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.

Pellpax at the Northern Shooting Show

It’s almost time for the Northern Shooting Show!

On the weekend of 11^th and 12^th May, this hugely popular retail show will be opening its doors for the fourth year running, and this time it will be bigger than ever. The Northern Shooting Show, which takes place at the Yorkshire Events Centre in Harrogate, is one of the most important events in the UK shooting calendar. Retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers from all over the world will be showcasing their products at this famous venue – and here’s some more good news: there’s lots of free on-site parking!

The Pellpax team is busy preparing for the show. We’ll have loads of great products on sale, including the Walther PPK/s – a blowback pistol with a full-metal frame and 15-round magazine – and the Glock 17 Dual Am mo – another blowback pistol that simulates the realistic recoil of the live-firing version. We’ll also be bringing along the popular Umarex 850 Air Magnum XT Kit – a CO₂ air rifle, which comes complete with the Walther 3-9 x 40 scope, with mounts; a bipod, mounted on a metal weaver rail; and a sound moderator.

We’re really looking forward to meeting some of our customers, so if you’re at the show, please do come and say hello!

See you there …

Ragna Elite Team Member, Jett Pease, Reviews some Elite Airsoft Pellets

There’s a brand of pellets that’s really making headway in the popularity stakes. It’s a brand that’s gaining a reputation for consistent accuracy and form – a brand that’s affordable and has something for everyone – including airsofters. The brand is ProShot.

Take, for example, the ProShot Precision Tracer BB – a 6mm 0.25g BB pellet that glows in the dark, a pellet designed to give you the greatest accuracy and power. Or the ProShot 6mm 0.20g BB, which is ideal for airsoft pistols, such as the ASG M92F Gas-powered pistol. These pellets are becoming more and more in demand in the world of airsoft.

Here are a few words about the ProShot brand from our very own Jett Pease, of the Ragna Elites Airsoft Team.

ProShot Airsoft Pellets: Review

ProShot is manufactured to exacting standards in safe working environments, and each ProShot product is the result of expert design, high-quality materials, and top-performing machinery. Having passed through rigorous testing processes and long periods of development, ProShot products are guaranteed to be of the highest standard and unbeatable value.

ProShot is a great product. I tested the 0.25g biodegradable BBs. The label reads “Grade A Polished Surface, High Accuracy and Power & the Perfect Sphere Technology”. This is not an understatement. Performance of these BBs is great for everyone – from the beginner to the advanced players out there.

I wouldn’t recommend this for you snipers out there, as the weight isn’t good enough for your 450-500 fps sniper rifles.

Diameter is 5.95 ± 0.01mm, and out of the 50 BBs I measured, all were consistent in size and had no air bubbles inside, which adds to the quality that the brand advertises.

If you’re looking for a great all-rounder, then look no further than ProShot Precision Airsoft ammo.

You can check out the range of ammo for skirmishers and airsoft needs in the Airsoft section at www.pellpax.co.uk/ProShot. If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact them via Chat, email them on sales@pellpax.co.uk, or just give them a call on 01263 731 585 to speak to one of their experts.

Jett Pease, Ragna Elites

Three Great Break-Barrel Air Rifles for Rabbit Shooting this Spring

There’s nothing quite like a delicious, old-fashioned rabbit stew. Just think about tasty root vegetables simmering in a rich gravy with fresh rabbit meat that’s been marinated in sweet cider and seasoned with black pepper and thyme …

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First of all, we need to catch some rabbits.

The rabbit, formerly known as the coney

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) first came to Britain with the Romans, and, just like the Romans, this highly sexed little mammal has made a great impact on our culture. Over the last 2,000 years, there have been hundreds of children’s stories starring high-profile characters such as Peter Rabbit, Little Grey Rabbit, Roger Rabbit, and Bugs Bunny; and hundreds of children have enjoyed owning a rabbit (or bunny) as a pet. In wartime, hundreds of men have clutched a rabbit’s foot (for luck) as they died in battle; and hundreds of country people have feasted on delicious rabbit meat.

