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].

A Goal is a Dream with an Action Plan and a Time Frame

I first visited North Walsham Rifle & Pistol Club in July 2016. The club’s membership was flourishing, but the physical fabric of the place hadn’t really moved with the times. The old wooden clubhouse was pretty much as it had been in 1933, when the club was founded.

On that visit, the club’s Development Officer, Mike Kirkham, who has been shooting since he was 15 years old, talked to me about the club’s future. Planning permission for a new clubhouse had been granted, and an application was being put together for funding from Sport England. With help and advice from Liz Davidson, Head of Engagement at British Shooting, Chairman Olly Crysell and his committee worked on a plan of action for all-round improvement.

“The key to our success,” Mike told me, three years ago, “has been to change our club culture to think more like a sports club, and to actively promote and market what we offer.”

Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes (Benjamin Franklin) 

In October 2016, Sport England awarded £75,000 to North Walsham Rifle & Pistol Club towards their new clubhouse. This was marvellous news, of course, but the total amount of money needed was £125,000. The club members worked hard at raising funds for the project, and they also applied for, and were granted, aid from North Norfolk District Council’s Big Society Fund, which was established in 2012 to help fund projects that improve and support the social and economic wellbeing of communities.

Karl Read, Leisure and Locality Services Manager at North Norfolk District Council, was impressed by the drive and commitment of NWRPC.

Olivia Hill, international shooting star, sponsored by Pellpax

“Mike, Olly, and the rest of the committee have worked tirelessly in order to grow participation within this club, especially with the junior section. They’ve worked hard in order to create a fresh presence in North Norfolk, and they’ve forged a great relationship with the Council and Active Norfolk.

“The club has created more visibility locally using positive PR and marketing, and they’ve created a working marketing plan. Mike set up a Sports Development plan for the club, and a new website. In the time that I’ve worked with the club, they’ve has seen a 45% increase in membership, which is unheard of in local sports clubs.

“In a nutshell, the members of North Walsham Rifle & Pistol Club have done all the things we would expect from a Big Society applicant, and in a very comprehensive way. I wish the club every success.”

NWRPC now has over 200 members, some of whom have gone on to compete in national and international championships.

Mingling with Members

The evening began with refreshments and conversation. I caught up with several club members I’d met before, including Charles Cain, who, at 76 years old, is still coaching some of the club’s talented young shooters.

It was a great pleasure to meet 17-year-old Jessie Lodge, who shoots in the 10m Precision Air Rifle county air rifle team – and Freya Giles, 19, who has shot for the England Ladies’ team in .22 Target Rifle.

Imogen Wright

Imogen Wright, who’s just 15 years old, began her shooting career with Explorers at North Walsham. Before long, she was a member of the Scout International Squad. Imogen, who shoots with a Steyr, is now on the South East Regional Pistol Squad (SERPS); later this year, she’ll be competing at the Welsh Open and at the Scout Championships at Bisley.

Tony Clarke, Scouts’ Norfolk Shooting Advisor, told me about Target Sprint – a relatively new shooting discipline that’s becoming incredibly popular, especially among younger shooters. Tony explained how Target Sprint works:

“Competitors run 400 meters, then they shoot five targets. They run another 400 meters, shoot another five targets, and then run 400 meters to the finish. The winner is the first past the post. But …” (I think Tony could read my thoughts.) “But you have to hit the targets. You can’t continue until you’ve hit all five. Bear in mind, though, that there’s a limit to the number of attempts you have.”

I was rather disappointed not to see Olivia Hill, who is sponsored by Pellpax. There was a very good reason for her absence, though: she was in Serbia, competing in the Novi Sad Grand Prix. It was, however, great to chat with Olivia’s mum, Lisa.

The official opening

Mike Kirkham

Mike Kirkham began his address with, “A dream is always a dream. A goal is a dream with an action plan and a time frame.” He immediately had everyone’s attention.

Mike thanked everyone for all their hard work, with a special mention for Tony Clarke, the man responsible for a strong junior membership, thanks to Scout involvement.

There was a special mention for the late Ken Nash (1948-2019), who introduced shooting for the blind into the UK. Ken was a life member of both the National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) and British Blind Sport (BBS). I had the pleasure of talking to Ken in August 2017, when he contributed enormously to A Guide to Disabled Shooting.

