Category: Air Rifles

Another Step Forward for Reeds Target Shooting Club

Let’s Get Physical

Albert Reed (1846-1920), owner of Aylesford Paper Mills, in Kent, was a man who believed in fostering a happy working environment for his employees. More than a century ago, Mr Reed established an in-house sports and social club for his workers and their families. As his business grew into one of the largest paper-making plants in Europe, the social club thrived – especially on the target-shooting side.

When the Aylesford site closed, in the 1990s, Reeds Target Shooting Club was left without a home.

Winners of Reeds Pairs Competition

The Wanderer

Twenty years after the closure of Aylesford Paper Mills, Reeds Target Shooting Club is still homeless, renting space from other clubs and keeping membership tight through regular competitions and practice sessions, as well as social events and an active website.

“We’re as big and active as we’ve ever been,” says John Lucas, club secretary (and the club’s sole remaining former Reeds employee). “We still shoot at Bisley once a month; in fact, we do as much shooting as we can. But it’s not the same as having your own place.”

Despite the club’s nomadic existence, there’s a healthy membership of around 100 – and a waiting list, too.

Winner of Reeds Gallery Cup

Every shooting club has a legal obligation to place each new member on three months’ probation before full membership is granted. During this time, an assessment of their suitability can be made. Without their own facilities, however, it isn’t so easy for the members of Reeds to make these assessments.

“And we’re old-fashioned,” says John. “We don’t feel that three months is long enough to get to know new members. At Reeds, the probationary period is six months.”

Moving On Up

For many years, now, this tenacious club has been working towards establishing a new home. Well-attended competitions and social events have raised thousands of pounds so far, and the target is at last coming into sight. Planning permission is now underway for a new indoor range and clubhouse.

It’s not plain sailing though.

“A noise assessment has been requested,” explains John. “We’ve engaged a noise consultant to carry out the assessment, but it’s slowed the process down, and is swallowing up more funds.”

Reeds Christmas dinner 2019

As things stand, the foundations to Reeds’ new home are due to be laid in the spring of 2020. Once building is underway, the club will have access to further fund sources associated with its changed status.

“Once the club is built,” John tells me, “we’ll be able to provide more coaching. There’ll be opportunities for shooters to reach high standards and to compete at international level.”

Reeds has an ethos of diversity and accessibility.

“We plan to broaden our membership. At the moment, about 10 percent of our members are children. We’d like to encourage more youngsters into the club. Our new premises will be equipped with facilities for wheelchair users. Disabled shooters will be welcomed and encouraged. Shooting is such an inclusive sport. We want to make the most of the possibilities.”

Fun, Fun, Fun!

The Reeds Target Shooting Club annual Christmas dinner and raffle is one of the mainstay events in the club’s fundraising programme. This year, the Reeds Christmas dinner was on Saturday 7 December, and, as always, the evening was a lot of fun. The raffle raised over £300.

John Lucas (left) and Bob Peacock

Pellpax’s donation to the raffle was a Norica Dream Hunter air rifle in .22 calibre. The Dream Hunter is a powerful spring-powered rifle with under-lever action and ambidextrous stock. This fantastic prize was won by Bob Peacock.

Events like this will continue to be held until the ribbon is cut at the official opening of the new Reeds clubhouse and shooting range. Nobody knows exactly when that will be, but if the foundations are laid in the spring of next year, the long-awaited goal is certainly within sight. As John says, there’s still a lot of hard work ahead.

“We need to raise another £20,000, or even £30,000. There’s a long way to go.”

Images courtesy of Reeds Target Shooting Club

Best Airgun Pellets for 2020

The range of airgun pellets available to us today is larger than ever before. In each calibre, there’s a massive range of head shape, skirt size, length, material, and weight. There’s a lot of difference in price, too, and it’s easy to make the (sometimes misguided) assumption that the more expensive the pellet, the better quality it will be.

Those shooters who have found the ideal pellet for their gun and purpose will often stick with it, perfecting their shooting performance with the benefit of consistency. Some shooters will have a repertoire of favourite pellets. Others, however, are still experimenting – still searching for the pellet that perfectly suits their gun, purpose, and style.

At Pellpax, we’ve been looking at some of the best airgun pellets on the market, and we’ve picked out what we consider to be the cream of the crop.

Target shooting

For target shooting, a wadcutter (flathead) pellet is ideal, as it will punch a clean hole in the target for clear scoring. This shape of pellet, though, has high air resistance, and will lose speed, causing it to drop. A wadcutter pellet is perfect for shooting over a short distance, for example 10m competition target shooting.

Over longer distances, the wadcutter loses efficacy, and this is where the aerodynamic domed (roundhead) pellet comes in handy. Although heavier than the wadcutter, the domed pellet will maintain a straighter trajectory over distance, thanks to its aerodynamic properties. The domed head and added weight also serve to stabilise the pellet in windy weather.

