Air Gunner UK - May 2017
Air Gunner UK - May 2017
Air Gunner UK - May 2017
BANTAM COMBO
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Wolverine
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MAY 2017 3.99
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EDITORIAL
Editor Phill Price
Tel: 01189 742 501
phill.price@archant.co.uk
Chief sub-editor Rosie Barham
Editor-in-chief Terry Doe
terry.doe@archant.co.uk
Art Editor Louise Walker
ADVERTISING
Air Gunner, Evolution House, 2-6
Easthampstead Road, Wokingham,
Berkshire RG40 2EG
Group Sales Manager Dan Chart
01189 742503 dan.chart@archant.co.uk
Sales Manager Sharon Blick
01189 742533 sharon.blick@archant.co.uk
debate that rages on in our remember, very few of us earn please dont imagine that Im
Sales Executive Tom Richardson
01189 742514 tom.richardson@archant.co.uk
Sales Executive Mark Roach
01189 742525 mark.roach@archant.co.uk
A sport is between those who
feel that hunting should
involve a simple, break-barrel
a living from hunting. If a tweed
coat and your dads Airsporter
work for you, thats great. If you
saying you must buy them to be
successful in your sport. Thats
not the case. However, if you like
Ofce Manager Sharon Wells 01189 742524
springer and a pocket full of go out dressed from head to toe what you see and want to buy one,
sharon.wells@archant.co.uk pellets, and those who will use in camouage, carrying a 2000 well thats OK too.
any technological advantage they limited edition Daystate multi-shot Im a big fan of the saying live
PUBLISHING can buy. Ill say openly, Im in the PCP, with 5000 worth of thermal and let live. Lets all enjoy or
Commercial Director Peter Timperley second camp and shoot PCP ries, night-vision on the top, good for sport however it pleases us, and
Group Content Director Vicky Mayer
with high-tech scopes and use all you. There is no right or wrong better still, be happy for each
Publishing Consultant Derek Barnes
the data my laser rangender can answer in this debate. others ways.
give me. To top that off, Ive just From my position as editor, Im
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CONTENTS
MAY 2017 - ISSUE 399
WIN A BROCOCK
BANTAM COMBO
22
WORTH 700!
GUNNER
15
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OF KIT!
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PISTOL!
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FEATURES THIS MONTH INCLUDE ...
22 THE BIG TEST 80 RAT 1 - SQUADDIE 0
Wolverine 2!
Phill Price tests the Daystate Phil Martin - ex-military man - writes from
Wolverine 2 and finds that attention Iraq, with the tale of a giant, probably
to detail makes the difference ferocious rat that got away
Exclusive four-page test
MAY 2017 3.99
43 JIM CHAPMAN 94 JERRY MOSS
Jims in Texas with the Kral Puncher Jerry takes his Streamline to a friends
POLYMAG PELLETS Breaker - a reliable, powerful bullpup caravan park, for a full bag of rabbits,
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- and cottontails aplenty! and a couple of surprises along the way
WORTH 700!
GUNNER
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15
Wolverine 2!
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56 SHOOTING ETHICS
Phill Price suggests practical ways to
74 DESIGNER PELLET
The editor tries out the re-designed
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02/03/2017 16:51:25
ur annual pilgrimage to the greatest fail to notice that the action of this stunning taken the assault rifle DNA from the Impact
Gunpower is
offering new
nishes on
some models
The epic Umarex stand was abuzz with the release of a Schmeisser Gunpower had some new variants of existing models that offered
machine gun, which had a lovely heft and feel. The skeleton stock different finishes. The HelcatTac and StealthTac look like theyve
folded as the original, and the controls felt just right. They even had Star joined the tactical fashion, but are functionally no different from the
Wars Storm Troopers on hand to model it. earlier models.
www.armex.co.uk www.gunpower.net
Sig Saur moved further into the airgun arena with a break-barrel rifle German Sport Guns (GSG) now owns Diana airguns and on their stand
that wore a grey stock to match their corporate brand. Details were thin, they had a lovely P1000, a rifle weve seen in pre-production form for
but well update you as we learn more. Their belt fed, Co2 pistol was years. Theyve now resolved all the issues that bugged the earlier
also on the stand, but was in such demand that I couldnt get a models and were hoping to see them in the UK soon. The one in the
photograph, but nothing has changed since the photo we showed you photo has a stunning, five-star grade walnut stock which cost more than
last month. the rifle, but it was a thing of beauty, all the same. This rifle really stands
www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk out from the crowd with its distinctively German styling.
shootingsports.edgarbrothers.com
Giant models seemed to be a theme at the show this year and this
extra-large Gamo was getting lots of attention. Yukon had a superb digital scope, the Sightline, thats packed with
www.gamo.com clever features, boasts an excellent image quality, and yet will retail
Pulsars Quantum
Lite thermal spotter
was truly stunning
Techno toys?
The amount of
imformation this
MTC system offers
is incredible
High-tech
night vision
can be
complicated
to set up
Credit where its due
I write with regard to the level his and the companys help they
of help and after sales service I sorted me out. There wasnt a
received from Optics Warehouse problem with the sight at all.
recently. I bought a Pulsar night- Just a little help and advice was
sight from them at the British all that was needed.
Shooting Show, but when I got it I rmly believe in giving praise
home, through being unfamiliar where praise is due and in this
with it, I felt something was case I cannot praise Optics
wrong. I rang Optics Warehouse Warehouse, and Shaun in
to see if they could help with my particular, enough for their
problem and spoke to Shaun. excellent service. Optics
This guy couldnt have been Warehouse, take a bow! You are
more helpful. It took a couple of a credit to our sport.
days to sort through it, but with Colin
Age no concern
How do the rules relating to air Robert new one. To measure muzzle it for you, which probably wont
ries apply to a gun that can be Hello Robert velocity you need a machine cost very much. Old airguns were
described as an antique over The age of an airgun has no called a chronograph. These can quite low powered, despite the
100 years old? Secondly, how effect on how the law sees it. A be expensive, so it might be wise urban myths that revolve around
do you physically measure an 100-year-old airgun must comply to take your rie along to a local them, so dont get your hopes
airguns muzzle velocity? with the rules, just as a brand gun shop and ask them to test too high. Ed.
BB disappointment WIN
After reading about the lead BBs, I purchased copper-coated ones in many pistols and have yet If you have a top tip,
some, but to my disappointment I found that they to suffer a failure. Most BBs are undersize for something youd like to
dont measure up. I have Sig Sauer P226 and good reason. Cheap barrels and BBs can vary get off your chest, or
am reluctant to re steel BBs through a ried quite dimensionally by quite wide margins so an
barrel, so I tried to load the lead BBs, but they fell undersize BB is less likely to jam
an interesting anecdote,
through. When I measured them they were 4.3mm in the bore. I always accepted that then why not shoot us a
and not 4.5mm. I have a .177 barrel for my HW45 the lead BBs might not line? We print the best
and same thing happened. I just thought I would work in every pistol, letters and emails each
let you know and wondered if any other of your especially ones that month and one will be
readers have had the same problem. rely on a magnet
Alan to hold the BB in
awarded a top prize. Its
place. Ed. over 60 and you could
Hello Alan win it simply by getting
Im sorry to hear the lead BBs didnt work in your As much as I love the in touch and sharing
performance of these
guns because I like their performance. You didnt BBs, they might not your views
mention which brand you tried. Ive tried Excite suit every pistol
Hello Steve
Im glad you found the Maxxim Elite accurate, reliable and easy to
shoot. The reason it wears a long barrel is that it adds leverage,
making cocking easier. This model is sold around the world often at
much higher power than were allowed, so the extra leverage is very
important. Adding the auto-loading system to an existing model went
a long way towards keeping the price down, which many people see
I went to the shooting show and shot the new Gamo Maxxim Elite as a positive. Every gun has to be a compromise and I think Gamo
multi-shot rie. I wasnt so impressed with it. Yes, the self-loading did a superb job of making something truly innovative at a reasonable
magazine worked, and I hit every target I aimed at, which you price. Ed.
Q
Dear Guru
My dad and I have got air Chairguns Reticle View shows aim
points for a wide range of multi-aim
phill.price@archant.co.uk
rifles in .177 and .22 and
point reticles. (Courtesy Hawke
we were wondering if we could get Chairgun Pro).
a chart for pellet drop per yard. Guru tip: Knowing
We will not be firing at more than your trajectory is
60 yards, roughly, and the sights important but getting
are bang on at 30 yards.
out and practising at
various ranges will
A
GURU SAYS: In order to
produce a chart for pellet show you the cold
drop, you need to know a
little more than just the calibre, Im
hard facts
afraid. You need to know the
muzzle velocity, the velocity
retention of the pellet in flight (in pellets and given just those three
the form of the Ballistic details, it will be able to create an
Coefficient, or BC), and the height accurate table showing pellet drop
of the scope above the bore. out to your chosen range, or a graph
Without those three key pieces of depicting the pellet trajectory, or both.
information, trying to find pellet Chairgun does a lot more than
drop would be pure guesswork, that, though. You can select the
and probably inaccurate. type of scope reticle you use, and
Pellet drop at any range can be Chairgun can show you the aim
calculated if you know the average points to use for the ranges you
velocity of the pellet, which is the flight time is 0.18 seconds, and There is an application called require. You can also enter details
muzzle velocity plus the terminal 0.18 squared multiplied by 192 Chairgun Pro, which can be of wind strength and direction,
velocity divided by two. This allows gives the drop of 6.22. Fairly downloaded from http://www. and Chairgun will calculate the
you to calculate the flight time straightforward, but that only gives hawkeoptics.co.uk/chairgun.html and wind drift at all ranges. You can
distance divided by average you the pellet drop at one range, it will do all of the hard work for you. also enter the degree of elevation
velocity and the pellet drop in for that pellet at that velocity. With Chairgun, you enter details of of the shot, and Chairgun will take
inches is the flight time squared, Trying to create a pellet drop chart the pellet and calibre, the muzzle that into account and recalculate
multiplied by 192. If a pellet for all ranges is much more velocity, and the height of the scope the trajectory. The very best bit
travels 90 feet (30 yards) at an complicated, but happily, you above the barrel bore. Chairgun has about Chairgun Pro is that it is free
average velocity of 500 fps, the dont need to. details of the BC of most popular to download and use.
Southern Hunters
Gary Chillingworth tells us why this competition series is one you must try
T
he winter can be a horrible time of
year; its cold, its wet and around
Christmas time, all my money
disappears and a large fat man dressed in
red breaks into my house and gives me cheap
socks in exchange for my best milk and
cookies.
The winter, however, does have an
upside and that is the Southern Hunters.
This series of shoots is the jewel of the
wintertime and over the last 10 years it has
become a mainstay of the HFT calendar. The
Southern Hunters has evolved over time
and the job of running it has moved from
person to person; in the past, shooters like Ben at the Airgun centre, a good
gun shop is worth its weight in gold
Richard Chase took the helm, then yours
truly had a crack at helping out and running
the marshals, but now its in the hands of Lara Jones; this over and have some fun.
bespoke stock makes
Charles Peal and the series has never been shooting easier for What happens if I dont know the rules?
more popular. the smaller person The rules for the Southern Hunters are the
The series is set over 10 rounds with current UKAHFT rules and can be found on
six to count toward the end-of-year the UKAHFT website. When you book in for
trophy, and although there is still a core the shoot, tell the booking-in clerk that you
group of people who are competitive and are new and they will put you with an old
use the Southerns as winter training for hand, who will guide you and tell you what
the Nationals, the Southern Hunters has you can and cant do.
always been about having fun and trying Is my gun good enough? We have shooters
new things. with everything from Air Arms Shemals to
Over the years, I have spoken to a lot of FTP900s and everything in between. If you
shooters who like the idea of shooting a bit of banter, so there is plenty of mickey and your gun can shoot a good group, then
competition; these have included hunters, taking, but none of it is malicious. You will come along.
plinkers, and people who want just a bit get a bit of ribbing, but you will also get The Southern Hunters are a bunch of
more from back garden plinking. So, here help when you need it and make a great reprobates; they are young and old, male
are my responses to the four most common bunch of friends. and female, and you couldnt meet a better
questions I get asked. Am I good enough to compete with the bunch of people. The series is sponsored
Will I make a fool of myself? Yes, you will other shooters? If you and your gun can and supported by Air Arms and they supply
probably make a fool of yourself, but then shoot a 30 millimetre group at 35 yards, goodie bags and a rie for the end of the
again, thats what we all do. Airgun shooters then come and have a go. You may not win year. So, if you want to have a go, then
are a thick-skinned bunch and we like a anything, but you will knock a few targets please come along, you wont regret it.
