Air Gunner-April 2023 PDF

RICH SAUNDERS REVEALS FIVE SUPER
SPRINGERS COSTING LESS THAN £275
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WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

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The ever-popular Gary C has no less than four features in this issue, and he’s as entertaining as eve
EDITORIAL
Editor: Mat Manning
mat.manning@fieldsportspress.com
Chief Sub-editor: Rosie Barham
Group Editor: Dave Barham
Art Editor: Louise Walker
ADVERTISING
Fieldsports Press
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PUBLISHING
Managing Director: Dom Holtam I’ve been putting the KalibrGun Cricket II Tactical Carbon Fibre to the test this month, and you can see how it fared on page 16
T: 01315 730410
dom.holtam@fieldsportspress.com
A
s ever, it was great to is to be taken very seriously, not be expected to until there is
see so many of you at the key message is not to panic a viable alternative with similar
SUBSCRIPTIONS
the British Shooting because the change would be performance and pricing to
Subscription queries? T: 01371 851890
Overseas T: +44 1371 851890
Show back in February. This phased in over a period of five what we are currently using.
Online: www.airgunshooting.co.uk event has turned into a brilliant years if and when the decision Unfortunately, I have yet to
Email: orders@fieldsportspress.com airgun gathering, with virtually is made. use a lead-alternative pellet
Write: ESco, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, all the top manufacturers giving The shooting organisations that comes close to lead ammo
Wethersfield, Braintree, Essex, CM7 4AY showgoers a chance to see are well aware of the impact in the accuracy stakes. In my
Online: www.esco.co.uk, Email:
their latest offerings. this would have on airgun experience, the alternatives are
enquiries@esco.co.uk,
T: 01371 851800 The show also hosts the Great shooting and are doing their too light and too hard, and the
British Shooting Awards, and best to ensure that our sport result is inconsistent accuracy
PRINTING/DISTRIBUTION I was shocked and honoured isn’t stifled by heavy-handed in normal conditions and very
News distribution: Seymour, to pick up this year’s gong for legislation. The British poor grouping when there’s a
86 Newman Street, London W1T 3EX. Outstanding Contribution to Association for Shooting and breeze blowing. I would love to
T: 020 7396 8000 Conservation. To be honest, Conservation (BASC) has asked hear about your experiences
kate.scofield@seymour.co.uk I was happy just to be listed me to assist with creating a with lead-alternative airgun
Printed in England: ISSN 1741-1939
Printing: MRC Print Ltd
alongside the other nominees, case for airgun ammunition, ammo, especially in terms of its
Summit Business Centre who all work tirelessly to improve which I am more than happy downrange performance.
The Old Police Station wildlife habitat around the places to do. My stance is that while
Water Street where they live and work. airgun shooters should be
Newcastle-under-Lyme My acknowledgement was for prepared to move across to
Staffordshire ST5 1HN
my efforts to raise awareness lead-free ammo, they should EDITOR
of the harm caused by grey
TO BUY A BACK ISSUE squirrels – not just to our native
OF AIRGUNNER CALL: red squirrels, but also to our
NEVER MISS
01371 851890 woodland ecosystems as a AN ISSUE!
FOR ALL BASA whole. I shoot hundreds of grey
squirrels every year, but credit Dear newsagent - Please reserve/deliver* a copy of Air Gunner
ENQUIRIES CALL: for me each month. *delete as appropriate
really must go to the many, many
01371 851890 airgunners who devote their Name .....................................................................................................................
WWW.AIRGUNSHOOTING.CO.UK time to the control of this highly Address .................................................................................................................
Find us on facebook too! destructive rodent. ................................................................................................................................
Another very serious issue Postcode ...............................................................................................................
Check out our Daytime Tel ..........................................................................................................
new, exciting, that most airgun shooters
informative are no doubt aware of is Air Gunner June issue is on sale on Wednesday the 19th of April and is
YouTube the possible ban of lead distributed by Seymour
Channel at: ammunition. Although the threat
Shooting &
Country TV www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 3
CONTENTS
MAY 2023 - ISSUE 478
RICH SAUNDERS REVEALS FIVE SUPER
SPRINGERS COSTING LESS THAN £275 16
8-449.3,
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FEATURES THIS MONTH INCLUDE ...

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16 THE BIG TEST 52 DOUBLE-VISION
(7.(0*9..$ Mat Manning reviews the Cricket II
Tactical from KalibrGun
Mark Camoccio looks at the Vantage
8 x 42 binos from Hawke Optics
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47 EDDIE JONES
4KKJWNSL+WTR0FQNGW,ZS 60 THE ZEON EFFECT-O
Eddie takes up a challenge to Conclusion of an in-depth review of the
05 decrease a pigeon population Effecto Zeon PCP bullpup – the field test
9 770266 422311

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3 ED’S WELCOME 12 RANGE AND COUNTRY 30 SECRET SQUIRRELS

Mat Manning enjoys his visit to the British The good folk at R & C have been Jamie Chandler is invited to deal with
Shooting Show, and ponders what the refurbishing the range. Plus all the best- a surfeit of squirrels on a very private
future holds for lead ammuntion sellers from Top of the Shop property - pure heaven!
6 GURU 14 JUNIOR AIR GUNNER 36 SUPER SUBS OFFER

How to approach pest control on a small Spot the difference, win a scope, We've got you covered! Take out a
permission – our guru solves a reader's have some rainy day fun. We still subscription, save a packet and get BASA
dilemma really need your pics for the gallery! insurance thrown in!
8 WHAT’S NEW? 22 RATS' TALES 38 ACCURACY MATTERS

Brand-new innovative products from some Rich Saunders enrols a couple of mates Mark Camoccio delves into the past of
fo the top manufacturers, worldwide, for and takes control of a rat infestation at a Airmasters, and the Mastersport FWB –
your consideration chicken farm one of the first 'superguns'
10 LETTERS 27 UKAHFT 42 SPRING ACTION!

Write in to the editor and have your say. Gary Chillingworth explains the joys of Gary Chillingworth reveals the advantages
Your opinions and questions really matter, HFT competition – rules, regs and venues, of a semi-recoilling springer, like the Diana
so please do keep them coming in! perils and pitfalls – but always fun! 54 Air King Pro
4 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

60 47
52
WE’VE GOT
YOU COVERED! 70 MAINTENANCE MAN
Our workshop expert, Richard Nash,
INCLUDE
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SHOOTING INSUR ANCE concludes his strip-down and refurb of a
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74 A BEVY OF BREAK-BARRELS
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01371 851890
Rich Saunders takes us through five of the
welcome new addition best break-barrels that you can snap up for
orders@fieldsportspress.com
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plus BASA Membership fee. Your insurance 9:00am to
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56 A CRY FOR HELP 80 AIRGUN COLLECTION

Gary Chillingworth is in trouble! Which rifle Part five of John Atkins' extensive study –
and scope combo should he choose to this month, it's Markhams early-American
improve his shooting average this season? King BB guns
64 ONE FOR SORROW 88 AIRGUN ACTION Check out our exciting,

Mat Manning uses a decoy strategy to Tune in to S&C TV for Mat Manning's airgun informative YouTube Channel
target some pesky magpies, and bags a shooting show – hunting tips, reviews and
couple of bonus crows much more!
at: Shooting & Country TV
www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 5

$6.7+(*858
Grow Your Sport!

The Guru offers sage advice for a hunter with restricted permission
R
eader, Rob Coleman, wants
to know how to make the
most of his three-acre shoot.
Rob asks: ‘I hope you can help me.
I’m new to hunting and to date, I
have just a single permission. It’s a
three-acre allotment site, where the
allotment holders are having serious
problems with pigeons, rabbits and
rats, plus crows are attacking the
newly-planted seeds and sprouting
seedlings. I’ve visited the allotments
a few times to work out my best
approach, but I could really do with
some guidance on safety, legality,
and how to do the best job possible.’
PLENTY OF POSSIBILITIES
The Guru replies: Rob, I too look
after an allotment site, and I can tell
you from many years of experience,
that it’s one of my all-time
favourite shoots. There are certain
considerations, though, so let’s get
into these right away.
First, safety and the law. As you
probably know, Rob, every pellet
you shoot must remain within the Small but packed with ‘unsociable’ times, is usually the Try to establish a firing point that’s
hunting potential. An
bounds of the property over which allotment can hold so
best time to do so, because the as high as you can get, to eliminate
you have permission. That means many opportunities vermin you’re hunting prefer to raid ricochets and to give you the best
elevated shots, say at perched the allotment when there are fewer view of your surroundings. That
birds, are pretty much out of the people about. way, you can spot potential safety
question, unless the pellets are hazards, as well as incoming pests.
being contained by a solid structure. WINNING TACTICS
The allotment I shoot has a problem One of the blessings of shooting GROWING RELATIONSHIPS
with feral pigeon droppings causing on allotments is the abundance of Finally, put a significant amount
a health hazard, but I can only ready-built ‘hides’, in the form of of effort into establishing a
shoot these birds when they roost sheds and greenhouses. I’ve found good working relationship with
in the allotment’s enclosed storage that sniping from cover is by far the the allotment holders and the
building, where my pellets are most productive method, and there’s committee that controls the
stopped by the structure’s girders. no need to bait the area, because premises. Ask about specific vermin
the allotment holders have already problems, offer other solutions, such
TIME AND PLACE done that with their precious seeds as trapping rats and mice – I’ve
Also, I confine my shooting activities and sprouting crops. even ferreted the allotment I look
to certain areas and times when Work out where the pests are after – offer those who want them
members of the public are unlikely raiding – and these areas will a plump pigeon or rabbit for the
to see me. Remember, even though change throughout the growing pot, and generally make yourself an
you’re perfectly within your legal season, as crops ripen, or seeds are asset around the place. You may be
rights to be doing what you’re doing, planted – then establish your best amazed at the other shooting offers
the general public won’t be aware ambush point and how to exploit it. that can come from doing a good job
of that, and it’s always best to avoid Again, think of safety and legality on an allotment.
confrontation, rather than have to above all else, and always remember Good luck with your shoot, Rob,
explain the situation to the police. that there can be many sheets of and I’m sure you’ll find your sport
Happily, carrying out your duties at glass on an allotment! growing better every year.

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IN THE NEWS It comes with six
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This is a really smart-looking pistol
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to those wanting single-shot accuracy and

power on the shooting range, historical
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It takes dummy cartridges, for added
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The Schofield revolver functions just like
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the style, romance and authenticity of the grip and a new, half-length rifled barrel for Ivory texture grip
Wild West to target shooting and historical improved power and accuracy. Cartridges included
re-enactments. The full-metal body Schofield will appeal
BRAND NEW BRAND It features a compact shrouded barrel

design that is integrally moderated, a large
Edgar Brothers have announced the 500cc air bottle, and collapsible AR-styled
introduction of their own firearms and stock. Furnished with Picatinny rails for
air rifle brand EB Arms (EBA). Born from scope mounting and accessories below,
the desire to forge their own space within the XV-2 is a versatile partner ideally
the shooting sports market, with 75 suited to both target shooting and vermin
years of industry heritage and knowhow, control – and all for under £500!
EBA’s vision is to provide the very best For more info, visit:
quality product lines at great value for www.edgarbrothers.com The XV-2 has a lovely
extended Picatinny rail
the consumer. The first model to be
We can't wait to get our hands on one of these!
announced is a continuation of the well-
known XVI model Edgar Brothers brought
to market some years ago. The XV-2 takes
on similar design styling to the original XVI
designs but is brought up to date in terms
of both mechanics and market trends.
AGT VULCAN field or on the range. Another feature that vastly improves the Vulcan
3 is the redesign of the monoblock, which due to it now being a single
The latest model Vulcan from Airgun Technology (AGT), the Vulcan solid piece provides improved rigidity and is much easier to maintain.
3 bullpup, comes in two different barrel lengths, standard and The moderator has also been redesigned and is larger than on
long, with either a walnut or composite stock. The standard length previous models, now being 38mm in diameter in comparison
has a 500mm barrel with an overall length of 800mm and the to the previous 32mm, reducing the noise significantly and also
long version has a 700mm barrel and overall length of 1000mm. looking the part with its intricate design complementing the stock
The large carbon fibre cylinder, which on the standard rifle will hold which has changed very little, apart from the butt plate sitting
480cc of air and the long version holds 580cc, which will keep you slightly higher than on the previous versions.
happily shooting without the need to constantly refill whether in the The Vulcan 3 has a sloped top picatinny rail for your choice of
optics and a fixed slope of 20 MOA to accommodate long range
shooting. It also has a Picatinny rail on the underside so a bipod
can be easily attached without the need for drilling the stock and
can be removed easily and as with other models the cocking lever
can be changed from left to right making this a very versatile rifle.
This next generation Vulcan looks
For more info, visit: www.edgarbrothers.com
amazing

AIR ARMS LIMITED EDITION handle is both hi-tech and retro. The
valving mechanism is adopted from the
XTI-50. The action end cap is styled on the
lines of the TX cylinder front section, whilst
To mark 40 years in the business, Air Arms latest high-performance S510 R and XS the moderator is built around the Q-Tech
has released a very special rifle in the range, and is fully-regulated. The magazine internals. The special edition ambidextrous
Kymira. Limited to just 400, this rifle is a system is taken from the S410, with the stock is a combination of the S636 (S410
piece of living history, artistically crafted added distinction of having a black pellet std) and the Superlite stock. Crafted from
from Air Arms most notable models. The carrier with a clear lens, as used on their a luxurious multi-toned laminate that
action block is panelled and styled on classic S310 magazines. The barrel clamp perfectly complements the titanium and
the Series 100 model. The handle of the is wider than current production versions. black anodising used throughout the rifle.
loading bolt is inspired by the Shamal. This It’s inspired by the legendary solidity of The ‘undercut’ sanding has been removed
will further enhance the ambidextrous the S300, and acknowledges the Shamal and a multi-adjustable cheek-piece, 3-axis
features of the rifle and increase appeal. which had a barrel spacer similar in width. It butt pad added.
Made from titanium, the Kymira’s bolt features a titanium air cylinder used on the For more info, visit: www.air-arms.co.uk
GEHMANN EXCELLENCE
John Rothery Wholesale is excited to announce the arrival of the
first shipment of Gehmann products. Retailers can now access the
latest range of premium quality competition shooting equipment
from one of the world’s leading brands.
Gehmann, based in Germany, has been at the forefront of
the industry for nearly 100 years and is renowned for producing
innovative products of exceptional quality. From the local shooting
club to the Olympic games, where there are shooters – there is
Gehmann. This first shipment includes a wide range of products,
including sighting systems, shooting frames, clothing, and targets.
The arrival of Gehmann products marks a significant step forward
for John Rothery Wholesale and provides further evidence of the
company’s commitment to delivering the highest standards of
quality and customer service. 'We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring
Carbon-fibre Gehmann’s exceptional range of competition shooting equipment
construction! to the UK market,' says Sean O’Driscoll, Managing Director of John
Rothery Wholesale. 'Gehmann’s commitment to innovation and
quality aligns perfectly with our own, and we’re excited to offer these
premium products to our trade customers.'
For further details on the great range of Gehmann shooting
equipment, contact your local retailer or visit: www.bisley-uk.com
This bipod is designed

around performance and These gloves are just
exceptional quality part of the performance
clothing range
THE BRK AIM GRIP BIPOD

The next generation of easy-fit bipods has arrived! The new, super-
lightweight tactical Aim Grip Bipod features carbon-fibre legs,
individually extendable from 165 to 216mm to assure you of a
rock-steady aim. Plus, it boasts a second, detachable monopod/
handgrip for even faster deployment.
Affordably priced, the new Aim Grip Bipod fits Picatinny forend
rails, and offers all the quality of a mega-bucks firearm bipod,
without the instabilities often associated with cheaper ‘auction Olympic quality no less
site’ gun rests.
BRK Aim Grip bipod retails at £90 and can be bought from the
BRK/Brocock online store today! For more info, visit:
www.brocock.co.uk

YOUR LETTERS
Scope rings can provide
a simple and effective
LEOFTTTHEE R WIN...
way to confirm eye
alignment
Thanks to the generosity of the people
MONTH at John Rothery Wholesale, we’re able

to give away a superb Umarex duck
target/pellet catcher each month to
the reader we consider to have sent
the best letter. It’s worth £39.95 and it
could be yours, just for letting us
know what’s on your mind.
So it’s well worth getting
in touch.
ring – I raised the cheekpiece by only

a couple of millimetres for a perfect
alignment. I can only assume that the
brain/eye makes small subconscious
adjustments to centre the reticle when
using my old/commonly used method.
It’s well worth a try to check your
current scope set-up.
USE YOUR RINGS night scope for my rifle, in anticipation
of its arrival, I took off my day scope
Kind Regards,
ROB RENNISON
I was wondering if you and your readers leaving the base scope rings in place
would be interested in a scope alignment – so I didn’t lose anything I replaced Hi Rob,
technique that I accidently stumbled upon. the top mounting bridges and screws. That sounds like a great tip. I have
I had previously spent hours mounting my When I mounted the gun (not really heard of this method being used before.
gun with my eyes closed then looking to sure why I did) it was apparent, looking This technique is so simple, and by the
see where the reticle was and countlessly through the empty scope rings that the sound of it effective, that I am surprised it
adjusted the butt and cheekpiece until I alignment was not perfect. The front ring isn’t more commonly used and referenced
was happy. being further away from the eye appears – we will have to spread the word. Mat
However, when I ordered a Pulsar day/ smaller and was not centred in the rear

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when the only difference between them
would be the names of the contributors Hi Bob, BRITAIN’S BIG
GEST-SELLING
5&39-*7&
AIRGUN MAGAZ
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and the one on the front cover! We strive to ensure that Air Gunner
Speaking as someone who never and Airgun World reflect the subjects that 7J[NJ\X9MNX*
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misses an opportunity to shoot every grey are important to today’s airgun shooters. &57.1f
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number of articles on the subject in both some overlap, but I believe that the two
o.uk
NEW HIKM
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titles nowadays does raise the question of teams of writers give each magazine its We strive to keep & NIGHT - TAH DAY
REVEALED
whether it's worth continuing to buy both. own personality. Air Gunner and F E AT URE
Airgun World varied THE JOY OF D!
Surely, it should be possible to rearrange I am particularly pleased to hear that you and interesting UMAREX
CROSMAN
PLINKING
H&K MP7
PHANTOM
things so that whereas one magazine has enjoy the magazines’ vintage airgun articles. SHOOTIN
BAIT & WA
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HUNTING LS
PIGS USA
a bias towards hunting, the other title It’s a niche area but we want to include ST YLE
concentrates on other matters. something for everyone. Mat. ELF-S O

