Based in Norfolk, Pellpax is a nationally recognised company, led by a strong ethos of giving something back to the community. Sponsorship of twenty-year-old Amy Brown, an exceptionally talented Olympic skeet shooter from Newcastle upon Tyne, is one way in which Pellpax helps to nurture the future of British shooting sports.
Darren Kirk, Pellpax Managing Director, explains: “Occasionally you stumble across someone with an exceptional talent or skill. Left un-nurtured, that talent may blossom, or it may not get the chance to grow to its full potential. Sometimes all it needs is some help – a little push, or encouragement. We feel that, in some small way, we can help those who have the potential to be the stars of the future.”
The first step on Amy’s shooting career ladder was success at the Target Tokyo trials, after being scouted by an APSI (Association of Professional Shooting Instructors) coach during the summer of 2015. Since then, she has competed in national competitions all over the UK, and in international events in Holland, Serbia, Málaga, the UK, and Malta. Amy’s performance at the 2017 International Malta Grand Prix was testament to her enormous capacity for focus and perseverance; knocked back by illness, she won bronze, just days after being discharged from hospital.
Amy says, “Winning a bronze medal at the International Malta Grand Prix last year was my proudest moment to date. I came back after illness and persevered through the entire competition. I came third in my first ever senior competition.”
Amy is a student at The University of Northumbria. Juggling higher education with a sporting career isn’t easy, but Amy’s tutors have always been sympathetic to her athletic commitments, and this support from Northumbria University has been extended to a Performance Athlete Scholarship. Her daily routine involves a tight schedule of lectures and seminars, fitness training with the university sports team, and shooting practice with her coach, Iain McGregor,one of the most highly qualified and experienced shotgun coaches in the UK.
Amy talks about the logistics of balancing study and training: “I take my work with me and complete assignments whilst I’m away training. The university are extremely understanding with this, and we work together to fit my academic studies in with my training.”
But intense training comes with financial cost.
“Pellpax have made all the difference,” says Amy. “I use approximately 1200 cartridges per month, and they’re expensive, so the harder I train, the higher the cost.”
Pellpax supplies Amy with Hull Pro One cartridges, which deliver such high performance that they have been selected by the World Class Performance Programme as the Olympic training load.
Pellpax contributes to Amy’s travel costs, too. “There are plenty of competitions I couldn’t have attended without their help.”
During training and competitions, Amy wears Pellpax clothing, and gives a glowing review of the warm sweatshirts and joggers that she has been enjoying during this winter’s low temperatures.
“There’s a strict training regime at the university, which has continued throughout the cold weather and heavy snow. My warm Pellpax clothing has been wonderful!”
Training to be a world champion, as well as studying for a university degree, might be enough on most people’s plate – but Amy is an exceptional lady. Together with her younger sister, Erin, she co-ordinates a ladies’ and girls’ shooting club. Proceeds from monthly meetings are donated to charities such as Bloodwise, an organisation striving to defeat all 137 types of blood cancer, and the Great North Air Ambulance.
This year, Pellpax’s Golden Girl will be shooting at international competitions in Malta, Italy, and Spain. And after that?
There is no hesitation from Amy: “I want to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. That’s my dream.” Then she adds, “I’m enjoying the journey towards it. I’m training hard and meeting so many people. It’s a really nice experience.”
… And Pellpax will be with her all the way.
If you are interested in providing further sponsorship for Amy, please contact Amy at [email protected].
Meet Zbroia Company – Manufacturer of the Kozak and Hortitsia PCP Air Rifles
At Pellpax, we’re very excited to be stocking the new Hortitsia and Kozak PCP air rifles from the Ukrainian manufacturer and wholesaler, Zbroia Company. These elegant and distinctive air rifles have proved to be a popular choice for our customers, and so we thought it might be nice to have a closer look at the company that makes them.
It’s worth mentioning that the Ukrainian language is very different from English, in that it is written with its own Ukrainian alphabet. However, the language is also represented by Roman script. ‘Zbroia’ is the Romanised, phonic representation of зброю, which is the Ukrainian word for ‘weapon’.
Zbroia Company is based in Ха́рків (Kharkiv), Ukraine’s second largest city, after its capital, Kiev. Kharkiv was founded in 1654, close to the River Kharkiv, by people fleeing from the Khmelnytsky Uprising (also known as the Cossack-Polish War). The city is now a thriving centre of engineering industry, and is the home of 13 universities.
Zbroia Company supplies its products to many different countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and – as of this month – North America and South America. The person responsible for the export of Zbroia products is Andrey Zhylitsyn, a graduate of Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, faculty of management and marketing.
Andrey told me: “In my present work, I communicate with clients from different countries, speakers of different languages, followers of different traditions, culture, and religion. It is very interesting. In one day, following the sun, I can start communicating with clients in Hong Kong, move on to the Emirates, Germany, and Great Britain, and then finish the day, far beyond 6.00 p.m. Ukrainian time, solving issues in Chile or the US, where it is early morning.”
Zbroia’s chief designer is Roman Kysylov. Roman graduated from the Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport, mechanical faculty, in 1998, and joined Zbroia Company in 2008. This highly talented mechanical engineer, who has 20 years’ experience in the design of firearms and pneumatic guns, and a life-long love of shooting sports, is the man responsible for the design of the Hortitsia and the Kozak.
The козаки́, which we know as the Kozak, is of the bullpup design, with the gun’s action situated behind the trigger, decreasing the rifle’s overall length and weight, without compromising the length of the barrel. The safety catch, positioned on the side of the barrel, can be reached and operated without having to lower the rifle from the shoulder, enabling the shooter to fire shots in quick succession, with accuracy. This lightweight rifle is ideal for quarry shooting, where you might be manoeuvring among trees; it’s well balanced, has a sensitive trigger, and is very quiet, thanks to the built-in barrel shroud.
The word козаки́ (kozak) is Ukrainian for ‘Cossack’. Cossacks were democratic, self-governing communities in Russia and Ukraine, who, in the 14th and 15th centuries, went into the steppes (grassland plains), turning their backs on serfdom and religious persecution. козаки́ (kozak) is a word from the Cuman language – a language that is now extinct – meaning ‘free man’.
Cossacks have contributed greatly to Russian and Ukrainian history, serving in the militia, in eastern European conflicts, until the early 20th century. In times of war, the women of these strong, martial groups took on the roles of their absent men, ferociously defending their territory and providing for their communities. Хо́ртиця (Khortytsia), which is the largest island on the river Dniepro, was the home of the Zaporizhian Sich, one of the earliest and most powerful Cossack communities.
The island of Khortytsia, now home to the Museum of Zaporizhian Cossacks, is a popular tourist destination, and has been a historical and cultural reserve since 1965. Khortytsia is, of course, the name’s sake of Zbroia’s Hortitsia PCP air rifle.
The good-looking and relatively light-weight Hortitsia has delighted so many Pellpax customers, and we, in turn, have been delighted by the positive feedback. Like the Kozak, the Hortitsia has an integrated barrel shroud for very effective silencing, a sensitive trigger, and smooth probe engagement. Both models are available in .177 and .22 calibre, and with a short (330mm) or long (450mm) barrel.
In July this year, Pellpax became a UK distributor for Zbroia Company. Pellpax Managing Director, Darren Kirk, is pleased with the impression these two rifles have made on UK customers. He told me: “Everyone who buys them loves them.”