Richard Chase
Barbra (Aka Babs) is one as he looks
of our older lady shooters; when hes seen
underestimate her at your peril his scorecard
Improve your HFT. :- The Stock An aftermarket target stock can turn an
So far, we have looked at the gun and the ill-tting rie, into a shooters dream
01869 45 71 70 | WWW.BICESTERTARGET.CO.UK
WALTON MOORE OFFICES, 6 GRANGE MEWS, STATION ROAD, LAUNTON, NEAR BICESTER, OXFORDSHIRE OX26 5EG
At the British Shooting Show Cluson There are two switches. The first is a simple
showed me the Clu-Briter, their latest little on/off trigger under your index finger, while the enough peripheral light to scan the edges of
hand-held lamp, which is an evolution of an other is a three-position lever above the thumb vision, spotting any rabbits you might
older model, brought right up to date with the of the right-handed user. Im so happy to see otherwise have missed. I used to loathe LED
latest LED and Li-Ion battery technology. this set-up because I find lamps that require units because their light colour was all wrong
Topping off the offering is a camouflaged me to cycle through every option to get the for country needs, but todays ones offer a
finish which looks great. one I want too annoying for words. This is light output thats very close to natural
The main body of the lamp is made from a never worse than when I have to go through daylight. This means that when were looking
high-impact synthetic material thats the strobe mode, which is a nightmare in the at greens and browns, as hunters always are,
woods. Who thought that an acid house what we see is close to what wed see in
nightclub lighting system would help us to be daylight - and thats just what we want.
better hunters? With this set-up I can select This is clearly another winner from Cluson
high or low output and never see the strobe and its clear to see that theyre building
again. Run time at high power is three hours, success upon success. As always, the
which is loads for my needs. Clu-Briter is great value for money, as well as a
superb performer.
This simple Clever beam
switch gives all The beam is well thought out, in my opinion. www.cluson.co.uk
the control I need
Theres a strong hot-spot in the centre, with RRP 86.00
The
Wolverine
Returns
ipnG{lz{
I
m as excited as anybody when it comes Its a striking rie
to shooting a new gun, which is lucky with performance
to match
because I shoot a lot of them. Opening
one of Daystates big black ight cases
is enough to raise my pulse a little, and
knowing that the Wolverine 2 was inside
this one drove it up just a bit more.
My rst impression was that the changes
from the mark one model must be quite
subtle because they didnt jump out at me.
I thought that my best approach was to call
Daystates shy and retiring sales director
Tony, who would give me the facts. This
he did for about 30 minutes but somehow I
didnt feel I was getting to the sexy stuff.
Tony explained how this internal
component had a new nish, and how that
bit could be removed quickly and easily,
making the job of the service technician
easier. Oh dear it was all a bit dull, but
then he got to the point of all that techno
babble. He said, Weve looked at each and
every area that could be improved and I immediately noted that the pistol grip is Gary Cains love of dramatic lines had some
worked on all of them. considerably fuller and supported my hand inuence, as well. Further back still, we
Ah, now I get it! This is evolution not much better. It has nger grooves in its nd a multi-axis, adjustable butt pad with
revolution. He had such belief in a better face and Im not normally a fan, but these a deeply concave face made from sticky
rubber, and once you get this into your
shoulder, it stays put. Daystate deserves
a stock that manages to blend the bulbous, bulky form recognition for offering a stock that
manages to blend the bulbous, bulky form
of a buddy bottle into its lines with some grace of a buddy bottle into its lines with some
grace. This has another benet for me my
O ring making a big difference that I had tted my medium-sized hand very well. For leading hand holds oiled walnut, not metal
to admire his attention to the details. Of me, the thumb-up position is also greatly or carbon-bre on freezing cold mornings.
course we all love a reliable gun. Theres improved, but I found it more comfortable However, were still left with the problem of
nothing worse than one that lets you down to use the thumb hole. There are panels where to attach the front sling swivel stud.
in the eld, so the factorys dedication to of stippling on the sides of the pistol grip
perfecting an already great gun lls me with which gave a very secure hold when stalking Technical advancement
admiration. in on my quarry, and were therefore very The Wolverine 2 benets from the
welcome. innovative technical advancements that
New stock Behind and below the pistol grip you are the hallmark of the ries design. The
The biggest change for me is the revised now nd a deep scoop, driven by American rst is that fact that the rie wont re if
stock. You need to put the Wolverine 1 bench rest shooters who like to use a large the bolt is lifted or withdrawn. Ive red
stock side by side with this one to get the beanbag-type support here, and the shape PCPs with the bolt lifted many times after it
full effect, but the changes are important. ts that well; I wouldnt mind betting that has caught against something whilst being
The sliding
safety can
be engaged
before
cocking the
action
A reex silencer
helps to keep the
rie compact The new pistol grip offers much better support
I use these
magazines a lot and
can vouch for their
performance
Options
You can chose from three styles of Wolverine
2 as seen here with the 480cc carbon-
bre buddy bottle, the B-Type with a 400cc
aluminium buddy bottle or the C-Type with
the 200 or 300cc cylinder. The test gun was
good for 270 shots in .177 from a 200bar ll,
Small magnets keep the which is surely as many shots as anyone
dust cover secure could ever want or need. Much of this vast
capability comes courtesy of the remarkable
Harper Sling-Shot hammer system. During
carried, and because I was concentrating on the lead in this area. As far as I know, testing, Daystate found it to be at least 40%
my quarry, not the ries condition, I didnt theyre also the only manufacturer offering more efcient than a conventional knock-
notice the angle of the bolt and was greeted reex-style silencers that overlap the barrel open valve set-up. It also delivers stunning
with a rush of high pressure air as it pushed shroud to give full noise suppression with shot-to-shot consistency and a nearly at
the bolt back from the breech - not only minimal length. power curve without the complexity and
does it make you miss, it scares the pants I also appreciate the function of the added cost of a regulator. My beloved Skan
off you as well. The only downside of this safety which slides right and left across chronograph conrmed that these claims
arrangement is that you cannot de-cock the
action.
The second feature is that you cannot It just this kind of innovation that is the future of hunting
double-load it. This is another mistake Ive
made many times when I wasnt sure if Id airguns and I applaud Daystate for taking the lead
loaded the rie, and cycled the bolt only
to put a second pellet into the breech. The the back of the action. This can be engaged were true.
Wolverines magazine is indexed by a tiny before you cock the gun, ensuring that Average velocity was 592fps and it varied
piston that pops up as the rie res. If its there to help you instantly. However, just 4fps over 50 shots, which is superb
you havent red, but cycle the bolt, the as with all thumbhole stocks, you cannot and lives up to the manufacturers claims.
magazine wont rotate. It just this kind of reach it from the ring position, so you Cocking was impressively smooth which
innovation that is the future of hunting need to remove your hand from the stock to I partly attribute to the thicker than
airguns and I applaud Daystate for taking disengage it before a shot. average bolt shaft. There was little sign
Comb height
I asked Tony why the top edge of the cheek
piece is so low, and he told me that its
set that way to accommodate any position
that the hunter might nd himself in. If it
were set higher, it would compromise some
positions and make the rie impossible to
shoot. I know that he knows his onions,
but Id still like to see it set higher. The butt
pad is multiway adjustable for those who
enjoy such things, and I see them in the
same way that Tony sees the cheek piece. It
needs to be set in one place that allows you
to shoot from almost any angle and then
locked down. I dont think hunters will be
relocating it in the eld in the way some
competition shooters do.
Overall Id say that the Wolverine 2 is a
subtle yet worthwhile evolution of the rst
version, and I always appreciate it when
manufacturers make the effort to move their
products on. I was pleasantly surprised to
nd out that the price has
been held to that of the Wolverine 1, despite
all the improvements, but if the owner of
a Mk1 asked me if he should sell it to buy
a Mk2, Id have to say no because in terms
of performance, theyre almost identical.
However, if youre in the market for a top-
class, hunting pre-charged pneumatic, then
you really need to have a good look at one
of these. You have plenty of choices in how
you spec it, and class-leading design and
innovation aplenty. As agships go,
I think that Daystate can be very pleased
with this one.
Duty calls
Keeping his permissions is vital to Eddie Jones, and hes on rabbit duty in the paddocks
T
his winter has been a busy time for me be no interruptions. I was going to walk On most of my grounds this would have
on the squirrels and as you know from the boundaries rst and then wait where been left alone to grow, but here it is just
my previous features, Ive been taking the farmer had noticed rabbits feeding, another rabbit to the farmer and they all
quite a few. This month, I wanted to show and hope to get a few. Rabbits will feed needed to go.
some different quarry and yes, something throughout the day if they are not disturbed
different did put in an appearance, but I too often, so dont miss an opportunity to Choice of quarry
was surprised with the outcome from this get the rie out if you can. I set off on the slow, quiet stalk. I knew
particular ground. I was going to have a session with the roughly where I had to stop and look
A farmer called to say that a few rabbits Ultimate Sporter this time, but the Galahad over the hedge to get my my shot and
were showing around his horse paddocks is still a learning curve for me so I had to when I reached the gap where I wanted
and that he would like them thinned out. try it again, you know how it is. With a few to look over , there was another surprise.
Id been on top of this ground for some years magazines ready and the Galahad loaded, Bouncing around, no more than two feet
and when he calls, I like to show up as soon I set off to do a circuit of the ground, and from the young rabbit, was a glowing grey
as possible so I arranged to go there after my rst opportunity came after about half squirrel now what was I going to do? It
the girls had done all the horses. Its not the an hour. was a no-brainer because the farmer hadnt
best time of the day, of course, but you can I came to an area with a few hawthorn mentioned any baby rabbits, and those grey
only t in what you can. As you know, the trees planted along the route, and brambles squirrels needed to go. I managed to get into
a kneeling position under a holly tree, and
this gave me a few holes to look through, to
Id been on top of this ground for some years and when get a clear picture of the squirrel through
One ot two
I set off again to where I usually see a few squirrels chasing each other. I have never ivy was pretty thick so spotting them was
late on in the evening. I knew I should seen squirrels here before so to see two was not easy. Five minutes later, I had one. It
get one or two from here, if Im patient. great, but the problem now was that I had had gone too far up the tree and I was in a
I reached the spot where I was going to to choose again. I had waited nearly an hour good spot to see it, so I wasted no time in
wait for a rabbit, and I have three chances for a rabbit and that was my main goal. sending my pellet in its direction. It went
because rabbits can come from right, left, Should I make a noise now and wreck my tumbling to the oor, there was silence for
a few seconds and then to my surprise, the
other squirrel came looking for its mate. I
Many will think I am going soft, but I can assure you watched it come down the tree and I was
I am not. If I see it again, it will be gone tracking it through the Sidewinder until it
stopped just above where its mate lay on the
oor. Quickly, I took another shot and the
or in the elds behind me. I had been chances trying for the squirrels? Yes, you squirrel lay within inches next to the rst
waiting for a good 45 minutes when I heard guessed it, I had to go for them; I could wait one Id had. What a result! Three squirrels,
a bit of commotion in the trees behind another hour for a rabbit, but the squirrels and I wasnt even after them.
me, and I thought a pigeon had landed in were here now.
the ivy that covers a few trees and was I stayed in exactly the same spot and Move on
eating the berries, but it was a couple of waited for my chance to shoot one, but the With all the noise, I had decided to move
on and try another spot because I hadnt
got lot of time before I needed to head back
I nd that I really lock
into the bullpup now home for other commitments, and I still
had pictures to take which is a pain when
youre on your own. Well, to cut this story
short because I have already gone over my
allowed word count, as usual, I managed to
get another squirrel on my journey. Four
from this ground was a massive result, and it
demonstrates the fact that we all have to get
out and cull these greys to have any chance
of saving our native red squirrels.
I also managed a rabbit that had ran
straight out in front of me. It was only 20
yards away and froze just long enough to let
me shoot it showing just how well the new
Jack Pyke eece gear is working. By next
month, I hope that things will have warmed
up a little, and Ill be on the rabbits a bit
more. Keep your eyes on those grass elds
the pigeons will soon be feeding on the
clover, and that will give us more chances to
decoy a few of them in.
