Gunner: Worth

WIN A COMPLETE WEBLEY
MASTIFF COMBO
WORTH £700!
GUNNER

PAGES OF
EXPERT ADVICE
EXPLODING
TARGETS!
Bang goes
THAT REALLY the bull!
WORKS!
Red
Alert!
Daystate’s latest supergun
SEPTEMBER 2018 £4.25
gets the Big Test
EDDIE JONES ON HIDE SHOOTING
MAKE YOUR DECOYS DELIVER TOP SPORT
www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 1
www.airgunshooting.co.uk
lk˅zG~lsjvtl
WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

WWW.AIRGUNSHOOTING.CO.UK
Find us on facebook too!
AIR GUNNER
EVOLUTION HOUSE, 2-6
EASTHAMPSTEAD ROAD,
WOKINGHAM, RG40 2EG
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
Sales Executive Jonathan Breen Finding your place in the hunting world takes patience
01189 742525 jonathan.breen@archant.co.uk
I
’d love to say that I was the damaging gardens. If they tell However, having your own
Office Manager Sharon Wells 01189 742524 quiet genius behind this me they have a problem, I’ll be shooting permission is one of
sharon.wells@archant.co.uk month’s articles, but I’d be there at every opportunity until life’s greatest pleasures and
a liar. A number of our brilliant the problem is dealt with. any time and effort spent in
PUBLISHING contributors have arrived at As Charlie explains, it can winning one will be rewarded a
Executive Director, Magazines a similar conclusion, which is be a slow process of offering thousand times over. Ed. ■
Peter Timperley
that we airgun hunters have help to begin with, until the
Group Content Director Vicky Mayer
Publishing Consultant Derek Barnes something of real value to offer landowner gets to see the
the land managers we meet. kind of person you are. Trust
SUBSCRIPTIONS Jim is in Costa Rica helping is slowly earned and quickly
Subscription queries Tel 01858 438840 farmers reduce the numbers of lost, so patience is the key.
Overseas +44 1858 438840 non-indigenous iguana lizards Don’t expect to get shooting
Online: www.airgunshooting.co.uk from decimating their meagre rights quickly; they’re much
Email archantspec@subscription.co.uk
crops; Charlie is working with too precious to be easily won. EDITOR
Write to Air Gunner Subscriptions, Tower
House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street, Market a local gamekeeper to reduce
Harborough, Leics LE16 9EF the damaging animals and
birds that make his life all too
NEVER MISS
Subscribe today - See page 74 or
PRINTING/DISTRIBUTION hard, and Jamie is helping local AN ISSUE! hand this form to your newsagent
News distribution Seymour, 86 Newman farmers by reducing the pest
Street, London W1T 3EX. burden on their land. Dear newsagent - Please reserve/deliver* a copy of Air Gunner
Tel 020 7396 8000 for me each month. *delete as appropriate
This mirrors my own shooting
kate.scofield@seymour.co.uk
life that is tightly bound to Name .............................................................................................................................................
Printed in England ISSN 1741-1939 OUTPOST
IMAGING the landowners I help. In Address .........................................................................................................................................
Printing William Gibbons ‘SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE – BIG ENOUGH TO COPE’
return for the shooting rights, .......................................................................................................................................................

AIRGUNNER
HELPS PROMOTE AND
I diligently endeavour to deal Postcode .......................................................................................................................................
PROTECT SHOOTING BY
CONTRIBUTING TO
Daytime Tel ...................................................................................................................................
with any problem they ask me
To buy a back issue of
Air Gunner call 01858 438840 to address. It might be rats in a NEWSAGENT - Air Gunner is on sale on the first Wednesday of the
Overseas: +44 1858 438 840 yard, squirrels chewing through month and is distributed by Seymour
pheasant feed bins, or rabbits
Published monthly © Archant Specialist 2012.
Archant Specialist is part of Archant Ltd www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 3
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2018 - ISSUE 417
MASTIFF COMBO
WORTH £700!
GUNNER

PAGES OF
EXPERT ADVICE
EXPLODING
TARGETS!
Bang goes
WORKS!
23
RedFEATURES THIS MONTH INCLUDE ...
23 THE BIG TEST 88 DAY OF THE IGUANA
Alert!
Daystate’s latest
The editor tests Daystate’s computer-
driven firing system in the Red Wolf
supergun
for accuracy
Jim Chapman is in a very hot spot - Puerto
Rico - helping to control an iguana
population explosion

gets the Big 33
Test!AIRGUN FUN! 105 SEVEN-UP
More airgun games from Charlie Philip Whiteman gets to grips with an
EDDIE JONES ON HIDE-SHOOTING impressive seven-round CO2 revolver - the
Portlock - this time for CO2 pistols
Gletcher NGT R
03 ED’S LETTER 20 IT’S IN THE BAG 47 ALL CHANGE

Airgunners offer a valuable service to Phill Price finds a ‘bag for all seasons’ in Peter Yeats goes over to the ‘dark side’ with
landowners, says the editor the Helicon innovative kit-bag his first PCP - a Walther RM8 Varmint
7 NEWS 28 HFT INTERNATIONAL 50 BANG ON!

All the fun of this year’s Game Fair at Gary Chillingworth reports on the first-ever Fun and games with explosive Barrage
Ragley Hall! Highlights and products. Air Arms International event in Holland Boards from Armex
9 LETTERS 36 JAMIE CHANDLER 52 COMPETITION

Here’s where your opinions and It takes time to build up trust when finding a Win a Webley Mastif worth £700, for just
questions get an airing permission, but it pays off, says Jamie £1.50. Get your entry in now!
13 GURU 40 CUTTING CAPABILITY 54 FAR-SIGHTED

Are .22 rimfires more powerful than FAC .22 The editor tries out a Camp12 machete - The editor gets his hands on a super-
airguns? Ask our guru tough, durable and reasonably priced binocular - at a great price
17 UKAHFT 42 THE HUNTER’S WAY 56 HOT STUFF

Gary Chillingworth is at one of his favourite Eddie Jones tells us how to get the best Make sure you take precautions when out
HFT events - the M.A.D. double-header from a pigeon shooting day in high summer in the field on a hot day, the editor advises
4 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

MASTIFF COMBO
WORTH £700!
GUNNER

PAGES OF
EXPERT ADVICE
EXPLODING
TARGETS!
Bang goes
WORKS!

MASTIFF COMBO
Red
WORTH £700!
GUNNER

Alert!
PAGES OF
EXPERT ADVICE
THAT REALLY
WORKS!
EXPLODING
TARGETS!
Bang goes
the bull!

gets the Big Test! Red
EDDIE JONES ON HIDE-SHOOTING Alert!
gets the Big Test!
EDDIE JONES ON HIDE-SHOOTING
105
33
88 SAVE
62AGG £1 USE
THIS
CODE
Now you can buy single issues
of Air Gunner online – go to
www.buyamag.co.uk/AirGunner
59 CHARLIE PORTLOCK 77 PLINKING PERFECTION SUBSCRIBE

74
Make friends with a gamekeeper, says Phill Price spreads pellets like WildFire,
Charlie, for your mutual benefit with this rapid fire rifle from Crosman
64 NEIL PRICE 80 OPTIMUM OPTICAL

The editor visits Hawke headquarters
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
Back to the ‘70s as Neil rebuilds an

CRIBE
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
&SUBS
PRIORITY ORDER FORM
Original Model 6 target pistol and finds himself impressed Air Gunner, FREEPOST LE6423,
Leicester, LE87 9BY, UK
AIR GUNNER
SAVE 65%
No stamp required if posted within the UK
YOUR DETAILS (mandatory to complete)

Mr/Mrs/Ms First name FROM £35.90 UP
Surname
SAVING 52% TO
67 SECRET SQUIRRELS 85 ACCURACY MATTERS

Address
PACKAGE
+ receive your welcome gift
Postcode
WORTH
Telephone Mobile
Email*
*Please enter this information so that we can keep you up-to-date with important
information about
your subscription and exclusive offers that we think you’ll enjoy. You can unsubscribe
from these £74.55
messages at any time.
DIRECT DEBIT Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
Stalking squirrels in the summer? No, Love your shooting? Then look after your Service User
Number 415266
REFERENCE
(office use only)
Air Gunner – Please start my subscription for £35.90

by annual Direct Debit.
Airgun World & Air Gunner – Please start my
subscription for £45 by annual Direct Debit.
13 issues of
Air Gunner
+ Boker Magnum
BRANCH
NAME AND FULL POSTAL ADDRESS OF YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY
Shadow Knife
says the editor. Static is the way to go equipment, says Mark Camoccio To the manager (Bank name)
Address
www.subsave.co.uk/AGN
RRP
Postcode
Name(s) of
£19.30
account holder(s)
AIRGUN WORLD & AIR GUNNER
94 CAMOCCIO REVIEW
Bank/Building Society number
68 NEW DISCOVERY
Branch sort code
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY. Please pay Archant Community

Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction, subject to safeguards assured
Media Ltd
by the
FROM £45 BOKER MAGNUM
SHADOW KNIFE
Media
Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that the instruction may remain with Archant Community
Ltd and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank or Building Society.
SAVING 65%
Date The Boker Magnum Shadow folding
13 issues of
Signature
YOU MAY CANCEL THE DIRECT DEBIT AT ANY TIME AFTER THE FIRST PAYMENT IS TAKEN.
Banks and knife features a black-coated 440
Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account.
Airgun World stainless steel blade, secured by
Mark Camoccio reviews the VT2 10x44 Mark puts the Diana 280 Classic CREDIT/DEBIT CARD

by credit/debit card.
Airgun World & Air Gunner – Please start my subscription
for £50 by credit/debit card
Start Issue No
+ 13 issues of
Air Gunner
+ Boker Magnum
a liner locking mechanism which
can be quickly opened using the
thumbstud. The handle is sturdy yet
lightweight making this one of the
Shadow Knife
Expiry
most popular knives in the Magnum
through its paces

Date Date (Maestro only)
SF from Discovery Optics

Card
number
range. Comes with a clip and
lanyard hole.
Signature Date
CHEQUE
Air Gunner – I enclose a cheque made payable to
PACKAGE
Archant Community Media Ltd for £41.45
Airgun World & Air Gunner – I enclose a cheque made WORTH
71 TICK BOX 96 AIRGUN COLLECTION

Source code: CAG8X09A
£129.80
payable to Archant Community Media Ltd for £50
By submitting your details you automatically authorise Archant Community Media Limited
to send you emails regarding your subscription.
Sign up to receive our regular email newsletter from the title you are subscribed to □.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Keep me up to date on special promotions, products and services from Archant Community
Media Limited □.
T&Cs: This is a UK offer only. Details of the Direct Debit guarantee are available
upon request. Savings are based on the full cover price and value of the gift. Airgun
World and Air Gunner are published 13 times a year. Gift is available while stocks
www.subsave.co.uk/AGNX Order online or ☎ 01858 438840 quote CAG8X09A
last and to those aged 18 and over. Please allow up to 28 days for receipt of the
gift. Subscriptions may not include promotional items packaged with the magazine
Lyme disease is on the increase - ignore Part Three of John Atkins’ series on
at the newsstand. OFFER ENDS 11/09/2018
the editor’s advice at your peril early Webley Seniors

IN THE NEWS For the very latest news visit us at
The Editor’s
Game Fair highlights
O
ver the last weekend of July, The Game Fair was held configuration before. I was told we can expect these stunning rifles
at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire and I think it’s fair to say to be in the shops in the early autumn.
that the weather defined the show. Friday was stinking They also had an innovative variant of their superb S400
hot, with only the slightest breeze to offer relief now and again, MPR target rifle, specially developed for use in the Target Sprint
except perhaps a pint of cider or two. Saturday was much cooler competition that Air Arms has been supporting. The new cocking
with cloud offering protection from the sun’s burning rays and a and loading system has broad levers on both sides of the action
powerful wind whipped up sending clouds of dust and dead grass that you press with your thumb to cock the hammer spring and
into the air. Sunday completed the set of ‘every possible weather’ withdraw the loading probe. A pellet is quickly dropped into the
with pouring rain and much lower temperatures. It was almost four loading channel and the levers returned to the original position.
seasons in one weekend. In competition, this system has been shown to be five vital
seconds faster than the conventional bolt-action, which could
AIR ARMS well be the difference between winning and losing. I thought it
In the Airgun Zone I visited our friends at Air Arms who had two was quite superb and it set my mind wondering if perhaps they
very interesting new models on display. The first was the S510 might apply it to other models in the S400/500 family.
Ultimate Sporter now with a regulator, that I hope to have on test
very soon in its high-power version. The sign read that the medium
length version will “ I thought it was superb and it set my mind wondering
deliver 32 ft.lbs.
in .22, which is
if perhaps they might apply it to other models”
just how I like my
high-power rifles. HULL CARTRIDGE
I asked if I could Across the aisle, Hull Cartridge had all the Weihrauch models on
have the walnut display and a new addition for us to enjoy. The ultra-successful
stock with the HW110 now has a carbine version. As with previous Weihrauch
soft-touch cheek PCPs, the HW110 carbine is a shortened version that keeps all the
piece because features of the full-length model, but reduces length and weight.
I haven’t tried That being said, it still had a good heft in the hands and that
one in that traditional German solidity about its build. Ô
The new Air Arms
cocking systems is
brilliantly efficient
The new S510

Ultimate Sporter
with a regulator Chris from Hull
will soon be in your Cartridge loves the
local gun shop new HW100 carbine

IN THE NEWS
Thermal-imaging
For the very latest
news visit us at
WINNER!
The winner of our
Summer competition
to win a Gamo Phox
was Edwin Sleep from
Redruth. Our latest
spotters have just competition is on
become so much
more affordable page 52
Everybody is
welcome at the
Game Fair, no
matter how bright
your trousers are!
LOUD, PROUD AND EXOTIC

SCOTT COUNTRY Alongside all the airgun fun, the game fair is a celebration of things
The ever-excited chaps at Scott Country gave me my first in the British countryside and some rather exotic ones too. As I
viewing of the FLIR Scout TK thermal-imaging monocular, which walked toward the fly-fishing demonstrations, I couldn’t believe my
I’d been looking forward to handling. This tiny device comes eyes when I saw a chap on … a camel! Just what that had to do
from a highly respected brand, yet is on offer for just £559.00! with the game fair I’ll never know. In the same area, my eyes were
I can’t believe that thermal-imaging scopes have come down so dazzled with a wide selection of the loudest trousers I think I’ve ever
far in price, making them affordable for so many more people. seen. The story was that a posh London club had recently banned
I truly believe that thermal-imaging devices are the future of its members from wearing red trousers, so lovers of bold-coloured
hunting sports and this is a huge step into the future for many, trousers had got together to be loud and proud in an environment
many people. where everybody is welcomed and accepted – the game fair.
AIRGUN RANGES GRAND NATIONAL

One of the joys of game fairs is to see all sorts of people One final piece of British countryside fun warmed my heart and made
enjoying their time on the airgun ranges close to the me smile. In the main arena they held a Shetland pony Grand National,
manufacturer displays. There was a huge choice of guns on where tiny young girls and boys raced their ponies over little jumps
offer, all with superb coaches on hand to help show-goers and the crowd simply loved it. The horsemanship shown was quite
get the very best from their experience. There was also a extraordinary, with confidence and skill hugely beyond their years. Once
long-range competition to win a Daystate Huntsman Regal, but the flag dropped, they were determined and gave no quarter even at
with the wind blowing so hard and so erratically on Saturday, I speed. The crowd applauded every effort, and I can’t think of an event
didn’t fancy my chances, so I chickened out. that I’ve seen give so much pleasure to so many people. ■
The airgun ranges I’ve never seen a sporting

gave hundreds of event raise so many smiles
people the chance
to have fun

YOUR LETTERS up airgunning of the three sports
LEOFTTTHEE R
MONTH
Back behind a gun experienced; Sarah said the
same, but would also like to try
I recently returned to airgunning after a more clay shooting. Since the
break of some 16 years, and a few weeks visit, the gunroom manager has
ago had the pleasure of taking a friend’s asked if they will be shooting
eldest son, Jim, 11, and daughter Sarah, again, and praised them on their
15, to a Young Shots day held by Bisley, exemplary behaviour.
at Braidwood in the Scottish Borders. (Not It’s events like these, open to
their real names as they’re under 16) It’s the youngsters who are the future A new gun club on the
open to all 10-16 year olds, with guided resource of our sport, that we Borders is great news!
experience on the pipe range, clays, and need more of. I am now working
the airgun range. The family moved here towards creating a new airgun club
from Kentucky six months ago, and have in the Borders which will have an emphasis
a very different background in gun culture, on the youth, hopefully linking in with the Hello Nick
so Sarah in particularly was very nervous Scouts etc, and with luck, will have a club It’s great to hear that you all had
about shooting a gun and what to expect. name and premises to shout about to the so much fun and all credit must go to
Just want to say what a fantastic time your readers. Your excellent magazine and the good people who looked after you
they had, and to see the smiles and the Young Shots day have confirmed that I so well. Please let me know when you
enjoyment on the young ‘uns faces was never lost the love for airguns. get your club up and running so that I
priceless. The Bisley staff were excellent can publicise it in Air Gunner and help
and great with the kids too. Best regards, readers local to you to come along and
Jim decided he would choose to take NICK join. Ed.
All gone? Home-made reactive target

There are few if any rabbits in my area anymore and a chap I met couple
of nights ago tells me there’s virus more deadly than myxomatosis that Here’s an idea to make shooting spinner targets a bit more
is now used which is near 100% wipe-out. Is this true? fun and challenging.
TONY I bought a tin of .22 short blanks, drilled a 5.5 millimetre hole
in my spinner target and then pushed the blank into the hole. A
Hello Tony bit of Sellotape over the top to stop the blank from dropping out,
Like you, we have very few rabbits in our area these days and I and there you have it –a homemade reactive target.
believe that there are a number of reasons for that. We have a large ANDY WALKER
population of common buzzards which predate on the rabbits all day,
every day, so they must be having an impact on numbers. Secondly, Hello Andy
we have recurrent myxomatosis that has wiped out huge numbers in What a very simple idea, well done! It seems noisy targets
the past, and lastly there’s the virus you refer to – Viral Haemorrhagic are all the rage today as you’ll see if you turn to page 50 where
Disease (VHD). I’m told that it’s very destructive and has spread here I write a review of the
You can’t beat a bit of DIY fun!
from mainland Europe in recent years. I’ve sent rabbit poo samples to new Barrage Boards
a research lab’ studying the problem and they’ve confirmed that it is from Armex. I have
in my area. Because the population is now so small, I only hunt them a question. Do the
when they present a specific problem. Away from those areas, I’m just blanks fly out as they
happy to see them because I worry they might get wiped out for ever. explode? I friend was
With no rabbits, our sport would be very different. Ed. telling me the other
day that he and a
Will the rabbit be lost friend made exploding
to the UK soon? Nobody targets years ago and
knows yet
they ended up with
bits of shrapnel flying
past their ears so
they stopped doing it.
I trust you’re wearing
proper eye protection
and are not too close
to the target so that
you’re safe while
having fun. Ed.

Get in touch...
Post your letters to: Letters, Air Gunner,
Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead
Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG
phill.price@archant.co.uk
The end of an era?

WIN
Wind and weight I have to say that I was shocked to read
In the summer issue of Air Gunner, the Charlie Portlock’s article about stopping
article by Gary Chillingworth on page using springers for hunting. I thought
55 stated that the wind factor has a he was a real springer fan and would
greater effect on a .22 over a .177 always be loyal, but it seems not. I have If you have a top tip, something
because of its slower rate of travel and to say that his experience mirrors my you’d like to get off your chest,
surface area offering more resistance. own. For decades I shot a highly tuned or an interesting anecdote,
Jump to Jim Chapman’s article on page Weihrauch HW77K that I believed was
80 of the same issue and he states the very best airgun in the world. I knew
then why not shoot us a line?
‘the heavier projectiles conserving it like an old friend and shot with it like We print the best letters and
energy are less influenced by wind’. an extension of my body. However, my emails each month and one will
Please explain. hunting buddies bought PCPs and began be awarded a top prize. It’s over
D W WILLIAMS to rave on about just how accurate £60 and you could win it simply
they were, so I asked to borrow one. It
by getting in touch and sharing
Hello DW was an early Air Arms S410 that had
I think the difference is explained by been used hard, but I was immediately your views
the power levels being described. Gary impressed by the recoilless action and
was shooting at sub 12ft.lbs, whilst Jim silent discharge. Begrudgingly, I put the
has access to vastly higher power rifles 77 away and bought an S410 of my own Hello Phil
in America. Because of this, his rifles will and I’ve never looked back. My ability to That’s a real coincidence because I shot a
operate with a wide range of pellets and place the pellet with precision is just so tuned HW77 before I bought an S410 as well!
this allows him to choose the one with much better with the new gun. I still love It was a long time ago and, like you, I find the
the highest ballistic coefficient, which my 77 and I’ll never sell it, but you just benefits the PCP offers are just too good to
can also be the heaviest. High velocity, can’t ignore the advantage brought by pass up. Unlike you, I sold my 77 when I was
allied to a good ballistic coefficient will pre-charged guns. short of cash, which was a terrible mistake
indeed offer the best performance in the PHIL that I regret to this day. I don’t even have a
wind, but back here in England my own photo of it to look back on. Ed.
tests agree with Gary’s. Ed. Some love springers but the PCP advantage is hard to ignore
At UK power levels it’s clear the .177 has an advantage
in the wind

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS
WELCOME TO THE AIRGUN CENTRE 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DAYSTATE SPECIALS

DAYSTATE / RED WOLF LAMINATE
DAYSTATE MK6
–––––––––– CARBON SILENCER
OUR PRICE £1,949 RRP £66
RRP £2,358 / SAVE £409 HAWKE MOUNTS
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
AO IR MIL-DOT RRP £159
DR BOB’S BI-POD
BRACKET RRP £32
RED WOLF
LAMINATE RRP £1899
DEBEN TILT
BI-POD RRP £74
LIFETIME GUARANTEE FINANC

INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOUR A.G.C TACTICAL HARD NT
- FREE SERVICING FOR LIFE CASE RRP £109
A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
THE AIRGUN CENTRE, 107 LONDON RD (A129), RAYLEIGH, ESSEX SS6 9AX
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
THEAIRGUNCENTRE.COM 01268 780730 / 784469 SALES@THEAIRGUNCENTRE.COM
HPAMI 553d
SCOPE
3-9X40WR
ADJUSTABLE STOCK
WHISPER MAXXIM DUAL

SOUND SUPRESSING
TECHNOLOGY
SHOCK WAVE
ABSORBING BUTT PAD
ADJUSTABLE AND DETATCHABLE
SIDE MOUNTING BIPOD
IGT
(INERT GAS TECHNOLOGY)
*AVAILABLE IN .177 & .22

This outstanding limited edition carbine sets a new standard in tactical airguns.
The Gamo HPA Mi arrives to the UK market packed full of features including the extremely silent
Whisper Maxxim barrel, next generation IGT recoil reducing power plant, height adjustable cheek
piece, SWA butt pad, 3-9x40WR telescopic sight and a compact folding bipod.
The HPA Mi will adapt to the most challenging terrain and will be ready to shoot
whenever you need it.
GAMOOTHERS CALL IT FUTURE ĻĻĻƚÓ§ùăƚ·ăù