THREE: H&N Baracuda Power (Domed) .177

The hard copper coating of the Baracuda Power pellet means less deformation during firing and on impact, and less lead fouling in the barrel. Weighing in at 10.65gr (0.69g), this is a heavy pellet for .177 calibre. It’s ideal for target shooting at long range.

Available in .177, .22

TWO: Rifle Premium Series (Flathead) .177

Made from supremely high-grade lead, Rifle’s Premium Series Flathead is an accurate and powerful pellet. The purity of lead and the refined manufacturing processes result in uniformity and consistency among pellets. This wadcutter pellet, which weighs 8.18gr (0.53g) is designed especially for the competitive target shooter.    

Available in .177, .22

ONE: QYS Match Grade (Wadcutter) .177

Zhuhai Qiang Yuan Sports Goods Co. Ltd (QYS) was founded in 1994 by Fu Qiang, who is still very much in the company’s driving seat. QYS operates from Zhuhai City, in the south of China, and exports to more than 50 countries. In the last five Olympic Games, QYS pellets have been used by 19 medal winners.

This flathead match-grade pellet, which weighs just 8.18gr (0.53g), is designed specifically for competition target shooting and high-level training. The pellets are carefully and securely packed, separated by layers of padding and well protected from corrosion and impact.

Available in .177

Hunting

For hunting, a hollow-point pellet is generally considered to be the best option. The hollow-point pellet is designed to mushroom on impact, creating a wider wound channel that’s more likely to result in an instant kill. Alternatively, that jack-of-all-trades of the pellet world, the dome-head, is an effective hunting pellet.

There are conflicting views when it comes to the pointed pellet. Some shooters swear by it, and others won’t touch it.

A wider-skirted pellet will add power to the shot, as the skirt creates a tighter seal in the barrel, meaning that more pressure builds up behind it, increasing the velocity of the pellet.

THREE: Weihrauch Magnum (Domed) .22

In compiling this list of top-performing airgun pellets, I talked to the gunsmiths, sales staff, and shooting enthusiasts who make up the Pellpax team.

One of the gunsmiths, whose work involves zeroing guns before they’re sent out, recommended the Weihrauch Magnum .22. He told me that this pellet is an excellent all-rounder, suitable for most .22 rifles. What my colleague particularly likes about this pellet, though, is that it’s the very best choice for his own Weihrauch HW100 KT.

“It’s brilliant for pest control. But I use it most of all for plinking in the garden with the kids. For my HW100, there just isn’t a better pellet.”

The Weihrauch Magnum .22 weighs 21.14gr (1.37g).

Available in .177, .22

TWO: Daystate Rangemaster Sovereign (Domed) .22

Throughout the manufacturing process, Daystate pellets are carefully checked for quality. Only the very best are selected for packing. This means that there’s excellent consistency in form and performance.

Because the Rangemaster Sovereign is on the heavy side 15.9gr (1.03g), it’s better suited to high-power PCP rifles.

Available in .177, .20, .22

ONE: JSB Hades (Hollow Point) .22

JSB Match Diabolo is based in Bohumín, Czech Republic. The company was established by an experienced shooter and coach, Josef Schulz, whose research into airgun ammunition led to his own developments in the field. Teaming up with some equally knowledgeable colleagues, Mr Schulz began to produce a new line of airgun pellets.

The 15.89gr (1.02g) Hades .22 has a hollow point that’s surrounded by a trio of lead flaps. On impact, the air pressure in the hollow pit forces the three lead flaps to spread outward, creating a wider wound channel. This well-engineered pellet is perfect for hunting and pest control.

Available in .22

Pistol

Pistols often present the problem of jammed pellets. One of the causes for jamming is that the pellet is too long for the magazine, which is then prevented from cycling properly. The other main reason for stuck pellets is that the low power (under 6 ft/lb) of a pistol is not enough to propel a wide or heavy pellet.

So, basically, when you’re choosing a pellet for your pistol, make sure that it isn’t too big in any way: length, weight, or width.

THREE: RWS Superdome (Domed) .177

This pellet is an excellent all-round performer. Whether you’re using it in a PCP-, spring-, or CO2-powered gun, and whether that gun is a pistol or a rifle, the RWS Superdome is a reliable pellet. The pellet weighs 8.3gr (0.54g), and behind the smooth, round head is a ribbed skirt that adds aerodynamic stability and a flat trajectory.

Available in .177, .22

TWO: Air Arms Field (Domed) .177 (4.51)

The Air Arms Field dome-head is recommended by Pellpax gunsmiths for use in pistols.