Spring Steel
Charlie Portlock is in hunter-gatherer mode, searching for his supper
A
t a recent training event for fellow
instructors I was nave enough to
lend my knife to a friendly couple
who were learning how to prepare a
pheasant for the pot. I say nave because
I assumed that they knew some basic
knife courtesy, i.e. returning the knife
in the same condition that they found
it. I watched with clenched sts as they
crushed, hacked and even attempted to
saw through bone with the 3 carbon steel
blade. I suppose that I should have said
something, but I didnt want to embarrass
them in front of the group. They returned
it with sincere thanks and a happy smile, My current
blades of choice
completely oblivious to the hour of work
theyd given me on the stones. Im no
master sharpener and although I can just particularly useful. ne and unpretentious blade that will last a
about bring my knives up to the paper Ive been using blades a fair bit recently very long time indeed. It ticks a lot of boxes
test standard with plenty of stropping, I because work has taken me more and more and I like it a lot.
dont have the methodical patience to make into the woods and as Ive misplaced the
them shaving sharp; I still nd sharpening little knife mentioned earlier, I was happy Classic axe
a chore and am yet to nd in it the when the editor sent over the new Mora The second piece of kit that Ive been using
meditative qualities of which some people Garberg for review. Its a brute of a knife for well over a year now is the Hultafors
speak. with a reassuringly weighty yet elegant, full Classic Trekking axe supplied to me by
tang, stainless steel blade, the rear of which Casstrom, a company that specialises in
Good kit can be used with a re-steel. This is useful knives and axes in this Scandinavian style.
Regular readers will be aware of the fact because the steels that come packaged with Its the perfect size for bushcraft, wild
that I dont generally like to promote ferrous rods are often quite small and can camping, hunting and the eld preparation
equipment within these pages. On more be a bit tiring to use in damp conditions. of larger carcasses when a small knife wont
than one occasion Ive refused free My knife also came with the multi-mount cut it (Very good: Ed). It ts perfectly into
equipment because I didnt need it, and system which allows you to mount the knife the side of my pack (the excellent Karrimor
Ive even returned one very expensive onto MOLLE compatible gear. SF Sabre 30) and comes with a high-quality
knife because I didnt like the design. leather hood to protect the blade and your
However, I would like to share a couple of An understated agship ngers from damage. I cant fault it and I
recommendations with you this month. Even though the Garberg is a agship knife, use it all the time for splitting rewood in
Theyre well designed and t for purpose its still an understated affair thats just the camp, working hazel (Ive been building
and I think that those interested in the right size to be useful for almost any an outdoor range), chopping through
bushcraft and wild camping will nd them practical task apart from ne carving. This pheasant legs and even hammering in
is not the knife for crafting intricate love wooden stakes for guy lines.
spoons for your ladyfriends; its a hunters
knife. When used with a wooden baton I Window of opportunity
can imagine this Garberg fullling many of As the weather warms slightly, squirrels
the tasks that a light axe might undertake, are starting to nibble the fresh growth on
including splitting and chopping smaller deciduous trees and very soon, spring will
pieces of wood and bone, but at a fraction have begun in earnest with the increasingly
of the weight (294g). If youre the kind dense foliage making our shooting that
of person that sees a knife as a status bit more challenging. In my area, the
symbol and looks forward to showing it off forester and the keeper use Warfarin
Ive been then this probably isnt the knife for you. poison from mid-March in order to control
spending a
lot more time However, if you want an ultra-reliable tool the population of greys before the second
in the woods
recently that will take some serious abuse, then Id breeding season in May. I understand
urge you to investigate the Garberg. Its a the need for this kind of approach from
The Garberg
on its belt loop
carries easily
a commercial perspective, but Im dead shooting. After this date I can still shoot of expected to nd some squirrel activity in
against it in principle because poisoned course, but Im unable to eat my kills, which the vicinity of some recently productive
hoppers can be accessed by other small means that I rarely bother unless I see an beech trees. En route, I came across two
rodents as well as mustelids like stoats obviously ill animal and dispatch it out of different kinds of edible fungus; scarlet
and weasels. Warfarin kills by causing mercy. For my last dedicated squirrel hunt elf cup, and the much more comprehensive
internal bleeding and any animal that on this ground, I picked a bright Saturday wood ear which is often used in Chinese
consumes it will experience a slow and very following a sodden period of heavy showers. cooking and grows on dead elder; both of
painful death from the haemorrhaging of Greys are always more active under these these would go into the forage bag for later.
Coming up to my destination, I heard the
familiar croak of a jay and wondered if the
I watched with clenched fists as they crushed, hacked squirrels had too. The sun was shining in
and even attempted to saw through bone ... between some very light and lacklustre
showers and I felt condent that Id spot my
quarry on the move.
its internal organs. This is also an issue conditions because theyve likely been I found an excellent and comfortable
for carrion feeders that eat the poisoned lying up, trying to keep warm and dry and rest for my rie and sat down to wait in a
carcasses, and whatever the nancial are keen to take the opportunity to leave position that overlooked a shadowed ride.
justication for the use of poison, its the drey. Stalking is quiet and the woods Keeping still for around 10 minutes was
certainly not the choice of the ecologist or have that vibrant, dripping stillness one easy in this position and I soon heard the
conservationist. experiences when sunshine follows rain. unmistakable rustling of a grey searching
Happily, airgunners can provide an the woodland oor for food. The squirrel
excellent alternative, as our own Eddie On the ride came on toward me in sporadic bounds as it
Jones has regularly shown us within these Id been neglecting my Weihrauch HW95K, stopped to search for mast, but I waited for
pages. Our approach to control is much more so I broke with recent habit and took a it to change direction and present in prole
in harmony with the ecosystem, causes lightweight approach, taking to the woods before taking a simple 25-yard headshot.
minimal suffering for the target animal with just the rie and a pouch of pellets. It As its a nice light rie, the 95K can be hold
(often none at all) and allows the meat to can be easy to get carried away by kit fever, sensitive and it was an agreeable change to
re-enter the food chain free of toxins. If but once in a while its good to remember be shooting from a eld position that was
there were more of us out shooting more that all we really need to hunt successfully is almost bench-like in stability.
often, it would be a very good thing. a rie, a knife and a handful of lead.
Despite my misgivings, I always see the I felt limber and light-footed as I Dressed out
15th of March as a deadline for my squirrel threaded through the woods where I After retrieving my kill, I used the Garberg
to eld-dress the squirrel and although
I stopped to I took my shot the Mora felt a little overqualied in
gather some at 25 yards
wood ear from a very the size department it did the job well. I
mushrooms for stable position didnt worry so much about putting hard
my supper
steel through the pelvis as I would have
done with a softer, carbon-steel blade.
On my return home, I stopped to gather
the mushrooms and managed to get in
just before the rain began in earnest. A
successful little trip in search of lunch.
In season
Although the new season brings fresh
challenges, theres always something
profoundly hopeful about the spring. If
youve been waiting for the weather to
warm before you get out there, youll
doubtless be itching to spend some time in
the eld. Theres a lot to look forward to.
Ultra Special
This is surely every youngsters dream rie, says the editor
L
ike many people, Im always pleased one of the most important skills that any rewards the learner, and the more success
to see young people coming into rie shooter can have. On the subject of the they enjoy, the more excited they are to
our sport, but all too often theyre trigger, this is another area where the JSR continue learning. Ive seen kids brought
presented with guns that are simply too scores compared to the typical junior rie. to tears of frustration as they miss time
big. Struggling to hold a rie thats too The Ultra trigger unit is reasonably light, and again, and unsurprisingly, lose interest
heavy can be very off-putting and not being very smooth and consistently predictable in trying. PCPs are much easier to shoot
able to reach the trigger in a comfortable
way can lead to bad habits that are hard to
overcome later. Many ries that claim to be can be rested on a table without any loss of accuracy.
junior models may be light, but can have
adult proportions, so are far from ideal.
Hitting equals smiling, in my book
When BSA showed me a prototype of the
JSR on test, I was really pleased. It has a huge help to anybody wanting to shoot than springers and can be rested on a table
truly small dimensions where they count, accurately. The simple beech stock and short without any loss of accuracy. Hitting equals
namely an 11 pull length, compared to the barrel help to keep the weight low, and at smiling, in my book.
standard 14, and a very short reach from just 5 lbs its a true featherweight. The JSR takes this advantage much
the pistol grip to the trigger blade. This lets further. The bolt action is light to cock so
the young shooter hold the JSR naturally Received wisdom theres no concern about young arms getting
and become comfortable, so eliminating Theres been a view for many years that fatigued. It also eliminates the dangers that
the desperate need to snatch at the trigger children should be taught to shoot a spring/ break-barrel springers can suffer in terms
before little arms tire and wobble. With time piston rie, preferably with open sights, of trapped ngers. Further, the multi-shot
to listen and learn, the teacher can help the before anything else. I have to say that I magazine means that the youngster can
shooter to develop proper trigger control, disagree. I believe that hitting the target simply sit and shoot whilst the adult stands
behind to offer guidance and control. I soon annoy your neighbours, whereas with that theyll quickly become a competent shot,
strongly believe that a kid who is lucky a silencer tted theyll hardly know that which will open the door to a lifetime of
enough to be bought one of these will learn youre shooting. pleasurable shooting and that has to be one of
to shoot well far quicker than one struggling Because the action is pretty much the the greatest gifts we could ever give a child.
with a springer. standard Ultra, as your child grows you
could buy and t a standard stock, making
Enough power
SPECIFICATION
it a full-size, adult gun and extending the
Wisely, BSA chose to set the power output guns useful life. Using a standard stock
to 6 ft.lbs. which is more than enough for could also be an option if you wanted to use
plinking and target shooting, and has a the JSR whilst Junior wasnt about.
secondary benet of delivering more shots Manufacturer: BSA Guns
per ll. To keep the rie as small and light Full spec Web: www.bsaguns.co.uk
as possible, plus to keep costs down, the No corners have been cut in making this
JSR does not come with a silencer, but my gun, as evidenced by the pressure gauge
Model: Ultra JSR
advice to any dad buying this rie is to get that lives in the belly of the stock. All PCPs Type : Pre-charged pneumatic
one. The sharp crack that PCPs make will need a gauge, and I was glad to see the Action: Bolt-action, multi-shot
smart BSA-branded one tted as standard.
The barrel is screwcut
Length: 27 (69cm)
Despite the t being totally wrong for me,
ready for a silencer Weight: 5 lbs (2.6kg)
I couldnt resist shooting the rie and I was
not at all surprised to nd that it shoots Calibres: .177 and .22
just like its full-size brother. It printed neat Muzzle energy: 6 ft.lbs.
little groups at 25 yards, straight from the
Shots per ll: 120
box, and with a BSA silencer tted it was as
quiet as you could wish. Max ll pressure: 232bar
As Im sure youve realised by now, I think
this is a really great little rie and any
youngster lucky enough to be bought one RRP 369
will be delighted, Im sure. Im also condent
A truly
grass is eaten down short and your every
movement can give you away, lying up in
wait with the rie on a bipod is the clear
route to success. Like most people in our
industry Ive used Harris bipods for decades
and whilst theyre not perfect, you cannot
Versapod
take away their success.
At the British Shooting Show, the good
folks at Scott Country showed me a new
bipod that just might take the Harris
crown. The Versapod is different and has
some very impressive features that Ill walk
you through. To begin, it ts to your rie
The editor nds a bipod to challenge the Harris at last with a module that attaches to your front
sling swivel stud. A spigot protrudes forward
I
have a love-hate relationship with nothing else will do. At certain times of the from this and the Versapod slides on. This
bipods. I nd them heavy and awkward year, settling down to wait for quarry to means you can attach it in seconds so that
to use, but when you really need one, emerge is the only way to succeed. When the it doesnt need to stay on your rie all day
long.
The way the
Versapod locks into Pan and tilt
your hold is very The main body of the pod has controls for
clever
pan and tilt, which have thumbwheels to
Inset: It has a set of
feet for any surface add or subtract friction as you like. Gripping
the legs and bringing them together
allows the legs to be folded for storage,
facing backward or forward, and takes a
split second. Finally, the legs can extend
from 9 to 12 by pressing levers, which I
found much easier than the Harris design.
As youre ready to take the shot, a slight
forward pressure with the rie locks the pan
movement and adds appreciable stability to
your aim.
Adjustable everything
If that were not enough adjustability for
you, the Battle Pack Lite I was given to test
contains a choice of feet to suit varying
conditions, all in a Cordura carrying case.
The standard rubber feet look very familiar.
Next we come to the raptor feet that look
like they belong on some kind of scary sci-
eagle. These are designed to be stable in
very loose soils, and then nally, we come
to the even more interesting skis! These are
for use in mud where they offer stability
without sinking.
