be adjusted to different lengths, in the event that you prefer a longer pull length. That’s the stock bar on the right in the photograph below.

Unlike the bipod, fitting the stock requires no disassemly of the airgun. When attached, this alternative SIG Virtus PCP stock looks good and provides additional functionality to your air rifle.

As you can see, the new stock still allows for access to the male quick disconnect for filling with HPA. The pressure gauge is also completely visible.

It also provides a warmer and more comfortable cheek piece when shooting, instead of making a cheek weld against the metal HPA bottle. The slightly larger outside diameter was also beneficial in obtaining a good cheek weld when shooting with a scope.

We found it best to fit the stock bar to the Virtus with the HPA bottle fully installed in place. Then you can ensure that the bar is correctly aligned so that the stock will be in its correct vertical orientation. The stock itself can then be attached and removed when it’s desired to remove the bottle, as recommended by the First Strike instructions.

That’s it! Although we haven’t tried this, it’s very likely that this First Strike stock will also fit the Air Venturi PCP Tank With Adapter Kit that converts the SIG Air MCS and MPS to HPA power also…

Due to the realistic appearance of this product, handle it as you would a firearm. Do not display it in public or in any place where it could be mistaken for a cartridge firearm.

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Air Venturi Tank with Adapter, 13 cu in, Aluminum, 3,000 psi

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Sig Sauer ASP MCX Virtus PCP Air Rifle 0.22

The post We Try A Different SIG Virtus PCP Stock appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Daystate Genus Limited Edition air rifle was manufactured to commemorate 40 years from the inception of the British company. In the USA it’s available from Airguns of Arizona in .177 caliber, .20 – yes you read that right! and .25 calibers.

The Daystate Genus is based on the HR Huntsman Regal. The Huntsman design was chosen for this commemorative edition as it has been – in multiple versions – the company’s longest-running air rifle model.

It includes the company’s Harper slingshot hammer system, together with a Huma regulator for shot-to-shot consistency. Muzzle Energy for the .25 caliber versions is up to 40 Ft/Lbs.

Last year, HAM Publisher Stephen Archer visited Daystate in the UK. He saw some Daystate Genus models being assembled at that time. Let’s take a look at this exclusive view now…

Our heading photograph above shows Daystate’s Tony Belas looking justifiably pleased with this new model. He’s standing in the Daystate factory which is located at Eccleshall – that’s roughly in the center of England.

Daystate builds its air rifles to order from its dealers and distributors. Obviously, AoA is a huge customer for Daystate. So it was not surprising to see a batch of Genus receivers lined-up with stickers designating that they were being manufactured for shipment to the USA.

Assembled actions are stored in custom racking at various stages of the manufacturing process. For example, actions are leak-tested by filling with High Pressure Air and leaving to stand to ensure there’s no leakage over a specified time frame.

The beautiful stocks for the genus were manufactured by the Italian specialist stock manufacturer Minelli. Here’s how they look in the packaging as received at the Daystate factory.

Production of the Genus was limited to a total of just 200 units for worldwide sale. Each gun manufactured is supplied with a certificate of authenticity confirming its serial number. The certificate is included with a specially-produced book describing the history of the company.

Below we see a completed Daystate Genus air rifle just prior to shipment.

The gun is supplied in a high-quality synthetic case, together with the book, certificate, fill adapter and a range of documentation. There’s a 10-shot magazine and single shot tray included, of course. It’s a beautiful presentation!

Commemorative plaques are fitted to both the side of the breech and the black pistol-grip cap.

To have your own part of Daystate history and tradition, a Genus is the ideal choice! Airguns of Arizona has a few guns still available. But when they’re gone, they’re really gone…

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Daystate Genus Limited Edition Air Rifle

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

HAM readers gained exclusive first news about the Umarex Fusion 2 air rifle a couple of weeks ago. Now let’s take a look at some ways that we can upgrade this interesting new air rifle.

The first and biggest improvement you can make is to replace the bundled 4×32 scope with a better optic. Yes, it can cost you a very large fraction of the original price of the Fusion 2 air rifle, but it’s well worth the cost!

Better optical performance will make you more accurate. We were looking for a sharper image, Adjustable Objective (AO) parallax correction, higher magnification and mil dot reticle. And we wanted to combine that with a compact size and Picatinny rings.

The answer was a Leapers UTG 3-9 x 32 Bugbuster scope. It mounted onto the Fusion perfectly and was just the right size. Perfect!

This Bugbuster scope fitted tightly onto the Fusion 2’s Picatinny rails, with a few thousandths of space clearance for the magazine! It also provided a nice low eyeline, as you can see in the photographs.

Then we decided to make use of the M-Lok slots in the forend of the stock. It looks as if the slots in the sides of the stock could be used, but there’s not room to do so with the 88 Gram CO2 cartridge in place. That ruled-out the side-mounted UTG M-Lok bipod as we fitted to the SIG Air Virtus recently.

However, the M-Lok slots in the underside of the stock DO work. So we installed an 8-slot UTG M-Lok/Picatinny mount adapter, then mounted a UTG Picatinny-mount bipod to that.

The “tactical” bolt handle of the Umarex Fusion 2 is well-shaped and a good size. It’s also well-knurled for grip. It’s even made of steel! All these are good things, but the result was a little rough for our (too delicate?) fingers…

So, we added three rubber O rings into the slots machined in the bolt handle. Now we had a very comfortable, non-slip grip added to our gun with no dismantling required. The O rings simply rolled right over the end of the bolt handle.

So now we have given our Umarex Fusion 2 air rifle a pleasant upgrade that makes it look, shoot and handle better. And nothing we did voids the warranty or is non-reversible. We like it

HAM will bring you a full, comprehensive test review of the Fusion 2 in the near future. Watch this space!

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 Rifle 0.177

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UTG 3-9×32 AO Compact CQB Bug Buster Rifle Scope, Illuminated Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/4 MOA, 1 Tube, Medium Max Strength Lever Lock Weaver Rings

The post Let’s Upgrade The Umarex Fusion 2 Air Rifle appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Velocity Outdoors has announced that the new Benjamin Akela, Cayden and Kratos PCP air rifles are due to be shipping in June 2020. HAM readers first learned of these new airguns in our report from the 2020 SHOT Show.

These new models are based on a similar basic sidelever action. There are, however, significant differences in configuration as we see from the following table.