Air Arms pellets are carefully inspected at each stage of the manufacturing process to ensure that each one is of the highest quality. The perfectly shaped domed head maintains a flat trajectory, adding to the consistency of this super little pellet. Each Air Arms Field Dome .177 pellet weighs 8.4gr (0.547g).

Available in .177 (4.51, 4.52), .22 (5.51, 5.52)

ONE: H&N Field Target Trophy (Domed) .177

Haendler & Natermann Sport GMBH (H&N) have been manufacturing airgun pellets since the 1950s. The business, which started out in the production of lead foil, was founded 100 years earlier by Carl Georg August Natermann. H&N is still based in its original location – the town of Hann. Münden, Germany.

Made of a lead alloy that produces one of the lowest rates of lead fouling, the H&N Field Target Trophy dome-head is lightweight and aerodynamic for a flat trajectory and high velocity. Suitable for air rifle and pistol, this pellet is ideal for competitive shooting and high-level target practice.

Available in .177, .20, .22, .25

Contact us

There are, of course, many other fantastic pellets available, and this list really is a subjective selection of some of the best. Nevertheless, the pellets featured in this article are all excellent products and have been positively reviewed by shooters all over the world.

For more information about airgun pellets or any of the products on the Pellpax website, just give us a call on 01263 731 585 or email [email protected].

South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club

On Sunday 10th November, Gary Mitchell and I set off to the South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club in Attleborough. It was the final day of the Norfolk County Rifle Association’s Open 10m Air Rifle and Air Pistol Meeting, incorporating the Norfolk County Championships. This was a three-day event, held on the 8th, 9th, and 10th November.

Carole Darnell

Until 2001, Carole Darnell was a healthy, able-bodied woman. Then, when she was 37 years old – and for no apparent reason – Carole collapsed. She was hospitalised and diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder.

Now relying on a wheelchair for mobility, and looking for a new hobby, Carole went along with her partner, Chris Cook, to St Michael’s Rifle and Pistol Club in King’s Lynn. Chris was a keen rifle shooter, but when Carole had a go at rifle shooting, she wasn’t inspired.

“Then I tried shooting pistol, and I was hooked. This was the sport for me.”

Just months after Carole bought herself a competition Walther pistol, she became Norfolk Ladies’ Champion – a title she held for several years.

Through her performance in postal competitions, Carole came to the attention of the Eastern Region Training Squad; and at the Welsh Championships, she was picked up as a promising disabled shooter.

Carole began training at Stoke Mandeville, and for two consecutive years held the title of British Disabled Ladies’ Champion. However, at international level, her disability didn’t fit the classification system. She wasn’t disabled enough to compete at international level, yet her disability was severe enough to be a handicap in able-bodied competition.

Having arrived at this barrier to ongoing progress in competitive shooting, Carole had to re-evaluate her situation. She wondered about coaching. The more Carole considered the idea of coaching, the more certain she became that she’d be good at it.

She was right. Chris Dickenson, the club’s Competition Manager, told me, “Carole’s great with working with people and enjoys teaching a sport she is so passionate about.”

After qualifying as a coach, Carole became a national coach for disabled shooters, and she coached able-bodied shooters at county level.

UK’s 1st regional training centre for para-sport shooting 

In 2013, Carole was approached for help.

“I was asked if I’d consider starting up a disabled shooting club. There was nowhere in Norfolk for disabled people to shoot – in fact, there was nowhere that was accessible with a hefty wheelchair.”

Carole, along with her partner, Chris Cook, and mum, Merle Darnell, established the UK’s first regional training centre for para-sport shooting.

“We were two units down from where we are now. There were four firing points, and one of those was a hatch, so people could get through to the loo.”

The club’s first airguns were bought from Pellpax!

Although the new club provided opportunities for many disabled shooters in the area, membership was low. Without a reasonable income, it wasn’t possible to grow the club and to develop. So, five years after founding the club, Carole decided to include able-bodied shooters, transforming the South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club into a truly inclusive shooting community. 

“We’ll let anyone in,” Carole said cheerfully.

Chris Dickenson

Chris Dickenson, the club’s competition manager, is really keen to increase the number of face-to-face competitive shooting opportunities within the county.

“It’s lovely to see people come out of their shell,” she told me. “Some of our disabled shooters first come to us at the club with low self confidence. It’s amazing to see how powerful sport is in transforming people’s lives.”

The Olympic Charter

The more contact I have with people in the world of target shooting, the more evidence I see of the sport’s innate connection with the fourth fundamental principle of Olympism:

The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

In support of this principle, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the Sport for All programme, which was adopted by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Shooting Sport for All has introduced the Supported Rest discipline for seniors. This means that anyone over the age of 56 is permitted to rest their rifle barrel or pistol grip whilst taking 30 shots.

Ray Hart, who took the gold medal for Supported Rest Pistol, cheerfully refers to this discipline as “old man shooting”. (I’ll leave you to muse on that concept.)