THE SHELFF
F
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NEW BULLPUP
- TESTED

Get in touch...
mat.manning@fieldsportspress.com
WINDAGE PROBLEM Hi Wayne,

I think the margin of error here sounds too great to be a
Hi Mat, problem with pellet clipping, or your choice of ammo, especially
I have a Kral NP03 in .177 calibre which I’m struggling to zero with if shots are striking consistently in the same place – albeit way
a telescopic sight. Elevation is bang on, but even with my old Tasco off the mark.
scope’s windage turret set as far right as possible, I am having to You mention that your Tasco scope is an old one.
aim about 15cm to the left in order to hit the target at 25m. I would suggest first trying a different sight and mounts just
I don’t think the barrel is bent so what could the problem be? in case that provides a remedy. If the problem persists,
Thanks, then I think it could well be an issue with barrel alignment.
WAYNE BINKS Mat.
GO TO A GUN SHOP Try before you buy to

get the airgun that's
right for you
Hi Mat,
I shoot a spring-powered airgun and would like to upgrade to a PCP. The
only problem is that it’s a lot of money to spend on a gun without trying
it first. Is there any way I can shoot some PCP airguns to get a feel for
them and find which suits me best before I part with my money?
Yours sincerely,
ANDY WILSON
Hi Andy,
Your decision to try before you buy is very sensible. Different
airguns suit different people, and it never fails to amaze me how many
shooters pre-order airguns they have never shot and then complain
that they’re not right when they finally get their hands on them.
Whilst some gun shops have ranges where you can try their
airguns, some are reluctant for you to run pellets through brand new
guns because it renders them as used and decreases their value.
I think your best option would be to get along to a local airgun
club. Most airgun shooters are friendly people, and you are very
likely to meet plenty of members who will be only too happy to let
you have a go with their guns. You see a huge variety of airguns
on club ranges, so there should be a fair selection for you to
sample before you make your choice. Good luck. Mat.
KEEP IT CLEAN
Hi Mat,
My friend says I should clean my airgun’s barrel regularly to
keep it accurate – after every couple of tins of pellets, he says.
That sounds very frequent to me. Is there a set period of time,
or number of pellets after which an airgun’s barrel should
be cleaned?
Best wishes,
PETER STEINER
Hi Peter,
It's a good idea to clean the barrel of a new airgun because
they can sometimes be lined with oil or grease from the factory.
After that, I don’t worry about cleaning my airguns’ barrels
unless I notice a decline in accuracy.
Remember that most airguns need a fine film of lead lining
their barrels to achieve optimum performance. For this reason,
Barrel cleaning will grouping is often worse straight after cleaning but will gradually
often fix a decline
in accuracy
improve after a few shots to lead the barrel in again. Mat

Range And Country Roundup
www.rangeandcountry.co.uk
T
he period of inactivity over the
winter seems to have dragged
on and on, but finally things
have started to move on fairly
swiftly all of a sudden. Following the
recent dry spell, a walk around the
range showed the ground drying out
nicely, so we seized the opportunity
to start taking the dividing wall out
of the range. We were finally able
to get some light machinery onto
the grass without causing too much
damage, but it became evident as
we started to remove the bales
that we’d left it a year too late. The
condition of the bales deteriorated
far more than we’d thought, and
the centre of many of them had
decomposed into compost. This
made the job an awful lot messier
than we’d hoped. Our small team
with pitchforks in hand spent
many evenings clearing away the
remnants of the bales. ABOVE: The new studio RECYCLED BALES but I needn’t have worried because
is ready for filming!
Once we’d taken the bales off site, the accuracy of the rifle made even
we were able to remove the strings my shooting look acceptable. The
holding them together, pile them into experience of making our previous
a heap and allow nature to continue videos gave us good insight into what
claiming them, turning them into a works and what to avoid. The instant
perfect soil conditioner for the farm. feedback from the camera at the
When we installed these bales four end of the tube range shown on our
and a half years ago, we set them monitor in the studio made the shots
LEFT: Using hay bales is straight down onto the grass, and easy to see, even with my old eyes. We
a costly business, but followed the contours of the field, think we’ve created a nice cosy studio
it's worth
every penny resulting in them leaning slightly and we can’t wait to produce more
when piled two high, so when we honest videos.
replaced the opposite wall in 2021,
we set down a stone base made TOP OF THE SHOP
of compacted hardcore, which we This month, it has been a tight-fought
could ensure was completely flat battle to pick our top five best sellers,
and so avoid any tilt. We plan to due to the vast range of airguns on
BELOW: It's a messy,
time-consuming job, but set all our new bales onto a base the market today. Seemingly, every
somebody has to do it of the same hardcore, which will week there’s a new rifle or pistol
entail laying 60-80 tons of stone, so being released. However, the tried
the hard work has only just begun! and tested standard PT85 is still
This new hardcore should increase proving popular and we’re expecting
the longevity of the sidewall with to see the PT85 Tactical on this list
improved drainage and stability. next month now that it’s back in
stock after being unavailable for
NEW FILMING SET-UP so long.
We managed to put the finishing
touches on our new filming studio and
have produced our very first, eagerly- BEST SELLERS THIS MONTH:
awaited video review of an exciting 1. JTS Airacuda Max PCP rifle
new PCP air rifle and we are extremely 2. Gamo PT85 CO2 pistol
pleased with how the studio set-up 3. BSA Lightning XL SE
performed. I must admit I was slightly 4. Gamo GX40 PCP package
nervous having my shooting skills 5. Hatsan Breaker 900X
visible for all to watch and critique,

GUNNER
ni or AIR
Ju
Fu n F
o r A ll T h e F amil y 1
YOUR PICS
Each month we’ll be picking the best photo and awarding one of
these superb BSA goodie bags containing £30-worth of prizes.
Email pictures of your kids or grandkids with their rifle or pistol, or
with some quarry they've shot, or even just having fun at the range,
to: dave.barham@fieldsportspress.com
YOUNG GUNS
1 Here’s ten-year-old Joe Lloyd from Southport with his first rat that
he shot with his dad’s Air Arms TX200 with a night vision scope on it.
It was proud moment for dad, Chris, because he shot his first rat with
a TX many years ago, so to see his son do the same was amazing.
2, 3 & 4 Hayden Howes absolutely loves shooting and especially going

out and putting all the shooting range experience into practice by
helping his local farmers keep the vermin
under control with his
dad, Stephen.
Hayden normally
shoots a Weihrauch 4
A BSA
HW100 .177 for target
practice, but he also
shoots an old BSA
WINNER!
Ultra multi-shot .22 for
game shooting, which
is absolutely spot on
3
for 40 yards.
Hayden also loves
the experience of
preparing game for the
table and can cook a
mean rabbit korma for
the family!

WIN
THI S
F
B SA 3 ANTASTIC
-
SCOP 9 x 40WR
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

E WO
£64 .9 RTH
5
A B
Name:
Age:
Address:
‫ا‬
Postcode:
Daytime Tel:
Email:
All you need to do is find the five differences in picture B, Closing date for entries is 3rd May 2023.
mark them clearly and send a photo of your completed There are no alternative prizes, and the editor’s decision
entry form to: dave.barham@fieldsportspress.co.uk is final.
TOP TIP WHAT’S THAT MEAN?

When hunting rabbits always try to stay AIRSOFT
downwind of them and their warrens, they This term refers to a type of airgun that fires spherical
have an extremely good sense of smell projectiles of 6mm diameter at low velocity. These guns
and will smell you coming. are also known as air soft or softair.
QUIZ CORNER - Something to keep you occupied when you can’t get out shooting
WHAT’S THIS? WORD CHALLENGE

See how many words you can make out of
Can you guess what these are? this shooting discipline. Each word must have
(Answer in next month’s mag) four letters or more. There are at least 25.
LAST MONTH’S EXTREME BENCHREST
Last month: It was sloe berries -
did you get it?
1 2 3
4
QUICKFIRE CROSSWORD
ACROSS: 1 Manufacturer of the S510 rifle (3,4). 5
5 Nasty, blood-sucking insect (4). 6 These come in both
day and night versions (6). 8 Silicon Carbide (3). 9 Swiss
6 7 air rifle manufacturer, part of Walther (8). 12 Fill it with
rabbit and bake (3). 13 _____ or over-lever (5). 15 A
8 thermal one of this is invaluable when hunting (7).
9 10 11 DOWN: 1 ___ or Airgun Technology as they are better

known (3). 2 A projectile rebound off a hard surface
(8). 3 The noise a snake makes, or maybe escaping air
12
(4). 4 You’ll find more than one in most fruits (3). 7 A
long, wriggly fish or type of marine grass (3).8 A life-
13 14 threatening extreme response to infection (6). 10 One
or two-piece? (5). 11 A cereal plant used to make bread
(3). 14 A small Eurasian deer (3).
15

THE BIG TEST

7+(%,*7(67
CZECH MAT MANNING’S

NEW SHOW!
Tune into Airgun Action every
other Wednesday for hunting,
gun and gear reviews
MATE
The Cricket II is a solid and dependable bullpup from the Czech Republic –
Mat Manning gives his verdict on the Tactical Carbon Fibre model
TAKING STOCK
T
he KalibrGun Cricket has The Cricket II Tactical which sits above the magazine
established quite a cult is a compact and very There is no denying that the Cricket housing and the rear section of the
pointable bullpup airgun
following over the past II Tactical’s carbon-fibre stock is kind barrel. As cheek supports go, it is
few years; something which can on the eye – and it’s real carbon-fibre, very basic in design, although its
most likely be attributed to its not a plastic imitation. Aesthetically, it top edges have been rounded off to
combination of super-compact works very well with the black anodised make for a reasonably comfortable
proportions, eye-catching design, metalwork and has the bonus of a contact point with your face.
reliable performance and solid build flash-free finish – so while it will turn Returning to the main stock, the
quality. The gun has seen numerous heads on the range, it won’t attract steep pistol grip is nicely contoured
tweaks since its inception in 2006 unwanted attention from sharp-eyed with a palm-filling swell and ensures
and the subject of this review, the quarry in the field. The stock also good trigger attack. I have large
Cricket II Tactical Carbon Fibre, feels very tough, and no doubt plays hands and still found it to be very
brings it bang up to date both in a significant role in keeping this gun’s comfortable. Behind the grip is a
terms of styling and performance. overall weight down to 3.4kg. large and nicely styled thumbhole
This version of the iconic bullpup, Starting at the rear of the cutaway, and behind that is a slot
made in the Czech Republic, has a ambidextrous handle, its hard with capacity to store two spare
recommended retail price of £1,950. rubber butt pad is height-adjustable magazines securely. There has been
That is serious money, but it buys you in order to achieve correct alignment a lot of functionality built into this
an accurate and dependable airgun between your eye and your chosen stock, and useful features include
that’s robust enough to survive optic. The cheek support is not a rear sling attachment on the
heavy-handed use, and has certainly integral to the main carbon-fibre left-hand side and an underside
stood the test of time. stock, but is a long polymer casing accessory rail at the front. Ô

7+(%,*7(67
SECURE HANDLING ABOVE LEFT: Although balanced and very pointable airgun of the magazine is very simple; it is
As with many modern bullpup the Cricket II’s design and, although the stock is devoid of a metal drum that’s been machined
appears simplistic, it
airguns, the air bottle serves as actually incorporates a any stippling, it didn’t feel particularly with chambers for pellets and a cog
the front section of the stock. It’s lot of functionality slippery and I was always able to for indexing. Don’t be discouraged by
an arrangement that I find to be maintain a secure purchase, even that simplicity, though – it means that
ABOVE RIGHT: Gun
absolutely fine, although – because fit can be refined by when carrying it around the woods there is virtually nothing to go wrong
of this version of the Cricket II means of an adjustable in drizzly conditions. Being such a and it’s a doddle to load. The Cricket’s
Tactical’s very short proportions butt pad compact airgun – just under 710mm magazine also seems to be very pellet-
– you do have to be careful not to from butt to muzzle with a 365mm friendly, and can accommodate ammo
let your fingers stray in front of the length of pull – the Cricket II Tactical’s up to about 9mm in length.
muzzle. One way to get around this handling really shines in cramped The magazine can be loaded from
potential hazard is to fit a silencer to conditions, and it would lend itself either side, just remember to pull
the half-inch UNF thread at the front brilliantly to pest control operations in back the retainer switch before you
of the gun’s chunky shroud. Most BELOW LEFT: Good the confines of a hide, or inside farm try to insert or remove it, and return
hunters will probably do that as a trigger attack comes buildings when longer guns can feel the pin to its forward position when
matter of course, but it also helps courtesy of an like something of an encumbrance. the magazine is in situ. The review
ergonomically contoured
to ensure that the pellet emerges pistol grip gun was equipped with a 3D-printed
safely forward of your fingers. FEATURES AND FUNCTION stop made by JB3D. This clever little
Of course, the true test of any BELOW RIGHT: The rear The review gun was supplied in .22 gadget prevents you from pushing
gun’s stock is how it handles, and in section of the stock calibre, and runs a 14-shot magazine the magazine all the way through and
incorporates a slot for
this case, it serves that purpose very secure storage of spare (as does the .177 option), and a spare back out the opposite side of the slot
well. The Cricket II Tactical is a well- magazines is supplied as standard. The design – it’s simple but very effective.

7+(%,*7(67
Sidelever actions are becoming ABOVE LEFT: Accessories think about where my hand was second stage, but the break-point
increasingly popular, and the one on can be attached via a rail going. The good news for left-handers was predictable as long as I was
beneath the carbon-fibre
this airgun is positive and reliable. air bottle is that the sidelever can also be positive with it. I believe that review
The rear stroke cocks the action swapped across to the opposite side. guns should be tested with their
and indexes the magazine while ABOVE RIGHT: The triggers set as they leave the factory,
the forward stroke probes a pellet Cricket II Tactical runs a TWO-STAGE TRIGGER but the Cricket II’s can be adjusted
non-nonsense magazine,
smoothly into the breech. which is very easy Triggers on bullpup airguns can via two screws that are accessed by
I particularly like the fact that a to load sometimes feel a little spongy as removing the stock.
red indicator at the rear of the action a result of the long linkage that’s The actual design of the trigger
provides visual confirmation that usually necessitated by their blade is very nice. It has a gentle
the gun is cocked. That indicator is configuration. The Cricket II Tactical curve and its wide, flat front edge
positioned within what looks like a
power adjustment dial, although the
feature has been disabled on sub-12
BELOW LEFT: Positioned
beneath the very basic
“I soon found myself cycling it back and forth without
UK models to prevent muzzle energy
from exceeding the legal limit.
cheek support, the JB3D
magazine stop proved having to think about where my hand was going”
to be a very useful
Positioned above the pistol accessory
grip, and adorned with a smooth has a two-stage trigger, and it is transmitted plenty of feel to the pad
dropdown handle, the sidelever is BELOW RIGHT: The well- pretty good for a bullpup. The first of my index finger. There is a manual
well located for intuitive operation, positioned reversible stage on the test gun was fairly short pin-type safety catch positioned just
sidelever action delivers
and I soon found myself cycling it positive, fast and and came to a clear stop. There above the trigger blade, where it is
back and forth without having to reliable reloading was a small amount of creep in the very easy to access. It’s in the ‘safe’

7+(%,*7(67
position when pushed across from ABOVE LEFT: This handy ON THE RANGE fans. It is a versatile and reliable
the left side to protrude on the right. red indicator at the rear Put to the real test on the range, bullpup and, most significantly,
of the action provides
Push it back from the right and the visual confirmation that the Cricket II Tactical gave a good there is something very satisfying
gun is ready to fire. the gun is cocked account of itself. Shooting from the about shooting it. On top of that, it
Engineering and finish look very bench in the gentlest of breezes, I also feels to be built like a tank. I
ABOVE RIGHT: A manual
tidy, and I couldn’t find any obvious pin-type safety catch is managed groups barely larger than only had the pleasure of shooting
shortfalls in these departments. located just above the the nail of my index finger at 40 it for a few weeks, but it certainly
The review gun was fitted with a trigger blade for easy metres and a couple that fell within felt like an airgun that should give
access
450mm long-choke barrel and 20mm at 45 metres. Once I’d worked years of good service with minimal
350cc carbon bottle – there is out my holdover, 40mm spinners maintenance.
also a 600mm barrel option with were at dead cert at 50 metres. Best
500cc bottle. Scope attachment results were with Air Arms Diabolo
is by means of a Picatinny-type rail Field ammo, but this airgun wasn’t
which provides around 185mm of particularly pellet-fussy – KalibrGun SPECIFICATION
clamping space – that should be has a reputation for using decent
sufficient for most optics. barrels and that factor no doubt plays
a significant part. Manufacturer: KalibrGun,
POWER AND PERFORMANCE The review gun was supplied with Czech Republic
The Cricket II Tactical is equipped with an MTC Copperhead 3-12 x 44 F2 Model: Cricket II Tactical
a regulator, and overall consistency scope already fitted. This stubby
Carbon Fibre
was reasonably good, coming in with little optic really suited the Cricket II
a variation of nine fps over a string of Tactical’s proportions, both in terms Type: Multi-shot bullpup PCP
ten shots. The test gun was producing of aesthetics and handling. It took Stock type: Carbon-fibre tactical
a very punchy muzzle energy of me a little while to tune in to the Cocking: Reversible sidelever action
around 11.8 ft.lbs. Maximum fill trigger break point, but once I had, I Trigger: Two-stage, adjustable
pressure is 300 bar, but Vector Air was knocking out some respectable Safety: Manual
recommends 250 bar, which should groups from sitting and kneeling
return around 200 shots. Air pressure positions – that’s always reassuring
Calibres: .177 and .22 (tested)
BELOW LEFT: Remaining Overall length: 710mm (28in)
is displayed on a clearly marked gauge air pressure is clearly as you can’t rely on the comfort
just behind the neck of the bottle on displayed on a gauge and stability of a bench out in the Barrel length: 450mm (17.72in)
the right-hand side of the gun, so it's behind the neck of the hunting field.
bottle and 600mm (24in, tested)
easy to keep an eye on your reserves. To sum up, I can see why the Weight: 3.4kg (7.5lbs)
The inlet is on the opposite side and BELOW RIGHT: Pull Cricket has earned itself such a
out the plug and the without scope
refilling is a simple task of removing loyal following, and I have no doubt
inlet is revealed ready Fill pressure: 300 bar
the plug and connecting the supplied for refilling with the that the latest Tactical Carbon
quick-fill probe. supplied probe Fibre model will win it even more (250 recommended)
Shots per fill: 200
Energy of test rifle: Avg 11.8
ft.lbs. over 10 shots
Variation (10 shots): 9fps
Website: vector-air.co.uk
PICTURES: Joe Branston
RRP: £1,950
for model tested

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5,&+6$81'(56
RATMAGEDDON
This Time It’s Personal!
Rich Saunders steps into a scene from of a horror movie as he deals
with a plague of rats on a chicken farm
W
hen I was three, my parents MAIN: Rich lines up on session was more of a sequel: ‘Rats panic and scatter, and over the
took me to the pictures for another rat as he works VI’, if you like. next few days try to find any cover
his way through the
the first time. I cried when infestation The farm keeps free-range they can. Some creep back under
Bambi’s mum died and ever since chickens, although with bird flu the sheds, but with the sides taken
then, I haven’t been a fan of horror restrictions there hasn’t been up, they are very exposed. Others
movies – yes, ‘Bambi’ is a horror much in the way of free-range simply disperse to hide under
movie! My wife, on the other hand, recently. Every 18 months, the pallets, machinery and other
loves scary films – the more spooky, farmer changes half his flock. Four farm debris.
gory, jump-out-of-your-seat the thousand chickens all disappear Even in the summer, when flock
better, as far as she is concerned. to a chicken re-homing charity – changes usually take place, there
So when I found myself confronted honestly, such things really do exist are hundreds of rats, but this time,
with literally hundreds of rats a few – and the sheds are dragged back for one reason or another, the work
nights ago, I had to man up, put on into the field so all the muck can be had to be carried out in the winter.
my big boy pants and deal with it. To scraped up and everything steam- The combination of cold weather and
be honest, I’ve been there before – cleaned ready for the new birds. flooded fields meant there were even
and to carry on the film analogy, the As you might imagine, the rats more rats than usual – a lot more!

