The Best Air Rifle On The Market?

Here at Pellpax we are constantly on the lookout for the best of the best when it comes to air rifles. To help you make the choice on what air rifle you want we have put together this list to answer the age old question : what is the best air rifle on the market?

First of all, the question we are asking is almost impossible to answer in its current form, so lets split it up into categories; jump to

Spring Powered Air Rifles
CO2 Air Rifles
PCP Air Rifles

Spring Powered Rifles

Technology has moved on greatly since these rifles were considered basic; there are now spring-powered rifles capable of shooting with all but the best PCPs.

3rd PlaceAir Arms Pro-Sport Walnut Stock

springbronze Great Springer Action: Air Arms Pro Sport

Pros :

The stock of the Pro-Sport is absolutely beautiful and one of its key selling points, and the walnut wood has been selected not only for its strength, but also its great finish and colouring. Trust me when I say, the pictures online do it no justice; you need to see it in person to really appreciate.

Another great feature of the Pro-Sport is the underlever. Now I’m not usually a fan of underlevers, because of the extra weight they add to the front of the rifle, which can make the rifle quite unbalanced. Air Arms have got around this by cleverly locating the underlever inside the stock to make this perfectly balanced between the hands.

The Pro-Sport also features a great trigger, which is crisp and precise and makes this rifle a joy to shoot. The barrel is also of exceptional quality, and the accuracy and precision of the rifle are truly excellent.

Cons :

Weighing in at nearly 4.5kg, the Air Arms is a very heavy air rifle, and when shooting in the hands and not on a rest, this weight is very noticeable. There are spring rifles available that are half the weight of the Pro-Sport, and when combined with the underlever that must continually be cranked, shooting the Pro-Sport can be quite a workout. Now, it’s not exactly running a marathon, but tired arms equate to inaccuracy – definitely something to consider when going on long shoots.

The Pro-Sport also comes without iron sights, so a scope is an essential extra purchase. Including a rest, and considering that the Pro-Sport is one of the most expensive spring rifles on the market, investing in one of these rifles is not something to be taken lightly. Also, the silencer on the Pro-Sport is fixed, and although it’s a nice one, it would be good to have the option to upgrade.

Read more about Air Arms rifles here

View the Air Arms Pro-Sport Walnut Stock

 

2nd Place : Walther LGV Master Pro

springsilver 2nd Place Springer: Walther LVG Master Pro

Pros :

The LGV features an ingenious super-silent vibration-reduction spring and piston system that dramatically reduces recoil whilst improving shot-to-shot consistency. This, along with the full 12ft/lb power that the rifle possesses, makes the LGV an absolute joy to shoot, fantastically accurate, and perfect for both pest control and target shooting. This system also makes the rifle far quieter than traditional spring rifles, an important feature when it’s used for pest control.

Walther rifles also feature German engineering, which is famously reliable. Of the many that we’ve sent out the door here at Pellpax, very few have come back to us, and I can’t think of one that wasn’t the fault of human error. The stock of the LGV Master Pro is cleverly shaped to be comfortable to shoulder for both left- and right-handed shooters.

The XM trigger of the Walther is also fully adjustable for both stage force and travel, and makes the LGV customisable to suit your preference. The trigger, when set up correctly, is crisp and precise with a predictable let off.

Cons :

The LGV Master Pro comes with a barrel weight in place of silencer, and while the spring system is quieter than most rifles, it would be nice to have a silencer included. The Walther also doesn’t have any iron sights, so you can’t get shooting straight out of the box.

Although the stock of the LGV is ambidextrously shaped, the finish of the Walther is not nearly as nice as the Pro-Sport. It’s not as glossy, and the chequering is not as precise as some others that we sell.

See more of our Walther range here

View the Walther LVG Master Pro

 

1st Place : Weihrauch HW98

springgold Weihrauch HW98

Pros :

The HW98 has been designed with target shooting in mind and is consequently one of the most accurate spring rifles on the market today. Seriously, I put a few different kinds of pellet through this rifle – a few JSB Exact, as well as some Daystate Sovereign, as well as some cheaper H&Ns – and the HW98 was grouping incredibly well. Impressive stuff. I put this down to the Weihrauch’s bull barrel, which is superbly well made and is fully shrouded, eliminating the need for a silencer.