AIRGUN GURU GET IN
TOUCH
Post your letters to: Letters, Air
Gunner, 2-6 Easthampstead Road,
Wokingham, RG40 2EG
D
ear Guru RIGHT: The rimfire
What’s the difference cartridge (middle) is
between a .22 airgun and
some ten times more phill.price@archant.co.uk
powerful than the
a .22 rimfire? My mate says the average airgun
rimfire is much more powerful, but Guru tip: Test the power
they’re both .22 of an inch, aren’t
they? So why is the rimfire more
of your rifle regularly to
powerful? You can get FAC .22 ensure that you are safely
airguns. Are they as powerful as a on the right side of the
.22 rimfire? muzzle energy law
PAUL
“some ten times the power of

the average airgun” it to make over 100 ft.lbs., some
ten times the power of the average
airgun. FAC airguns are usually
Hello Paul around 30 or 40 ft.lbs. although
A .22 rimfire is a very small rifle there are much more powerful
cartridge that contains propellant ones coming to the market, such
powder, like other rifle cartridges as the Gamo TC35 tested in last
that might be used for deer or foxes. month’s magazine. This is a .357”
In simple terms, the more propellant bore, launching huge 81 grain
you have behind the bullet, the pellets at around 120 ft.lbs.
more power it will have, and the BELOW: Rimfire The world is changing every
rifles are a staple of
.22 rimfire has very little. However, professional rabbit
day when it comes to high-
that tiny bit of propellant allows controllers power airguns.■

LOVED BY THOSE WHO
A P P R E C I AT E P R E C I S I O N
ENGINEERING
THE NEW COMMANDER CERAKOTE
A MASTERPIECE IN REFINED
AIR RIFLE ENGINEERING
TWIN AIR GAUGES 10 SHOT REMOVABLE MAGAZINE TWO STAGE TRIGGER (WITH SAFETY) SIDE BOLT
w w w. b ro c o c k . c o. u k
om{
The MADding
Crowd Gary Chillingworth reports on one of his favourite events of the year
T
here is no doubt in my mind
that one of the largest and
most enjoyed shooting events
of the year is the Maldon and District
(M.A.D.) double-header. Many
venues put on two-day events, but
the M.A.D. summer bash is certainly
one of the best.
There is always a huge party
atmosphere and if you are brave
enough to camp for the weekend,
then there is much drinking and
singing and good humoured
shenanigans. If you are very good,
shooters will regale you with stories RIGHT: Chris Moore
of missed targets and failed dreams, of Bicester targets
with his Zenith-tuned
all washed down with sarsaparilla Walther LGU
and more meat than it’s healthy for
a human to eat. In fact, the M.A.D created enough firewood to keep ground, throw it up into the air, and
weekend is probably the closest Essex’s log burners running for the then smash it down like a toy. It also
we will ever come to partying like next 100 years. Added to this was took out the bin, the table and was
Vikings. ‘the hill of terror’, and this is not so powerful, we now have a bunch of
For 2018, the course-setting team my name for it, it was christened small people singing about a lollipop
of Richard Woods, Jean Greatrex by the shooters. This hill was not guild and asking which way to the
and Steve Edmonson has spent two just steep, it felt vertical; it created Emerald City.
weeks getting the club ready and wind eddies and currents that you
it looked stunning. To make sure certainly don’t want anywhere near FIRST RATE
that the courses were a suitable an airgun pellet, and if you go to the The targets that had been placed out
challenge, Richard and his team M.A.D. website, you can see one of were first rate, and when you hear
hacked, strimmed and cut their way these eddies in action – you will see of shooters of the highest calibre
into new parts of the wood, and it lift our brand new gazebo off the getting caught with traps and tricks, Ô
A Refreshing New Concept in Air Gun Retail

Through our passion and experience of shooting in most air gun disciplines, we are able to
provide a level of knowledge and understanding on the demands of not only the individual,
but also the equipment needed in each market sector.
Unique to Bicester Target and unlike any other air gun outlet, every rifle and pistol in our shop is
available to test and try out, making sure that the rifle or pistol you choose is the correct one for you
not only in terms of fit, but also is correct for the discipline of shooting you choose to undertake.
This concept
really is where we
stand out from any
other retailer
01869 45 71 70 | WWW.BICESTERTARGET.CO.UK facebook.com/bicestertargetuk

WALTON MOORE OFFICES, 6 GRANGE MEWS, STATION ROAD, LAUNTON, NEAR BICESTER, OXFORDSHIRE OX26 5EG

om{
you know that all the hard work has ABOVE LEFT: Sarah last you a lifetime, and the lucky Day 1, Ethan Pantling; Day 2 Megan
Vickers with her AA
paid off. My favourite target of the S200 is loving the winner was M.A.D.’s very own Tom Reed, and M.A.D took the team
weekend, though, was on day two. sport Willingham. trophy for both days.
Richard is not only the head honcho If you have ever thought about
of M.A.D., he is also the owner of THE SCORES coming and having a go at HFT,
Flopover targets and a bit of a history There were some great scores on the then the M.A.D. double-header is
buff, so, he had commissioned a day and the winners were: certainly the way to go. Yes, it might
target to honour the IJN Yamamoto. In the Open class – Day 1, Simon Vant; be a baptism of fire, and the ability
This target was set on a blue watery ABOVE RIGHT: It was Day 2, Richard Woods. Recoiling – Day to give and take some stick from
hot, hot, hot!
mound, with its carrier group around 1, Gary Chillingworth; Day 2, Chris like-minded people will certainly be
it and a Mig aircraft attacking from Moore. Ladies – Day 1, Karen O’Mara; a big help, but you will never find a
above. Sometimes I think Richard Day 2, Laura Mclennan. Vet’s – Day 1, nicer bunch of people. At the drop
has way too much time on his hands.
The two courses were very
different, but the weekend will be “ it created wind eddies and currents that you certainly
remembered for one thing – the
heat! It wasn’t just hot, it was don’t want anywhere near an airgun pellet”
Dante’s seventh level of hell, hot.
I had wrapped my rifle in tin foil to Mike Burgess; Day 2, Ron Whitney. of a hat, they will offer advice, help
keep the sun off, and there was a In the .22 – Day 1, Jason Lockett; and guidance, and all for the bargain
burgeoning black market in cold Day 2, Don Vickers. In the Juniors price of a cup of tea and maybe the
packs and ice cream. As shooters sponsored by Bicester targets, the odd digestive or two. ■
moved around the course, you could 9-13 category – Day 1 and 2 was Myla http://www.theairguncentre.com/
see them dehydrating in front of you, Parsons-Smith, and Juniors 14-16 – https://www.hullcartridge.co.uk/
but it’s such a great fun weekend,
there was never a cross word or even
a grumpy face.
Luckily, the weekend also attracted
some great sponsors; on day one, the
AirGun Centre in Rayleigh donated a
stunning TX200HC, won by Gordon
Burns. The Airgun Centre is a great
place to get your gear. Whether it is
a new rifle, scope or pellets, they
will take care of you and guide you
in your purchase. On day two, the
sponsor was Hull Cartridge, the
importers for Weihrauch in the UK,
and they donated a stunning HW110,
a wonderful new rifle – light, accurate RIGHT: Miriam Stark,
and robust, and with Weihrauch’s one of our friends from
Holland made the trip
legendary build quality it could to M.A.D.

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / PULSAR TACTICAL
MTC CONNECT HUGGET BELITA
–––––––––– MOUNT RRP £34 SILENCER RRP £85
OUR PRICE £1,699
RRP £2,101 / SAVE £402
MTC CONNECT
3-12X32 SCB RRP £299
BI-POD ADAPTOR
RRP £10
PULSAR TACTICAL
RRP £1599
DEBEN TILT
BI-POD RRP £74

INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOUR DAYSTATE HARD NT
- FREE SERVICING FOR LIFE CASE INCLUDED
A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
mplskGrp{
Essential Equipment
The editor looks at an innovative field bag that might just suit his needs
H
unting on foot means that
we need to carry everything
we’re going to need. I’ve tried
bum bags and rucksacks, or just
stuffing everything into pockets,
and each method has its benefits
and drawbacks, but whilst looking
through Military 1st’s website, I saw
something different – the Essential
Kitbag from Helicon. I’ve used a few
pieces of Helicon kit over the years
and the durability and design have
impressed me, so I hoped this novel
bag would too. Basically, it’s a small
bag you wear over your shoulder, but
in use it’s much more than that. The
shoulder strap is wide to spread the
weight comfortably.
For me, the best part is the choice
of pockets, their layout and design.
When setting off hunting, I take
a knife, multi-tool, spare pellets,
spare magazines, insect repellent,
a pocket camera, my phone, some twin loops on the back to attach it.
food and very importantly, something The construction appears strong,
to drink. Even in cold weather it’s and top-class materials have been
important to keep hydrated, so a employed, such as Cordura fabric
small bottle of water is vital. and YKK zips, both known for
durability and performance. I haven’t
IN THE FIELD heard of the Pencott GreenZone
I found that they all fitted camouflage pattern before, but the
comfortably and the weight spread random digital mixture of greens and
across my shoulder wasn’t too browns look just right for my part of
noticeable. An advantage this design the world.
has over a rucksack is that when you This is a great bit of kit for my
need something from the bag you needs, especially in the warmer
“This is a great bit of kit for my needs, especially

in the warmer weather” TOP: All the kit I
needed fitted in
can pull it to the front and access weather when I’m not wearing a coat
comfortably and was
easy to access SPECIFICATION
the pockets without needing to take with lots of pockets that might carry Manufacturer: Helicon
it off. The compromise is that it can my necessary equipment. Everything
swing around as you stoop whilst I needed fitted with ease, despite
Supplier: www.military1st.co.uk
stalking, so I pushed it behind before the apparently small dimensions, Model: Essential Kit Bag
starting. Bum bags always slide and there was plenty of spare ID:TB-EKD-CD
down annoyingly, but my middle-aged room for a change of gloves or an
tummy might have something to do emergency Mars bar, too. This is a
with that. You can choose to carry really useful and practical carrier and
this bag on your belt by unclipping one I’m sure will see plenty of use ABOVE RIGHT: I liked
the easy access a RRP £35.90
the shoulder straps and using the very soon. ■ shoulder bag offers

ECHF BARREL
(ENHANCED COLD
HAMMER FORGED)
COMES WITH 2X 10
SHOT MAGAZINES
AMBIDEXTROUS
STOCK AVAILABLE IN:
IMPROVED BSA
REGULATOR
TWO STAGE
ADJUSTABLE
MATCH TRIGGER WALNUT BLACK BLACK
PEPPER SOFT
TOUCH
FEATURES INCLUDE:
QUICK FILL PORT ERGONOMIC SPRING
ASSISTED SIDE LEVER
INTEGRATED SHROUD COCKING
& SILENCER
SAFETY CATCH SYNTHETIC LOCKABLE RIFLE CASE
PRESSURE GAUGE
HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE SHOT COUNT
SOFT TOUCH
CHEEK PIECE BUTT PAD
.177 - 110 shots .22 - 120 shots
www.bsaguns.co.uk / BSA Guns UK LTD Official

For more information or to enquire
about becoming a stockist, contact:
sales@bsaguns.com
BSA Guns (UK) Ltd, Armoury Road
Birmingham B11 2PP
ipnG{lz{
THE BIG TEST ON THE FIRING LINE THIS MONTH:

DAYSTATE RED WOLF
A Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing

Can Daystate’s new electronic super-gun beat the editor’s much-loved MK4?
AN ELECTRONIC HEART
I
had a Daystate MK4 as my action in the Red Wolf model.
primary hunting gun for many Actually, I have tested it before At its heart is a computer-driven
years and it delivered supreme in its Pulsar guise, so I was in firing system that controls the
performance in all weathers and for no surprises, but as I’m not a hammer force to compensate for
conditions. Many people told fan of bullpups, I was hoping that the change in reservoir pressure,
me that they wouldn’t trust an the Red Wolf layout would suit creating supreme shot-to-shot
electronic gun because they worried me better. There’s no doubt that consistency, as shown across the
they’d be unreliable, but I can tell Daystate makes striking guns, chronograph. This is the foundation
you, from my own experience that and the Red Wolf is no exception of accuracy in any system, and one
they’re not. I had one failure when with the ambidextrous stock’s of which Daystate is rightly proud.
I forgot to charge the battery, so dramatic swoops and curves Instead of employing a coiled steel
that was a human problem not an catching the eye – something that spring to drive the hammer, an
engineering one, and no different seems emphasised even more by electro-magnet is used which has
to forgetting to fill the air reservoir. the laminate stock. The Turkish many benefits, including eliminating
I loved that gun and in some ways walnut version looks understated bounce and vibration, plus its force
BELOW: Getting
I wish I’d never sold it. So with that the stock to fit me by comparison, and is just right for is infinitely variable to suit the
in mind, I was looking forward to perfectly ensured that the shooter who prefers a more pressure it faces. It’s a massively
I made the best of the
testing Daystate’s latest electronic handling conventional appeal. clever and advanced system, Ô

ipnG{lz{
quite unlike anything offered by its ABOVE: It’s a striking left, right, backwards and forwards. The safety slides left and right
gun in any light
competitors. It really will suit everybody. My test across the rear of the action, making
The trigger has no mechanical gun’s shoe position was set well for it just as practical for lefties as for
connection to the hammer, but is my medium-sized hand and broke the rest of us. Adding further to the
instead a part of the electronic very cleanly, but was way too light for gun’s ambidextrous credentials, the
circuitry. In reality, the trigger is a field use, so I adjusted it to a more sidelever can be fitted to the left
switch and so resists no load, which sensible pressure. or the right by the factory, and the
allows it to be built for performance magazine can be loaded from either
only. This means that it can be set RESPECT side with just a small mod’, so our
in almost any way you like, including BELOW: The trigger I have a deep respect for the fact left-handed pals are well catered for.
‘shoe’ can be massively
moving the trigger ‘shoe’ up, down, adjusted that when designing this action,
Daystate incorporated some LIGHT ACTION
advanced thinking that offers real The action of the sidelever is
help to the hunter in the field. incredibly light, which is because
Firstly, the action will not fire if all it’s doing is loading the next
the sidelever is open. If the lever pellet into the barrel from the mag’.
catches on a bramble without you There’s no hammer spring to cock,
noticing and you try to shoot, the so no force is required. I know the
action will say no, prompting you to magazines very well, having used
close it and ensuring that your shot them for over 10 years, and as long
flies true. Secondly, the magazine as you keep them clean, they’re
is indexed by a pneumatic piston solidly reliable and durable.
activated by the pressure of the I applaud Daystate for fitting
shot. This means that if you cycle an adjustable height cheek piece
the sidelever without firing a shot, and butt pad. They’ve taken these
the magazine will not rotate and the important upgrades further still by
rifle cannot double-load. These are making the butt pad adjustable to
real-world improvements that make a move right and left, as well as up
difference in the field, and ones that and down, and the cheek piece
I applaud Daystate for building in. does the same. This allows a great

ipnG{lz{
deal of customisation which takes RIGHT: The sidelever

action is light because
time to perfect, but does allow for there’s no hammer
the ideal fit. A rifle that fits you spring to cock
correctly is a huge contributor to
consistent mounting and accurate
shot placement, which of course is
the whole point of shooting.
Like many top manufacturers,
Daystate fits Lothar Walther barrels
and chooses selected, match-grade
ones, which have delivered on their
promise again and again over the
years. The nature of the electronic
firing system allows Daystate to
use just 17” barrels which keep the
guns at a handy length. Wrapped
around it is a full-length, carbon-
fibre shroud that offers some noise
reduction and is threaded to accept
a silencer for those who demand with just 7fps variation from shot spinners, and I don’t mind telling
the maximum. Daystate offers a to shot. This means 11.5 ft.lbs. you, it was a real joy.
choice of silencers and supplied my muzzle energy – a group of settings
test gun with a shocking-red Belita that’s about as close to perfection HAVE A GO
from Hugget. This is the compact as I’ve seen. As ever, I encouraged my club mates
version that gives away a little bit The next job was to trundle off to try the rifle so that I could hear
their opinions and views of such an
extreme rifle. I chose to keep the
“It’s a massively clever and advanced system, quite unlike price to myself, but they knew well
enough what a rifle like this costs.
anything offered by its competitors” It’s fair to say that the appearance
had the Marmite effect, with some
of noise suppression for a saving in to my gun club at Bisley where a saying bright red laminate under
weight and length. As with all Hugget 55-yard range full of targets spread shiny lacquer was all too much,
silencers, the build quality and finish before my test bench. It’s rare that whilst others simply adored the look,
BELOW LEFT: A
were exemplary and easily a match magnetic cover I have the time simply to sit and but all agreed that it’s a fantastically
for the Red Wolf. keepsthe filling port shoot like this, and to add to the easy gun to shoot accurately. In my
clean
treat, the infamously tricky Bisley eyes it’s much more Lamborghini
SOLID NUMBERS wind was having a day off. This Aventador than Aston Martin
Before getting started with my allowed me to revel in the Red Wolf’s Vantage.
testing, a quick visit to my ever- superb accuracy, and within minutes The firing cycle is quick and
trusty SKAN chronograph was in of getting the zero perfected I was smooth and although you can’t call
order, and the results matched taking any target I wanted with ease. it ‘dead’, there’s so little movement
the ones the factory supplied with BELOW RIGHT: I soon arrived at a point where I was vibration that I could watch the
I know these
the rifle; 8.44 grain Air Arms Field magazines well and able to choose which flake of paint I pellets in flight, something I’ve often
Diablos were averaging 784fps use them all the time would chip off the knock-downs and noticed with electronic Daystates. Ô

ipnG{lz{
Perhaps it’s the electro-magnet firing ABOVE LEFT: Cycling a large feeling about it, despite the finest expression of everything
the sidelever from the
system, or something else, but it’s shoulder felt quite delivering my index finger perfectly Daystate has learned throughout
very impressive whatever it is. natural to the trigger shoe. It’s clear that its history, distilled into their
I tinkered and tweaked the will suit taller shooters very well ultimate rifle. ■
stock adjustments until I felt more ABOVE RIGHT: Adding
indeed, but everybody else would be
connected, but the rifle has another cast in the butt pad well advised to handle one properly
brings the scope in line
Daystate trait – it just feels like a
big gun. The pull length is only ¼”
with your eye more
naturally
before buying.
SPECIFICATION
over the industry standard 14½”, LCD SEE?
yet it feels longer. It’s also a tall BELOW: Placing the On the left side of the action is
gun because of the buddy-bottle safety here suits an LCD display that offers vital
Manufacturer: Daystate
right- and left-handed
design. Even the pistol grip has shooters information about the gun’s Web: www.daystate.com
current state. It’s also used when Tel: 01785 865958
programming the electronics, a Model: Red Wolf
process that’s to dull to describe
here, but suffice to say it’s easy Type: Electronic pre-charged
enough to do. I selected settings pneumatic
that I felt benefitted my MK4, such Action: Magazine-fed, sidelever
as the minimum reservoir pressure,
Length: 39” (99cm)
and low battery warnings, which are
really useful out in the real world. Weight: 7.5lbs (3.5kg)
Having shot and handled the Red Barrel length: 17” (43cm)
Wolf for a while, I sat back and Calibre: .177 .22
tried to sum up my feelings for such
an extraordinary gun. It’s clearly
Trigger: Electronic two-stage,
not for everybody, costing close to adjustable
£2000, but for those who are in this Safety: Manual
market, it’s a compelling option. Fill pressure: 230bar
Technologically, it must be the most
advanced rifle on sale today and if Shots per fill: 460 .177, 530 .22
you’re looking for a gun that makes Shot to shot consistency:
a statement, then nobody is going 7fps
to fail to notice it. It’s too shiny and
Stock: Ambidextrous Turkish
bold for my own needs, out hunting
in as stealthy a way as I can, yet I’d walnut or laminate
love to have all the advantages the Options: Silencer, high-power
electronic system offers. Then we versions, .25 and .303 calibre
have the accuracy – it’s stunning,
and I thoroughly enjoyed placing
pellets with extreme precision, and
even watching them in flight. It’s RRP: £1949.00
an impressive gun and perhaps

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / PULSAR LAMINATE
MTC CONNECT HUGGET BELITA
–––––––––– MOUNT RRP £34 SILENCER RRP £85
OUR PRICE £1,959
RRP £2,351 / SAVE £392
MTC CONNECT
3-12X32 SCB RRP £299
BI-POD ADAPTOR
RRP £10
ALSO AVAILABLE
IN FOREST
PULSAR LAMINATED DEBEN TILT

RRP £1849 BI-POD RRP £74

INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOUR DAYSTATE HARD NT
- FREE SERVICING FOR LIFE CASE INCLUDED
A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
pu{lyuh{pvuhsGjvtwl{p{pvu
HFT Holland
Gary Chillingworth visits Holland for a superb international comp’
A
s target shooters we are lucky
to have a huge amount of
competitions to shoot in the
UK. We can travel from Cornwall
to Scotland, stop via Cardiff on
the way, and we will never be that
far away from a HFT club shooting
at the weekend. Over the last few
years, though, there has been a
growing interest in shooting abroad,
and in 2018 it was announced
that Air Arms, the UKAHFT and FT
Schalkhaar in Holland were going to
hold the first Air Arms International
shooting event. I’m here to tell you
how the event went, and what we
had to do to take our rifles abroad
and make sure we did not fall foul of
the law, both in the UK and Europe.
Firstly, you need to be aware that
the laws in Europe do vary from
country to country. To give you an
example; in France and Holland,
sound moderators are legal, but in
Belgium they are not; 12 ft.lbs. rifles
are legal in France, Belgium, Holland,
Poland and the Czech Republic, but
in Germany, a sub 12 ft.lbs. will earn ABOVE: Marta a translation, so that if you are for an EFP (European Firearms Pass)
Ruzickova is a Czech
you a visit to the cooler, a possible shooter and is one of stopped by a gendarme, you can that is issued to all people travelling
heavy fine and prison sentence. Europe’s top ladies explain why you have a boot full of with firearms and shotguns. This
Basically, what I am saying is, check guns and where you are going. does not apply to us, and we do not
the laws of where you want to travel The chrono’ letter and invitation need one. We did have an issue with
and any country you have to travel is also required if you are travelling some staff at P&O who thought that
through, because an honest mistake by ferry, or to be more accurate, it’s one was required, but when you ring
could prove costly. best practice to have it. I spoke to them, ask to speak to a member of
P&O, Stena, DFS and Eurotunnel, the firearms team and they will guide
BY AIR and they were all very similar. They you. They will log your car registration
If you choose to fly, there are only all want you to declare the rifle after and this should help you to move
certain airlines that will take rifles. you have booked, and when you through customs seamlessly.
BA and Easyjet are certainly two check in.
that will, and all you need to do is With Eurotunnel, we had a blue KNOW THE RULES
inform them that you are carrying sticker placed on our car hanger and When you get to France, don’t forget
a sub 12 ft.lbs. air rifle when you were invited into customs. The chaps to keep a Hi-Viz in the car – not in
make your booking, and fill in the there were really helpful and looked the boot! The local plod like to pull
required paperwork. You might be at our paperwork and passed us over UK cars, and when you get
ask to supply evidence that your rifle through. out without your Hi-Viz that’s an
is sub 12 ft.lbs., and this can be Our friends, Gordon Smith and automatic 90 euro fine, you have
obtained from a registered firearms Jo Cogger, travelled overnight with been warned.
dealer who will chronograph your Stena and they were told to keep the As I mentioned, we were on our
rifle and give you a letter showing guns in the car, but had their pellets way to Holland to shoot in the Air
the rifle’s serial number and power. placed in the ship’s safe. Arms International. This event was
Also, if you are going to a shooting P&O send out a form that has being held at one of the top FT clubs
event, it’s good to have a letter of to be filled in and returned a week in Europe, and under the watchful
invitation from the organisers – and before travel. Now, this form asks eye of Eric Van Esch it was certain