I asked Andrey Zhylitsyn if he has ever visited the UK. He said, “Unfortunately, I have never been to the United Kingdom, but as soon as such an opportunity arises, I will certainly use it.”
I’m sure that when that opportunity arises, Andrey will receive a very warm welcome.
A friendly company with a professional approach … Great friendly service, good communication … A rare breed of online business with full traditional personal telephone service.
These are a few of the many positive comments from Pellpax customers, reflecting the efficient and reliable delivery service that’s unique to Pellpax. You may have been on the receiving end of this delivery process, or you may be considering a first-time purchase. But have you ever wondered how it all works?
Legislation has always stipulated that shotguns, rifles, and associated ammunition are sold on a face-to-face basis by a registered firearms dealer (RFD). There is now a law that requires all air guns and silencers to be sold under the same conditions. As a registered firearms dealer, Pellpax has a legal requirement to deliver these products, in person, to the customer; items that don’t fall into this category, such as pellets and clothing, are dispatched immediately, by courier, and will be delivered within a few days.
Every weekend, Pellpax’s fleet of vehicles sets out to deliver to households all over England and Wales. Between Friday lunchtime and Tuesday afternoon, Pellpax drivers will have visited up to 300 addresses, and it’s not uncommon for one driver to cover more than 1,000 miles. This huge task is achieved by putting into practice the teamwork and open communication that sets Pellpax in a class of its own.
Having taken an order, the sales team will mark the delivery location on a map of the UK, using colour-coded pins. The IT department provides information for the customer, using sophisticated software that can calculate routes and the approximate intervals between drops – assuming that a driver doesn’t lose his way! This can happen, of course, and so can delays caused by roadworks, accidents, and traffic congestion.
In these cases, the driver will make a phone call to the customer, with an apology and an explanation, and will provide a new estimated time of arrival. In a case where the time cannot be made up, the driver will also contact the customer next on the list. The Pellpax driver will always keep customers informed regarding the time of their delivery.
If your order is placed before midday on a Tuesday, it will be delivered to your door between the Friday of that week and the following Tuesday. An order placed after midday on Tuesday might still be dispatched for delivery three days later, or it may be delivered during the following weekend, depending on your location. In all cases, though, Pellpax staff will keep you up to date with information, and if you have any queries, they will be pleased to help.
Friday noon is a busy time at Pellpax headquarters. Every item has already been double-checked; all guns have been assembled, zeroed in, and tested, so they’re ready to shoot when you take them out of the box; and each package has the customer’s name written clearly on it. The packages are loaded into the vehicles in reverse order of delivery, locked in safely, under the eye of a security camera. Each driver takes with him a folder, containing all the paperwork for each delivery, and taped to the front of the folder is Pellpax’s Certificate of Registration as a Firearms Dealer.
When a driver sets out, he programmes the post code of the first drop into the satnav and checks that the estimated arrival time displayed is approximately the same as that shown on the paperwork. After each drop, the driver enters the next post code, and so the process goes on throughout the weekend. Because Pellpax has a policy of personal service, intervals between drops are calculated with the inclusion of a considerable period of time for customer care.
Pellpax drivers are not just couriers, but are an integral part of the team, working closely with all other departments. Like all members of the Pellpax staff, drivers are knowledgeable about the products they deliver and about the sales process. In the event that a driver is ill, and unable to work, it is not unusual for a staff member from another department to take on the role of driver for a weekend.
Here are some more comments from Pellpax customers:
Great delivery driver, so helpful, kept me updated on when and what time my delivery was coming … Another perfect delivery from Pellpax, on time as usual, would recommend 100%.
Many of you will think of an air gun as anything that fires a projectile from a smooth-bore or rifled barrel using the power of air.
This is the standard definition that can be found across the internet. But air guns are so much more than that today, as some use compressed air, others CO2 gas, and some a spring and piston, which still all come under the umbrella of air guns. As a rule of thumb, the term air gun is generally used to refer to any type of gun that uses compressed gas as the propellant, as opposed to burning powder, as in rifles and shotguns. And you should always consider the right air gun pellet for your needs as well.
Spring Power
Probably one of the oldest air gun mechanisms to still be around today is the spring-and-piston type, with the first examples of their existence going back to the late 1800s.
The principle of a spring-powered air rifle is that a spring is cocked by means of a lever; it’s often the barrel that doubles for this job, but some guns are a side- or underlever type, which allows the barrel to be fixed in place. This lever then compresses the spring, which has a piston in front of it, with a washer on the front. This washer used to be made from leather, but today they tend to be made from plastic. This washer creates a near air-tight seal, so that when the spring’s tension is released, the piston compresses the air in front of it, which is then forced through a port into the barrel, propelling the projectile forward.
The Stinger Starter UL Tactical Kit is a great spring rifle for target shooting and plinking.
As this mechanism has very few moving parts, it’s probably the most reliable type of air gun, especially as so many models from nearly 100 years ago are still working flawlessly today!
One slight downside of this system is that the spring wears over time, causing power loss, but a gunsmith can easily replace the spring to get the power back up to where it should be. Spring air rifles come in a wide range of prices from choices such as the Stinger UL Tactical Starter Kit .22, right up to the top-of-the-range, state-of-the-art Air Arms Pro-Sport Walnut Stock .177, which offers some of the best accuracy and consistency straight out of the box.
An upgrade on the standard spring airgun is the gas ram system, which is very similar in its principles to a spring air rifle, except the spring is replaced with a gas strut. For those of you who can’t picture a gas strut, it’s basically a larger version of what holds a car boot open. The gas strut doesn’t suffer the same downfalls as a spring does, such as spring fatigue, meaning that the power stays the same for longer. The gas strut also offers better shot-to-shot consistency, as the compression of the gas is more consistent and accurate than that of a spring would be. Again, prices vary in the gas ram range, from the e Webley VMX D-Ram .22 – Black Synthetic, right up to the Weihrauch HW90K .177.
The next step up from spring and gas ram air rifles are CO2-powered rifles, which use either the small 12g capsules, or the larger 88g cylinders. Both are filled with compressed CO2, and once loaded into the rifle, the gas flows through a valve, eventually being released into the barrel to propel the pellet when the trigger is pulled and the hammer strikes the valve. This system is completely recoil-less, so it’s a lot easier to get better accuracy with one of these rifles straight out of the box.
CO2 does have its disadvantages though, as it’s very dependent on temperature, so it’ll be a bit more powerful on a warm day, but less powerful on a cold day. Spring and gas ram don’t experience this fluctuation by comparison. CO2 are a lot quieter though, as they don’t have much internal movement going on, so with a suppressor fitted, they are close to silent.
The Zbroia Hortisia Bolt Action PCP Rifle is an excellent starting point
PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) rifles are the next step up from CO2 and offer the best in accuracy and consistency out of all the airgun types currently on the market.
PCP rifles use high pressure air – some running at pressures of up to 300 BAR – to propel the pellets along the barrel. The advantage of high-pressure air is that it doesn’t change power as the temperature varies, and is also a lot more stable than CO2, giving much better results when firing pellets. The principle is similar to the workings of a CO2 gun, with the air held in a reservoir, which is recharged via a diving cylinder or a stirrup pump. This air is then released into the barrel via a valve, which is struck by a hammer when the trigger is pulled.
PCP rifles are available in all shapes and sizes, with both single-shot and multi-shot actions available.
Some good starting points would be the Zbroia Hortitsia .22 – Black or the Daystate Griffin .177, with prices varying anywhere in between, depending on your budget!