The way the stock of the HW98 is perfectly balanced between the hands and the adjustable cheekpiece and butt pad is a nice touch; it ensures shooters of all sizes can shoulder this rifle effectively. The textured panels of the HW98 provide a superb level of grip, even in wet conditions.

The Rekord trigger of the 98 is fantastically crisp and is perfect for all kinds of shooters. The trigger can be finely tuned to your personal requirement whilst providing a crisp let off for each shot. The HW98 is not only one of the finest spring rifles available, but has got to be one of the best shooting air rifles on the market today. Whether it’s target shooting or pest control, the HW98 has got to be the way to go.

Cons :

The look of the rifle, particularly the stock, is not going to be for everybody. Personally, I quite like it, but Weihrauch’s decision not to go for either a traditional or a tactical look, but to go somewhere in between, has left them with something that is certainly unique.

The rifle also comes without iron sights, although the top mounted rail makes adding scopes easy. The fully shrouded barrel also eliminates the need for an additional silencer, but it would be nice to have the option.

Read more about Weihrauch air guns range

View the Weihrauch HW98

 

Honourable mentions :

The Pellpax Rabbit Sniper Kit is perfect for those on a budget, as it comes with a break-barrel spring rifle, a Hawke scope and screw mounts, a barrel silencer, a padded gun bag, and two tins of ProShot Precision Pellets, all for under £200. The rifle is German made and great quality for the price.

Another rifle that is perfect for those looking to acquire a quality rifle at an affordable price is the Gamo Whisper Sting. The rifle comes complete with a Gamo Scope, and the rifle is fitted with a barrel silencer and fibreoptic iron sights.

CO2 Powered Rifles

CO2 rifles are refilled with 12g or 88g CO2 capsules, making them easy to use, and giving some CO2 rifles the ability to be semiautomatic. They will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger until the magazine is empty. CO2 rifles are often inexpensive and require little maintenance, but there are some seriously good quality guns out there if you know where to look.

3rd Place : Walther Winchester Lever Action

co2bronze The Walther Winchester Lever Action

Pros :

The look of this rifle is perfect for fans of Spaghetti western movies or those who admire the Old West. The look of the Winchester is perfect, and the use of metal and wood perfectly encapsulates the feel of this historic time period. The finish on the stock is of the absolute highest quality and is hard wearing and durable, just like the originals would be.

I gave this over to a few friends of mine; they couldn’t believe it was an air gun, and were sure that I’d just handed them a fully loaded Winchester 30/30, due to its realistic look and weight. Impressive stuff.

The lever action of the Walther is reliable and effective and just great fun to use. It combines excellently with the rifle’s 8-shot magazine to make this rifle great for taking out cans or balloons in the back garden. The accuracy of the rifle is also impressive, but due to the reloading action, I wouldn’t recommend it for anything other than informal or practice target shooting. The Winchester also gets around 8 magazines’ worth of full power shots per refill, which equates to around 72 individual shots – pretty good for a rifle of this kind.

Cons :

Although in keeping with the time period, the Winchester is a little lax when it comes to options. There is no fitting for a silencer, or rail for a red dot sight or scope, which really limits the ability to use this gun effectively and prevents the Winchester from becoming a serious rifle instead of just a piece of fun.

There’s also quite a bit of plastic that has been used in the construction of this rifle; the sights, the barrel bands, and the butt plate are all plastic. This doesn’t detract from the overall look, as they are cleverly finished in matte black, but I would have preferred metal. Metal is just a more hard-wearing material, and the use of plastic is purely to save cost. Which would be fine, but the rifle already costs almost £350 – quite a lot for a CO2 rifle.

See more of our Walther range here

View the Walther Winchester Lever Action

2nd Place : Sig Sauer MCX

co2silver

Pros :

The Sig Sauer is one of the finest-looking air rifles on the market, and if you’re looking for something in a military/police style, then there really is no better option than the MCX. The use of flip-up iron sights, as well as the tactical rails, make you feel like you’re holding a real firearm. The rails also mean this rifle can be customised with various accessories and tailored to suit your needs. The rifle comes complete with a silencer and front grip, making the rifle both relatively quiet and accurate. The accuracy is also enhanced by its rifled barrel.

The rifle also features a 30-round magazine, which is one of the largest of any CO2 rifle. One of the main selling points of the Sig is its semiautomatic action, which means this rifle will empty its magazine as fast as you can pull the trigger, making this rifle great fun. The MCX also uses an 88g CO2 capsule instead of 12g, greatly increasing the shot count.

