Air Arms S410 Classic

Voted - Airgun of the Year 2002 - Best British Rifle 2002 - Best Multi-Shot Rifle 2002

• The pre-charged pneumatic S410 has a very special 'air' about it, the S410 can make a poor shooter good and a good shooter excellent !
• The recoil free and good handling characteristics make the S410 an excellent hunting rifle. The carbine version with silencer is an awsome pest control weapon - this rifle is almost totally silent.
• The easy loading bolt action and the ten shot (removable/enclosed/easy loading) magazine ensure you will be ready when your quarry appears in front of you.
• It has an adjustable, true 2-stage trigger but you will not need to alter the factory settings !
• Efficient none regulated firing valve system giving ample shots from a 190 BAR fill.
  • Standard version gives 80-90 (.177") - 90-100 (.22").
  • Carbine version gives 60 (.177") - 80 (.22") .
• Quick release filling system (tank quick fit valve supplied)
• Under-stock pressure gauge to keep an eye on the state of fill.
• Stocks available in stained Beech or Walnut, there is also a thumbhole stock (FAC version 25 ft lbs )

Daystate MK3 RT

Could this pre-charged pneumatic rifle be voted Rifle of the Year 2003 ?

• Built in fully baffled silencer. The silencer is also threaded to take a second silencer if required. Using this second silencer makes the gun virtually inaudable in the field.

• The Mk 3 regulator is externally fitted giving over 150 shots per charge

• At the heart of Daystates new CDT system is a microprocessor that controls power delivery, and provides a superb match grade electronic trigger .

• Quick loading, removable 10 shot magazine can be fitted from either side of the rifle. Removing the magazine enables the rifle to be used as a single shot with pellets loading directly into the Walther barrel.

• When the safety catch is applied the "fire" LED powers down the rifle making it unable to accidently fire. Each rifle is fitted with a key activated electronic isolator, preventing unauthorised use and adding another level of safety, never seen before on an airgun.

BSA Superten Mk II

A top quality pre-charged pneumatic multi-shot air rifle, well balanced and ideal for hunting forays.

At the heart of this air rifle is a unique patented regulator which allows perfect consistency between shots.

• l0-shot magazine.
• Approximately 230 shots @ 12 ft lbs.
• Match quality trigger .
• Adjustable butt plate.
• Smooth bolt action cocks the trigger and chambers the pellet.
• Available in .177 and .22
• Weight 7 1/4 lb (without scope).

BSA Superstar (.22)

•  Spring powered, underlever rifle.
• A fine rifle and an improvement over some of BSA's earlier products.
• The quality of Superstar rifle is equal  in quality to similar German imports.
•  Utilises a novel rotating loading port which guides the pellet to the breech of the barrel.  
• The Superstar is an easy handling rifle and is comfortable in the field.   It will accept, and prefers most top of the range 5.5 mm pellets, it does not like BSA's Wasp 5.6 mm pellets.
• Regular testing has shown BSA Excalibur pellets produce the tightest groups at 35 yds.  
• Shot to shot energy variation  Excalibur 2% , Superdome  3%, Huntsman 5%  
• From time to time the rotating breech becomes difficult to move - put 2 drops of WD40 (fine silicone oil) in front and it will free up.
  • Minus point - Long scopes will foul the loading breech.
  • Raised scope mounts may alleviate the problem.

Park RH93 (.177)

• The finest commercially available spring powered recoilless air rifle ever ?
• Superb Walnut (off-set) stock, shaped pistol grip, raised/rolled-over cheek piece, chequered fore-end / pistol grip and rubber butt pad.
• Recoilless, superbly accurate and not pellet fussy.
• Easy loading port
• Short lock time.
• Average (five shots) 11.3 ft lbs, 1% variation, 1" groups at 40 yds.
• Silencer included.
• No tuning required.
• Bad points : 
  • Requires a strong arm to cock it.
  • Trigger not the best in the world.
  • No longer available !

RWS 24 (.177)

• Spring powered break barrel rifle.
• A junior size rifle which produces about 9 ft lbs (700 fps) of kinetic energy.
• Very good quality bluing and stock.
• Recommended as a first rifle for a youngster.
• It has open sights and scope rails - using a scope will produce tight groupings at 25 yds.
• It is a no fuss, sweet shooting, quality break-barrel rifle, fitted with a manual safety.
• There's not much more that can be said, it's a solid dependable little rifle.
• Well worth the money.

Crosman Magnum 2200 (.22)

• Pump-up pneumatic rifle.
• Not a true hunting rifle and certainly not the magnum it claims to be.
• This is a very lightweight rifle because the areas usually associated with wood are made from plastic.
• The actual barrel is a very slim affair, this is not obvious because it is covered by a full length tapered shroud. This shroud is the reason that the 2200 does not require a moderator.
• Pellets are loaded through a side port via a sliding bolt which makes loading easy work.
• After pumping (10 times) the rifle produces around 10 ft lbs - a little low for serious field work.
• If a scope is fitted the rifle must be gripped by the scope while pumping - not an ideal situation !
• The 2200 is pellet fussy and accuracy testing showed a preference for H&N Semi Wadcutter (Hollow Point).
• The 2200 has a certain appeal and in some circumstances will be very useful, but it should be seen for what it is - your quarry won't wait around while you make the ten noisy pumps to recharge.