All the .22 caliber guns use the same 12-shot magazine. All have a 3,000 PSI fill pressure. The manufacturer claims the obligatory 1,000 FPS for all the .22 caliber models: the power level is given as 32 Ft/Lbs. All have an extrenal power adjustment knob.

Shot count is “up to 60 per fill”.

They all have a 2-stage, non-adjustable trigger. However, the trigger shoe is adjustable vertically and horizontally. The stocks are of Turkish Walnut. There’s a 5-year warranty.

Unusually for PCPs of this price introduced in 2020, these new Benjamin air rifles are not regulated.

Here’s some more details of the individual models…

Benjamin Akela

There’s a side-mounted pressure gauge and sliding cheekpiece.

The long Picatinny rail gives flexibility for scope mounting on the Akela.

You can find more detail at crosman.com.

Benjamin Cayden

The Cayden has a removable threaded muzzle brake instead of a shroud.

The pressure gauge is in the underside of the stock and there’s an adjustable cheek piece.

Sling studs are fitted to all models in this new Benjamin range. This is an excellent idea for carrying the gun while hunting in the field.

More detail? Check out crosman.com.

Benjamin Kratos

The Kratos is available in .25 caliber with a 10-shot magazine. (12-shot in .22 cal.). Note that the magazines of this new range are not interchangeable with existing Marauder mags.

The large capacity Aluminum HPA bottle is a prominent feature of this model.

All models have a fixed rubber buttpad. There’s a manual safety ahead of the trigger blade.

There’s more information at crosman.com.

Thanks to Phillip Guadalupe, Velocity Outdoors Product Manager, Airguns, for his help in pulling this story together. That’s Phillip in the photographs…

The post Benjamin Akela, Cayden And Cratos To Ship In June 2020 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Umarex Gauntlet deal alert! Pyramyd Air is offering the .177 caliber Gauntlet at just $229.99. This is nearly $100.00 less than their price for the .22 and .25 caliber versions of what is – otherwise – exactly the same air rifle. Wow!

Then you can save even more if you select one of Pyramyd’s pre-packaged bundles…

HAM has tested the Gauntlet in both .22 and .25 calibers. Each time it earned a Gold Award with great test scores. The .177 caliber model is identical to the .22 caliber model in all but bore diameter. That makes it fantastic value if you prefer the smaller caliber – or if you just want to try .177 caliber shooting.

The Gauntlet is, of course, a regulated multi-shot PCP air rifle that has one significant benefit over all others in the market – at any price…

It can be easily be used with CO2 power. This makes it cheap and easy to get started because you don’t need to buy a HPA pump, tank or compressor – at least not to start with. Check out these two HAM posts on how to do this: Part 1, Part 2. Then it’s easy to move to HPA when you buy the charging equipment later.

For this Umarex Gauntlet deal, click the link below.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Umarex Gauntlet PCP Air Rifle, Synthetic Stock 0.177

Check out these other resources to find more great airgun deals…

Shop Airgun Deals At Airguns of Arizona:

Specials, limited time closeouts, model end, clearance

Pre-owned, demos or factory blemished airguns.

Shop Airgun Deals At Pyramyd Air:

Shop Now for special offers on airguns, ammo and accessories

Shop Now for Clearance and Closeouts

Shop Now for refurbished, open box, used airguns

Shop Airgun Deals At Airgun Depot:

Lightning Deals, limited time offers

Exclusives and combos

Refurbished

Bargain Bunker

Note that many of these deals are offered for a limited time, or for a limited amount of inventory. Hard Air Magazine does not control this, so it’s possible that any deals listed here may already have sold out by the time you read this post.

Our advice is to act as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

If you have any questions, always contact the dealer involved directly, not Hard Air Magazine. Reference this post: Airgun Deals April 1, 2020.

The post Umarex Gauntlet Deal Alert! .177 Cal Just $229.99 At Pyramyd Air appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Today, HAM has more “eye candy” on the Daystate Delta Wolf air rifle. We’ve already carried a summary of the specifications: here we have some more details and photographs of how it looks in use.

And we tell you how you could – possibly – win one yourself!

As we can see, this is a compact bullpup that can be shot well from a bipod and offhand.

It can also be accessorized with an adjustable buttpad and other accessories, as we can see below. Daystate is working with third-party partners to develop a range of specialist accessories. Some will be available at launch, but we can expect the range to grow with time in future.

The scope mount can be moved to provide the ideal eye relief for the scope in use and the shooter’s eyes. This is an innovative feature that we’ve not seen on other air rifles.

The basic configuration is as shown below – except for the fact that this example has a bronze-finished receiver.

One of the many innovative features of the Daystate Delta Wolf air rifle is its magazine. This has magnets on the base, allowing two magazines to be connected together as shown below. These combined magazines can be loaded “as one” into the Delta Wolf, sliding them across when the first mag is emptied.

This gives high capacity without the bulk of a single, large-capacity magazine.

The sidelever action is mid-mounted with what looks like a similar bolt knob to the one the HAM Team found so easy to use in our recent Brocock XR Sniper test review.

The trigger is multi-adjustable, as can be glimpsed in this close-up of the action below.

Here’s a closeup of the valve itself. More details to come on this in future…

The built-in digital chronograph fits inside the shroud. Here’s a close-up of the unit, showing the two sensors and main Printed Circuit Board.

The result is a compact air rifle, as we can see from these photographs.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s website has a Delta Wolf Challenge running right now. You could win a Daystate Delta Wolf air rifle by correctly guessing the power levels for the full power – that’s US-specification – models in each caliber. It’s quick and free to enter.

If you enter from outside the U.K., Daystate will send your gun to the country importer. For example, Airguns of Arizona in the USA. The Daystate website has full terms and conditions. Good luck!!!

The post More About The New Daystate Delta Wolf Air Rifle appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Airgun Depot has some outstanding Hatsan AT44PA deals for a limited period! You can save up to $350.00 on the short version and $250.00 on the long version of this pump-action PCP air rifle…

These Hatsan AT44PA deals are for the QE – Quiet Energy – versions of the gun. Both models are available in .22 cal and .25 caliber at these prices.

If you’re not too familiar with the ATP44PA, Travis from Airgun Depot explains all about it in this video. That pump – HAM would probably call it a slide – action, sure seems fast to operate!