Just as promised, I was able to make
the Versapod lock up tight as I was
making my shots, and it did feel
very stable. It feels odd that
it can be quite free as you
establish your hold and
build your shot, and yet
lock up when youre
ready. Time will tell if it
can better the Harris,
but from what Ive seen
and felt so far, this is a
very impressive system
indeed.
www.scottcountry.co.uk
RRP 169.95
I
m sitting in the airport in Dallas, adjustable power set at high. most applications. They are accurate in this
preparing to y back home after four I shipped my ries ahead to Abilene for Kral, feed reliably, and I know that their
days of hunting the west country. I pick up along the way, and when I arrived terminal performance is outstanding. In my
was at a buddys ranch to hunt boar; the checked zero, and then printed a few groups experience, this is a consistently good long-
Lone Star States feral hog population is at 50 and 75 yards. The last step was to set range pellet.
huge, but as usual, there would be plenty of up 1 spinners at 30, 50, and 75 yards, for I had business to attend to in Houston for
opportunity to hunt smaller varmints in my a plinking session shooting off the Primos a few days before the hunt, but afterwards it
down time, so I brought along a new bullpup
that had recently arrived on my doorstep,
the Kral Puncher Breaker. I havent had a so I decided to shift my attention to smaller game
lot of experience with the ries produced
by this Turkish manufacturer, a couple of
and have a go with the Puncher Breaker
brief plinking sessions whilst visiting the
USA importer, Pyramyd Air, but this would bipod sticks I intended to hunt with. After was a quick 350-mile drive to the property.
be my rst eld experience. The Puncher this experience, I had a warm, fuzzy feeling My rst stop was a my friend Edwins airgun
Breaker is a compact bullpup design, and about the Puncher Breaker with condence shop (Airguns of Texas) to pick up a charged
the version I requested is the wood-stocked I could reliably hit my kill zone out to 75 air tank, and the ries Id shipped earlier.
model, in .25 calibre. I scoped the gun with yards under eld conditions. From that point, I had an hours drive to the
a Leapers 4-12 variable, built on a 30-mm ranch, where the plan was to hunt pigs from
tube, and sighted in at 25 yards on my JSB all the way blinds in the dawn and dusk hours, then
indoor range. The results were promising: The brand of pellets selected was the JSB stomp the cedar thickets in the afternoon
60 shots formed a ragged hole with 25 grain, Diabolo round nose Exact, which looking for the big hogs as they laid up for
an average energy of 34 ft.lbs., with the is my go-to pellet in most ries and for the daylight hours.
This compact bullpup
shoots well, even from
awkward positions
o|u{punG|zh
I shot three boar hogs in the rst two rabbits around daybreak, and knew exactly town on it. There were areas along the road
days, so decided to shift my attention where I wanted to go. They drop corn along Id shoot, then work my way back into the
to smaller game and have a go with the the road to pull the hogs out of the heavy cactus and mesquite covered hillsides to bag
Puncher Breaker. I got up at dawn one thickets, and the rabbits, rats, ground some of the rural rabbits.
morning; Id been seeing a lot of cottontail squirrels, and many types of bird go to
Compact
My rst couple of The rst thing you notice about the Kral
cottontails in the bag
is that it is very compact, with an overall
length of 29. The second thing is that at
7.4lb, its on the heavier side. Having said
this, it was not too much of an issue for me,
and certainly helped to pull the weight into
my centre of gravity for offhand shooting.
On my gun, I will probably core the stock to
shave some weight off. However, Im going
to be careful because this gun comes to
shoulder like a charm, and is a great shooter
from every position, and I dont want to
alter that! The other characteristic that
was greatly appreciated was how easy it was
to move through the thick brush with the
compact bullpup. For me, that offsets any
issue related to weight. When on your knees,
crawling through mesquite, it is the length
of the rie catching and hanging up on
branches that you notice, not the weight.
My rst rabbit hunt found me working the
side of a dirt road, in which corn had been
A
couple of years ago, I was shooting of this and the job I do, I thought Id capsules and had 14 .177 shots in every load.
Co2 pistol competitions very seriously seen pretty much every interesting pistol How the hell did I miss that?
and looking around at every pistol around, and was sure that I understood I vaguely remember seeing it at a show
on the market to see if I could nd some their mechanisms. So imagine my surprise where there was an animation explaining
advantage over my competitors. Because when I came across one that carried two Co2 how it worked, but I didnt recall seeing
one in the UK. Its our old friends at Edgar
In the hands the Brothers who import it and I asked for a test
92 felt just right gun as soon as I learned that fact.
Full of gas
Its called the AG92, which I guess stands
for airgun thats a visual replica of Berettas
famous 92F, and the size and handling make
it a good replica at that. Pressing the mag
release button reveals a short, deep-bodied
holder for the two 12-gramme Co2 capsules.
I would not have thought that you could get
two in such a small space, but they have.
Of course, this doubles the number of shots
you can take between rells. As original
and innovative this is, its as nothing when
compared to the pellet-loading system.
Pulling back a small tab on top of the
slide allows the barrel assembly to pop
up revealing not one, but two eight-shot
magazines on a steel spindle. They sit one
behind the other with one chamber empty in
each, which explains why its not a 16-shot
gun. Now comes the tricky part to explain.
The mags have one chamber left empty in
the 12 oclock position. As you re, a pellet
from the rear mag is shot through the front
mag and down the barrel. As you pull the
trigger again the rear mag rotates to offer
the next pellet, which like the rst, res
through the front mag. This continues until
all the pellets in the rear mag are used. Next
the front mag rotates for each subsequent
shot until its empty too.
Spares included
I was happy to see that a second set of
magazines is included in the plastic carrying
case. The manual explains very clearly
that the pellets must be fully seated in
the magazines or problems will occur. Its
obvious that any pellet sticking out of its
chamber will foul, preventing the needed
rotation.
Ill confess to a slight concern that I
might do something wrong when loading
such an apparently complex system, but in
the end I just gassed it up, lled the mags
and pulled the trigger 14 times. What a
blast! When I shot IPAS competitions, the
stages were mostly ve large steel plates moments with a well-aimed le could soon how well it held velocity during rapid-re
that had to be hit in the quickest possible reshape the sights to correct that. strings.
time, which sounds easy until you miss If I were shooting IPAS competitions
when under pressure. Most of us used 8-shot Power and consistency today, Id certainly give this gun a
guns and those three spare shots were often With fresh capsules installed, my test gun thorough test against my old competition
used up by panicked, wild misses. Having gave an average of 325 fps with the Webley pistol to see how it fared. A good trigger,
nine spare shots would have made a huge Velocipell that I thought should suit a gun consistent power and lots of spare shots
difference to many a day at the range. of this kind well. Its a lighter (7.25grain) would make it very appealing. As a plinker
The trigger is typical of this kind of gun,
being long and indistinct in double-action,
and much lighter in single-action, allowing Holding two capsules means less frequent refills
for more precise shooting. However, thats
not what pistols like this are for, in my
and 14-shots in a string is a real blast
view. Theyre about getting lots of lead
downrange fast. Our competition target than average wadcutter that cycled perfectly it also has buckets of appeal. Holding two
plates were usually 10 square, and often in my gun. This equates to 1.7ft.lbs., which capsules means less frequent rells and
bigger. Precision wasnt necessary, but speed is right up with the very best pistols in 14-shots in a string is a real blast when
and consistency were. this class. I wonder if having two Co2 youre chasing a tin can down the range.
The rear sight is adjustable for windage capsules helps with this. It certainly helps Im glad I had a chance to test this excellent
and I soon had that spot-on and my sample consistency. I ran my chronograph test on pistol. It really is something different and a
shot a little low at 10 yards, but a few a 10C day and was deeply impressed by just ton of fun, to boot.
SPECIFICATION
capsules into the Co2 capsules onto the
mag impressed me piercing probes
RRP 102.00
In a world packed with bullpups, Brocock is mounting than most bullups benetting trajectory
offering us a genuine alternative with the semi- at close range, for those all important rat and
bullpup Bantam. This offers a compact and feral pigeon jobs. A carbon-bre buddy bottle
lightweight rie with slighty more conventional reservoir supplies a huge number of shots per
handling. The design also allows lower scope ll to the 10-shot, magazine-fed bolt action,
ENTRY FORM
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delivering quick and easy loading in the eld. use of a Weihrauch barrel and Sling Shot hammer
Pellet delivery is through an all-new magazine system. All in all, this clever and innovative rie
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which may levy an administration charge for handling.
I
carry a knife almost everywhere I go, let size be your indicator of strength. Of knives, and as such earned my respect as a
but where I go is the countryside, the course, the handling is not what were used serious piece of kit.
farm, my shooting permissions and to, but I found I soon adjusted. It held a
our ofce. For the odd times that I go razor-sharp edge and at no time did I worry www.sportingcutlery.co.uk
into town or the city, I resort to my tiny about breaking it. This is truly a cross-over Model: Viper VR28
Victorinox non-locking micro-knives with from big, strong blades to weak pocket RRP: 59.95
their 1 5/8 blades that nobody could nd
offensive. However, theyre not all that
Despite its modest
effective, and lose their edge pretty quickly dimensions, it cuts like
on cardboard boxes and packaging. What a full-size knife
Unusual shape
The Viper VR28 from Sporting Cutlery is an
unusual contender measuring just 3 closed
and delivering a 1 7/8 blade. Its carried in
a smart leather pouch to stop it damaging
anything else in your pocket, such as
a mobile phone. Its a slim and smooth,
lozenge shape that sits unnoticed in your
pocket until you need it.
Where it treads a ne line is that it has
a liner-locking blade, which technically
makes it illegal to carry in a public place.
Please be aware of this and only carry it in
appropriate environments. I carried it for
four weeks, remembering to leave it in the
car when I went into the village or pub.
Good steel
What lifts this above cheap pocket knives
is the Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade,
hardened to AISI 301. This has cutting
power way above the usual High Street
models, and durability to match. I carried it
on a daily basis, all relevant considerations
understood, and I made no accommodation
for its size. I worked it as hard as I could,
for opening boxes, feedsacks, cutting hay
bale string etc., and even eld-dressed
rabbits and pigeons, and its clear to me
that despite its diminutive proportions, this
is a proper working tool. As they say, never
I
shoot airguns in my back garden and
there are four gardens adjoining mine. The gap between my
house and our garage
Luckily, nobody has ever complained, keeps me out of sight
but I know that my neighbours could do when holding a gun
Live and let live you shooting, please ensure that everything One reader wrote to me who had used
If its a lovely warm day and my neighbours you do is fully compliant with the law. You this tactic. He and the previously unhappy
are out in their gardens, however much I must have a strong and durable pellet catcher neighbour had become great friends and
might fancy some shooting, I leave the guns because any pellet that crosses the boundary now shot together at their local club. Being
in the safe. I might well be fully entitled to of your property constitutes a legal offence. open and friendly speaks of condence that
shoot and be operating correctly within the Next, invite the neighbour round and offer you have nothing to hide and people will
law, but I dont want to bother, or worse still them a few shots. Often people imagine respect that. Remember that everything you
worry, my neighbours. Its more important airguns to be terrible, scary things and when do and say reects on our sport, so operate
to have them on my side than to get a tan they give one a try they soon see the truth. safely, and be proud to be an airgunner.
while launching pellets. Low noise, low recoil and lots of fun is what Who knows, you might even welcome new
If you have a neighbour who doesnt like airguns are really all about. shooters to our sport.
The lightweight
springer comes on
to aim with barely
any effort, keeping
movement controlled
and to a minimum
O
n the whole I love social media and sport either licensed or stopped for good. representation of our sport and something
its unparalleled potential to bring us In the current political climate of youd boast about to your shooting mates
all together as a community. Jerry populism and knee-jerk, short-view in the pub. If not, then heed the call of the
Moss showed here in last months issue how legislation, nave or immature comments vast majority of airgun users and simply
a well-run Facebook group like his Grey made semi-anonymously in a social media dont rise to it.
Squirrel Hunters can act as a hub to inspire, group are being used by those against eld
advise and promote the great volunteer sports as an utterly incorrect representation Charlie Cheap
work, and people who are diligently trying of the mindset of the broader community. One of my favourite on-line characters is
to reduce the number of grey squirrels I believe in truly free speech, no matter Charlie Cheap. Hes the guy who will pop up
around the country. For anyone keen, but how much I may not agree with what Im on various Internet forums and Facebook
with little knowledge, there are thousands hearing, but I also believe that we all have groups with classic questions like, What is
of hours of learned experience to ask a personal responsibility to counter, either the cheapest rie and pellet for rabbits? or
for help from amongst a really positive by educating, ignoring or excluding, those Whats the cheapest good hunting pellet for
community its great! in our own community who may do our my gun? or something similar.