A female rabbit gives birth to approximately five kittens at a time, and she’ll produce as many as five litters a year; the gestation period is just 30 days. Rabbits live in complex systems of purpose-built burrows, called warrens, which provide first-class shelter from the weather and from predators. So, with secure housing and a tendency to breed like … well, you know … this evolutionary champion exists in abundance, chomping its way through crops as fast as farmers can plant them.

Rabbits are pests all year long. There are always too many rabbits around, which is a great nuisance to farmers, but a gift to pest controllers and recreational shooters.

Now, rabbit fur is a pretty poor source of insulation, and so these creatures don’t take kindly to cold or wet weather. In extreme conditions, rabbits hide away in their burrows, and you’ll be hard-pressed to spot any at all. However, if you’re out with your gun at a time when bad weather is moving in, rabbits will, in all likelihood, be scurrying about, frantically searching for food and shelter before holing up for the duration of the cold, wet weather.

Be vewy vewy quiet. I’m hunting wabbits!

There are so many superb air rifles on the market, and they all have their plus points. But which of these rifles would you choose to take out hunting?

That’s a loaded question. So, with our sights set on .22 calibre break-barrel rifles (which we recommend for novice shooters), we’ve taken a shot at selecting the three best ones for rabbit shooting, along with some choice pellets.

Here they are, then, in no particular order:

Storm X Deluxe Kit

***Shooting rabbits with a Norica Storm X***

This is Pellpax’s ultimate pest dispatch rifle kit. The Storm X, from Norica, is a powerful air rifle with a muzzle energy of between 11 and 12ft/lb, designed for the dispatch of all small pests, including squirrels, rats, pigeons, and rabbits. This gun’s high power and pin-point accuracy ensure a humane, one-shot kill.

The Storm’s stock, which is made from stained, vaporised beech wood, features ornately textured grips to ensure a secure hold. The adjustable trigger has an automatic safety, and the ventilated butt plate minimises recoil, preventing damage to your shoulder. This beautiful rifle has a barrel length of .454m, a total length of 1.190m, and it weighs 3.2kg.

Rabbits are at their most active at dawn and dusk, and for these low light conditions, you’ll need a good-quality scope with a large lens, which will let in enough light for better contrast and improved vision. So, as well as a super Norica break-barrel rifle, the Storm X Deluxe Kit includes a 3-9×50 scope and scope mounts. The huge zoom range is ideal for hunting rabbits and other pests from a long distance, although we recommend that you shoot from no more than 40m from your target.

The Pellpax Storm X Deluxe Kit includes a .22 calibre air rifle, 3-9×50 scope with scope mounts, a screw-on silencer, padded gun bag, clip-on bipod, and a tin of hunting pellets. It’s a great buy at just £229.99, only from Pellpax.

Walther Classus

With its Lothar Walther barrel and Minelli stock, the ambidextrous Classus really is a smooth operator. Elegant checkering on the forestock and pistol grip ensures a secure grip, and the rubber butt plate absorbs a good deal of the recoil.

The Classus has the same cocking rod as the Walther LGV, as well as the adjustable Walther XT trigger. The action uses a smooth and consistent spring-and-piston system that’s been tuned for low recoil and accurate power levels. The Walther Classus – which is 1.07m long, weighs 3.1kg, and has a muzzle energy of 11.5ft/lb – is available from Pellpax at £369.99.

Now, what about pellets? To complement the Walther Classus, we recommend the 18-grain ProShot Precision Perdere, a hollow-point pellet ideal for hunting and pest control. Upon impact with the target, the hollow-pointed nose drives air back into the centre of the pellet, causing rapid expansion of the pellet, which increases the size of the wound channel. This ensures a quick, clean kill.

These high-quality ProShot Precision Perdere .22 calibre pellets are fantastic value, available from Pellpax at £8.59 for a tin of 250.

Black Ops Tactical Sniper

Great for all shooting disciplines, from pest and vermin control to target shooting and plinking, the Black Ops Tactical Sniper packs a mean punch. With a sturdy, tactical frame and a massive 11.7ft/lb muzzle energy, this great-looking break-barrel airgun comes with a folding bipod and 4×32 scope included in the price. The fully adjustable stock means you can tailor it to suit you for the perfect shot every time.