Cons :

The MCX does feature a lack of precision in some of its details, such as the selector, mag release, and charging handle. All have quite a lot of play in them and lack the crispness expected of a rifle of this quality. The two-stage trigger is also a little wobbly, with a long uptake before the second stage, and again lacks that extra bit of finesse I expected.

The magazine itself is made from plastic and requires some work to be reloaded effectively. The pellets must be loaded into a belt, and then the belt is added to the magazine. This gives a lot of opportunity for error: if the pellets are not inserted perfectly correctly, the accuracy of the rifle is affected. Another small thing about the magazine is that the belt must only be moved in a clockwise direction, and if moved counter clockwise, will cause “serious damage to the magazine”. Now this is a simple instruction to follow, but get it wrong and your magazine is broken – something to bear in mind.

See more of our Sig Sauer range here

View the Sig Sauer MCX

 

1st Place : Crosman Ratcatcher 2250 XL

co2gold Going For Gold: The Crosman Ratcatcher XL

Pros :

One of Crosman’s longest-serving CO2 rifles, the 2250 XL is really the only sensible choice when it comes to picking a CO2-powered pest control rifle. The accuracy of the 2250 XL is greatly improved with its extended 18” barrel, which is fully rifled and will have you taking out rats at around 40 metres.

Despite taking just a single CO2 capsule, the Crosman will provide around 30 full-power shots per refill, and the lightweight skeleton stock makes this rifle superbly manoeuvrable in the hands, with the whole rifle weighing just 1.6kg. The updated version of this rifle also features an improved bolt design and makes this rifle extremely smooth to reload.

The Ratcatcher also comes complete with a 4×32 Centre Point scope, although the top rail makes changing your choice of optics a doddle. The barrel is also fitted with a silencer that greatly reduces muzzle noise, an important and often overlooked attribute in a rifle designed for pest control.

Cons :

The look of this rifle is not going to be for everybody. The skeleton stock, while perfect for saving weight, doesn’t exactly make this rifle a display piece. It’s definitely a case of function over looks with this rifle.

The 2250 XL also is only available in single shot, meaning it must be reloaded after every trigger pull. This means that if you miss your shot, it’s going to take slightly longer before you can get your next shot off. Thanks to the accuracy of this rifle, however, one shot is likely all you need.

Read about Crosman here.

Honourable mentions :

The Super Stealth Rat Controller Pro Kit is only available in .22, but comes with a scope, mounts, silencer, bipod, capsules, and pellets – all for just over £200. This makes this kit ideal for those looking to deal with a pest problem quickly and effectively on a budget.

Another great CO2 rifle is the letcher M1891 Sawn Off, a relatively cheap and reliable rifle with an impressive finish. The only downside of the rifle is that it’s only available in 4.5mm BB instead of pellet, limiting its accuracy and effectiveness.

View the Sig Sauer MCX

 

PCP Air Rifles

PCP rifles utilise a refillable air cylinder to propel their pellets with precision accuracy. PCP rifles are often the most effective and most sought-after air rifles on the market, and consequently there are several options available with prices ranging from £300 to £3000, so there’s a rifle out there to meet everybody’s needs.

3rd Place : Daystate Pulsar Synthetic

pcpbronze A Great PCP: The Daystate Pulsar Synthetic

Pros :

Daystate are known for their attention to detail, and even by their high standards, the Pulsar truly is of the very highest quality. The fit and finish of the Pulsar is fantastic and a step above almost any other rifles; it seems almost a shame to shoot it.

The air cylinder provides around 250 shots in .177, and 300 in .22, which is truly a staggering amount per refill. That’s over half a tin of pellets before needing a recharge, and with the Pulsars internal electrics, the power stays the same no matter the amount of air left. The pulsar features an onboard computer, which feeds data to an LCD screen and tells the Pulsar how hard the solenoid needs to hit the valve to let out the exact amount of air each time, leading to unrivalled shot-to-shot consistency. This could be argued to be a case of over engineering, but there is some seriously clever stuff going on inside the Pulsar, and the results are outstanding.

Cons :

Being a bullpup, the Pulsar is not going to win any beauty contests, but also because your head is resting right above the action, the scope has to be mounted angled slightly downwards to be zeroed effectively at range; this makes knowing your distance and trajectories important if you want to shoot the Pulsar effectively. This is not just a pick-up-and-shoot rifle.

