Air Rifles Archives - Page 3 of 7 -

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.

Air Rifles for Sale, Delivered to Your Door

Whatever kind of airgun you’re looking for, you’ll find it here, at Pellpax. If you’re new to shooting, you might have some uncertainty about what these airguns actually are …

What is an Airgun?

The term airgun encompasses all guns that are powered by compressed gas: either carbon dioxide (CO₂) or air (mainly nitrogen and oxygen). Most airguns have a muzzle energy of 12 ft/lb or under, which means that you don’t need a Fire Arms Certificate (FAC).

What is a spring-powered air rifle?

Spring airguns are powered by compressed air. Before each pellet is fired, a spring is compressed by a lever. This process is called cocking. In some cases, the barrel acts as the lever (break barrel), and other spring-powered air guns have fixed barrels, with a side lever or under lever. When the spring’s tension is released, it pushes a piston with a washer on the end, and the ambient air inside the air chamber is compressed, creating potential energy that will propel the pellet when the pressure is released.

A sub-category of these rifles is gas-ram, which, instead of a spring, uses a pneumatic ram – a device much like the closing mechanism on your car boot.

What’s the most popular spring-powered air rifle?

The Stinger Starter Kit is a big favourite with Pellpax customers. This single-shot, break-barrel rifle is perfect for target practice and for small vermin control. Along with the rifle, this kit includes pellets, targets, and a gun bag.

What’s a good spring-powered rifle for new shooters?

Gamo Hunter 440 .22 Air Rifle

For razor-sharp precision, power, and consistency, the Gamo Hunter 440 is perfect for small-game hunting and vermin control. This rifle has a 12 ft/lb muzzle power, adjustable two-stage trigger, and a finely adjustable steel rear sight. The raised scope rail will accommodate even the largest airgun scopes.

Air Arms TX200 Mark 3

Used by competition target shooters around the world, the Air Arms TX200 Mk3 features a two-stage, adjustable trigger, fully shrouded barrel, and automatic safety. You get excellent shot-to-shot consistency from this rifle, which is available in both .177 and .22 calibre.

How do PCP rifles work?

Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) guns are also powered by compressed air. However, a PCP gun is pre-charged. Compressed air, at a pressure of up to 300 BAR, is contained within a cylinder or buddy bottle, ready to be discharged in controlled, measured amounts when the trigger is pulled.

Re-filling a PCP

The thing with PCP power is that the cylinder must be periodically refilled. This can be done with an air rifle pump – a simple piece of machinery that compresses ambient air as it’s forced into the cylinder. Alternatively, you can refill your PCP’s cylinder from a charging tank of ready-compressed air.

In many cases, the cylinder is an integral part of the rifle. Some PCPs, though, have a detachable buddy bottle, which can be removed from the rifle for refilling. This is a convenient feature for long-lasting shoots, as spare buddy bottles can be taken along to replace emptied ones.

Some great PCP air rifles for beginners

Because there’s so little recoil, accuracy is a big advantage with pre-charged pneumatics; but they are, in general, the most expensive type of air rifle. Here are a few PCPs for under £500. The power of these rifles is under 12ft/lb, so you won’t need a Fire Arms Certificate (FAC).

Air Arms S200 Sporter MK3 Air Rifle

The 920.75mm-long Air Arms S200 Sporter MK3 has an ambidextrous beech stock and an adjustable, two-stage trigger. This rifle has a scope rail that can be adjusted to fit any length of scope, and is ideal for all kinds of shooting, from plinking to target shooting, to vermin control. It’s available in .177 and .22 calibre.

FX Airguns Typhoon Synthetic

The Typhoon Synthetic by FX Airguns is a lightweight air rifle with a well-crafted, ambidextrous stock. The air cylinder has a capacity of 185cc, which gives you around 100 shots per fill. This rifle is available in .177 and .22 calibre.

Zbroia Hortitsia

This good-looking and relatively light-weight PCP rifle has delighted many Pellpax customers over the last couple of years. The Zbroia Hortitsia has an integrated barrel shroud for effective silencing, a sensitive trigger, and smooth probe engagement. It’s available in .177 and .22 calibre, and there’s an option of short (330mm) or long (450mm) barrel. You can easily get 100 shots from a full reservoir.

Do air rifles use CO₂?

