Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Airgun Shooter

Lovers of military-style black rifles can rejoice; the Crosman SBR is available in the UK once again, offering 25 rounds of blowback brilliance powered by not one, but two 12 gram CO2 capsules. This airgun is inspired by the Short Barrelled Rifle (SBR) variant of the US M4A1 carbine, making an already short gun even shorter. Exactly how short depends on the user, because in keeping with the adjustable concept of the powder-burner, Crosman's SBR has an extendable six-position butt stock. This gives it a length between 670mm and 770mm, suitable for both younger shooters and adults. The SBR has a recommended retail price of £320, but in return you get a fun gun that's been made with solid polymer and metal components, while keeping the overall weight to less…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Zeiss has unveiled its very first thermal clip-on device for night hunting, the DTC, which combines sophisticated image processing, intuitive controls and easy zeroing. The DTC thermal imaging attachment comes in two models, the DTC 3/25 and the 3/38. The 3/25 will probably be the best choice for airgun hunters as it's designed to be used in wooded areas and for stalking, offering a field of view of 18.4 metres at 100 metres, while the 3/38 has the ability to operate out to 1,950 metres. There's a focusing turret on the upper side of the DTC that makes it easier to reach and focus precisely, while the options menu is navigated via the cross-shaped button layout. Meanwhile, the new zero-in-assistant, which works in conjunction with the Zeiss Hunting app,…

It's all too easy to head to the range, pop into your local gun shop or even flick through the pages of Airgun Shooter and let yourself be seduced by some of the rifles on show. But what works for one shooter doesn't make it right for the next, and what looks good on paper may not turn out to fit you so well. So what is right for you? If you're an experienced shooter, you'll know the answer. But if you're a relative newcomer to airguns then I believe there are a few things you should be aware of that need careful consideration before purchasing a new rifle. I've come up with a list of 20 questions that should help. It's not exhaustive by any means, but should at…

INDOORS OR OUTDOORS? LAYER CAKE Shots taken at an indoor range will be far more accurate than outdoors, right? Well not necessarily, as Andy McLachlan explains here YOUR EXPERT ANDY McLACHLAN Readers will be aware that most of my competition attendance occurs within an indoor environment these days. Up until the past year or so, I could be counted upon to attend most if not all the outdoor HFT events within my own area of the Northwest of England, in particular to compete for the local Gauntlet trophy, which I managed to win the veterans category a couple of times. My son James continues to compete all over the north and midlands of the UK and is still able to deliver the goods regarding wins and overall performance. Unlike me,…

TESTING STATION SCOPE TEST SURESHOT OPTICS SFP 2.5-15X32 SFIR KEY SPECS MANUFACTURER: Sureshot Optics (sureshot-airguns.co.uk) MODEL: SFP2.5-15x32SFIR PRICE: £259 MAGNIFICATION RANGE: 2.5-15x RETICLE POSITION: Second focal plane TRUE MILLIRADIANS AT: 15x BODY DIAMETER: 30mm OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER: 32mm OCULAR LENS DIAMETER: 40mm LENGTH: 261mm WIDTH: 83mm HEIGHT: 57mm WEIGHT: 609 erams CLICK VALUE: 1/10 milliradian EYE RELIEF: 90mm PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT: Side focus, from five yards ILLUMINATED RETICLE: Red. 11 levels of brightness SHOCKPROOF/WATERPROOF: Yes Sure Shot Airguns is well known for supplying a host of airguns, accessories and scopes from a variety of manufacturers, and while the company has had great success with the Discovery line of telescopic sights, it now has its own brand, Sureshot Optics, with the first model being the SFP 2.5-15x32 SFIR. Despite its lengthy name, this…

THE GUN ROOM In the 1970s and 80s, before CO2 airguns were “off ticket” and PCPs were available, airguns in the UK were spring-powered or, occasionally, pump-up. For serious target work, this meant springers had ingenious mechanisms to achieve recoilless performance, or guns were of a single-stroke pneumatic design. On the spring-powered side there were the Feinwerkbau 65 and the Original model 6M. Reigning supreme as the single-stroke pneumatic to own were the Walther LP2, LP3 and LP3A. Then came the FAS 604. Early 604s had fixed anatomical grips in three sizes, but by the time I bought mine in 1983 they came with an adjustable palm shelf too. Compared with my LP2, the sight line was shorter at 9¾”. However, the pistol came with extension pieces that added 2¾”,…

GIVE YOURSELF THE EDGE Rainson air rifles are available in the UK thanks to a deal struck between the Turkish manufacturer and exclusive importer ASI. Rainson currently has one semi-bullpup PCP in its air rifle inventory. It's called the Edge, and it comes in three very distinct stock options. The Edge-X sits in a tactical black synthetic stock, while the Edge-W has a smart walnut stock and the Edge-C has a camouflaged stock. The three models are available in a choice of .177, .22 and .25 calibres, with magazine capacities of 14, 12 and 10 shots respectively. The Rainson Edge is sidelever-operated and is fitted with a regulator. For more details call ASI on 01728 688 555. BECOME A CONFORMIST Have you ever brought home a pair of hunting trousers…

THE COUNTRYMAN RABBITS WHY WE SHOOT • Loss of crops to hungry rabbits can be costly to farmers so pest control helps the rural economy • Reducing rabbit numbers on equestrian holdings reduces the risk of horses and ponies breaking legs in their burrows • Rabbit meat is lean and very tasty so time spent controlling them is rewarded with healthy free-range meat • Ambushing rabbits is a great way to unwind and watch wildlife THE QUARRY RABBIT Oryctolagus cuniculus PEST STATUS: This burrowing rodent undermines banks and field margins, eating grass, cereal and vegetable crops. It also causes damage to lawns and golf courses. HABITAT: An animal of the open countryside, rabbits usually establish their burrows on hillsides and embankments. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Rabbits are liable to breed very quickly, and…