Saul Penfold

Mike handed over to Councillor Saul Penfold.

“In 2017,” he began, “an application was received from North Walsham Rifle & Pistol Club for a BSF grant towards a £125,000 project to replace the old wooden clubhouse. The application explained that the existing wooden clubhouse and its facilities were in a poor state and no longer fit for purpose. There was limited social space, no proper kitchen facilities, and no disabled toilet. A new clubhouse was needed to ensure that NWRPC had the appropriate facilities to enable them to cope with their existing and growing membership.”

Just like Karl Read, Mr Penfold expressed his admiration for the club and its members.

Norman Lamb, Lisa Hill, Freya Giles

“Everyone involved in the project is to be congratulated for their dedication and commitment. It’s a fantastic achievement. The new club house will be an asset to the local community for many years.”

Mike Kirkham declared the clubhouse open, and the ribbon was cut by Freya Giles and Lisa Hill (representing Olivia). North Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb, presented the two ladies with bouquets.

Good luck, NWRPC – and congratulations. Here’s to the future!

Nathan White Talks to Pellpax about the Midland Game Fair

As the Pellpax team prepares for their first ever visit to the Midland Game Fair, I thought it would be interesting to have a chat with Nathan White, Marketing Manager at Countryman Fairs, the company responsible for this incredibly successful show. Nathan was kind enough to take the time to tell me a bit about the Midland Game Fair and his own role in this remarkable annual production.

In the beginning …

Predictably, the first thing I wanted to know was, when and how did the Midland Game Fair begin?

“Well, it was down to two men: Philip Poole and John Chatwin. They were driving home after visiting the CLA Game Fair in 1982, and they decided it would be a great idea to hold a similar event in the Midlands. And what better venue for a game fair than Weston Park? So, on their way home, they turned up at Weston Park and knocked on Lord Bradford’s door. Lord Bradford thought it was a marvellous idea, and the Midland Game Fair was born.”

Organising the Midland Game Fair

Each year, tens of thousands of people visit the Midland Game Fair, and hundreds of people are involved in exhibiting. It must take a lot of organising! I was curious to know about the logistical headaches behind this successful event.

“One of the most difficult and frustrating elements can be the weather, as it’s entirely out of our control. When the weather is good, the atmosphere at the event is great, and the whole process of organising is fun and enjoyable. However, we’ve had our fair share of inclement weather over the years, which brings its own challenges. That said, we’ve become experts at delivering events, regardless of the conditions.”

And the fun part …

“One of the great aspects of working on events is that no two days are the same. In fact, I’m still experiencing firsts after 14 years! For me personally, the most satisfying – and fun – element of what we do is seeing a whole range of people from different backgrounds, with different interests, having fun together as a community. You know you’ve done something right if you can see that people are enjoying their day out. There really is no better feeling. Also, I very much enjoy a catch up with old friends over the weekend of the show … and I enjoy meeting new ones.”

What’s new this year?

The Midland Game Fair offers a wide range of fun activities, retail opportunities, and stunning spectacles. So much go

WHFTA 2009 at Kelmarsh

es on here, that it’s hard to imagine that there’s anything to add. I asked Nathan whether there’ll be anything new this year – anything that’s never been included before.

“Funny you should ask! We’ve completely refreshed our show layout and added many new elements to our portfolio of entertainment. New for 2019, we’re delighted to welcome the World Hunter Field Target Championships – 360 shooters from over 10 different countries, vying for the chance to be crowned World Champion.

“We’re also delighted to introduce the new Members Enclosure, offering visitors a little more luxury to enhance their day. The package of benefits includes forward parking, fantastic views of the Main Arena, VIP toilets, a private bar, and fine dining.

“The all-new Kids Zone adds a host of new activities for the younger generation to enjoy, completely free of charge. This includes face painting, the Panic Circus games, balloon modelling, a giant deckchair, mini farm, and the chance to meet a unicorn.”

A unicorn! Yay!

“We’ve complemented this with new activities that the whole family can get involved with, including the K9 Aqua Sports (or Dock Dogs). If you haven’t seen or competed in this before, it is a must! Your dog launches itself from a platform into a huge pool to retrieve a tennis ball. The dog who jumps the largest distance will win a prize. Simple, yet so entertaining!”