+817,1*
DAYTIME RECCE ABOVE LEFT: With the familiar with the farm, the environment FORWARD PLANNING
Most of my ratting involves plonking empty shed dragged had changed significantly as a result At last, when the sun had gone
back into the field, the
myself down on a comfy chair rats were suddenly very of the work; not only had the chicken down, we were ready to start
and waiting for the furry vermin to exposed sheds themselves been moved, but shooting. Scanning with thermal
appear, either in a spot where I know TOP RIGHT: Rich and his equipment and shed parts were also spotters showed plenty of ratty
they congregate, or over some bait mates spotted some huge strewn about the place. It turned out to heat signatures in just about every
heaps of droppings during
put out to attract them. However, their daytime recce
be a wise move because we discovered direction, and I congratulated myself
this time around, with so many rats that a number of deep holes had been on having the forethought to bring
ABOVE RIGHT: This ‘leg-
about, a static approach would leave breaker’ hole highlights
far too many to get on with their
ratty antics, so I recruited a couple
the importance of
scouting the farm during “thermal spotters showed plenty of ratty heat
daylight
of mates – Neil and Kev – and we
planned a three-pronged attack to BELOW LEFT: Rich
signatures in just about every direction”
mounts the IR illuminator
cover more ground. to his Alpex scope in
The danger with such an approach, readiness for a big night dug, any one of which could have plenty of pellets and my air bottle.
especially in the dark, is the potential on the rats led to serious injury in the dark. We We set up our gear, which for
for an errant shot to hit someone, and BELOW RIGHT: A quick also spotted plenty of signs of rats, me meant a 12 ft.lbs. Daystate
for that reason, we planned a daytime scan with the thermal including droppings, holes and runs – Wolverine R C-type and a HikMicro
reveals the heat
recce and identified safe zones we signatures of countless we even saw a few rats scurrying about Alpex A50T digital day/night scope. I
could shoot in. Although we are all very marauding rats despite the broad daylight. know plenty of people shoot rats with Ô

5,&+6$81'(56
.177 rifles, but I’ve always preferred RIGHT: Neil gets in on

.22. I find that with a 20-metre zero I the action, bringing his
Daystate Huntsman to
can aim on for shots between 12 and bear on an unsuspecting
20 metres, whereas a .177 needs rodent
hold-over and -under which is an
unnecessary complication at night in
the heat of the moment.
My shooting partners planned
on staying in the yard; Neil to
concentrate on rats that had taken
refuge under some pallets by
another chicken house that still had
birds in, while Kev intended to snipe
the vermin as they moved under the
front of the relocated shed, along
with any that strayed on to the bare
earth where the shed had been. I
opted for a more mobile approach,
and intended to stalk the sides and
rear of the shed out of Kev’s line
of fire. I also planned to visit some
containers where I’d seen plenty of
rats moving about.
I didn’t have to wait long for my rodents I was lining up on. A couple
A ROW OF RATS first opportunity – a row of rats disappeared back under cover, but
It was bitterly cold, and without revealed themselves by poking their two more stayed where they were,
a breath of wind, the frosty grass noses out from under a container. both looking directly at me from a
crunched under my feet as I moved MAIN: Kev gets set for I heard the ‘pop-slap’ of several distance of around 15 metres.
a head-up shot as his
into the field, pausing every few infrared add-on picks shots as Kevin and Neil opened I lined up on the left-hand one,
minutes to scan with the thermal. out a rat in the gloom their accounts – and so did the which seemed the biggest, and

+817,1*
tweaked the Alpex A50T’s focus ring RIGHT: Another

displaced rat is framed
to which I have attached a plastic in the Alpex’s infrared
throw lever to make adjustments sight picture
much easier. The rat leapt into
focus, and I settled the red crosshair
between its eyes. All 15.89 grains of
Hades pellet struck exactly where I
aimed, and the first rat of the night
was in the bag.
Unsurprisingly, the second rat
disappeared, so I picked up my
Trigger Sticks, slung the Wolverine
and moved on. There were no rats
along the side of the shed, but as
I moved to the rear, the thermal
revealed several clustered in a
corner where I’d seen a huge pile of
droppings during the recce.
RATS GALORE!
Clearly, the rats had dug a new picking off several rats each time with my bucket and litter picker.
hole despite the frozen ground, and returning to the yard for a cup The farmer told me he’d seen plenty
and a sizeable population had of tea and a catch up with Kev of red kites making the most of the
moved in. The furry pests were and Neil at the end of each circuit. bounty, and a fox also made off
agitated, though, and moved around They reported similar success and with a few.
constantly which, combined with scanning the area with the thermal However, despite the assistance of
tufts of grass, prevented clear shots. showed plenty of cooling, but still furry and feathered predators, I filled
Eventually, one stayed still long warm, dead rats. the bucket several times and gave
enough in a clear spot, and once We called it a night in the up counting after the first 100
more the Wolverine, Alpex and early hours. Rather dead rats. We’ve since
Hades combination did the trick. than attempting to returned a few times
This time, though, despite a few pick up all the with similar levels
BELOW: Just part of the
of the rats disappearing down the lads’ monster haul of rats in the dark, of success, and
hole, several more froze, enabling rats from their night on and more than if previous flock
the chicken farm
me to kill another three in quick likely falling changes are
succession. INSET: The site was down one of anything to go
Rather than exhausting any fraught with hazards, so those holes, by, the rats will
Rich returned to retrieve
particular spot, I moved location shot rats the following I returned the keep coming
constantly throughout the night, morning next morning until the shed
is relocated and
they have their
home back.
Roll on ‘Rats VII –
The Return’!
RICH’S KIT
RIFLE: Daystate Wolverine
R C-Type
daystate.com
SCOPE: HikMicro Alpex A50T
scottcountry.co.uk
MOUNTS: Sports Match UK
30mm dovetail
sportsmatch-uk.com
PELLETS: JSB Hades .22
jsbdiabolo.com
GUN SUPPORT: Primos Trigger
Sticks Gen 3 Tall
bisley-uk.com
JACKET: Pintail Explorer Jacket
ridgelineclothing.co.uk

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
UKAHFT 2023!
Gary Chillingworth is getting all excited at the prospect of this years’ events
T
his is the year! Yes, this is the
year when you will grab your rifle,
weigh your pellets and take part
in the greatest shooting series the
world has ever seen! OK, maybe that’s
a little bit over the top, but trust me,
grab your gun and come and have a
go. For those of you who have never
taken part in an HFT competition,
then the UKAHFT’s National series
may seem a little daunting. You might
have images of very serious people
shooting targets and not speaking
to each other, but nothing could be
further from the truth. The Nationals
are more about fun and frivolity and
if you meet the crew from Misfits, it’s
mainly about ending up in the pub
after the shoot and not getting home
until 3am, smelling of cheap beer and
telling tales of being fondled by Greg
Hensman – and that’s only the men.
The UKAHFT is a series of 9
shoots of 30 targets We travel
all over the country, from Maldon
in Essex, to Redfearns up north,
to Furnace Mill – which is over
to the left – and a place called
‘Throckmorton’ which is somewhere
between Hogwarts and Mordor.
ABOVE: National HOW IT WORKS .22, Recoiling, Jnrs, and for 2023,
Champion, Elliot
Compton always has Each event is split into two sessions, the Stick class, so no matter what
a smile am and pm, and as a general rule, sort of gun you have, as long as it’s
the PCP shooters who take things sub-12 ft.lbs., then there will be a
a bit more seriously shoot in the class for you.
morning and in the afternoon we As stated, we do have a Ladies
have more families, springers, .22, class, but all ladies can shoot in
Sticks and everyone else. However, any class and most do because, to
if you have a boinger or a .22 and be honest, most of them are better
want to shoot in the morning, this than the blokes.
can always be accommodated, but
if it’s your first time, the afternoon WHERE IT’S AT
session is always filled with great So, 2023 should be a great series,
people who will help you along. starting off at Meon Valley on April
Targets are from 8 to 45 yards, 23rd, then heading for Misfits on
scoring 1 point for a plate, 2 for a May 21st, then Throckmorton on the
kill, and 0 for a total miss. Most 18th of June. Then it’s the first of
are shot prone, but we also have a the double-headers (Saturday and
free-kneeler and free-stander out to Sunday shoot) at Furnace Mill on
LEFT: Targets up trees –
35 yards, and four supported shots. July the 22nd and 23rd; party time
you will get a lot of that Classes include; Open (PCP), Ladies, at Maldon on August 19th and 20th Ô

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
for the next double-header, and then ABOVE LEFT: Greg community closer together.
Hensman – don’t go
the HFT World Championships in drinking with this man
Most of the shoots are sponsored,
September on the 16th and 17th. If and in the past we have given away
you want to shoot the Worlds (www. rifles from Air Arms, Weihrauch,
whfta.org) get in quick! Booking FX, Steyr, and BSA; scopes from
opened on March 1st and it sells out ABOVE RIGHT: Hunting Optisan, Vortex, Hawke and MTC.
quickly. The final two rounds are at guns like the R10 are We are supported by organisations
very popular
Emley Moor and Redfearns on the like BASC, who sponsor the trophies;
21st and 22nd of October. Solware, who pay for the winners’
For those who qualify, there is the jackets; Derwent, the AirGun Centre,
Gathering in November, and this is and so many other organisations
when all the trophies are awarded who I will mention in future articles.
and the champions are crowned.
RIGHT: Roy and Babs win
Shooting a National is a great way their new rifle (thanks COME AND HAVE A GO!
to meet new people and visit new Air Arms) I have spoken to so many people
venues. Many of us can get caught who want to take part, but are
in the habit of only ever shooting at nervous of coming along. If it’s
our home clubs, and even though your first time then let the UKAHFT
BELOW: Our ladies of
this is great, travelling around the HFT – every bit as good know and they will put you with an
country with friends brings the as the men experienced shooter who can show
you the ropes. It doesn’t matter how
good you are as long as you are safe
and if you make a mistake, you will
not be shouted at by a marshal,
but you might be required to buy
someone tea as a penance.
What we are trying to do is
promote the sport of shooting, if
you are a hunter and just want to go
for a day’s shooting, destroying tin
chickens, then come along. If you
are an FT shooter who can’t sit on a
cushion for some reason or another,
then come along and roll in the mud.
We don’t care if you have a Gamo
springer with a 30x30 scope, or an
XTI-50 from Air Arms, no one will
judge you. Actually, scratch that – if
you have an XTI-50 and a £2000
March scope, and you get beaten
by someone with a Gamo springer –
you will get some ribbing, but it will
be done with love.
Please come and have a go. I look
forward to seeing you soon – Gary
www.ukahft.org

JOIN THE CAUSE!
Stand up for shooting Fight the lead ban Protect your rights
SIGN UP TODAY!
Online: membership.nsra.co.uk
Email: membership@nsra.co.uk
Phone: 01483 485 504
www.nsra.co.uk
-$0,(&+$1'/(5
The Secret Estate

Jamie Chandler gains access to a private estate for 24
hours in order to have a crack at the squirrels
STARS ALIGNED
Y
ou know that eery deafening My last visit two or been utterly untouched by the recent
quiet that permeates through three years ago was snow, sadly, but now the a quiet cold In the last few days, though, this
warmer and I had an
the house after the washing amazing time! has set in with the mercury lazily thoroughbred stallion of the airgun
machine stops dancing on fast sitting around zero degrees C and the hunting community – well, Blackpool
spin, or even for a few days after a BBC issuing dire weather warnings Pleasure Beach donkey at least –
particularly loud house guest finally for ice left, right and centre. got a break from the weather, the
decides to leave? That’s what it’s felt I have been all but stranded due mechanics of life, the great powers
like nearly all week, and to be honest to one thing or another, but it’s not of permission givers and my wife. It
it’s still taking a bit of getting used to. like I actually missed much, apart was like the entire universe aligned
Like everyone else in the UK, we have from getting a drenching. With only to bless me with a great opportunity
been battered by gusting 45-60mph two day-time reprieves from the and nudged me forward to my
winds and crazily heavy downpours torrents in 16 days, which were both nirvana, or in this case a second
that seemed ceaseless in both their disturbed by wind that blew with more offer to control the ‘rampaging
ferocity and longevity, in a seemingly violence than your Uncle Gerald’s squirrels’ on a private shooting and
never-ending campaign to float or stomach could muster after a ‘thirds’ fishing estate that was all but closed
blow us in to the next county, for of sprouts, the opportunities for airgun now until April.
three weeks or more, but now, for the hunting were all but blown away, along I wrote about this estate a couple
last few days, it’s stopped. We have with the contents of my garden. of years ago, and it’s possibly one Ô

+817,1*

-$0,(&+$1'/(5
LEFT: There were plenty

of signs of pigeon, but
sadly they were not on
the guest list
of the prettiest places I’ve been.

Set over 300 acres, the estate has
a private shoot, three fly fishing
beats along one of the most famous
chalk rivers in the country, and five
lakes that the owners keep stocked
with trout for well-heeled clients to RIGHT: I dropped to a
learn the most engaging of fishing knee and nailed the rat
styles before being let loose on where it froze
the river in season. To be honest,
perhaps it’s almost too beautiful,
manicured and idealised as how
the country should look, not how
it does. Whatever my mind could
make up to assuage my rampant
wish to have something like this
in my life, I felt privileged and
honoured to be there.
BEYOND KEEN!
I’ve known the ‘keeper for years,
and when pushed, he’s often talked
about using an airgun to control the
squirrels, rats and vermin around
the lakes, but due to the intensely
private nature of the family who
owns it, rarely has he been able to
give me – or anyone who doesn’t
work on the estate, in fact –
permission to visit. Even the estate’s
BELOW: Something had
‘keepers day is paid for by the family, already helped itself to
but held at a separate shoot to avoid a woodpigeon

+817,1*
unnecessary disturbance to their RIGHT: That was the lake nearest me, through the
privacy or those staying with them. close! Nearly lost the murky blanket, but in no real fear or
rangefinder
With the family away in the rush to leave.
Caribbean, no guests, and the Despite the thermal long johns
estate all but shut down for a couple and four layers of merino and
of weeks, bar a skeleton staff – like thermal protection on my top half,
we all leave running our estates the cold still found a way of creeping
whilst we hop off to our islands – I in and finding any weak points
was asked if I fancied a crack at between layers, but the odd thrill of
the squirrels damaging the trees being somewhere I had permission
around the lakes. Needless to say, to be, but felt I shouldn’t, warmed
after three weeks of barely a shot in me. I loaded the trusty TX200 with
anger, I was beyond keen to get out. its favourite Air Arms Field Diablos in
There were strict caveats; 5.52, and decided to start by slowly
obviously, the ‘keeper was in a walking the ground, looking for
position to grant permission, but signs, or squirrels on the feed.
only to me, for one day, to stay To be honest, being there was
around the lakes and nowhere enough for me, and my one day’s
else, to use only a specific entrance LOOKING FOR SIGNS previous experience of the ground
and not to tell anyone specifics, or It was still freezing when I turned had been two or three years ago,
use photos that might identify the up at 10.30am, a damp, overcast so my expectation of any great cull
estate. He explained why, and all cold, but with a light breeze blowing was low. If I had an opportunity, I’d
seemed reasonable in context, but a cutting blade of further chill about take it, but I was just trying to be in
the secretive nature of my being the place. A mist reached lazily the moment and take what chances
offered a day left me with an odd, BELOW: The mist lazily skyward from the lakes, languidly came. Frustratingly, in the first two
drifted over one of the
almost creepy feeling – clearly not lakes, clinging in the swirling in the frosty air, whilst an hours or so, the only quarry I saw
enough to stop me, though! frigid air unwelcome heron flopped away from were pigeons and desperate not to

-$0,(&+$1'/(5
push the limits of my invitation, I RIGHT: The squirrel was invited back, and I could see the
had to let them pass and just watch tiny, but I guess one less potential in a lovely day, so didn’t
is exactly that
as the fat grey flying crop robbers want to quit, but even through the
dropped in then rose from the trees four layers and a jacket, the damp
around the borders, although I found and chill was insidious.
feathers indicating something had
bagged one! ONE DOWN …
Finally, from behind the pile of wood
THIRD TIME LUCKY and I, there came a possible tell-tale
My first chance came as I traipsed rustling in the leaf litter. I waited,
out my third stalk around the lakes. adrenalin starting to warm me, and
A rat dashed from a bank, heading after long minutes of rustling, but
to the leaf litter a few metres away, nothing appearing above or in front
it was probably too cold to want of me, I twisted round and poked
to stop for long, too. I crouched, my head over the log pile to see a
shouldering the TX200 in one almost fluffy-tailed nest robber sitting still,
smooth motion, flicking the safety, no more than 10 metres away.
lining up the scope and letting loose I bought the TX to bear again, and
RIGHT: The rat froze a
the pellet. The rat bounced, its tail bit too long as soon as the grey menace was
spun, but it’s demise was instant. I in my cross-hairs, I fired and down
fumbled around reloading, bitterly it went, hard with little fuss. I was
regretting not remembering my thrilled and on that high, called it
gloves from the car yet again, then quits for the day. As I retrieved my
left the rat in the open for a circling prize, it dawned on me just how
kite to find, and moved on. small it was, barely bigger than the
The cold, misty, damp weather rat I’d knocked over earlier, but a
has never been up to much for squirrel is a squirrel, I guess. With
that, I beat a hasty retreat home and
LEFT: Multi-layers could
not hold back a visit squirrels, in my book, and my to the fire. It’s rare I get that cold
from the cold damp air expectations of success dropped and when I do, it’s usually when the
further with no sign of any, but I mist doesn’t lift, but I’d had a great
had nothing else to do so I stuck it day hunting in a place few will get to,
out. The ‘keeper bought up a flask which in itself is still a privilege and
of coffee and we laughed about a day worth remembering.
how weird and empty the place felt, I was going to write in depth about
then he pointed out the most likely the 2023 General Licence that’s
place where I might see a squirrel, just been published, explaining what
and took my prized rat off to the quarry you can legally hunt this year
incinerator. I heeded his advice, in the UK, and more importantly,
headed to a thicket, changed up to the only reasons why. If you are
a static tactic, and after 30 minutes based in the UK, please check it out
MAIN: The day was cold, of being stationary behind a pile to ensure that you are still hunting
and grey clouds hung
over the sun like soot of tree limbs, the cold joined me. I within the law – it’s better to be safe
blankets on a fire knew it could be years before I was than sorry!