I suppose it was just a matter of time until somebody managed to record a score of the quite unbelievable double take-inducing 240 at our now formalised long-range 50 yards-plus benchrest competition. For most normal shooters, anything in the region of 220 plus is known as a decent score, with a 230 plus being exceptional. My own personal best has stood at 236 for a fair amount of time now, with anything above 230 recorded being a rare event for most shooters. However, long-term experience and a natural ability have allowed some, shall I say “mature” shooters who have only recently joined in with our long-range shenanigans to produce consistently good scores that are often in either the 220 or 230 region. Many of these people are confirmed 25-yard benchrest…

One of my oldest permissions is a free-range egg farm. During the day thousands of hens do their thing in large, fenced enclosures. But when the sun goes down, they take themselves off to bed in several large hen houses where they sleep on a raised floor about a metre off the ground. The gap underneath is a mass of chicken poop. Now, I can't imagine many things more disgusting than an area half the size of a football pitch covered in a thick layer of chicken poo, but then I'm not a rat. They love it, burrowing in to make their homes and being never more than a few inches from a limitless supply of food. I've been shooting rats at the farm for years and have accounted for…

TESTING STATION RIFLE TEST DAYSTATE HUNTSMAN REVERE SAFARI KEY SPECS MAKER: Daystate, England (daystate.com) MODEL: Huntsman Revere Safari Edition PRICE: Sub-12 (tested) £1,220, high power £1,370 TYPE: Multi-shot sidelever PCP sporter CALIBRE: .177 (tested), .22 and .25 OVERALL LENGTH: 940mm LENGTH OF PULL: 348mm BARREL LENGTH: 430mm WEIGHT: 2.9kg (without scope) TRIGGER: Two-stage adjustable POWER: 11.4 ft-lb (tested) and high-power up to 40 ft-lb When it comes to good-looking airguns, the Daystate Huntsman is difficult to beat. It strikes a wonderful balance between the elegance of a traditional sporter and the functional lines of a modern PCP. What's more, it also shoots extremely well indeed. But Daystate is never content to rest on its laurels after producing a top-notch airgun. The British airgun maker has a rolling programme that brings in…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Stoeger is not shy of overturning convention in terms of the way its air rifles look, with the XM1, the US firm's very first PCP, featuring plenty of bright blue and yellow accents. This made for a very striking, but very untraditional rifle, and the company has done it again with the XM1 Bullpup. The Bullpup's overall length has been significantly decreased without reducing the barrel length. This allows for easier handling compared with a conventional air rifle with a similar length of barrel, the design being particularly advantageous for shooters who want to travel light or are operating in tight spaces like barns, farm buildings or hides. Stoeger also offers multi-directional chequering on the polymer stock as well as a choice of pistol grip and cheekpiece thanks…

Shooters are being urged to take part in a charity Hunter Field Target event to raise money to help protect native red squirrels in the wild. The HFT Airgun Target Shoot will raise funds for the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group in Cumbria, and is open to any shooters using sub-12 ft-lb air rifles. The competition is being held near the grounds of Lowther Castle on Sunday 4 September 2022, with the kind permission of Lowther Estate Trust. All proceeds will go directly to the red squirrel charity. The competition has been arranged by Ian Bainbridge, from HFT Masters, and former national champion Justin Grice, who is a Red Squirrel Ranger in the Ullswater and Haweswater area. This one-off event is open to competitors of all skill levels, and…

FREE TO ENTER WIN! WORTH £269 When it comes to keeping things reassuringly simple, it's hard to beat a break-barrel airgun with its self-contained powerplant. The only downside is that opting for a gun like this usually means sacrificing magazine loading, but that's not the case with the Gamo Swarm Roadster GEN2 as this rifle boasts the convenience of a self-contained powerplant plus rapid reloading courtesy of a multi-shot magazine. If that isn't enough, it even comes with a telescopic sight and mounts, and has a very appealing price tag of just £269. It's a comparatively light gun, tipping the scales at just over 2.6kg before you fit the scope. At 118cm, it is a comparatively long rifle, but that length does include quite a sizeable silencer. This airgun is…

HUNTING & FIELDCRAFT In my last article I wrote about a Texas airgun axis deer hunt with the Umarex .50 cal Hammer. I was hunting with my good buddy Bill Olson, who is the publisher for Texas Outdoors Journal. He'd lined up the hunt with Adventures Missions and Retreats Properties on the Clear Water Ranch in Menard, Texas. I didn't realise it until I hunted there, but there is a lot of history on this old ranch. The headwaters of Clear Creek start by the lodge that we stayed at. There are a number of springs seeping out of a rock wall that trickle down into a big pond, which overflows and runs downstream. At one time a captain in the cavalry had lived in the rock cabin across the…

TESTING STATION PELLET TEST RANGEMASTER SOVEREIGN PELLET TEST If you've been shooting for any length of time you'll have worked your way through numerous brands and types of pellet. That's certainly the case with me, and of the dozens I've shot over the years I've found some that don't seem to shoot well at all, others that excel in one or two rifles and some that perform well in a variety of airguns. So it is with the Rangemaster Sovereign I have a lot of pellets, but to keep things simple when testing a new rifle I will usually draw from a small selection, and only if that fails to produce the results I'm looking for will I search further afield. The Rangemaster Sovereign is a member of that select group.…