Some do. CO₂ rifles work on the same principle as PCPs, in that compressed gas is stored in a cartridge – also known as a capsule – ready to be discharged in controlled, measured amounts when the trigger is pulled. CO₂is available in 88g or 12g capsules.

What is the most powerful CO₂ rifle?

Very few CO₂ air rifles have the muzzle energy of the best spring/gas ram or PCP rifles. One exception is the Hammerli 850 Air Magnum, by Umarex. The power of this CO2 rifle is close to the 12 ft/lb legal limit, above which an FAC is required.

What’s the best CO₂ air rifle for beginners?

Here are a few suggestions – all under £500.

Sig Sauer MPX – .177 CO₂ Air Rifle

Powered by an 88g CO₂ capsule*, the Sig Sauer MPX has a large shot capacity. The belt-fed magazine holds 30 pellets, which can be fired in quick succession, and accessories can be mounted on the multiple picatinny rails. With the advantages of a double-action trigger and no recoil, you’ll achieve amazing accuracy when you shoot this rifle.

*For this rifle, you can purchase an adapter for 12g capsules.

Crosman 2250 Ratcatcher – .22 CO₂ Air Rifle

The Crosman 2250 Ratcatcher weighs just 1.5kg and is powered by one 12g CO₂capsule, which is enough for 30 full-power shots. This rifle is great for target shooting and for small vermin control.

Umarex Legends Cowboy Lever Action – 4.5mm BB CO2 Air Rifle

This Cowboy Lever Action rifle from Umarex Legends features a firing cycle that realistically mimics the real thing. If you’re looking for an authentic shooting experience, this is the perfect model.

Contact us

If you’d like to talk to one of our sales team about air rifles, just give us a call on 01263 731 585.

A New Breed from Old Hands

Daystate was the first manufacturer to produce PCP airguns. Today, as the whole industry rides the waves of fashion and demand, Daystate is still steaming ahead, powered by technical excellence, sparkling innovation, and consumer feedback. So let’s have a look at one of Daystate’s latest models, the Wolverine R, and find out what some of Pellpax’s customers think of it.

Following in the wake of Daystate’s immensely popular bolt-action Wolverine 2, the ambidextrous Wolverine R, with regulated side-lever action, has made quite a splash in the shooting world.

Regulator

The airgun’s regulator – responsible for the ‘R’ in the name – is made by Huma, the internationally renowned Dutch regulator specialist, considered to be the very best in regulator technology. The advantages of this feature are three-fold. Firstly, you get more shots per fill-up; secondly, you get better shot-to-shot consistency; and thirdly – thanks to the consistency – accuracy is improved.

One Pellpax customer, who has a Wolverine R C-Type, says, “I like the accuracy and consistent power of shots. It has a great look and feel – a nice crisp trigger.”

The C-Type Wolverine R has a fixed air cylinder with a capacity of 200cc, whereas the B-Type has a 400/500cc steel buddy bottle, and the Hi Lite version has a 480cc super-light carbon bottle.

Right’s Right … Right?

All versions of the Wolverine R feature an ambidextrous thumbhole stock in a choice of high-grade walnut or grey laminate. The side lever can be positioned for either a right-handed shooter (90% of the population) or a left-handed shooter (10% of the population). After all, isn’t it about time we gave lefties a break?

The word right comes from the Old English riht, which in turn came from Germanic origin. The word is related to the Latin rectus, meaning ‘ruled’. In its evolutionary journey, right (in the sense of ‘right-hand side’) has travelled shotgun with right (as in ‘correct’).

Left is what has become of the Old English word lyft, meaning weak, which also has a Germanic origin. In German, left is links, and the word for ‘underhanded’ is link. The Latin for left is sinister.

The word adroit, meaning ‘clever’ or ‘skilful’, comes from the French à droit, which translates as ‘by rights’ or ‘properly’. The French word for left is gauche – used in English for ‘clumsy’ or ‘awkward’.

So, what I’m saying is, the left-hand side has always had bad press. And the 10% of the population who are left-handed have been on the wrong side of prejudice. But the Daystate Wolverine R, with a side lever that can be positioned on either side, is for everyone.

“That’s a really great feature,” says the owner of a B-Type. “My brother gave me his Wolverine R, but he’s left-handed and I’m right-handed, so we needed to get the lever changed over.”