Another nice feature of the Black Ops is the storage facility concealed in the fake magazine, where you can store pellets. At 1.11m long, with a barrel length of 0.45m, and weighing 4kg, this rifle has an awesome price tag of £171.99.

And pellets? Well, how about the ProShot Precision Magnum, a 17-grain domed pellet with a bit more point than the average dome! This best-of-both-worlds pellet is an all-round performer, suitable for any kind of shooting, and you can pick up a tin of 300 for just £8.99.

… Or there’s the Gamekeeper Long Range Special, a high-quality domed pellet that ensures consistency and accuracy for those long-range shots. These pellets are fantastic value at £8.99 for a tin of 500.

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

And one more thing: If you’d like to send us your rabbit recipes, with a photo, we’d love to share them via social media with Pellpax customers all over the UK! Just drop us an email at sales@pellpax.co.uk.

Pellpax Sponsors Family Airsoft Team: Ragna Elites

Pellpax is a company led by a strong ethos of giving something back to the community. Over the last few years, Pellpax has given financial support to shooting clubs, charitable organisations, and talented individuals who are striving for excellence in their chosen discipline. This is just one way in which Pellpax is helping to nurture the future of British shooting sports.

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Jett Pease to our sponsorship family. Jett, who lives with his wife and two daughters in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is an enthusiastic and experienced airsoft player, and will be reviewing many of the airsoft products featured on the Pellpax website. So, before we find out how some of the best airsoft guns on the market fare in Jett’s capable hands, let’s get to know a bit about the man himself.

Jett grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and this is where he was introduced to the game of airsoft. Jett’s first skirmishes, however, didn’t take place in woodland or wasteland or deserted buildings … they were played out in the family home!

Robert Pease and his three sons, Alan, Jett, and Sean, would regularly enjoy skirmishes around the house, dressed in combat gear, and toting imitation firearms. But as the boys grew, they needed their sport to be more elaborate, with wider spaces, more people, better opportunity to plan and execute complex missions. And so the Pease family joined Hockley Airsoft Arena.

Hockley Airsoft Arena also has an indoor range, and this is where Jett’s younger brother, Sean, enjoys shooting.

“Sean has a learning disability,” Jett explained, “and he’s uncomfortable around unfamiliar people. Sean likes to shoot at the range, where there’s no pressure on him to communicate with strangers.”

In recent times, Jett’s older brother, Alan, hasn’t had a lot of opportunity for airsoft.

“Our mum has a physical disability, and Alan’s her primary carer. He’s still really into the sport, though. He particularly enjoys playing Action RPGs, and also games like Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.”

A family affair

United by their love of airsoft and by strong family ties, Jett, Robert, Alan, and Sean are proud to be the only members of their own airsoft team, Ragna Elites, which is represented, in the main, by Jett.

“When I play airsoft games, I play with integrity and professionalism all the time. It’s a game, yeah, but it’s competitive, and I play like I’m in a real firefight with the enemy.”

Jett looks on airsoft more as a sport than just a fun pastime. Focused on improving his skills and widening his experience, Jett has set his sights on specialised training at the ESA (European Security Academy) in Książ Wielkopolski, a town in Śrem County, Poland.

Jett described the type of training he’d be doing at the ESA.

“I’d like to do the Combined Firearms course, which covers topics like ‘fundamentals of shooting’, ‘weapon maintenance’, and ‘firearms design and mechanics’. You also get taught skills such as ‘speed emergency re-load’, ‘tactical shooting principles’, ‘safety rules’, and ‘shooting with use of cover’.”

Another course that Jett hopes to do at the ESA is Close Quarter Battle, designed for the more experienced shooter. And then there’s Tactical Combat Casualty Care:

“This course teaches you to deal with casualties in an environment where professional emergency care is scarce, and medical equipment is limited.”

Airsoft Weapons of Choice

Although Jett still enjoys the occasional game of airsoft at Hockley, his local game site is now Dirty Dog Airsoft at Shildon, County Durham. His weapons are mainly Colt firearms (such as the KWC 1911 CO2) and Glock sidearms (for example, the KWC G17C CO₂) as backups.

Jett is also a gold member of UKAPU (UK Airsoft Players Union), the not-for-profit, voluntary association for airsoft players who want to protect the future of airsoft.