An airgun is not just a gun that uses air to fire pellets. It’s much more than that today, with some top-end rifles even utilizing electronic actions to fire the pellets! There are still many new advances to come, but I hope this blog post has helped explain some of the different types.
So you have your rifle. What’s the first accessory you’re going to need? Well, something to shoot out of it might be an idea; so let’s look at your choice of pellets.
A Sample Pack is a good place to start
Now, the barrel of any air rifle will contain minute imperfections in both the material and rifling, which can have a large effect over shot placement. What this means is, every airgun will respond differently to pellets and different shooters. For example, I have a TX200 that prefers JSB Exact pellets to anything Air Arms have to offer; so much for brand loyalty.
So a good thing to buy would be a Pellet Sample Pack. This way you can try out a couple of different types of pellet before committing to one, to see not only what your rifle prefers, but what kind is best for what you need.
Everyone has a type
Flathead or Wadcutter :
These pellets are ideal for shooting paper targets, where their flat, circular nose will cut a clean hole through paper, allowing you to see exactly where you’ve hit. This makes them ideal for zeroing in scopes and lasers, as well as for competitions, where competitive scoring must be as accurate as possible.
These pellets do also have some hunting utility, particularly in smaller calibres, as they have a high rate of deformation and expansion upon impact, which leads to larger wound channels and less chance to wound.
These pellets have an indentation in their nose, which, upon impact, drives air into the centre of the pellet, causing rapid expansion. These pellets are designed for hunting and pest control, and are best used at short to medium range to be most effective. This is because the hollow point in the centre can affect accuracy and cause the pellet to tumble at longer distances.
I would recommend them for anyone thinking of using a pistol for pest control, as the higher level of energy transfer from the pellet can help counteract the pistol’s lower power.
One thing that’s good about hollow points is that, thanks to their high rate of expansion, they’re extremely unlikely to over-penetrate, and, although I would always pay concern to what is behind your target, this will minimise the risk.
Pointed : Designed to prioritise accuracy above all other aspects, pointed pellets are created to maximise aerodynamics around the fired pellet to ensure a laser-straight flight path. That’s the theory anyway. However, from my experience, pointed pellets tend to be amongst the most inconsistent.
After some testing, I’ve concluded that it’s down to the way the pellets are manufactured and stored. The pointed pellet works fantastically well only if the point is aligned correctly, and, due to pellets being stored in a tin without much protection, this is the exception and not the rule.
Having said that, my dismissal of pointed pellets has led me to experiment with them less, but I have a couple of friends who swear by Gamekeeper Infiltrators for rabbits, which I am yet to try. So let’s just say I’m waiting to be won over.
Domed : The classic pellet shape. Domed pellets are by far the most popular shape of pellet and are really a jack of all trades. Their shape leads them to be accurate, with deep penetration and reliable expansion, without excelling in any of those areas.
Honestly, these pellets can do anything pretty well, and if I didn’t have a specific task in mind, these would be the pellets I’d go for. Since they’re the most common type of pellet, there’s a very long list of pellet brands, all with variations in shape, so something is almost guaranteed to suit your shooting style.
One thing to bear in mind with domed pellets is that, more than any other, they offer differing skirt sizes. Now, the skirt is the size of the end of the pellet and effectively equates to how tight the seal is of the pellet inside the barrel. The tighter the seal, the more pressure has to build up behind the pellet for it to be fired, therefore increasing FPS. This skirt size will be represented by an additional .01 when listing the pellets size. For example, .177 pellets which are usually 4.5mm will be listed as 4.50, 4.51, 4.52 etc.
A wider skirt will leave more lead behind inside the barrel. This lead fouling will need to be regularly cleaned to keep your rifle in perfect working order, as large build up can affect both power and accuracy. Also, some magazines, most notably semi-automatic rifles like the Sig Sauer MCX and Beretta CX4, tend to prefer smaller skirted pellets, so I would stick with .50 or .51 if using these rifles.
The next important consideration is the material that the pellet is made from. The various qualities of these materials, such as weight and hardness, will play an important role in how the pellet flies through the air and also how the pellet behaves when it impacts the target.
Lead : The first and by far the most popular choice is lead. Lead has been used for ammunition for literally centuries, thanks to its properties of being not only very heavy for its size, but also a relatively common material.
Its weight makes it a great projectile, as a small lead pellet will transfer more energy into the target than a larger pellet made from a lighter material. This means that the pellet is more effective in smaller calibres, and that it’s also less affected by environmental conditions in flight, such as wind.
Lead was also traditionally chosen because of its relative softness. This leads to deformation upon impact, dramatically widening the wound channel and leading to more effective hunting. Nobody likes wounding animals, so the fact that lead dramatically decreases this risk makes it a great choice for hunters.
Lead is not without its downsides, however, and because of its soft nature, the pellet often leaves a small amount of residue inside the barrel. This is an advantage, as it helps lubricate the barrel, but the build-up will start to affect accuracy and will need to be periodically removed – not a particularly hard job, but something to bear in mind.
Lead is also hazardous to the environment and is particularly toxic when it enters river systems. As a result, many places are becoming stricter on its use in ammunition, particularly the use of lead shot, and this is a trend I can see continuing with people’s growing concern over the environment.
Lead pellets are great for almost any task and are perfect for sub 12ft/lb air rifles, where their rapid expansion ensures humane hunting.
Copper : The military has been using copper jacketed ammunition for over a century, so copper coated pellets are nothing new in the airgun world. But how do they compare to their lead alternatives?
H&N Rabbit Magnum Power copper pellets
Well, first of all, they provide a handy barrier between the lead and your hands, which is always good, as lead’s not a particularly nice material to ingest. They are also significantly harder than 100% lead pellets, which has two distinct advantages. Firstly, they offer greater penetration, and pointed copper pellets offer some of the deepest penetration of any airgun ammunition.
The harder coating also provides protection against damage, and means that the pellets in the tin are far more uniform. This increases shot-to-shot consistency, and ensures the pellets are all in excellent condition when fired. It’s certain a strong reason to recommend the use of pointed copper pellets, as the problems that lead pellets have with making a reliable point is not present here.
Copper may be far less toxic to animals than lead, but it’s actually far more dangerous to plants. I always remember being taught the best way to kill a tree stump: hammer it full of copper nails. Now, thanks to their great penetration, copper pellets can perform a similar, if largely unwanted, role; so always ensure a safe backstop.
Copper Pellets, I think, are best used in conjunction with high-powered FAC air rifles, where their harder coating and more uniform shape will yield incredibly high accuracy.
Alloy : PBA or Alloy pellets are a fairly new development when it comes to airgun ammunition and are available in quite a limited number of designs.
Alloy pellets have the advantage of being non-toxic and can be safely handled and fired, although I would always ensure a secure backstop. The pellets themselves are often lighter than lead or copper, and consequently can produce higher feet per second. FPS is not necessarily the most important metric when viewed on its own, but it can aid accuracy and give a boost to range.
Alloy pellets do tend to be expensive, however, and I would only recommend them for close range target shooting in 6ft/lb pistols and 12ft/lb rifles, where they will perform very well. Anything more powerful than that, and you’re going to be getting close to the sound barrier (~1125 FPS depending on temperature), something that most airgun pellets are not designed for, and something that will negatively affect your accuracy. The noise they make, however, will be awesome.