That said, social media can also act as a sport harm either knowingly or through For 98% of us, budgeting is a factor when
beacon for the mindless amongst our own stupidity. So, before liking that picture it comes to buying anything, whether it be
wide community who, given too much space, of someone in their camo balaclava with tinned tomatoes, a new airgun or a car if
can paint our sport in its worst light. Sadly, two favourite airguns across their chest, any of the other 2% are reading this, Im
these people can undermine all the hard or referring to airguns as my baby, or available to hire for holidays in Mustique
work that Jerrys group and so many others indeed wanting to impress, so adding an and up for possible adoption. The question
do in promoting the positives; they also give extra 40 metres to the distance of a shot of how much we want or can afford to
ammunition to those who want to see our at a crow, consider whether its a positive spend on our hobby is simply part of most
peoples day-to-day lives, but Charlie Cheap budget on line somewhere, but if it comes with the damage from the rabbit population,
seems to have the very worst end of the with a pump or bottle and a scope, then I but I didnt have a shotgun certicate so
stick when it comes to hunting with an would be very cautious. PCPs are coming an airgun was the best option. This was
airgun. Would these same people be happy down in price, but I would worry about actually true event. I still cant believe my
running a marathon in a pair of supermarket paying as little as 350. We are focusing on luck permission and girlfriend all in one
trainers, or going up against Andy Murray value so we dont want a massive repair bill package! On a students budget, with a part
with a tennis racquet in a garden set from in two months, or worse, the cost of police time job, what would I do?
B&Q? Of course not the tools are simply bail because it turns out that your budget
not up to the level required. Importantly, second-user PCP is running at 15ft. lbs. Set a budget
with both examples the only thing that can neither would be valued by anyone! OK, rstly I would recognise that I wasnt
Richard Branson quite yet and set a budget.
I know, on a students income I wouldnt to be looking at I know, on a students income I wouldnt to
be looking at a BSA Goldstar or similar rst
a BSA Goldstar or similar first off, so lets say 350 off, so lets say 350. This budget may seem
excessive to some when looking at what you
be injured is the user, but when it comes Having used it almost exclusively for can buy for less, but we are talking about
to hunting with an airgun it can be the the last two months, if I were starting out hunting here, not just plinking at the range.
quarry thats injured. For any responsible and focused on value, I would buy the BSA Yes, you can go cheaper, but even on a tight
hunter, any undue suffering, no matter Lightning XL SE or similar, and ideally from budget, value should always win over cheap
how unintentional, to our quarry is simply somewhere with a range, or at the very and at this budget point we hit the mid-level
unacceptable. least a chrono to show the power output market, which offers an excellent range of
So, if I were to start with a limited before leaving the shop because once out options that are up to the job as long as the
budget, where would I begin? Lets say Id of the door, its your responsibility. The esh-bag behind the trigger is, too.
lucked in and my girlfriend of four months light weight that I always thought was Secondly, I would start with a springer.
dad owned a farm. The farmer was fed up a disadvantage in a springer has utterly You may nd a second-hand PCP at this
Two old
cartridge
cases make
an excellent
pellet pouch
Lightweight springers
can be hold-sensitive,
but even with my lack
of grip, I can still
accurately nail targets
out to hunting ranges
The Lightning XL SE
proved not only as deadly, Its all about practice.
but as comfortable as a The Air Arms Fields
mid-weight PCP to carry proving an excellent
around all day match to the barrel
changed my shooting. Yes, lighter springers like a Hawke Vantage is ideal because they reasonable hunting ranges.
can be hold sensitive, but even with my lack are built to withstand the recoil from a Finally, I would head to a range or set one
of grip, I can still accurately shoot one- springer, have excellent clarity and are up on my permission that allows me to shoot
hole, clover-leaf groups out to 35 yards. The competitively priced. When hunting, I rarely from every position I will hunt from, and
Lightning also comes with a shroud which take a scope off X 7 mag, which matches my practise, practise, practise at 5-yard intervals,
aids in cocking, but really helps to tame aim points and distances perfectly. Dont ensuring a grouping that ts under a 10p
the muzzle blast, and unlike the heavier scrimp on scope mounts either a good set piece, ideally a 5p. Id mark my aim points
springers Ive used in the past, I can hunt will set you back about 20.00. on a card, learning them by heart, and then
for a whole day, barely noticing the weight. Thirdly, I would pre-order a sample pack after about 500 shots and groupings were
of different pellets from eBay, or start my achieved, both the gun and I would be ready
Simple scope ideal pellet search with .177 Air Arms Fields to go. Voil! A value hunting combination
On top, Id add nothing more elaborate than in 4.42 or 5.52. To be honest, I havent found that with basic care will keep your fridge
a simple 3-9 X 40 mil-dot scope, something a barrel they didnt group well in, out to stocked for decades, not months!
T 3
he Feinwerkbau 600 series of air ries variations, to all the 600 series ries, 600,
were one of the rst truly recoilless 601, 602 and 603.
10-metre target air ries. These were
introduced in 1984, many Olympic Gold
Medals have been won with them, and after
all this time they are still one-hole accurate
3 The rst thing I do is to remove the
dioptre foresight with a 3mm hexagon
drive key and put it somewhere safe.
at the 10-metre range. This are very expensive to replace if you
The worst thing that can happen when accidentally damage it. You will note that I
using one of these ries is that when in marked the original position of the dioptre
the middle of a competition, you open with a pencil mark so that I could replace it
the cocking arm, close the cocking arm to in exactly the same position.
compress the charge, and you hear the hiss
of escaping air. This happened to a friend
of mine who was shooting in a competition
a few days ago and he was not best
4 Remove the two countersunk head
setscrews from the rear of the stock, one
each side, and one from the end of the stock
4
pleased. Needless to say, I came home from and its seating cup with a 4mm hex drive
5
that match with his rie as well as mine. key. The action can now be lifted clear of
With these ries I believe that it is a the stock and the stock placed somewhere
waste of time and effort locating the leak where it wont get damaged.
and just curing that. I always get a full
seal kit and replace everything as a matter
of course.
There are two sources that I use for these
5 I always use a shallow container to keep
all the bits and pieces in so that none
get lost.
seal kits:
City Air Weapons
247 Lyndon Road
Olton
6 Mark the position of the trigger-cocking
linkage relative to the trigger-link rod
before you remove the cap head screw with
Solihull a 3mm hex drive key. It has to be replaced
West Midlands at the same position or else the trigger will
B92 7QP not cock.
0121 742 1329
1 7
www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 63
10 Take out the stop screw and anged
washer with the 4mm hex drive key. 14 The cocking-lever assembly complete
with the compression piston can now
be withdrawn from the compression tube.
13
14
9
15
11 16
10
B
y the time you read this, the weather quarry. It would take some planning, and I auction sites. I have also been lucky enough
will have improved because spring needed to be lucky with the weather, but I to be given some very good advice on how
will be upon us, but due to the just wanted to get out with my air rie. The to get the best out of this kit, by readers
way the publishing business works, I am most important element of my preparation of the magazine who serve in the Armed
writing on a cold and miserable, grey was to ensure that I had plenty of layers Forces.
day in February. On the last couple of of warm clothing to keep out the cold. My The MTP (Multi Terrain Pattern) jacket
occasions when I could have got out on my thermal base layer and socks are all made and trousers I wear do a good job of keeping
Cambridgeshire permission, the weather from merino wool, which does a great job me concealed, and they are also windproof,
was so wet and windy that it would have of helping to keep me warm, because there which is a great advantage when I am
pointless to drive the 80 miles there and nothing guaranteed to ruin your day out out on the windswept grain prairies of
back. I always try to live my life with the more than feeling cold. I know that I will Cambridgeshire. On top of my thermal base
philosophy the glass is always half full not shoot well if I am cold and my ngers layer, I will opt for several layers of eece
so I made a plan that on my next days off, are numb. combined with a thick wool jumper; this
if the weather were dry, I would visit my keeps me warm and the layers can be taken
permission. Army surplus off when I am in the car or visiting the
I was going to get out on my permission Regular readers will know that I am big fan farm ofce. Eating a good hot meal before
and enjoy myself, regardless of the cold of the army surplus clothing that can be heading out on a cold day will help too, and
weather or the availability of suitable purchased at bargain prices from Internet it is always a good idea to take a ask of
hot coffee or soup in your backpack. some plinking targets in the boot of the car of view is 6x25, virtually the same as
Two recent purchases that have helped so I could get some practice in. The closer I my binoculars. I nd that the xed
to maintain my core temperature and travelled toward Cambridge the thicker the magnication of x6 gives a good depth of
morale in the cold weather are a portable fog became, and I noticed a very hard frost eld and at the rear is an adjustable eye
camping stove and the Ridgemonkey deep- on the elds. In the past, Ive found trying piece that brings everything into focus.
ll sandwich toaster. The Ridgemonkey is to move stealthily across frozen ground Even on a foggy morning I found the optics
a superb piece of kit and now in the cold very difcult because it is like walking on to be lovely and clear. The rangender is
weather I can make bacon sandwiches and crisp packets. supplied with a protective case and a wrist
cheese toasties. I havent yet cooked ta full By the time I arrived at my permission strap on which is a small piece of plastic
English breakfast in it, but I will be giving the fog had started to lift, but it was still that can be used unscrew the battery
that a go soon.
Trafc troubles The closer I travelled toward Cambridge the thicker the fog
When I visit my permission, I usually like
to leave the house at about 6am to avoid
the rush hour trafc around Cambridge, but
became and I noticed a very hard frost on the elds
this time it was my turn to do the school
run so I wouldnt be leaving the house until bitterly cold, so the plan was to spend the cover, so no more butchering the cover
a couple of hours later. It was a bitterly rst part of my day conducting a combined with ill-tting coins and screwdrivers. More
cold and frosty morning, though, so I was reconnaissance and hunting session on information about Hawke rangenders can
pleased to have an extra couple of hours some of the areas that had been productive be found on www.hawke.optics.co.uk.
in bed and enjoy a cooked breakfast before in the past. I was pleased to see that there
leaving the house. were fresh rabbit droppings and recently Kicking myself
After dropping my children off at school I disturbed earth on one of the biggest My careful scanning of the ground around
started the drive to my permission with the warrens. There has always been plenty of the warren didnt identify any rabbits, and
feeling of anticipation and excitement that rabbit activity around this warren and in I decided to take a stealthy and slow stalk
I always I get. Its a 40-mile drive, so I use the nearby paddocks. along the remains of a hedgerow near to
this time to plan how I will approach my Rather than use my binoculars to scan the warren. Unfortunately, this produced
visit. I was determined to enjoy the time the surrounding countryside for rabbits, no results, but I did discover that my usual
spent on my permission even if there was I now use my Hawke laser rangender camo baseball cap was not the best choice of
no suitable quarry around, and I had put because the magnication and eld headwear on a bitterly cold day. I felt like
kicking myself because Id put a great deal been productive in the past, but apart from Having made sure that I had a safe back stop,
of thought into wearing appropriate layers seeing a couple of pigeons ying noisily out I set the targets up at various ranges out to
of clothing, but hadnt even considered that of a tree, there was nothing else of interest. about 50 metres and spent an enjoyable hour
my cotton baseball cap wouldnt keep my It would have been easy to be downhearted plinking. In terms of quarry shot this was
head warm. My ears started to sting, they on this cold and foggy day, but a mug of not a successful day, but I had kept warm and
were so cold, but I had a beanie hat and hot coffee from my ask, and a bacon spent some time shooting on my permission.
a Jack Pyke face veil in my rucksack and sandwich cooked on the Ridgemonkey kept All these things combined made it a very good
after wearing the face veil over the beanie, my moral high. day for me. I hope that when I write next time,
my ears soon started to defrost. I hadnt expected this visit to be particularly spring will have arrived, the weather improved
I spent the rest of the morning visiting productive, and that was why I had put and Ill be shooting at live quarry not just
other parts of the permission that had the plinking targets in the boot of the car. metal targets!