Results

Air Rifle (60 shots)

Gold                            Olivia Hill                               567

Silver                           Ellie Folkard                           549

Bronze                         Jessy Lodge                            498

Supported Rest Air Rifle (30 shots)

Gold                            Peter Bell                                280

Silver                           Paul Budd                               272

Bronze                         Colin Allison                           252

Bronze                         John Lane                                252

Air Pistol (60 shots)

Gold                            George Mees                           544

Silver                           Tim Fawcett                           540

Bronze                         Janis Purins                             536

Supported Rest Air Pistol (30 shots)

Gold                            Ray Hart                                 273

Silver                           John Lane                                272

Bronze                         Colin Allison                           262

Thank you SNARPC!

It really was a pleasure to meet the members of the South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club and some of the weekend’s competitors. We were made to feel very welcome and involved.

As if the lovely company wasn’t enough, Gary and I left with a plate of homemade cakes!

Olivia Hill Receives Award for Outstanding Sporting Achievement

The Broadland Community at Heart Awards

The Broadland Community at Heart Awards celebrate the region’s community heroes. Eighteen-year-old Olivia Hill, who is sponsored by Pellpax, was among those nominated for the outstanding sporting achievement award. As you can imagine, the whole Pellpax team is tremendously proud of our protégée for being the winner of that award.

The judging panel included Mick Parker of Parker Communications, who organised the event, and Chairman of Broadland District Council. Also on the panel were two representatives of Price Bailey Chartered Accountants, regular sponsors of the Broadland Community at Heart Awards. Matthew Hector (Business Development Manager) and James Elvin (Manager) were hugely impressed by Olivia’s attitude and achievements.

“The Outstanding Sporting Achievement category was incredibly hard to judge,” Mr Elvin told me. “Olivia was crowned the winner due to her outstanding achievements and commitment at such a young age. To compete at her level must have meant some sacrifices, and to have overcome so many hurdles, whilst continuing her studies, is commendable.”

Mr Hector added, “Well done Olivia. We look forward to watching your continued success”.

South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club

Having followed Olivia’s shooting career for some time now, we thought it was about time we saw her in action. So, on Sunday 10th November, Gary Mitchell and I set off to the South Norfolk Air Rifle and Pistol Club in Attleborough. It was the final day of the Norfolk County Rifle Association’s Open 10m Air Rifle and Air Pistol Meeting, incorporating the Norfolk County Championships.

In preparation for the competition, Olivia had checked every one of her RWS R10 flathead (wadcutter) pellets for imperfections. Nevertheless, before loading each pellet, Olivia looked it over carefully, paying attention to the skirt, where a nick or an indentation might affect the pellet’s trajectory. Pellets can become corroded as a result of contact with each other in the tin.

“If it doesn’t look right,” Olivia explained, “don’t shoot it.”

Norfolk County Champion

Just a few minutes into the shooting time, Olivia felt that her rifle sight needed to be adjusted. However, even after carrying out work on her kit, Olivia wasn’t totally happy. Other competitors were also struggling with vision, and it soon became apparent that the problem was due to the changing natural light that was coming through the opaque skylights. As nothing could be done about this, they pressed on, adjusting their eyes as well as possible to the fluctuating brightness on the range.

Despite scoring a little below her own expectations, Olivia won Gold in the Open, and Gold in the Confined, meaning that she’s the overall 10m County Champion. 

What’s next for Olivia?

To round off another fantastic year, Olivia will be travelling to Luxembourg, where she’ll compete in the 37th RIAC and IBIS CUP. The competition, which will run from 11th to 14th December, is an annual international event organised by FLTAS (Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Tir aux Armes Sportives). Last year, at this competition, Olivia performed very well in her first mixed doubles event. Her impression of Christmastime in Luxembourg, though, was mostly about the hot chocolate!

Pellpax Gift Ideas: Shooting Bundles

With the non-shooter in mind …

Image courtesy of Thais Araujo (Pexels)

For most of the year, most of our customers are shooters. They know what they’re looking for. At Christmas time, however, non-shooters are shopping for shooting-related gifts.

With non-shooters in mind, Pellpax has created a range of accessory bundles designed for the seasoned shooter. Each bundle contains a selection of shooting accessories and gun-care products tailored to vermin control, target shooting, or pistols. Everything in a Pellpax accessory bundle will be useful to the shooter who opens this gift on Christmas day.

Pest bundle

The Pellpax pest bundle includes:

  • Woody’s prairie dog targets
  • Abbey gun grease
  • Proshot gun & rifle oil
  • Proshot MK3 scope cleaner
  • .177 or .22 pellets
  • Pellpax cloth

This specially selected assortment of accessories includes pellets suitable for vermin control and a set of life-size prairie dog targets from Woody’s.