Hopefully that clears up some of the jargon surrounding airgun pellets; it can be quite a confusing topic for the uninitiated. I would recommend buying a decent tin of domed lead pellets as they can do pretty much anything well, and then starting out with a sample pack to determine what is best for individual tasks.
This month our correspondent Hazel Randall takes a close look at the world of disabled shooting….
Target shooting is one of the most inclusive and adaptable sports. In the last 20 years, there’s been a tremendous change in attitude towards disabled sport in general, heavily influenced by dedicated individuals who join together to form strong support systems. To understand where it all began, let’s go back to the 1940s, to the father of the Paralympic Games…
The Paralympic Games
Sir Ludwig Guttmann (1899-1980) was a brilliant German neurologist and passionate advocate of physical exercise as a means of therapy for injured military personnel. Dr Guttmann, a Jewish refugee, set up the National Spine Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in Buckinghamshire. This specialist unit, opened in February 1944, became the birthplace of revolutionary new therapeutic systems, which focussed on the building of physical strength and self-respect.
On July 29th 1948, as the Olympic Games were officially kicked off in London, the very first Stoke Mandeville Games were being held at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Organised by Dr Guttman, this competition was a sporting arena for wheelchair athletes from all over the UK – a harbinger of great things to come. When Dutch ex-servicemen joined the competition in 1952, the event became known as the International Stoke Mandeville Games.
In 1960, Dr Guttman held the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games in Rome, alongside the Olympic Games, and from then on, the newly named Paralympic Games have taken place every four years. Since the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea, the Paralympics have been held in the same host city as the Olympic Games, and the two competitions have been united.
The word Paralympic is a blend of Olympic with the prefix para- (Greek: ‘beside’), denoting alteration or modification.
The Disabled Shooters Group
DSG President Adrian Last in action
Richard Scott was a keen skeet shooter. According to Mr Scott’s wishes, donations collected at his funeral in 1995 were used to fund a have-a-go disabled shooting event at Sandringham Shooting Ground, in Norfolk. At the time, Sandringham Shooting Ground was managed by Graham Brown, whose wife, Yvonne, arranged for participants to be accommodated overnight at a nearby nursing home, where she worked.
The success of this event led to others of its kind, and it was not long afterwards that the Disabled Shooters Group (DSG) was founded by Adrian Last and Brian Wilkie, two friends who first met at the event sponsored by the late Richard Scott. Brian Wilkie suffered from a severe form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and died in 2005.
In 1984, at just 24 years old, Adrian Last had a serious motorcycle accident, which resulted in a paralysed right arm and the amputation of his right foot. The following year, having regained the use of his arm, Adrian got back on a bike and resumed the sport he loved: endurance racing.
“With my prosthetic foot, I had no toe movement, and couldn’t operate a foot brake, so my bike was adapted for me. The rear brake was controlled by a lever on the left handlebar, and I continued to compete in national competitions, alongside able-bodied motorcyclists.”
But in 1990, another terrible motorcycle accident left Adrian even more damaged. After lying unconsciousness for eight days, he awoke to discover that two of the vertebrae in his neck had been broken, and that he had lost the use his legs; he would never again be able to ride a motorcycle. But two years later, at the motorcycle club’s annual clay shoot, 32-year-old Adrian was launched into his next passion: clay shooting.
“I’d shot before. Being a farmer’s son, I was handling guns from 11 or 12 years old, shooting pigeons and rabbits on the farm. But it had been a while!”
Last year, Adrian won the World English Sporting and the World Sport Trap titles, bringing his total world golds to five. He has also won one European and many British gold medals, and was the first winner of the CPSA award for Disabled Shooter of the Year. Fifty-seven-year-old Adrian is the DSG’s life president and a determined campaigner for disabled shooting. Over the last 20 years, he has helped to bring the CPSA’s attention to this area of the sport, and his efforts have contributed to increased accessibility of shooting sports in the UK.
He said, “I don’t mind what you ask about my disabilities. If talking about this inspires somebody to get into shooting sports, then I’m happy.”
DSG Secretary Sam Nunn takes aim with some clay shooting
Sam Nunn is the DSG’s current secretary, responsible for organising shooting events. Three of Sam’s limbs are affected by a very rare syndrome called femur-fibular-ulna complex, and he has been using a prosthetic leg since he was just 15 months old. Sam, who won the CPSA’s Shooter of the Year award in 2014, has been shooting from the age of 12.
“I used to go out shooting rabbits and pigeons with my uncle. But when I was 17, I fancied having a go at clay target shooting, so I started looking around for a club. There were very few clubs that were accessible to disabled shooters, and certainly none near me.”
I asked Sam if things have changed in that respect.
“Yes. I’ve noticed, over the last few years, that attitudes towards disabled shooters have improved a lot. Of course, some disciplines are more accessible than others. For example, an Olympic Trap is shot from a concrete pad, which is easier for wheelchair users than grass.”
Sam told me that he has to choose his gun carefully.
“Because my arms are short, I opt for a gun with a shortened stock, which is typically designed for ladies; I’ve always been able to find something to suit me. For some, though, no gun off the shelf will be suitable, but it’s possible to obtain models with specially made stocks or electric triggers.”
Target Shooting is Accessible, Inclusive, and Integrated
Mick Kirby, of the Sussex CPSA committee, who had his lower left arm amputated, following a stroke, has been instrumental in arranging have-a-go days for people with disabilities.
“We ran one of these events last September, which was really well attended. There was a boy with autism, who particularly enjoyed the experience, thanks mainly to one of our members, who forged a good connection with the boy. This lad’s father was really chuffed.”
Mick told me, “Sometimes I’ll bump into someone at a competition, who’s still shooting after being introduced to the sport at one of our events. I don’t know if this particular boy has continued to shoot. I hope so.”
Mick is a determined character and has worked out a way of loading his gun one-handed, with the aid of a hip holder. At national competitions, he has won gold and silver medals in British skeet and American skeet, and he is also a referee. Mick is committed to promoting shooting for people with disabilities, but actually has a very positive view of the sport’s inclusive nature.
“The majority of clubs include everyone, without discrimination. Over the last few years, I’ve seen a positive change in attitude.”
I asked Mick how he will continue to promote disabled shooting. His reply was simple.
“I promote the sport best by shooting as an able-bodied shooter.”
Matt Skelhon
Matt Skelhon is a 32-year-old Paralympic gold medallist, whose first experience of target shooting was at the annual Inter Spinal Unit Games at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
Matt spent four months at the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre, Sheffield, after breaking his back in a road traffic accident when he was just 21 years old. The injury caused paraplegia, which is paralysis of the lower body. With lots of support from family and friends, Matt’s outlook was optimistic, and he made every effort to hurry up his recovery so that he could get on with life.
“I was always positive; I never despaired. I was pretty lucky.”
As part of his rehabilitation, Matt had a go at wheelchair basketball and archery, but it was during the WheelPower Inter Spinal Unit Games at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, in April 2006, that he discovered a passion for target shooting. And he was very good at it!
He told me, “I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I like a challenge.”
Two years later, the British National Anthem was playing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, as Matt received a gold medal for the 10m air rifle event in the SH1 classification. SH1 is for competitors who do not require a shooting stand.
“I felt absolute elation. Leading up to the competition, I’d been focussing on training, just thinking about the job in hand. It had been all about the shooting. And then, suddenly, here I was, with a gold medal round my neck. It was surreal!”