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Hatsan AT44PA

Check out these other resources to find more great airgun deals…

Shop Airgun Deals At Airguns of Arizona:

Specials, limited time closeouts, model end, clearance

Pre-owned, demos or factory blemished airguns.

Shop Airgun Deals At Pyramyd Air:

Shop Now for special offers on airguns, ammo and accessories

Shop Now for Clearance and Closeouts

Shop Now for refurbished, open box, used airguns

Shop Airgun Deals At Airgun Depot:

Lightning Deals, limited time offers

Exclusives and combos

Refurbished

Bargain Bunker

Note that many of these deals are offered for a limited time, or for a limited amount of inventory. Hard Air Magazine does not control this, so it’s possible that any deals listed here may already have sold out by the time you read this post.

Our advice is to act as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

If you have any questions, always contact the dealer involved directly, not Hard Air Magazine. Reference this post: Airgun Deals April 4, 2020.

The post Hatsan AT44PA Deals – Save Up To $350 At Airgun Depot appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

So you’ve decided to shoot an air pistol to make use of that spare time you have at home. In this post, HAM helps you choose the best modern replica air pistol.

As with the other air pistols covered in this short series, all of the models listed today are CO2-powered. They also all earned outstanding scores in their individual test reviews.

So, any way, you can’t go wrong by choosing any of these air pistols. However, there’s a surprisingly wide variety among these airguns…

In alphabetical order, here’s our choice of best modern replica air pistol:

1. Glock 19 Generation 3 BB Gun

2. SIG P320 M17 Pellet Pistol

3. SIG P365 BB Pistol

The Glock 19 is a non-blowback BB gun. The two SIGs both have blowback actions. However, the M17 fires pellets, the P365 shoots BBs. The M17 is the only one to offer field-stripping capabilities.

All are ultra-realistic replicas of modern centerfire pistols. In this company, the M17 feel huge with it’s extended magazine. The P365 feels tiny. The Glock ‘s somewhere in between. All are powered by a single, 12-Gram CO2 cartridge, as you would expect.

Glock 19 Generation 3

The Glock 19 CO2 BB gun offers great realism, high FPS, strong shot count, very good accuracy and a low price. It’s an easy HAM Gold Award winner.

Plus, it’s a Glock!

Because this is a non-blowback pistol, it offers excellent FPS, shot count and accuracy. This is inherent with non-blowback CO2 pistols, which is why some knowledgeable shooters actually prefer them. You can check out the reasons why in this HAM story.

BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Glock 19 Gen. 3 BB Pistol

SIG P320 M17 Pellet Pistol

If there’s one other modern centerfire pistol brand that matches the cachet of Glock, it’s SIG. The SIG Air P320 M17 air pistol is the latest and best pellet-firing air pistol from SIG SAUER.

It’s an outstanding replica of the US Army P320-M17 sidearm. There’s a strong blowback, drop-free magazine and it field strips realistically. CO2 cartridge loading is the easiest there is, due to SIG’s cam-loading system. Shot count was very good on test, as was accuracy.

With a HAM test score of 89%, it performed very well, too. So why only a HAM Silver Award? Simply because the Street Price of $120 is somewhat high in this ultra-competitive market. By comparison, the P365 sells for $80 and the Glock 19 for just $70.

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR

SIG Sauer M17 P320 ASP, CO2 Pellet Pistol, Tan 0.177

3. SIG P365 BB Pistol

The tiny P365 BB pistol is an outstanding version of the 9mm concealed carry firearm. It offers excellent accuracy and surprisingly good FPS.

This will make an excellent training tool for owners of the P365 firearm. It’s also a fun close-range plinker.

The P365 is an easy HAM Gold Award winner. The HAM Team loved it and we’re sure you will too!

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Sig Sauer P365 BB Pistol

So what’s the best modern replica air pistol for me?

If you want accuracy, shot count and high FPS, the Glock is the choice. True you miss out on blowback operation, a drop-free magazine and the ability to field strip the gun. Umarex provides just a 90-day warranty compared to the 1-year offered by SIG on their guns. But then there’s that incredible low price!!!

The M17 gives strong blowback and the ability to field-strip your gun. It also has the easiest CO2-loading system and that unique SIG 20-round pellet magazine. If you have big hands, this is the easiest gun to handle and shoot.

The SIG P365 is a tiny, cracker of an airgun! Each time we pick it up, we’re amazed at the tiny size and realism.

It’s a tough choice. Have fun making it

The post Choose The Best Modern Replica Air Pistol appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Axeon NightVue is an innovative new product from Axeon Optics – a division of Umarex USA.

In fact, it’s a binocular-mounted green laser illuminator that transforms a regular binocular from a daylight only tool into an optic that can be used around the clock.

Many advanced hunters use binoculars for “glassing” (scanning an area for animals) rather than their air rifle’s scope. So even if you have a night vision optic on your air rifle, the Axeon NightVue could be a compelling addition to your equipment.

Even more so as Axeon Optics has a limited time introductory price of just $99.99! (This compares to the regular MSPR of $149.99).

The company explains that the Axeon NightVue mounts to most porro and roof prism binoculars. It beams a powerful 520 nm green laser out to distances up to 250 meters. The Field of View at 100 Yards stretches 13 Feet in diameter.

The green color of the NightVue emitter cuts through haze and fog while also having a low effect on personal night-time vision. Axeon Optics says that it doesn’t disturb any animals in its path.

Set up of the Axeon NightVue is a simple affair with the included mounting hardware. The NightVue fits many current binoculars, although there are some exceptions.

Once mounted to the optic, the locking knob on the mounting stem can be loosened so the green laser beam can be aligned with the line of sight of the binoculars. The Axeon NightVue has both a weather sealed body and USB charging port located on the bottom side of the back portion of the light.

Once mounted onto the binoculars, the hunter uses the beam adjustment wheel to adjust the angle of the light output to closely match the magnification range of the binoculars and distance of the subject from you.

The Axeon NightVue has a run time of 60 minutes. It is USB rechargeable. Each unit comes with a charging cord and plug-in charger.

The green laser beam adjusts with the easy turn of a wheel on top of the until. A small beam focuses and intense light on the subject while the larger beam allows you to see at a wider diameter.

Axeon Optics says that the NightVue weighs 1/2 pound. It has a water-resistant, weatherproof housing.

To take advantage of the limited time introductory offer, just follow the link below.