Old favourites

Wow! And all this is in addition to the old favourites, such as the Festival of Shooting, Airgun Expo, the Working Dog Village, Gamekeepers Row, the Falconry Village, three live music stages, live Chefs’ Demo, and the Food & Beer Festival.

Sporting championships include the Chudleys Gundog Championship, the BASC National Clay Shooting Championship, the Countryman’s Weekly Terrier & Lurcher Champion of Champions, the European Field Target Championship, and the World Stick-Making Championship.

Caring for the venue

Over the weekend of the Midland Game Fair, the ground is trampled by a lot of people and equipment. I can’t help wondering about the state of the grass after the weekend.

“Weston Park has been home to the Midland Game Fair and a host of other large-scale events for over 30 years. The estate has invested significantly in infrastructure over the years, resulting in one of the finest and most robust outdoor venues in the UK. We meticulously plan the layout and manage the site to ensure the public aisleways are always protected and in perfect condition to welcome our visitors. We recognise our responsibility to protect the spectacular historic parkland, and usually return the venue to the estate with little more than superficial wear and tear, which recovers quickly.”

Nathan’s role

Nathan began working for Countryman Fairs in 2005, and since then, he’s learnt about all the aspects of the company and its processes. Having spent some considerable time accumulating in-depth knowledge of all the roles within the company, Nathan is now Marketing Manager – a position he’s held for three years. He told me a bit about his work.

“I oversee all aspects of marketing – including advertising, customer experience, and social media – and I explore new and innovative ways of reaching our target audience, and ways of identifying new markets. I’m also the ‘voice’ of our customers; I try to implement what they would like to see at each of our events.”

Will Nathan be at the Midland Game Fair this year? And what will he be doing during the weekend?

“Yes, I’ll be there. My main role is overseeing competitions, demonstrations, and attractions – making sure that they have all they need for the weekend. I’ll also be ensuring that features such as the Chefs’ Demo, the Kids Zone and the Members Enclosure all run smoothly.

“In between all this, I’ve occasionally been known to sample a pint or two at the bar, which gives me an opportunity to catch up with exhibitors and visitors about their experiences.”

See you there!

It was a real pleasure to talk to Nathan White about the Midland Game Fair, which will take place on the weekend of 14 and 15 September. Pellpax will be there, in partnership with John Rothery and Umarex. Come and say hello!

Contact Pellpax

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

And why not check out our wide range of Umarex CO2 rifles and pistols.

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.

Best Air Pistols for Under £200

At Pellpax, we offer a wide range of superb air pistols, ranging from £47.99 to £1,599.99. If you’re looking to buy an inexpensive pistol, at the lower end of this price range, there’s actually quite a lot of choice. So we thought we’d pick out some of the very best air pistols available for under £200.

Three great CO2 pistols for under £200

First of all, let’s take a look at three excellent CO2 pistols for under £200.

Walther CP99 Operations Kit .177 Pellet Air Pistol

The Walther CP99 CO2 pistol, launched by Umarex in the year 2000, is based on Walther’s P99. The P99 is an extremely successful semi-automatic pistol that’s been used by numerous law enforcement agencies in Europe and the US since 1996. From 1997 to 2006, the P99 was the chosen side-arm of James Bond, the world’s most famous fictional secret agent.

Originally created as a training gun for the German police, the CP99 replica was unprecedented in its remarkable physical likeness to the firearm it emulates. The CP99 fits most P99 holsters and all of the P99 accessories, making this replica pistol the ideal choice for training. Umarex’s Walther CP99 is still one of the most popular CO2 pistols on the market today.

The CP99 is a double-action CO2 pistol that fires .177-calibre pellets. It has an approximate muzzle energy of 2.3 ft/lb and is powered by one 12g CO2 capsule that’s stored out of sight in the pistol’s stock. From each CO2 capsule, you’ll get up to 80 shots.

The CP99 has an 84mm rifled steel barrel, an overall length of 180mm, and it weighs 726g. This pistol kit comes in a Umarex branded hard case, along with two 8-round rotary magazines and a spare pistol grip. At £159.99 (reduced from £174.99), the Walther CP99 Operations Kit is real value for money.

Norica NAC 1703 – 4.5mm BB Air Pistol

The stylish NAC 1703 from Norica is modelled on the Smith & Wesson M&P (Military & Police) .40 live-fire pistol, which is used by many law-enforcement agencies all over the world.