A
strange thing has started to happen about all things spring and when he speaks, on order because its slightly heavier. The
to me Im starting to like spring its a good idea to listen. butt stock has a lead core, but the core is
guns. For years, I have been a PCP in the top half of the butt and placed in
man; I have looked on springers as the work Clever placement line with the spring; even though there is a
of the devil and to be perfectly honest, I Neil showed me his rie and explained how hamster, it is made from Delrin to make it as
havent given them the respect that they to place weight within the stock to make light as possible.
deserve. Over the last few months, though, the rie shoot as dead as possible. If you All of the weight in Neils gun is as close
Ive been playing with my Air Arms TX200 look at the picture of Neils HW97, you will to the spring as possible and this helps
and its now starting to get under my skin agree that it doesnt look that different to deaden the surge of the piston going
in a good way. I have started to look forward from a standard rie, but take a second look forward, the recoil going backward, and the
to my shooting again and when I come off at the scope rail and you will see not only brass muzzle break reduces any ip in the
an HFT course, I now remember the targets
I killed, as opposed to the targets I missed.
The art of taming a spring gun is exactly
Using this technique, I reduced the muzzle flip by 70%.
that, its an art and it is something that I am
starting to love.
It is laborious, but its worth taking the time to do it
Last month, we looked at adding weight
to the mighty TX and we are going to touch the scope mounts, but also extra, cut-down barrel. I can assure you, this gun shoots as
on this again. At a recent shoot, I bumped mounts, which are there to place more dead as some lower end PCPs.
into Neil Wakelin. Now, Neil is a bit like weight just above the spring. The muzzle Last month, I spoke about my TX and I
Airgun Worlds, Jim Tyler without the beard, break is made from solid brass, although looked into the rie and how it shoots. I
and like Jim, he is incredibly knowledgeable knowing Neil, he has some depleted uranium came up with an idea that as the piston and
spring rotate, this seemed to cause the rie
to twist in my hands. It is true that if I hold
the gun in a very neutral way, the pellet
will always hit to the right of my aim point.
However, I have since been told that the
piston and spring only rotate about 3 and
as they are designed to do this, there is no
way this should affect the accuracy of the
rie. Again, thanks to Jim at Airgun World
for this information.
Side weights
So, to counteract this, I thought it
would be a good idea to try placing some
weights on the left-hand side of the
rie to see if it would stop the pellets
going right. Well, after much testing and
moving weights about on both sides of
the gun, I can conclusively reveal that
it was three hours wasted and it makes
no difference whatsoever. I could go into
detail about what I did and didnt do,
but it would be a waste of ink, but if you
want the information, drop me a line at
garychillingworth36@gmail.com and I will
happily send it to you, but trust me, it did
nothing.
We now have a rie with some fairly
basic modications. We have upgraded the
internals with a V-Mach kit, added some
Could this be the last weight to the silencer, and now its time to
time I ever shoot a PCP
in competition? add some more weight to the rest of the gun
and get it as balanced and dead to shoot as
possible. The thing is, though, how do you close to your cross hair. Set up the camera or right as the gun res. You will now have a
test how dead a gun is to shoot? phone to lm the card and, with the ruler, base line of recoil; for instance, the laser
Well, for this you will need: a laser pointer draw two lines one horizontal and one point went up 5mm and left 3mm. Then, add
from a pound shop, a piece of card, a ruler, vertical and mark the lines with dashes weight to the gun and repeat the process.
some sticky-backed plastic you dont 2mm apart. Using this technique, I reduced the muzzle
actually need the sticky-backed plastic, but Start the camera rolling and after making ip by 70%. It is laborious, but its worth
Ive always wanted to say it a mobile phone
or Go Pro-type camera, and if youre are
over 50, a small child to help you with the With the exception of a few targets, I had rested the butt
technology. A word of warning; if you need
a child, use one of your own, or borrow one
of the rifle on the floor for almost every shot
from a friend, dont hang around outside a
school asking kids to help you with a shooting sure that you have a good back stop, shoot taking the time to do it.
experiment. It wont end well, and you will the rie at the target a few times. Then, The thing that I have found most useful
end up having policemen tasering you. either watch the footage on your phone in though is practice; the more I shoot the
slow motion you may need to download gun, the more it becomes part of me. In the
Laser pointer an app for this, again with help of a child past I have shot guns like the Steyrs and
Attach the laser pointer to your rie in such or load the footage on to a computer and Air Arms HFT-500s. These guns are dead to
a way that when you look through your again watch in slow motion. You will see the shoot and it doesnt matter if they are hot or
scope, the laser point is marking the paper laser point move up and down and left and cold, or if the air is thick or thin, they just
Road car wheel weights are This is my lad Jacob. He did all the tech
cheap and self-adhesive, for me, and he can be hired out for a fee
perfect for adding weight
throw pellets with monotonous consistency. now only about ve weeks until the World had rested the butt of the rie on the oor
The springer, though, appears to be a living HFT championships and its time to start for almost every shot and there is no doubt
thing and it can atter and frustrate, but digging in and getting the practice done. that the gun performed awlessly. People
its always interesting. The rst important event for me was at have told me that it is impossible to shoot
I have found that a consistent grip is Lea Valley Airgun club. The course was set to a spring gun rested, but with the invention
perfect for me, you must allow the gun to the current 2016 UKAHFT specication, and of modern lubrication and the correct
recoil, but not hold it so softly as to let it there were plenty of top springer shooters placement of lead and brass, I think we can
get away from you. It reminds me very much there. Remembering what I had learnt on get to a point where we have a gun that
of holding my son when he was very little; the plinking range, I started off and to my is every bit as accurate and easy to shoot
I wanted to let him wriggle about, but not amazement, the targets started to fall. I as a PCP, and I can now conrm that I am
drop him - or to be more precise, not drop missed a close 15mm and the free-stander, hooked.
him again! The only way to learn this hold the free-kneeler went down, but I missed a I am Gary Chillingworth, spring gun
is to shoot the gun, and you will also need a supported kneeler and then there were two shooter, and I absolutely love it! Next
different way to hold the rie for kneeling, misses on the bump; a 25mm at 40 yards month, we are going to look at soft-bedding
elevated, and standing shots, but this is the and a easy 40mm at 20 yards I didnt show a rie, lubrication and nal preparation for
fun of the springer. the target or gun respect, and it bit me on the World Championships.
the bum and that was it. A 55 out of 60 Next month, everything you
Taking shape and with 100 shooters in attendance wanted to know about lube, but
were too embarrassed to ask
My TX is now starting to take shape and I had beaten everyone bar two PCP
with the practice I have put in, I thought shooters who had a 58 and a 56
it was time to take the gun into the heat of and Neil Wakelin who did me by a point.
competition and see how it went. There is With the exception of a few targets, I
The shape
difference of the
shorter body is
more noticeable
on the .22
Squirrel Enchiladas
Jane Price is in a holiday mood making lunch
M
ost of us only cook about 12 for cooking something different, you should burritos with her small children. They loved
different meals, which can make for make the most of it. having different bowls of ingredients and
easy grocery shopping, but it can Some friends have recently returned from rolling up the tortillas themselves. Probably
get a bit dull eating the same meals all the a holiday in Mexico, and at the same time very messy, but they had great fun.
time. Thats why if you get some inspiration another friend described having fun making Although I havent been to Mexico it
*5,16
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reminded me of when we used to go to a Basically, Phill and I are wimps when it comes %DNHXQFRYHUHGLQWKHRYHQ
Tex-Mex restaurant called Dig N The Ribs to spices so we tend to tone it down a bit. IRUPLQXWHV
in Brighton many years ago. After a long Feel free to add more chilli powder to the 5HPRYHIURPWKHRYHQDQGZDLW
day of shopping in The Lanes, walking along enchiladas if you prefer, or if you are cooking IRUPLQXWHVEHIRUHVHUYLQJ
the promenade and the pier, we would end for children you could reduce it.
up having a hearty meal of enchiladas and Squirrels dont have much meat on them 7RPDNH\RXURZQVDOVDPL[
refried beans before coming home. so you would need about one for every two WRJHWKHULQDEOHQGHUWZRFDQVRI
Anyway all of this was enough inspiration tortillas. If you dont have enough meat you FKRSSHGWRPDWRHVRQHFKRSSHG
for me to put this enchilada recipe together, can add some red kidney beans instead. If RQLRQRQHFORYHJDUOLFPLQFHG
and mash up an avocado with some garlic you have any lime leftover, and some tequila MXLFHRIOLPHRQHZKROHMDODSHQR
and lemon juice for a side dish of guacamole. in the back of the cupboard for a margarita TXDUWHUHGDQGVOLFHGWVSHDFK
You can add lime juice, tabasco and other then that would be a good way to kick off a RIJURXQGFXPLQVXJDUVDOW
ingredients, but I go for a less intense option. Mexican meal!
Spring time
A
fter reading a great many of your there is a huge amount of bushcraft involved
articles, letters and tests, Ive come to Taking to springers again has really forced and right at the end of exercise, one of the
appreciate just how good Air Gunner me to work hard on my shooting, especially guides set us a few tasks; hunting, shing,
is. I really enjoy the reviews, although most my standing shot, which was terrible back and cooking the local quarry was ours. Wed
of the ries are well outside my nancial when I was a serving soldier. I always already eaten sh, snakes, iguanas, crocs
range. Your readers letters are great and remember being lectured. The position and and jungle rats. We were to sh, trap or
raise some pertinent points, but most of all, hold must be rm enough to support the hunt, and I opted for hunting.
I love the hunting articles and tips, superbly rie without any undue effort and The Lenny, our local guide, provided the tools
written by some of the most realistic and shot must be released and followed through, of the trade, and I was given some pellets
modest journalists. All this really helps without disturbing the aim. of unknown origin and an old break-barrel
me to while away the hours I spend every As part of the 11 days of jungle training Browning .22 which Arnie would have
day watching over my clients, as I work in that any British soldier receives in Belize, struggled to cock, to be honest. It was a
private security in Iraq. BEAST! God only knows how many ft.lbs. it
Since leaving the forces, I have returned Your team means everything when push comes to shove had. I check zeroed before being shown the
to my roots of airgunning and although I area in which to hunt my quarry.
have a very nice Gamo Coyote .22, I have
fallen in love with springers again. Theres Slow going
something very nostalgic and pure about It is slow and precarious going in the jungle
hunting with a springer. They force you to and really hard work, but after about two
make that shot count because there is no and half hours of slow stalking, I nally saw
quick reload, so you try that little bit harder a jungle rat. Jungle rats arent like the rats
to get those extra couple of yards to ensure in the UK; these things are bigger than a
a clean dispatch. Jack Russell, and thats no exaggeration. It
was just gnawing away on something as I I got to where I thought I had a clear shot relaxed and concentrated on getting my
froze and stared in amazement, with a slight and then wrestled to cock the rie. I was breath in order, and then after what seemed
tinge of fear. Almost instantly, it stopped actually quite surprised that he was still like an age, I brought the rie back up into
and stared straight at me, with what I swear there as I struggled to control my breathing. the aim, placing the sights smack on the
was a what you lookin at! expression.
Realising lots of wild animals have an
almost sixth sense, I looked away instantly Sweating profusely and my heart pounding, I got to
and he dropped his head back down.
Rather than take the long shot, I wanted where I thought I had a clear shot
the guarantee of a good head shot and a
clean kill, so I slowly retraced my steps into Slowly, I brought the rie to bear, all the jungle rats head. Suddenly, it just sat up
cover and without looking directly at him, time trying to bring my breathing back to and stared straight at me. I took aim and
I picked my way through the bush until I normal. I was shaking like a leaf from effort. squeezed the trigger. Thur-waaanng the
was about 17 yards away. I was sweating No, no good, I thought as I lowered the ries internals let go, and Thwaaack! went
profusely and my heart was pounding, but big American lump of a rie. I stood still, the pellet as the shot hit a tree over the
giant rats shoulder. It inched and then, in
During the war I patrolled the Iraq - Iran border a decidedly arrogant manner, looked over at
me, and swung its head back round with an
Oh, really! expression on its face.
Squaddie fashion
In true highly trained warrior fashion, I
screamed like a girl as I ran away in fear of
being the monster rats next meal. I gave the
rie back to Lenny and said, Its crap, that
thing. You couldnt hit a barn door with it.
Lenny simply cocked it, popped a pellet in
and then shot a fruit out of a tree at about
60 yards.
I understand now why I couldnt hit my mark;
it was because I didnt understand springers. I
did the position and hold must be rm enough
to support the rie, but I did it a little too well.
I was hanging on to it as if it were a Lee Eneld
.303. Id forgotten about the without any undue
effort bit. You must allow for its recoil, allow it
to do its thing to release the shot and follow-
through accurately. Its something I take great
pride in doing these days because each springer
in my mind has its very own personality and
you need to nurture a relationship with it to
hunt effectively. Lesson learned!