to be an epic event. The main shoot RIGHT: Roy is welcome

back, but his shirt
was to be held on the Saturday, but must be left in the UK
we were heading down on the Friday
so we would be fresh and fighting
fit. However, there was the matter of
the Dutch hospitality and the night
shoot. After we had checked into our
stunning hotel, we headed off to Ft
Schalkaar to meet up with 34 other
Brits who had made the journey and
a plethora of Dutch, Belgian and
Czechs. As we arrived, the heavenly
scent of barbecuing meat wafted
towards the car park and the sound
of laughter was in the air.
GOOD FRIENDS
I am proud to say that I can count
quite a few of the European
contingent as friends. They often
travel over for the HFT World
Championships in the UK ,and it’s
always great to meet up with them. I
asked a few of them about the night
shoot because it was starting to get
dark and with a chuckle, I was told
that it would certainly be a shoot
RIGHT: Walter Tanzini
that I would never forget and would receives his HFT-500
thoroughly enjoy. voucher from Charles,
thanks to Air Arms
As the sun dipped below the
horizon, the rifles were removed from
their slips, and lamps were attached.
Some of us had dedicated torches,
others – like Liam Todd – just
bungee-corded the world’s largest
torch to the side of his gun. The
format was: Twenty of the targets
had to be lamped, but the other
10 were illuminated with their own
light source. One target ‘when shot’
released a ghost that went flying into
the air, another played the theme
from Benny Hill, and another fired a
flash gun in your face and blinded
you for the next target. All the night
targets were so much fun, and the
whole event was perfect for getting
us into the mood for the following
day. Whoever, came up with these
targets is a genius, a twisted genius,
RIGHT: Charles
but a genius nonetheless. receives the Brexit
The Air Arms International was a trophy from Eric.
Europe now belongs
standard 30-shot HFT course, set to us
to 2018 UKAHFT rules, and the
boys and girls from Ft Schalkaar had
put on a belter. When you looked
at the course, it was there to be
shot, no gimmicks, no traps, just a
good old-fashioned HFT course that
was a mixture of hard, medium and
easier targets. As we moved from
the woods to the field section, the
wind would grab hold of the pellets
and throw them around like they Ô

were in a washing machine, and the I’m glad to say that Team UK took TOP LEFT: The Dutch Meynckens, and followed up by Dale
hospitality is second to
heat haze that was coming from the the trophy and Europe is ours. I just none and the barbecue Alcroft, and finally, the Juniors went
ground made it hard to range the need to let Junker know in Brussels. was stunning to Myla Parsons, and in 2nd was
targets, but there was a wonderful This event was not really about Martijn Zielman.
sense of joy and friendship, and the the score, but in the night shoot, The event was generously
shooters were more interested in Tom van Dokkum was 1st, Kieran sponsored by Air Arms and they gave
having fun then knocking over tin Turner 2nd and Chris Cundy was us a stunning voucher for an HFT500
chickens. 3rd in the Open. In the Recoiling, which was won by Walter Tanzini.
Michiel Bodewes was 1st, Rens This event was better than I could
THE BREXIT TROPHY Gaarenstroom was 2nd and Danny TOP RIGHT: The Dutch have ever imagined. Our Dutch
equivalent to a Travel
Deep down, we all knew how Roff was third. For the Juniors, Lodge hosts were accommodating and
important this shoot was, and the Martijn Zieleman was top score. In welcoming, and shooting in Europe is
reason for this was the Brexit trophy. the Air Arms International, the winner both fun and friendly. Getting there
We had normal silverware for all the was once again Tom van Dukkum, is simply a car drive away, so if you
winners, supplied by Air Arms, but we closely followed by Siman Vant fancy it and want to come and have
also had the Brexit Trophy; the top and Chris Cundey. In the Recoiling, a try, then check out the Air Arms
five scores from the UK versus the Mr Bodewes took top honours, International website for details
top five from Europe. To the winner, followed by Keith Warburton and about 2019 – or just drop a line to
control of Europe; to the loser, Richard Merlijn. The Ladies was a Eric, at FT Schalkhaar, because they
shame abundant. So, with the fate UK affair, with Michelle Parsons in BELOW: All the Air have shoots throughout the year
of the continent on our shoulders, top place and Becky Rawlins in 2nd Arms International and I am sure you will always be
competitors had a
we knew that we had to perform, and . The Veterans was taken by Frank great time welcome. ■

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / RED WOLF WALNUT
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
DR BOB’S BI-POD
BRACKET RRP £32
RED WOLF
WALNUT RRP £1799
DEBEN DELUXE DEBEN TILT

SUPER SLING AND QD BI-POD RRP £74
SWIVELS £41

A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
THEAIRGUNCENTRE.CO.UK 01268
THEAIRGUNCENTRE.COM 01268
780730
780730/ 784469
/ 784469 SALES@THEAIRGUNCENTRE.COM
SALES@THEAIRGUNCENTRE.CO.UK
hpyn|uGm|u
Perfect Plinkers
Charlie Portlock has rediscovered his love of handguns with some great plinking challenges
SMILE!
M
y step-mother (not evil could really have been anything ABOVE: If you don’t
have trees then a
exactly, just convent-raised) at all, so unpredictable were the washing line is fine There’s a great scene in the film
often described me as ‘gun crosswinds in that particular part of ‘Lethal Weapon’ where (Murtaugh)
mad’. I resent this now, as I did Sussex. Danny Glover and Riggs (Mel
then, not least because I wasn’t gun Speaking of nemeses, my first Gibson) are showing off their pistol
mad at all; “It’s actually a rifle …,” I pistol, the brilliant Webley Nemesis, skills on the range. The X9 is the
usually quipped, but the sour frown was a treasured possession for perfect pistol for this, being a copy
told me that my tactful correction six glorious months before it was of Riggs’ Beretta 92. Despite its
had missed its mark. Some people stolen by a carpet fitter – proved, relatively low shot count per CO2
are deaf to reason. There was a compensated, but never recovered. canister (circa 40), it’s the most fun
constant power struggle between It’s taken me until now to explore I’ve had plinking in ages. Stand six
my father’s relatively hands-off pistol shooting again and those early yards away, and make a face on a
approach in allowing me freedom experiences with the Webley have piece of cardboard, you could draw
to roam, and her more autocratic set the bar rather high, but it’s been one out beforehand. The winner is
style of child management. Suffice great to get back into pistol shooting, the prettiest/ugliest depending on
it to say that the good will out, not least because it’s extremely your preference. Simple fun.
and as long as I completed my list challenging.
of chores I was fairly free to do This month is all about games for 20 (16) QUESTIONS
as I pleased, roaming the fields CO2 pistols. There’s so much that A mainstay of long haul car
unhindered. Her distant calling of you can do with a semi-auto that journeys, 20 questions requires
my name, if ever it reached me just doesn’t work quite as well with a one player to think of a famous
through the densely packed trees break-barrel. person (alive or dead) and the other Ô

hpyn|uGm|u
player has 20 yes/no questions stop BB ricochets. I use low-hanging

to guess that person correctly. trees, but it’s perfectly feasible to rig
Think, ‘Are they alive?’, ‘Are they a similar thing on a washing line or
female?’, ‘Were they known for their pieces of string tied to a fence.
moustaches?’ etc. Beer or drinks cans work
In this case, each contestant particularly well because they absorb
writes down their choice on a piece much of the BB’s energy, and make
” you can’t do much better than a semi-auto,

blow-back CO2 pistol like the X9”
of paper, folds it up and places it a satisfying sound. I number each
in a central location. They begin can from 1-10, and then shoot them
with a full magazine (15 for the in number order, each one being
X9) and take it in turns to hit a tin worth its respective number. The
can at 6 yards before they’re able most points wins. If it’s too easy, just
to ask their question. If they miss, increase the range a little and be sure ABOVE: Smile! Five the X9. There’s something engaging
yards was still too far
then they’re not allowed to ask. The to place each can about 12” (30cm about the mobility of this BB pistol
first person to guess the answer apart) to prevent accidental hits. and its relatively low power makes
wins a pint/£1 or an ammunition This can be a game in itself or for a great addition to the garden-
advantage in the next round. This can form part of a wider series of gunning cabinet. Just be sure to
game will also work with break- challenges, as in the Move it! game recycle those old CO2 canisters with
barrels and rifles of course. above. your metal. For the environmentally
conscious, it’s even possible to find
MOVE IT! NEW BEGINNINGS canisters that are made using CO2
This one requires a big garden, or Pistols are a new frontier for me byproducts from industry that are
very good backstops in a smaller and in terms of safe, kinetic plinking almost carbon neutral by design
one and is great fun. You set up you can’t do much better than a BELOW: You don’t need (check out www.genuineinnovations.
much equipment for
a course of reactive targets like semi-auto, blow-back CO2 pistol like the games to work com). Enjoy your shooting! ■
tin cans, gongs, cymbals etc., and
then move through the course to
an agreed time limit. The most hits
wins. It’s important that each target
is placed sequentially and that the
shooter doesn’t move beyond its line
until it is hit. This keeps participants
from rushing forward too fast and
taking shots from too close a range.
Watch out for ricochets and definitely
wear some eye protection.
You’ll need to shoot it through a few
times, and time yourselves to get just
the right amount of challenge. Each
target will need to be in front of the
shooter and no shooting backwards
towards the safe area is allowed, for
good reason. I find that a course of 12
targets of gradually decreasing size
is more than enough of a challenge,
especially when there’s a time limit.
You can also try Hollywood mode
which involves extra points per moving
shot, commando role (with the pistol
on safe of course) and pithy remark.
Great fun and difficult!
IN THE TREES!
This both a game and an easy way to
rig a permanent, mower-proof target
range in the garden. Again, this is
dependent upon the security of your
backstop which must be soft to

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / H.R HUNTSMAN REGAL
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £1,367 / SAVE £268
HAWKE MOUNTS
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
DEBEN TILT
BI-POD RRP £74
H.R HUNTSMAN
REGAL RRP £899
DEBEN DELUXE
SUPER SLING AND QD
SWIVELS £41
A.G.C TACTICAL HARD

LIFETIME GUARANTEE CASE RRP £109 FINANC
INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOUR NT
- FREE SERVICING FOR LIFE
A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
780730
780730/ 784469
o|u{pun
Barn Finds
Jamie Chandler tells us that a slow approach is the best way to a new permission
I
n the early summer, I received RIGHT: Even in the
shade of my scrub
some bad news that will probably hide, it was hot
be familiar to some of you. I’m
finally losing my longest-standing
permission. You might remember,
my in-laws sold their farm to a much
larger local estate last September,
but left me holding the deer and
vermin rights for the next five years.
As time has gone on, the shooting
rights holder for the rest of the
estate has been keen to have
total control of the rights and been
pressuring the Estate Manager to
move me on in some way or other.
Meanwhile, since my in-laws
moved, being up at the farm has
had the same feel as walking
around a deceased relative’s house,
and my visits have become less
and less frequent; buildings are
changing, field plans are changing
and the once cherished bond I felt decided to take the offer and move in the next two years.
between the farm and I has eroded on. I’d have been perfectly within As I explained it to my wife, it’s
somewhat. my rights to turn the offer down and very much like me throwing away my
carry on, but the estate is one of old Jack Pyke boots. I’ve had them
DEAL DONE the biggest around here and walking for five years, worn them at least
After a meeting with the Estate away with 300 acres and with a every other day, our pet rabbit has
Manager and him making an offer of strong bond of mutual respect with chewed holes in them and yet only
financial recompense for my deer- the Estate Manager, more doors now, six months after I should have
stalking business, plus some 300 MAIN: A stunning view could well open up as they continue binned them and with a replacement
from the highest point
acres of new land if I wanted it, I on the estate their aim of increasing to 6000 acres pair having sat in the cupboard for

o|u{pun
nearly a year, I am ready to part ABOVE LEFT: This enough free rein to start taking an connection, and show that your
year’s pheasant poults
with them. are coming on safe in airgun out on the estate, in case interest is more than just about
So, out with the old and in with the shed I get a chance of a rat around the shooting.
the new. pheasant-rearing pens, but this isn’t
Last driven season, I did a few an uncommon amount of time, and THE WAY TO GO
days’ beating on an estate about possibly something to bear in mind if Don’t worry about getting it wrong,
11 miles away from me. From there, you are looking for permissions. just pop, “Am I right in thinking…”
and through mutual interests, being Some ground might fall into your at the beginning of a farming-related
nosy about the large estate that lap and off you go the next day, rifle question, for example, and with
had bought the farm, and shared in hand, but in my experience, in the right person at the right time
friends with connections there, I ABOVE RIGHT: The the vast majority of cases it takes an incredibly in-depth answer will
cattle feed needed
struck up friendship and a deal protecting from the time to build up trust. In this case, be returned. Don’t interrupt unless
with the Keeper to take clients out corvid onslaught it’s been 18 months nearly, and asking a follow-on question, and
deer-stalking and pigeon-shooting being there weekly in the last five at the end of the answer, throw in
over his 2000 acres. Obviously, it months, to get to me bringing up casually, “… and I bet that rabbit
wasn’t free, but for a 25% split of the airgun with me regularly. Turning damage in the top field (again, an
the takings to him and the resident up door knocking, asking once for example) doesn’t help.” … and go
farmers, I could carry on that side permission then driving off never from there.
of things, and I’m now working with to be seen again if it’s a no, might This approach worked wonders
the keeper on expanding to include work occasionally, but building up a the other day with Harry, the farmer
another 500 acres of benefit to both rapport, sharing insight in subjects on the estate. Rooks and crows are
of us. affecting the person you’re talking smashing in to his cow feed in a
to, enquiring about and showing a black cloud so large that it looks like
BUILD UP TRUST knowledge of yields and moisture it’s heralding the apocalypse. There
It has taken me until this point, content around harvest to farmers, are literally hundreds, and they all
some six months later, to be given for example, all helps to build a flock together causing a massive Ô

o|u{pun
amount of droppings to be deposited MAIN: My work saw hadn’t learned how to push open the temperature was soaring past 30
me out early with
at one go amongst the cattle food. a client, stalking pen gate and wander down the feed degrees and I was fast becoming a
After trying to cull them almost daily on the new estate troughs, chasing the crows away. sweat drenched, sun-bleached blob
with shotguns, (currently 261 had A quick move to another potential in my hunting gear.
been shot in the last six days) and hot spot saw me bag two woodies I decided to bail, picked up my
with noise complaints from nearby and a feral in quick succession, not bounty, now fly-blown in the heat
houses rising, Harry thought perhaps complicated shots at 25 – 30 yards and no good for dinner, and left. The
the airgun was the way to go, and with pretty much no breeze, so we crows and rooks will be here another
I was the bod lucky enough to be were off the mark. The real targets, day and I’d had a few brilliant hours
asked. the crows and rooks, seemed flighty, amongst the cattle sheds and barns,
coming in and landing, but then off win - win really! ■
ELUSIVE SHOTS again at the slightest movement.
Obviously, when shooting around Perhaps the hard hammering to their
barns there are risks; cattle, people, numbers that week had put them
asbestos roofs, farm machinery, on edge, but getting a safe, still
poults in rearing pens, and in this shot was proving elusive.
case £15,000 worth of 1940s Willys I waited for a few hours,
Jeep to avoid putting holes in. A but even in the shade
careful risk assessment later and of my makeshift
I had chosen a spot that looked hide amongst
safest and most promising, or would the scrub, the
have if one of the resident bulls

rup}lz
Perang Power
The editor tests an unusual machete with a Far East influence
D
espite the drought-like RIGHT: Cutting
power way beyond
conditions, I seem to be expectation was the
dealing with brambles and Camp 12’s stand-out
feature
nettles all the time recently, and I
find that a sharp and well-balanced
machete is most often the best
tool for the job. I’ve been trying an
unusual design from Kershaw – the
Camp 12 – that’s based on the
Perang-style from Malaysia, intended
to deal with cutting wood better than
a long, thin blade.
The style might be traditional, but
the construction is ultra-modern.
The blade is made from 65MN, a
carbon steel I’ve never heard of, so I
looked it up: ‘This is a medium-high,
carbon-content alloy made for a high
degree of toughness and resilience’.
That sounded useful, so I put it to
work. Carbon steel corrodes easily,
so the blade has a black oxide finish
applied to protect it, but of course,
the exposed edge grind must be
dried and oiled after use.
The handle is made from glass-filled
nylon and despite its hardness,
I found it comfortable and secure,
even with sweaty hands. There’s a
good heft to the blade that allows a
proper swing to make the cut, rather
than needing to force it, helping to
reduce fatigue on longer jobs. I was
surprised to see just how fine the edge
grind was and wanted to see how it
would survive cutting some dry wood.
Another modern touch is the
synthetic edge guard that’s very ABOVE: The clip-on blunt or turn. I even chopped down
edge guard is simple
minimalist, but perfectly functional, some standing dead wood to make a
and takes up little space in your
and secure
clearance, and yet the Camp 12 just INFO
rucksack. Another positive feature kept on cutting. I’ll declare myself
is that it won’t absorb and hold impressed and more than a little
moisture against the edge, as a surprised. The edge has dulled a Blade length: 12”
nylon one would. touch, but is still sharp enough for Overall length: 19”
brambles and soft wood and there Weight: 374 grammes
CUTTING POWER are no chips or rolls, despite my
Web: www.heinnie.com
With such claims of cutting power abusive behaviour.
and durability, I felt at liberty to This is quite a tool, and a head Model: Kershaw Camp 12
tackle any job that came my way, and shoulders better than your
some of which were not machete average machete. I’m not often
jobs, to be honest. I slashed, cut impressed with something as simple
and chopped anything I needed to as this, but the Camp 12 really is RRP £39.95
move, and waited to feel the edge something special. ■

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / WOLVERINE R C TYPE LAMINATE
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
BI-POD ADAPTOR
RRP £10
WOLVERINE R C TYPE
LAMINATE RRP £1349

SWIVELS £41

A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
o|u{pun
The Hunter’s Way

Eddie Jones is after pigeons with some new kit and his good lady
S
ince writing the features about are guys out there who have shot ABOVE: By keeping the disturbance, they will usually come in
hide low I could shoot
the most common species that near on 100 pigeons in one session over it comfortably for as long as the stubble is around.
we control on our rounds, I have with an air rifle. I have not been so These days, you need to be on your
been asked how much kit I would take lucky, though. I think my biggest bag game because farmers soon plough
for a typical decoying session. When was around 50-60, but you need the the fields over and re-sow them, so
I first started out, I would just take a pigeons in your area to get this kind it will be good to have a chat with
few decoys, some small sticks with a of day to start with. the farmer and ask when they will be
sharp end for the decoys to be pegged In the early spring, you will have cutting and re-seeding.
into the ground, and a bit of old army clover as the main diet, so any Knowing where the pigeons
camo net. This was all I wanted to paddocks or grass fields on your usually come in regarding the wind
direction onto the fields is also a big
advantage. If you can catch their eye
“Finding the pigeons’ flight lines will give with the few decoys that you have
you the biggest advantage” taken, then you should also be able
to use the shot pigeons that you get
early on, to build up a good realistic
carry on a warm summer’s afternoon. shoot will produce good numbers at pattern to keep them coming for as
It did get me a few shots, and that’s times, but once the crops are cut, you long as possible.
okay if you are just having a nice really need to go out and find those
chilled session, but I later found out large flocks and be ready for them. GIRLY COLOURS
that it was not enough if I wanted a big Finding the pigeons’ flight lines For this session I wasn’t shooting
bag of pigeons. will give you the biggest advantage over crops. I had noticed a few
When shooting over stubble, you of getting in amongst them from the pigeons dropping onto a cut grass
can get some great bags, and there off. If the pigeons can feed without field whilst I was walking around on a

o|u{pun
rabbit session, and I thought it would ABOVE: I kept the through from the inside out.
pattern simple to begin
be a great chance to try out some When setting up the hide, you
new kit that I had been given to need to find a nice background
test, Also my partner has taken an behind you so that it hides any
interest in my hobby and wanted to movement you make as the pigeon
come to see how decoying worked. comes in. The more shade the
She has been doing rather well better, if possible, but make sure
recently on targets, and also on a you can see what is coming in from
recent rabbit shoot, so I couldn’t say both sides. Don’t be tempted to
no. Having Carina with me would also make the hide too big, or too high –
give me a true test on how good the you need to be able to shoot over it
new Ghost camo net from Jack Pyke comfortably and see what is coming
would cope with the girly colours she in. For this test, though, I pulled the
insists on wearing. hide further forward from the trees,
The net consist of two layers; just to let more light inside it.
one is full mesh and the other is
mesh cut to show a more broken TOUGH ON THE NET
up pattern, and holes to aid seeing I wanted to do this test without any
through, and I must admit, I was well BELOW: The ‘floater’ help from the surrounding fauna. I
adds movement to the
impressed on how good it is to look pattern would never just use a net in front of
the hide on its own in real sessions,
but this was a test so I had to use
it raw. From the pictures, you will
see that the girly pink really could
be seen through the net, and in real
situations I would not dream of letting
the missus wear that – no matter how
big the bottom lip gets, but once she
switches to the Quick Wick T-shirt
you definitely see the difference.
When I was in the hide wearing the
darker bottoms and camo colours, it
certainly helped to blend me in well.
I know you’ll say that you can see
the bags that came with the decoys
on the floor, but that was purposely
set up. I would make sure in a real
situation that these were all put in
one darker bag, or covered over; I just
want to be tough on the net.
REALISTIC DEEKS
There had been no specific flight-line
that the pigeons were taking on this
field when I was watching them, so I set Ô

o|u{pun
up the decoys in a horseshoe-shape just to show her how important it is

pattern around 30 yards from the hide. to be hidden from pigeons. We had
There was hardly any breeze, and I four come in close to landing, only
could face the decoys in any direction for them to flick their wings and head
I wanted so that they didn’t look on to the trees to our left. Every
regimental. I then set up a bouncer time Carina lifted the rifle, she was
slightly behind the decoys, but just a seen. Biting my nails and keeping
little. This will give the impression of a calm, I finally persuaded her to ditch
pigeon coming into land, but also give the pink, and straight away she had
room for a pigeon to pass the flapper one present itself just a little further
and come into the pattern. forward of the decoys. I insisted on
The kind of decoys you use will a head shot because she was still
depend on you, and what you can in her infancy shooting off sticks.
ABOVE: Pink ... really? got a nice 30-yard shot perfect.
I decided to pull the plug on the
“From the pictures, you will see that the girly pink really could session because I had been called to
attend a farm to do some fox control
be seen through the net” that evening, and I didn’t want to be
rushing around. The short session
afford, but the Enforcer decoys I wouldn’t want an injured pigeon, had proved that the Ghost net and
that I have been testing really take so I knew it would be a kill or miss. decoys worked faultlessly – whether
some beating now, and you can get She did manage to miss this one, BELOW LEFT: Carina the bouncer was pulling them in, or
can comfortably carry
them at a great price. They are the but I was being impatient and telling my decoying kit the whole pattern was right. I know
most realistic plastic decoys I have her to get a move on before it got that whatever pigeon arrived in the
seen and they have definitely pulled sunstroke, so it was my fault. I had area, it came to the pattern. I know
in more pigeons doing this type of hoped it would fly off quickly, just so I am going to get some stick off
decoying than any others I have used. she could see how fast you have to the guys for taking the other half
be when shooting with an air rifle – shooting, but I don’t care. It is great
PERSONAL CADDY! this pigeon was either dumb or the that I can share my hobby with her,
It was now time to see if anything net was doing exactly what it was and I have my own personal caddy! ■
would come into the pattern. It was made for.
mid-afternoon and baking hot, not Anyway, we did manage to get a Enforcer decoys -
the time I like to be out decoying, couple more come straight in and, BELOW RIGHT: This WWW.ENFORCERDECOYS.CO.UK
but I had to try. Well, I started off yes, she did get her prize. I was over neat bag stops the
Enforcer decoys from
WWW.DJDECOYS.COM for all your
letting Carina wear her girly pink top, the moon that she stayed calm and getting damaged decoying kit.