More Info

This isn’t something you can do yourself, of course. For repairs and alterations, phone Pellpax on 01263 731 585 or email [email protected]

There’s a lot more to this rifle than we’ve looked at here. So why not take a more detailed look, here, at the various forms of this superb model.

In the words of one of our customers: “It’s champion!”

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Air Rifle With ProShot

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

Metal and wood are vulnerable to rot, rust, and wear, so it’s important to keep these materials dry. Ensure that your gun is well protected in storage and in transit, and that it’s wiped down immediately whenever it gets wet.

Besides providing a firm and comfortable support for when you’re firing the rifle, the stock acts as a protective casing for the internal mechanism; if water gets inside the stock, the gun’s mechanism can rust and seize up. However diligent you are in caring for your gun, there’s always a chance that it will suffer water damaged at some time. If this happens, we suggest that you take your gun to a reputable gunsmith for repair and service.

A good lubricant, like the ProShot Precision A Grade Silicone Gun Oil, does a good job of protecting the wooden stock and the metal barrel exterior against moisture. This anti-corrosive oil is highly water repellent and completely nontoxic. To keep your rifle looking smart and new, use a soft cloth (we recommend the long-lasting Pellpax micro-fibre cleaning cloth) to apply oil sparingly, on a regular basis, to the stock and the barrel.

Cleaning your air rifle is not an everyday job. Keeping it dry, though, is.

Grease is the Word, is the Word, is the Word …

Now, although gun oil is marvellous stuff for the exterior of a gun, the barrel’s interior should never be oiled – in fact, your cleaning regime should include keeping grease out of the barrel.

A build-up of oil in the barrel can cause dieseling. Dieseling is when oil in the barrel combusts as a pellet is fired. Over time, this process can cause damage to the gun’s seals, resulting in leakage of air.

However, the bore does need occasional cleaning. We suggest that, after finishing a tin of pellets, you fire one cleaning pellet to clear the barrel of any deposits of metal or traces of grease from oiled pellets. A cleaning rod is very effective for clearing solid debris and blockages.

What You Get is What You See

A neglected scope can cause problems when you’re lining up your shot, so it’s a good idea to keep it clean! For a clear, clean scope, use a soft cloth (Pellpax Lens-Cleaning Cloth) with ProShot Precision Advanced Optics Cleaner, which is perfect for removing grease, water, and dust.

This top-quality fluid, which comes in a spray bottle, is also ideal for cleaning television, computer, and mobile phone screens.

Take Good Care of My Baby

Here are some general guidelines for caring for your air rifle:

Always wipe down your rifle after every use; it may look perfectly clean, but it’s bound to be soiled in some way, even if it’s only a few greasy finger marks. When transporting your rifle, keep it in a gun bag to avoid knocks and scrapes. And when you’re not using it, store your rifle in a dry place where there’s no risk of it coming into contact with water or chemicals. If your rifle is stored on end, make sure it’s standing on the butt end, rather than on the muzzle.

An alternative way of sourcing all the tools and products that you need for looking after your gun is by purchasing an all-inclusive cleaning kit, like the ProShot Deluxe Airgun Cleaning Kit, which contains everything you need to maintain your gun in tip-top condition.

Hanging on the Telephone

If you’re in any doubt about how to look after your air rifle, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01263 731 585. Our experts will be happy to help.

NEW at BSS 2019: Brocock Patagonia

Claudio Flores in action at the ERB 2018

At the 2019 British Shooting Show, in February, Pellpax talked to Daystate’s Tony Belas about the Patagonia, an eye-catching and innovative new semi-bullpup PCP air rifle from Daystate’s sister company, Brocock.

The gun – available to buy at the end of April – is based on an adaptation of one of its predecessors, the Bantam Sniper HR.

Claudio Flores

The backstory of the Brocock Patagonia begins in October 2018, where airgun shooters from all over the world gathered in Mesa, Arizona, to compete in one of the toughest and most prestigious international shooting events.

The Extreme Benchrest Championships – an annual four-day competition with high-value prizes up for grabs – is notorious for attracting the world’s highest-performing shooters and for showcasing the industry’s very best airguns.

Of the top 30 Pro-Class finalists, 12 were shooting a Daystate Red Wolf, and 15 used an FX Impact or Crown. As an interesting aside, Fredrik Alexsson, who, in 1999, founded the Swedish airgun manufacturer FX Airguns, took third place with his FX Impact. Justin Welsh, in second place, also shot an FX Impact.