BUY FROM AXEON OPTICS
Axeon NightVue

The post Axeon NightVue – A New Tool For The Nighttime Airgun Hunter appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

There’s lots of excitement about the new selective-fire SK-19 air rifle in the airgun world. But amid all the fast-firing fun, it’s important to recognize the SK-19’s other great benefits, including its long range accuracy and a great LCS AirArms SK-19 three year warranty.

LCS AirArms is a fairly new company, but they have long-term plans. This includes a solid warranty backup and support structure for their customers.

As with most manufacturers, LCS AirArms works through country distributors to bring their products to market. That distributor also provides warranty support for its country.

The SK-19 is assembled in North Carolina. This puts LCS in a great position to give rapid and comprehensive back-up their US distributor, Precision Airgun Distribution.

Precision Airgun Distribution (PAD) has a long-standing core competency in providing after-sales backup and warranty support in the USA. This provides a firm base for the LCS AirArms 3 year warranty.

For example, PAD has dedicated, factory-trained service personnel who specialize in the SK-19. They maintain a comprehensive stock of spare parts, too.

Yet more importantly, the team has huge experience with the SK-19. PAD personnel have fired over 15,000 shots through SK-19 air rifles and have learned a huge amount about the platform doing so.

Most SK-19 owners do not have issues requiring warranty support, of course. But here’s the details – just in case!

The LCS AirArms SK-19 three year warranty in detail

All LCS SK-19 air rifles are warranted to the retail consumer for three years from date of purchase. This warranty applies to the original retail customer.

The warranty covers faulty workmanship and defective materials.

Proof of purchase is required in the unlikely event that warranty support is required.

What is covered:

– Replacement parts, labor and return shipping to the customer.

– What is not covered:

– Normal wear and tear from regular use.

– Failure or damage due to abuse contrary to instructions given in the owner’s manual.

– Modification, tampering, or altering the gun in any way not specifically authorized by the factory with non-standard parts, springs, seals, etc.

– Minor blemishes or cosmetic defects that do not affect the performance or functionality of the gun are also not covered.

How to make a warranty claim:

PAD provides warranty claims and support for USA customers. (In other countries, SK-19 owners should contact the country distributor).
Call Precision Airgun Distribution at (480)-539-4750 or email claims to http://www.precisionairgun.com/contact-us.

Where possible, PAD staff will try to diagnose the issue by phone and help you.

If it is determined a return is necessary, you will be issued a Return Authorization Number. Write this number boldly on the box and return the product prepaid and carefully-packed to PAD.

Your name, address, email address, phone number and a note explaining the defect found MUST be included in the package. A copy of your original dated customer receipt must accompany the return too.

If you have other questions about the LCS AirArms SK-19 three year warranty in the USA, contact Precision Airgun Distribution directly at http://www.precisionairgun.com/contact-us.

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LCS Air Arms SK-19 Air Rifle

The post LCS AirArms SK-19 Three Year Warranty Details appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Airguns of Arizona has Brocock Commander deals running right now that just may give you a reason to “pull the trigger” on a purchase. You can save $690.98 on a scope bundle deal for the Commander HP (High Power) version. The total saving climbs to $773.99 for the Hi-Lite version of the same gun!

Both Commander models are in stock at AoA in .177, .22 and .25 calibers. Power levels for the HP version come-in at 22 Ft/Lbs in .177, 28 Ft/Lbs for the .22 cal version and 40 Ft/Lbs in .25 caliber.

Here’s how the deal works. In the AoA web site, you’ll see that the Commander HP is advertised at a $250.99 saving. See that red “Special Offer” badge? That’s the clue for you to move to its dedicated product page.

Now you find that Airguns of Arizona will include an Aztec Emerald 5.5-25×50 scope for free. That’s an additional $439.99 value!

That’s how you save up to $773.99 with Brocock Commander deals at Airguns of Arizona!

But wait, there’s even more…

Add a set of rings or mounts to your order before checking out and AoA will install and sight-in the scope at no extra charge. They’re also going to test fire your airgun. You’ll receive a test target and Chrony printout that documents the performance of your new Brocock air rifle.

Shooting performance of the Commander HP is effectively the same as the outstanding Brocock Sniper XL recently reviewed by HAM. The main significant differences are the bolt action and stock configuration. It’s also very similar to the gun used to win Extreme Benchrest in 2019!

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Brocock Commander HP Air Rifle

Brocock Commander Hi-Lite Air Rifle

Check out these other resources to find great airgun deals…

Shop Airgun Deals At Airguns of Arizona:

Specials, limited time closeouts, model end, clearance

Pre-owned, demos or factory blemished airguns.

Shop Airgun Deals At Pyramyd Air:

Shop Now for special offers on airguns, ammo and accessories

Shop Now for Clearance and Closeouts

Shop Now for refurbished, open box, used airguns

Shop Airgun Deals At Airgun Depot:

Lightning Deals, limited time offers

Exclusives and combos

Refurbished

Bargain Bunker

Note that many of these deals are offered for a limited time, or for a limited amount of inventory. Hard Air Magazine does not control this, so it’s possible that any deals listed here may already have sold out by the time you read this post.

Our advice is to act as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

If you have any questions, always contact the dealer involved directly, not Hard Air Magazine. Reference this post: Airgun Deals April 9, 2020.

The post Brocock Commander Deals Now At Airguns Of Arizona appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

OK, with many of us getting “stir crazy” staying at home, now may be the time to help you find the best full auto BB gun. Full auto BB guns are a ton of fun to shoot – of course!!!

If you want to give one a try, keep reading this HAM guide before making your decision…

As you would expect, these BB guns are all CO2-powered. In deference to the high magazine capacity and rapid rate of fire, they all use two 12 Gram CO2 cartridges installed in a detachable magazine. This doesn’t give more power, but increases the shot count per CO2 fill.

Like all CO2-powered airguns, FPS drops with fast shooting. So be prepared for some serious stringing down the target if you keep the “fun switch” engaged on these guns for a full magazine’s worth of BBs.