o|u{pun
Pre-charged pleasures
Peter Yeats tells us why a PCP has changed his shooting – for the better
W
ow! My first PCP; imposing, feeling durable and stable in the field. very difficult, are steadier and more
black, quiet, accurate, new You might well be thinking that accurate, but it is the recoilless
– and mine! both guns are so similar that there performance when solidly braced
Not so much ‘out with old and in must be some reason for buying the that really eclipses the Benjamin.
with the new’ as semi-retirement Walther. Of course, you’re absolutely At 40 yards, hitting a 20mm target
for my much-loved Benjamin Trail right because the qualities it used to be a real challenge, but
and its replacement by a Walther provides dramatically enhance the now, the PCP challenge is to choose
RM8 Varmint. Of course, it’s not all shooting experience. The trigger is which side of the disc to hit, so my
change; it’s a sub-12 ft.lbs. air rifle a smooth and light, two-stage affair, group sizes have almost halved. At
and it has several similarities with adjustable for the length of each my new preferred hunting zero of
the Benjamin Trail that it replaces. stage – a longer first stage means a a metric 30 metres, groups of 10-
The stocks are both synthetic, shorter second. Even though it’s not 12mm are pretty standard, whereas,
all-weather designs, capable fully adjustable or match grade, it is for the Benjamin, 20-24mm would
of withstanding the worst of clearly superior to even the modified, be my goal. The Walther will hold
weathers without damage. They are now single-stage Benjamin unit. its own against most .22 calibre
ambidextrous, matte black, look PCPs and my new challenges at the
impressive and handle well. The EASY ACCURACY local range’s 30 metres, are 5mm
chequering provides lots of grip, and The recoilless action makes shooting spinners or the 5mm spheres on
the panels are perfectly positioned. accurately much easier and although the handles of cocktail stirrers –
Pistol grips are firm favourites of the challenge of consistently unthinkable for my piston gun skills!
mine, and those of the Benjamin and shooting a recoiling piston gun can Also, with any piston gun,
Walther RM8 Varmint are extremely be fun in itself, guaranteed humane, significant movement and time
comfortable in use and so aid my one-shot kills are what matter in are required for a reload, making
accuracy. Other similarities include the field. My RM8 Varmint delivers a quick second shot or discreet,
calibre – both are .22 for greater precisely that. Even off-hand, unnoticeable reload sometimes very
retained energy when hunting, and BELOW: Off the bipod
standing shots, where holding a difficult. The Walther’s eight-shot
weight – both are heavy airguns, the accuracy is superb heavy rifle precisely on target can be magazine and bolt-action eliminate Ô

o|u{pun
both difficulties. I find the robust TOP LEFT: I carry the quickly. On my permission, even Of course, the gun wasn’t
bipod any time I’m
metal magazine’s capacity perfect, hunting when I set out with the intention perfect. The Benjamin Trail came
never having encountered the need of stalking, I carry the bipod, with a sling attached; the Walther
for more than eight consecutive, and Allen key to attach it, in my had neither sling swivels nor easy
rapid-fire shots. The huge shot count combat trousers’ side pocket, so mounting points. I wanted to keep
means that, in reality, there’s no changing to a static, ambush hunt the Picatinny rail free for the bipod
need to keep track of your shots. is achieved in a couple of minutes. so the first hunt was about carrying
With the possible exceptions of Using the Walther from the prone all that weight, and it became
ratting and the shooting range, position, with the bipod and a laser clear very quickly that the problem
CENTRE: The
there is more than enough capacity gauge delivers vital rangefinder, means a lower, less had to be solved. Fortunately, a
in its buddy bottle for any shooting infomation at a glance visible front profile, an absolutely tactical strap, in black webbing,
session. stable shooting platform and one- provided the perfect solution. A
shot accuracy out to my maximum loop goes over the barrel and a
SMOOTH OPERATOR hunting range of 40 metres. Even buckle attaches to the top bar of
The bolt action is pretty slick, reloading with the Walther, from the the stock, so it is easily and quickly
too. By following the user guide’s prone position is, as expected, very removed or attached. It even has
instructions to lubricate the easy and unobtrusive, requiring only an adjustable buckle, enabling
mechanism before use, an easy, slight movement of my right arm. extension to the perfect length for a
TOP RIGHT: The bolt-
smooth operation was achieved after action is smooth and a Marvellous! braced standing shot.
a very short running-in period. The pleasure to use So, my first PCP really is a very
side location and action of the bolt ANY SUPPORT different beast to the gun that it
itself reminds me of my air cadet Stalking is also greatly improved with replaces; it makes shooting from
days, shooting rimfire .22s half a the Walther. No longer is there the every position easier, more accurate,
century ago. I love the positive action need to concentrate on exactly the more satisfying and, therefore,
and feel, as well as the nostalgia! same hold, loose grip and consistent successful. To die-hard springer fans
A bipod fitted to a piston gun recoil, no matter what angle the out there, I earnestly recommend
changes the point of impact (POI), shot taken. With the Walther, I can trying a PCP, perhaps at your local
necessitating scope adjustment stabilise the rifle on the bough or airgun range or club. It might just
or mil-dot allowance. Fitted to the trunk of a tree, gate post or wall – turn the page to a brand new chapter
Walther, there is no change of POI anything solid – hold the gun in the in your airgunning enjoyment. I’ve
so the built-in Picatinny rail, under most comfortable grip and be certain also recently added a lamping kit
the fore stock, allows a huge step BELOW: The common that my point of aim will also be the that attaches to the, now, recoilless
forward by enabling the attachment features between my point of impact, making stalking very tube of my scope, but that, as they
old and new guns are
of a Harris-style bipod easily and obvious much easier. say, is another story. ■

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / WOLVERINE R B TYPE WALNUT
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
DR BOB’S BI-POD
BRACKET RRP £32
WOLVERINE R B TYPE
WALNUT RRP £1349

SWIVELS £41

A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
780730
780730/ 784469
wspurpun
Flash, bang, wallop,

what a shot! The editor tries some innovative targets from Armex
BANG, BANG, BANG!

T
here seems to be a real appetite with a loud bang and plenty of smoke ABOVE: As they ignite
they blow the target
for noisy, smoky targets these so that you know for sure that the hit face away I took one out to some farmland
days with the likes of Firebird is spot on. This product came about where I hoped the noise wouldn’t
and Firecap selling like hot cakes, and when some of the Armex team were disturb anybody, and shot the caps
now is seems that the Barrage Board brainstorming new targets. Tossing out one by one. Misses tend to
could be the next big hit, literally! ideas about, they wondered what shoot right through the board from a
These innovative targets have 20 would happen if they glued shotgun 12 ft.lbs. rifle, so clearly, you need
circular aim points on the face of primers into a sheet of MDF, and the a good back stop or a safe area
21 x 30 cm sheets of 10mm thick Barrage Board was born. They make behind the board at all times.
medium density fibre board (MDF). At them in-house at their Birmingham At just £9.99 for a sheet of
the centre of each one is a cap that factory and the first 1000 they made 20 targets, the Barrage Board
explodes if you hit it perfectly with an sold out so quickly that they’re looks like good value for money
airgun pellet. The explosion is strong making more as fast as they can go. when compared to other explosive
enough to rip away the face of the The target face is self-adhesive targets. It looks like Armex has
target and there are clear warnings plastic and therefore unaffected by come up with a winner, and a great
about keeping a safe distance from moisture, but blasts away nicely as alternative target for those who
the target before you shoot. I hope the primer explodes. The company is enjoy some noise and smoke with
I don’t need to say that wearing working hard toward a carbon-neutral their airgun shooting. ■
safety glasses is vitally important for position, so knowing that the wooden
anybody shooting a target like this. board is fully biodegradable feels just www.armex.co.uk
A good hit rewards the shooter right for their environment credentials. RRP £9.99

AIRGUNNER 51
jvtwl{p{pvu
WIN A MASTIFF COMBO!

Scope and mounts may
vary from those shown
JIGSAW
This is a snippet from a picture printed elsewhere
in this issue. Can you spot which page it’s on?
HOW TO ENTER
By Post
Check out the jigsaw piece printed on the entry form and
see if you can spot from which main photo elsewhere in
this edition it has been taken. When you have found the full
picture, write down the page number on which it appears in
the answer box below and send your completed entry form to
✁
the address at the bottom of the page. Entry costs just £1.50
per go - cheque and postal orders payable to Air Gunner - and
you can enter as many times as you like. As a bonus though,
for every five entries you submit, you get another one free -
i.e. six entries for £7.50.
Closing date for entries is the 26th of September one entry

free provided the entry form is submitted with a validated
‘Free Competition entry’ token from their membership pack.
Multiple entries allowed. If you do not wish to destroy your
copy of the magazine you can send your entry on a separate
piece of paper. Photocopies are also allowed. All correct
entries will be put into a hat and there will be a draw to
I’ve spotted the shot on page ... decide the winner.
The prize is supplied on behalf of Air Gunner from the
manufacturer.
Send your answers to: August Jigsaw, Air Gunner, The prize will be sent to the winner’s designated gun shop
Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, which may levy an administration charge for handling.
Wokingham, RG40 2EG

jvtwl{p{pvu
THIS SUPERB COMBO IS WORTH £700 ...
... AND IT COULD

BE YOURS FOR
JUST £1.50!
T
he Webley Mastiff could be described as the bullpup in the field. The Mastiff has an excellent, two-stage, adjustable
that isn’t a bullpup, because it has exceptional compact trigger, a match-grade barrel, two, multishot magazines as
handling, and enough sporter style to please those who standard, and a fully adjustable, oiled walnut thumbhole stock,
don’t like bullpups! plus a single-shot pellet tray and it all comes in a fully padded
This working compromise between bullpup and traditional hard case. Now add a high quality Nikko Stirling Panamax
sporter is actually a no-compromise performer when it’s scope and mounts, and you have a truly outstanding combo -
charged up and ready to show what it can do on the range, or that could be yours for just £1.50! Get those entries in today!
ENTRY FORM
✁
Name
Address
Postcode Daytime Tel

Email
Prize to be sent to: (Name and address of your local gunshop)
Postcode
If you are under 18, an adult must sign on your behalf and give his/her name and address
Name
Address
BA SA
Postcode enter using members can
on
‘FR EE EN e of their special
TRY’ token
s
September competition closing date: Wednesday the 26th of September 2018
Tick if you have a subscription to Air Gunner.

Anyone involved in the preparation of this competition may not enter.
Archant Ltd, publisher of Air Gunner, would like to keep you up to date with any special offers or new products/services which might be of interest. Please tick if you DO wish for Archant Ltd to contact you in this way by email
SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive information by post phone. We occasionally pass your details onto carefully selected companies who wish to contact you with information about their products/services,
please tick if you DO wish to be contacted in this way by email SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive such information by post phone. Prize must be claimed within one year of the declared closing date.

ipuvj|shyz
A great ad’ Vantage

The editor shows us why we should all own a pair of compact bin’s
A
s a countryman and a hunter,
I’m never far from a pair of
binoculars, for the simple
reason that I love to see what’s
happening around me. My eyes
are constantly caught by a red kite
soaring past my study window, or
perhaps the delightful redpoll I saw
in a hedge top as I set off to walk
the dogs this morning. Each of
these sightings was made that much
better because I had a pair of Hawke
Vantage 8 x 25 folding binoculars
to hand. It’s a fact that bigger bin’s
offer even better performance, but
they often get left at home because
they’re a hassle to carry, but the
folding 8 x 25s slip into a pocket
or can be carried on my belt in the
padded case supplied.
Their design allows the two
‘barrels’ to fold together making them
truly compact, but when opened up
they have a substantial feel, and rifle. They’re so incredibly light at just ABOVE: Having bin’s at rabbit you hadn’t seen, and how
hand at every moment
the textured rubber casing offers a 295 grammes that you hardly know is such a joy the shake of a branch takes your
good purchase, even when wet. For that they’re there. eye to a grey squirrel searching for
glasses wearers, the soft rubber eye hazelnuts in the canopy. They have
cups twist down so that you can get SEEING THE BENEFIT a second benefit, which is to make
the full field of view, although, as Hunters who aren’t used to you slow down, rather then rushing in
with all binoculars, I prefer to take my binoculars need to take time to learn and spooking your quarry before you
glasses off and use them with the just how impressively helpful they have any chance of a shot.
cups at full height. Whilst hunting, are. Stand back and slowly examine Inexpensive binoculars used to be
they can be carried around the neck the areas in front for any signs of truly terrible, but things move on and
and inside your jacket, so that they life. You’ll be amazed at just how the 8 x 25 Vantage on test was bright
don’t swing and bash against your often the flick of an ear reveals a and clear, with pretty sharp image
quality. I watched rabbits in the hay
rows, and a fox cub sunning itself that
had not seen me, in fine detail. They’re
just the thing to keep in the car so
that you always have the pleasure of
seeing in detail what’s going on around
you. Highly recommended. ■
INFO
Model: Vantage 8 x 25 green
Web: www.hawkeoptics.com
LEFT: Folded up,

they fit in your RRP £67.99
pocket easily

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / WOLVERINE R C TYPE WALNUT
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
BI-POD ADAPTOR
RRP £10
WOLVERINE R C TYPE
WALNUT RRP £1299

SWIVELS £41

A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
tlkpjhs
Too Damned Hot

Caution is needed through a long day in the field, the editor says
I
t seems a little odd to say that in summer camo patterns that are ABOVE: Ensure that you can drink the frozen one as it
you have plenty of
we need to worry about getting just right. They also offer light gloves water for you and melts. Voila! Really cold drinks on
too hot in the UK. We’re mostly and hats that work well, too. Eddie your dog tap all day long.
busy complaining about being cold, Jones can be seen wearing them on If you feel at all unwell, please
but summer heat can be serious, page 42. stop shooting and go home. If
most especially for those of us not you have a headache, dizziness,
so used to it. In the past, I’ve sat in COOL DRINKS confusion, a loss of appetite or feel
a hide decoying pigeons for far too It’s vital to keep properly hydrated sick, have cramps or an intense
long, and come home feeling a little on long, hot days and I use a trick thirst you’re better off at home in a
sick and with a pounding headache taught to me by a friend who was cool shower, where your family can
– common symptoms of over-heating born in South Africa. He takes an keep an eye on you. These can all
and dehydration. old plastic drink bottle, three-quarter be signs of heatstroke and must be
It makes good sense to use shade fills it with water and then puts it in BELOW: Sometimes it’s
taken seriously. As with all forms
from a stealth point of view, and the freezer overnight. He then fills a just too hot to hunt of shooting, it’s better
also to keep the sun’s power off our second large water bottle to hunt with a friend
skin. We need to be covered up for and puts it in the fridge. whenever possible
camouflage, so areas that usually let As he sets off in the so that you can look
heat escape such as our head and morning he puts both out for each other
hands can no longer do their job. bottles in an insulated and call for help in
Clearly, we need to wear the lightest bag. The frozen one an emergency if
weight clothing possible, and Jack keeps the liquid water something really bad
Pyke makes some excellent long- cool for a very long time happens. Let’s be
sleeve cotton T-shirts and trousers and then later in the day careful out there! ■

1978 2018
ANNIVERSARY 40
YEARS
SPECIAL OFFERS

DAYSTATE / WOLVERINE R B TYPE LAMINATE
DAYSTATE MK6
RRP £19
HAWKE ECLIPSE
3-12X50 OR 4-16X50
DR BOB’S BI-POD
BRACKET RRP £32
WOLVERINE R B TYPE
LAMINATED RRP £1399

SWIVELS £41

A
E
INST
RROW
MO
OR
TO
DE
R T
TO
D AY - S H O O
o|u{pun
In the Game
Charlie Portlock opens a window into the world of the game-shoot keeper
G
amekeepers are busy people
who work hard continually
to solve a wide variety of
problems. We can help them in
this task if we’re well informed
and sensitive to their needs. This
month, we’ll be looking at building
our understanding of what goes into
running a successful shoot, and
investigating when the airgunner
might be able to prove his/her utility.
I’m grateful to apprentice keeper,
Patrick Dickson, who took some time
out of his busy week to share some
of the challenges that he faces in
the job, and to discuss how diligent
and proactive airgunners might be
part of the solution.
THE KEEPER
Traditionally, the gamekeeper was
charged with organising the sporting
activities of a country estate.
Primarily, this meant maintaining
and increasing the populations
of quarry species through habitat
management, feeding and predator
control, as well as ensuring that his
employer and their guests were well
looked after during their sporting
pursuits. These include a variety of
activities from lowland and upland
deer stalking to driven grouse,
pheasant and partridge shooting, as
well as rough shooting (walked up)
and waterfowling.
The head keeper would also
have been responsible for deterring
poachers as well as overseeing ABOVE: I joined Patrick you’ve never been beating or driven By far the best way to build trust
on his rounds
estate security. On more traditional shooting, this world can seem a little and a working relationship with a
landed estates this role has mysterious. So just what can we shoot is to go beating (driving the
remained largely the same, whilst do to help out and to increase our birds to the guns) from October to
growing to incorporate other shooting opportunities? February. It’s normally paid, circa
elements like habitat management. £25.00 per day, although on smaller
There are now also a great number THE PROBLEM SOLVER shoots it won’t be, and everybody
of small, independent shoots We’ve talked before about the just shares the workload. Once you’re
across the UK run as syndicates by need to offer something to keepers known to your local keeper or shooting
collections of friends, farmers and and landowners when looking for syndicate, it helps to be able to offer a
neighbours. In addition to these permission, and Patrick echoed this few solutions to their problems.
less financially minded shooting sentiment when I asked him how “One of the biggest jobs is in March
enterprises, there are many large- airgunners can get best get a boot in when we need to get a huge net over
scale commercial shoots run purely the door. the laying pens to keep out birds of
for profit. The airgunner can be of “Come beating, be polite and prey and carriers of diseases.”
great utility to all of the above, but if interactive, and do a good job. Simple.” For many keepers the spring is
Ô

o|u{pun
a busy time of year as they work ABOVE: Small shoots RODENTS in check. If a shoot has a long-term
also need your help
to prepare the laying, rearing and Grey squirrels can present problems habitat management strategy for both
release pens and control predators in the laying pen. It’s here that shooting, bio-diversity and forestry,
that might enter these enclosures the hen birds lay the eggs that are then keeping young trees alive to
to take eggs or young birds. In then sat upon in situ, or more often provide cover, timber and nesting
terms of airgunning, rats, squirrels collected for incubation, hatching and sites is important. Some squirrels
and corvids all present problems release. Squirrels will eat eggs, as are useful in terms of bio-diversity,
because they’re persistent and will rats, and both species will happily but keepers will always appreciate a
clever. Woodland rabbits can also be raid grain feeders all year round, helping and trusted hand in keeping
an issue from March until the birds particularly in the winter when other their numbers down.
are released in the autumn because food is scarce. Squirrels can also
they can undermine the wire and pose a serious threat to hardwood CORVIDS
create holes for small predators like saplings if their numbers aren’t kept I live next to a shoot that borders
stoats, and even foxes, to use as
entry points.
In light of the above, airgunners
can start by beating and then
offer to help out with the laying
pens. After that, they should
find themselves trusted and in a
position to approach the subject
of shooting, if it hasn’t already
arisen. Not all keepers use air rifles
because they often need to carry
something more versatile to deal
with corvids on the wing, as well as
squirrels and foxes, and so a 12
bore shotgun is standard. However,
keepers will be keen for you to help
to control rats, squirrels and corvids RIGHT: Patrick didn’t
want to put the
because it makes their job easier. Weihrauch down

o|u{pun
absence of commercial interests or cautious.

dedicated funding from a landowner, “I’d probably say yes, but give
the part-time keepers will likely have them certain places to go. My worry
all of the above problems without the would be that if the birds were down
resources to solve them. Although (July onwards) and I’d said that they
smaller private shoots are likely to be could shoot some squirrels, that
less well known, there will be people they might be going off where they
in the beating of any larger shoot shouldn’t be. That would be a big no
who will either be part of such an no. They’d need to stick to the areas
enterprise or will know people who we agreed on and only shoot what
are. Beating really is the best way we agreed.”
in to more shooting opportunities.
Contact the British Association for CROSSING OVER
Shooting and Conservation (www. Both amateur and professional
basc.org.uk) for more information keepers share a great deal of
about where to start. common interests with airgunners.
Even if you don’t currently know
some pasture, and in four years FAR RIGHT: The SAYING ‘YES’ of any shoots local to you, it’s
handsome pheasant is
I’ve never seen a magpie. There’s the number one game The quiet report of an air rifle is a very likely that the landowners
a good reason for this, not least bird in the UK distinct advantage when shooting and farmers of your existing
because corvids predate upon young around pens because it doesn’t permissions do, and it doesn’t
lambs and ewes but also because distress the birds prior to the take a great deal of complex
they’ll happily take pheasant eggs shooting season in the same way networking to forge some new
and destroy the nesting sites of that a shotgun would. Stressed birds connections if you know how best
many birds. Corvids are incredibly don’t hold well in one area and if to approach the situation. It also
intelligent; they have advanced they’re not concentrated in one place pays to be aware of the current
social structures and in the case then they don’t fly well. A keeper’s political environment. Shooting
of crows, a well evidenced ability reputation is built upon how his/her sports are under an increasing
to use language. They’re wary, wily birds fly. The air rifle is also seen as amount of pressure and are often
and evasive. I very rarely shoot them
personally, but if you can bag one or
two of these birds you’ll be doing any “Both amateur and professional keepers share a great
farmer or keeper a favour.
deal of common interests with airgunners”
INTO THE WILD
Every year, some lucky birds escape a safe option in areas where there the subject of negative publicity,
the guns and return to the wild. are livestock or footpaths, enabling particularly around the issues of
Although the majority of hens will be the keeper to carry out squirrel, rat commercial shoots burying their
rounded up and wintered in relative or corvid control in an understated birds, grouse moor management
security and comfort, this small manner. Although the majority of this and raptor persecution. This could
percentage will breed, nest and rear will involve lethal or live trapping, understandably make people
young completely naturally. This a dedicated and consistent person increasingly wary of accepting help
will almost certainly be the case on with an air rifle can very easily be from unknown quarters until trust
small, syndicated rough shoots that part of the solution to a variety of has been established, and a slow
only host two or three walked up days keepering conundrums. and steady approach is advisable.
per year for friends and neighbours, I asked Patrick if he’d be willing to Thankfully, airgunners are in the
and it’s here that the airgunner let a helpful, willing beater do some perfect position to do just that.
can really make a difference. In the shooting around the pens. He was Best. Charlie. ■