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0$5.&$02&&,2
Accuracy Matters 'PAST

MASTER'
T
ime moves on, and the airgun
scene continues to develop
and evolve. Today's field
target shooters at the very top
level invariably opt for pre-charged
pneumatics, often costing a few
grand apiece, and if you want to lift
the most prestigious silverware,
this is the route to take. Yet, cast
our minds back to the early ‘80s
when field target shooting was in
its infancy, and the landscape was
rather different.
SET IN MOTION
I was at that very first event in 1980,
when a group of enthusiasts turned
up with all manner of basic spring-
powered airguns, to try to claim
the title of ‘best shot on the day’ by
shooting at metal animal shapes,
and the ripple of interest and the
significance of what had just taken
place wasn't lost on the attendees.
It was indeed a unique, special
atmosphere, and an event that
would prove to be the spark to light ABOVE: Dave with his (or 127 in .22 calibre). Dave had NAME THAT TUNE
wife, Fran - clearly in
the FT fire. awe of his exploits!
experimented with improving his A burgeoning order book for tuning
One young chap who had read all own rifle's performance, and was customers' rifles and supplying new,
about it was Dave Welham, a car regularly dismantling, fettling and rebuilt models from the off, eventually
mechanic at the time, and a keen BELOW LEFT: The rebuilding it in his garden shed, and saw Dave fully-focused on gunsmithing,
airgun shooter himself. Dave had Airmasters breech in 1981, after deciding to put his leading to the birth of Airmasters as
modification to later
owned a few rifles along the way, Mastersport FWBs handiwork to the test, he entered a company, and the opening of the
but stumbled across one particular
model quite early on, which just
stood out as a classy gun from the
BOTTOM: The raw
material – the factory
“the Mastersport FWB still stands as one of the first
off – the Feinwerkbau Sport 124 standard FWB Sport 127
'superguns', winning a hatful of silverware”
and won his first competition, famous retail/ workshop premises in
held at Tong Hall, near Bradford. Hibbert Street, Luton, in 1984.
Word of mouth soon spread, Airmasters went on to develop and
and Dave's exploits earned him rebuild various quality airguns, but
plenty of attention from friends the Mastersport FWB still stands as
and associates – all clamouring one of the first 'superguns', winning
for similarly tricked out hardware. a hatful of silverware and fairly
Field target shoots were springing dominating the field target scene for
up everywhere, and Welham's a couple of years. So, what made it
continued success and rising trophy so successful? Feinwerkbau's build
count was purely serving to feed quality is second to none, but their
interest in his skills. barrels are also legendary, and that's

0$67(563257):%
Dave Welham, Airmasters, and the Mastersport FWB
ABOVE: An early
competition win for INTERNALS
Dave, grinning front Dave's original model, on show
row, holding his prize here, was the test bed for all his
that day
modifications, and it bears the
scars around the breech
particularly. So, what did that
internal rebuild consist of?
LEFT: Hallowed ground
– this was where all the Well, a key detail was the new piston
magic happened back in skirt that Dave made from brass,
the ‘80s which significantly smoothed internal
movement. He also skimmed down
the piston head to achieve a slip fit,
against the overly tight factory spec.
RIGHT: Dave Welham A replacement Titan mainspring
– one of the greats of
our sport, and a huge
was used, cut to 23 or 24 coils, and
influence on specialist according to Dave, this is to Titan's
airgun development old spec. Their later softer springs
would require 25 coils in .22 and
a great start and a prerequisite for 27 today, whereas the earlier spec A trigger modification was also
any competition-winning hardware, was more power for fewer coils, part of the rebuild, and whilst the
but where competition airguns are for a super-fast lock time. Look FWB unit was fairly basic, a fine fettle
concerned, consistency, smooth underneath the cocking slot, and the could transform feel. The result was
power delivery, and fine handling, are tell-tale copper slip will be visible – a dummy first stage, and then a very
all vital ingredients – and that's where the ‘gold dust’ that Airmasters used crisp second-stage release. Brass
Dave's painstaking attention came in. to such great effect. trigger blades were offered, too. Ô

0$5.&$02&&,2
ABOVE: The legendary

CUSTOM STOCK Airmasters Mastersport OVER TIME wouldn't allow the barrel to lock up
At the time, British stock maker, FWB – arguably the best The Achilles heel of any break-barrel in exactly the same place. Dave tried
Custom Stock, was commissioned FT rifle of its time design is the breech area, and here, a redesign of the breech, but the
with various designs, and the Feinwerbau's ball bearing detent more straightforward solution from
graceful slimline, walnut sporter was hardly the most robust. Over Airmasters to this weakness in design
stock shown here was arrived
at, perfectly complementing the
now refined internals. A properly “and the Mastersport FWB remains a landmark
prominent high cheekpiece,
Parker Hale butt pad, hand-cut
airgun in the annals of field target shooting”
chequering, slim-line pistol grip,
and that characteristic arced fore time – my own gun suffered this after was to introduce a lock mechanism,
end tip, meant handling in the heat prolonged service – either the breech bolted onto the breech block. Barrel
of competition was sublime. jaws would wear, or the ball detent shortening was also offered as an
LEFT: Note the
adjustable breech and
recessed stock bolts
RIGHT: Dave's first

test-bed rifle bears the
scars of the prototype
breech lock

0$67(563257):%
LEFT: That sleek stock

fore end really enhanced
handling
LEFT: Full panels of

chequering up front, too
RIGHT: A properly raised

prominent cheekpiece
transformed handling
over the standard
LEFT: The fairly simple

trigger would get a full
rework from Dave and
the team
RIGHT: Hand-cut
chequering by Custom
Stock of Sheffield, added
class to the CS stock
option, cut from the breech end to RIGHT: An early

Airmasters advert, with
preserve the choke section. the Mastersport FWB
Cruel and disloyal it might have fourth from top
been, but the harsh reality was that
once the fixed barrel HW77 arrived in
around 1985, we all abandoned the
FWB overnight. Inevitably, the onset
and meteoric rise of the modern
PCP saw Dave switch his clever
technical brain and expertise to this
form of airgun, and with two World FAR RIGHT: An Airgun
World article from 1986,
Field Target Championships falling highlighting Dave's skills
to rifles fitted with Dave's designed
and machined 'Welham' precision
regulator, I think we can say the
transition proved to be successful.
LEGACY
The history books don't lie though – or
my scrap book at any rate! – and the
Mastersport FWB remains a landmark
airgun in the annals of field target
shooting. Airmasters tuned and rebuilt
RIGHT: Dave's early
custom specials won far more than success in FT earned
their fair share of FT competitions in him plaudits
the ‘80s, and Dave was one of the
early big names that led the way. I feel
privileged to have been involved in it
all, but I also feel incredibly lucky to
have bumped into Dave Welham at
just the right time – a huge influence
on the world of airguns, a major factor
in my early competition successes,
and a friend to this day.

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
Shoot Like
A Pro! Gary Chillingworth checks out the Diana 54 Air King
Pro semi-recoiling springer rifle
I
’ve been shooting now for the BELOW: The 54 is well- about the Diana 54, I was intrigued. that move towards each other, thus
best part of 17 years, and during balanced and not hard I was told that they were available cancelling out each other’s recoil.
to shoot standing
this time I have been very lucky to through Highland Outdoors – an Newtons third law: ‘Every action has
shoot a whole range of rifles, from amazing company and you can find an equal and opposite reaction.’ I
PCPs – both budget and high end them at www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk have seen these rifles around and
– to springers from many different – and after a few emails they agreed they are amazing, but the last time
manufacturers, and even the odd to send me one to play with. So a huge I saw one for sale it was around
gas-ram, but there’s one thing I have thanks to all. £4000 and was over 20 years old!
never shot, and that is a semi-recoiling For those of you who don’t know The other type moves on a sled
springer. So, when a viewer, Ian Price, what a semi-recoiling springer is, system. This means that you have
from my 'Life at the Range’ YouTube let me explain. They come in two three parts to the rifle; the stock
series (available through Shooting and main flavours and the first is like the with a metal insert, and then the
Country TV) contacted me and told me Whiscombe, which uses two pistons action, essentially in two parts that

',$1$$,5.,1*352
sits within the stock. So, when you ABOVE: Cocking the side you grip the rifle to keep it steady. people’s attention is the sidelever
lever uses new muscles,
cock the rifle, the action moves but it’s not hard
We’ll be looking into that in more and a two-stage cocking process.
forward on rails and when the rifle detail next month. You pull the lever back to half cock,
is fired, the action moves backward. load the pellet, then finish the cock
This way the stock never moves, but LET’S HAVE A LOOK (around another 50mm) and push in
the action moves within the stock. This particular variant comes in the bear trap release, push the lever
the red laminate stock, but it is forward and you are ready to fire.
WHY BUY ONE? also available in beech. They come There is a safety at the back
What is the advantage, and why in .177, .22 and .25 (.25 does not of the action that needed to be
would you buy one? Well, that’s why appear to be available in the UK yet, pushed in, and then it’s just a
we’re here today – and why I have but speak to your stockist) and in matter of pulling the amazing T06
an amazing Diana 54 Air King Pro both sub-12 ft.lbs. and FAC variants, trigger and you’re away.
to test! The main advantage is, it’s the .22 version running at around I have to take a minute to talk
essentially a fancy, self-contained 19.5 ft.lbs. The rifle itself is a heavy about this trigger; it’s fully adjustable
springer, so you’ll never need an old Hector at around 5kg, or 11lbs, for 1st and 2nd stage, and weight
air pump or dive cylinder. You will but it’s very well-balanced and so and break, but out of the box, it’s
BELOW: On the left we
always have a full-powered rifle with have the rifle cocked, on isn’t hard to manipulate. one of the best triggers that I have
no recoil and amazing accuracy. It's the right after it’s fired The main thing that draws ever used. You can easily take up the
like having a PCP without the need
for filling it up. My rifle is sub-12
ft.lbs. and in .22, but the Diana 54
is also available in FAC models and
in larger calibres, so you have a
self-contained hunting rifle that can
reach out a long way.
From a hunting perspective, the
advantage of having a rifle where
the stock is stationary and only the
action moves, unlike a spring gun,
means that the rifle can be shot
from sticks, or off a bipod, and you
won’t have to worry about how hard Ô

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
LEFT: The rear iron sight

is adjustable for wind
and elevation
RIGHT: The rail system

and trigger
LEFT: A very simple

thumb safety is perfect series. In the UKAHFT and WHFTA
for the job World Championships the 54 will be
placed in the same class as a PCP.
Now, my gun is in .22, and if I want
to shoot the .22 class, I think with
some practice I could compete, but
RIGHT: The Diana is could a £700 springer – even if it is
not pellet fussy, and it
loves these light .22s
recoilless – take on a £3000 Steyr
from JSB or XTi-50 from Air Arms?
Yes, the rifle is accurate, certainly
first stage and hold it on the point of HOW ABOUT ACCURACY? on the flat, and shooting elevated
break, and then with a slight increase As I said, I made a video about targets and leaning up against
of pressure, fire the rifle. The trigger shooting the Diana 54, and you can trees, the Diana 54 Air King Pro
is just lovely and it’s better than see just how deadly this gun is – at 25 can certainly cope, but there is no
some PCP triggers I’ve used. yards, a ragged one-hole group. We doubt that a high-end PCP is easier
Cocking the rifle takes some then pushed out to 40 yards, shooting to shoot.
getting used to, but now that I’ve put 20mm discs from Custom Targets, So, I’d definitely go for it and if you
a tin of pellets through the rifle, my and after missing the first one – wind want to shoot in competition, then I’d
body is used to it. The advantage of
a sidelever is, if you are in a prone
position or at a bench, you don’t need “if you want to shoot in competition, then I'd look at a
to lift up the rifle to cock, like you
would with an under-lever. This is why
54 in .22 because you will have a huge amount of fun”
the Diana 54 Air King Pro is popular BELOW: Phill take a
with bench and bench rest shooters. kneeler with his 54 – I killed three out of three. We then look at a 54 in .22 because you will
pushed to 45 yards towards a 35mm have a huge amount of fun – I love it!
rat target from Flopover and again, Finally, I was amazed by
killed it every time, so the accuracy is how popular these rifles are. I
certainly there. mentioned on our Lifeattherange
Should you buy one? Well, it’s very Facebook page that I had one, and
accurate, self-contained, comes was really surprised by the number
from a manufacturer that’s been of people who popped up telling
around for over 100 years, has me how much they loved theirs.
German engineering, blueing and I had a message from a top FT
perfection; it comes with iron sights, shooter, Philip Johansen, and he
an 11mm scope rail and a front told me about the love of his ‘54.
stud to fit a bipod. You can use it for So, if you have one, let me know at
hunting, plinking and general pest garychillingworth36@gmail.com and
control and in field target you can maybe we could arrange a Diana 54
use it in the Piston class, but there AirKing Pro gathering. I like it and
is one drawback if you want to shoot I’m certainly going to shoot it more
the Diana 54 in the UK’s National and more.

*/4
5"
/5
' *
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&"
7"
*- "#
-&
"*3"3.44
"*3"3.445"$5*$"-
"*3"3.44
"*3"3.459
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"*3"3.413041035
8885)&"*3(6/$&/53&$0.
501#3"/%4%&-*7&3&%4"'&-:50:063%003
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('',(-21(6
Evening Pigeons
Eddie Jones embarks on an evening pigeon clear up on one of his local farm permissions
T
oday, I was out on a new Eddies cycles the pests to thrive and it’s mad when middle, and I didn’t want to shoot
permission gained from sidelever to load up in the places are not overrun. I walked them and leave them dead in view
readiness for the next
another mole job when I chance of a shot around pretty much all the fields on the roof, so I decided to leave
helped out my buddy, Alan; a farm on this particular farm, and didn’t them until later in the afternoon, by
of a good 250 acres of land with the get within shooting distance of which time I hoped that they would
odd rabbit around and few squirrels anything. It’s a challenge for sure, have settled back inside the shed
that roam around its bordering and one that I will have to work for later roosting.
trees. The land is large, so you’d out to get any sort of success in
think there would be an abundance the future. BE CAREFUL!
of quarry, but here in Wales, it is not When I’d previously visited the The tool for the job today was the
the case. On many of my grounds farm with Alan, I noticed a lot of Air Arms Ultimate Sporter in .177
that cover thousands of acres, you pigeon droppings around some of calibre. Usually, around the sheds, I
will find no more quarry on it than I the sheds. I didn’t see any pigeons would use the .22, but as my main
would on one 200-acre farm back on that day, but when I pulled into aim was stalking around fields for
in the Midlands. It’s crazy when you the yard on this occasion, I did the pigeons and maybe squirrels, I
think about it; it is so remote and notice two sitting on one of the wanted something with the flatter
the conditions are perfect for these roofs. They were sitting right in the trajectory. All that being said, the Ô

+817,1*
.177 is perfect for the job of feral ABOVE: I could see the so you need a good optic to help
pigeon shooting, but you must be pigeon inside the shed gather as much light as possible to
but it had no idea it was
mindful with it. A feral pigeon’s body being watched see the pigeons in the rafters. I use
and head are not the strongest, so the Hawke Sidewinder for this; the
you need to take care regarding 30mm tube and 50mm front lens do
over-penetration; farmers do not a great job by letting you see later
like holes in shed roofs, or sides, so on in the day, when other inferior
make sure you have a suitable back scopes might struggle. The side-
stop whenever you take your shot. wheel parallax is a great option on
You can shoot feral pigeons any the Sidewinder, and when shooting
time of the day on a farm, but I at different ranges in the sheds,
usually like to leave it as late as you can easily focus in on a target
possible because the pigeons are without having to reach forward
more likely to stay around after you whilst holding the scope to your eye.
start shooting, rather than fly out This makes for quicker focus and
of the building and off to another a faster shot rate – just what you
RIGHT: Pigeon droppings
farm. Leaving it late means that carry disease, this is not need when there are a few pigeons
the buildings are pretty dark inside, good for the farmers to go at.