But that’s part of the fun! These full auto BB guns are all quite accurate in single-shot (semi automatic) mode. But, of course, much of the fun of these guns is that – if you don’t hit that soda can with the first burst – you just have to fire again

Today we look at three outstanding models in order to find the best full auto BB gun. All have great blowback actions and all are replicas of centerfire sub-machine guns. All are HAM Gold Award winners, so you can’t go wrong. In alphabetical order, we have…

1. Bushmaster MPW

2. Legends MP40

3. Legends Thompson

The MP40 and M1A1 Thompson are faithful reproductions of the WW2 centerfire originals. The Bushmaster is not a precise reproduction of any specific firearm, but it’s obviously a spirited rendition of a shorty M4-style model. They all look like the real deal, so remember to handle with appropriate caution!

Bushmaster MPW

The MPW offers realistic blowback action, accuracy and a great shot count. It looks and feels like an M4. And that “rock and roll” full auto capability that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to every face!

Uniquely among these BB guns, it also field strips just like powder burner M4s. The manufacturer reinforces this realistic look and feel by promoting that stocks, pistol grips and other accessories designed for centerfire ARs will fit the Bushmaster MPW Full Auto BB Gun.

It’s supplied with a collapsible stock, red dot sight and fake suppressor. There’s tons of Picatinny rails for mounting other accessories, too.

The price is realistic and it’s backed by good 12-month warranty coverage and great support from Velocity Outdoor – the company formerly known as Crosman Corporation. You can read HAM’s full test review here.

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Crosman Bushmaster MPW

Legends MP40

The HAM Team just loved the Umarex Legends MP!

This is a very accurate replica of the iconic German MP40 submachine gun, one of the coolest-looking subguns ever manufactured. Shooting it gives maximum smiles per minute, particularly on full auto…

The HAM Team had a blast shooting the Umarex Legends MP and so will you. It easily earns a coveted HAM Gold Award. We feel it’s great value for money in smiles per Dollar!

Accuracy is great, shot count is high and the Muzzle Velocity is good, too. Add that to a strong, “hammering” blowback action and there’s little else that anyone could want in a BB submachine gun.

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Umarex Legends MP40 CO2 BB Submachine Gun 0.177

Legends Thompson M1A1

The M1A1 Thompson BB gun is simply an amazing airgun. It combines extreme realism of appearance and operation with a very high shot count. That 96% HAM score equals that of the best we’ve ever awarded – to the MP40. It’s an obvious HAM Gold Award winner!

Umarex USA makes some claims for the M1A1 Thompson BB gun. These are as follows and we’ll check them out:

– A realistic reproduction of the firearm. Check!

– Realistic full auto, open bolt blowback action. Check, check. It’s so realistic that the muzzle even climbs a little on extended full-auto firing!

– Up to 435 FPS Muzzle Velocity. Check. The M1A1 Thompson BB gun tested by HAM actually peaked at 402 FPS with Crosman Copperhead BBs at 62 Degrees F. This HAM test result of 402 FPS at 62 degrees would match the manufacturer’s claim at 78 degrees ambient temperature. So it would exceed the claim at higher temperatures, peaking at about 460 FPS at around 90 Degrees F. That’s hot performance for a BB gun!

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Umarex Legends M1A1 BB Gun

And the best full auto BB gun is???

That’s easy. It’s the one you like the look of most!

These are all outstanding BB guns. They’re all surprisingly accurate and powerful.

If you want the added fun of being able to field strip the gun, plus the security of a 12-month warranty, it has to be the Bushmaster.

If your preference is for the most realistic-possible WW2 sub gun experience, then the MP40 and the Thompson give you that in spades.

Whatever your choice, please remember to shoot safe when you’re having this much fun!!!

SAFETY FIRST. With all BB-firing airguns, it’s mandatory to wear shooting glasses at all times, even if just watching. Also do not shoot 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! Pellets generally do not bounce back in the same way and are the correct choice for hard targets. Due to the realistic appearance of these products, handle them as you would a firearm. Do not display in public or in any place where they could be mistaken for cartridge firearms.

The post We Help You Find The Best Full Auto BB Gun appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Ross Marshall brings us some positive news from the UK. Huggett Precision Products is producing parts for medical ventilators. Yes, it’s true!

Take it away Ross…

Andrew Huggett, of Huggett Precision Products, is helping in Britain’s battle against the COVID-19 coronvirus. To do this, he’s switched from making Astile and Belita moderators to producing parts for medical ventilators. That’s the finished product in our heading photograph, above.

Andrew was approached to do this by a representative for Formula 1 racing’s McLaren team. The McLaren team is part of a group, commissioned by the UK government, to make hospital ventilators for the British National Health Service.

So, the entire Huggett Precision Products production line has been re-jigged. Now Andrew is to make 10,500 high precision ventilator parts from nearly ¾ of a mile of material! Here is just a little of it…

Airgun guru and colleague Ben Taylor pitched up to help Andrew by setting up a new saw, acquired especially for this job. He then cut-up buckets-full of metal – literally – to feed into Andrew’s high-precision milling machine.

New material is arriving all the time as Andrew needs to make around 1,200 ventilator parts a week for eight weeks. To achieve this, Andrew is running the production line for up to 80 hours a week. He himself has been working between 12 and 18 hours a day to keep the factory’s mill running.

The key ventilator part that Huggett Precision Products has been asked to make is an Absorber Dock Guide. Duhhh?

Andrew readily admits that he has no idea what it is or what it does! But it’s obviously extremely important. He’s just very happy to be helping out the British National Health Service in the current COVID-19 crisis.

Below, some of Andrew’s Absorber Dock Guides in the course of manufacture.

The fact that his work is up to the standard of one of the world’s top Formula 1 racing teams tells you all you need to know about the precision with which Andrew makes all his products.

Thanks to Andrew Huggett for stepping-up to help in this crisis!

Take a look at the Huggett Precision Products web page to see his airgun products. They’re available through dealers throughout the world.

The post Huggett Precision Products Now Making Hospital Ventilator Parts appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Vortex Optics is going long, expanding on the value and reliability of their Strike Eagle line of optics with the new Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP riflescope. Tactically-minded, long-range shooters can expect an incredible number of long-range tools in an incredibly affordable package, says the company.

With parallax compensation setting down to 15 Yards and side focus adjustment, the new Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP riflescope is suitable for use on high power PCP air rifles.

In a first focal plane scope, the effect of a mil dot holdover is the same, whatever magnification is chosen in the zoom range. This makes the probability of a hit much higher if you use variable magnifications on your zoom scope. That’s great news for hunters!

Vortex Optics says that the XD optical system makes for crystal-clear, edge-to-edge sharpness and high contrast images. The XR lens coatings provide superior light transmission and optimized, low-light performance.