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AIR GUNNER 83
jshzzpjGhpyn|uz
Beeman
story short, Bob Beeman wanted a fast-
handling air rie and added his own stock
design to accomplish the latter. It appeared
on the market priced at 62.50 in 1984 and
was described, according to Air Gunner, as
primarily for the American market, with a
Beautiful!
striking stock and weighing only 7lbs. It
was an air rie that could be shouldered
with ease and could be used for shotgun
training. Through the years the price of
the C1 uctuated (maxing out at 86.50 in
1990) and although the C1 was claimed to
be a quality rie from good breeding - it is
claimed that Webley had hardly anything to
do with it because the production time span
Steve Prime adds an unusual Webley to his collection did not mirror actual sales.
In fact, it would be fair to say it was
S
o, the question to ask is, when is a Since then, I have become a collector of not a favourite with airgun enthusiasts.
Webley not a Webley? The answer is, Webley pistols, ries and artefacts and at Christopher Thrale suggests that despite
when it is a Beeman! Now, my only the beginning of the collection which I the C1 not being a popular seller, a good
experience of a Beeman was our rst pistol never intended to happen I was offered example could now be a good investment
when we took up airgun shooting back in a Beeman C1 in .22 calibre and told that it for a collector. So why would we be tempted
2007. We purchased the Beeman 2004E; was a Webley in disguise. In all honesty, I to buy a rie that Webley supposedly had
you know the one, the pistol that caused wasnt sure and thought I might have been little to do with? Well, it is all to do with
so much controversy when it was described having the wool pulled over my eyes. Up the stock and its design that makes this a
as a copy of the Weihrauch HW40. Many steps Christopher Thrale and his bible on sought-after/collectable acquisition for any
suggested that they were made by the same Webley ries entitled Webley Air Ries 1925 collector.
company - but those more in the know to 2005- a must for all Webley enthusiasts. The stock was designed around the
actually knew better. It was a good copy After a quick read, I was delighted to Winchester 94 carbine and the key was
marketed at half the price of the HW40 and discover that the wool was articial and to shorten the barrel length to 14 inches,
although a damn good pistol - it denitely see-through yep, the Beeman C1 was a with a 12-groove, ried barrel. The stock
was not of the same build quality. I Webley in sheeps clothing! was made of hardwood believed to be beech
remember Neil Price saying that the Beeman, with a walnut stain and lacquered nish,
although good, was made of monkey metal Successful design completed with a rubber butt pad embossed
(cheaper quality) - a phrase that still brings Webley had a lot of success with the Vulcan with the name Beeman inset into it. Early
a smile to my face. and its highly-praised action. To cut a long models were manufactured without a safety
I had trouble
nding the correct
cheek position
Fully adjustable
open sights were
standard t
I like having
the guarantee
certicate
catch, and this was rectied on later models it would not sell with the damaged stock. Sarah found the ergonomic shape suited
which displayed a simple design, push- Truth be known, it appears that the gun her cheek anatomy perfectly and she loved
forward catch. has been dropped on its butt at some time, the smooth trigger and the way the rie
hence the minor fractures in the beech. handled and shot.
Weight Why it was never restored to its former
It is interesting to read that there are glory and sold on remains a mystery, Final thoughts
contradictions between sources as to the but it is now in good hands and will be a We both thought the C1 was a well-balanced
weight of the C1. As mentioned earlier, a future project to bring it back to pristine rie with good build quality and a lovely
weight of 7lbs has been disputed by Beeman condition. My acquisition is in .22 calibre action. Shooting the duck target at 20 yards
who claimed the weight to be 6.3lbs for the and has no safety, showing that it is an was not only fun, but the results from the
C1 were also acceptable for an older spring
rie on rst ring. I felt quite honoured
Christophers book is a fantastic reference and a great in a funny kind of way to shoot an old
rie for the rst time, straight from the
read packed with facts, figures and useful information box, as it were. The conclusion is that this
Beeman C1 will not be a regular visitor to
the range, but will remain polished and on
.177, and 6.2lbs for the .22. Claimed muzzle early model, but I believe it has never display with my other collectables in my
velocities exceeded UK limits and had to had a pellet put through it, which means gun cabinet.
be wound down, so to speak, for our home I have the exciting proposition of taking
market. it to the range and putting it through its
The smile
Christophers book is a fantastic paces. says it all
reference and a great read, packed with
facts, gures and useful information; it Not for everybody
certainly gave me lots of information and So, how did the Beeman C1 react and
more importantly, peace of mind, but what perform out on the range? Firstly, the
of my C1? It came boxed with an attached stock is quite striking; the wood with its
ticket of authenticity and slight stock lacquered nish denitely draws the eye,
damage easy to sort. The story is that it and as mentioned, the design makes it easy
was purchased as a job lot of airguns from to shoulder. I found it a little difcult to
a seller who had decided to retire at the site under my cheekbone to begin with,
age of 80. The rie had sat at the back of and had to adjust my cheek position several
the shop for some time, probably because times to get a clear sight view. Saying this,
W
hereas BSA started their airgun
industry by making air ries to
Lincoln Jeffries Patent 8761 of 1904
and added air pistols to their products much
later, Webley commenced with an air pistol FIGURE 1
rst, their Mark I protected by Patent 219872
of 1923/4 and quickly added a Mark I air rie
to their range, thus making full use of their
superimposed tip-up barrel system for both
Webleys initial air pistol and rie.
The Mk. I air pistol was arguably the most
important Webley airgun, being the milestone
marking the start of their airgun production
so I feel that it warrants detailing in places.
A small selection of both pre- and post- World
War II Webley Air Pistol Mark I models appears
in Figure 1. The various versions of the Mk.
I made from 1924 until 1964, the year when
both Mark I and Senior model air pistols were
amalgamated to become the new Premier
pistol, could be a good theme for starting a
collection, with the ultimate aim of nding I could be recognised, in some cases differing going to be a blow-by-blow account of the
the rst spring-clip/s barrel retained Mk. I from each other in only minor detail, so there Mark I pistol. Id need the entire magazine
pistols as the highlights of the collection. would be plenty of variations to nd. Half of to do that - but some rst-hand observations
Figure 2 shows what a twin-clip model breech these variants sprung to mind when discussing and one or two amendments to past thoughts.
in undamaged condition should look like. them with Jeff Hyder recently but we would The Mk. I still remains the favourite
According to Dr. M. H. Newcomer in his have needed pistols in front of us, with some Webley pistol of many. Devotees of the Mk.
pioneer Webley pistol articles in Guns Review dismantled in order to recall all the others I include Jeff - whose single-clip breech
in August 1975, some 20 variants of the Mk. our friend Mark noted, but this isnt modications made to a later sliding top latch
pistol featured in the February issue. This
altered pistol complete with bogus markings
also appears at the top of Figure 3 above a
genuine double-clip model. I explained that
the changes Jeff made to simulate the very
rst Mk. I as it was originally
designed werent meant
to deceive, but to see
FIGURE 3 if the initially planned
single-clip tted to the
rst handful of Mk. I
pistols in early 1924 (as
per the patent drawings
and publicity matter)
would positively retain
the barrel in the ring
position on discharge.
Our tests proved it was
insufcient to be effective
and this would have
prompted Webley &
Scott to add the second,
opposing spring barrel
Are you looking to sell a gun? Dedicated gun enthusiasts read Air Shop, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham,
Gunner every month; if youre looking to sell then theyre looking to RG40 2EG. Please include your name, address, telephone number
buy! Alternatively, is there a gun youve been trying to nd? Are you and a maximum of 40 words and make all cheques or POs payable
a collector or just looking for a particular treat? For all your buying to Air Gunner. Get your information to us and well publish it in
and selling needs, Swap Shop is here! For only 4.00 (40 words our next issue. We cannot guarantee which issue your advert will
max) your advert will appear in the next issue of Air Gunner and appear in. Please note that we cannot take your advert over the
on our website. We are now able to accept your advert at www. phone, though for any further information call Sharon on 01189
airgunshooting.co.uk or by post addressed to Air Gunner Swap 742 524
FOR SALE: A collection of airgun BSA STUTZEN .177 mint boxed THEOBEN EVOLUTION .20, ambi AS NEW CO2 COLT BB,
books. Webley Air Pistols (Bruce) with target holder 350, BSA stock, adjustable butt pad, sling and S/A revolver with six cartridges,
2001 20, Complete Book Of The Junior 1910 Original bluing 650, swivels, 3-9 x 50 scope, vgc 450. belt and holster 115 inc p+p .
Airgun (Nontejr) 15, American BSA Club Airsporter 275, BSA Gunpower Stealth, boxed .177, 4-16 Colt pellet S/A revolver with 18
Air Ries (2001) 20, Airgun Cadet smooth bore 85, Webley x 50 scope. stock, green laser + cartridges 125 inc p+p. S&W
Digest Book (Beeman 1976) 5, Service .177 and .22 barrels, torch, sling, swivels, bi-pod, tactical 686 revolver with 4 / 6 barrels
The Airgun Book (Walther, 1961) matching numbers 550, BSA drag bag and silencer. 500. and 5 magazines 165 inc p+p.
10, Essential Airgun Annual 1st standard 175, Webley Mark 3 Tel: 01695 570652 (Lancs). CZ75 compact BB pistol
Edition (2006) 10, all plus p+p 160. Tel: 07821 283976 (Leeds). 55 inc p+p.
Tel: 01728 648739 (Suffolk). AIR ARMS TDR .22 walnut stock, Tel: 01388 810873 (Durham).
WEIHRAUCH HW80 .22 with new, boxed, unmarked. Unused
DAYSTATE MK1S .177 Hunter 4 x 40 scope waterproof. JSR 6 x 32, 1 scope AO, IR, FAC AIR ARMS .22 S300
750, Midas no. 100 .22, no.89 VGC 175 ono. Inc 500 sunshade ip up lens covers. P.C.P. with silencer and Tasco
.177, 600 each, Air Arms Prosport Superdome pellets. Special custom made unassuming 4x40 scope with Parallax
.177, TX200 .177, S200 .177, Alpha Tel: 07824 443473 (Northwich). rucksack that AA case ts into, compensator. Excellent condition
Pro 300 each. All mint condition unused, 675. Buyer collects / 295.
with large scopes and slings. WEIHRAUCH HW97K .177, meets within reason. Tel: 01306 711986 (Surrey).
Tel: 07999 258051 (Norwich). 22ft. lbs. plus Nikko Sterling Tel: 01761 241426 Somerset).
scope 12-9 x 50, new gun second WEIHRAUCH .22 HW80K,
HW35E with scope, mounts, hand in excellent condition, also WANTED: a pair of cross slot F.A.C. conversion by V-Mach
silencer, Gammo 440 Hunter, rare 1500 pellets and gun bag. First to scope rings or BSA B25 mounts Custom Rie. Silencer and wide
walnut scope effect stock in mint see will buy it! FAC holders only, to t 11mm rail + 1 tube. angle 4 x scope. Very good
condition, HW45 pistol mint, bargain price 150, no offers, Tel: 07977 323504 (Conwy). condition 200. Tel: 01306
BSA Supersport, Webley Tempest buyer collects. 711986 (Surrey).
pistol. Tel: 07526 676036 Tel: 07926 567845 (Llandudno). WEBLEY AIR RIFLE MK3 .22 UL
(High Wycombe). NO.27460, good condition 250 FEINWERKBAU CO2 (SSP)
BROOM HANDLE MAUSER C96 BB with scope or 200 without. AND FEINWERKBAU 300S
WEBLEY AIR PISTOL pistol blow back, all metal model. Webley Junior air pistol, no.1289 (one of the last) match ries
VINTAGE .177 mark one in good Still boxed, unused, unwanted .177 75, good condition. with extra bits. Both immaculate
original condition and working competition prize 100 ono. Tel: 01553 775575 (Norfolk). and barely used. Both have
order (circa 1925) 160 no box. Remington 1911 R.A.C BB pistol adjustable stocks and in hard
Tel: 01276 29460 (West Surrey). blow back in padded case with WANTED: wooden grips for Walther cases. The Co2 650 and the
canvas holster 60. CP88 pistol or information where 300s 400,
BSA SUPER METEOR 2.2 complete Tel: 07890 781668 (S. Leicester). they can be obtained. Webley or both for 950.
with BSA 4 x 20 scope. Good Tempest pistol in pristine condition, Tel: 07538720290 (Herts).
condition throughout. Occasional GAMO COYOTE 10 SHOT SILENCER, original box, appears to have been
use from new (1981) 100 Hawke Night Eye digital 4-6 x 50 SF. purchased but never used. Obtained WANTED: British made Diana
ono. Buyer collects. Tel: 01833 very good condition with gun case. from house clearance. 100 ono. Model 55. Just name your price!