The bundle also includes ProShot Precision gun and rifle oil. This water-repellent, rust-inhibiting, low-viscosity oil will protect metal surfaces and moving parts. The oil comes in a dropper bottle, so it’s easy to apply tiny amounts to small, fiddly parts of the gun.

ProShot Precision’s Optima Mk3 scope cleaner is designed for all optics. Supplied in an easy-to-use spray pump, this product removes dust and stains, leaving no residue or smears. Besides scopes, sights, and night-vision equipment, Optima Mk3 can also be used for cleaning other glass surfaces such as phone, computer, and television screens.

Abbey gun grease is a superb product for maintaining the condition and performance of a rifle or pistol. Providing protection from corrosion, this gun grease lengthens the life of component parts and reduces wear and tear on the gun. Regular use of Abbey gun grease will improve any gun’s performance and reliability.

The Pellpax cleaning cloth is a marvellous all-rounder for any equipment-cleaning task. Made of a strong, absorbent microfibre material, the cloth can be used and washed again and again over many years.

Target bundle

The Pellpax target bundle includes:

  • Pellpax target holder pellet catcher 17cm x 17cm
  • 50 practice targets
  • 50 match targets
  • advanced optics cleaner
  • .177 or .22 pellets
  • Pellpax cloth

The solidly built steel pellet catcher can be free standing or mounted on a wall. It measures 17cm x 17cm, and the back is specially angled to deflect pellets and prevent ricochet. In the front, there’s a slot for holding paper targets.

For use with the pellet catcher, this bundle contains 50 practice targets and 50 match targets, as well as a tin of pellets in a choice of .177 or .22 calibre.

To finish off a fantastic assortment of shooting accessories, this bundle also includes an optics cleaner and a soft, hard-wearing polishing cloth.

CO2 Pistol bundle

The CO2 pistol bundle includes:

  • pellets or BBs
  • 100 pistol targets
  • 5 CO2 capsules
  • ProShot silicone gun oil
  • ProShot moly lube
  • Pellpax cloth

ProShot Precision silicone gun oil is a top-quality, non-toxic oil, specially formulated to protect the exterior of guns and to lubricate plastic washers and seals. This anti-corrosive, water-repellent oil comes in an easy-to-dispense dropper bottle.

Merry Christmas!

If you would like to know more about any of the products on the Pellpax website, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Email [email protected] or give us a call on 01263 731 585.

Top 5 New PCP Air Rifles of 2019

The year 2019 has been a year for new products. At shooting shows all over the world, dozens of exciting new airguns and firearms have been showcased, along with the latest releases of ammunition, optics, and bush-craft tools. So let’s narrow it down a bit, and take a look at five of the best PCP air rifles that were launched in 2019.

AGT Uragan Compact

Uragan is the Romanian word for ‘hurricane’, and this smooth, sprightly rifle certainly lives up to its name. The Uragan Compact is AGT’s shortest rifle to date, with the 36cm barrel economically positioned right back in the stock, in the true bullpup style.

AGT Uragan Compact

Thanks partly to its small, carbon cylinder, which has a capacity of 210 cubic cm, the Uragan Compact weighs just 2.9kg without attachments. However, this rifle’s top-class PCP system has a working pressure of 300 BAR, and you’ll get an impressive 140 shots per fill.

The Uragan’s synthetic stock is easily adapted for both left- and right-handed shooters. Without a need for tools, the side lever can be positioned on either the left or right, making AGT’s nifty newbie a totally ambidextrous rifle.

GAMO GX-40

Since 1985, the BSA brand has been owned by Spanish manufacturer Gamo, a giant in the shooting trade.

Gamo GX-40

The new GX-40 PCP air rifle, available in .177 and .22 calibres, is manufactured in the UK. With its light and responsive two-stage trigger, 10-shot magazine system, and on-board pressure gauge, this rifle is ideal for both target-shooting and hunting. The lightweight, polymer stock is adjustable for top-notch comfort and ergonomics.

The GX-40 has a strengthened steel air cylinder and mechanical opening valve – a combination that delivers high power and precision.

BSA R10TH

BSA R10TH

The new R10 model from BSA was launched in the spring of 2019. It has a customer-configurable shroud with enhanced silencer capabilities, adjustable soft-touch cheek piece, and adjustable butt pad. The rifle comes with a 280cc buddy bottle and two magazines.

The ‘TH’ in the name refers to the thumbhole design of the gorgeous, ambidextrous walnut stock. However, there’s an additional significance to the ‘TH’. The launch of this model coincides with the tenth anniversary of mass production of BSA’s flagship air rifle, the R10.

“We like to think of the new model’s name as R10th,” says Jon Hatton, UK Sales & Marketing Director for BSA.