The Pulsar is also pretty heavy, weighing in at almost 4kg, and being a bullpup, the weight is concentrated towards the back of the rifle. Initially, this can make the rifle quite awkward when shooting standing up, but it’s something that can easily be compensated for. Chances are, you’re going to be shooting this from a rest or sandbag anyway.

Another thing that is large about the Pulsar is the asking price. I’m just going to come out and say it: the pulsar costs close to the £1600 mark, without any accessories, which, let’s be honest, is no small investment. You do get a lot of gun for the money, but £1600 is still enough for a decent car or a week away in southern France. I’d still rather the gun than both of these, but there are other rifles out there that cost a fraction of the price.

You can read up on Daystate here

View the Daystate Pulsar Synthetic

2nd Place : BSA R-10 SE

pcpsilver The BSA R-10 SE

Pros :

The stock of the R-10 is made by Minelli, an Italian company that make stocks for prestigious brands, including Daystate, and the walnut wood used in the R-10 is a thing of beauty. Its ergonomic shape includes a raised cheekpiece for comfortable shouldering, and the butt pad is excellently shaped and textured for superb grip.

The BSA features a Customer Configurable Shroud (CCS) system which allows the R-10 to be changed from either bull barrel or a standard barrel with a full-length silencer attached. The difference between these two options is negligible, but it’s always nice to have the option. The regulator has also been greatly improved since the last version of the R-10, and now provides 11% more shots per refill for a greatly increased shot count of around 165 in .177 and 225 in .22.

The barrel and trigger system of the R-10 is expertly manufactured and provides precision and accuracy, making this rifle ideally suited to competition and serious target shooting, as well as pest control.

Cons :

The stock of the R-10, although well shaped, is extremely high gloss, which reflects the light a little too well, and if you’re out hunting, the resulting glare can not only be distracting while shooting, but can also alert animals to your position; so a matte, or at least semi-matte, finish might be a better option.

The cocking mechanism must also be carefully operated, as the magazine can be cycled without cocking the trigger. This means that the rifle can quite easily be double loaded, with one pellet behind the other in the barrel. Firing the gun in this scenario can cause serious damage to the inside of the barrel, although a careful cocking regime can eliminate this issue.

The rifle can also be fired without fully closing the catch, which will result in poor accuracy when firing. In fact, when testing, I fell into this trap. I put it down to youthful exuberance, and was confused by the rifle’s poor accuracy. Rest assured that when the catch is fully closed, the rifle is extremely precise, but this mistake is easily made.

Check out our BSA range here

View the BSA R-10 SE

1st Place : Weihrauch HW100 T

pcpgold PCP Gold Goes To: the Weihrauch HW100 T

Pros :

For the money, there is simply no better rifle. The rifle comes complete with two 14-shot magazines, a removable quick-fill air cylinder with a pressure gauge, and Weihrauch’s own half-inch UNF silencer – everything you need to start shooting.

The HW100 is available for under £800 and can compete with rifles that are more than twice the price. This thing needs to be shot to be believed.

As well as its incredible accuracy, the HW100 T features a fantastically manufactured stock, which is ergonomically shaped with a generous thumbhole shape that fits the hands beautifully and provides a secure and sure grip, even in wet conditions – perfect for outdoor hunting.

The gun is superbly easy to use and to load, and also cycles and cocks with reliable precision. In fact, the magazine of the HW100 is one of the key selling points and can be easily unclipped. Thanks to the magazine being open, you can also easily see how many pellets you have left, so you can be confident you are shooting more than just air when sighting up your next rat.

Cons :

The air cylinder of the HW100 is quite heavy, particularly when filled with air, and can make the rifle unbalanced when shooting. The thumbhole stock does a good job of counteracting this, but this uneven balance, along with the rifle’s high weight, can make for a tiring shoot when you’re out all day.

Honourable mentions:

The Kalibrgun Cricket, another bull-pup rifle from a less well-known brand, is incredibly accurate and comes with four 14-shot magazines. This rifle is not the best-looking rifle ever made, but is an impressive shooter for the price.

The Hatsan AT44X  is great for those looking to buy a PCP rifle of high quality whilst on a budget, and is available for under £400. The inbuilt cylinder features a pressure gauge, and the rifle also has an auto safety – features not often included with rifles of this price.

Read more about Weihrauch air guns range

View the Weihrauch HW100 T

To Conclude

So there you have it: the definitive list of the best airguns on the market.