With ergonomic design, durable build, and comfortable handling, Norica’s NAC 1703 is a fantastic buy at just £69.99. This 4.5mm (.177) BB pistol is powered by one CO2 capsule, which is housed inside the 19-shot magazine. At 195mm long, this lovely replica is just 2mm longer than the original; weighing in at 710g, it’s 78g lighter than the S&W MP40.

Glock 19X – 4.5mm BB Air Pistol

Umarex’s fully licensed replica of the Glock 19X is fantastically realistic in terms of appearance and feel. The pistol’s unique colour and markings are faithfully replicated in this CO2 version, and its dimensions are almost identical. The magazine, which holds 18 4.5mm BBs, also accommodates a 12g CO2 capsule.

The Glock 19X by Umarex delivers muzzle velocity of 344 FPS, and the blowback gives a powerful recoil that feels gratifyingly authentic. This pistol is available from Pellpax for £109.99.

Three fantastic spring pistols for under £200

A simple, reliable spring action is favoured by many experienced shooters, and it’s also a great choice for beginners. Here are three superb spring-action pistols.

Gamo P-900 – .177 Pellet Air Pistol

The Gamo P-900 shoots .177-calibre pellets, which are individually loaded – i.e. there is no magazine. This simple-to-use pistol has a muzzle energy of around 3 ft/lb, and muzzle velocity of 344 FPS. With ambidextrous grip and TruGlo sights, this pistol lends itself to accuracy and reliability, and so it’s not surprising that at £58.99, this little gem is one of our best-selling pistols.

SMK XS32 – .22 Pellet Air Pistol

With a muzzle energy of 5 ft/lb, the SMK XS32 is not far below the legal power limit for pistols in the UK – and it’s therefore ideal for close-range vermin control. It has a break-barrel action, and pellets are loaded one by one. This pistol features a manual safety, bear-trap system, fibre-optic sights, and 9-11mm mounting rail. The cocking aid is slipped over the end of the barrel and removed before each shot.

This SMK XS32 is a superb all-rounder. It’s perfect for the beginner target shooter, the casual plinker, or the serious small-vermin controller. This pistol is available from Pellpax for just £99.99.

Hatsan Mod 25 SuperCharger

Rugged and compact, ergonomic and comfortable, this single-shot break-barrel spring pistol features Hatsan’s XRS Recoil Reduction System, threaded aluminium cocking aid, and a ½ inch UNF thread for attaching a silencer.

The Hatsan Mod 25 SuperCharger features the Hatsan Quattro trigger – a two-stage adjustable trigger with gold-plated trigger blade, which is one of the most sophisticated triggers on the market today. The pistol has a manual safety, a cocking safety bear-trap system, and TruGlo fibre-optic sights.

The Hatsan Mod 25 SuperCharger is available in .177 or .22 calibre.

A super PCP air pistol … not quite under £200!

PCP airguns are, on the whole, more costly than either spring-powered or CO2-powered guns. So let’s stretch the parameters of this blog and take a look at a really nice PCP pistol. 

SMK Artemis PP700SA

The SMK Artemis PP700SA fires at a power of up to 5.5 ft/lb, which is not far below the maximum legal power for a pistol in the UK, making this pistol the perfect choice for both target shooters and vermin controllers. The black synthetic stock is well textured for a firm, comfortable grip. And it’s a lot tougher than a wood stock, making it resistant to knocks and scrapes.

Pellets are loaded one by one into the rear of the barrel, after the hammer has been cocked. An air stripper at the end of the barrel reduces turbulence in the air as it expels the pellet, and the full shroud on the barrel reduces muzzle report. The Artemis, available in .177 and .22 calibres, is a beautifully accurate and consistent pistol – a popular choice at £219.99

Contact us

For more information about air pistols or any of the products we sell, just give us a call on 01263 731 585.

Paralympic Archer Mel Clarke is an Inspiration to Children Everywhere

“I tell my story to kids and talk about not giving up”

These are the words that Mel Clarke, two-time Paralympic medallist, left us with last year after sharing her extraordinary story of sporting excellence.