When it comes to shot count, the R10TH has gone up a gear from its predecessors, with an increased shot count of 340 (.22 calibre) or 280 (.177 calibre).

UMAREX Walther Reign

Umarex Walther Reign

Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen (or simply, Walther) was acquired by Umarex Sportwaffen GmbH & Co. KG (Umarex) in 1993. For the last quarter of a century, Umarex has continued to produce rifles bearing this well-known and trusted brand name.

The new Walther Reign – the first bullpup rifle developed and built by Umarex in Germany – was released in the spring of 2019. With a good grip texture and a cocking lever that’s very easy to operate without losing sight of your target, the Walther Reign is ideal for pest control and small-game hunting. This ambidextrous rifle – 687mm long and weighing 2.5kg – has a magazine capacity of 11 in .177 calibre, or 10 in .22 calibre.

WEIHRAUCH HW100 BP

A new release for Weihrauch, in spring this year, was the HW100 bullpup, available in .22 and .177 calibre. This rifle has so many great features:

HW100 BP
  • soft-touch wood stock
  • adjustable butt pad
  • picatinny rail
  • 14-shot magazine
  • high-efficiency silencer
  • adjustable, two-stage trigger
  • choice of 410mm or 600mm barrel with air-stripper (moderator available as alternative)

Tested by Pellpax’s own airgun experts, the HW100 came up trumps.

HW100BP
HW100 BP

This is what our testers said about the rifle:

“Laser-straight accuracy.”

“Comfortable in the hands.”

“Ideal for competitive target shooting.”

“Ergonomically sound.”

Contact us

For more information about PCP rifles, or to talk to a member of our knowledgeable sales team about any of the products on the Pellpax website, give us a call on 01263 731 585.

What are Airgun Pellets Made Of?

The diabolo airgun pellet

Airgun pellets are usually made in the diabolo form – a shape named after the traditional juggling game. The game of diabolo – from Latin diabolus (devil) – involves the tossing and manipulation of a two-headed bobbin, using a string stretched between two sticks. An earlier name for the game was “devil on two sticks”.

An airgun pellet takes on the general shape of the two-headed bobbin, with a solid head, wide skirt, and narrow waist. The rim of the skirt engages snugly with the rifled bore, creating a strong spin for a flat trajectory. The pellet’s head is slightly narrower than the skirt, so there’s less friction between the head and the gun’s bore, while the waist portion doesn’t touch the bore at all.

H&N Match Green lead-free pellets

Traditionally, airgun pellets are made of lead (Pb from Latin plumbum) or lead alloy. In recent times, manufacturers have made airgun pellets from alternative metals, such as alloys of bismuth and tin – or iron, zinc, and tin. Some modern pellets are even made of plastic.

Why are airgun pellets made of lead?

Lead is a soft, heavy metal, and it’s cheap.

Lead is softer than the steel of a gun’s barrel. This is important because it means that friction doesn’t cause abrasion to the inside of the barrel. Being the softer of the two metals, it’s the lead that’s worn by friction. Consequently, brushing lead residue from the gun’s bore is a routine part of airgun maintenance.

The softness of lead comes into play again when the pellet makes impact with the target, which is particularly important for hunting or vermin control. When the airgun pellet makes impact, it crumples, unable to retain its shape. The crumpled head of the pellet creates a larger wound and a quick, humane kill.

Lead’s most common alloy partner in airgun pellets is antimony (Sb from Latin stibium), a metalloid that adds hardness to lead.

Crosman Premier domed pellets

The heaviness of lead is also significant. With a density of 11.34g per cm3, a small lead pellet carries a proportionally large amount of momentum. Speed may be top priority when it comes to target shooting, but when you’re shooting live quarry, you need some weight behind your shot. The Crosman Premier domed pellet is an example of a reliable lead airgun pellet.

Copper-coated airgun pellets

Apolo Air Boss Barracuda Copper

Copper (Cu from Latin cuprum) is also quite a soft metal, but it’s harder than lead. A copper-coated pellet engages well with the airgun’s rifled bore, but, being softer than steel, it causes no abrasion to the inside of the barrel. Being harder than lead, copper creates less friction with air, so velocity is maintained.

Lead-free airgun pellets

Gamo Lethal plastic pellets

Bismuth (Bi from Latin bisemutium) is a heavy metal with physical characteristics in common with lead. However, unlike lead, bismuth has a low level of toxicity. Bismuth is commonly alloyed with tin (Sn from Latin stannum).

A lightweight pellet maintains velocity, and consequently keeps a flat trajectory, so for target shooting, a plastic pellet like the Gamo Lethal, which has a copper tip, is ideal for those who are concerned about lead pollution.

Contact Us

For more information about airgun pellets, give us a call on 01263 731 585 or email [email protected].