Everyone has their own preferences, but keep this list as a guide and you won’t go far wrong. When it comes to the best pistol, that’s another conversation entirely, and one that won’t be answered here. Frankly, I’m sure you feel like you’ve read enough.

Stay tuned to the Pellpax Blog for more articles coming soon and keep checking back for our latest offers.

Weihrauch vs Hatsan

When it comes to Weihrauch and Hatsan, there are many similarities that can be drawn between the two companies in their products ranges. These include the fact thats they both produce spring-powered air rifles, as well as pre-charged pneumatic air rifles, as well as spring and PCP pistols in all the common calibres. All their items are usually imported below the legal limits, which are 12 ft/lbs for a rifle, and 6 ft/lbs for a pistol, although the rifles are usually available in FAC levels if you have the right licence.

Both companies produce their products mainly for sporting purposes, such as target shooting, hunting, and pest control, so deciding which one is best for you can often be a tricky task. Weihrauch’s and Hatsan’s products are both in similar price ranges, which doesn’t help make the decision any simpler, but hopefully this blog will help you make the right choice.

Let’s start off by talking about Weihrauch

Weihrauch are one of the oldest players in the airgun game. Founded in 1899 as firearms manufacturers, they even produced the first German .22 rimfire rifle. However, the company ran into trouble after World War 2 when the Allies put Germany on the naughty step and banned the production of firearms, forcing Weihrauch to put their years of research into creating the finest sporting airguns.

However, instead of sinking, Weihrauch thrived, and many of the designs they produced formed the basis of the modern spring-powered air rifle. The company has gone from strength to strength ever since.

What can you expect from a Weihrauch?

Well, their rifles are among some of the most reliable in the business, and we have many customers who still possess rifles they bought in the ’70s and still swear by them, despite the myriad of newer options available. The rifles themselves still carry an air of tradition, and feature solid wood stocks with minimal bells and whistles – just a well-made gun with a good barrel and all-round performance. This may be a turnoff for some, and another complaint that’s logged against Weihrauch guns is that they’re often heavy, with high cocking effort and clunky triggers; the whole thing feels mechanical and is operated as such.

I think this is maybe a little harsh though. Yes, the weight is higher than some other brands (an un-scoped HW97 weighs upwards of 4kg), but the cocking effort is nothing 99% of shooters can’t handle. I quite like the overall weight and feel of Weihrauch rifles; everything feels solid and built to last, and most importantly, powerful and accurate.

See more of the Weihrauch range of airguns here

The new(er) kids on the block

Hatsan were founded in 1976 and first started off manufacturing shotguns directed at sport shooters, with great success. They’ve now translated that knowledge of sporting competition to provide a range of airguns that are just as effective in shooting competitions. The rifles themselves are made in Turkey, which mirrors the company as an up-and-coming economic powerhouse that has risen rapidly upwards in terms of reputation and quality, and now stands firmly amongst the world’s elite.

The rifles themselves are modern and ergonomically designed with rubber inserts, thumbhole designs, and a wide variety of synthetic stock options. Another good thing about the brand is that they often come with silencers attached, and with front sights on the silencer; this means that you no longer have to choose between the two. Hatsan rifles also represent incredible value for money, with many coming with bipod, carrying straps, and other accessories for no added cost, and they also add extras like adjustable cheek pieces and inbuilt swivel studs to a lot of their models.

Two of the best

Let me preface this by saying that spring rifles are my bread and butter. There are also various PCP options out there for both brands, which may be subjectively better than these rifles. But not to be tied down with external gas canisters suits me best. So here are my two picks:

Weihrauch HW77K

The HW77 was Weihrauch’s first rifle that loaded directly into the breech of the barrel, as opposed to a loading tap, which reduced the power, but greatly increased accuracy. This has made the 77 extremely popular in countries with strict power limits, like the UK and Germany.

This K or carbine version of the 77 also decreases the weight to make the rifle more manageable and easier to aim, whilst a raised cheekpiece and sculpted butt-pad make the rifle a nice fit into the shoulder. The gun itself is also equipped with a front sight, but I would make use of the long rail mounted across the top of the rifle, and get a good quality scope.

The gun is exceptionally accurate and shoots well in the field, but where the gun really shines is when shot down the range. The underlever makes bench shooting a little awkward, but the high accuracy and predictable shot placement are winners in my book.