N O W AVA IL A B L E
THE 2018 BUYERS GUIDE
CMMBG18A
CMMBG18A

Recoilless
rebuild PART 1
Neil Price is rebuilding a classic target pistol from the ‘70s
T 1
he Original Model 6 was one of the
first ‘recoilless’ spring-powered air
pistols, produced in the ‘70s, so
this one is about 40 years old. This is a
break-barrel target pistol and has a twin-
opposed piston, also known as the ‘Giss’
action. The pistons are kept in phase by
a rack and pinion mechanism.
A friend of mine brought this round to
me, as pleased as Punch with himself
because he had bought it at ‘a bargain’
price from a gun shop, and he asked me
to look over it and chrono’ it for him.
2
So I set up the chrono, weighed some
pellets out, loaded it, shot through the
chrono’ – and got no reading. I cocked
the pistol again, and found that the pellet
was still in the breech, and there was a
piece of fibre poking out of the transfer
port.
I know from past experience of these,
that this was a piece of the original (pun
intentional) piston seal so it had to come
apart.
I asked if he had test-fired it at the
3 4
shop, but he hadn’t. He paid his money,
grabbed the pistol and rushed out. I
suppose, if it had been a functioning
pistol, he wouldn’t have got it for such a
bargain price.
We have covered another variant of this
pistol in Air Gunner magazine, but this
one is the Target model, and differs on
quite a few points in regard to stripping
and rebuilding so I decided to write it up.
1 The pistol grips are taken off by

removing the two cross-head screws.
5 6
2 Remove the two slot head screws
shown here …
8
3 ... slide down and remove the pistol
grip/trigger guard assembly.
4 Remove the end cap, slot-head

locking screw and unscrew the end
cap from the action.
5 These can be tight coming off,

so to stop damaging the surface 7
9
12 11
10
15
16
13 14
17 18
with grips I use a piece of an old

leather belt in the teeth of the grips.
This usually works on really tight
9 Carefully release the spring compressor
and the top piston, and the mainspring
assembly can be removed.
14 The cocking shoe arm can now
be lifted out of the wider part
of the cocking slot in the lower piston
components. and removed from the front of the
6 Before doing anything else, 10 Take out the small slot-head, barrel
pivot locking screw and then the
housing.
make a note of where the

secondary buffer seal is situated in
barrel pivot pin.
15 Press this lever upwards towards
the action …
relation to the end of the compression
cylinder. 11 Drive out the cocking link retaining
pin and remove the barrel assembly
completely. 16 … and the lower piston can be
removed.
7 With the pistol in a spring

compressor and with the spring
tension just taken up, take out the 12 Take particular note how the trigger
tension spring is located within the 17 This is all that was left of the
piston seal.
small locking screws and remove the trigger housing.
two pinion covers, one from each side
of the action.
13 Drift out the trigger pivot pin. Now
with a bit of manipulation the trigger
18 Now that we know what is needed,
it’s into the car and a drive over to
John Knibbs International to get them.
8 Now the two pinions are exposed

and can be removed.
and tension spring can be removed from
the housing.
Again, everything was available from
stock. ■
PART 2 NEXT MONTH www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 65

o|u{pun
Summer Squirrels
The editor asks if it’s worth targeting greys in the warm weather
W
hen I was 17, I was taken foot and hoping to find them in your ABOVE: When you do a strong sign that they’re feeding
get a chance you’d
under the wing of a travels, the odds will be very long. better take it now! well, and it’s worth staking out that
renowned, some might say area regularly before they eat all the
infamous, local squirrel shooter who SQUIRREL FOOD summer harvest.
taught me a huge amount about Your best chance is to find what Just strolling about and hoping
the skills and craft needed to be they’re feeing on and sit it out in the to find them is pretty much a waste
successful in pursuing this tricky hope that they’ll give themselves of time, in my view. I recommend
quarry. His ability to find squirrels away. Gnawed shells on the ground BELOW: If you can find searching for feeding areas as your
where they’re eating,
was legendary, and only exceeded below beech and hazel trees are you’re in with a chance number one priority, perhaps even
by his skill in shooting them with leaving the rifle at home until your
open sights. reconnaissance work is done. Once
As soon as the leaves began to
fill the trees each spring, he put
“Your best chance is to find you find these feeding sites, you can
return to them every year without the
his Original model 45 back into
the cupboard, where it stayed until
what they’re feeding on” need to search again.
Staying still and quiet in a full
autumn has done its best to remove camo outfit will swing the odds in
them. Summer squirrels just didn’t your favour, and learning to study
exist in Albert’s world, no matter every branch, inch by inch, is a skill
how hard I tried to get him to take worth learning, too. Low-powered
me out. However, today my situation binoculars are another great help,
is different; because of the huge most especially those with a wide
damage they do around my shoot, I field of view. It’s probably worth
get constant pressure to cull them taking a seat or a cushion, too,
and recently the keeper was on my because you’ll likely be waiting
back because they’re driving him around for long periods, so you might
mad. as well be comfortable. Patience will
So, the question is, can they be be required, but you must be ready
successfully hunted in summer? If to take a shot at a moment’s notice
you have feeders out then the answer when your quarry appears, or your
is clearly ‘yes’, but if you’re just on chance might be lost. ■

vw{pjz
Discovering value
Mark Camoccio tries a fixed power scope that has HFT written all over it
D
iscovery Optics is a fairly 30mm body tube, constructed from ABOVE: The Discovery they are less chunky than some, so
VT-2 10x44SF
new brand, imported into the aircraft-grade aluminium alloy, and will not play havoc in a padded hard
UK by Sureshot Airguns, but even comes fitted with reasonable case for being too wide – a problem
what gives them a level of credibility quality, flip-up lens caps. There’s the that does happen. Pull the turret
from the outset is the fact that usual fast -focus ring at the rear, and to open the mechanism, adjust as
their products are manufactured in the reticle fitted is Discovery’s HML required, and then push to lock. In
a factory founded in 2014, by an design. Oh, and it comes complete use, the turret movement was just
ex-designer of Vortex. The range of with a set of ring mounts. a little vague, but careful movement
scopes on offer is slowly expanding, keeps a precise track. Clicks are
and each model seems packed with SET-UP quarter-inch at 100 yards, which I
features for very reasonable money. On the subject of mounts; the ones have always found ideal, personally.
On test here is the brand new VT-2 that come in the box are perfectly
10x44SF model, and whilst its fixed usable, but they are fairly cheap, IN USE
power specification seems ideal for and also have that infuriating sticky On the subject of the fixed power,
Hunter Field Target (HFT), with a padding inside, which whilst intended this does mean that there are fewer
side-focus facility, it would double to protect the scope just adds glue moving parts inside, which can
nicely as a hunting tool. At £129.99, to the body tube for the foreseeable only be an advantage where optical
this VT-2 seems great value, so let’s future. My advice would be to throw instruments are concerned. The left
take a closer look and see how it them in a drawer somewhere, and dial is to adjust the distance at which
shapes up. splash out the princely sum of not the scope is parallax corrected, and
much at all on some super-precise it’s neatly marked up from a minimum
COMPACT Sportsmatch rings. You really won’t distance of 10 yards, then 25, 50,
Magnification is a fixed 10x, and regret it! 100, 200 and infinity. On test, I found
the front objective lens is 44mm. With the scope in place, I set that the actual minimum distance
The ‘SF’ in the name denotes Side about zeroing, and here, the target where the target became clear was
Focus, and the design incorporates turrets are clearly marked 0 through 17 yards, despite being marked up
tactical-style, lockable turrets. The to 14, keeping things simple. Whilst as 10 yards, but this in itself isn’t a
VT2 10x44SF sports a single-piece they are high-profile target turrets, problem – many scopes, certainly at

vw{pjz
the cheaper end of the market, have purged with full ‘O’ ring seals, so is ABOVE LEFT: The VT-2 is crisp, and that positive reticle a
is ideal as a general
printed ranges on the parallax dial, waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, purpose scope major asset. Factor in the Discovery
that don’t actually tally up. as we would expect these days. Lifetime Warranty, and the asking
I set the dial to a point between price of £129.99 including those
the 10-yard and 25-yard marks, and VERDICT ABOVE RIGHT: Parallax
mounts, and it begins to look like a
this was clarity-checked at around So, quite a capable scope for the correction is on the left great deal all round. ■
23 yards. With that left alone, all money, that would be equally home
the usual ranges through an HFT on an HFT course, or in the field in
course were shootable. Clarity from a hunting situation, where much the
around 18 yards was almost clear, same requirements exist. The image SPECIFICATION
and 35 yards through to 45 yards
was perfectly clear. Bear in mind the
‘no adjustment’ rule for HFT, and this Model: Discovery VT-2 10x44 SF
VT-2 passes the test on that score. Manufacturer: Discovery Optics
Discovery fits this model with the
Magnification: Fixed 10x
HML reticle, and this stands for
Half-Mil Line. It’s a bold design, as Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
a cross with an extended down axis, Reticle: HML(Half-Mil Line)
5-mil line values up, and on each Weight: 21.4oz
side, then 9-mil lines down. Each
small dash is a half-mil segment, so
Length: 12.4 inches
there’s a host of proportional aim Click Adjustment: ¼ inch at
points, making it an ideal tool to 100 yards
tackle those knock-down targets.
Field of View: 23.6ft at 100 yards
Lenses used throughout are
specified as fully multi-coated, with Eye Relief: 3.75 inches
anti-reflective compounds used. As for Body Tube: 30mm
the image, edge-to-edge clarity and Min Focus: 10yds
brightness are commendable, with no
Turrets: Tactical-style, finger-
detectable aberrations or distortions.
The scope body tube is nitrogen-gas ABOVE: The HML Half- adjustable, push-pull lock
Mil Line reticle is very
usable Clicks per rotation: 60
Number of Full Rotations: 9.75
on windage and 9.75 elevation
Price: £129.99 including flip-up
lens caps and mounts
Contact: Sureshot Airguns
Tel: 0844 8003550
www.sureshot-airguns.co.uk
www.discoveryoptics.co.uk
LEFT: The push-pull

lockable turrets aren’t
RRP £129.99
excessively wide

5%
DISCOUN
T
ALL ORD ON
ERS
A
GW0320
185
70 AIRGUNNER
Golhs{oGth{{lyz
Tick Tock
The editors tells us why we need to be aware of tick bites
A
short while ago I had a ABOVE: They might be areas more likely to hold high tick parts embedded in the skin, which
small, but ticks can be
deeply serious and shocking harmful numbers, such as farmland that may well become infected. Never
conversation with a very ill carries sheep and also areas with squeeze or crush the body while
man. He’d been bitten by a common high deer populations, so extra it’s still attached because this will
tick and contracted Lyme disease, caution is needed in these areas. force the contents back through
an illness not all that well known in They’re most active from March to the mouth into the host, increasing
the UK and Europe, but one that’s October, although they can be found the chance of infection. Similarly,
a huge problem in North America if warm periods occur at other times don’t try to burn it or attack it with
where it was first understood. of the year chemicals. Only a slow steady pull
Doctors there are very well aware will remove it whole and in a hygienic
of the problem, but British GPs NOTHING NEW way. It’s wise to clean the bite site
might never have encountered it and Over the years, I’ve removed ticks after removal with an antiseptic, too.
believe they’re looking at a different from my Labradors and it seems If you don’t have a tick-removal tool,
illness, such as fibromyalgia or common that they find dogs a useful the next best thing is to grip the tick
chronic fatigue syndrome. Because host. Interestingly, the dogs have as close to the head as possible
this man’s illness had gone never shown any sign of discomfort with some fine tweezers and gently
undiagnosed for years, he’d had all as I’ve removed ticks. As the dogs pull it away. It’s important to note
manner of problems that had left him speed through the long grass, the that the majority of ticks do not carry
quite disabled, which is all the more ticks grab onto their fur and then find Lyme disease, so don’t automatically
upsetting when you understand that MAIN: Our beloved their way up to the neck area where become distressed if you are bitten,
countryside is not
if he’d been treated promptly, in all without its worries they burrow down through the fur to just be aware.
likelihood he’d have been fine. reach the skin. They bite through and
Worryingly, it seems that the drink the blood to gain nourishment. JUST FOOD
reported incidence of Lyme disease I’ve seen them when they’re empty Of course, a tick doesn’t care if
in on the increase, so it’s important and hungry and also when they’re you’re a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a deer
that we’re all aware of how we can bloated and full of blood, by which … or a human. We’re all just a
contract it and what to do if we are time they’re as big as a piece of source of nourishment to them and
bitten by a tick. In my own village, I sweet corn. this is why we must be aware. If
read recently of two children who’d To remove them I use a special you’ve been out in the countryside,
been bitten by ticks on a local tool that hooks under the head and it’s best to check yourself all over to
playing field, so you don’t need with three anti-clockwise twists, see if one has attached to you and
to be far out in the countryside to removes the creature whole. If you there’s no better way than to have
be in danger. However, there are just rip it off, you will leave the biting a shower. Gruesomely, they’re most Ô

olhs{oGth{{lyz
likely to attach to your groin area, TOP: A proper ‘tick explain your concerns about Lyme percentage of the active ingredient
tool’ is the best answer
making their presence all the more in my world disease and tick bites. It’s most DEET. This is not an area to save
unpleasant. likely that your doctor will do a blood money – buy the good stuff!
The rules for removal are just the test to diagnose exactly what’s going Perhaps the most effective
same for us as they are for your on. If Lyme disease is shown in deterrent is to buy clothing that
ABOVE LEFT: The
dog, and if the tick is attached in an bull’s-eye rash is the results, a three-week course of has in-built insect repellent, like
awkward place, if you know what I a very worrying antibiotics is the usual prescription the ones offered by Rovince. Their
symptom
mean, you may well have to ask for and for most people, the recovery is clothes are treated with ZECK-
help, no matter how embarrassing quick. However, some take longer, Protec, which forms a barrier that
that might be. Ensure that you kill and a tiny minority take a very the ticks cannot hold on to, so they
the tick before disposing of the body ABOVE RIGHT: Once long time and may need to see a slide off before they can do harm.
attached, you should
hygienically. I fold them into some remove ticks with specialist. As with many illnesses, it Because they cannot attach to the
kitchen paper, crush them flat and great care seems the quicker the diagnosis, the fabric, it also reduces the chance
flush the lot down the toilet.
It’s most important that you
carefully monitor the bite site for “In my own village, I read recently of two children who’d
months after because one of the
common signs that you have Lyme been bitten by ticks on a local playing field”
disease is a rash that resembles a
bull’s eye. Other symptoms include
headaches, muscle and joint pain, better the outcome is likely to be. of ticks being transported into your
tiredness and a loss of energy, and An American doctor told me that car or home where they could attack
flu-type symptoms, like being both Stateside, they prescribe a 200mg your or your family later. Clearly,
hot and shivery. If you have any of BELOW: Use the best dose of doxycycline within 72 hours it’s important to check your dogs
insect repellent you
these, see your doctor urgently and can find of any tick bite, as a precautionary regularly before they enter your
measure, but I don’t know if that’s home for the same reason. I once
being adopted here. found a huge, bloated tick on the
carpet that had fed on my dog and
PREVENTION then detached itself because it was
As the old saying goes, prevention is full. Had I not found it, it might well
better than a cure, so what can we do have attacked again later when it
to avoid the ticks getting on to our skin had digested its meal.
and biting us? There are many, and Please don’t let this article alarm
in no particular order here they are: you or discourage you from getting
Wear long trousers so that the ticks out into the countryside. Despite
cannot grab directly onto your leg hair. spending huge amounts of my
Some people tuck their trousers into life in our beautiful outdoors, I’ve
their socks to add another barrier to never been bitten by a tick, plus the
the ticks, but it’s not 100% effective majority of bites are quite harmless.
because they can crawl through However, I do want you to be as
open-weave fabrics. Wear high-quality informed as possible so that you can
insect repellent that contains a high enjoy your sport safely. ■

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
PRIORITY ORDER FORM
Air Gunner, FREEPOST LE6423,
Leicester, LE87 9BY, UK
No stamp required if posted within the UK AIR GUNNER
YOUR DETAILS (mandatory to complete)
Mr/Mrs/Ms
Surname
First name
FROM £35.90
Address SAVING 52%
Postcode
Telephone Mobile PACKAGE

Email*
WORTH
*Please enter this information so that we can keep you up-to-date with important information about
your subscription and exclusive offers that we think you’ll enjoy. You can unsubscribe from these
messages at any time.
£74.55
DIRECT DEBIT Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
REFERENCE
Service User
415266
Number (office use only)

13 issues of
by annual Direct Debit.
Airgun World & Air Gunner – Please start my Air Gunner
subscription for £45 by annual Direct Debit.
NAME AND FULL POSTAL ADDRESS OF YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY BRANCH
+ Boker Magnum
To the manager (Bank name) Shadow Knife
Address
www.subsave.co.uk/AGN
Postcode
Name(s) of
account holder(s)
Branch sort code Bank/Building Society number

AIRGUN WORLD & AIR GUNNER
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY. Please pay Archant Community Media Ltd
Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction, subject to safeguards assured by the
Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that the instruction may remain with Archant Community Media
Ltd and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank or Building Society. FROM £45
SAVING 65%
Signature Date
YOU MAY CANCEL THE DIRECT DEBIT AT ANY TIME AFTER THE FIRST PAYMENT IS TAKEN. Banks and
Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account.
13 issues of
CREDIT/DEBIT CARD
Airgun World
+ 13 issues of
by credit/debit card.
Airgun World & Air Gunner – Please start my subscription Air Gunner
for £50 by credit/debit card
Expiry Start Issue No
+ Boker Magnum
Date Date (Maestro only)
Card
number
Shadow Knife
Signature Date
PACKAGE
CHEQUE
Air Gunner – I enclose a cheque made payable to
WORTH
Archant Community Media Ltd for £41.45
Airgun World & Air Gunner – I enclose a cheque made
Source code: CAG8X09A
payable to Archant Community Media Ltd for £50
By submitting your details you automatically authorise Archant Community Media Limited
to send you emails regarding your subscription.
Sign up to receive our regular email newsletter from the title you are subscribed to □.
£129.80
Keep me up to date on special promotions, products and services from Archant Community
Media Limited □.
T&Cs: This is a UK offer only. Details of the Direct Debit guarantee are available
upon request. Savings are based on the full cover price and value of the gift. Airgun
World and Air Gunner are published 13 times a year. Gift is available while stocks
last and to those aged 18 and over. Please allow up to 28 days for receipt of the
www.subsave.co.uk/AGNX
gift. Subscriptions may not include promotional items packaged with the magazine
at the74 AIR OFFER
newsstand. GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk
ENDS 11/09/2018
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
SUBSCRIBE
& SAVE 65% UP
TO
+ receive your welcome gift
RRP
£19.30
BOKER MAGNUM
SHADOW KNIFE
The Boker Magnum Shadow folding
knife features a black-coated 440
stainless steel blade, secured by
a liner locking mechanism which
can be quickly opened using the
thumbstud. The handle is sturdy yet
lightweight making this one of the
most popular knives in the Magnum
range. Comes with a clip and
lanyard hole.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Order online or ☎ 01858 438840 quote CAG8X09A
76 AIRGUNNER
wspurpun
The Grin Factor!

Has the editor found his perfect plinker in the Benjamin Wildfire?
D
espite being surrounded by trigger it will fire, making it great the trigger, another .177 calibre
some of the most high-tech fun to plink with, and to get the pellet is fired until all 12 are gone.
kit you could imagine, I love a same effect the WildFire uses a The rotary magazine is held by a fake
good, old-fashioned plinking session rotary magazine, turned by the first box magazine that locks into the
with a simple gun. Making tin cans stage of the trigger’s movement. action in the way firearm ones do,
dance their way down the lawn never Once a new pellet is in line with the adding to the ‘real gun’ appeal.
fails to raise a smile, and I’ll often
choose a multi-shot pistol for that,
but it would be nice to have a rifle “enough power to shoot right through both
for the job, too. Benjamin must feel
the same way because they offer a
sides of a steel can with ease”
great little rifle – the WildFire – which
uses some technology that might barrel, the hammer drops and allows The ambidextrous synthetic stock
well be borrowed from a pistol – or a high pressure air to flow from the is a good choice for youngsters who
revolver, to be more precise. reservoir to drive it down the barrel. are likely to scratch and ding it,
From the outside, the WildFire because being so tough it will be able
looks a lot like a Ruger 10/22 REAL GUN APPEAL to take the abuse. At just 13½” the
rimfire rifle, a model that’s massively In reality, it is a double-action pull length – that’s the distance from
successful in America. The 10/22 revolver mated to a pre-charged the trigger to the butt pad – will suit
is semi-automatic, meaning that BELOW: Fast fire
pneumatic (PCP) rifle, to create pure youngsters, yet still be comfortable
every time you pull the single-action fun is guaranteed plinking fun. As fast as you can pull for most adults to enjoy, too. Ô

wspurpun
Open sights are fitted as standard TOP LEFT: Every PCP RAPID-FIRE PLINKER WildFire can drive the Air Arms Field
needs a pressure gauge
and are a mixture of the old and the like this As mentioned, this is a PCP that Diablo at over 600 feet per second
new. The front sight is a ramped job, carries its air reservoir below the for 7.5 ft.lbs. of muzzle energy,
with a bright green, fibre-optic insert barrel. It’s filled though a male enough power to shoot right through
to make it clear in your view. The rear TOP RIGHT: The ‘box Forster fitting at the muzzle, and both sides of a steel can with ease.
mag’ holds a 12-shot
is a simple bent metal job that can be rotary pellet magazine I was impressed to see a particle Just as I’d hoped, the WildFire is a
adjusted for elevation with a notched filter fitted to keep dirt out. Because truly excellent rapid-fire plinker and
wedge. Windage adjustments need a the reservoir is so small and the fill loads of fun to shoot. The lightweight
cross-head screwdriver to loosen two pressure just 138bar, filling slowly build and simple sights allow
screws first. They might be simple, BELOW LEFT: The and carefully is vital. I was delighted everybody to have fun, so remember
but they work perfectly well on a Foster filling port has a to see a pressure gauge in the to have plenty of air and pellets on
particle filter
plinker. On top of the plastic action belly of the stock, too. Benjamin hand if you buy one because you’re
there are scope rails moulded in claims 60 shots per fill, but I think going to need them! ■
should you want to add a scope or a BELOW RIGHT: Loading that might be a little optimistic.
red dot later. .177 pellets is simple The chronograph told me that the
SPECIFICATION
Manufacturer: Benjamin
Importer: ASI Ltd
Web: www.a-s-i.co.uk
Tel: 01728 688555
Model: WildFire
Type: Pre-charged pneumatic
Action: Magazine-fed,
double-action
Trigger: Single-stage
Length: 36½”
Weight: 3.7lbs
Fill pressure: 138bar
Calibre: .177
Spare mag’ (pack of 3)
£8.00
RRP £299

vw{pjz
Hawke HQ
Phill Price visits a British company that’s taking on the world
I
’ve had a deep interest in optical already beginning to find it tight for ABOVE: Possibly the guarantee, that’s the same on the
best meeting room I’ve
devices all my adult life, trying to space as their business grows, and ever visited! cheapest to the most expensive and
find the best binoculars, camera I found it quite uplifting to see a is one of, if not the most generous
lenses and rifle scopes that I can British company taking on the world guarantees you’ll ever find.
afford. So, imagine if I were working and doing so well.
for a company that designs and A look through their catalogue DOUBLE QUALITY CONTROL
develops optics, in a purpose-built shows an incredible number of rifle The company was open about the
facility that overlooks a tidal estuary scopes, but I learned that they’re fact that all their products are
teeming with birdlife; I’d be in heaven! not all intended for the UK market; manufactured in China, with the
I was lucky enough to be invited to some have been designed for simple reasoning that it’s the only
exactly that, in the form of the global special purposes in foreign lands way that they can source the quality
headquarters of Hawke Sport Optics that would have no application here. they demand, at a price we can
in Suffolk, that overlooks the river Unsurprisingly, my main interest was afford.
Deben, and typically for me, I was in the airgun scopes and binoculars With over 20 years of proudly
distracted by the wildlife throughout suitable for hunting, and even then designing and supplying optics,
the entire meeting! there’s a huge choice. There really they’ve seen it all, and made
The stylish and modern is something for everybody, from the thousands of successful models in
headquarters is home to the modest Vantage 4 x 32 that’s under that time. Despite this, I was truly
designers, the warranty and repair £50, right up to their field-target job surprised at just how many of the
team, alongside all the warehousing at over £800, but they all have some products are run through a second,
of the rifle scopes, binoculars and things in common; they’re all designed quality control process once they
telescopes. Although this large in the UK and built to a very tight set arrive here, which allows Hawke’s
building was purpose built for their of specifications, and they all come team greater control over the scope
needs just nine years ago, they’re with the Hawke ‘no fault’ lifetime that you and I will buy. That’s a very

vw{pjz
costly thing to do, but they consider difficulty Hawke has created
it necessary to maintain their class- lots of web pages of truly useful
leading reputation. information. Reading these can
Of course, there can be problems often help you to identify where
with any product now and then, a problem actually comes from,
which is why they have a dedicated which could help you to resolve
warranty and repair team in- it yourself, getting you shooting
house, ready to rectify faults. Their again more quickly.
overarching motivation is customer Today’s Hawke scopes are
satisfaction, and all returns go back incredibly tough and offer
to the customer within 3-5 days. If guaranteed water- and shock-
they feel there could be a delay that proofing, as well as being
exceeds that, they typically replace capable of withstanding the
the scope with a new equivalent, so infamous ‘springer two-way
the customer isn’t inconvenienced. recoil’ that used to wreck scopes
TOP: Scopes are
Any faults are carefully logged in an all the time. Not only that, but most complex devices and
effort to identify and understand are also guaranteed to withstand the every part must be
perfect
“it was clear to me that the staff I’d met had a

real passion and belief in their company” ABOVE: They’ve been
making scopes for a
very long time performance to yet another level and
them better, and the results are recoil of heavy-calibre firearms, so I, for one, cannot wait to see if they
discussed with the design team in we can be sure they’ll last. Other old make it into production. As I drove
case a change is needed or could problems such as the zero shifting home thinking about the visit, it was
be incorporated into newer models. as you zoom the power ring, have clear to me that the staff I’d met
BELOW LEFT: The
The fact that several of the staff are been eliminated, and reticle failure design team is had a real passion and belief in their
ultra-keen shooters is also a great is unheard of. We really do live in a working on some VERY company and I have no doubt that’s a
interesting projects
help to the design team. golden age for scope performance right now significant part of why they’re just so
and worrying that they’ll let us down successful. I’d like to thank the team
GOLDEN AGE in the field is a thing of the past. at Hawke for their hospitality and the
The data captured by the warranty Just before I left, I was told about openness they showed me during my
team shows that the vast majority of some new models in the design visit – and oh yes, the spectacular
BELOW RIGHT:
apparent faults come about because phase now that really caught my In-house servicing view across the estuary!■
the owner hasn’t understood how to imagination. If they deliver on and repairs assure
top-class customer
use the product, so to try to reduce their promise, they’ll take scope service www.hawkeoptics.com