Pellpax at the Midland Game Fair 2019

Pellpax partners up with Umarex and Rothery

On Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September, Pellpax will be at the Midland Game Fair at Weston-under-Lizard in Shropshire. The event will be held at Weston Park – a beautiful country house built in 1671, which has been home to the Midland Game Fair for more than 30 years. The gorgeous 1,000-acre estate was designed by the celebrated landscape architect, Lancelot (Capability) Brown, who is fondly remembered as England’s greatest gardener.

This is the first time that Pellpax has attended the Midland Game Fair. Pellpax Managing Director, Darren Kirk, is delighted to be joining John Rothery and Umarex at this well-loved event, which has become a mainstay of the shooting community’s calendar.

Darren says, “We’re extremely proud that Umarex and Rothery have chosen the Pellpax team to represent them by hosting their stand this year.”

Umarex 850 Air Magnum – .22 CO2 Air Rifle


Fantastic Weekend Ahead

So, what will Pellpax be showcasing at the Midland Game Fair this year?

“We’ll be selling a wide range of Umarex air rifles and pistols,” Darren says. “We have some very experienced shooters and knowledgeable gunsmiths on the Pellpax team – but there’ll also be a couple of staff from Rothery and Umarex on the stand with us, who’ll be able to answer all sorts of technical questions about the products.”

The Midland Game Fair has become increasingly popular over the years. If you’re planning to visit, you could well find yourself in the company of more than 86,000 fellow enthusiasts of outdoor pursuits! Parking and toilet facilities are plentiful, with special provision for disabled visitors.

For more information about this event, visit the Midland Game Fair website.

Contact Pellpax

If you would like to find out about Pellpax’s delivery service, or any of the products on the website, email [email protected] or phone 01263 731 585.

A Glimpse into the History of Airguns

Let’s take a light-hearted peep into the story of the airgun. Where did it begin? Where did it come from? Who was involved in its creation?

Lung Power

In the Middle Ages, firearms were making their debut appearance on the world’s stage. Black powder was invented by the Chinese in the 10th century, and over the next couple of hundred years, it was introduced to the rest of the trading world. But long before these very first firearms sputtered into History’s war scenes, early air-powered weapons were being used for hunting.

The blowgun (blowpipe) propelled a projectile using the power of air. So they were, in the most basic sense, air-powered weapons. Not sure you’d bring down a bear with a blowgun, though – or live to try again, for that matter.

Early Mechanical Airguns

The contemporary definition of airgun is “a gun which fires pellets using compressed air or other gases”. A blowgun uses fast-moving gas (CO2), but not compressed gas. So, let’s move forward to the first guns that fit the modern definition of airgun.

Sweden’s Livrustkammaren (Royal Armoury) museum, in Stockholm, houses a very special exhibit. It’s a bellows airgun dating back to 1580 – an artefact recognised by historians as the oldest existing mechanical airgun. Developments over the following couple of centuries resulted in some powerful weapons in calibres up to .50, with velocities as high as 1,000 FPS.

The best-known example of an 18th century airgun is the Girandoni – also known as Windbüchse (‘wind rifle’) – developed by gunsmith and mechanic Bartholomaus Girandoni. This rifle, the world’s first PCP airgun, was famously used by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark on their US mapping expedition in the years 1804 to 1806. Native Americans were very impressed by the “smokeless bolt of thunder” that Lewis and Clark were keen to show off.

Although powerful, the Girandoni was hard work. It took nearly 1,500 strokes of a hand pump to fill the air reservoir! But nevertheless, these new airguns had several advantages over their live-fire counterparts: they were smokeless; there was no muzzle flash; they were quieter; they could be fired in wet weather; and each shot took less time to prepare.

Turbulent Evolution of a Spring-Action Side-Lever

Oliver Winchester

The Volitional Repeater was a rifle patented in 1849 by an American mechanic and prolific inventor called Walter Hunt (1796-1859), whose inventions included the ice plough, the lockstitch sewing machine, and the safety pin. Hunt’s Volitional Repeater featured a tubular magazine that was housed under the barrel, and cartridges were raised into the chamber via a lever mechanism. Mr Hunt sold the rights of his invention to manufacturer George Arrowsmith, and one of Arrowsmith’s employees, Lewis Jennings, worked on improving the design of the rifle’s lever mechanism.

The Jennings Magazine Rifle was manufactured by The Robbins and Lawrence Armory and Machine Shop in Vermont, but after three years, production ceased, and investors suffered heavy losses.

Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson – two employees of Robbins and Lawrence – made further developments on Jennings’ design, and began manufacturing the Volcanic, a lever-action, magazine-fed pistol. Just a year later, in 1855, the Smith & Wesson company became the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, benefitting from investment by Oliver Winchester. Not long after all the patents and assets were passed to the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, Messrs Smith and Wesson left.