 

Hatsan Dominator

The Dominator is round about the same price as the HW77 and also uses an underlever cocking mechanism. However, that is about where the similarities end. Instead of a wooden stock, the Dominator uses a synthetic polymer that is over-moulded with rubber for resistance to shocks and knocks. This also has the added effect of eliminating that horrible texture that some synthetic stocks have, where they feel like cheap car dashboards. Despite my usual preference for a wood stock, actually the Dominator started to win me over.

Another nice touch is the stock’s raised cheekpiece, and actually this rifle comes with a wide range of accessories – swivels studs, fibre-optic sights, bipod, strap, and muzzle break … to name a few. This rifle also features a top-mounted rail for optics, and the quattro trigger system is great.

I’d recommend this rifle for field work, especially as the rubber on the stock stays grippy in the wet or through gloves, whilst the rifle’s lighter weight means it can be carried long distances. You even get a strap included!

See more of the Hatsan airgun range here

Conclusions

I hope this has given some insight into the two brands and given some ideas as to what rifle you may want to pick.

If I had to choose one, the Weihrauch wins for me every time; but actually, after initially dismissing them, the Hatsan rifles were well made, well priced for what you get, and I could see their appeal.

Face Off: Weihrauch HW40 PCA vs Zoraki HP-01 (Formerly Webley Alecto)

Steph Brooks handles the Weihrauch HW40
Steph Brooks handles the Weihrauch HW40

Our intrepid airgun enthusiast Steph Brooks continues his excellent comparison series, Face Off. This month it’s the turn of HW40 by Weihrauch and the HP-01 by Zoraki / Webley Alecto…..

The HP-01 used to be known as the Webley Alecto but remains exactly the same pistol underneath. Both of these pistols use a pneumatic pump system where the shooter compresses air inside the cylinder which then fires the pellet when the trigger is pulled. The idea behind this design is to provide the accuracy and power of a pre-charged pistol but without the need for a compressor or air bottle, providing power and precision in the palm of your hand.

First Impressions

Both of these pistols actually look remarkably similar and have something about the Desert Eagle style look about them. Both are finished in matte black, with the Zoraki having marginally better detailing around the pistol grip especially. The grip of the Zoraki is also far more ergonomically shaped, for a tighter grip whilst aiming.

The HW40 is around 50mm shorter than the HP-01 which is not that noticeable, but it does weigh almost half a kilogram lighter. This was far more apparent after shooting these pistols for a good hour. I can imagine the Zoraki would start to feel heavy after a long day down the range.

Both of these pistols feel incredibly solid and utilise a high grade polymer that is moulded around a metal frame for added strength. In my opinion neither of these pistols is going to set the world alight with their looks and both of them seem to be quite generic, as they look like many other pistols in this category.

In conclusion I think the winner is the HW40 but only just, thanks its lower weight and despite its marginally inferior finish. To me, looks are not as important as something that can actually affect shooting, and the heaviness of the Zoraki started to affect the accuracy of my aim after a while.

Winner: Weihrauch HW40

Pumped Up Kicks

hw40 air pistol
The HW40: Be careful not to trap your fingers.

The main difference between these two pistols is that the HW40 is a single stroke pneumatic whilst the HP-01 is a multi-stroke pistol. What this essentially means is one pump for the HW40 puts it ready to fire at full power whilst the HP-01 can be pumped between one and three times to reach any of its three power settings. Pump once for low power, twice for medium and three times for full power. This gives shooters extra flexibility in how much power they want but aside from testing I found myself using the second and third power settings exclusively.

The only reason I can think why you would use the lowest setting is that the pistol makes less noise… but who doesn’t like loud noises?! Ok, your neighbours might not, and I understand that noise is a valid concern in built up areas, but when down the range I can’t see a good reason to shoot at the lowest power setting.

Now, I’m not Jeremy Clarkson! Power isn’t everything but it does mean flatter trajectories and better range, things that are far more desirable to me than quietness. I have heard reports from people of increased muzzle rise when fired at full power, but it was not something I noticed, particularly when shooting two handed.

However, I was using an under side mounted laser on the HP-01, which may have acted as a barrel weight, reducing the muzzle rise but again, unless you are in serious target shooting competitions, I’m sure this issue is not something that will bother you.