ENJOY YOUR SPORT
WITH PEACE
OF MIND
BASA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Up to £2 million third party liability insurance#, FREE entry in Air Gunner competitions
covering FAC Airguns & Airguns Shooting permission slips
Photo ID card and proof of insurance Claim your Boker knife when you choose the
Discounts off Archant books & DVDs BASA Extra package
SPECIAL OFFERS from selected retailers
BOKER MAGNUM RRP

SHADOW KNIFE £19.30
The Boker Magnum Shadow folding knife features a black-coated 440 stainless
steel blade, secured by a liner locking mechanism which can be quickly opened
using the thumbstud. The handle is sturdy yet lightweight making this one of the
most popular knives in the Magnum range. Comes with a clip and lanyard hole.
BASA BASA EXTRA

MEMBERSHIP 12 months membership
12 months membership from just £45
from just £19.95 PLUS 13 issues of Air Gunner
PLUS Boker Magnum
Shadow Knife
PACKAGE
VALUE £98.50
www.subsave.co.uk/AGBAS www.subsave.co.uk/AGBASX
EASY WAYS TO ORDER

Order online or 01858 438840 quote CBA8G09A
T&Cs: This is a UK offer only. Prices above are by Direct Debit and will be taken annually. Details of the Direct Debit Guarantee are available on request. BASA only is £23.95 and BASA Extra is
£48 by credit/debit card. Please allow up to 14 days of the preparation of your membership documents and 28 days for receipt of your gift, which is available while stocks last and to those
aged 18 and over. You will be instantly insured subject to your payment being successfully processed. You will need to provide your BASA membership number to benefit from special offers.
Offer ends 11/09/2018 *Third party liability indemnity – excess £250 property damage only. The public liability insurance is arranged by Arthur J. Gallagher insurance brokers limited who are
82 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
hjj|yhjGth{{lyz
Accuracy Matters
Mark Camoccio tells us why caring for our guns repays our efforts
I
’ve said it many times, but it really the course and slip the rifle away always used Express Gun Oil, an old
is the case that the shooting between lanes. Obviously, this Parker Hale product, but there are
sports can be enjoyed on any protects from rain, but also excess many alternatives. Just give all the
level and that, of course, is part dirt. It still builds up, so periodically, metalwork a good wipe over before
of the attraction, but as with many or after the season finishes at least, you put the gun away, and rust
activities, for those of us who take remove the gun’s stock and clean shouldn’t be a problem.
their fun seriously, there are a few off any dirt, then oil over the hidden
basic checks and procedures that section of the action. PELLET HANDLING
can make all the difference. Keep AND STORAGE
your kit in tip-top condition, and OILY RAG It’s stating the obvious, but the
it’s unlikely to let you down when OK, it’s basic stuff, but it really pellet is the key link between the
it matters most. So, here’s my is key that we oil the gun, after rifle and shooter, and if this is
basic check list for keeping all our every shooting session. Chemical compromised, results will never be
hardware in good working order: bluing, used as a traditional finish satisfactory. Of course, if you’re a
on our rifles, is no protection from happy plinker, content just to grab
DUST AND DIRT the elements, and whilst it looks the rifle and tin of pellets and get
Shoot for any length of time in a great when properly applied, it down to business, then fine, but
dusty environment, be that a dry, needs looking after. Even the acid for those of us who glean a level
wooded area or inside an old farm in our sweaty palms can cause of satisfaction from pushing for
building, and the dirt will begin to rust, but the simple answer is to ultimate accuracy, taking care of
leave deposits on the gun. I shoot keep a small rag in a bag, which is BELOW: Take your the precision lead projectile is a
HFT regularly, and standard practice coated in a thin gun oil, designed shooting seriously? prerequisite to success.
Then look after the
now is to carry a gun case round for the job – avoid silicone oils. I’ve hardware Whether an obsessive HFT Ô

hjj|yhjGth{{lyz
competition shooter like me, or a from the scope lenses, then gently LEFT: Use a rag because dirt and grit will inevitably
dampened with thin
methodical hunter, looking after the clean them up with a lens cloth gun oil to rub over the find its way in. Instead, find a small
pellets and keeping them free from dipped in solution, or a moist tissue bluing plastic container or bag that the mag’
dirt and distortion is the name of from a sachet, which is designed for can be slipped into temporarily, until
the game, and this is best achieved the job. This will not only keep the it is needed.
by keeping them in a pellet pouch sight picture true and bright, but also
or protective padded tin when out protect the lens glass itself. I use
RIGHT: The author uses
a simple pellet pouch AIRGUN PUMPS AND
in the field. Many competitors sort small, dedicated sealed lens wipes, from Rangesports AIR BOTTLES
their pellets individually, by eye, and whilst I used to have a stock of I’ve personally favoured a pump to
weigh them and then place into a Zeiss-branded ones, I now use the charge my pneumatic for many years
tin with a piece of foam that has near-identical product from Boots, now, but I do look after it and take
individual holes to hold each pellet, which are readily available, and some precautions. Firstly, always
but a simple pouch can make all the reasonably priced. A gentle circular charge the gun indoors if possible,
difference. smear from the centre out should since pumps do suck in moisture
What they DONT do, is let the suffice, let the moisture evaporate, from the air, and the air outdoors,
pellets bang around in a dirty, fluff- and replace the lens caps. especially on a cold damp day,
filled pocket, and hope for the best! will have a much higher moisture
MULTI-SHOT MAGAZINES content than your lounge! Top-quality
SCOPE LENSES Many pneumatic airguns, and even designs, such as Hill, do provide a
Telescopic sights come in all shapes, several spring-powered models, come Dri-Pac air filter, which is supposed
sizes and price brackets, and whilst with some form of magazine these to remove a high percentage of
we don’t all blow thousands on our days, and keeping the magazine clean the moisture, but some will always
treasured glassware, the same care and free from dirt is fairly vital, to be present, so it makes sense to
can be taken to ensure that our ensure correct function and no foul- minimise it.
visual image is the best it can be. ups of the mechanism. Again, this Secondly, the filling cable/air-line
Keeping the lenses free from dirt means respecting the system and adaptor needs to be kept away from
is vital, and that can be a careful keeping the mag’ somewhere safe grime, rather than dragged around
operation in itself. As with any high- and free from dirt. As for the pellets, outside in the dirt. It still amazes me
quality lenses, be it a camera or your just keeping a magazine loose in how many shooters fail to respect
treasured scope, first blow any grit a pocket isn’t necessarily ideal their charging gear, yet with fragile
‘O’ rings so reliant upon an ultra-
clean regimen to work correctly,
persistent neglect will inevitably lead
to problems. One of the neatest
solutions I’ve seen was an old
plastic 35mm film tube with a hole
for the cable, and the lid snapped on
to protect from dust, but any small
container or bag held over the cable
with an elastic band, can help. Best
Fittings produce a neat, snap-fit
‘cable end’ to protect the air line,
too, which works well.
So yes, all basic stuff, but
worth bearing in mind to maintain
LEFT: The Best Fittings performance. Next month, we’ll
plug keeps connectors
and hoses clean focus on the barrel and fittings.■

Wilton Farm, Marlow Road, Little Marlow, Bucks, SL7 3RR
01628 474 187
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm - info@emmettandstone.co.uk
www.emmettandstone.co.uk
AIRGUNNER 87
pu{lyuh{pvuhsGo|u{pun
Can Airguns Mak

ake a Difference?
Jim Chapman is back in Puerto Rico after problem lizards
M
y understanding is that in as part of a broader management MAIN: I really entire farm, which significantly
the UK, all species hunted strategy. Prairie dogs can occur in enjoyed the Hatsan
FlashPup in .25 impacted the ability to raise crops.
with airguns are classified the thousands, and the majority We would shoot a hundred one
as vermin or pests. In the USA, we won’t let a human within 100 yards day, and on returning to the same
have two primary types of small before diving down their burrows. area the next, would not see a
quarry available to airgunners; game With the right techniques, airgun difference. It was not unusual to
species, such as squirrel, rabbit, hunters can get in close enough walk by a tree and see 20 iguanas
turkey, quail; and vermin, such for a shot, but the process is time aloft in the branches. Besides crops
as prairie dogs, ground squirrels, consuming, and where a hunter being destroyed and structures
pigeons, and Eurasian collared using a small bore centrefire might being undermined by these lizards
doves. There are also larger species take 300-400 of these burrowing burrowing, they were also denuding
classified as predators, such as rodents in a day, 50 is a great day’s the surrounding forests.
coyote, fox, and bobcats. It might bag for an airgunner, but there
seem a little confusing, but animals are areas around livestock, active A REASONABLE QUESTION
can transcend classifications: In farming operations, and outbuildings A perfectly reasonable question
some states, bobcat and fox are also or equipment where a firearm (even is, ‘Why are iguanas out of control
fur bearers, and in certain scenarios a rimfire) is not practical. These are and why kill them?’ The answer is
rabbits and squirrels become pest usually smaller dog towns over a straightforward: On the island of
animals. What’s important is that more limited range, which are ideally Puerto Rico, iguanas are not native.
when an animal is classified as suited for airgun hunters, and whilst It is believed that pet owners let a
‘game’ it has certain protections; it is admittedly anecdotal, I have few go and the population is now
limits, seasons, and methods of seen several pastures reclaimed estimated at approximately four
take, whereas an animal classified by using airguns, where in the past million. That’s more iguanas than
as a pest, varmint or predator can poisons would have been laid. people on the island, and they
generally be taken at any time, in any I’m going to tell you about a are everywhere! There have been
number, by any method of take. situation in which airguns alone articles on the National Geographic
Animals that tend to overpopulate, have provided a solution, and I website, Wall Street journal, and New
cause damage to the environment, be think represents a great example York Times about the damage being
a vector for disease, cause damage of our efficacy as pest controllers. done to Puerto Rico’s environment,
to property, or are not indigenous This week, I have been in Puerto economy, and infrastructure.
and displace native species, are Rico at a Hatsan-sponsored iguana Three or four years ago, the
typically – but not always – classified shoot. I was last on this farm three president of Hatsan USA, Blain
as pest species. There are limited years ago, and there is a marked Manifold, was meeting with his
methods available to control these difference in the scope of the dealer in Puerto Rico, who explained
pest populations; trapping, poisoning, problem between these trips. On that the upswing in airgun sales was
or shooting being the most commonly my first visit, there were literally BELOW: Rolling up related to groups trying to reduce the
to the farm with a
employed. Trapping can be effective hundreds of iguanas across the truckload of gear! iguana numbers. He was taken to a
for some species and poisoning small farm and had the opportunity
is effective, but non-specific and to see the damage done first-hand.
negatively impacts other species. A couple management schemes
In our country, these species are were underway; one was to export
often shot with firearms, but there the meat to Central America where
are situations where firearms can’t it is considered a delicacy, and the
be used due to safety concerns, other was to set up varmint hunting
noise control, or legality. I am often outfitters. These options served a
asked whether or not I believe airguns double purpose; to remove/reduce
are effective enough to make a the out-of-control population, and
difference. secondly, to provide a revenue
stream to the local communities.
THE RIGHT SITUATION Blain started working with locals
There are certain situations where to put on events to showcase
I believe airguns can contribute his products, but also to bring Ô

LEFT: it was far less

common to find them
NUMBERS DOWN
out in the open, I found that when walking along the
compared to my
previous visit road, or through the plantain groves
bordering the edge of the ravine, I
was at eye level or shooting down
into the remaining trees. Whilst I did
occasionally find a tree with several
lizards, for the most part there were
no more than a couple. On the last
trip the majority of my shots were
straight up into the trees, braced
against the trunk – on this trip the
majority were either prone or sitting.
I used the Hatsan AirMax .22, the
BullBoss .25, and the FlashPup .25,
and for all three guns shot H&N Hunter
Extreme pellets. All three of these
awareness of the problem. The ‘pups worked well, but I especially
first event was attended by writers liked the AirMax, although would have
from several of the well-known preferred it in .25 calibre. I stuck with
American hunting publications, with headshots, and while the .22 hit hard
the additional objective of helping and penetrated well, on the large five-
to spread the word about the use of foot-plus iguanas, a second shot was
airguns as valid hunting tools. sometimes needed, whilst the .25 was
much more effective in producing one-
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED shot kills. On the smaller lizard in the
We hunted iguana, wrote several three-foot range, calibre didn’t seem to
articles and accomplished our goals, matter much.
improved awareness of airguns, So, to revisit the question posed at
started the reduction of iguanas the beginning of this article, I would
on this one farm, and got the word say, ‘Yes, airguns can be an effective
out. There are now several guides this trip. The iguanas were sparser, ABOVE: Iguanas means of reducing pest populations.’
would pop out of a
bringing visitors on iguana hunts, the post-hurricane landscape looked clump of leaves, then I’ve heard non-hunters accuse us
which has turned out a much more post-apocalyptic in some areas. just as quickly drop of using the ‘pest control’ card to
out of sight
practical solution than the export of Complete forests were reduced to justify what they see as meaningless
iguana meat, due to regulatory red tangles of overturned trees, and the slaughter for fun, but I would argue that
tape. Although the large number of little stream that had run along a when done at the appropriate scale
iguanas harvested on that first hunt gently sloping river bottom was now to place pressure on pest species,
hardly put a dent in the population, at the bottom of a huge ravine with it is very effective and can reduce or
it was a start. There have been 50 foot sheer walls containing it. It remove the reliance on poison. Further,
BELOW: I set up a rest
several iguana shoots and continued was also hot and humid and I was station in whatever I would argue it is the most humane
pressure on the farm, and where as close to heatstroke as I’ve ever shade I could find, method that allows specific targeting of
with cooler, air, and
the population was counted in the been. other gear the problem species. ■
hundreds three years ago, it was
counted in the tens this year.
Now it’s true that the hurricane
wreaked havoc on the island, and
they still haven’t recovered, but other
farms and properties without hunting
have not seen an appreciable
decline in the population. The major
difference is that two or three
times per year there is a large-scale
iguana shoot. No poison has been
used, trapping doesn’t work, but
culling them with an airgun does.
Another question that bubbles up
in this discussion is, ‘Why not use
a rimfire?” In Puerto Rico the use
of a firearm outside of controlled
environments, such as gun clubs and
ranges, is prohibited so airguns are
the only practical option.
I really had to work for my shots on

0151 355
6666 DAVEY & SON
for airgunners in yorkshire
Authorised Daystate, Weihrauch and
Brocock service and repair centre as well Suppliers of the Best Guns, Scopes, Pellets,
as all other manufacturers Lamps, Clothing & Accessories
RIFLES BY OPTIC’S
Air Rifles & Pistols
Accessories-Pellets-Scopes
Bottles Filled
& for sale
Red Wolf Laminate Hi Lite Napier

Our Price £1,895.00 Cleaning
Equipment
2F WHITBY ROAD, ELLESMERE PORT,
CHESHIRE, CH65 8AD
Email: shop@wirralguns.co.uk
www.daveyandson.co.uk 01723 865039
THE OLD POST OFFICE, WYKEHAM, SCARBOROUGH,
www.wirralguns.co.uk NORTH YORKSHIRE YO13 9QP
ORDER HOTLINE:
01603 870353
GREAT RANGE OF PRECHARGE & SPRING AIR RIFLES
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE WWW.ANGLIATACKLEANDGUN.CO.UK
FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER £30*
AIR RIFLES | AIR PISTOLS | SCOPES & ACCESSORIES | PELLETS
01603 870353 | sales@angliatackleandgun.co.uk

Station Road Industrial Estate, Lenwade, Norwich NR9 5LY
WWW.ANGLIATACKLEANDGUN.CO.UK
AIRGUNNER 91
ul{Gtvu{o October issue on sale 12th September 2018
Puncher above
its weight
Kral’s innovative NP-02 gets the Big Test
Save the reds!
Peter Yeats is joining a team hard

at work keeping the greys at bay
zwypunlyz
A Goddess
of a Gun
This sweet little springer gets Mark Camoccio’s attention
REAL LOOKER SIGHTS
W
hilst I’ve come to appreciate ABOVE: The 280
is perfect as a
the recoilless firing cycle lightweight hunting My test rifle is termed the 280 As mentioned, we have come to
of a PCP for competition tool Classic, yet has the more basic expect a certain level of finish from
shooting, the constant reliance on an stock. Diana makes another this manufacturer, and the 280
external air supply can be irritating. version, known just as the ‘280’, didn’t disappoint in this respect,
So when a spring gun comes along and this has the more elaborate with finely machined components,
which is light and handy, yet can still stock (still lacquered beech) with and rich chemical blueing on display.
offer some serious performance, I’m a defined cheek piece, chequering, Wood to metal fit is also excellent.
always interested with one eye on a and a better butt pad. As it stands, Synthetic/plastic components are
‘go to’ hunting rifle. though, this spring-piston-powered, used for the fore sight assembly and
On test this month is the ultra- break-barrel model has a graceful trigger guard, but they are very well
compact, spring-powered Diana model profile, and is definitely easy on the done, and certainly don’t detract
280, made by Mayer Grammelspacher, eye. ‘Slimline simplicity’ sums it up from the quality feel overall.
in Germany, and I don’t mind admitting well, and with modest proportions, As I’ve often stated, I’m a big
that it has been one of my favourite and a thinned-down grip, it’s an fan of open sights because they
airguns ever since I first tested ideal gun for juniors and ladies, too. teach the basics of marksmanship,
one shortly after its release, back As far as the specification goes, and the fibre-optics fitted here are
in late 2010. Diana as a brand is we have fibre-optic open sights, excellent. They’re ultra-precise, and
synonymous with traditional, high- an upmarket two-stage trigger, being all-metal, are super-robust.
grade airguns, and the 280 is a automatic safety catch, and raised There’s finger wheel adjustment, too,
classic example of their craft. scope rail. so no need for a screwdriver, which

zwypunlyz
RIGHT: The breech has metal trigger blade, and a properly

a lead to help pellet
seating weighted, sensitive mechanism, it’s
a trigger that can be adjusted to suit.
The automatic and resettable safety
sits to the rear.
Shoulder the 280, and whilst that
simple stock doesn’t overly cosset,
especially with the lack of a soft butt
pad, the fast handling and overall
feel can’t fail to impress. Balance is
key with airguns, in my opinion, but
whilst I did find the 280 just a little
light at the muzzle, it didn’t stop me
managing regular groups of around
an inch from the kneeling position
over 30 yards, which was a pleasing
start!
Moving to my favoured overarm FT
position for full testing, the groups
shrank to an average of half an inch
with a variety of pellets, so we are
talking serious performance. OK,
there is some spring resonance and
a fair amount of recoil on firing, but SPECIFICATION
bear in mind the power-to-weight
ratio of the 280, and the firing
characteristics overall are wholly Model: Diana 280 Classic
acceptable. Manufacturer: Mayer
There’s a lead-in machined into Grammelspacher
the lip of the rifling at the breech,
Country of Origin: Germany
and the idea with that is to keep
pellets flush at the breech, rather Type: Break-barrel, spring-piston
than getting distorted. As for Calibre: .22 on test/ .177
consistency over the chronograph, a available
total spread of 11fps over a ten-shot
string with JSB/Air Arms Diabolo Weight: 7lbs
Field pellets, is fairly text-book stuff! Overall Length: 43inches
Barrel Length: 17.3 inches
VERSATILE AND CLASSY approx
So yes, I’m a big fan of this model,
is actually really nice when you’re and for good reason; full power is on Stock: Ambidextrous beech
learning the ropes. Arrive at the point offer, it’s sleekly styled, well-made sporter
where a scope is deemed necessary, and finished, and all importantly, Trigger: 2-stage adjustable
and Diana has that sorted, with the pleasingly accurate. The highly
Velocity: Using: Air Arms
sturdy rail fixed to the 280’s receiver. portable format means it can be
There are even pre-drilled holes to carried round the hunting field all day Diabolo Field pellets
accept a mount with an arrestor with minimal fatigue, or double up as High 561fps
stud, so scope creep can’t become BELOW: An automatic a beginner/junior/ladies’ rifle. One
resettable safety sits Low 550
an issue. I fitted a lightweight Hawke at the rear for a variety of shortlists then! ■
scope that suited the rifle well. Ave 557
Spread 11fps
HANDS ON Energy: 11 ft.lbs. on test
OK, time to get hands-on, and I did
Contact: Edgar Brothers
find my test rifle’s breech just a little
stiff on test, with a quick jolt across Tel: 01625 613177
the knee proving the answer, to Trade www.edgarbrothers.com
release the barrel initially. Cocking
the action thereafter, required
reasonable effort, made easier with
a more purposeful sweep down. RRP £290.70
The inclusion of the highly
acclaimed T06 trigger unit, is a
real bonus on this model, and (GUIDE)
with a nicely curved and ribbed

Webley’s early ‘Senior’ Air Pistols Part 3 by John Atkins
Additional images courtesy of Webley Archives, Nigel Allen, Chester Purllant and Jeff Hyder
FIGURE 1
W
hen deciding where best to Webley ‘Senior’ air pistol, written by
advertise, gunmakers of the past ‘The Captain’. It’s possible the writer
obviously chose the magazines was the one-time editor of The Captain
they thought would present their products magazine, aimed at Public School Boys
to the widest and most suitable audience, and Old Boys, another rich source for
just as an advertiser of today would by old airgun advertisements. The Captain
choosing Air Gunner or Airgun World. There magazine started from a similar
were no specialist airgun magazines time as the Wide World magazine,
then, so BSA, for example, targeted the commencing a year later in fact, 1899
shooters of rooks, rabbits, rats and other - until its demise in 1924.
crop destroying pests by advertising their Whilst accuracy, power and the new
button-end underlever air rifle in The Journal barrel linkage facilitating the cocking
of The Ministry of Agriculture, and more effort of the new flagship model
oddly, in a yachting magazine, among many Webley pistol were praised, there
other periodicals. was no mention of the new revolver
Webley & Scott Ltd. repeatedly used the stirrup-type barrel latch, the new
Meccano Magazine to reach the younger metallic piston ring or even the model
market, and clearly thought the adventurers name! However, if ‘The Captain’s’
avidly reading the Wide World magazine example was a first production
would benefit from arming themselves model, using a Mark II body and
with a Webley before embarking on their a Mark I/II trigger assembly but
dangerous travels abroad. The long- no safety catch, it’s possible the
established Wide World true adventure piston ring had not yet replaced the
magazine had run from April, 1898 and leather washer of these
Figure 1 is a reprint from the August, 1931 first ‘square grip’
issue carrying a belated review of the new Seniors.
FIGURE 2
The review was clearly well thought of by