At the 2012 Paralympics in London, Matt won silver and bronze in the 10m and 50m air rifle events respectively, and he also competed in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was named Sportsman of the Year by the Peterborough Telegraph. The Pellpax team wishes him well for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
John Kelman
John Kelman is an amazing man. He takes the concept of thinking outside the box to a place where you can’t even remember what the box looks like.
When he began his coaching career, John was confronted with a hurdle that he has had to overcome many times during his life: dyslexia. Intelligent, compassionate, and innovative, John struggled with the reading and writing aspect of studying for coaching qualifications, but this difficulty was certainly not going to get the better of him. He persevered, and now holds the position of Regional Coach – the highest coaching level recognised by the National Small-bore Rifle Association.
John was determined to provide coaching to people with disabilities. “In the year 2000,” he said, “most shooting clubs didn’t want to know about anyone with a disability – so I started my own club.”
John has designed and constructed shooting aids for many very different needs, and each of his innovations must be ratified by the NSRA to ensure that users are not given an unfair advantage in competitions.
DSG Shooter Eirian uses his feet to aim and shoot.
Eirian, who had cerebral palsy, had very little control over most of his body, including his head. This meant that he couldn’t focus his sight on the target, aim the gun, and pull the trigger, all at the same time. John told me, “He was trapped in his own body.”
However, Eirian had good control of his ankles and feet – in fact, he propelled his wheelchair with his toes. So John devised a way for Eirian to manoeuvre the barrel of the gun by means of a treadle, which he also used to operate the trigger. John fixed a laser onto the barrel, so that Eirian only had to watch the target; when the laser hit the centre, he’d shoot.
Another student, also with cerebral palsy, was 21-year-old Paul, whose hands were turned outward at an extreme angle. “Paul can’t turn his hands,” the carer told John. “He’s never seen his palms.” John borrowed a lace from the carer’s shoe and looped it around Paul’s wrist; with assistance, Paul then had control over pulling the trigger.
John went on to construct a tidier and safer mechanism for Paul to use – “I called this the Equaliser, as it made disabled shooters equal with able-bodied shooters.” But it was probably that first taste of achievement that brought Paul back again for another go.
And then there was Vic.
A close up of shooter Vic Morris, in action
“I was approached one day by an elderly gentleman who said he’d read an article about me in the local paper. ‘Can you get my son shooting?’ he said. I said, ‘I’ll give it a go.’ I was expecting a little lad, but then in comes a grown man, operating his wheelchair with his chin. I went to shake his hand, and he said, ‘Nothing works, mate.’ Within a week I had this man shooting; within 12 months he was entering national competitions.”
Vic Morris was 28, married, and a father of two little girls when his neck was broken in a rugby scrum, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.
John built a complex machine, whereby the gun was fixed into a support, and the end of the barrel was weighted. A butt plate supported a bracket that in turn supported the stock, and because Vic had excellent control of his head muscles, he could press the stock down with his chin, levering the other end up. Vic’s wife loaded the gun for him, and the trigger was connected to a switch, which Vic operated with his tongue.
Vic Morris became a very good shooter, and he and John were close friends. Vic died in July this year.
As I thanked John for taking the time to talk to me, he said, “I have a challenge for anybody with a disability. Come and see me, and I’ll do my very best to get you shooting – whatever your disability. Just contact me at [email protected].”
British Blind Sport
Trial shooter, Paul, takes aim with the specialist equipment
A quarter of a century ago, nobody in the UK with visual impairment was shooting, but in 1994, Ken Nash, a life member of both the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NRSA) and British Blind Sport (BBS), introduced shooting for the blind into the UK. There are now more than 30 centres across the country that welcome visually impaired shooters. Working alongside these clubs, BBS organises competitions, supports the education of school teachers, and provides classifications to blind and partially sighted athletes.
In the Summer 2017 issue of the NSRA’s in-house magazine, On Target, Ken introduces Ecoaims Vis500, a new audio aiming device that has been chosen by the NSRA for visually impaired shooting in the UK. An infrared LED is placed near the target, and the Vis500 converts the infrared signals to audio waves. Via his sense of hearing, the shooter’s skills of calculation, concentration, and steadiness can be tested to the same extent as those of a sighted shooter.
Michael Whapples
One of the experts involved in the selection of the Vis500 was Michael Whapples. Michael has been almost totally blind since birth. He attended a special school for visually impaired children, where he first experienced the joys of target shooting. He showed enormous aptitude for the sport, and it became his passion.
Studying physics at Nottingham University posed problems – and not only for Michael. One of his tutors, Janette Dunn, published a paper entitled Teaching a Physics Laboratory Module to Blind Students, in which she analysed the problems posed by lack of vision. Michael was one of two subjects in her case study, and, in reading this interesting article, it becomes apparent that a huge adversity like blindness does not always outweigh copious amounts of talent, common sense, and intelligence.
Michael’s ‘day job’ is developing software for producing brail documents. Other software projects include a Smart phone app that provides an audio compass for visually impaired sailing, and an app to allow configuration of the VIASS aiming system. But Michael, like so many of the experts I’ve spoken to, embraces the flexibility of this sport.
“In target shooting, visual impairment doesn’t necessarily have to go down the audio route. Shooting can be adapted in so many ways – for example, those with some useful vision can do disciplines such as benchrest shooting, where a scope is permitted. Also, when thinking about this, whilst I know of no shooter using it, blind archers use the ‘back of the hand’ tactile sighting system, which provides a reference point for elevation. Maybe this method can be adapted for shooters.”
Steven Richardson
Last year, I had the pleasure of talking to Steven Richardson, who lost both legs and five fingers in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2010. Steven was part of an eight-man team who cycled 3051 miles across the USA, raising £100,000 for Help for Heroes. He participates in several sports, including shooting. You can read The Big Interview: Steven Richardson here.
In Memoriam, Vic Morris
Many thanks to Dave Froggett, the NSRA (National Small-bore Rifle Association) Coaching and Development Manager, for putting me in touch with many of the people who contributed to this article.
This month, Steph Brooks takes a closer look at the FX Wildcat, to see how it matches up against the Daystate Renegade.
Today in the face-off, we’re testing the FX Wildcat and the Daystate Renegade, which total nearly £2,500 worth of airgun. It makes a nice change from testing cheap CO2 pistols, but I do feel some pressure to help you make the right choice. Not many people, especially in today’s climate, have the money to spend a thousand pounds on the wrong rifle, so with that in mind, let’s continue.
Origins
Both of the rifles have somewhat similar beginnings, with the Renegade being created from the Pulsar, while the Wildcat’s design has its origin in the FX Bobcat. The Renegade differs from the Pulsar in that it features a mechanical action instead of the computer-controlled solenoid of its older brother. This means the Renegade houses a hammer that is cocked and then latched onto a sear, similar to a traditional rifle, although it does retain the electronic “mouse click” trigger of the Pulsar.
However, it’s worth noting that where the pressure gauge is located on the Renegade, there’s a circular Daystate logo on the Pulsar. This makes me think that Daystate had always planned to release the Renegade, and perhaps it was even designed alongside the Pulsar. This suggests that there’s a demand out there from people who like their rifles more conventional than computerised.
The Wildcat, from FX, has a more defined origin, being spawned from the FX Bobcat when people were asking for a smaller, more consistent version of the rifle. The resulting Wildcat, as well as the Bobcat MK II, released around the same time, are almost completely different guns, with the Wildcat in particular having an all-new cocking system and completely redesigned stock, as well as many other components. This has led to the Wildcat sitting alongside the Impact as one of FX’s most popular models.