('',(-21(6
FIRST PEST ABOVE LEFT: Shooting could see one sitting right on the in the open end of the shed and
free hand is the hardest
By around 4.30pm, I was heading shot to take, even worse
apex. By resting the Ultimate against settled in the roof space.
back to the farm, and as I if you have an audience the shed, I had a nice steady shot This was going to be more of a
approached the last field before the and the pigeon fell off the roof to challenge; the shed wasn’t very high,
sheds, I noticed around six pigeons the floor. It is always a satisfying and open along the front. I looked
flying above them. I was more feeling when I get my first pest – you through the Sidewinder and I could
than happy to see that there were know you and the rifle are working see it from where I’d taken the first
more pigeons around now because together to get a result. shot. It was just obscured by one
this would increase my chances of the support posts, so I moved
of bagging a couple more than CLEAR VIEW over to rest on a gate for a better
expected, but there had to be more As I hit the first pigeon, the other shot. The pigeon was around 35
because of the amount of droppings one that I had seen flipped up off yards away, but in clear view. The
on the machinery and bales stored the roof, and it was just behind the Sidewinder has a 30-yard zero so
in one of the sheds. first, but lower down out of sight. not much was needed for holdover,
I had now reached the shed I thought it was going to take off, and I took the shot after I’d placed
opposite to where I had seen a but it didn’t. Instead, it seemed the cross just above its heart.
couple land, so I crept up to the to follow the first pigeon down to Without any fuss, the second pigeon
corner of the shed, looked over and where it had fallen, and then flew was on the floor stone dead. Ô

+817,1*
After picking up the two pigeons, RIGHT: I saw five with an audience it is even harder.
I headed over to take a look into pigeons flying and got Anyway, I took the safest shot
five. A good result to
another big shed where the bales end what was a poor day through the heart and the pigeon
of silage were kept. I was hidden in the fields. fell to the ground. The farmer was
pretty well behind a post covered amazed at how quiet and effective
in ivy, so had no worries of pigeons my air rifle was, and he was also
being spooked. After a good search, impressed with the shot, which I
I noticed one sitting tight, right in said was just routine for me because
the void of the beams just under the I was such a professional! Well, you
roof. The Sidewinder was starting have to milk it when they actually
to struggle a bit now, even with its witness the greatness of us hunting
enviable performance in low light experts in action.
because I was outside in the lighter
area and the shed was darker, so RIGHT ON CUE
the transition was not the best to The last shot came in the last shed,
see anything inside it. Even with the farmer took me to where he
those conditions, though, I was still normally sees one when he’s in
able to drop the third pigeon and it there – he turned on the light, and
fell like a stone to the concrete floor. decided to fly from one beam right on cue, there it was. I was a bit
to another – it was just above more confident here because I had
NEARLY MISSED ONE! the entrance so I hadn’t seen it the gate to rest on. Taking this shot
As I was going over to claim my prize, from outside. I looked through was faultless, and my last pigeon
the farmer arrived and asked how the Sidewinder, but it was a little was down. After I’d picked them all
I was getting on. He told me the grainy now, so the farmer turned up, I was gifted with more shooting at
pigeons were making so much mess on the light in the shed, and what a night, protecting his lambs from foxes.
that it was becoming a health hazard transformation! I could see it like the He did have someone else doing the
with the amount of droppings. He sun was shining. The only problem job, but he didn’t turn up that often, so
said he was aware that there weren’t was the farmer, who was now it’s another place I can get my name
any great numbers, but what there watching me, and I was shooting on, and maybe secure some
were certainly caused problems. MAIN: A handful of ferals free hand. We all know shooting free more ground from – if I
As we were talking, a pigeon before it got dark hand is the hardest shot to take, and do my job.

0$5.&$02&&,2
Hawke Eyes
Mark Camoccio checks out a set of Vantage 8 x 42 Binoculars from Hawke Optics

+$:.(9$17$*(%,12&8/$56
B
inoculars are an invaluable
accessory for many outdoor
sportsmen, and that applies
whether you’re just out enjoying
the countryside, observing wildlife
in all its glory in its natural habitat,
or out hunting, looking to bag a
rabbit or deer. Just having a reliable
optical device at your side, that
can relay detail and information,
can transform any trip. As usual,
there’s a bewildering array of options
available across a wide price range,
too, which is just as it should be.
Hawke Optics has the market well
and truly covered, with four different
model ranges from which to choose.
These represent four different
grades, with the Vantage here at
£149 the cheapest by some margin.
That makes it effectively the entry-
level model, but don’t let that mislead
– this is no cheap and nasty option.
The reality is, whilst Hawke may use
higher specification glass on their
top-flight models, the difference right
through the ranges simply isn’t that ABOVE: Compact, yet eyelet and I would hotly recommend wells on the underside really elevate
marked. So, let’s take a closer look at highly functional – the that this is taken advantage of to handling and feel.
Hawke Vantage 8 x 42
the Vantage 8 x 42 bino’s, and get a bino’s link the cap to the neck strap to There are a couple of elementary
feel for what’s on offer. avoid it being lost when out and details to deal with before use here,
about with your airgun. and the first is to play with the rear
INCLUSIONS eye cups. Both cups are designed
Open up the protective box, and IN THE FIELD to extend when gently twisted, and
alongside the bino’s themselves, The Vantage is the lightest set of jump to three set stages as required.
there’s a soft cloth protective bag, binoculars in the Hawke range, yet at By so doing, the distance between
a wide padded neck strap, a soft OPPOSITE PAGE: A 19.6oz, they still feel significant in the the rear ocular lenses and the eye
canvas style carry case for shoulder comfy, padded neck hand. Close inspection reveals a solid can be slightly varied. The idea is a
mounting or attaching to a belt; lens strap is included set that looks and feels professional, comfort fit to suit individual facial
cloth and instruction booklet. The with a pleasing standard of finish, dimensions as much as anything,
binoculars come with flip-up rubber and even a smart profile. The green and on test, I left them wound right
front lens covers that just hang down exterior body shell is slightly harder in for the shortest distance and the
when in use, and removable rear composite than others in the range, best full image for me.
cups, which are actually one joined yet the roughed up finish allows for Setting the rear dioptre adjuster
rubber moulding. This has a small good grip, whilst those neat finger for the right eye is the next task, to
LEFT: Flip-down lens
caps at the front
RIGHT: Push-fit rubber

caps at the rear, but
don’t lose them –
connect them!
LEFT: Those finger

wells add a surprisingly
refined feel Ô

0$5.&$02&&,2
LEFT: Attaching the

neck strap
RIGHT: That central

focus wheel is smooth,
but might benefit from a
little more resistance
LEFT: Note the dioptre

adjuster
set the binoculars to the individual’s position was more critical to achieve 42s proved extremely capable on test,
eyesight, and this is done by closing the full circular image than some with a satisfyingly clear and bright
the left eye, then adjusting the +/- binoculars I’ve used set at a higher image over an extended review period.
knurled wheel for clarity with the right RRP, but there’s no doubting the image Viewing a farmhouse over 1.4 miles
eye – something to be done at the and clarity is impressive. The Vantage away proved a stern test, and detail
outset, then left alone. Now the target model gets Hawke’s H2 glass here, and was surprisingly good.
can be acquired, and the central focus
wheel turned until clarity is achieved.
With the Vantage, I did feel just a little “extremely capable on test, with a satisfyingly clear
more resistance would be reassuring
on the wheel movement to help
and bright image over an extended review period”
maintain the desired setting when
compared with others I’ve used, but in it’s well up to the mark. VERDICT
use it is smooth nonetheless. Indeed the difference between far A great pair of bino’s for the money, and
more expensive sets and supposedly an easy choice for most of us, who just
EASE OF USE lower-grade models never seems in want general purpose functionality and
The 8x magnification is useful for sure, proportion to the price differential. It’s all-round performance for reasonable
and it’s a good compromise for ease the old point about ‘nth degree’. Yes, outlay. Quite simply and bluntly, in my
of use. Crank up the mag and, like with BELOW: A basic but you can pay a fortune and perhaps get experience, you’ll need to shell out
perfectly usable carry
scopes, the wobble is magnified, too. case is included, along more clarity and vibrancy through the considerably more to notice any real
One point I would say here is that head with a neck strap and slip entire image, but these Vantage 8 x and slight difference.
SPECIFICATION
Model: Vantage 8 x 42
Manufacturer: Hawke Optics
Magnification: 8x
Object: 42mm
FOV: 367ft @ 1000yds
Length: 5.75”
Minimum focus: 8.2ft
Weight: 19.6oz
Eye relief: 0.7”
Glass: System H2
Contact: www.hawkeoptics.com
RRP: £149

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
What To Shoot
In 2023?Gary Chillingworth is unsure which rifle and scope to shoot this season,
and he’s asking for your help!
H
ello everyone! I need your
help, and when I say that, I
genuinely mean it. Back in
the days of yore, when the world
was black and white, it cost less
money to fill a car with diesel than
buy a small house in Scotland, and
tomatoes were abundant and cheap,
I could shoot a gun. I was good with
a springer, not bad with a PCP and
deadly with a MG42 on Call of Duty.
But recently my scores have taken a
bigger nosedive then the Hindenburg
on its approach to New Jersey. So,
the question is, ‘how do I stop the
rot and get back to my best?’
Now, this is the problem; if it
were a gun or scope issue, it would
be easy to fix, but all my rifles – an
HFT-500, a TX200, my HW100s and
HW98, Goldstar and Diana 54 – are
super-accurate, and when I am on
my home range I have no problem ABOVE: My TX is my have large PX error for ranging, and sometimes it hasn’t. You can see
killing any targets at any ranges from first love scopes with very little error that why I am frustrated.
8 to 45 yards. makes them easy to use. I also have I have done lots of testing and
I have scopes from Zeiss, Vortex, scopes in first and second focal plane, the issue appears to be with
MTC, Hawke and Optisan, with and I honestly don’t know what to do. me and not the kit. I seem to be
objectives from 50mm all the way BELOW: The HFT-500 is struggling with fatigue and that is
down to 24mm; I have scopes that the logical choice ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM affecting my eyesight, and when I
So, this is my problem; when I am at am looking through the scope, I am
home on my range I can shoot well, getting a false image due to eye
or at least for a while, but then start strain, this is probably due to my
to struggle. I will have a zero on the eyes swelling or pressure building
rifle and be able to shoot a ragged- up in my visual cortex.
hole group at 40 yards, but after Now, let’s acknowledge the
100 pellets or so, the zero seems to elephant in the room – I’m not in
change. I have swapped out scope the best physical shape. I used to
after scope, and it doesn’t make be much fitter and as an ex-martial
a difference. If I go inside and sit artist, I used to be able to cope with
down and take a rest, and then the rigours of HFT much better than
come back to it, then sometimes I do now. I know that getting fitter
the zero has returned to true, and and losing weight will not only help

:+,&+&20%2"
me, but also help my shooting – and ABOVE: But which one very consistent PCP will help me
I’m finding it hard. Also, I’m a shift should Gary choose? to identify where my failings are
worker – mainly nights – so I very because you can often see the pellet
often arrive at a shoot straight from flight and you know that if you miss,
work, and it is not uncommon for me it’s because you suck, and it’s not
to have a little snooze during a cease because the spring gun has decided
fire. So, put these things together to have an off day due to being too
(fat and tired) and this is not going cold, or too warm for the grease, and
to help. Also, I’m always swapping there’s a Friday in the week.
RIGHT: You can measure
between guns and scopes for my targets sometimes
magazine and video stuff, so should WHICH ONE?
I cut back on media and concentrate So, if I’m going to shoot a PCP then
on shooting? which one? I have an HW100KT, a
BSA Goldstar and an HFT-500 target
SPRINGER OR PCP? rifle. The HW100 and the Goldstar
This is my thinking; should I switch are both amazing rifles; super-light,
from shooting a springer and well-balanced, insanely accurate,
go back to a PCP? What are the and easy to shoot. The HFT-500 is
advantages and disadvantages of bigger and heavier, but is completely
both? Well, the main advantage of deadly to shoot, and let’s be honest,
a springer is, I love shooting them! I’m an Air Arms man through and
I love my TX200HC and I have through, so I think I will have to look
recently been playing with a great at using the ‘500 or even look at an
HW97, but there is no doubt that the S400 in a fancy stock.
heavy rifles and physical exertion When it comes to scopes, I have
of cocking the rifles can be a strain, a Vortex Viper and this was going to
RIGHT: A totally
coupled with the fact that you have battered target – hard be my go-to scope because it’s first
to hold your body in a certain way to gauge distance focal plane and super-bright, but I
and lug these heavy guns around, have just been sent an Optisan CP
but they are so much fun, and the 4-12 x 40 that looks amazing and
friends I have made in the springer this brings me to my second point.
world are the best.
A PCP is relatively easy to deal RANGEFINDING ISSUES
with because it’s not hold-sensitive, My issues seem to be focused on
it’s light compared to a TX, and you the inability to rangefind. When I get
can manipulate them much easier tired on the course, my judgement
than a springer. There is a big part of distance goes to pot, so I think
of me that thinks that shooting a it’s time to ditch my eyes and try Ô

*$5<&+,//,1*:257+
ABOVE LEFT: Should I

cut down on media and
focus on shooting?
ABOVE RIGHT: The

HW100 is also amazing –
I’m so confused
LEFT: Honestly, I did

used to be able to do this
RIGHT: The Goldstar

could be the right gun,
light accurate and
adjustable
different ways to range a target. high, it’s nearer to 40 yards. shoot the HFT-500 with the Optisan
Now, back in the day, you could I think I’ll stick to .177 because on 12x magnification and see how
measure faceplates and hinges, you although .22 may help me to learn it goes, but I’m nervous about doing
could measure the distance from my ranges better, and I do have an it – and I love my springer.
the base of the target to the centre amazing Diana 54 AirKing Pro, I’m So, please help me. Drop me
of the kill, and this would give you a not a masochist and the guys who an email at garychillingworth36@
great idea of how far the target was shoot .22 are really good. gmail.com and let me know what
away. The thing is, though, course I know this piece is a little self- you think. No matter what, I will
setters not only hide the hinge, but indulgent, and I apologise for that, be shooting the springer at the
they also have odd-sized kills, and but I have been going round and HFT World Championships in
faceplates are no longer standard. round in circles trying to decide what September, but should I shoot the
So, what can we do? to do. I know the logical thing is Nationals with a PCP? Help!
Well, I have been thinking about
RIGHT: This is what I
shooting 12x magnification – when want – but it feels a long
you look at a target, there are things way off
that are always the same; if there
are pellet strikes uniform in size,
how do these match up to the marks
on your scope? Does your crosshair
obliterate the pellet mark, or does it
bleed out? With 12x magnification
it’s easier to tell the difference
between a 30mm at 40 yards, and a
35mm at 45 yards, and with a higher
mag’, you can see the pellet strikes
in the kill zone. So, if you have a long
target and all the hits on the paddle
are low, it’s 45 yards, and if they are

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0$5.&$02&&,2
Balanced PART 2
Approach
Mark Camoccio concludes his test of the latest Effecto Zeon bullpup PCP

())(&72=(21%8//383
easier for some, depending upon Cycling the action is silky-smooth

your routine. My mag’ came fitted using that nicely shaped sidelever,
with the pin on the left, so locates whilst the actual cocking effort is very
the action from the left. modest, to set the trigger, hammer,
and index the magazine.
IN THE SHOULDER One observation on test
I've never been one for using safety concerned pellets in the mag’. I
catches, and am firmly in the camp used Webley Mosquito Express,
that says, if you've loaded it, it's and these are a fairly short-bodied
best to take the shot. Okay, hunting design compared to some. They
“a neat idea and a key feature that can make life so

much easier for some, depending upon your routine”
scenarios ... yes, I know. Anyhow, just did seem a little loose in the mag’
as I was thinking how unusual it was because they don't contact the
that the Zeon didn't seem to have small inner 'O' rings in the magazine
one, so I stumbled across it in the chambers quite so fully as longer-
instruction booklet, and sure enough, bodied pellets. Just something
there it is - a large silver manual slide, worth considering. The only real
tucked away on the underside of the issue was that it just made sense
L
ast month we dealt with the ABOVE: There's no butt. Who'd have thought it? to lean the gun and magazine
doubt this Zeon handles
preliminaries, and now it's time really well
Get the Zeon in the shoulder and forward slightly when inserting the
to see how the Zeon shapes up the ergonomics soon start to impress. magazine. This prevented the one
out in the field.
MULTI-SHOT SYSTEM
Effecto supply the Zeon with two
10-shot magazines, so it’s time to
fill one before we start. These mag’s
ABOVE RIGHT: The
feel very robust, and unlike many ten-shot magazine is a
designs, need no pre-tensioning. robust design
Hold the mag’ face up and note the
red dot at the base, which is the stop
point. Twist the drum anti-clockwise
one click and drop a pellet into the
chamber. Keep twisting and fill each
chamber in turn. On the underside of
the mag’, there's a small pin and this
can be switched to allow the mag’ to
be inserted into the action from the RIGHT: Positioning on
the left is strange, but
other side – a neat idea and a key that lever is great in
feature that can make life so much operation Ô

0$5.&$02&&,2
LEFT: There's a threaded

muzzle, too
RIGHT: An accessory rail

up front is moveable and
removable
LEFT: Basic but it works

- the rubber plate at
the rear
exposed shot possibly falling out. In I love that thinned-down pistol grip. SURPRISING
fact, once the mag’ was in position, Even the rather basic butt plate gets There is one surprising aspect of the
everything worked fine, the cycling the thumbs up, given that it is super- Zeon, though, and that concerns the
of the action super-smooth and very grippy and quite padded. biathlon sidelever. There's only one
reliable. In other words, I still shot I like the well-shaped two-stage configuration of this model, and that
Mosquitos perfectly well throughout trigger, too, and my test gun needed comes with the ambidextrous stock,
the test, just taking care, as no tweaking to get the best from the but with the sidelever mounted on
outlined. action, which was just as well, since the left side. I love the shape and
BELOW: The Effecto Zeon
The synthetic stock configuration is an impressive piece of adjustment can only be made with the feel – it even has a revolving
is spot on for this style of gun, and hardware the stock removed. handle end – but I'm right-handed,