The overall winner of the event was Claudio Flores, a 35-year-old Chilean, whose living is made through hunting in the mountainous and desert landscape of Patagonia.

Patagonia is an area in South America of approximately 1,043,000 km², which covers a large portion of Argentina and Chile, including the southern end of the Andes mountain range, where temperatures can plummet to as low as -15°C. Via his YouTube channel, Chile Patagonia Airguns, Claudio and his 13-year-old son, Dan, offer the shooting world a glimpse of their unusual way of life through stunning photography and Claudio’s expert airgun reviews.

“Claudio did really well at the 2017 Extreme Benchrest,” Tony told us. “He came to the attention of Daystate and Brocock with his skill and positive attitude, and so he was supported with spares and equipment as he prepared in Patagonia in the months before the EBR match 2018.”

The Brocock Bantam Patagonia

In certain categories of the competition, Claudio shot a Daystate Red Wolf, but for the Extreme Benchrest Challenge he chose the match-winning Brocock Bantam.

Tony told us, “He’d tuned up the Bantam to 58 ft/lbs, and had adapted a 62 cm Red Wolf polygon barrel in .22. Claudio had also made modifications to the hammer, stroke, and secondary chamber. Brocock looked at his modifications and adapted them for production in the Brocock Patagonia.”

Inspired by this proven winning formula from Claudio Flores, the Bantam Patagonia has certainly moved the benchmark in PCP airgun design.

The Brocock Patagonia, which comes out in April, will be available from Pellpax. Keep an eye on our site, or contact us if you wish to preorder.

Pellpax at the British Shooting Show 2019

The British Shooting Show 2019 took place from Friday 15^th to Sunday 17^th February at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

This ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UK’s shooting-show calendar has been bringing together the shooting community and the shooting industry since it was founded in 2009 by the late John Bertrand.

The British Shooting Show offers an opportunity for the manufacturer to meet the end-user; for the publisher to meet the reader and the sponsor; for the distributor to meet the retailer, who has perhaps, until now, been just a voice on the other end of the phone.

On Thursday, 14^th February, a Pellpax team, led by Managing Director, Darren Kirk, headed up to Birmingham with a vanload of airguns, optics, knives, and pellets. Once at the NEC, all the display furniture and set dressing had to be taken to Stand C14 – Pellpax’s temporary home for the next three days – followed by the stock. There was already an atmosphere of excitement in the huge space that was halls Six, Seven, and Eight at the NEC.

Over the weekend, the Pellpax team caught up with old friends and acquaintances, as well as some newer ones. It was an enormous pleasure to meet – for the first time – James Farquharson and his family. Eighteen-year-old James, who is sponsored by Pellpax, was visiting the show with his partner, Niamh, and his parents, Huw and Liz. Over the past year, Pellpax has been following James as he competes in national and international competitions, winning trophies and honing his considerable talent. You can read the latest article on his journey here.

Young shooter James Farquharson with our director, Darren Kirk

Great British Shooting Awards

At the Great British Shooting Awards, hosted by Future Publishing on the Saturday evening, Pellpax was extremely proud to represent Zbroia’s Hortitsia, which was one of five airguns nominated for Airgun of the Year 2019. The Zbroia Hortitsia PCP rifle is currently one of the finest air rifles on the market, available in a wide range of stocks, calibres, and barrel sizes to help maximise its usability and to ensure match-winning accuracy for every shooter.

This rifle, which has an easy magazine drop-in, sensitive trigger, and smooth probe engagement, is a true champion in the world of target shooting, reflecting Zbroia’s four-fold design criteria: accuracy, quality, reliability, and ergonomics.

Many congratulations to Airgun of the Year winner, the Air Arms S510 Ultimate Sporter. The award was presented by presenter of The Airgun Show, Mat Manning.

To find out more about the Hortitsia, a highly affordable PCP, you can see the product listing here. You can also check out the Ultimate Sporter here. If you need any further help or advice, feel free to phone 01263 731 585, to speak to one of our team of experts.

Overall, we felt it was very exciting to see lots of new products that are about to be launched onto the UK market this coming year, at the show. Keep an eye on the Pellpax blog for news and details of brand-new air rifles, air pistols, optics, and bush-craft equipment.