Webley & Scott because they reprinted it
for further distribution.
A good condition Senior previously in
Nigel Allen’s Webley collection has been
preserved in its original cardboard carton,
and I’m indebted to Nigel for the use of his
photographs showing serial number S2220
in Figures 2 and 3. Dating from around the
time of the 1931 Wide World magazine
review, the images show both sides of this
FIGURE 3 second production-type Senior.

hpyn|uGjvsslj{pvu
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 4
BROTHERHOOD uncaring world of global indifference and shows that Webley had been at work
The October 1960 issue of Wide World the present ‘every man for himself’ attitude on the pistol to become known as the
adventure magazine carried advertisements – many car drivers are in too much of a ‘Senior’ (rather than the initial ‘Mark III’
for the Webley Mark I air pistol, and the hurry to slow down in respect for a horse designation) for well over a year before
Cogswell & Harrison ‘Certus’ De Luxe on the road, let alone stop for a human in it reached the general public in July and
single-barrel 12 bore shotgun; the front distress – I guess The Wide World coverage August 1930. Webley air pistol historian,
cover being shown as Figure 4. This edition of brave British adventurers abroad, and Jeff Hyder, informs me that according
of the publication, contains very un-PC their ethic of care for others, began to have to pre-war factory records of wages
stories with such titles as ‘Dwarfs of The little place, admirable as it was, and the schedules, manufacture of the ‘Senior’ had
Forbidden Hills’ and a page about ‘The magazine faded away in December 1965. commenced in late 1929.
Wide World Brotherhood’ telling how they I’ve read other issues and found it hard The patent double-joint cocking linkage
are a fraternity of men (and women) of to believe that many of the supposedly worked against a ramp dovetailed and brazed
goodwill, linked by the common bond of a ‘true’ adventure stories every actually in at the front end of the pistol body forging
love of travel and adventure. It had only happened. The Times described the behind the barrel hinge lug. The small ramp
one rule – a solemn pledge to treat fellow magazine as being about ‘brave chaps with acted as a fulcrum, assisting the effective
members as brothers, and if need arose, large moustaches on stiff upper lips, who pull during the last part of the long cocking
give them any help possible. There was no did stupid and dangerous things’. movement, and link and ramp had to be
annual subscription; the only necessary hardened by different specialised processes Ô
expense was five shillings (25p) [US 70c.] PAST LINKS
for the gilt-and-enamel buttonhole badge I mentioned the four variations of barrel
(brooch for ladies) and certificate of life linkage last month, made to the original Figure 1: Although the model name is unmentioned,
membership. The badge was to be worn double-jointed barrel linkage covered by ‘The Captain’s’ belated review of the new ‘Senior’
pistol was clearly approved of by Webley & Scott
whenever convenient, to enable Brethren Webley’s patent number 326,703, applied because they reprinted it from ‘Wide World Magazine’,
August, 1931. [Webley Archives]
to recognise one another. Although only 11 for on the 3rd of May 1929 and granted
years old in 1960, the Brotherhood was on 20th March, 1930. The Figure 2: Dating from around the time of the 1931 ‘Wide
World Magazine’ review, this good condition ‘Senior’
represented in over 70 different countries patent application date serial number S2220 previously in Nigel Allen’s Webley
and stated to be continually collection has been preserved in its original cardboard
carton. [Photo courtesy of Nigel Allen]
increasing in strength.
My friend and Figure 3: Second production type Senior serial no.
S2220. The first Patent type of intermediate link
erstwhile colleague, strengthened by widening at the hinge of the long
link. [Photo courtesy of Nigel Allen]
Kevin Brock found
this issue and I see Figure 4: Still being published in 1960, The October
issue of ‘Wide World’ true adventure magazine carried
he’s stuck a ‘post- advertisements for the Webley Mark I air pistol and
it’ note on the page the Cogswell & Harrison ‘Certus’ De Luxe single barrel
12 bore shotgun
outlining the aims of the
Brotherhood saying: Figure 5: Top view of Webley ‘Senior’ serial no.
S2027, showing second type of intermediate link with
‘There’s something additional strengthening shoulders at the hinge with
the long link, to remedy earlier breakages here
a bit disturbing
about this! I Figure 6: The Army & Navy Co-Operative Society
Ltd, Gun Department, London retailed this ‘Senior’.
wonder how many The strong, canvas-on-wood case is similar to the
members they green baize lined ‘Webley’ label types, but this one’s
lining is a reddish colour. [Photo courtesy of Chester
had.’ Purllant]
I don’t know,
Figure 7:The few Webleys found in cases are usually
but in an beautifully preserved, like this fine ‘Senior’ from the
late 1930s. [Photo courtesy of Chester Purllant]
increasingly

FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7
hpyn|uGjvsslj{pvu
FIGURE 9
F
further back on the

piston, acting as a
spacer for the small label had
link cocking slider to do in the interests of economy. I have
to work against, BSA air rifles stamped on the barrel top as
presumably to push having been retailed by Army & Navy Stores,
the piston back and it would be interesting to travel back in
further and into time to visit their gun department. It must
bent with the sear. have been quite a large establishment, full
It was so long back, that of interesting shooting items, many being
FIGURE 8 Jeff is unsure where he shipped worldwide. The few Webleys found
heard this, but it was most likely from his in cases are usually beautifully preserved,
due to the bearing forces involved. friend, Dr. Mark Newcomer who dismantled like another Senior’ from the late 1930s that
The first production-type Seniors required many Webley pistols during research for Chester once owned, shown in Figure 7.
an alteration that I had no space to include his pioneering series on Webley Air Pistols A very interesting Webley Senior belonging
last month. The new barrel linkages on very published in three parts in Guns Review to Jeff Hyder has some unusual features,
early Seniors suffered breakages at the hinge magazine in the 1970s. making it an ‘intermediate’ example. A
between the long and intermediate links, 1940, 150th Anniversary pistol constructed
where they pivoted over the fulcrum on the CHESTER’S CANVAS CASES from pre-war, and what would later become,
pistol body, resulting in Webley redesigning Chester Purllant had no less than six post-war parts appears in Figure 8. Namely,
the intermediate link by adding strengthening canvas-cased Webley Seniors through his a ‘straight’ pre-war style trigger and a
shoulders to widen it at the front end at the hands when actively collecting, and four Webley unmarked grip on the right side
hinged joint with the long link. Seniors in the later black ‘leatherette’ with a pre-war Webley marked grip fitted to
The top view of my Webley Senior, cases. One was retailed by the Army & Navy the left-hand side only. We don’t feel this
serial no. S2027 in Figure 5, shows this Co-Operative Society Ltd, Gun Department, arrangement is caused merely by a broken
second type of intermediate link with 105 Victoria Street, London, S.W.1. Figure 6 unmarked grip being replaced by one of the
additional strengthening shoulders. The shows that the strong, canvas-on-wood case new ‘Webley’ marked ones, because Jeff’s
new stepped sides of this modification is similar to the green baize lined ‘Webley’ cased ‘Senior’ pistol formerly belonged to
meant the position of the linkage patent label types, but this one’s lining is a reddish Albert Green of Webley, the co-creator of
number previously stamped along the left colour. The lock is ‘left-hand’, just like the the Webley air pistol and rifle dealers’ spare
side, needed to be moved to the top of Webley official cased pistol photograph parts box system. Without doubt, Mr. Green
this improved intermediate link. The small shown last month. would have had better access to replacing
link at this stage of production remained In proportion to the size of the pistol case, a grip with the correct one, than
the original semi-circular shoe above the this Army & Navy Co-Operative Society, Ltd. anybody else on earth.
cocking slider. label looks neat. Many of the trade labels Jeff has always felt that
No matter what type of linkage, they stuck inside pistol boxes are ludicrously having just the one maker-
could all suffer from the stretching large and seemed to be just utilised from marked stock-side could well
problem over a long period of hard use, those meant for rifles or shotgun cases. be a throwback to the wood-
as I described last month, requiring either If, for example, the Webley air pistol case gripped original Mk. I air pistol
replacement with a later version, or careful labels had been smaller, that would have models, sporting just the name
specialised repair. Long ago, Jeff was told prevented the label damage caused by the medallion on the left-hand
of another curious way someone in the past thumb-piece of the barrel stirrup sticking side grip only, with the right
had overcome the ‘stretched links’ problem, up and wearing the label. I suppose grip left plain. It’s also worth
by inserting another metal piston ring one size of printed trade considering the fact that
Webley never threw anything
away, and they would use up
parts from different eras and
sell guns with unexpected
features and possibly they
still had old grips in stock at
this time, and this would at
least use up half of them
on the right side of any new
FIGURE 10 pistols produced until the old

FIGURE 11
hpyn|uGjvsslj{pvu
FIGURE 12
Figure 8: Interesting Webley ‘Senior’ with some
unusual features making it an ‘intermediate’ example
- being a 1940, 150th Anniversary pistol constructed
from pre-war, and what would later become, post-war
parts. [Photo courtesy of Jeff Hyder]
Figure 9: 1940 Webley ‘Senior’, 150th Anniversary

pistol with fourth-type barrel linkage without the
‘teardrop’ and with no coil spring or a slot for same.
[Photo courtesy of Jeff Hyder]
Figure 10: Later post-war model batch no. 4276 with

fifth-type barrel linkage having addition of small coil
spring introduced in February 1947 to further prevent
FIGURE 13 the links folding over themselves
Figure 11: Showing the detrimental effect on the rear

of the link as the barrel knurling imprinted its pattern
on the top due to the hard collision between link and
the underside of the barrel on closure
Figure 12: Another view of Webley ‘Senior’ batch no.

4276, showing how the barrel knurling stamped its
pattern on the link - as with Jeff Hyder’s earlier 150th
Anniversary model pistol
Figure 13: In September 1949, the cross-hatched

knurling of the barrel was reduced to two inches to
prevent it fouling the linkage. It took Webley a decade
to address this simple problem for some reason.
[Photo courtesy of Jeff Hyder]
Figure 14: Early slant-grip Senior serial no. S7111,

a pre-war pistol housed in a post-war ‘Leatherette’
case. Dark lettering on gold trade label with wear in
the usual place. Webley ‘Special’ pellet tin and HOC
unmarked grips ran out. It ‘Excelene’ oil. [Photo courtesy of Chester Purllant]
seems we will never know further prevent
for certain, unless further the links folding over
examples from 1940 appear with the themselves. Note the long barrel knurling Special’ pellet tin and HOC ‘Excelene’ oil.
combination of old- and new-style grips – still extending forward to foul the linkage; A one-time owner of this pistol, Chester
one marked and one unmarked. Even then also the thicker ‘curly’ trigger with a long tip Purllant, told me it’s since had a Webley
we might never know for sure the reason for introduced in 1944 and lack of the wedge- oilcan substituted and a ‘Senior’ pistol more
the odd grips. shaped short link of the third-type linkage, suited to the age of the case. The contoured
The long knurling to the barrel was this ‘teardrop linkage’ previously preventing lower section found in a few of these later,
introduced in June 1939. Figure 9 shows the intermediate link from folding over. The non-locking cases allowed a post-war style,
Jeff’s 1940 Webley Senior with fourth-type trigger tip was trimmed back in May, 1963. screw-on, reversible spout Webley oil can
barrel linkage with no coil spring or a slot to be compartmented alongside, rather
for it. In fact, nothing to prevent the links PROBLEM ADDRESSED than a pre-war Valvespout tin. Obviously,
folding over and having to be manually Figures 11 and 12 show the damaging effect it’s essential that later cans are screwed on
straightened out in order for the barrel to on the rear of the link as the barrel knurling tight to prevent spoiling a pistol case with oil
seat properly after cocking, as with the imprinted its pattern on the top, due to leakage.
earliest Senior linkages. the hard collision between link and the
A new fourth-type barrel linkage appears underside of the barrel on closure; a similar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
on Jeff’s ‘Senior’ with no slot cut for a coil effect is seen on Jeff Hyder’s earlier 150th Thanks to Jeff Hyder and Chester Purllant
spring. The knurling that initially extended Anniversary model pistol. In September 1949, for input and photographs; also to Nigel
forward on the barrel, fouled the top of both the crosshatched knurling of the barrel was Allen for the use of his photographs. ■
intermediate link and cocking slider and reduced to two inches to prevent
had a detrimental effect on the top of this it colliding with the linkage. FIGURE 14
link because it imprinted the pattern of the It took Webley a decade to
knurling on the top. This impact between address this problem, but
link and the underside of the barrel also there had been a war on,
caused the knurling there of the mild steel so low priority. Jeff ‘s further
(used at that stage) barrel to became photograph, Figure 13 shows
flattened by corresponding wear. a later Senior with the barrel
Jeff’s Senior is housed in the correct, knurling shortened at the front
new ‘leatherette’, non-lockable Webley to clear the sprung short link.
pistol case with nickel-plated snap catches Factory blueprints tell us the new
and a gold lettering on black trade label, slot for the link spring was added
reminiscent of the type fitted to the first of in March, 1947 which dates my
the canvas-covered pre-war cases, but with example (Figures 10, 11 and 12)
the additional line, saying ‘GRAND PRIX still with the extended barrel
DU CASINO A MONTE CARLO –FIVE YEARS’ knurling, as after this date.
- which applies to the repeated success An early, slant-grip Senior
of Webley’s sporting guns in the pigeon- serial no. S7111, a pre-war
shooting field; not airgun related. pistol housed in a post-war
The later post-war model Senior batch ‘Leatherette’ case is seen in
no. 4276 in Figure 10 has a fifth-type barrel Figure 14. Dark lettering on
linkage having the addition of small coil gold trade label with wear
spring introduced in February 1947 to in the usual place. Webley’

SWAP SHOP
REMEMBER you DO NOT have to be a registered firearms dealer (RFD) to sell your airgun as part of a private transaction,
and this transaction DOES NOT have to be ‘face to face’ – although you must ensure that the buyer is over 18 years of age.
Are you looking to sell a gun? Dedicated gun enthusiasts read Air Shop, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham,
Gunner every month; if you’re looking to sell then they’re looking to RG40 2EG. Please include your name, address, telephone number
buy! Alternatively, is there a gun you’ve been trying to find? Are you and a maximum of 40 words and make all cheques or PO’s payable
a collector or just looking for a particular treat? For all your buying to ‘Air Gunner’. Get your information to us and we’ll 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
ATN ARIES MK440 GEN 2 BSA R10 MK2 VC .177, DAYSTATE WOLVERINE FX WILDCAT, 25 CAL, 2 MAGS,
NIGHT VISION SCOPE. silencer, filling gear, 3 R TYPE HIGHLITE. Hawke 3-9 x 40 scope, Hugget
Great scope for a spot of night magazines, 1 single-shot loader, Grey laminate thumbhole stock, silencer, gun sling, very
hunting, very clear optics. Used right-hand walnut stock, original Huma regulator, sidelever accurate, excellent condition,
only a handful of times before documents available. £495 ono cocking .177. 10 shot £1,000 ovno. Air Arms HFT 500
moving out of my regular with mounts and scope, £425 magazine, single tray and filling hamster, new condition £60 no
shooting area. £350 ovno, hard ono rifle only. Air Arms 410 TDR adaptor. Two year warranty. offers. Tel: 0754 9761580
case included. .177 walnut stock, original Genuine unmarked mint (Leeds).
Tel: 07428 483960 (Hants). documents, complete with all the condition,
equipment as supplied from new boxed £1,050. Weihrauch SPANISH GAMO AUTO 45 GAS
MATCH AIR RIFLE .177 by Air Arms. £690 ono with HW55 Tyrolean, mint, POWERED BB-FIRING AIR
FEINWERKBAU P700, SERIAL mounts and scope. £620 ono collectors condition £550 PISTOL. Mint condition and
NO.709998. Infrequently used. rifle only. Both rifles have had Tel: 01977 661671 boxed. This magazine-fed gun
Currently with left-handed grip, little use and are in pristine (Yorkshire). looks like the Glock 17 cartridge
interchangeable with right- condition. Buyer able to see pistol £70. Tel: 01923 236597
handed grip. Comes with tools, and try prior to purchase. AIR ARMS S510 (Herts).
manual and RWS hard case. Tel: 01780 740521 SUPERLITE CARBINE,
£850 ono. Tel: 07771 804214 (Nr Peterborough). Hunter Green, silencer, Hawke COLLECTOR SEEKS MINT
(Chichester). 3-9 x 50 scope, 3 litre bottle plus SECOND-HAND CO2 PISTOLS /
WEIHRAUCH HW95, all fittings, stirrup pump, REVOLVERS, IE PPK, CP88,
WALTHER LGU .177 fitted with silencer and Hawke NiteSight NS 50, Deben Tracer Berretta Colt, Dan Wesson
recently tuned (Sandwell), 3-9 x 40 scope. Condition as Atom, extra scope Leapers 3-9 x revolvers, cash waiting.
excellent condition. Shoots new as fired less than 500 40, soft gun case £1,200. Tel: 07780 332298
straight and smooth and long, pellets .22 £200, no offers collect Tel: 07894 427919 (Guildford).
first stage trigger since tuning, only. Tel: 01443 822224 (Northants).
zip bag included £390. Optional (Mid Glamorgan). DAYSTATE AIR WOLF MCT
Hawke 3-9 x 50 scope (plus WESTLEY RICHARDS ‘HIGHEST WITH MTC MAMBA 4-16 X 50
£30.00). A Sandwell tuned LGU WEIHRAUCH HW35 POSSIBLE’ SOLID FRAME, 9.5” IRS SCOPE,
can be seen here: www.youtube. .22 AIR RIFLE, BARREL, Carbon Daystate silencer, two
com/watch? standard model with beech serial number 79, pistol mags, Plano case, charger,
v=IVCVFL8gF3c&t=646s stock. One owner since new complete, all screws present. 2,500 unopened JSB Exact
Tel: 07767 600160 (Leicester). (approx 1980). Excellent Chequered vulcanite grips with pellets, 12 litre charging bottle.
original condition with original screw. Cocks and fires. Immaculate condition £950 open
ARTEMIS P10 .177 SHORTIE, contemporary Hunter 4x32 Some original finish otherwise to offers.
13 mag single-shot, still boxed, scope, mounts with recoil stud, good condition, all lettering Tel: 07534 465020
new £290. Benjman Discovery leather sling and slip case. Buyer legible £600. (Dorset).
.22, good condition £100. collects £95. Tel: 07917 011080 Tel: 07764 661962
Tel: 07951 675340 (Ipswich). (Chester). (Wiltshire).
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 can’t 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.

SPONSORED BY
We are the only dedicated airgun shooting

facility in Tyne & Wear where you can come 16 indoor lanes up to 45yds. Taster sessions
and enjoy a warm welcoming environment. and tuition available. Suitable for all, from hobby
Open: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-8 and Sun 10-4. to competition. £10 stay up to 3 hours.
www.washingtonairriflerange.co.uk www.doncaster-airgun-range.co.uk
Washington, Tyne & Wear NE37 1LH Wharf Road, Doncaster DN1 2ST
07949 568 892 07563 880 042
KIBWORTH
SHOOTING GROUND
Our purpose built range boasts 7 shooting

lanes, 5 at 25yds for rifle and 2 at 10 metres
3 Covered Ranges, 100m Range, Competitions,
for pistol use. All lanes are well lit and
Lessons, Shooting Introductions, Gun Shop and
serviced by a ‘fly by wire’ target system.
Café. Tues - Sat: 9am-5pm. Sun: 9am-3pm.
Open Tues - Fri 10-7 and Sat - Sun 10-5 Late night opening Thursdays
www.ontargetrange.co.uk www.kibworthshootingground.co.uk
13 Osyth Close, Northampton NN4 7DY info@kibworthshootingground.co.uk
01604 315 224 0116 2796001
Ranges are seated undercover

25m & 60m field range with 11
shooting bays. 10m indoor tin
Supplying
can alley with 3 shooting bays. air gunners, ranges
Memberships starts from £150 and shops across the UK with A Different Calibre
per year, none members can pay on the day for £5 Our new indoor shooting range allows for air
for 2 hours. You can also rent equipment from our quality targets and accessories rifle and pistol shooting out to 30 yards. Variety
onsite shop. There is also a 50m archery range. of targets in-situ to suit everyone from dedicated
Our shop stocks a large range for your shooting
needs. We also have a full time gunsmith on site.
www.target-air.co.uk paper target shooters to the casual ‘plinker’.
Open 9.30am-8.00pm Monday-Saturday &
Pantyffynon House, Graig Fawr, sales@target-air.co.uk 10am-4pm Sunday. Unit 7, Dunhams Court,
Pontarddulais, Swansea SA4 8QN Dunhams Lane, Letchworth SG6 1WB
01792 885892 01462674861 www.adifferentcalibre.co.uk
10 x 90-yard open & 2 x 60-yard wind-free

lit & heated lanes, bring your own or hire 12 lane covered air rifle range + 3 pistol lanes
a gun, have-a-go & tuition available – all Pay and play and annual memberships
weather shooting for all disciplines! Gun hire and tuition available
www.riflemanfirearms.com www.emmettandstone.co.uk
Hambridge, Somerset TA10 0BP Wilton Farm, Little Marlow, Bucks SL7 3RR
01458 253700 01628 474 187
North
Midlands
South
Wales
GUN SHOPS
Directory Key: Trade Associations: BASC Trade
Member
GTA Trade
Member
COUNTRYSIDE
ALLIANCE
Countryside Alliance
Trade Member Items stocked: Airguns Pistols
Airguns Pistols Clothing/ Knives
Clothing/
Optics Footwear
Optics Footwear Knives
Pellets&& AirSoft Archery
Decoys Pellets
Decoys
Accessories AirSoft
Hides Accessories
&&Hides
Archery&& Gunsafes
Equipment Gun
Equipment safes
MELBOURNE GUN LTD

Scotland 64 Church Street, Melbourne
Derbyshire DE73 8EJ
Tel: 01332 862091
Email: melbournegun@btconnect.com
Northern Web: melbournegun.com
Ireland
Opening hours: 9am-5pm every day bar Sunday
Credit cards:
North
A busy gun shop established for over 30 years, selling an
extensive range of new and secondhand shotguns, sporting
rifles and air rifles with all ammunition and equipment.
A large range of outdoor waterproof clothing. Part exchange
welcome. Secondhand guns wanted. Gunsmith available.
CITY AIRWEAPONS LINCOLN LTD

154a Newark Road,
Lincoln LN5 8QJ
Central Tel: 01522 576238
Web: www.cityairweaponslincoln.co.uk
East Credit cards:
Wales
Mail order to other RFDs. Theoben Specialist including FAC.
Combo deals available on new and used air weapons. Probably
the best prices in the area. Cash for Airweapons. Part X welcome.
London Specialist repairs. Classic airweapons bought and sold. FAC
& South conversions. On-site charging facilities. Large selection of pellets,
South West East quantity discounts.
IBSTOCK GUN & TACKLE