First Impressions
The Renegade looks like a Pulsar. In fact, the design is so close you would be forgiven for thinking they were one and the same. There are some subtle differences, such as the lack of the LCD screen and the added pressure gauge near the pistol grip, but essentially, if you like the unique styling of the Pulsar, you’ll like the Renegade. It does, however, lack the inbuilt laser of the Pulsar, which is a little disappointing.
The Renegade comes in a greenish synthetic stock, although that can be switched for any of the Pulsar’s stock options, as they’re made to order and are essentially the same shape. The rifle is nice and compact, if a little heavy, but I have always thought the pistol grip looks somewhat odd with these bullpups. It just kind of sticks out with no connection to the stock. But hey, looks are subjective, and I have colleagues who tell me they love the design.
Perhaps it would have been nice to have something to differentiate it from the Pulsar, but I suppose that defeats the object of what the Renegade is supposed to be.
No such problem with the FX, as it looks significantly different from its originator, with a minimal skeleton stock design that’s available in black soft touch, walnut, or grey laminate. We tested the black model here, and, despite my unhealthy love for a deeply stained piece of walnut, I have to say the feel here is absolutely exceptional. The soft touch stock is easily gripped, and almost velvety to the touch. The rifle is around half a kilo lighter than the Renegade, despite being considerably longer. This leads to great balance between the hands, and this is something to consider, especially for hunters who are likely to carry their rifle around and shoot without a rest.
The thumbhole is large, without looking oversized (I’m looking at you Brocock Bantam), and the whole rifle strikes a great balance between modern and classic designs. The Wildcat loses to the Renegade, though, with its lack of weaver rail, meaning any accessories, other than a scope, are going to be a struggle. Also, although neither rifle is fitted with swivel studs, I would be much more comfortable drilling into the Renegade, as its stock is rubber over wood, as opposed to synthetic, which has a habit of splitting. I have to say I didn’t try drilling either, so this is really just from personal experience.
Despite all of this, I think I’m giving the win to the Wildcat. It looks better, it feels better, and it’s much lighter than the Daystate. It’s also around £300 cheaper, which is not to be sniffed at. This seems insignificant, compared to the price of the gun, but that’s the cost of a good scope, about 50 tins of pellets, or the weekend away you have to buy your missus when she finds out you just spent a grand on a new rifle.
Winner : FX Wildcat
How it all works
So, as stated before, the Renegade is a more mechanical version of the Pulsar, but it has retained one electric feature. The trigger still fires a solenoid, but instead of hitting the valve, this just pulls down the sear, releasing a traditional hammer. This makes the trigger of the Renegade as light as a feather and is one of its key selling points.
The trigger on the Wildcat is fully mechanical, and, while it’s a good mechanical trigger with a particularly clear second stage, it doesn’t hold a candle to the crispness and lightness of the Daystate. Once in a while, an innovation comes along that completely changes the game, and if it wasn’t for the cost, I could see this trigger system installed on every mid-ranged and above rifle across the planet – it is that good.
The Renegade also wins out with its 10-round magazine, compared to the Wildcat’s 8. Eight seems unusual for a .177 PCP magazine, but the magazine is well made, with the pellets held securely in place by a pair of O rings. It’s worth stating that the Wildcat magazine is a big improvement over other FX models, like the Royale, where the first pellet has to be loaded backwards (just why?). Both indexed with no problems, with the Renegade being indexed pneumatically to prevent double loading – a nice touch that would be welcome on the FX, where double loading is a possibility.
Both use a sidelever cocking action, with the Wildcat’s in particular being very easy to operate. It seemed lighter and less clunky than the Daystate, which needed a firmer grip to move, as opposed to the fingertip lightness of the Wildcat.
The safety of the Wildcat is manual, which is my preferred choice anyway, and, as with all parts of this rifle, it’s easy to move with just your fingertips. The only quibble I have here is that maybe the safety is too easy to move; the groove in the stock that the switch sits in slopes towards the fire position, and I can see this potentially being moved by accident.
A little feature I really liked with the Renegade was its inbuilt spirit level. Now, the Renegade is quite a tall rifle, even for a bullpup, which means there’s a larger distance between the end of the scope and the end of the barrel. This can easily be adjusted for when shooting in a straight line, but it means that tilting the rifle, even slightly, can throw your accuracy off to a larger degree than shorter guns. Daystate thought of that with a spirit level located just under the scope. It’s in a great position too, allowing you a quick glance, when the rifle’s shouldered, without having to move your head.
The winner here is the Daystate. It has a lot of little touches that set it apart from the crowd. The FX is nice, with the sidelever action in particular being really light, but the exceptional mouse-click trigger on the Daystate is what finally tipped the balance for me.
Winner : Daystate Renegade
Down the Range
So once again I find myself down at our very own shooting range with nearly two and a half grand’s worth of air rifle to play with all day. I hope you all understand the troubles I go through to bring you such in-depth reviews. Both rifles are chambered in the .177 calibre and are set to sub 12 ft/lb levels, although there are other options available.
Filling the FX Wildcat is quick and easy and uses the quick fill push probe that pushes into a hole behind the pressure gauge, making filling with air quick and easy. The Renegade is filled by unscrewing a cap and screwing on a Forster fitting, a bit more time consuming, but nothing to write home about.
Tested using the .177 Daystate Kaiser pellet, the Renegade pulled in at 11.3 ft/lbs, whereas the FX was shooting slightly above that, with an average of 11.45. There was also very little deviation when it came to FPS, either with a 5 FPS deviation for the Daystate or 8 FPS for the Wildcat. Hmmmm … Maybe the best way to separate these rifles is hitting targets. I set up a 30-yard range and was comfortably hitting ½” groups with both.
Maybe the Renegade’s grouping was marginally tighter, but from my estimations, there is no real difference between them when it comes to accuracy. Maybe, if you were hunting, you’d take the Wildcat, as it packs a slightly larger punch. but not so much to be really that noticeable. I have also read reports on the Internet that the smooth twist barrel on the FX is useless and makes the gun inaccurate. Don’t believe them. The gun performs well at range and I would trust it for either rabbits or targets.
Both rifles also feature a well-shrouded barrel that reduces muzzle noise quite significantly. And there are specific silencers available for both, but it’s more for people who want less muzzle noise than need it, as both rifles are already pretty quiet.
Well, that was a pretty close round, I have to say. In terms of actual performance, the rifles are almost identical and really are at the top of the PCP market when it comes to performance, as you might expect, considering the price. Both are absolutely ideal for hunting and target shooting, and either will outperform 95% of any other air rifles you are likely to encounter.
If you were to ask me which of these I would choose to shoot again, I would have to go for the Daystate. If for nothing other than its little touches, such as the adjustable cheekpiece and others that I’ve already mentioned. If I was to live with one, I believe the Daystate would suit me better, but it’s close.
Winner : Daystate Renegade
In the end
So, in conclusion, I have come around – starting off wondering why the Renegade was created, but after shooting it, I can understand now. The Pulsar is more complicated and more expensive, and the Renegade strips it of these and focuses on what the Pulsar did best in the first place: shooting.
In fact, despite my initial scepticism, I would be seriously tempted by one of these over the Pulsar. The price difference is a lot for what is: basically extra bells and whistles.
The FX is also a very effective gun and possibly a better choice for hunters, as it was slightly more powerful and also considerably lighter. It was a close-run thing, to be sure, but there you have it: my winner (and next purchase) is the Daystate Renegade.