From the Pellpax team, we would like to say a big thank you to all our loyal customers who dropped by to say hello, and to everyone who came along to meet us for the first time. We look forward to seeing some of you again at The Northern Shooting Show (Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate) in May. Look out for Pellpax – we’ll be there!

Olivia Hill – A Shooting Star

One year on

Olivia Hill with her Norfolk Open Trophies

It was one year ago that Pellpax committed to the sponsorship of Olivia Hill from Marsham, Norfolk. For the past year, Pellpax has contributed financial assistance to this talented young shooter, facilitating a full training programme and attendance at national and international competitions.

For 17-year-old Olivia, these past 12 months have been a time of exhilarating success, bitter disappointment, and, above all, rigorous hard work.

Olivia, a member of the Norfolk County team, the National Scout Rifle Squad, the GB Rifle Talent Squad, and the England Rifle Academy, took up precision air rifle target shooting in 2016, and this bright, ambitious A-level student has quickly become one of the UK’s shining stars of the sport.

In February 2018, Olivia travelled to The Hague, Holland, for the famous Intershoot event – her first international competition – and in the spring of that year, she competed in the British Open Airgun Championships and the English Championships, both at the Bisley National Shooting Centre.

Did anyone pack the insect repellent …?

The summer of 2018 began well for Olivia, when she achieved 1^st place in the Junior Cup and in Ladies’ Class C and Class D at the Norfolk Open in June – her first small-bore competition.

A couple of months later, in August, Olivia survived a turbulent Junior International at the Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley.

On Day One, Olivia was plagued by a fly that kept settling on the end of her rifle; nevertheless, the young Pellpax star qualified in first place. However, later that day, during the final, Olivia found that she was unable to move her sights, as the stalk on the lens holder was too long, preventing any movement. Olivia remembers the incident vividly.

“After the final that evening, Tony Clarke, from Zero Point ESU [Explorer Scout Unit], who was with us, ordered an angle grinder from Screwfix. He picked it up at 7 a.m. the next day, as soon as the store opened, drove back with it, dismantled the lens holder and sights, made the stalk shorter, and put it all back together again. I had just enough time to squeeze in a quick warm-up before being called to the line at 8.30!”

The manic start to the day unsettled Olivia. After knocking her pellets onto the ground, she came off the range to restock and to get her head back in the game. Olivia regained her composure and took Bronze in the Grand Prix and Silver in the team event.

Personal Bests just keep getting better

In October, Olivia won Silvers in 10m Precision Air Rifle and Small-Bore (under 18s) at the 42^nd Scout National Championships at Bisley. Shortly after that, in November, she gave a fantastic performance at the Welsh Open, which was held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Day One of the Welsh Open saw Olivia qualify with a new competition personal best, and go on to take Silver in the final. Olivia also reached the final on Day Two, and again on Day Three, when she smashed her previous PB in the qualifying stage. There was more cause for celebration when Olivia and her two team mates took Gold in the team competition.

The Surrey Open at Bisley, in December, was a combined meet – a tough competition for junior shooters, who must compete alongside, and against, seniors. On both days of the competition, Olivia earned herself a place in the finals by achieving a position within the top eight in the qualifying rounds.

Later in the month, after an excellent performance at the Norfolk Winter Open, Olivia competed alongside other GB Rifle Talent Squad members at the RIAC in Luxembourg. The RIAC is an annual international event organised by FLTAS (Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Tir aux Armes Sportives). Olivia’s matches went well, including her first ever mixed pairs match with team mate Tom Warren.

And what was the best bit about Luxembourg at Christmas time?

“Fantastic hot chocolate!”

Intershoot, The Hague, Holland

Olivia won Silver with her team mates in the Junior Ladies event at the Intershoot Event

The well-known and extremely popular Intershoot event has been held annually (with the exception of just one year) since 1977. Keen to offer his pupils the opportunity of shooting at international level, the Dutch coach, Stek Geerts, organised this competition in conjunction with friends from abroad. Now, more than 40 years on, the event still embraces the spirit of fun and inclusiveness.

The British team travelled en masse to the event. The party comprised 13 GB Rifle Talent Squad members, two members of the England Rifle Academy Squad, and three coaches.

“There was brilliant team spirit,” Olivia said, “with everyone supporting each other.”