The UKAPU website says, “By becoming part of this united and official organisation, players can engage in discussion with the government, the press, and others, when airsoft skirmishing comes under threat.”

In the months to come, we’ll be following the progress of Jett Pease as he moves on in the world of airsoft, and Jett will be testing and reviewing some of the airsoft equipment that we sell, here at Pellpax.

You can check out our range of products for skirmishers and airsoft teams in our Airsoft section. If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact us via Chat, email us on sales@pellpax.co.uk, or just give us a call on 01263 731 585 to speak to one of our experts.

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.

Northern Shooting Show 2019

The Northern Shooting Show takes place on 11th-12th May, in Harrogate, Yorkshire, at the Yorkshire Event Centre.

Pellpax will be in attendance as exhibitors, bringing a good range of our airguns, optics, blades and more for you to choose from. The NSS is in its fourth year, and continues to grow to become one of the major gatherings for the shooting and gun community in the UK.

The event is a great showcase for all things shooting and related matters, including shotguns, airsoft, airguns, rifles, gundogs, optics, and bushcraft.

Airgun exhibitors include some big name brands, including BSA Guns, MTC Optics, Tracer, Brocock, Daystate, Hawke, Air Arms and Gamo. Shotgun manufacturers in attendance include Benelli, Beretta, Webley & Scott, Remington, Browning. Hatsan, Mossberg, and many more. Rifles makers at the show will include Anschutz, Browning, CZ, Howa, Mauser, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Sauer & Winchester, with more to be announced.

Airsoft should be well-served, with 5,500 sq metres dedicated to this popular and growing sport. You will be able to try out shooting airsoft guns on the range available at the event for this purpose, with Mark Farrar and the Halo Mill team along with Mike Cripps at Elite shooting & Northern Practical Pistol Club on hand to give you help and advice.

Airsoft exhibitors signed up so far include Ammo Drop, Airsoft Action, Elite Shooting, Redwolf, Fubar Bundy, First & Only, Viper Tactical, ASG, Halo Mill, Landwarrior Airsoft, GI SPortz, MR Military, Nuprol, Military Patrol, Cannae, UKPSA & Tippman sports.

Activities and Events

There will be an outdoor area with a host of activities, including a manufacturers’ ‘Try Before You Buy’ area, Air Arms Speed Shoot (with a prize gun to be won, by shooting against the clock) and a Double Deuce .22 Live Rimfire Range.

There’s also a Clay Shooting Line competition, with 15,000 cartridges provided by Eley, and one of the longest Claylines in Europe at over 550 metres. Eley Hawke will offer people the chance to try out their range of cartridges, and buy from them.

There’s the Northern 50 Bird Sporting Championship, which you can enter as many times as you like. It takes place at the Hazelbank Shooting Ground and will be hosted by Clayshooting Magazine, with the winner to get a Browning 525 Sporter, worth £1,195, as the top prize.

There will be a HTF Masterclass, with Brocock and Daystate on hand, and you will be able to get your hands on with these highly accurate airguns, and shown shooting techniques. It’s a great way to learn more about HFT shooting, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate shooter.

The surrounding Yorkshire region has a proud heritage of field sports and shooting, and to reflect this there will be a Gamekeeping & Gundog Hall with representatives from the National Gamekeepers Association, National Organisation of Beaters & Pickers Up, Scottish Association of Country Sports and The Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, as well as other exhibitors from these disciplines.

A regional heat of the BASC Chudleys Gundog Scurry League will also be held here, and you can bring your gundog to enter (check the official site NSS for further details). Simon Jewitt of Stoneycairn Gundogs will be doing gundog training and demonstrations.

There will be an outdoor bushcraft area, with a range of activities which are great for everyone including children, and include a Friction Fire Lighting demo, Emergency Fire Lighting Techniques, info on how to Game Prep In The Field, Cordage Making and Safe Knife Use and Carving.

Tickets for the event start from £12 for one day early bird tickets, and £24 for the weekend. Children under 15 can go for free. The event opening times are 8:30am – 4:30pm on both days.