())(&72=(21%8//383
BULLPUP SHORTLIST?
Pretty favourable vibes for the Zeon
overall then, and if you're considering
going to the dark side, and joining
the legions of fans who enjoy the
compactness, and unique handling
afforded by the bullpup configuration,
then this model has much to
recommend it. It’s not perfect, but
it's an impressive piece of hardware,
for sure, that's fun and rewarding in
equal high measure.
SPECIFICATION
Model: Effecto Zeon
(Grey Camo)
and I can't help thinking it would just LEFT: Note how far back as opposed to the recommended Type: Multishot regulated bullpup
feel better with the lever on the right the action sits in the 240 bar, just to put less stress
stock sidelever action PCP
side. Balance and weight distribution on the system over time. Using Calibre: .177 on test: .22 available
are impressive, so the lever can Webley Mosquito Express pellets,
Weight: 8.8lbs
still be cycled in the shoulder, but the chronograph recorded 150
just not quite as easily, in my book.
TOP RIGHT: As two-stage
shots, which is pretty impressive, Length: 31.2”
triggers go, this is more
Probably not a deal breaker because than acceptable but get this – apart from just one Barrel: 17.75”
the Zeon is such a nice handling shot, which registered 767fps, all Stock: Grey Camo design
airgun in other respects, but a the other 149 were within a total synthetic, ambidextrous sporter
surprising detail in today's market. velocity spread of just 13fps. Okay,
ABOVE RIGHT: That Power Source: External bottle
moulded grip is the action is regulated, but that's
SHOT CYCLE/ FIGURES comfortable and well still superb, and I might add, using or pump
Okay, time to see what that proportioned pellets taken straight from the tin. Trigger: 2-stage adjustable
oversized cylinder could do in terms So what about accuracy? Well, Magazine: 10 shot in both calibres
of shot count. Read the instruction ragged single-hole clusters at 30 Cylinder capacity: 275cc
booklet, and Effecto specify 130 yards and groups still sub-half inch Fill Pressure: 240 bar max, 220
shots as a guide using an 8.44 grain over 40 yards – all with pellets
bar recommended
pellet. Stating the obvious, but this unselected, tells me the Zeon has
is dependent upon several factors; what it takes. As always, conduct Shot Count: 130-150
fill pressure, for a start, and I had BELOW: Creditable your own pellet trials, and those Velocity: – On test using Webley
already decided to stick to 220 bar accuracy on test too figures could be bettered, I'm sure. Mosquito Express pellets
High 795fps
Low 782fps
Ave 788fps
Spread 13fps
Over 150 shots
Energy: 10.9 ft.lbs. ave on test
RRP: £892 guide price including
two magazines, cheekpiece set,
and filling probe
Options: Alternative stocks:
Synthetic, Bronze Black, & Khaki
Camo
Distributor: Highland Outdoors
dealer network
www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk
RRP: £892

0$70$11,1*
ON THE
WIND UP!
+817,1*
Mat Manning tries to provoke a response from

marauding magpies by exploiting their fiercely
territorial instincts
C
orvid control with air rifles When building a hide on the
is all about patience and day of your planned shooting trip,
persistence. It is seldom easy, it usually pays to do it quickly to
but if you stick at it, accept the odd avoid attracting too much unwanted
blank, and adapt your approach to attention from your quarry. With that
suit the seasons, your efforts should in mind, I wanted to find a spot that
eventually be rewarded. These already had plenty of natural cover.
troublesome birds – particularly Thankfully, the blackthorn spinney
crows and magpies – are a constant is adjacent to a larger block of
problem on one estate where I do woodland, and I decided to position
a lot of shooting. They target lambs myself on its edge, where a thick
and poultry around the yard and tree trunk and steep bank would
pick off pheasant eggs and chicks create a good backdrop of cover
in the woods. It’s hard to quantify behind me.
the impact that corvids have on our After slotting the hide poles into
native songbirds, but I believe it is position, I draped a Camo Systems
significant, and that’s another reason scrim net between them to create a
for keeping their numbers down. camouflage screen around my hiding
During a recent visit, I bumped place. Choosing the correct height
into the farmer who said he had for a net hide is always a bit of a
noticed a couple of magpies quandary – on this occasion, I decided
travelling back and forth between a to keep mine comparatively low so
dense tangle of blackthorn and the that I would be able to shoot over the
poultry run, where they were stealing top of it if birds decided to pitch into
eggs. Now, magpies like to nest in the uppermost boughs of a couple of
blackthorn thickets, so he was eager tall sitty trees in front of me.
for me to bring this pair to book
before they had a chance to multiply. DECOY SET-UP
Birds in the crow or corvid family With my hide constructed and the
have an interesting character trait net dressed with a few nettle stems
in that, although they think nothing and fallen branches to help conceal
of devouring the contents of other its outline, I turned my attention
birds’ nests, they react very angrily to the decoy set-up, which would
to the presence of rivals around their comprise an imitation little owl and
chosen nesting sites. After speaking magpie. Owls cause a real stir when
with the farmer, I decided to try to they show up on ground occupied
exploit this instinct by targeting the by magpies – the territorial little
errant magpies with decoy tactics. corvids tend to get very agitated by
the presence of a predator close to
‘INSTANT’ HIDE-BUILDING their chosen nesting site and will
A few days later, I was back at often bundle in to see them off. I
first light – setting up close to the was hoping that my fake owl would
blackthorn spinney. My first job was cause just such a reaction, and draw
to build a hide which I hoped would the magpies out to where I could get
help to prevent the suspicious birds clear shots at them.
from detecting me. In all honesty, There was a clearing in front of
this kind of approach tends to my hide – the sort of place where
work best if you can set up a hide magpies wouldn’t be able to pass
well in advance of your shooting without noticing the decoy. About
session and leave it in position for 25m out was a moss-covered stack
a few days, so the birds can grow of rotting logs which served as a
accustomed to it and treat it as a prominent perch for the little owl.
harmless feature of the landscape. Incidentally, if you’re ever in the
I’m afraid time wasn’t on my side, market for an owl decoy, do try to
so I had to construct my hide at the find one with shiny yellow and black
start of the session. eyes – piercing eyes seem to be the Ô

0$70$11,1*
ABOVE: After quickly key feature to really get the corvids proximity and on high-alert.
constructing a simple
hide, Mat dresses the in a frenzy. Less than 15 minutes after I’d
camo net with branches I completed my decoy settled in, a solitary carrion crow
and stems to help it arrangement with the addition of a swooped over the treetops from
blend in
plastic magpie propped on a branch behind me, circled a couple of times
just above the owl. I hoped that this and then landed in the top of an
would make the real corvids think a ash about 30m from my hide. The
mobbing was already underway and crow was evidently interested in the
LEFT: Perched on a convince them to join in. decoys, and thankfully, oblivious to
prominent spot, this me. I slipped the muzzle through
imitation little owl
should aggravate the CHECK THE RANGES the net and framed the corvid in
resident corvids Preparations complete, I clambered the crosshairs. The support of the
into the hide, put on a head net for Trigger Sticks tripod enabled me
added stealth and then loaded my to hold a rock-steady bead on the
Daystate Huntsman Safari before unsuspecting crow’s head before
reaching for my Hawke rangefinder. touching off the trigger and felling it
I always like to check ranges to with a smack to the skull.
prominent landscape features such It's always good to get the first
as trees and fenceposts before bird in the bag and even though it
quarry shows up, if I can. Doing this wasn’t a magpie, the farmer would
means that I can use these markers still be glad to have one less corvid
LEFT: By setting up a to estimate the distance to wherever on his ground. As it was a clean
magpie decoy close to the birds land rather the having kill, I decided to leave the crow
the owl, Mat hoped to
create the impression of to risk being spotted by trying to where it fell, and it’s just as well
a mobbing check ranges when they’re in close that I did because another one was

+817,1*
RIGHT: Mat checks

ranges before the
birds show up to avoid
spooking them when
they close in
RIGHT: A crow makes the

mistake of dropping in soon wheeling overhead. This one
for a closer look and Mat seemed to be both intrigued and
lines up for a shot agitated by the decoys, and clearly
wanted to get a closer look.
After a few cautious passes, the
crow opened its wings and glided
into a branch very close to where
the first bird had perched. Events
unfolded very similarly, and another
crow was soon added to the tally.
FLY PAST
I felt really optimistic after such a
positive start, but activity quickly
tailed off. A couple more crows
BELOW: Mat watches passed overhead, but although their
another crow drift croaking suggested that they had
over without stopping,
prompting him to clear clocked the decoys, they stayed high
away the shot ones and flew on without lingering. With
the crows becoming cagey and no
sign of the magpies, I decided to
break cover and retrieve the shot
birds, just in case they were making
incomers suspicious.
Back in the hide after swiftly
retrieving the two dead crows, I sat
through another long quiet spell.
In fact, more than an hour must
have passed before my senses
were snapped back into focus by
the distant chatter of a magpie.
The calls were initially very quiet,
suggesting that the bird was some
way away, but they gradually became
loader and clearer as it drew closer.
The black and white bandit was
still about 80m away from me when
it flitted into sight. It was making
its way along an overgrown hedge
that connects to the patch of
blackthorns, and was getting more
and more vocal as it closed in. This
bird was definitely aware of the
decoys, and it certainly sounded as
if it was irritated by their presence. Ô

0$70$11,1*
LEFT: Breaking
These twocover is
aunwelcome
calculatedrodents
risk but Mat
were takenthe
reckoned in dead
quickcrows
succession
were putting
after
incomers
being
picked
on edgeup by the thermal
spotter
RIGHT: A magpie finally

puts in an appearance
and Mat is back in action
A CHALLENGING SESSION top of a young oak to my right. This I was happy to have accounted for
Alighting in a bush about 50m time the magpie had overstepped three of these artful birds. That said,
from me, the magpie ceased its the mark, picking a perch less I am convinced that there is at least
advance and hopped from branch than 30m from me. I brought the one more magpie to be had from
to branch, chattering and rasping crosshairs to bear on its chest and that spot and I hope our paths will
in the general direction of the squeezed off a shot that hit it square cross very soon.
decoys. Even in relatively calm on with an absolute wallop. Magpies
conditions, I was not prepared to are relatively slight birds, and the
risk such a long shot with a sub- smack to the chest snuffed it out MAT’S KIT
12ft.lbs. airgun, so I sat it out in the like a candle. GUN: Daysate Huntsman Safari
hope that the angry magpie would I would love to say that more daystate.com
eventually come closer. shots followed, but that was my AMMO: Rangemaster Sovereign
After two or three minutes of noisy lot. I sat it out for another hour but daystate.com
scrutiny, the magpie gave in to its the temptation of heading home SCOPE: Nikko Stirling
territorial instincts and flew straight for breakfast eventually became Diamond FFP
across the clearing in the direction irresistible and, with no sign of highlandoutdoors.co.uk
of my decoys. I thought it was going BELOW: A trio of birds further action, I decided to draw the JACKET: Ridgeline Grizzly III
isn’t a big bag, but
to bundle straight in for a scrap, but it’s still a result when session to a close. Corvid shooting ridgelineclothing.co.uk
it stopped off again, pitching in the targeting crafty corvids is never without its challenges, so GUN SUPPORT: Primos
Trigger Stick
bisley-uk.com
OWL DECOY: Sport Plast
Little Owl
bisley-uk.com
MAT MANNING’S
NEW SHOW!
Tune into Airgun Action every
other Wednesday for hunting,
gun and gear reviews
PICTURES: Joe Branston

Maintenance Man LOGUN S16S
PART 2
1 Using an appropriate tool, pop out the black

cap from the top of the cocking handle 1
2 You can then access the 3mm Allen
key to fully remove the cocking handle.
3 You can now start removing the

component parts of the hammer/valve unit
4 Note the small seal, this will need

changing
5 These are the parts that make up the

hammer unit, these will all need to be
cleaned thoroughly.
6 This is the main firing valve unit, again,

clean it thoroughly
7 Here you can see the 3 seals that

need changing on the valve body.
2 3 4
5 6 7
8 9 10

:25.6+23
Last month Richard Nash began stripping down this iconic rifle.
This month he concludes the strip down and rebuild
SAFETY
FIRST
8 You can see here how far the valve

stem protrudes through the valve
housing. I would recommend changing the
14 Change the 3 seals on the valve unit the seals
past the
cut outs
If you do not have
the required skills and
equipment to carry out
valve as part of the service.
15 Change the seal on the bottle adaptor in the
tube,
maintenance on any
airgun, always have
9 Here we can see how the action
fits together. Quite a complex
arrangement. 16 Also change the seal that is inside
the bottle adaptor
you may
have to
manipulate
the work done by a
recognised expert
the o-rings
10 The space around the valve acts

as a plenum, storing the air that is
released when the rifle is fired.
17 Lightly lubricate all the seals using
silicone grease
to prevent them
from being damaged.
11 Ensure that the valve stem is clean, lightly

lubricate with a little silicone grease.
18 By undoing the securing grub screw, you
can clean off all the old grease, relubricate
using gun moly, ensuring it moves smoothly
21 With everything aligned, you can
now refit the 8 securing bolts, fixing
the valve unit into place
12 Thoroughly clean the inside of the

main body tube 19 Carefully remove the small o-ring
and replace with new one 22 Refit the cocking handle
13 Carefully change the two seals on

the gauge housing. 20 Now it’s time to start rebuilding
the rifle, take care when passing 23 Insert the spring into the cocking
handle as shown
11 12 13
14 15 16
17 18 19

:25.6+23
24 Insert the bolt lock back into the

cocking handle and secure with
the grub screw
27 Carefully refit the gauge housing,
refit the 4 cap head securing bolts 31 Offer up the lower unit, aligning the bolt
with the bolt hole and tighten up
25 Check that the bolt lock and

bolt operate as they should, if
28 This is how it should look
32 Refit the black cap around the
gauge
everything operates smoothly, refit the

black cap 29 Now change the small primary air
transfer seal 33 Lightly lubricate the seal on the
bottle adaptor, and screw it back
into the rear of the lower housing
26 You can now insert the striker and

hammer spring into the tube, note
the striker will only go in one way
30 Using a 4mm Allen key, push the
securing bolt through the bottom
of the tube 34 This shows the bottle adaptor and
gauge cover in situ
20 21 22
23 24 25
26 27 28
29 30 31

:25.6+23
35 We can now refit the front

securing bolt that holds the lower
the bottom of the tube
41 Lightly lubricate the inside of the
scope rail, and refit
unit in place
39 You can now refit the fore end,
the 4mm cap head screw secures
42 The shroud and moderator can
36 This shows the location of the hole,

using the allen key to tighten
the barrel ring now be refitted
37 The barrel can now be reinserted

into the end of the tube
40 Moving to the top of the rifle,
lightly lubricate the cocking
link rod and align it with the two holes.
43 Hopefully, if all has gone well, your
rifle should be back together, leak
free and ready to use. As always, though,
you'll see one in the magazine indexing please remember to power check the rifle to
38 Ensure the barrel securing ring is

correctly aligned with the hole in
cam - the other one can be found in the
bolt handle unit
ensure that it's safely within the legal limit –
that's important!
32 33 34
35 36 37
38 39 40
41 42 43

.,75(9,(:
Brilliant
Break-BarrelsIf you’re on a budget or simply fancy a change from your PCP,
a break-barrel springer could be just what you’re looking for –
Rich Saunders checks out five that cost less than £280
W
ith many modern pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifles There are drawbacks for sure – most springers are single-shot
costing well over £1,000, it’s easy to forget it all began rifles, and you’ll have to tame the recoil generated by that main
with the humble spring-piston-powered airgun. In fact, spring bouncing up and down the chamber. Consequently, they
not a lot has changed in 100 or more years when it comes to are harder to shoot accurately, but learn the proper technique,
springers; a mainspring is cocked, and when released by the put in the practice and you’ll be rewarded with many years of
trigger, pushes a piston forward to compress the air in front of it steadfast service.
and propel a pellet through the barrel. Simplistic it may be, but Spring-powered rifles, especially break-barrels, are generally a
there’s a certain pleasure to be had from not having to worry lot cheaper than their PCP cousins. In fact, even top-of-the-range
about filling up an air bottle, or stressing about where all that Air Arms and Weihrauch under-levers compare favourably to
air has leaked from – and you don’t have to muck about with budget PCPs when it comes to price. So, if you’re in the market for
regulator settings. You simply cock the action, pop a pellet into a break-barrel that won’t break the bank, we’ve assembled five of
the breech and away you go. the best that cost less than £280.

%5($.%$55(/635,1*(56
handers – that said, lefties should find it

perfectly comfortable, too.
The cocking action is smooth and easy
enough, thanks partly to a 370mm cold
hammer-forged barrel, and the lock up is
solid with no play at the breech. The safety
catch located within the trigger guard does
not set automatically, but an anti-bear trap
mechanism will keep your fingers safe
when inserting a pellet into the breech
should the trigger mechanism let go.
Over the chrono’ our test rifle showed
commendable consistency of 19 feet
per second over ten shots, and a level
of accuracy over 20 metres that would
easily cope with short- to medium-range
pest control. Much of that is down to the
BSA METEOR EVO Evo, is a different kettle of fish. Like its trigger, which although plastic like the
£179.99 BSAGUNS.CO.UK predecessors, it’s light at 3kgs and looks trigger guard, is two-stages with a marked
more compact than its 1,110mm length, stop in between and a predictable let off.
KING OF THE BUDGET thanks to an elegantly proportioned sporter In fact, the performance is good enough
SPRINGERS stock, but our test rifle pumped out 10.6 to make the additional investment of a
As a kid in the ‘80s, Uncle Trevor gave me ft.lbs., which means that whilst the Meteor telescopic sight worthwhile – you will need
an ASI Paratrooper. Amongst my mates, I Evo is still peerless when it comes to tin- mounts that can accommodate a 13mm
enjoyed being a little different, but secretly can bashing, it’s capable of much more. dovetail. However, until you’re ready to
I coveted the BSA Meteors that they That beech stock has laser chequering splash out again, the open sights that
all had. Back then, the Meteor’s power on the pistol grip and fore end and is come as standard are very good. The rear
output was best put to use on tin cans finished with a rubber shoulder pad. adjusts for windage and elevation with a
and all sorts of other improvised targets, It is marketed as ambidextrous, but a couple of green fibres to frame the aiming
but the modern incarnation, the Meteor cheekpiece on the butt favours right- notch. The front site is a simple red fibre.
Phantom sits nicely in the shoulder.