Isle of Wight 61-63 Chapel Street
Ibstock
Leicester
LE67 6HF
Tel: 01530 260901
BROM SPORTS
WALES Web: www.Ibstocktackle.co.uk
Brom Sports, 66 Widemarsh St Wide range of air rifles, scopes and accessories at discount
Hereford HR4 9HG prices. Daystate stockist. ALL REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN
DRAGON FIELD SPORTS Tel: 01432 344610 Guns always wanted – Cash paid.
21 Pentre Felin, Wrexham LL13 7NB Web: www.bromsports.co.uk
Tel: 01978 290990 Email: bromsportshereford@yahoo.co.uk
Email: dragonsports99@gmail.com Opening hours: Open 9 ’till 5 Tuesday to Saturday
Web: www.dragonfieldsports.co.uk Bank holiday Mondays 10am–3pm LONDON & S.E.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm Credit cards:
Credit cards:
HEREFORD’S AIRGUN SPECIALISTS. A large range of Air guns
and accessories available including: Air Arms, BSA, Daystate,
Webley, Crossman, SMK, Hawke and many more. Also available, CRAWLEY SURPLUS STORE DBL SUSSEX LTD
Full range of: Air Rifles, Air Pistols, CO2 Pistols, Shotguns, Air Cylinder charging, Archery, Crossbows, Soft Air, Repairs &
Firearms. Also: Scopes, Lamps, Ammo, Camo Clothing, Archery.
Unit 2 Access House, Stephenson Way,
servicing and much more. A family friendly outlet, with help and Three Bridges, Crawley RH10 1TN
Servicing and Repairs. advice always available.
Tel: 01293 525880
Fax: 01293 522749
KEXBY FIELD SPORTS Email: sales@surplusstore.co.uk
CENTRAL High Street, Kexby, Gainsborough, Web: www.airpistols.co.uk
DN21 5LZ Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm
Tel: 01427 787157 Credit cards:
DRAPERS AIRGUN CENTRE Mob: 07776 282324
124–128 Hartley Road, Nottingham NG7 3AJ Email: kexbycountrystore@btinternet.com
Tel: 01159 702525 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8.30am–7pm, We have moved to a larger showroom with a testing range and
Email: sales@drapers-airguns.co.uk Sat 8.30am–5.30pm, Sun 9am–12pm free parking. Always a large range of CO2 pistols, rifles, airsoft
Web: www.drapers-airguns.co.uk Credit cards: guns, gas blow back pistols. Major brands stocked, SMK,
Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9am–5.30pm Umarex, Weihrauch, Air Arms, Gamo, BSA, Brocock. Large range
Closed Sundays and Mondays of clothing and accessories. Visit online www.airpistols.co.uk.
Credit cards:
New and used air rifles. Most leading brands stocked.
Part exchange a pleasure. Try before you buy.
Scopes, lamps, slings, gun bags, clothing, boots,
The Midlands largest Airgun Showroom and Sales Experts. Selling wellingtons, camo nets, poles, decoys etc. C&H WESTON
Everything you need to get started or uprade!
everything from spare parts to accessories to the most sought after 12 East Street, Brighton,
rifles and collectors pieces! We supply everything from new and used Sussex BN1 1HP
airguns and their accessories through to clothing, hunting knives and SHOOTING PARTY Tel: 01273 326338/733832
binoculars, and we offer a great service at the shop itself along with
competitive prices. Easily accessible from the M1 motorway as well as Unit 4C, Birchbrook Industrial Estate, Fax: 01273 720107
Newark/Melton directions, with ample parking very close by. Birchbrook Lane, Shenstone, Staffordshire WS14 0DJ Email: info@chweston.co.uk
Tel: 01543 480361 Web: www.chweston.co.uk
WALKERS OF TROWELL Web: www.shootingparty.uk Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9–5.30. Sun & Bank Hol 10.30–4.30
Credit cards: Credit cards:
Nottingham Road, Trowell,
Nottingham NG9 3PA
Tel: 0115 9307798
Email: sales@walkersoftrowell.com We are the exclusive importer and Distributor of PAO Rifle & Pistol Established 1819, C&H Weston offer a friendly service.
Credit cards: scopes, sights, lasers and Range Finders and the AirForceOne range We stock all good brands such as Air Arms, BSA, Daystate,
of Airguns & Accessories, including the MOSIN-NAGANT Steel BB Falcon, Brocock, Weihrauch, Gamo, Theoben, FX.
Stockists of: Daystate, BSA, Weihrauch, Air Arms, Rifle , the Trophy & Taichi Pistols and Panther pellets. 100 + Airguns Massive pellet range, chronographs, scales, gun cabinets,
Umarex, Hawke, plus a large range of Pellets & Accessories. always in stock. Used airguns always wanted – cash paid. Try before servicing. Scopes by Lightstream, Hawke, Nikko, BSA,
Fishing Tackle & Outdoor Clothing. you buy in our indoor range. MTC, Nikon, AGS. PX a pleasure.
Services offered: Gunsmith Repairs & Compressed
Servicing Air
Power
Testing
Range
Facilities
Credit
available To advertise your gunshop on these pages please call us on 01189 742 514
G. E. FULTON PARK STREET GUNS

Bisley Camp, Brookwood 1-2 Park Street Lane, Park St. COUNTRYSIDE SCOTLAND
ALLIANCE
Woking, Surrey GU24 0NZ St. Albans, Herts AL2 2NE
Tel: 01483 473204 Tel: 01727 872646 / 872669 LOCHMABEN SHOOTING SUPPLIES
Fax: 01483 475011 Fax: 01727 875449
5-6 Laverockhall Farm Road,
Email: gefulton@btconnect.com Email: parkstreetguns@talk21.com
Lochmaben, Lockerbie, DG11 1RE
Web: www.fultonsofbisley.com Web: www.gunshot.co.uk
Tel: 01387 811079
Opening hours: 9.00am - 5.30pm Mon - Sun 7 days a week Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9–5.30, Sat 9–5
Web: www.lochmabenshootingsupplies.co.uk
Credit cards: Credit cards: Opening hours: Tues-Fri 10-6pm, Sat 9-4pm
Sun by appointment, Mon Closed.
Credit cards:
Stockists of BSA, Air Arms, Gamo, Weihrauch. New and used air We sell all major makes of airguns including BSA, Weihrauch,
rifles and accessories. Scopes. Fitting service. Pre-charged, CO2, Gamo, Daystate, Umarex and more. All pellets and decoying
spring power. Service and repair of all guns. equipment. Also in-house airgun smith service and power testing
facilities. Friendly and knowledgeable service – always! Scottish Government approved 30m and 10m indoor shooting ranges. We
cater for .22 rimfire and air guns. We also hire guns to use on our ranges. No
licenses required! Fully stocked shop and gun room. New and used rifles/
CHICHESTER ARMOURY RONNIE SUNSHINES shotguns/airguns
43 West St, Chichester, COUNTRYSIDE
ALLIANCE
4 Canalside, Northbridge Road
Sussex PO19 1RP Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 1EG GLASGOW & EDINBURGH FIELD SPORTS
Tel: 01243 774687 Tel/Fax: 01442 872829
Email: enquiries@chiarm.co.uk Email: info@ronniesunshines.com Unit 1, The Point Retail Park,
Web: www.chiarm.co.uk Web: www.ronniesunshines.com 29 Saracen St, Glasgow G22 5HT
Opening hours: 9.30-1 2-5.00 Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm Tel: 0141 212 8880
Credit cards: Credit cards: Edinburgh Field Sports, Unit E Granton Retail Park,
65 West Harbour Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1PW
Web: www.glasgowfieldsports.co.uk
Good selection of new and used air rifles, stocking spring and Credit cards:
pre-charged guns. Help and advice always available. Hertfordshire’s leading Airgun Specialists we stock Weihrauch, Daystate,
Air Arms, BSA, Logun, SMK, and many more. Plus a large range of CO2
pistols, scopes, clothing and a comprehensive stock of airgun accessories. Central Scotland’s premier retailers of shooting and hunting equipment and clothing.
EMMETT & STONE COUNTRY SPORTS We are also Bushcraft and Survival specialists supplying all the kit you need
to survive. Come and visit our shop and Try before you buy on our purpose
Wilton Farm, Marlow Road built indoor range. Or visit our website www.ronniesunshines.com EAST
Little Marlow, Bucks SL7 3RR
Tel: 01628 474187 COUNTRY SPORTING GUNS
Email: info@emmettandstone.co.uk PORTSMOUTH GUN CENTRE
Cannons Cottage, Punchbowl Lane, Brothertoft,
Web: www.emmettandstone.co.uk 295 London Road, Portsmouth PO2 9HF Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3SB
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Tel: 02392 660 574 Email: sales@portsmouthguncentre.com Line 1: 01205 311246
Credit cards: Line 2: 01205 369470
We stock rifles, pistols, shotguns, airguns and black powder weapons. Email: stvdxn440@gmail.com
Keeping the leading brands in stock, the business can accommodate all Web: www.countrysportingguns.co.uk
enquiries from customers and shooters alike. Complimenting the vast
RFD to RFD transfers. Large stock of new & used guns in stock from all range of firearms, Portsmouth Gun Centre also carries a large amount of
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 9am–5.30pm
the major brands: Air Arms, BSA, Crossman, Gamo, Daystate, Weihrauch, accessories, ammunition, clothing and miscellaneous shooting equipment. We now sell impact airguns!!
Umarex, Webley, Theoben, FX, Sig. Cylinder filling on site. 50m Air Rifle We supply airguns and shooting accessories, stocking all major air
Range. All air guns servicing undertaken. rifle brands, optics and silencers. Setup and tuning service. We are
STRINGTOWN SUPPLIES selected BSA area dealers. Sporting rifles and shotguns including ammo.
29 High Street, Polegate New and secondhand rifles and shotguns. SHOOTING RANGE. We buy
MAY OF LONDON LTD airguns. This is the home of the Grand European 80 Varmint air rifle.
East Sussex BN26 5AB
21-23 Cherry Tree Rise, Tel: 01323 488844
Buckhurst hill, Essex IG9 6EU
Email: stringtownsupplies@btinternet.com T.R. ROBB
Tel: 0208 504 5946
Web: www.stringtownsupplies.com
Email: trueshot@btconnect.com 316 High Road, South Benfleet
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stringtownsurplus Essex SS7 5HB Tel: 01268 752888
Web: www.mayoflondon.com
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9.30am–5.30pm, Sun 10.30am–2.30pm Web: www.trrobb.com
Opening hours: Tues–Fri 9.30am–6pm, Sat 9.30am–5.30pm
Credit cards:
Credit cards:
Why not visit our amazing shop (‘The Aladdin’s Cave’ as its
known!) Secondhand and new airguns. Air Arms, BSA, Crosman, Full range of air rifles and pistols. Soft-air and Simmons scope
Gamo, Hawke, SMK, Umarex, Webley, Weihrauch etc. Plus: Army specialist. Tuning kits and Customising Service.
Air rifle and pistol sales and servicing. Dive cylinders and filling surplus, camo clothing, Jack Pyke, archery, crossbows, airsoft,
station on-site, indoor range, vast range of goods and accessories. de-acts, paintball. Mail order service. Also dealer to dealer.
Expert and friendly advice always given. We also sell shotguns,
PNEUMATIC BALLISTICS
rifles, cartridges, ammunition, clays, cabinets and clothing. C/o Fern House, The Street, Sheeting,
BICESTER TARGET Essex CM22 7LR
GREENFIELDS AIRGUN CENTRE Tel: 01493 733462 | 07917 160314
Walton Moore offices
Email: enquiries@pneumaticballistics.com
The Shooting Grounds, Sturry Hill, Sturry, Canterbury 6 Grange Mews, Station Road
Web: www.pneumaticballistics.com
CT2 0NG Launton, Near Bicester,
Opening hours: Mon to Sat 9am–5pm
Tel: 01227 713222 Oxfordshire, OX26 5EG
Credit cards:
Fax: 01227 710611 Tel: 01869 45 71 70
Email: sales@greenfieldsshooting.co.uk Email: info@bicestertarget.co.uk
Web: www.greenfieldsshooting.co.uk Web: www.bicestertarget.co.uk An innovative developer and retailer of revolutionary technology for
Opening hours: Tues–Sat 8.30am–5.30pm. Air Rifles. We sell new and used rifles and shooting accessories including
Unique to Bicester Target and unlike any other air gun outlet, every pellet magazines which we manufacture ourselves. We offer repairs
Sun 9am–1.00pm. Closed Mon and servicing for most makes of firearms which is carried out by our
rifle and pistol in our shop is available to test and try out, making
Credit cards: sure that the rifle or pistol you choose is the correct one for you not experienced gunmaker. Go to our website to find out more.
only in terms of fit, but also is correct for the discipline of shooting
you choose to undertake. This concept really is where we stand
Stockists of BSA, Webley, Air Arms, Logun, Weihrauch, Gamo out from any other retailer. ANGLIA TACKLE AND GUN
and many more. Helpful Friendly Advice Always Available.
Tel: 01603 870353
Email: sales@angliatackleandgun.co.uk
Web: www.angliatackleandgun.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE YOUR GUN SHOP ON THESE PAGES PLEASE CALL US ON
01189 742 514 Outdoor supplies specialist for all your hunting and shooting needs.
We supply the highest quality products and prices throughout East
Anglia.
Products from BSA, Air Arms, Weihrauch and many more...
GUN SHOPS
Directory Key: Trade Associations: BASC Trade
Member
GTA Trade
Member
COUNTRYSIDE
ALLIANCE
Countryside Alliance
Trade Member Items stocked: Airguns 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:
Extensive range of all leading airguns, scopes and accessories.

Central Also a wide range of camo clothing and footwear available.
East WIRRAL GUNS

Wales 2F Whitby Rd, Ellesmere
Port, South Wirral
CH65 8AD
Tel: 0151 355 6666
Opening hours: Monday –
London Friday 10am-5pm
& South Saturday 10am-3pm.
East Closed Wednesdays &
South West Sundays
Email: shop@wirralguns.co.uk Web: www.wirralguns.co.uk
Credit cards: Finance available
Isle of Wight
Air rifles, Air pistols & Accessories from all manufacturers.
Air fills for PCP & Paintball, Air gun repairs. Airguns to suit
everyone’s budget £££.
NORTH WARRINGTON GUNS SOUTH WEST

53 Norris Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 7RJ
SUNDERLAND SCUBA CENTRE Tel: 01925 415901
Email: sales@warringtonguns.com IAN HODGE SHOOTING & FIELD SPORTS
4A Atkinsons Buildings, Trimdon Street
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR4 6AH Web: www.warringtonguns.com Penbarn, Burlawn, Wadebridge,
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm Cornwall PL27 7LA
Tel: 01915 670147
Sat 9am - 4.30pm Tel: 01208 813651
Email: contact@sunderlandairguns.com
Credit cards: Email: sales@ianhodgefieldsports.co.uk
Web: www.sunderlandairguns.com
Web: www.ianhodgefieldsports.co.uk
Opening hours: 9.00-5.30 Mon-Fri | 9.00-4.30 Sat | 10.00-3.00 Sun
Selection of air rifles including BSA, Air Arms, Daystate, Cometa, Credit cards:
Credit cards:
Brocock, Webley, Weihrauch, Edgar, FX, Walther and more. Rimfire
and centre fire rifles, shotguns, ammunition and cartridges available here.
Stockists of Weihrauch, Webley, BSA, Norica, Gamo, Hammerli, scopes, BURY AIR GUNS Cornwall’s 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.
TONY’S 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 North’s 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 Web: www.fieldgear.co.uk 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 CRACKSHOT - 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, Heathfield, Newton Abbot,
of rifles & pistols: BSA, Weihrauch, Daystate, Webley, Brocock, FX, Air
dummies, leads, sticks, etc. Also: Cartridges,Victory cartridges, gunslips, Devon GB, TQ12 6TW
Arms, Gamo, Umarex, Walther. Clothing & accessories inc Night vision,
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. Email: info@crackshot.uk
safety eyewear, ear defenders, camo nets, pocket knives and decoys.
Web: www.crackshot.uk
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 Devon’s 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
Britain’s first Airgun Only Gunshop (since 1977). Visit one of Britain‘s 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.crackshot.uk
and re-blueing. Free advice with pleasure! INDOOR RANGE. Part exchange a specialty.
jvY
Russia’s
seven-shooter
Philip Whiteman finds this replica revolver both fascinating and fun
A
seven-round cylinder is one of
the least unusual features of
the Gletcher NGT R .177/4.5mm
CO2 revolver. Closely based on the
M1895 Nagant Service revolver,
effectively Russia’s Webley, the NGT R
is a gate-loading, double-action pistol
with a rod ejector mounted on a cuff
that pivots around the barrel.
While it looks like a slightly
hump-backed Smith & Wesson, the
Nagant’s cylinder does not swing
out for reloading, although it can be
removed for cleaning after pulling out
its axle pin, the tabbed end of which
is exposed when the ejector rod is
swivelled into its operating position.
If your head is spinning with this,
it gets weirder: there is no half-
cock position – the cylinder can be
hand rotated for reloading, or even
removed for cleaning, with hammer forward face of the cylinder, ABOVE: A fine backward as the round was fired,
finish and a deeply
down. Cleverly, the seven-chamber minimising the amount of propellant evocative profile and the bullet expanded the case to
geometry allows cartridges to be gas – and thus energy – lost through make a gas-tight seal.
inserted without half-indexing the the gap that otherwise exists.
cylinder, as you have to with a single- Developed by Belgian gunsmith, SERVICE REVOLVER
action Colt, and when closed, the Leon Nagant, from an original design While this system gave the Nagant
spring-loaded gate bears on notches by his countryman, Pieper, the a small hike in muzzle velocity – and
around the cylinder, serving a double M1895 was unique among firearm made it the only revolver that worked
function as a stop ratchet. revolvers in that it had a gas seal satisfactorily with a suppressor or
system. The cases of its specially- silencer – it also made the double-
GAS SEAL made 7.62mm cartridges extended action trigger pull notoriously heavy
Today’s CO2 revolvers all and uneven. However, the Russians,
feature ‘gas seals’. who adopted it as their standard
You might not have service revolver in 1895 and
noticed it, but they all purchased the design rights in 1902,
have spring-loaded came to value the Nagant as a
inner barrels that beyond the robust and reliable weapon in much
seat snugly bullet, the protruding the same way as the Americans
on the section being forced regarded the single-action Colt.
into the tapered Made obsolescent by the Tokarev
breech end of the barrel automatic pistol, the M1895
by the cylinder being nevertheless soldiered on in Soviet
moved forward as the army use until the 1950s and was still
hammer was cocked. The being used by security personnel in
last stage of the cocking some former Eastern Bloc countries
action drove a wedge behind the LEFT: The grip as late as 2017 – an astonishingly
is surprisingly
cylinder, preventing it being blown comfortable long life for any service pistol. Ô

HISTORY
This wonderful history fully justifies
Gletcher’s decision to make a CO2
replica of the Nagant part of its
‘Russian Legends’ series. Imported
by Armex, it is available as a BB or
pellet-firer, in black or ‘nickel-plated’
finish. Air Gunner tested the pellet
version in nickel, which has an
attractive satin finish.
To make any sense of how the NGT
R is operated – it really is most unlike
any revolver we have seen before –
you do have to look at the instruction
book. As already described, there is
no half-cock position, nor any need
for one. Nor is there a safety because
the rebounding hammer is locked
when the trigger is released, so the
gun will not fire even if (perish the
thought) it is dropped on the hammer. than the .38 ones used in other CO2 ABOVE: The field certainly appears to be good and
strippable design adds
Unusually, the beautifully machined revolvers and are tapered so that no to the realism accurate, and consistent when fired
cylinder lacks the usual ‘deactivation one could chamber a live round. single-action in classic, one-handed,
groove’ machined through the target-shooting style. Weighing 700g
chambers. I think someone has been COMFORTABLE GRIP (approximately 1lb 7oz in old money)
very clever here because this pistol’s The NGT R’s curved Smith & it is just the right weight to be held
dummy cartridges are both smaller Wesson-style grip sits well in the out nice and steady at arm’s length.
in diameter hand. It is ambidextrous, too, However, the double-action pull
although left-handers will be aware seems to be about as horrible as
of the protruding screw heads under legend holds the original Nagant’s
their thumb on the right-hand side to be. (Interestingly, two Russian
LEFT: Accuracy was
of the frame. A close fit within the excellent in single- models were made; a single-action
narrow grip – which snaps shut action mode for the troops and a double-action
tightly, with very little play – the for officers.) You can loose off
CO2 capsule is secured with a rounds at a rapid rate, at the risk of
couple of twists on the lanyard spraying them all over the shop, but
ring. The gun points very nicely, this is pointless, because the grip is
the narrow fore sight lining up so good that thumbing the hammer
with the rear V notch almost for quick and accurate single-action
automatically in the natural hand shooting is a pleasure with this
position. BELOW: The dual- unusual and beautifully made pistol.
function loading gate
How does it shoot? Well, it is highly unusual Whilst there are purists who
decry these CO2 replicas as mere
toys, the Gletcher NGT R is so well
made, and so faithfully recreates the
eccentricities of the Nagant M1895,
that it offers shooters and collectors
a real chance to appreciate and enjoy
this very different pistol from a past
era. We were very impressed with it. ■
INFO
Importer: Armex
Web: www.armex.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 4900
RRP £229.99

NEW FOR 2018
HAWKE SIDEWINDER FFP.

CONSTANT, ACCURATE HOLD OVER POINTS.
SIDEWINDER FFP
First Focal Plane | 30mm | Side Focus | Illumination
JVSQ
ð7*
ð7*
[MXL**41MPVIXMGPI
FFP MIL RETICLE

9RMUYIHIWMKRXS,E[OI´W7MHI[MRHIV**4
WGSTI&EWIHEVSYRHEQMPWTEGIHVIXMGPI
[MXLLEPJQMPQEVOMRKWWTEGIHFI]SRH
QMPMREPPHMVIGXMSRW
Low Magnification High Magnification
www.hawkeoptics.com/ffp
VISION ACCOMPLISHED Born in the UK

Gunner: Worth

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gunner: Worth

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WIN A COMPLETE WEBLEY

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

return for the shooting rights, .......................................................................................................................................................

SEPTEMBER 2018 £4.25

03 ED’S LETTER 20 IT’S IN THE BAG 47 ALL CHANGE

7 NEWS 28 HFT INTERNATIONAL 50 BANG ON!

9 LETTERS 36 JAMIE CHANDLER 52 COMPETITION

13 GURU 40 CUTTING CAPABILITY 54 FAR-SIGHTED

17 UKAHFT 42 THE HUNTER’S WAY 56 HOT STUFF

4 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

WIN A COMPLETE WEBLEY

SEPTEMBER 2018 £4.25

59 CHARLIE PORTLOCK 77 PLINKING PERFECTION SUBSCRIBE

64 NEIL PRICE 80 OPTIMUM OPTICAL

Back to the ‘70s as Neil rebuilds an

YOUR DETAILS (mandatory to complete)

67 SECRET SQUIRRELS 85 ACCURACY MATTERS

Air Gunner – Please start my subscription for £35.90

AIRGUN WORLD & AIR GUNNER

INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY. Please pay Archant Community

Air Gunner – Please start my subscription for £41.45

most popular knives in the Magnum

through its paces

SF from Discovery Optics

71 TICK BOX 96 AIRGUN COLLECTION

the editor’s advice at your peril early Webley Seniors

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 5

The new S510

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 7

LOUD, PROUD AND EXOTIC

AIRGUN RANGES GRAND NATIONAL

The airgun ranges I’ve never seen a sporting

8 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

All gone? Home-made reactive target

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 9

The end of an era?

10 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE AIRGUN CENTRE 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DAYSTATE SPECIALS

LIFETIME GUARANTEE FINANC

WHISPER MAXXIM DUAL

*AVAILABLE IN .177 & .22

GAMOOTHERS CALL IT FUTURE ĻĻĻƚÓ§ùăƚ·ăù

“some ten times the power of

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 13

THE NEW COMMANDER CERAKOTE

A Refreshing New Concept in Air Gun Retail

01869 45 71 70 | WWW.BICESTERTARGET.CO.UK facebook.com/bicestertargetuk

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 17

18 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE AIRGUN CENTRE 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DAYSTATE SPECIALS

LIFETIME GUARANTEE FINANC

“This is a great bit of kit for my needs, especially

20 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

www.bsaguns.co.uk  / BSA Guns UK LTD Official

THE BIG TEST ON THE FIRING LINE THIS MONTH:

A Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 23

24 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

deal of customisation which takes RIGHT: The sidelever

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 25

26 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE AIRGUN CENTRE 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DAYSTATE SPECIALS

PULSAR LAMINATED DEBEN TILT

www.bsaguns.co.uk / BSA Guns UK LTD Official