For a clear point of aim no matter the lighting conditions, the glass-etched EBR-7C reticle is illuminated. The hash-marked reticle uses MOA or MRAD-based subtension lines and floating wind hold dots for ranging, holdover, and windage corrections. This is the MOA reticle, below…

Tactical locking turrets keep adjustments safe with integrated locking mechanisms. In addition, the aircraft-grade, 34mm aluminum tube provides 110 MOA/31MRAD of travel, giving shooters plenty of space to stretch out.

And, if they need it, shooters can get from close-range targets on low magnification to long-range precision at high mags rapidly with the included throw lever. After all that dialing, if a shooter needs a fast, reliable return to zero, the patented RevStop Zero System provides a fast, simple, rock-solid return.

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP Specifications

Magnification: 5-25x
Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
Eye Relief: 3.7 inches
Field of View: 24.0 – 5.2 ft at 100 yds
Tube Size 34 mm
Elevation Turret Style: Locking/Zero Stop
Windage Turret Style: Locking
Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
Travel Per Rotation: 25 MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment: 110 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment: 78 MOA
Parallax Setting: 15 yards to infinity
Length: 14.6 inches
Weight: 30.4 oz

MSRP:
$799.99 – Strike Eagle 5-25×56 (MOA or MRAD)

Vortex Optics are available from Airguns of Arizona.

The post New Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP Scope appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Recently HAM tested the Brocock Sniper XR air rifle in .22 caliber. We loved it! But it’s clear that such a powerful air rifle required heavy lead pellets for best accuracy. At least with the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster set to maximum, as we tested it.

So what if you want to shoot a mid-weight .22 caliber lead pellet? Well, that’s what the Power Adjuster is for. It’s a simple, convenient and predictable method for providing the right power level for lighter pellets – or where a lower power output is required for some other reason.

The Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster is this rotating lever on the right of the action. It clicks-round in four stages. Up is full power. Clockwise rotation then brings the power down in stages.

Now typically HAM only tests air rifles on full power – as that’s what most people want. However it’s clear that the Sniper XR Magnum we tested is really too powerful  in .22 caliber for some of our favorite pellets in the 14 – 16 Grain range. It shoots them at well over 1,000 FPS and we know from HAM’s Big Accuracy Review that this is likely to be too fast for ultimate accuracy.

Of course, the Sniper XR is regulated. The gauge shows that the Huma regulator is set to 150 Bar (2,175 PSI).

So could the regulator set pressure be changed? Well, yes. But Brocock – and AoA – is clear that the factory tune is set to maximize the power with best accuracy and shots per fill. And – like with many other PCPs – there’s a set of rules that must be followed precisely when making regulator adjustments.

If an owner makes regulator adjustments incorrectly he or she stands the chance of voiding the warranty. That could be expensive!

For this reason, the Power Adjuster is the way to go if you want to shoot lighter pellets. It’s a pretty innocuous-looking control, but it actually has a significant and useful effect.

For this experiment, we tested the Muzzle Velocities that are achieved with a range of popular pellets. Ten shots were fired with each pellet at each of the four Power Adjuster settings.

These were – in order of weight:

– Daystate Kaiser 14.44 Grain pellets (manufactured by H&N).

– JSB Hades 15.89 Grain hunting pellets.

– Daystate Rangemaster Sovereign. These 15.9 Grain pellets are manufactured by JSB.

– H&N Crow Magnum 18.21 Grain hollow points (another hunters’ favorite).

Here’s what we found…

Conclusions

It’s clear that Click Two on the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster will give around 30 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy with speeds between 870 and 970 FPS. For many shooters, this is still a very good power level and is likely to be achieved with excellent accuracy.

A further bonus is that the number of consistent shots per fill will be increased over the 60 achieved at full power in our main HAM test review.

Setting Three still delivers around 20 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy with these pellets. This could be useful for some short-range hunting and practice shooting where maximum power is not required, but a huge number of shots per fill is a benefit.

Low Power gives just under 12 Ft/Lbs. That’s probably way too low for anyone to use in the USA. But remember…

12 Ft/Lbs is the MAXIMUM power allowed for unregistered air rifles in the United Kingdom without a Firearms Certificate! Let’s be thankful for that in the USA.

So Click Two on the Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster delivers an useful power option for mid-weight lead pellets. It’s simple to use and gives consistent, predictable results. You’re going to like it!

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Brocock Sniper XR

The post Using The Brocock Sniper Power Adjuster For Mid-Weight Pellets appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Before moving on to discuss the effect of caliber on airgun pellet performance, it’s appropriate to remember several important conclusions from last month’s piece on pellet penetration:

1. Penetration is proportional to Sectional Density times Impact Velocity.

2. Pellet shape affects penetration, and pellets have a “flesh BC”, just like they do in air.

3. Pellet expansion drastically reduces penetration while creating a wider wound channel.

4. Wound cavity volume is relatively constant for a given FPE.

As we look at airgun pellet performance, let’s have a look at why larger calibers have an advantage when you take velocity out of the equation. Since modern PCPs can reach into the 900s in any caliber, this is a fair thing to do.

Sectional Density Increases With Caliber

For a given shape and proportions, the Sectional Density (SD) is proportional to the caliber. This is most clearly demonstrated with roundball. Check out the chart below:

The chart above is for lead spheres. While the weight increases with the cube of the caliber, since the cross-sectional area increases by the square, the SD is proportional to the caliber.

This means that if the velocity is held constant, the penetration would increase in proportion to the caliber.

That is only part of the story, however. Since the weight of the roundball increases with the cube of the caliber, if the velocity is constant, the FPE increases with the cube of the caliber as well.

Since wound channel volume is roughly proportional to the FPE, this leaves little doubt why larger calibers have so much more killing power.

Let’s compare a .25 cal roundball to a .50 cal one, both traveling at 950 fps. The .25 cal roundball weighs 23.4 gr. and has 47 FPE of energy, while the .50 roundball weighs 187 gr. and has 375 FPE of energy. That’s 8 times as much just by doubling the caliber!

The wound channel for the .50 cal should have 8 times the volume, and here is the reason. The hole it drills is 4 times the area (because that increases by the diameter squared), and twice as deep (since penetration is velocity times SD). There is the mathematical reasoning behind the wound channel volume being proportional to the FPE.