As a result of contracting osteomyelitis after a fall in 1993, 11-year-old Mel found herself unable to walk, and believed that her sporting life was at an end. However, as a teenager, she discovered archery, and soon became one of the UK’s best-performing archers. But when Mel was struck down by Lyme disease at the 2003 World Archery Championships in New York City, the prognosis was grim: in fact, she wasn’t expected to survive.

Mel awoke from a two-week-long coma, paralysed from the waist down, and blind in her right eye. She left hospital and resumed her training. Mel returned from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics with a bronze medal, and the year after, she won Silver at the World Championships in the Czech Republic. At the 2012 London Paralympics, Mel won Silver – pipped at the post by her friend and fellow British competitor, Danielle Brown.

“Everything’s possible when you want to do it”

Mel retired from competition archery in May this year – for the best possible reason.

In January 2019, Mel gave birth to Cali, who’s a dream come true for Mel and her husband Richard Hennahane (also a successful para-archer). In their minds, there was always the possibility that Mel might never be able to carry a child full term. But in January, Cali discredited that theory in the same style that her mother dismissed the general opinion that she’d have to give up competitive archery.

“I can go back to archery later,” says Mel. “But I want to spend time with Cali. I won’t get this time back.”

I ask Mel about the challenges of motherhood in a wheelchair.

“Getting up at night is physically difficult … and I had to find a buggy that I could handle. But everything’s possible when you want to do it.”

“Wow! This is really making an impact”

Although Mel is not competing at the moment, she’s continuing her role of mentor for the Youth Sport Trust – a charitable organisation whose mission is to promote the general wellbeing of children through the provision of sporting opportunity.

The six main aims of the Youth Sport Trust are:

  • To transform PE’s place in the curriculum, putting it at the centre of wellbeing and achievement in education.
  • To support schools, clubs, and families to remove the causes of negative experiences for young people.
  • To unlock sport’s potential at every stage of a child’s life, especially where they face inequality or disadvantage.
  • To equip young people, through sport, with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to lead change in their communities.
  • To champion the impact of physical activity, PE, and sport through research and insight.
  • To deliver their charitable objectives through good governance, a skilled workforce, and sustainable income.

As a mentor, Mel’s work varies from small-group activities to whole-school assemblies. She talks to students of all ages, from the little ones of four years old, to young people of 18.

Many of the children Mel works with have physical disabilities, like the 14-year-old boy with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, whose only independent way of communicating was to turn his head left and right. Mel describes how this gutsy boy trained to be a sports leader. Using communication technology, he led sessions and delivered a presentation to his peers and their parents.

“The able-bodied kids were so impressed. And his mother was so proud! This was something she really didn’t think he’d be able to do. I remember thinking, ‘Wow. This is really making an impact.’ That child’s self-esteem just rocketed.”

“If I can help one person to think positively … it’s all worthwhile”

Many of the children Mel works with have behaviour issues, or are simply disengaged. The characteristic trait of a disengaged student is a lack of interest. This block to learning can be tackled by helping a disengaged child to connect what they’re learning with real-life experiences, or to incorporate group work and hands-on learning.

Because of sport’s physical nature, a child with social anxiety can feel exposed and threatened in a PE class. Self-consciousness is agony to a person with social anxiety, and fear is a barrier to participation. With patience and empathy, Mel coached a boy with very low esteem to be a sports leader.

“At first, he’d hardly speak at all – to anyone. But during our sessions, his confidence grew, and at the end of his training, this lad delivered a speech to his teachers and class-mates. His mum said, ‘He’s a different person.’”

Of course, not every child will benefit from intervention of this kind. I ask Mel if this is disheartening.

“If I can help one person to think positively about what is possible, and encourage that person to work towards achieving their goal, then I’m happy. It’s all worthwhile.”

“I’m retiring with two titles, which is nice!”

Even Mel doesn’t know whether or not she’ll be returning to competition archery. But if this really is retirement, Mel has hung up her bow alongside the titles of British National Para Champion and British Wheelchair Sport Champion. With her usual cheerful optimism, Mel says, “I’m retiring with two titles, which is nice!”

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.

Olivia Hill is Selected to Represent Great Britain at the Novi Sad Grand Prix in Serbia

Olivia’s Shooting Career Year 1

This week, Pellpax is celebrating yet another success from talented target shooter, Olivia Hill. Olivia, 18, has been with the Pellpax sponsorship programme since the beginning of 2018. On Monday 15 July, when British Shooting announced the GB team for the Novi Sad Grand Prix in Serbia, next month, Olivia was competing at the Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany.