Winner : Daystate Renegade
For more reviews and airgun information, make sure you keep it locked here at Pellpax.
This month’s Brand Focus is on Gamo, the hugely popular Spanish airgun maker. Gamo are probably the biggest air gun manufacturer in the world, and also one of the largest producers of pellets and BBs in the world. They started trading in 1955 as El Gamo.
The origins of this company started back in 1889 as company ACSA, who were founded to produce high quality lead based products, and then refined in 1950 to produce high precision air gun pellets, thanks to great success in the European markets.
The Beginnings of Gamo
In 1961 after continued growth and investment, El Gamo launched a range of airguns into Spanish market, which were received with great enthusiasm as they were simple, reliable and excellent quality. The aim for Gamo was always high production numbers and interchangeable parts at a medium price point to make it appeal to a wide range and number of shooters. This aim has definitely worked over the years and Gamo still stick to this principle to allow even more people to purchase a good quality, high quality air rifle at an affordable price. Our resident airgun expert Allan says, ‘They are an excellent entry level product, and provide some of the best value for money on the market today in their ranges of pistols and rifles’.
Expansion into UK, Europe & Americas
In 1963, the first of Gamo’s new products started to be imported into the UK, as well as other European countries, after a successful run at various trade fairs. This was then followed by a thorough distribution network in 1970 to products to enter markets in over 40 countries. 10 years later collaborations were formed with several similar manufacturers across USA, the UK, Germany and Brazil to permit new products and expansion in all markets.
In 1982 Gamo was going from strength to strength, and moved the pellet factory to a larger industrial estate for greater production, as well as their wood processing plant where all the rifle stocks were produced. In 1986 Gamo then acquired the assets and rights to British gunmaker BSA, who were being liquidated at the time. They have continued to run BSA’s Armoury Road factory in Birmingham operational ever since. Read our other Brand Focus article on BSA here.
Since then Gamo have grown and expanded across the world, and have a large presence in the USA to serve the American market, particularly with their high-powered spring and gas ram rifles, which they have continued to develop over the years. In around 2008, Gamo started to make a real push to introduce new technology to the airgun world, with new features such as ‘Whisper’ noise dampening technology and new gas ram systems to reduce recoil and increase power. The gas ram system is called IGT which stands for Inert Gas Technology and Gamo developed it themselves to work specifically with their rifles.
IGT Rifles
Gamo Whisper IGT
One of their best-selling IGT rifles available today is the Whisper IGT which is a break barrel rifle with a thumbhole synthetic stock. This synthetic stock also makes it very light so it’s the perfect choice for a lightweight hunter, or as a beginner rifle for younger shooters. The IGT action provides full power performance and can easily dispatch targets at ranges up to 45 meters and the Whisper technology on the end of the barrel helps reduce muzzle noise.
Another of Gamos leading edge technologies is the Smooth Action Trigger which is also fitted to this model, and ensures a smooth and precise trigger pull each shot. Here at Pellpax we offer the Whisper IGT either as the rifle on its own, or as a complete kit to get you shooting at a great price.
The IGT system has also been implemented into a lot of other rifles and pistols throughout Gamo’s range, such as the Gamo Camo Rocket IGT, and the Gamo P-900 IGT air pistol. The latter is a great choice as a pistol for airgun clubs and scouts, as the gas ram unit does not lose power over time as the spring equivalent would.
Spring Rifles
As well as the IGT rifles, Gamo offers a great range of spring powered air rifles, which start from junior rifles such as the Gamo Junior Hunter .177 – great for youngsters and clubs as a starting rifle. The next stage up from there is the Gamo Whisper Sting, which is a full power break barrel spring rifle and makes a great choice for hunting and target shooting. Just like the Whisper IGT, it is very lightweight, and so it’s great for all ages.
One of Gamo’s latest rifles to be released features a unique multi shot system on a break barrel rifle which has only been attempted a few times before. This rifle is called the Gamo Maxxim Elite and has a 10 shot magazine which fits into a special arm attached to the barrel. When the rifle is cocked, a small probe loads the next pellet and through our testing it is very reliable and just works! This makes it a great choice for hunters as to get multi shot functionality. Before it had to be a PCP, but this rifle really changes the game.
PCP Rifles
The Gamo Coyote
Speaking of PCP rifles, Gamo has a few PCP rifles in its offerings, namely the Gamo Coyote (see above), Gamo Coyote Tactical and Gamo Phox. These rifles are all based on the same 10 shot bolt action system, with the main differences being in the stocks and the barrels. The Gamo Coyotes have a threaded barrel with a muzzle break fitted as standard, although this can be removed to fit a silencer. The Gamo Phox comes complete with a moulded on Whisper silencer from the factory. Another bonus of the Gamo Phox is that is comes as a complete package with the rifle, scope, bag, pump, as well as pellets and targets when purchased from Pellpax!
Of course, PCP rifles offer the best in accuracy and consistency as their recoil-less actions are smooth and simple to shoot, so if you’re looking for the very best in Gamo’s range then I would consider one of the above choices.
Air Pistols
Gamo also produces a wide range of high quality Co2 pistol, which are great fun for casual target shooting and plinking. Their range of Co2 pistols starts from the lower end with the Gamo GP20 Combat, which is a 4.5mm BB firing pistol, with a double action trigger – perfect for getting started with pistol shooting. The next step up is the Gamo P-25 which is a .177 pellet firing pistol with a blowback action which increases the realism factor significantly. The bigger brother of the P-25 is the Gamo PT-85 which is very similar, just with a larger frame size which allows a bit extra power. They also produce the PT-85 as a tactical model called the Gamo PT-85 Tactical which comes complete with a longer barrel, red dot sight, torch and laser for a much more striking appearance.
If revolvers are more your thing when it comes to air pistols, the Gamo GR Stricker would be a great choiceas it comes with an 8 shot revolving cylinder which takes pellets. The frame of the pistol also differs from others in that it has weaver rails to the top and the bottom to permit accessories such as red dot sights and lasers to be added on for aid with accuracy.
All in all, Gamo offer a massive range of rifles and pistols, so there is something for everyone, as well as their range of accessories to compliment everything perfectly. If you’re looking for your first rifle or pistol, or are an experienced shooter needing a stable workhorse, then Gamo is definitely a brand to consider.
From July this year, Pellpax will be stocking two super new PCP air rifles, both made by the Ukrainian company, Zbroia, based in the city of Kharkov.
Joe Meakin and Ross Mitchell, from Pellpax, visited Badersfield Air Rifle Club in Norfolk with samples of the Hortitsia, made by Zbroia since October 2015, and the Kozak, which first appeared in October 2014. Club members were keen to try them out.
The Kozak side lever model is a bullpup design, which means that the gun’s action is situated behind the trigger, decreasing the rifle’s overall length and weight without compromising the length of the barrel.
Nick Bowen is one of Badersfield’s founding members and has been shooting for 45 years. He immediately took to the Kozak.
“This short rifle is good for manoeuvring among trees. I could shoot all day with that and never get an arm ache. It’s incredibly comfortable – sitting down or standing up.”
The safety catch on the Kozak is positioned on the side of the barrel, where it can be reached and operated without having to lower the rifle from the shoulder. An adjustable cheek piece contributes to sustained comfort and, consequently, accuracy.
There was a lot of praise for the trigger action on the both the Kozak model and the Hortitsia bolt action sporting rifle. Phil Hurman said of the Hortitsia: “The trigger pull is lovely – very light and sensitive.”