The Northern Shooting Show takes at Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8NZ on 11th-12th May. You can purchase tickets from the official site at https://www.northernshootingshow.co.uk

We’ll see you there!

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.”

Coming of Age for Pellpax Star

Key of the Door

It’s hard to believe that, until October this year (2018), James Farquharson – international target-shooting champion, qualified first-aider, and experienced shooting and canoeing instructor – was a minor.

When seventeen-year-old James began sponsorship with Pellpax, we were all wowed by his talent, determination, and maturity. We were taken aback by this lad with an intellect beyond his years. But in October, James (legally) became a man.

So, what’s been happening this autumn? I caught up with James for the latest news. As you would expect, he’s been busy!

National Scout Rifle Championships

In October, James competed in the National Scout Rifle Championships. The competition, which was sponsored by the National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA), was held at the National Shooting Centre at Bisley – the UK’s premier shooting venue, and international home of target shooting. James came away with five medals: three Bronzes, a Silver, and a Gold.

Surrey Open Airgun Meeting

The Surrey Open Airgun Meeting takes place each November at the Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley. The Lord Roberts Centre was originally built to host the small-bore shooting events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. It is now the NSRA headquarters and home to the Association’s 10m airgun and 50m rifle ranges.

The competition was played over two days, and James took first place in the Mixed Sporter event on both days, clocking up a score of 353 on the Saturday and 359 on the Sunday. In the ISSF Junior Men’s Air Rifle, James scored a total of 578.6, although, on this occasion, he didn’t achieve a medal placement. On the Sunday, James was roped into helping out on the range, due to a shortage of range staff.

James takes aim in the prone position, sporting his Pellpax gear.

November: Welsh Open Airgun

The Welsh Open, sponsored by the England Smallbore Shooting Union (ESSU), was held in November at Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

James told me, “This was my first full ISSF Air Rifle competition, and I was pleased to exceed my goal of 570 on two of my three shoots. It was a really nice competition, and I enjoyed my trip up to Wales.”

Greater London South West Scout Shooting Competition

James’ dad, Huw, has been involved in Scouting since he became a Cub Scout in 1976. Although he never put any pressure on his son to follow in his footsteps, it was a route that James chose to take.

“I guess I have Dad to thank for everything I’ve done, seeing as it’s all been through Scouts!”

Huw Farquharson is the current Secretary of the Royal Kingston Scout Air Rifle Club (RKSARC), and James is webmaster and armourer. For the last four or five years, father and son have been organising Scouts’ annual shooting competitions: the Royal Kingston Scout Open Airgun Competition in March, and the annual Greater London South West Scout Shooting Competition in November. James was pleased with this November’s event.

“Ninety-one shooters attended. Between them, they fired 2840 shots at 568 targets, gaining a cumulative score of 15,092 points!”

An Academic Study

James, who is in the middle of A level studies, has recently completed an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The EPQ, a relatively new qualification that takes the form of a thesis, was devised in 2006 and is highly valued by universities for its rigorous academic content. James’ subject was the psychological and physiological effects of target shooting in the UK.

James’ investigation into the psychological and physiological effects of shooting was based on a study of more than 100 people, each of whom identified themselves as either a ‘shooter’ or a ‘non-shooter’. His analysis took into account the fact that some of the common characteristics and skills of shooters might be factors in their attraction to the sport, rather than a direct result of target shooting. James also highlighted the possibility that shooters, in an effort to contradict unfavourable public opinion, might be (either consciously or unconsciously) inclined to weight their answers towards a favourable conclusion.

However, one particular result stands out clearly: in general, shooters possess a significantly higher level of dexterity than non-shooters. James explains that this could be a predisposition of those who are drawn to the sport; but on the other hand, it could well be the result of regular target-shooting practice. As the dexterity tests were based purely on aptitude rather than self-analysis, James considers this conclusion to be reliably accurate.

“There’s a lot more research to be done on this subject,” James said. “For example, I’d like to make a more in-depth study of aggression levels. The results of this survey showed shooters to be less aggressive than non-shooters. This doesn’t surprise me at all, but I’m really interested in discovering the reasons for this.”

James has a busy year ahead of him. Keep an eye on the Pellpax blog for more news.