The comb is well proportioned to set you
up to use the open sights – a green fibre
open blade at the front and an adjustable
red fibre rear sight. However, most will
attach the 4 x 32 Center Point scope
included, along with a set of mounts, and
is ideal for plinking.
A 420mm barrel makes breaking and
cocking the action easy enough and
although there is a slight sensation of
rubbing, the lock-up is very solid and I
couldn’t detect any movement at the
breech. The cocking process won’t
engage the manual safety catch –
a blade located in front of the trigger
– but thanks to an anti-bear trap
mechanism, your fingers are protected
CROSMAN PHANTOM is a slight rattle from the innards. At should the barrel fly up unexpectedly.
£165 RANGE-RIGHT.CO.UK 1,090mm long and tipping the scales at a The flip side is that you cannot de-cock
tad over three kilos, this is a full -size rifle, the Phantom.
NOTHING SPOOKY HERE and at 10.3 ft.lbs. over our 10-shot test Unusually, for a rifle at this price point,
Like the Meteor, Crosman’s Phantom string, it will send tin cans spinning, and the trigger blade is metal. Its two stages
has been around for a while and that’s take care of the occasional problem rat have a positive stop in between, and
usually a pretty good indicator to the under the garden shed. although there is adjustment, I found
quality of a rifle. Unlike the BSA springer, The fore end is indented forward of the the short first stage and longer second
though, the Phantom has a black plastic trigger guard and then bulges out again, stage nicely weighted and predictable.
stock designed to take even the most with patches of pimples to aid grip. There On the range, I managed ten-shot groups
enthusiastic use in its stride. Plastic it are more pimples on the steeply raked of 36mm at 20 metres and over the
may be, but there’s no flex to the stock, pistol grip. The combination, along with chronograph variation was 14 feet
although when given a good shake there a sold rubber shoulder pad means the per second. Ô

.,75(9,(:
WINCHESTER MODEL 45 RS elegance, and the finish to the metal work light first stage that transitioned to the
£274.99 JUSTAIRGUNS.CO.UK is excellent. second stage with an obvious stop. The let
There’s not much in the way of a cheek off is very clean with no obvious creep.
CLASSIC NAME FOR A comb. That said, with a scope mounted Thanks to the plastic silencer/cocking
CLASSIC RIFLE to the raised scope rail, eye alignment aid the 320mm barrel is extended by
Winchester offers several variations of shouldn’t be a problem. If you do find another 190mm. It makes cocking the
the models 45 and 55, and the Model 45 yourself struggling, the raised rail can be Model 45 RS very easy and manageable
RS we have on test comes with a plastic removed to gain access to the dovetail for younger shooters. The safety catch
silencer-cum-cocking aid, but no open underneath. does not engage on cocking, but there’s an
sights. Located to the right of the action at anti-bear trap. With a pellet inserted into
At 1,160mm it’s a full-length rifle, but the rear, well away from the trigger, is the the breech, the lock up is very solid with
only weighs 2.5 kgs unscoped – part of manual safety lever. Push it back to make no movement, and when fired, the rifle has
that is down to the slimline ambidextrous the Model 45 RS safe and when you’re a pleasing lack of any twanging or clanking
beech stock. Apart from patches of ready to shoot it’s ideally positioned to from the mechanism. At 20 metres, I was
chequering on the pistol grip and fore end, push forward with your thumb. able to place ten .177 shots within 15mm.
the handle is quite plain, but it’s perfectly The trigger blade is plastic, but very The chronograph showed a variation of
proportioned and a couple of flutes either solid with no sense of flex. Out of the box, 7fps and an average power output of 10.5
side of the fore end give it a sense of the adjustable unit had a fairly long but ft.lbs.

%5($.%$55(/635,1*(56
NORICA TITAN
£120 EDGARBROTHERS.COM
PLINKING GOOD FUN

Norica markets its Titan springer, which is available in .177 and .22 calibres, as ideal
for younger shooters entering the sport for the first time, and it’s easy to see why. At
1.050mm and 2.5kgs, it’s compact and light, and putting out 5.2 ft.lbs., it doesn’t take
much effort to break and cock. Indeed, if you’re in the market for a cheap, open sight,
back garden plinker that will reward proper shooting technique, then the Titan could be
for you. In keeping with its target market, the ambidextrous black plastic stock is as tough
as old boots. That’s not to say it’s ugly, though – far from it. There’s a ventilated rubber
shoulder pad, moulded cheekpieces both sides and a raised comb. The pistol grip has
a thumb rest and there’s plenty of grip thanks to a series of grooves and some pimples.
There’s more of the same on the fore end, which is also finished with a slight Schnabel at
the very end.
The folded metal trigger blade is nicely curved and comfortable on the finger. There’s no
obvious means of adjusting the two stages, and out of the box, the first stage was quite
long, but with a defined transition to the second stage, which was a little notchy.
There is a dovetail to accept a telescopic sight, but given the limited power and cost of
the Titan, it’s probably a rifle you’d want to shoot with open sights. Fortunately, although
plastic, the rear sight is very good, with clear and precise adjustment for both windage
and elevation. The sighting notch itself is framed with a couple of green fibres, and there’s
a red fibre inside the hooded front sight.
Breaking the action requires only a light tap and cocking is easy, thanks to the modest
power output and 454mm barrel. Impressively, given the price point, the barrel, once
returned, locks up very solidly. The process automatically sets a safety catch forward of
the trigger blade.
Given its target market, I limited the range test to 15 metres for a more realistic back
garden test, and the Titan was capable of 10-shot groups of around 38mm using the
open sights. The chronograph confirmed output at 5.2 ft.lbs., with a variation of only 5fps. Ô

.,75(9,(:
WEBLEY VMX 2.0 QUANTUM ambidextrous black polymer stock. The cap on the end unscrews, don’t be fooled
£172.99 butt has a ventilated shoulder pad and an into thinking it will allow you to attach an
HIGHLANDOUTDOORS.CO.UK angular cut-out underneath, which breaks additional silencer.
up the outline, and will suit a rifle bag on The breech is a nice solid piece of metal,
BRUTALLY EFFICIENT the range. which locks the action. There was no
Back in the day, Webley’s springers The folded metal trigger has two- discernible play on our test rifle, but over
vied with their Midlands rival, BSA, to stages. Whilst there is no obvious time if you were to notice some, removing
be recognised as Britain’s top air rifle indication that it can be adjusted, at least the stock gives access to a chunky bolt
manufacturer. As a kid, arguments about externally, it does a more than adequate you can nip up again. Cocking the VMX
which was better – the Airsporter S or job with a short first stage, defined stop Quantum engages a resettable safety
Webley Vulcan – filled many a lunchtime and longer second stage. catch at the rear of the action that you’ll
break. Nowadays, Webley’s Britishness There are no open sights, so you’ll have need to push forward for each shot - and
has been somewhat diluted, but the brand to budget for a scope and a set of mounts there's an anti-bear trap for added safety.
continues to deliver plenty of affordable for the dovetail rail that is fitted with an On the 20-metre test, the VMX Quantum
rifles, and the VMX range is certainly arrestor plate that can be moved to help punched out a consistent 11.7 ft.lbs.,
comprehensive if a little difficult to fathom, with eye relief. with a variation over 10 shots of 12fps.
thanks to many variants with plenty of Including the full-length Quantum over- In terms of accuracy, the rifle returned
stock options. sleeve shroud-cum-silencer, the barrel groups of around 28mm. Those levels of
Our rifle is the VMX 2.0 OS, a springer measures 430mm, making it easy enough accuracy and output make the rifle ideal
with a purposeful, almost brutish look to to cock once you have broken the action for short- to medium-range pest control,
it thanks to hard angular lines around the with a tap on the muzzle. Although the and perfect for sending tin cans flying.
SPRING IS HERE pulling the trigger and hitting what we to reconnecting with what we love about
Surrounded as we are today by aim at. Thanks to those fancy PCPs, the sport. Buy well and an affordable
dizzyingly advanced PCP rifles with a our expectations today may be a little rifle will last for years and teach
seemingly unending list of technological higher than they were when break- newcomers to the sport what it’s all
abilities, it’s good to be reminded once barrels ruled the world, but nothing about. Experienced shooters might even
in a while that shooting is all about beats a cheap springer when it comes learn a thing or two, as well.

$,5*81&2//(&7,21
Markham’s Early American King BB Guns Part 5 by John Atkins
Additional images courtesy of Trevor Adams, Chris Thrale and Hans Luiken
FIGURE 1
A
famous ‘King’ airgun owner was Ernest
Hemingway, I learned from the fine
book, Hemingway's Guns: The Sporting
Arms of Ernest Hemingway, by Silvio Calabi,
Steve Helsley, and Roger Sanger. This is a
detailed examination of each of the sporting
weapons known to have been owned and
used by Ernest Hemingway and his family
over the years. A favourite author of mine,
Hemingway was taught to shoot when he
was just two-and-a-half years old, and was
able to shoot a pistol by the time he was
four. A photograph taken at Walloon Lake,
Michigan, summer 1904, included in the
expanded second (2016) edition of the
book shows Ernest Hemingway, aged five
or six, standing on the prow of a small skiff, ‘King’ Air Rifle. It’s boy nature to want a two manufacturers were amalgamated.
posing with a break-action Markham King gun; to want to get out in the fields and Walter H. B. Smith’s book Gas, Air &
air rifle that then sold for about a dollar. woods, nearest to nature, and enjoy Spring Guns describes how Markham’s star
Markham Co. advertisements pointed youthful life to its fullest extent. Get your salesman who had introduced the wooden
out that ‘Every live, healthy boy wants a boy a ‘King’ Air Rifle. It will mean health and ‘Chicago’ to the trade become unhappy with
boyish happiness – and steady nerves, his relations with the Markham company and
keener eyesight and well-developed suggested to Clarence Hamilton’s concern
powers of observation.’ The authors of the that they make a metal rifle he could sell.
book acknowledge that, eyesight aside, According to Walter Smith, the result was
Hemingway became a convincing testament the ‘Sentinel,’ which compelled Captain
to Markham’s claim. Markham to produce metal air rifles also,
Recently, I have looked at Markham later to become famous as the ‘King’ brand –
‘break-barrel’ guns, which include the eventually to be taken over by Daisy. I believe
original Markham wooden ‘Chicago’ airgun the timeline is wrong with this story.
for firing round shot or darts advertised The ace salesman’s name is not
1888 by John Wilkinson Co. of Chicago mentioned, but by elimination I have
reproduced as Figure 1, and the King deduced this to possibly be Al Chaffee (Alfred
No. 17 breech loader; also ‘break-action’ W. Chaffee) of the early Daisy team. The
Markham models like the ‘Prince’ and ‘King’ item said to have been the ‘Sentinel’ – a
models. In this article, I’ll also include a few mysterious BB gun, the origin of which no
lever-action guns from Markham and his one seems to know for certain, as discussed
bitter rivals, Daisy and All Metal Products here last month. I’d be most surprised if the
Company, plus trombone pump models from Sentinel predated the 1890 King.
both King and Daisy in later days when the The Plymouth Air Rifle Company run by
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
$,5*81&2//(&7,21
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6
Clarence Hamilton opened in 1888 and
ceased to exist after its building burned in
1894. Hamilton went on to develop a .22
calibre cartridge rifle (an example of which
I have shown in a past article) and started
the Hamilton Manufacturing Company in
1898. Initially, these .22s had skeleton wire
stocks like his early Plymouth Iron Windmill
Company airguns. I’m now wondering if the
‘Sentinel’ airgun had a stronger Hamilton
connection than with Markham, or the PIWC
– as has been previously suggested.
STREET SHOOTING
Phil Markham seems to have been a
mischievous sort of man who liked to get
his own way. For instance, in early 1893,
Edward C. Hough, son of L. C. Hough,
General Manager of The Plymouth Iron
Windmill Company (later on January 26th
1895 renamed Daisy Manufacturing
Company) had been occupied in running
a grain elevator business for his father, shot airguns for 3/6 (17½ p) and the King or
FIGURE 4 who then hired him to keep the books. Prince repeaters at 4/6 (22½ p) each from
Captain Markham had for months done all their City Road or Chapel Street London E.C.
in his power to hire Ed. Hough, and was so addresses.
incensed by his final refusal of a job offer,
he took pot shots at young Hough as he STERLING STUFF
crossed the street on his way to the grain Figure 4 pictures Markham Kings and
elevator, but fortunately missed. The PIWC rivals. From the left: 1916 No. 21 King
men put this down to Markham’s poor single-shot, lever-action; late King single-
shooting, or his inferior product! shot, lever-action No. 2136 (1936-41); two
To recapitulate, a detail of the wooden King Patent 1922 breech loaders No. 17
‘Chicago’ from 1887 is shown top of with outside cocking rods; Daisy H (Hough)
Figure 2 - with two variations known. Mod. 1921-23 with long lever loop that
Centre is a desirable ‘King’ cast iron receiver assisted cocking; Upton Mod. E 350-
1890-92, the first metal airgun from the shot, shown with lever opened and the big
Markham Air Rifle Co. Shown lower is a ‘King’ Sterling octagonal barrel Mod. G 1000-shot
1892, Markham’s first sheet metal mode from American Tool Works. Both the Upton
of construction airgun known in about 11 Machine Co. and the American Tool Works
variants until 1905 when replaced by the
Polley patent frame type ‘Kings’ that were Figure 1: Markham’s wooden ‘Chicago’ airgun for firing
darts or balls, advertised 1888 by John Wilkinson Co. of
first advertised in ‘Model D’ form from July Chicago. [Image courtesy of Trev’s Airgun Scrapbook]
1905 in the UK, selling concurrently with the
Markham ‘Prince’, ‘Queen’ and the best- Figure 2: Top: The ‘Chicago’ from 1887 with two variations
known; Centre: ‘King’ cast iron frame 1890-92, the first
selling ‘King’ repeater. This style of King metal airgun from the Markham Air Rifle Co. Lower: ‘King’
as seen in the advertisement Figure 3 1892, Markham’s first sheet metal airgun known in 11
appeared in around eight variations, variants until 1905
including Models C and D (single- Figure 3: The airgun here would be a King Model D and this
shot and repeaters) and Model E advertisement is from Chums 2nd January 1907
repeaters, until replaced c.1910 by Number Figure 4: Markham Kings and rivals. From the left: 1916 No.
1 single-shot and Number 2 350-shot 21 King single-shot lever action; late King single-shot, lever
repeaters. The airgun here represents a action No. 2136 (1936-41); two King Patent 1922 breech
loaders No. 17 with outside cocking rods; Daisy H (Hough)
King Model D and this advertisement is Mod. 1921-23 with long lever loop; Upton Mod. E 350-shot
from Chums 2nd January 1907. shown with lever opened and the big Sterling octagonal
Very few of these tin-plate Model D’s barrel Mod. G 1000-shot from American Tool Works
survive today despite similar extensive Figure 5: How a 10-year-old can accomplish the cocking of
advertising running every week for a lever action BB gun. Method 1 – the muzzle is placed on
the ground or the toe of the shoe and the lever is pushed
six months in Chums from October downwards heavily
3rd 1906 until March 27th 1907 – a
period when many hundreds must have Figure 6: Method 2 – Stock between the thighs and barrel
grasped with one hand and the cocking lever with the other.
been sold in Britain. Markt & Co. regularly Squat on stock and pull up on lever. Gun is a King No. 21
advertised the Markham King or Prince single Ô

$,5*81&2//(&7,21
FIGURE 8
during the 1912-1928 period, Upton BB guns

were the principal airguns offered by Sears.
U.S. Patent 911,056 of 2nd February,
1908 was taken out by William F. Markham
and E. S. Roe. Assigned to Markham Air Rifle
Co., this break-action airgun was used in the
design of the King No. 11 Junior ‘Three-
in-One’ single-shot airgun for BBs, darts
and corks (when the shot tube was taken
out). Finished in nickel, this gun was very
appealing to the young shooter.
There are only two ways to compress
the mainspring of a BB gun and they are;
to push it back or pull it back. From the
introduction of the first lever-action BB guns
c.1890, boys had difficulty cocking them,
although they liked the way they resembled
firearms of the time such as the Marlin and
Winchester, which you could cock from the
FIGURE 7 shoulder. Boys found this difficult, so they thighs and grip the barrel with one hand
devised their own methods. and the lever with the other. Then squat
guns carry St. Joseph, Michigan addresses. on the stock and pull up on the lever. The
Don’t imagine the complex Sterling/Upton/ THE WAY TO DO IT BB gun in the photos is a King No. 21
American Tool Works/All Metal Products Co. The two usual ways a 10-year-old can single shot, incidentally Thanks to my then
organisation as being a small concern trying accomplish the cocking of a lever-action 10-year-old young friend, Reuben Burnett,
to get a slice of the Markham and Daisy BB BB gun were those demonstrated in my for the demonstration many years ago.
gun businesses. They were formidable rivals photographs. The first (Figure 5) is to check Figure 7 shows the King single-shot
in both the BB gun and the lucrative popgun that the shot tube is empty and then place Number 1 (1910 to 1914) and 500-shot
markets with intense competition between the muzzle on the ground, or the toe of your No. 4 King manufactured 1914 to 1922
All Metal Products Co. and the Daisy/King shoe, and push the lever downward, using advertised in The Scout December 19,
combine for the popgun business of giant the weight of your body. The second method 1914 by Markt & Co., London. The Sports
companies, like Woolworths and Sears and (Figure 6) is to put the stock between your Trades Journal (a London Monthly 1902-
FIGURE 9 FIGURE 11