Webley FX 2000

• Pneumatic, pre-charged rifle.
• The FX 2000 features an 8 Shot magazine, bolt action cocking and loading.
• The air reservoir provides over 100 shots on full power.
• An integral pressure gauge beneath the stock shows the state of charge.
• It has a quick fill adaptor and can be charged using an Air Cylinder or Stirrup Pump.
• The match quality choked barrel is threaded for the BBMF silencer (1/2" UNF)
• Weight 6 lbs (2.7 Kg),
• Overall length 39.5"
• Barrel length 19.7"
• Operating Pressure 200 Bar @ 12 ft lbs.

HW 35

When Weihrauch became known to British airgunners 'everyone' had to own one of these beauties.

• Spring powered break barrel rifle with great styling / engineering and accuracy.
• Consistent, genuine high power rifle, even in .177 calibre .
• Superb 'Rekord' trigger unit.
• No springy action.
• Barrel lock-up detent.
• Well featured open sights.
• Relatively easy to strip and maintain.
• The only minus point is the slight 'drooping' barrel position.
• Well worth buying - a true classic.
• Two bad points to look for when buying second hand :-
  • A deep groove cut in the face of the cylinder by the barrel lock 'detent'.
  • Disintegrated shims between the barrel jaws.

HW 77 k

It would be difficult to say anything bad about the HW 77.

• Spring powered underlever rifle.
• The innovative sliding breech / loading port was a 'first' when this rifle came on the scene.
• It has the renown Rekord trigger unit.
• The fixed barrel ensures great accuracy.
• The balance is fine despite the rifle's weight.
• This rifle is an ideal candidate for tuning or FT.
• A well tuned HW 77 has a very light recoil, the pellets are despatched @ 11.5 ft lbs with a lowly 'thwok'.
• The accuracy of a HW 77 is as good as it gets with a spring powered rifle.
• RWS Superdome pellets will give top accuracy.

Daystate Harrier

• Pneumatic pre-charged rifle very popular with hunters (requires a moderator).
• Fitted with a man sized ambidextrous stock which shoulders well.
• Manual Safety.
• Two stage adjustable trigger.
• Pneumatic rifle accuracy.
• .177 gives 60 shots @ 12 fl lbs
• .22 gives 66 shots @ 12 fl lbs
• Total rifle length 35" (90 cm)
• Barrel length 16" (41 cm)
• Weight 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
• Available in four different calibres - .177, .20, .22 and .25

Air Arms Pro Sport

• Spring powered underlever rifle.
• Regarded by many as the best spring powered rifle available.
• Comes in a standard format normally associated with a highly tuned rifle.
• 12 grooved Walther barrels.
• CD multi-adjustable two stage trigger.
• Synthetic bearings provide tuned 'out of the box' performance.
• Built-in silencer.
• Ergonomically designed highcomb stock, available in beech or walnut.
• Weight 4.1 kgs.
• FAC version. .177 - 15.5 ft lb, .22 - 18.5 ft lb

Air Arms TX200 HC

• Spring powered underlever rifle, development has now reached Mk III version
• Sliding breech / loading port.
• Uses the same tuned power unit (synthetic bearings) as the Pro Sport.
• Has a bull barrel with a threaded insert, which allows the fitting of an internal or external silencer.
• Knurled cocking aid fitted to the HC (hunter carbine) version.
• The TX200 has many fans and some feel that it's a better rifle than the HW77 (?)
• Weighs 3.86 kgs.
• FAC version.   .177 - 15.5 ft lbs  .22 - 16.5 ft lbs.

Cometa Fenix 400

The Fenix 400, there is so much interest in this rifle that I felt it only right that I investigate. Firstly, I entered the name Fenix into my pocket translator to see if the name had any hunting connotations but the nearest it came to Fenix was Feo which is Spanish for ugly ! Now that is not the case, it is a fine looking rifle and is available with a pleasantly shaped Beech or Walnut stock. It is a long rifle, suggesting that it is intended for adult use (weight 3.4 kg), the power output has had to be reduced from its original 20 ft lbs down to the UK 12 ft lbs limit and as a consequence has a very low recoil but emits a load crack when fired. The mechanical action is said to be smoother than some similar low priced rifles, it cocks easily but is pellet fussy (available in .177 and .22), the overall quality is above standard for the price. The only points that down grade this rifle are the plastic trigger and guard but that's only a matter of taste.

This rifle is recommended as a starters rifle or as a second field rifle.

Interestingly, this rifle is badged and sold by RWS as the RWS 94.

Weihrauch 57

Having added the Fenix 400 review I felt it only right to show an alternative mid-range spring powered rifle.

The HW57 is a slimmed down version of the HW77, the major differences being the lack of a loading port and the inclusion of the pop-up breech. The pop-up breech is not a new feature as it was featured many years ago on another make of air rifle. Maybe Weihrauch needed a 'new' feature to keep the public interest ? Whatever the reason they have made a very interesting 'lightweight' rifle

The rifle is cocked using the underlever, this in turn releases the pop-up breech, the pellet is inserted, the breech is then pressed back down into the firing position - no chance of trapped fingers with this system.

2.5 lbs lighter (6.5 lbs) and 4" shorter (40") than the HW77, it may be regarded as a baby brother to the HW77 but holds it's own in the power stakes (11.3 ft lbs), and has fixed barrel accuracy to boot !