Now of course we don’t normally shoot roundball in airguns, we shoot pellets or slugs. However, the same principles apply.

Larger calibers tend to have heavier pellets, and those pellets, for the same shape, have a higher SD. Here is a chart showing the range of typical pellet weights for various calibers, and the effect of both on the SD.

There is, of course, a wide range of pellet weights available within each caliber. A heavy pellet in one caliber will have a higher SD than the same pellet weight in a larger caliber.

However, it is harder to accelerate that pellet in the smaller caliber, so the advantage in SD tends to shift to the larger calibers, just like with roundball. Since ultimately the FPE of a gun is proportional to the bore area (caliber squared), there is no question that “killing power” goes up with caliber.

Meplats and Hollowpoints

OK, so we know that round nosed pellets penetrate further for a given SD and velocity. However, this can mean that they “icepick” right through your quarry, and waste some of their energy by doing that.

Is there any way that a pellet can be made to lose more energy inside the target? Well of course there is, you can give it a Hollowpoint that causes it to expand. There is, however, another way. You can create a flat on the front of the pellet, called a Meplat.

I did exactly that with some 50 gr. JSB Exact .30 cal pellets, and then shot them at 100 FPE into a soap block. All I did was sand off some of the round nose to create a Meplat of 50% of the caliber (ie 0.150”), which removed about 1 gr. of weight. I also made a hollow point version by using a “center drill” to create a cavity in the nose, removing about 2 gr. of weight. Here are the results of them hitting that soap block:

Obviously, the Hollowpoint made a huge difference, compared to the original round nose pellet. It penetrated only about half as far. However, the round nose pellet with the Meplat also didn’t penetrate as far, and it left a slightly larger diameter wound cavity than the round nose pellet. Here are the recovered pellets:

The amount of extra energy that a pellet or slug with a Meplat sheds inside your quarry depends on the diameter of it, and to some extent on the shape of the nose behind it.

The slight flat I created on that 50 gr. Round nose pellet didn’t change the shape a lot. However, it hit hard enough to shorten the pellet visibly. It didn’t reduce the penetration or increase the diameter of the wound channel by much, but a larger flat would do both.

For those of you who wish to cast your own pellets, NOE Bullet Moulds (https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop) now makes molds for .22, .25, .30 and .35 cal pellets, in varying weights and styles. Here is an example of their .30 cal “Magnum Hunter” design:

They come with 4 different base pins so that you can change the weight to suit your gun. The ones above range from 58-72 grains. These round nose pellets with a 60% Meplat have developed a reputation for hitting very hard.

Use “Enough” Gun

There is no better way to wound an animal or bird than by not using a powerful enough gun for the job. In Canada, if you don’t have a “Possession and Acquisition License” (PAL), you are limited to airguns that shoot less than 500 fps. Just to show you how little power that really is, here is a soap block that I shot at with various pellets from a “non-PAL” .22 cal air rifle.

There were even four Hollowpoint pellets used in that test. None of them showed even a hint of expansion. The impact energy was about 5 FPE, to simulate how a typical pellet from a non-PAL gun would hit at 25 yards. Compare these impacts to the ones last month at 20 FPE. Huge difference.

Now look at the impact of the .30 cal pellets at 100 FPE in the top photo above. Compare that to the 20 FPE impacts from last month. Again, there is no comparison, the .30 cal wound channels are huge. In fairness to your quarry, PLEASE use enough power to do the job humanely. Airgun pellet performance is important!

Next month I will start talking about the Terminal Ballistics of slugs.

The post The Effect Of Caliber On Airgun Pellet Performance appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 cancelled. That’s the final news for the airgun world’s most important trade show.

The 2020 show was originally scheduled for March – as usual. However, the organizers decided to cancel the show due to the developing Coronavirus situation. At that time, it looked safe to re-schedule for September 2020.

Unfortunately the virus has had other ideas…

So finally the decision has been taken to move the next show to September 2021. Originally, some 1,550 exhibitors from 60 countries were expected to attend the IWA OutdoorClassics 2020; in 2019, the event welcomed more than 45,500 trade visitors from 120 countries.

Here’s the official news from the organizers, NuernbergMesse:

“Due to the impact of the ongoing coronavirue pandemic and its effects on the global economy, NuernbergMesse has decided not to hold the IWA OutdoorClassics in September 2020.

The uncertain situation is imposing as yet unknown challenges on the industry and is causing a reduced willingness to invest, which in turn is associated with declining sales and product stoppages.

At the same time, trade fair participants in many places are finding it difficult to plan and prepare their trade fair appearances due to business activity being limited by official government order as well as international trade restrictions.

For this reason, our goal of creating a special experience for exhibitors and visitors with IWA OutdoorClassics and enabling the diverse development and expansion of international business relationships cannot be realised under the influence of the Corona crisis.

The decision was extremely difficult for us, but now we need to look to the future together. This means that all exhibitors will be reunited in Nuremberg from 12 – 15 March 2021, as the event reverts to its usual spring schedule.

“After this crisis the need for information and knowledge-sharing will be greater than ever. This is why we are now looking forward and setting the course for next year,” says Rebecca Schönfelder, Exhibition Director IWA OutdoorClassics.”

With IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 cancelled there’s more information and a FAQ for both exhibitors and visitors on the IWA OutdoorClassics website.

The post IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 Cancelled – Next Show Will Be 2021 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

Today, we’ll look at some serious airguns and recommend Hard Air Magazine’s choices for the best $1200 PCP air rifle.

At this price level, you’re definitely into the top end of the airgun market for performance. The “ultimate”, or “luxury” models are still much higher priced, but for $1200, you buy a top quality product that’s likely to shoot better than you do!

In 2020, it goes without saying that Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) air rifles dominate the upper end of the market. If you’re buying one of these PCPs, you already will have – or know you need – a suitable High Pressure Air (HPA) tank, or compressor. You’ll understand the need to fill your gun with dry air and so have a dessicant system.

If you’re spending this much money you will almost certainly not be using a hand pump…

Plus, of course, you’ll need a suitable riflescope and mounts. Bundled scopes are found only at the lower end of the air rifle market, unless a major dealer happens to have a promotional bundle with a model such as these.

So, yes, you’ll probably double your spend with all the accessories for one of these $1200 PCP air rifles. But it’s still a whole lot cheaper than buying a beat-up Corvette for fun – which a lot of people do – and it won’t be a “money pit” either!