Although Olivia’s matches didn’t go quite as well as she had hoped, she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It was such a great feeling to be shooting with, and against, some of the best shooters in the world. I made some friends from other countries … and I tried my first chicken schnitzel!”

Even better than chicken schnitzel (I think) – the GB Talent Squad Junior Ladies won Silver in the team event. The photograph shows Olivia (centre) with her team mates, Emily Bale (left) and Phoebe Taylor (right), on the podium.

Olivia told me, “This was my first international medal. Hopefully more to come!”

What’s next for Olivia?

Later this month – 22^nd to 24^th February – Olivia will be competing in the British Championships at the Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley.

And after that, there’ll be more competitions and more training. Each time Olivia aims her rifle at the target, she’s taking another step closer to where she wants to be.

“My next goal is to become a British Shooting Academy athlete. And further down the line, I’d like to represent my country and compete in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”

It’s been a busy year for Olivia.

“I’d like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to all the Great Britain Rifle Talent Squad coaches for their guidance and support throughout the year and at the competitions, those at my local ranges, North Walsham RPC and Norwich City Target Club, who offer daily support, and Tony Clarke, with Zero Point ESU. And I’d also like to thank Pellpax for their ongoing support.”

Reeds Target Shooting Club

Reeds Target Shooting Club was established more than 100 years ago as part of an in-house sports and social club at Aylesford Paper Mills, which was owned by the philanthropic newsprint tycoon, Albert Reed. Aylesford Paper Mills grew into one of the largest paper-making plants in Europe, and its sports and social club thrived. In the 1990s, however, Reeds International (as the company had become) pulled out of paper manufacture and sold the Aylesford site, leaving Reeds Target Shooting Club without a home.

John Lucas, the current club secretary, and former Reeds employee, describes the Reeds community as “nomads”.

“We’ve been renting space from two other local clubs,” he told me. “But it’s not the same as having your own place.”

Nomads

Reeds has always had a good feel to it, initiated all those years ago by Albert Reed, who believed in fostering a happy working environment for his employees and their families. Remarkably, the homeless club has around 100 members, aged between 10 and 80. There’s also a long waiting list.

Why the waiting list?

“By law,” John explained, “each new member must receive a certain amount of instruction. But we can’t provide this instruction to an unlimited number of people, because we don’t have the available facilities.”

A New Home

But all this is about to change. After years of fundraising, Reeds have entered into an agreement with a sports and social club to build an indoor shooting range on their land. There’s still some way to go before this project can be fully funded, and the members of Reeds Target Shooting Club are working as hard as ever to achieve their goal; in the last two months, £2,300 has been raised for the new range and clubhouse.

At the annual club Christmas dinner, in December, hundreds of raffle tickets were sold, and many generously donated prizes were won. It was the club’s newest recruit, Ben (pictured with Chairman, Andy Reason), who walked away with the star prize – a Pellpax Dragon Kit, donated by Pellpax for the occasion. The rifle, designed with anti-shock resistance and ventilated butt pad, comes with a 3-9×40 scope, pellets, gun bag, and a selection of targets.

Rebuilding

So, what happens now?

“Our next steps are to design the facilities and firm up on the building costs before we submit a planning application. At this point, we’ll have a better idea of how much more funding we’ll need. We can then plan ways of getting it.”

After years of hard work and perseverance, the members of Reeds Target Shooting Club are at last in sight of their goal. We wish them well, and look forward to visiting the new club headquarters.

And Ben … enjoy the Pellpax Dragon Kit!

You can find more details of Reed Target Shooting Club at their Official Website.

How to Zero a Scope

It’s all about you

Remember that you are zeroing your air rifle scope for you. If possible, carry out this task over a distance that you normally shoot; use your usual pellets; and focus the lens to suit you. It’s important to zero your scope in windless conditions.

Setting up

Place your target against a secure backstop. Using a steady and comfortable rest – to eliminate as much human error as possible – fire three to five pellets, aiming for the centre of the target. Hopefully, your shots will be in a cluster; if they’re very spread out, try again.

Adjusting the scope dials

There are two adjustments to make: windage (left/right), controlled by the dial on top of the scope, and elevation (up/down), controlled by the dial on the right flank of the scope. Work on one at a time.