627550 (Yorkshire). 280. Tel: 07904 313164 (Preston). Tel: 07890 781668 (Leicester). Tel: 01777838617 (Notts).
The editor reserves the right to edit adverts as may be required. Swap Shop is a service offered to readers who wish to undertake private transactions between themselves. There is no
need for such transactions to be made face to face (unless an airgun is FAC-rated), but Air Gunner requests that all due caution is excercised when buying or selling an airgun. You must
adhere to the current airgun laws. You cant buy an airgun if you are under 18 years old. The Swap Shop is not offered to those who sell airguns as part of a business.
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AIR GUNNER 93
ylkGzx|pyylsGyhunly
Caravan Conies
Jerry Moss is away from his squirrel duties helping a friend to control rabbits
Caught in the open I got
low and took the shot
T
he FX Streamline is certainly getting to know if I fancied helping him clear some out the following day. The site is about 50
some work. It went on loan to a fellow rabbits from the area. He told me that the acres and the statics are spread about the
ranger, Ando, for a couple of weeks site was closed for a couple of months over lower part of it. There are big banks on each
because he had sold his sub-12 rie a few the winter and the rabbits had become a side, with a stream through the middle and
months back and hadnt got around to problem with their digging all over the a nice pond at the other end of the property.
replacing it. Ando was so impressed with it green areas and in the bankings. I had Given the nature of the place, and for 10
that he ordered one, and a week or so later he helped him there a few years back and really months of the year people are about, some
had a Streamline. I asked him which features got on top of the rabbit population, but of the rabbits are not really bothered by the
he liked and his reply was, Easy to carry rabbits being rabbits, it sounded like they presence of noise, so we could use this to
about. Very accurate and consistent; it has had come back with a vengeance. So I said, our advantage, to clear a few easily because
a really good shot count per ll, and can be Yes, not a problem - can bring a mate as at the end of the day this is pest control and
shot down to 55 bar on the regulator. Just well? Well see what we can do. we are there to do a job. Things dont always
the job for our pest-control work. go to plan, though.
I received a phone call from a lad I know I need a volunteer We arrived on site early the next day, got
who happens to manage a static caravan A phone call later, I had a willing volunteer ourselves sorted, grabbed our Streamlines
holiday home site, not far away. He wanted in Ando and we arranged to check the place and set off on foot. Ando didnt know the
GylkGzx|pyylsGyhunly
INFORMATION
A nice bag
from a good
day out
As always, we welcome
your thoughts and ideas.
Get in touch and tell us
about the methods
that work for you.
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Penrith-and-District-Red-Squirrel-
The bag built steadily
through the day Group/487229667979369?fre f=ts
BR
ND
300 acres to shoot over. Vermin and G
UN S
S A FE
rough shooting is available all year round.
LUCKYARD FARM
Buy that
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person a gift
voucher
96 AIR GUNNER
ihsspz{pjz
11.2ft.lbs is easily
enough power to take
this squirrel if your
shot is accurate
have both dropped considerably, but the with our chosen pellet is 583 fps, and 584 right side of the law by a sensible margin.
difference is around between the two. fps would make your gun illegal. Even the If you are a skilled tuner, and
I agree that every fraction of an inch is best airguns vary between 5 and 10 fps, so chronograph your ries regularly, then
important, but at maximum hunting range, at a maximum we would set them at 573 going to 11.5ft.lbs. might be okay, but
isnt going to change much. Nobody has fps. This would make our muzzle energy remember the vast majority of airgunners
any right to hunt at 50 yards with a sub 12 11.59 ft.lbs. What about if you found a dont own a chrono and rarely get a
ft.lbs. airgun, but lets look at this extreme pellet that was extra efcient in your rie? professional to check their guns for
range to see what it can tell us. Even here Youd better build in a margin to allow for them. Ive heard a thousand stupid ways
the difference is only about . that as well shall we say another 10 fps? of testing airgun power, from shooting
That gets us to 11.19 ft.lbs which sounds through pages of an old phone book to
10.5 ft.lbs. 1.68 at 35 at 50 7.09 familiar, doesnt it? shooting turnips! When I asked if they
11.5 ft.lbs. 1.46 at 35 at 50 6.31
Next, lets look at how the wind will affect Thats where most responsible airgun manufacturers are
their ight. In a constant 5mph breeze
thats at 90 across the pellets travel, the
setting their rifles today, and I fully endorse their decision
difference is almost too small to measure.
Again at 50 yards it is tiny and would be lost Thats where most responsible airgun were raw or cooked, the teller of the story
among all the other factors at play. manufacturers are setting their ries today, didnt see the funny side of my comment.
and I fully endorse their decision. Its plenty My advice is get your gun checked regularly
10.5ft.lbs. at 35y 1.15- at 50y 2.41 of power for the airgun hunter and we can and if its running at a sensible, legal
11.5ft.lbs. at 35y 1.09- at 50y 2.28 sleep soundly knowing that were on the power, then leave well alone.
1.0 1.0
0.5 0.5
0.0 0.0
-.5 -.5
-1.0 -1.0
-1.5
-2.0 -2.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
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A busy gun shop established for over 20 years, selling an
extensive range of new and secondhand shotguns, sporting
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A large range of outdoor waterproof clothing. Part exchange
welcome. Secondhand guns wanted. Gunsmith available.
01189 742 514 An innovative developer and retailer of revolutionary technology for
Air Rifles. We sell new and used rifles and shooting accessories including
pellet magazines which we manufacture ourselves. We offer repairs
and servicing for most makes of firearms which is carried out by our
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GUN SHOPS
Directory Key: Trade Associations: BASC Trade
Member
GTA Trade
Member
COUNTRYSIDE
ALLIANCE
Countryside Alliance
Trade Member Items stocked:
ADVERTISE YOUR GUNSHOP
Airguns
01189 742 514
Pistols Optics Clothing/
Footwear Knives
Decoys Pellets &
& Hides Accessories AirSoft
Archery & Gunsmith &
Equipment Gun safes Repairs
MOOREDGES AIRGUNS
The Chantreys, Mooredges Road, Thorne,
Doncaster DN8 5RY
North Tel: 01405 741706
Fax: 01405 740936
Email: info@mooredges.com
Twitter: @Mooredges_info Web: www.mooredges.com
Opening hours: Open 6 days a week, closed Tuesdays.
Mon - Sat 9.00am - 5.30pm. Sun 10.00am - 4.00pm.
Open Bank Holidays
Credit cards:
Stockists of Weihrauch, Webley, BSA, Norica, Gamo, Hammerli, scopes, BURY AIR GUNS Cornwalls premier gun shop. New and used guns and accessories.
lamps, pellets and accessories. Airsoft guns stocked, crossbows & archery Ian Hodge Fieldsports has been supplying fieldsports accessories
available. Guns serviced and repaired. Airgun and cylinder refills to 300 bar. 12 Bolton Street, Bury & equipment since 1991. From small beginnings the business has
Lancashire BL9 0LQ grown to be one of the foremost mail order retailers in the country.
TONYS CAMO & AIRGUN CENTRE Tel: 0161 764 1915
Web: www.buryairguns.co.uk
Moorcroft Mews, High St, Saltney, Chester, Flintshire CH4 8SH COUNTRYWIDE
Tel: 01244 681191 Web: www.tonyscamo.co.uk and www.burysports.co.uk
Email: sales@burysports.co.uk Bradford Road, Melksham,
Opening hours: Tue - Sat 9am - 5:30 pm
Opening hours: 9.15 - 5.00 Closed Sunday Wiltshire, SN12 8LQ
Credit cards: Tel: 01225 701473
Email: enquiries@countrywidefarmers.co.uk
A huge range of guns, accessories Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8.30-18.00,
and clothing. See website for more details. The Norths largest airgun, sports and trophy store established Sat 8.30-17.30, Sun 10-16.00
1959. Only fifteen minutes from Manchester city centre,
Junction 2 M66, opposite the East Lancashire steam railway. Credit cards:
PHOENIX FIELD SPORTS SUPPLIES
37-41 High Street, Old Town, Bridlington
East Yorkshire YO164PR BRADFORD STALKER
Tel: 01262 605512 Ouston Bank Farm, Ouston, Offers a great selection of new & used air guns. Stockists of Weirauch,
Email: info@fieldgear.co.uk Chester Le Street, County BSA, Air Arms, Daystate, Gamo, Umarex, SMK and Crosman. Gun
Opening hours: Wed - Sat 10am - 5pm Durham, DH2 1BB repair on site. Good selection of scopes on site. Other stores located
Tel: 0191 4100565 in Bearley, Bourton on the Water, Chepstow, Chipping Norton,
(Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Gloucester, Ledbury, Melton Mowbray, Salisbury and Thornbury.
Credit cards: Email: contact@bradfordstalker.co.uk Web: www.bradfordstalker.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon- Fri 9.00 5.30 / Sat 9.00 5.00
Shooting, Fishing & Archery Equipment - Air rifles: Weihrauch, Walther, Credit cards: Finance available RONNIE SUNSHINES - DEVON
Crosman, Hammerli, Kral, Diana and Remington. Shotguns: Sabbati and
Investarm etc. Pellets: RWS, Crosman, Walther, Lanes, Remington and 1 & 2 Sabre Close,
Visit our spacious showroom with hassle free on site parking. Wide range
Diana etc. PCP air bottles. Working dog equipment: Whistles, of rifles & pistols: BSA, Weihrauch, Daystate, Webley, Brocock, FX, Air
Heathfield, Newton Abbot,
dummies, leads, sticks, etc. Also: Cartridges,Victory cartridges, gunslips, Arms, Gamo, Umarex, Walther. Clothing & accessories inc Night vision, Devon GB, TQ12 6TW
Hawke optics, clothing and footwear. Sportchief clothing range. Jack Scopes, cylinders, bags, pellets, lamping equipment. Airgun & cylinder Tel: 01626 242971
Pyke stockists Clulite litelamps, battery packs, torches, bags, equipment, refills available, services & repairs arranged.
safety eyewear, ear defenders, camo nets, pocket knives and decoys. Email: devon@ronniesunshines.com
Web: www.ronniesunshines.com/devon
WIGHILL PARK GUNS Opening hours: Mon - Sat 9 - 5
MANCHESTER AIR GUNS
Wighill Park, Nr Tadcaster, Credit cards:
470 Oldham Road, Failsworth, North Yorkshire LS24 8BW
Manchester M35 0FH Tel: 01937 833757 Fax: 01937 530563
Tel: 0161 681 7947 Email: info@wighillparkguns.co.uk
Web: www.manchesterairguns.com Web: www.wighillparkguns.co.uk
Email: info@manchesterairguns.com Opening hours: Wed - Sat 9-5 Devons leading Airgun Specialists we stock Weihrauch,
Hours: 10 - 5 Mon - Sat. Open most bank holidays until 2 Credit cards: Daystate, Air Arms, BSA and many more. Plus a large range of
Credit cards: All credit cards accepted CO2 pistols, scopes, and a comprehensive stock of airgun
accessories. We are also Bushcraft and Survival specialists
supplying all the kit you need to survive. Come and visit our shop
Britains first Airgun Only Gunshop (since 1977). Visit one of Britains best stocked Airgun Shops in the heart of the and Try before you buy on our purpose built indoor range. Or visit:
Large stocks of airguns, scopes and pellets. Servicing, repairs Yorkshire countryside. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY ON OUR www.ronniesunshines.com
and re-blueing. Free advice with pleasure! INDOOR RANGE. Part exchange a specialty.
AIR GUNNER
THE SKIPTON UNIT 7, CARLETON BUSINESS PARK,
CARLETON NEW ROAD, SKIPTON BD23 2DE
GUNROOM 01756 792 630
Zeiss, Leica, Leupold, MTC, Hawke, S & Bender, Redeld, Nikko Sterling Scopes in stock
UK T: 0044 (0) 151 604 1788 FRANCE T: 0033 (0) 3277 45145
M: 0044 (0) 7768 406377 M: 0033 (0) 6500 74421
E: reballpel@aol.com E: reballpel@aol.com
COM PACT
HUNTE R
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Distributed to the trade by: ASI, Alliance House, Snape, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1SW
Tel: 01728 688555 | Fax: 01728 688950 | E: info@a-s-i.co.uk | W: www.a-s-i.co.uk