To pump the Zoraki to full power takes quite a bit of strength, while the HW40 is slightly easier. One thing to note it is quite easy to catch clothing and fingers whilst closing both pistols so make sure you have both out of the way when shutting the breech. I’m going to give the win to the HW40 again here as it is slightly easier to pump and only requires one pump to shoot at its most powerful as opposed the HP-01.

Winner: Weihrauch HW40

Shots Fired

Despite early wins for the HW40, here is where the ZP-01 really comes into its own. When both shooting at full power the HW40 produces around 2 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, while the HP-01 produces around 5.5ft/lbs. This is a big difference and means that whilst the HW40 will struggle to go through an empty Coke can, the HP-01 is capable of taking out pets such as rats quickly and humanely and is one of the few non PCP or spring powered pistols that is capable of close range pest control.

Power to spare: The Zoraki HP-01
Power to spare: The Zoraki HP-01

This really puts the Zoraki in a different class of pistol from the Weihrauch and makes it ideal for almost any shooting discipline, whether it’s target shooting, plinking or pest control. On the other hand, the Weihrauch is only really good as a short range plinker or target shooter.

It is worth noting at this point that the Zoraki is nearly £100 pounds more expensive and so a difference in quality is to be expected but if you are looking at serious competition shooting or to take out some pesky pests, there is really only one option.

The triggers of both are two stage and fully adjustable with a hex key, with the ZP-01’s match trigger being crisp and sharp and the HW40’s having a tiny bit of creep, but not enough to affect accuracy. Both group well at their effective ranges using Air Arms Field (4.51) pellets and neither pistol experienced any jams or problems while testing.

There is only one winner here; the Zoraki is so much more versatile in its use with higher power and a much longer effective range. This is where the price difference of the two pistols really becomes apparent, as the HW40 is certainly not a bad pistol, and performs better than most other pneumatics in its price range, such as the Beeman 2004E. However its lack of power is to be expected, as it almost half the price of the Zoraki.

Winner: Zoraki HP-01/ Webley Alecto

Sights & Extras

The iron sights of the Zoraki HP-01
The iron sights of the Zoraki HP-01

The sights of the Zoraki are also of exceptional quality, with the foresight flipping over to offer a choice of blade width, as well as different positioning. This allows for great accuracy right out of the box. The HW40 features front and rear fibre optic sights that are fully adjustable, although not as much as the HP-01’s, and are again, perfectly aligned. The fibre optics work in all but the darkest of conditions. It is worth noting that the Zoraki’s iron sights are not fibre optic so external optics is required for shooting in low light conditions.

Both pistols feature rails on top for the easy attachment of red dot sights or scopes, but only the Zoraki has an under mounted weaver rail for laser sights, torches or other suitable attachments. I used a laser in my testing, set up to 45 yards, and although a red dot sight is more effective for target acquisition, it is nice to have the option for under mounted attachments.

In terms of accessories the HW40 is a bit of a bare bones affair with the pistol and manual included in the box, whereas the HP-01 comes with a bottle of gun oil, adjustment tools and a cleaning brush as well as the manual and gun. Another nice feature included with the Zoraki is a test sheet from the factory showing the grouping achieved with each particular pistol. It was, according to the sheet, tested using Crosman pointed pellets which are not exactly famed for their accuracy. This strikes me a bit like Audi including official 0-60 figures with their latest car in snow tires, but whatever, it’s nice to have and gives each pistol a more individual touch.

The added accessories as well as the under mounted rail means I have to give this one to the Zoraki HP-01.

Winner: Zoraki HP-01 /Webley Alecto

And The Winner Is…

Well its 2 – 2 so far in the categories but I have to pick a winner. There is no penalty shootout this time, no referendum, the answer is obvious. With its adjustable power, crisper trigger and extended range the winner has to be the Zoraki HP-01.

The HW40 is a very good pistol for its price point and provides the best accuracy of any pistol that is sub £150. If you are looking for a pistol just for plinking there is no reason not to buy the HW40 but it is just outclassed by a far more expensive and more versatile pistol. The Zoraki is an excellent target shooter, plinker, pest controller or vermin hunter with rails for a variety attachments making it one of the most powerful and versatile pneumatic pistols on the market today.

Winner: Zoraki HP-01

You can grab yourself a Weihrauch HW40 air pistol here, and a Zoraki HP-01 / Webley Alecto here. To learn more about Weihrauch, head to our collections page

Which air pistol do you think makes the grade? Do you own either? Or have you got a different recommendation altogether? Let us know in the comments below.