Printed on the dials will be instructions. There might be, for example, an arrow indicating clockwise, with the word ‘left’, or an arrow indicating counter-clockwise, with the word ‘up’. There will also be a guide to the increments of adjustment – for example, ‘1 click ¼” 100 yards’. This means that at a distance of 100 yards, each click in a counter-clockwise direction will adjust your sight ¼” upward … or that at 100 yards, each click in a counter-clockwise direction will adjust your sight ¼” to the right.

A shooting scenario …

So, let’s say you’re shooting at 25 yards, and your pellets have landed approximately two inches below the centre of your target. If one click of the elevation dial in a counter-clockwise direction will adjust your sight ¼” upwards over a distance of 100 yards, then at 25 yards, one click will make an adjustment of 1/16”. You’re two inches out, so you need to turn your dial 32 clicks in a counter-clockwise direction.

Once you’ve done this, take a few more shots. If your pellets are landing on a horizonal line with the target, you’re there on the elevation front. If you’re still shooting too low, or too high, repeat the process.

Now, imagine that your shots are landing about ½” to the right of the target. At 100 yards, one click of the windage dial in a clockwise direction will steer your aim ¼” to the left. At 25 yards, one click will make an adjustment of 1/16”. You’re ½” to the right of the target, so you must turn your dial eight clicks clockwise.

Again, repeat this process until you are consistently hitting the target. Be sure to maintain consistent conditions and not to introduce any other variables, such as an alternative rifle rest or a different type or brand of pellet. And always shoots groups of at least three pellets.

Air Rifle Review – Weihrauch HW95K

So as well as an archer, I’m also a huge lover of guns, including air rifles, and have spent much of my life doing small game hunting and pest control, both for the control of species that are harmful to farmland, and for the enjoyment of being out in the elements with just my dog by my side and my rifle in my hand. To someone who doesn’t shoot, this sense of freedom when you’re out in a field or woodland after your prey cannot be explained. I’ve had many air rifles come and go in my arsenal, but one of the most impressive has to be my Weihrauch HW95K, fitted with an MTC Mamba 3-12×44 AO IR.

A Light Weihrauch

This is a beautiful rifle, which is well balanced and accurate. Usually Weihrauch air rifles are renowned for being weighty guns, but this is one of the lightest in their range, weighing in at just 3.3kg and making this an easy gun to carry around all day without too much strain on the user. Take a look at our wider Weihrauch range.

I first took this gun down to the range for some setting up and was very impressed with the results. I generally go for air guns in .177 calibre, as I prefer the accuracy of these, along with the extra range and the flatness of the pellets’ trajectory (ideal for hunting). Firstly, I set up a paper target at 30 yards, and once I was getting one-inch groups, extended this range to 50 yards.

For a spring rifle to be getting such tight groups at this range, from a standing position, was very impressive, and I was easily still hitting spinner targets and tin cans on the top and bottom sides with ease. For me this was good enough to take the HW95K to a local farm for some field testing.

For a .177, pellet choice is very important when target shooting, and for overall accuracy you can’t beat a good quality domed head pellet, and so I began by using JSB Exact 4.52. But after a while, I actually found that my rifle preferred Rifle Airgun Ammunition Premium Round for tighter groups. I’ve found over time that the .177 pellet, though accurate, tends to over penetrate your target when shooting vermin, and so if you don’t go for a head shot, you haven’t got much hope of killing your prey, as the pellet passes through too cleanly. I have, however, found the solution to this issue with the incredible Baracuda Hunter Extreme by HnN, which causes enough damage for a clean kill. The last thing I want is to leave an animal wounded.

Easy Rabbit Hunting Rifle

The first rabbit I took with this was at a modest 30 yards (I always go for head shots to ensure a clean kill or a complete miss), and I was a little amazed at how this rifle feels to shoot. With such a crisp and clean shot, it took this first rabbit with ease.

After this, I have had huge success with this rifle at shooting spinning targets, but mostly hunting, where this rifle has not once let me down or had any faults, and with very rarely any misses, all of which were no fault of the rifle.

Over the next 6 months this has now become my rifle of choice for hunting, as I know that pretty much any pest within 60 yards is mine for the taking.

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, high quality hunting package, check out this link for this rifle fitted with a scope, silencer, sling, bag, and pellets – everything you need to help you get rid of those pests once and for all. And check out how the Weihrauch compares to Hatsan air rifles for hunting.