It didn’t take long for the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company to fail, and all assets were sold to Oliver Winchester.

Carbonic Gas

The first airgun powered by carbon dioxide (which used to be called carbonic gas) was a pistol designed and built in the 1870s by a Frenchman called Paul Giffard. The pistol wasn’t a success, because the gas cylinder had to be sent back to the factory every time you needed a refill.

Development of CO2 guns was slow, but by the 1930s, manufacturers were using 8g soda-syphon bulbs, which were filled with liquid CO2. Two decades later, in 1954, Crosman produced the Powerlet, a 12g CO2 bulb, which is still the power source of CO2 guns today.

Recreation

Olivia Hill
Olivia Hill

In England in the 1890s, air rifles were proving very useful for poaching, thanks to minimal muzzle report. But theft wasn’t all they were being used for. In Birmingham, particularly, there was a growing trend for competitive target shooting. Matches between public house teams would be played out for prizes that were paid for by the losing team.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, air rifle events for men and women made their Olympic debut, and they have featured ever since. At the following Olympic Games, in Seoul, air pistol events were introduced, and they, too, have continued.

During the 20th century, airgun target shooting grew in popularity, and now, almost a fifth of the way through the 21st century, the sport has never been enjoyed by so many people.

Target shooting is an inclusive sport, accessible to all ages, both sexes, and to those with physical disabilities. A hundred years ago, shooting was a pastime for only the wealthy. But today there is opportunity for everyone.

Benefit Boys Raise £934 for Help for Heroes at Charity Meet

Who are the Benefit Boys?

 In 2014, Garry Brookes attended a charity shoot organised by Vermin Hunters TV, a highly subscribed YouTube show. When it came to accommodation on the camping site, the organisers managed to arrange things to their own advantage. Basically, they got there early and claimed the nicer end of the field for themselves!

As the good-hearted punters rolled up in ones and twos, they found themselves thrown together in a somewhat rougher neighbourhood. Everyone rubbed along really well, and strong bonds developed amongst these ghetto rats, who agreed, as they communed around the camp fire, that it was like ‘living on Benefit Street’ (remember the TV show?). All this good-natured rivalry was purely in fun, of course, and it turned out to be the catalyst to some new and long-lasting friendships.

So, the ‘Benefit Boys’ kept in touch through their new Facebook group, which, before long, comprised 1,000 members from all over the world. Since 2015, the Benefit Boys have held an annual charity shoot at Garry’s home club – Richings Park Airgun Club. All profits are donated to Help for Heroes.

Accessible and Inclusive Airgun Club

It’s not the place. It’s the people that run it. Garry and the guys are out of this world. They make every single person welcome and will do anything they can to help you. (Facebook review)

Richings Park Airgun Club, in Iver, Buckinghamshire, is a relatively new airgun club, established in 2016 to run alongside Richings Park Clay Shooting Club. Driven by an ethos of inclusion and accessibility, this is a place to shoot (competitively, or just for fun) and a place to make friends.

Chairman Garry Brooks says, “It’s the only course in the country that you can go around in a wheelchair – as long as the conditions are right. If someone with a disability turns up, I’ll do my very best to acquire, or build, whatever they need to enable them to shoot. There’ll never be a problem including a person with special needs.”

Help for Heroes

Besides looking out for their own members, Richings Park Airgun Club are staunch supporters of Help for Heroes, a charitable organisation that offers aid to wounded service personnel.

Help for Heroes runs recovery centres (in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion) for the rehabilitation of sick and injured servicemen and -women. In partnership with the British Paralympic Association and other relevant governing bodies, Help for Heroes runs a para-sport programme, which provides access to adaptive sports for the charity’s beneficiaries. Some very successful sporting champions are ex-service personnel who have been encouraged and assisted by Help for Heroes.

A Fun-Filled Weekend at Richings Park Airgun Club

On the last weekend in June, the guys at Richings Park Airgun Club held a three-day shooting event in aid of Help for Heroes.

Benefit Boys and their families came from all over the country, and abroad, to socialise and to raise money for this important cause. There was a lot of catching up to do, so Friday was all about meeting, greeting, drinking and eating. Saturday was shooting day, when 65 of the 80 guests took part in the HFT (hunter field target) competitions.

On Sunday, there were presentations of trophies for outstanding shooting performance. Many congratulations to Paul Andrews, Wally Hale, Toni Bingley, and Sebastian Hale!

The weekend’s grand finale, on Sunday afternoon, was the raffle. Special congratulations to Sam, who won the Pellpax Dragon Kit, donated by Pellpax!

This year, the Benefit Boys’ annual charity shoot raised £934 for Help the Heroes, and the Pellpax team would like to say a big “Well done!” to the organisers and everyone who took part.