Even though Nick had formed a firm attachment to the Kozak, he liked the Hortitsia too. Having taken a few shots, he said, “It’s nice to hold; well balanced; sensitive trigger.”
Founding member, Pat Gray, who has been shooting since childhood, was impressed with the smooth insertion of the probe into the magazine, describing it as “crisp and clean”. He remarked on the quietness of the rifles. Joe explained that both models include an integrated barrel shroud for very effective silencing.
The design criteria of these two rifles are accuracy, quality, reliability, and ergonomics, which, between them, just about encompass every possible area of exceptional performance.
Not everyone, of course, is looking for the same qualities in a product, and therefore the Zbroias won’t fit the bill for everyone.
But when it comes to ergonomics, these two rifles – each with an easy magazine drop-in, sensitive trigger, relatively light weight, and smooth probe engagement – are champs. Both the Hortitsia and the Kozak are available in .177 and .22 (4.5 and 5.5) calibre.
The new Zbroia air rifles will be in stock as of July 2017. If you have any questions about them, or about any of our other products, just give us call or contact us via this website.
The RM8 has been on the market for a couple of years now and is often a go to gun for people seeking precision grade accuracy at a reasonable price. The Compatto is very much the new kid on the block with Brocock designing it, and pricing it, to compete with the RM8 and Air Arms S400 range. Lets load up with some Diabolo pellets and compare.
Best Looking Airgun?
The RM8 is definitely the more traditional looking of the rifles, and combines a wood stock that has been expertly crafted by Minelli in Italy. It is a bit cliché to talk about passion and aesthetics when talking about Italian manufacturing, but the stock on this rifle really does look great, with flowing lines and rich staining for great texture. I would however like to see the stock being made from a walnut wood for some even nicer tiger striping.
If the RM8 is a classic Alfa Romeo, the Compatto is a Caterham kit car: instantly recognisable, functional, lightweight and also great looking if you like that sort of thing. Thestock is closer to a skeleton style, and has a couple of surprises waiting in store.
The first of which is a small weaver rail mounted under the air bottle, that is suitable for torches and lasers, and a welcome addition to this more tactical looking rifle. The second surprise is the one detraction I have from the stock and that is some pretty prominent mould lines along the stock. This would be something I think you would get over, but it is not something I would expect from a rifle of this price.
Looks are not the most important factor when it it comes to making a decision – It’s all about personality, but you can’t fall in love with personality at first sight. If I was to choose between them I would personally go for the Rotex, as I prefer the traditional style over tactical designs and Brocock’s designs of late have not been to my personal taste. The Compatto does however looks miles better than its ugly sister the Bantam.
Winner : RM8
Gun Handling
Despite losing the looks battle, the Compatto handles absolutely fantastically, and weighs a shade under 3 kilos for exceptional control when shooting, something that is often underestimated by shooters. People often think accuracy is solely down to the barrel and pellet choice, but how the rifle sits in your hands is almost as important as these factors.
The Compatto also features a generous thumbhole shape that provides exceptional control over over grip, and the textured stock is super sticky in the hands, making this rifle perfect for outdoor use, even in the driving rain. Another great thing about the Compatto is that the weight of the rifle is concentrated towards the back of the stock, allowing you put that weight into your shoulder so your lead hand can focus on aiming, rather than holding the gun up.
The RM8 is much more front heavy than the Compatto and despite being of similar weight, it actually feels heavier, because your lead arm is trying to carry the rifle and aim at the same time. Neither are as heavy as the Weihrauch and neither are hard to handle, but after a day’s shooting, the Compatto is going to be easier to handle and more precise to aim with.
The bolt and magazine on the Brocock are outstanding, truly some of the best features on the gun. The bolt is both easy to cock and feels robust, with no hesitation in the mechanism. The Compatto also features a 10 round magazine that is primarily metal, and feels strong and robust – it never faltered during testing. The magazine also features a red dot that will tell you when you are empty. The bolt action on the RM8 also features a smooth action, although the bolt is not as nice as the Brocock, and the magazine holds just 8 shots instead of 10.
Clear winner this one, the Walther is no slouch but the Compatto is one of the nicest shooting rifles I’ve ever tested under £1000, and it is way under. The action is slick and the great weight distribution makes this rifle a real joy to shoot.
Winner : Compatto
The Important Bit
Both rifles were in .177 calibre and were tested using Air Arms 4.52 pellets. Both rifles are advertised as full power, but the Rotex was pulling around 11.5ft/lbs with an average fps of 786 exactly. The Compatto shot at an average of 788fps for a ft/lbs of 11.58. Not much difference between them to be honest and both are about as powerful as I expected.
Side Note : Although the legal limit is 12ft/lbs, no manufacturer will push this with mid sized pellets because if I was then to put in some heavier grain pellets the rifle would be shooting over the legal limit, so 11ft/lbs with Air Arms field is not bad.
It’s worth noting that the Compatto had a difference of around 16fps between its fastest and slowest shots, which is more than I would expect, especially with pellets as consistent as this. The Rotex shot with a maximum difference of 7 fps, which is much more in line with what I was expecting. Reports online state that Compatto doesn’t like taking light pellets, soI decided to move up to heavier Daystate Field Target pellets that weigh 10.25 grains and the deviation between shots dropped to around 4fps. Interesting…
It was brought to my attention that because the Compatto is unregulated that this may be because the Compatto was getting into its so called “sweet spot” where the amount of air being let through is perfect for the pellet being used. However, the Rotex is also unregulated and didn’t produce the same level of deviation between shots. After some experimentation I found that filling the bottle at around 150 bar lead to me to get off around 45 shots that were right on the button, more than enough for a day’s hunting. Having spoken to Brocock, the good news is that a regulated version of the Compatto is on the way.
The RM8 also has a sweet spot of between 180 – 120 bar, with very little deviation between shots. This offers a similar number of optimal shots to the Compatto.
The Compatto comes with a Hugget silencer in the complete kit, which reduces the noise levels drastically. The RM8 doesn’t come with a silencer but is fitted with a 1/2” UNF thread and features a thicker wooden stock that actually does a good job of muffling the sound of the shot. Both would be more than serviceable for hunting but the fact that the Brocock can come fitted with a silencer gives it the edge in noise reduction.
Winner : Compatto
Ownership
There is a difference in the price of these air weapons with the RM8 coming in at £430, and the Compatto weighing in at the best part of £600. This is a significant difference between the rifles and although the performance from the Compatto is undoubtedly ahead, whether is that far ahead is a matter of debate. Part of this maybe due to the fact that the Compatto is a relatively new rifle where as the RM8 is a few years old at this point.
I have hear some reports of RM8s also leaking occasionally. Now the one I tested had no problems, and I know a couple of people who own the .22 version, who also confirmed they had no complaints. The Compatto has a fairly good reputation amongst air gunners, with very few problems, but again this might be down to it being a new rifle, with any problems in the manufacturing yet to surface due to there simply being less of them around.
I honestly think the RM8s are better value for money, but which would I rather own? Taking everything into consideration I would choose the Compatto, as the rifle I’d have but I might wait and hold out for the possible regulated version in the future depending on price, and depending on whether it ever reaches production.
DSG President Adrian Last in action
DSG Shooter Eirian uses his feet to aim and shoot.
A close up of shooter Vic Morris, in action
Trial shooter, Paul, takes aim with the specialist equipment
In Memoriam, Vic Morris