FIGURE 10
$,5*81&2//(&7,21
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 13
reader has any information of
this, I’d be pleased to hear
about it. The only 750-shot,
lever-action, repeater BB gun
that springs to my mind was
the short-lived ‘Bull’s Eye
Model’ from The Bulls Eye Air
Rifle Co., Chicago; patent filed
in US May 1909 by Elbert
Hamilton Searle. A break-open
‘Bull’s Eye Model single shot
plus a 500 and a 750-shot
repeater (referred to as the
Model A’) were retailed by
J. H. Graham and Co., 118-122 Holborn, order for 10,000 Daisy guns in return for
London, E.C. and advertised in The Sports exclusivity for their City of Chicago with new
Trades Journal, October 1909. young Daisy salesman Charley Bennett on
E. S. Roe filed a US patent application on his first rail trip from Plymouth, Michigan
October 26 1912, which became Patent to the store. He accepted with some
1,062,855 of May 27, 1913 to cover trepidation – if given six months to fill the
another lever-action airgun, a part drawing order, having doubts if he could supply the
being included in my heading this month. amount! The order was met and they even
Ernest Roe’s further lever-action US Patent produced an additional 10,000 BB guns for
no. 1,080,170 was applied for on Aug. other customers, through sheer hard work.
3, 1912 and granted Dec. 2, 1913, the Back in September 1995, Hans Luiken,
drawings seen in Figure 8. A similar style a collector of pre-1940 airguns from the
of open-top lever loop was also used on Netherlands, kindly sent me some material,
the ‘Little Daisy’ lever-action pop-gun in my including the French advertisement from
collection, although retained in the closed P. Foury of Paris for the King No.1 single-
position differently. shot and the 350-shot repeater No. 2 in
I’m indebted to Dr. Trevor Adams for the December 15th 1924 issue of the French
next two images. The King 1000-shot, lever- sports magazine Le Chasseur Français
action, King ‘Junior’ break-open and King pop (Figure 12). At the time, I was surprised
guns were all described in the advertisement to see the Polley Patent frame-type Kings
1934 held at British Library, Colindale) (Figure 9) as being from: ‘The Original and still on sale that late, but now I know that
had few entries for 1914 but carried a Largest Air Gun Factory in the World’. old stock King and Daisy models were
November article: ‘Sports Trade in War Figure 10 reproduces a Markham
Time’ with references to the airgun trade. components parts card for the King No. 4 Figure 7: American King single-shot Number 1 (1910 to 1914)
Another article on Junior Airguns, etc. in 500-shot lever-action of 1914-22. A new and 500-shot No. 4 King manufactured 1914 to 1922, advertised
in ‘The Scout’ December 19, 1914 by Markt & Co. (London), Ltd
December that year also described the wide mainspring cost all of 15 cents in those
range of airgun lines at ‘The Sports Co.’ 63, days! Figure 8: Ernest Roe’s lever action US Patent no. 1,080,170
Cannon Street, Manchester, especially King A range of King BB and pop-guns applied for on Aug. 3, 1912 and granted Dec. 2, 1913
350, 500 and 750 shot repeaters. advertised by Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett Figure 9: King 1000-shot lever action; King ‘Junior’ break-
The mention of a 750-shot ‘King’ repeater & Co. c.1923 are seen in Figure 11. open and King pop guns all advertised here from: ‘The
puzzles me because I can’t find any other Probably the largest hardware wholesaler Original and Largest Air Gun Factory in the World’. [Image
courtesy of Trev’s Airgun Scrapbook]
reference to a model King that had this in the world at the time, it was this firm
capacity, so I wonder if this was an error who recognised the saleability of the early Figure 10: Markham components parts card for the King No.
4 500-shot lever action of 1914-22. A new mainspring cost
and the gun was actually the 1000 shot Daisy airgun that gave Daisy their first big 15 cents in those days. [Image courtesy of Dr. Trevor Adams]
model. If any knowledgeable American break in the early 1890s by placing an
Figure 11: King BB and pop guns advertised by Hibbard,
Spencer, Bartlett & Co. c.1923. At the time, probably the
largest hardware wholesaler in the world
Figure 12: P. Foury of Paris advertised the King No.1 single-

shot and the 350-shot repeater No. 2 in the December
15th 1924 issue of the French sports magazine Le Chasseur
Français. [Image courtesy of Hans Luiken]
Figure 13: September 1926 issue of ‘Playthings’ - an

American trade magazine focusing on games and toys,
carried this advertisement for the breech-loading King No.
17 explaining how it broke down in the middle to allow the
use of darts
Figure 14: On cocking the King No. 17 breech loader, the

FIGURE 14 deep notch in the trigger face ‘bites’ into the lower part of
the frame, making it impossible for the piston to slip off the
trigger sear
Ô

$,5*81&2//(&7,21
FIGURE 15
occasionally offered for sale much later.

The September 1926 issue of ‘Playthings’
– an American trade magazine focusing on
games and toys, carried this advertisement
(Figure 13) for the breech-loading King No.
17, explaining how it broke down in the middle
to allow the use of darts. I looked at this
excellent model last month, but will elaborate
on the interesting safety trigger. On cocking
the King No. 17 breech-loader, the deep
notch in the trigger face seen in Figure 14,
‘bites’ into the lower part of the frame, making
it impossible for the piston to slip off the
trigger sear. This very practical safety trigger FIGURE 16
disengages along with the sear on pressing
the trigger, and doesn’t interfere with the
trigger pull, which is still surprisingly smooth.
TROMBONE ACTIONS
FIGURE 17
Applied for in October 1929, Charles F.
Lefever’s 1932 Patent drawings (Figure 15)
covered the mechanism used for the King
No. 5; Daisy 105 Junior Pump Gun (Daisy
105 ‘Ranger’ made for Sears & Roebuck)
and later Daisy Model 107 Buck Jones sights. All the rest used standard parts, apart John Atkins Airgun World
gravity fed slide action repeaters. from the natural finish stock and decal, later August and September,
‘Fred’ Lefever, grandson of the founder of the changed to the brand seen in my photo. 1983; Markham’s exterior cocking
Lefever Arms Co, was a genius, having already rod Air Guns by John Atkins, Air Gunner
invented the world’s all-time best-selling airgun ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: May, 1992; Markham’s ‘New Queen’
– the famous and powerful Daisy No. 25 elbow My thanks to Dr. Trevor Adams for use of airgun by John Atkins, Air Gunner, August
pump gun, he patented in 1915. images from ‘Trev’s Airgun Scrapbook’, to 1986; Phil Markham article in The Gun
Figure 16 shows a King No. 5 slide- Chris Thrale for the photograph of his ‘King’ Report magazine, November 1999 by Jim
action 1932-36 with semi-pistol grip stock airgun dealers’ advertising enamel sign and Perkins; Captain Markham’s Take-down
and six-groove wooden cocking slide handle, to Hans Luiken for the P. Foury of Paris, King BB Gun by John Atkins, Air Gunner, August
whilst in Figure 17, a Daisy Model 107 Buck advertisement 1999; Markham Story articles in Detroit
Jones Special 60-shot using the trombone- Free Press May 6th, 2007 by Joel Thurtell;
pump slide action from 1934-42 with stock REFERENCE: Blue Book of Airguns 10th Edition by Dr.
compass, sundial markings and scroll Extracts from US Mail Order Catalogues Robert D. Beeman and John B. Allen,
engraving on each side of frame was the held under ‘Trade Literature’ in Vault E at 2012; Captain Markham’s Wooden Wonder
most famous of the straight pump models. BL/SRIS, Holborn Branch; American and by John Atkins, Air Gunner, May 2014;
Top of Figure 18 is a King No. 2136 (1936) British Patents; The Sports Trades Journal Hemingway's Guns: The Sporting Arms of
and below it, a Daisy No. 195 ‘Buzz Barton of August 1905; Chums Jan 2nd, 1907; Ernest Hemingway, by Roger Sanger, Steve
Special’ Model 36, is also shown cocked The Scout December 19th, 1914; Hibbard, Helsley and Silvio Calabi, (2010) 2016 2nd
on opening the lever – as opposed to the Spencer, Bartlett & Co.1920s catalogues; P. edition; Markham’s Marvels: early Kings
No. 103 ‘Super’ model. By this time, the No. Foury, Paris in Le Chasseur Français, Dec. and Queens of America by John Atkins,
195 was basically a King design, as you can 15th 1924; Playthings September 1926; Air Gunner, October, 2022; Markham’s
see by the identical frame shape. More than Air Guns by Eldon G. Wolff 1958; The ‘Royal Family’ by John Atkins, Air Gunner,
100,000 Buzz Barton guns sold in the first American B.B Gun: A Collectors Guide by November, 2022 and Markham’s early
year with little expense to Daisy because only Arni T. Dunathan, 1971; It’s A Daisy! By American BB Guns Part 4 by John Atkins,
$1,100 was spent on tooling for the tubular Cass S. Hough, 1976; American BB Guns by Air Gunner, April, 2023
Figure 15: Gunsmith Charles F. Lefever’s 1932 Patent drawings

for the King No. 5; Daisy 105 Junior Pump Gun (Daisy 105
‘Ranger’ made for Sears & Roebuck) and later Daisy Model
107 Buck Jones gravity fed slide-action repeaters
Figure 16: King No. 5 slide action 1932-36 with semi-pistol

grip stock and six-groove wooden cocking slide handle
Figure 17: Daisy Model 107 Buck Jones Special 60-shot using
the trombone-pump slide action 1934-42, was the most
famous of the straight pump models. [Image courtesy of Dr.
Trevor Adams]
FIGURE 18
Figure 18: Top: King No. 2136 (1936) and lower: Daisy
No.195 ‘Buzz Barton Special’ Model 36, both shown cocked
on opening the lever. By this time, the No. 195 Daisy was
basically a King design

GUN SHOPS
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MELBOURNE GUN LTD DRAGON FIELD SPORTS

CENTRAL
64 Church Street, Melbourne 21 Pentre Felin, Wrexham LL13 7NB
Derbyshire DE73 8EJ Tel: 01978 290990
WALKERS OF TROWELL Tel: 01332 862091 Email: dragonsports99@gmail.com
Email: melbournegun@btconnect.com Web: www.dragonfieldsports.co.uk
Nottingham Road, Trowell, Nottingham NG9 3PA Web: melbournegun.com Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm
Tel: 0115 9307798 Opening hours: 9am-5pm every day bar Sunday Credit cards:
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Stockists of: Daystate, BSA, Weihrauch, Air Arms, Umarex, A busy gun shop established for over 30 years, selling an
Clothing, Archery. Servicing and Repairs.
Hawke, plus a large range of Pellets & Accessories. Fishing extensive range of new and secondhand shotguns, sporting
Tackle & Outdoor Clothing. rifles and air rifles with all ammunition and equipment.
A large range of outdoor waterproof clothing. Part exchange NORTH
SHOOTING PARTY welcome. Secondhand guns wanted. Gunsmith available.
BRADFORD STALKER
Unit 4C, Birchbrook Industrial Estate,
Birchbrook Lane, Shenstone, Staffordshire WS14 0DJ WALES Ouston Bank Farm, Ouston,
Chester Le Street, County
Tel: 01543 480361 Durham, DH2 1BB
Web: www.shootingparty.uk VALLEY ARMS Tel: 0191 4100565
Credit cards: Ruthin, Bolero Camp, Park Road, Ruthin LL15 1NB Email: contact@bradfordstalker.co.uk Web: www.bradfordstalker.co.uk
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Tel: Ruthin 01824 704438, Bangor 01248 351641 Credit cards: Finance available
We are the exclusive importer and Distributor of PAO Rifle & Pistol Web: www.valleyarms.com
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We stock a large selection of 12, 20, 16 and .410 game and clay Visit our spacious showroom with hassle free on site parking. Wide
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shotguns, principally AYA, Beretta, Browning, Baikal, Lanber, Lincoln, range of rifles & pistols: BSA, Weihrauch, Daystate, Webley, Brocock,
Steel BB Rifle , the Trophy & Taichi Pistols and Panther pellets.
Remmington, Bettinsoli, Franchi, Escort, Winchester, Miroku and FX, Air Arms, Gamo, Umarex, Walther. Clothing & accessories inc
100 + Airguns always in stock. Used airguns always wanted –
BSA a wide range of Air Guns, prices ranging from £40 up to several Night vision, Scopes, cylinders, bags, pellets, lamping equipment.
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CONTACT
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Repairs & Credit
Services offered: Gunsmith Servicing Compressed
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Facilities available To advertise your gunshop on these pages please contact ben.jones@fieldsportspress.com
NORTH JOHN FORSEY GUNS GREENFIELDS AIRGUN CENTRE

32 Park View Road, Welling, NW Kent DA16 1RT The Shooting Grounds, Sturry Hill, Sturry, Canterbury
SUNDERLAND SCUBA CENTRE Tel: 0208 304 9922 CT2 0NG
Email: johnforseysales@gmail.com Tel: 01227 713222
4A Atkinsons Buildings, Trimdon Street
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR4 6AH Web: www.johnforseyguns.co.uk Fax: 01227 710611
Tel: 01915 670147 Guns and Moderators, Airguns, Benelli Shop, Email: sales@greenfieldsshooting.co.uk
Email: contact@sunderlandairguns.com Ammunition, Optics, wildfowling and all accessories Web: www.greenfieldsshooting.co.uk
Web: www.sunderlandairguns.com Opening hours: Tues–Sat 8.30am–5.30pm.
Opening hours: 9.00-5.30 Mon-Fri | 9.00-4.30 Sat | 10.00-3.00 Sun Sun 9am–1.00pm. Closed Mon
Credit cards: TARGETS & TINS Credit cards:
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Tel: 07395 768715 Stockists of BSA, Webley, Air Arms, Logun, Weihrauch, Gamo
Web: www.targetsandtins.co.uk and many more. Helpful Friendly Advice Always Available.
Stockists of Weihrauch, Webley, BSA, Norica, Gamo, Hammerli,
scopes, lamps, pellets and accessories. Airsoft guns stocked, Opening hours: 9-3 Mon-Fri | 9-4 Sat | 9.30-1.30 Sun
crossbows & archery available. Guns serviced and repaired. Airgun
and cylinder refills to 300 bar. EAST
MOOREDGES AIRGUNS SUFFOLK AIR RIFLES
The Chantreys, C&H WESTON Suffolk Air Rifles/Birds Tackle, Gipping Road,
Mooredges Road, Thorne, Great Blakenham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 0JB
Doncaster DN8 5RY 12 East Street, Brighton,
Sussex BN1 1HP Tel: 01473 834042
Tel: 01405 741706 Email: Info@suffolkairrifles.uk
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Opening hours: Check website for opening times Credit cards:
Opening hours: Open 6 days a week. Closed Tuesdays.
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Also a wide range of camo clothing and footwear available. Used Air Guns, Shotguns and Firearms, situated in the South
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Monday – Friday 10am–5pm G. E. FULTON
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JUST AIR GUNS CRACKSHOT - DEVON
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COMING IN THE JUNE 2023 ISSUE ...
ALPHA WOLF
ON SAFARI
Mat Manning gives his verdict on Daystate’s electronic mega-
bullpup following its new field-friendly makeover
SPRING IS IN THE AIR DON'T MESS WITH MY .22!

Rich Saunders heads out hunting with the spring- Jamie Chandler explores the virtues of using a
powered Winchester Model 45 .22 break-barrel rifle for hunting
NEW GEAR REVIEWS, GREAT FEATURES, AND MUCH MORE …

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIRGUN WORLD 91
MEET THE NEW BOSS!
SIDEWINDER SYSTEM H5
MIKE MORTON AWARD WINNER

Airgun Shooter – editor-in-chief 2021, 2022 & 2023
°,W³VRQHRIWKH¼QHVWVFRSHV,³YH The Great British Shooting Awards
HYHUKDGWKHSOHDVXUHWRXVH
FHQWUH¼UHULP¼UHRUDLUJXQDQGLV OPTICS PRODUCT OF
H[FHOOHQWYDOXHIRUPRQH\WRR± THE YEAR UNDER £1,000
Lighter, stronger, 4 inch eye relief, better crown glass, improved illumination, a new locking
turret system with witness window and comes with the Hawke No-Fault Lifetime Warranty.
These are just some of the reasons to upgrade.

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RICH SAUNDERS REVEALS FIVE SUPER

SPRINGERS COSTING LESS THAN £275

9 770266 422311 

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

Client Account Manager: Vanessa Zeolla

FEATURES THIS MONTH INCLUDE ...

3 ED’S WELCOME 12 RANGE AND COUNTRY 30 SECRET SQUIRRELS

6 GURU 14 JUNIOR AIR GUNNER 36 SUPER SUBS OFFER

8 WHAT’S NEW? 22 RATS' TALES 38 ACCURACY MATTERS

10 LETTERS 27 UKAHFT 42 SPRING ACTION!

4 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

£2million Public Liability Insurance covering

Mark Camoccio really looks after his kit, Magazine

56 A CRY FOR HELP 80 AIRGUN COLLECTION

64 ONE FOR SORROW 88 AIRGUN ACTION Check out our exciting,

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 5

Grow Your Sport!

6 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

BUILD YOURS AT WWW.AIR-ARMS.CO.UK/SHOP

to those wanting single-shot accuracy and

BRAND NEW BRAND It features a compact shrouded barrel

8 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

This bipod is designed

THE BRK AIM GRIP BIPOD

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 9

MONTH at John Rothery Wholesale, we’re able

ring – I raised the cheekpiece by only

THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

As someone who also has an interest

concentrates on other matters. something for everyone. Mat. ELF-S O

10 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

WINDAGE PROBLEM Hi Wayne,

GO TO A GUN SHOP Try before you buy to

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 11

12 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

2, 3 & 4 Hayden Howes absolutely loves shooting and especially going

14 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

TOP TIP WHAT’S THAT MEAN?

WHAT’S THIS? WORD CHALLENGE

9 10 11 DOWN: 1 ___ or Airgun Technology as they are better

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 15

16 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

CZECH MAT MANNING’S

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 17

18 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 19

20 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

EFFECTO PX-5 PRO PCP BOLT ACTION AIR RIFLE

PX-5 PRO SPORT GREEN LAMINATE

PX-5 PRO SPORT BLUE LAMINATE

PX-5 PRO SPORT ORANGE LAMINATE

EFFECTO ZEON SYNTHETIC PCP BULLPUP LEVER ACTION AIR RIFLE.

PX-5 PRO ORANGE LAMINATE ZEON BLACK ZEON BRONZE/

AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD GUN SHOPS - ASK YOUR LOCAL DEALER

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS HIGHLAND OUTDOORS

22 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 23

.177 riﬂes, but I’ve always preferred RIGHT: Neil gets in on

24 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk

tweaked the Alpex A50T’s focus ring RIGHT: Another

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 25

www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIR GUNNER 27

9 770266 422311