We’ve selected three models for your consideration as the best $1200 PCP air rifle. All are Hard Air Magazine Gold Award winners. All scored a massive 94% or 95% in our industry-leading standardized review testing.

In alphabetical order, let’s look at…

1. Brocock Concept Lite

2. FX Dreamlite

3. Weihrauch HW100

All three models cost about the same amount, all have almost identical HAM scores, all are PCPs. Yet they are three very different types of airgun, you will have a lot of fun choosing between them!

Brocock Concept Lite

The HAM Team likes the Brocock Concept Lite air rifle. In fact, we like it a lot!

The Concept Lite is a recently introduced member of the company’s semi-bullpup PCP platform that was started with the (still available) Compatto a few years back.

It’s fun and easy to shoot. It has a quality, chunky, solid feel, yet it’s not large or heavy. It’s accurate with a wide range of pellets – so there’s no need to spend time searching for one “perfect pellet” just for this gun.

The potential for customization is considerable, so it’s easy to make your Concept Lite really your own. If you like the fashionable, tactical “black gun” look, this has to be a strong contender.

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Brocock Concept Lite

FX Dreamlite

The FX Dreamlite air rifle offers a wonderful shooting experience. Accuracy is outstanding, the trigger and cocking action are sublime. Consistency is top class, too.

Seen as an air rifle alone, the Dreamlite provides great value. However, it moves to a completely different level if its potential for versatility is included. Here is an air rifle that can evolve with you as your shooting interests change over time. It’s a capability unmatched by any other airgun in the market today.

You can read the full Hard Air Magazine review here.

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FX Dreamlite, DonnyFL Moderator

Weihrauch HW100

The Weihrauch HW100 PCP air rifle easily earns a coveted HAM Gold Award.

This is a classic wood and metal air rifle which avoids the current trend for multi-adjustable stocks, yet feels just right to shoot. It gives excellent accuracy with a wide variety of pellets and uses a high capacity clip for plenty of rapid-fire shots, if required.

The regulated action gives consistent muzzle velocity over a long shot string, while power is at the 17 – 18 Ft/Lbs level in .177, making it an ideal tool for the serious Field Target shooter.

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Weihrauch HW100T With Moderator

And The Best $1200 PCP Air Rifle Is…

The one you like best! The HAM Team really can’t decide between them. So it will come down to personal preference.

If you like the “traditional look of a full-length air rifle, the Weihrauch HW100 is the obvious choice. HAM specialist PCP Tester Doug Rogers owns one himself – that’s a recommendation right there.

The Brocock Concept Lite offers great accuracy accuracy with a wide range of pellets. That’s very unusual and a significant benefit for many shooters. It means that the gun will likely work well with their existing favorite pellets, rather than require an extensive search to find a new “perfect pellet”.

Rather than being “just one gun”, the Dreamlite provides the entry into a complete shooting system. It offers the ultimate in flexibility.

Ownership of any Dreamline air rifle gives you a potential future choice of stocks (wood and synthetic), configurations (takedown, regular and bullpup), calibers, power levels, barrel liners and more. This “system” approach can provide huge value for the airgunner interested to explore its possibilities.

Unfortunately all three air rifles have one feature that HAM really dislikes. The pressure gauge in the end of the HPA tube. The first rule of safe shooting is “don’t point the gun ant anyone”. Yet it’s tough to check the pressure on any of these air rifles without almost having to look down the barrel to do so!

So have fun but shoot safe – and check air pressure safely too…

The post And The Best $1200 PCP Air Rifle Is… appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

The Umarex 850 M2 was among a huge number of new products introduced by Umarex USA at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. It’s a CO2-powered, magazine-fed, bolt action repeater.

In fact, this is not a completely new product. The Umarex 850 M2 is an up-graded version of the Hammerli 850 AirMagnum. Both share a lot of similarities, both are made in Germany, however the new Umarex-branded model includes a number of worthwhile improvements.

Both 850s are powered by a 88/90 Gram CO2 cartridge. This is enclosed in a pull-off front cover to the buttstock.

HAM tested the Hammerli 850 AirMagnum in .22 caliber some time back. We liked it lot and it earned a HAM Bronze Award. So we’re glad to have received this Umarex 850 M2 in .177 cal. It’s going to make an interesting comparison in a future test review!

The 850 M2 has a more tactical-style look than the Hammerli version. There’s a selection of short Picatinny rails on the front, suitable for mounting a bipod, flashlights and/or lasers.

We mounted a Leapers UTG TBNR bipod on the lower rail. This worked fine and – somewhat to our surprise – the pull-off forend formed a quite solid mounting point for the bipod.

The 850 has always been known for offering usable iron sights and the M2 version is no different. There’s a hooded front sight with red fiber optic, together with a ramp-type rear sight with green fiber optics. There’s no windage adjustment however.

While some will rejoice at this provision of open sights, The HAM Team immediately mounted a scope! We installed a trusty – and much used – Leapers 3-9 x 40 AO scope with medium rings, thinking this would be typical of the scope chosen by many 850 owners.

Several things became evident from mounting this scope…

Firstly – as we can see above – the 850’s scope mounting rail is unbroken as the rotary magazine is enclosed below rail height. This gives complete freedom of scope ring positioning in a way that is unavailable with most “broken rail” magazine-fed breeches.

Secondly, clearance between the scope bell and barrel was perfect. There’s just a tiny amount of clearance. Although the frear sight did not hinder scope placement, we removed for appearance sake. Just one screw holds it in place.

Mounting the scope also proved the utility of the cheek riser supplied with the Umarex 850 M2. This clips over the buttstock and provides a good cheek weld for scope use.

It’s easy to un-clip too and so can be removed easily if it’s desired to move back to open-sight shooting.

The Umarex 850 M2 incorporates neither a silencer nor shroud. However the barrel nut can be removed to reveal threads for installing an Umarex Compensator. Below we see the barrel nut partially unscrewed.

There’s no question that the Umarex 850 M2 will remain an enthusiast’s choice among air rifles. After all, it costs pretty-well the same as a shrouded, HPA-powered Umarex Gauntlet that’s quieter and much more powerful.

However, there’s a determined group of enthusiast shooters who like CO2-powered air rifles for their convenience and simplicity. With the 850, they can combine this with high-quality German manufacture and a time-proven design.

Look for the full  HAM test review soon!

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