Olivia at the Norfolk Open

Over the last eighteen months, Olivia (known by friends and family as Liv) has progressed from 16-year-old novice to accomplished sportswoman.

In 2018, Liv’s shooting diary included:

  • InterShoot, Holland (February)
  • British Open Airgun Championship, Bisley (April)
  • English Championships, Bisley (April)
  • Norfolk Open, North Walsham (June)
  • Junior International, Bisley (August)
  • Scout National Championships, Bisley (October)
  • Welsh Open, Cardiff (November)
  • Surrey Open, Bisley (December)
  • RIAC, Luxembourg (December)

Olivia Hill 2019

Olivia Hill (centre), Emily Bale, Phoebe Taylor

In February this year, at the 2019 Intershoot in Holland, the GB Talent Squad Junior Ladies’ team – Olivia Hill, Emily Bale, and Phoebe Taylor – won Silver in the team event. Two months later, in April, Liv was competing in the ESSU (English Small-bore Shooting Union) Championships at Bisley. Liv qualified 1st in Juniors and 4th in the Open event, earning herself a place in the final. Finishing 2nd overall, Liv was the highest-scoring junior, and she came home with the title of English Junior 10m Air Rifle Champion.

Paul Goater, manager of the England Rifle Academy and lead air rifle coach for the Rifle Talent Squad, is Olivia’s primary coach.

“She’s been a real pleasure to coach, and if she keeps working hard, is certainly capable of great things. I hope that I am fortunate enough to remain part of her support team moving forward.”

Junior World Cup in Suhl

Olivia competing at the Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany

At the time of writing, 18-year-old Liv is competing in the Junior World Cup at the Suhl-Friedberg Shooting Centre in Suhl, Germany. After her first match, Liv posted on Instagram:

“It was an amazing experience to shoot alongside some great shooters from so many different countries and see how others prepare to perform at their best. I can now say I have competed in my first Junior World Cup!”

Novi Sad Grand Prix, in Serbia

On the day Liv first competed in a Junior World Cup, British Shooting announced the GB team for the Novi Sad Grand Prix – a competition organised by the ESC (European Shooting Confederation). Olivia Hill had made the team!

“SUPER SUPER SUPER EXCITED to finally announce I have been selected to represent Great Britain in the Novi Sad Grand Prix in Serbia!!!” (Instagram 15 July)

Needless to say, the whole Pellpax team are immensely proud to be Olivia’s sponsor, and we believe that our Norfolk girl will keep shooting to the very top of her sport.

Liv says, “Pellpax has enabled me to do more training and competitions by supporting me.”

To keep up to date with Olivia’s shooting progress, why not follow her on Instagram

Contact Us

To find out more about Pellpax’s unique delivery service, just give us a call on 01263 731 585

Pellpax at War & Peace Revival

This week, Pellpax are preparing for the War & Peace Revival Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, in Kent, which will be open to the public from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 July, 09:00 to 18:00.

War & Peace Revival – an FRL Media event – is a celebration of 20th century military action and wartime civilian life, incorporating staged battle re-enactments, living history displays, and a huge exhibition of military vehicles and militaria.

There’ll be dancing and live music at the Victory Marquee, and special fly-overs by a Spitfire Mk9 TA805 (‘Kent Spitfire’) and a Hurricane Mk1 P2921.

So, if you’re at the show, come and say hello to us at stall P12, and have a look at some of the fantastic products we’ll have on offer at special show prices.

… Like Smith & Wesson revolvers from Umarex – widely considered to be the best CO2 revolvers ever made. The 586 4” Black .177 and the 686 6” Nickel .177 are both double-action revolvers with a 10-round magazine and fully adjustable sights. You can pick up one of these beauties, in its own hard case, from Pellpax at the War & Peace Revival show next week.

… And from the Umarex Legends series, the Legends Cowboy Lever Action and the Legends MP German Submachine Gun; both of these guns are CO2-powered, and fire 4.5mm pellets.

For more information about any of the products we sell, or to find out about the Pellpax unique delivery service, just give us a call on 01263 731 585 and talk to one of our experts.

And remember that the Pellpax office will be open all next week, so orders and enquiries will be handled as usual.