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So, what happened to the New York airgun ban? Well, amazingly, there’s some good news… The State’s proposed anti-airgun legislation remains held at the “Committee stage” of the process. They were not brought to a vote before the NY legislative session concluded on June 4th, 2026. This means that the proposed Bills S9215 and A10701 were NOT passed into state law. So we can continue to buy, own and shoot airguns in New York State. At least for now. Of course we do not know exactly why this happened. However it would be nice to think that reasoned argument, backed by facts, prevailed. In particular, the efforts of Ed Schultz and the Airgun Sporting Association would have been critical in providing information and education in a...

The Wolfiek PANDORA PRS is one of the first PCP precision air rifles to feature a maximum fill pressure of 500 Bar – that’s 7,250 PSI – thanks to the use of ultra-high-strength, thick 7576 T6 Aluminum alloy construction and new portable compressors. Yes, 7,250 PSI in an air rifle! Let’s let that sink-in for a moment… But don’t worry: it can also be filled to 310 Bar (4,500 PSI) if you would prefer to operate at a more conventional fill pressure. The PANDORA is one of the first platforms to offer the chance to try out 7 mm Wolfiek, an innovative caliber designed specifically for extreme long-range PCP shooting. With ammunition already in production and others currently undergoing active testing, the 7 mm ecosystem is now a reality...

This PCP Airgun Fill Connector Warnings post is the third in our three-part series. It is an up-dated version of an investigation that was originally published in Hard Air Magazine back in 2022. So why are we looking at this topic again? There’s two reasons. Firstly, as ever more PCP air rifles are sold, more enthusiastic, new airgun shooters will encounter issues related to these PCP airgun fill connector warnings. The problems have not gone away, they are being discovered every day by newcomers to our interest. This series is intended to help them – maybe you! Secondly, it’s just in the nature of Internet publishing that historic posts become less easy to find – even if they are about important issues that are still relevant. So...

This PCP Airgun Fill Connector Incompatibilities post is the second in a three-part series. It is an up-dated version of an investigation that was originally published in Hard Air Magazine back in 2022. So why are we looking at this topic again? There’s two reasons. Firstly, as ever more PCP air rifles are sold, more enthusiastic, new airgun shooters will encounter issues related to PCP airgun fill connector incompatibilities. The problems have not gone away, they are being discovered every day by newcomers to our interest. This series is intended to help them – maybe you! Secondly, it’s just in the nature of Internet publishing that historic posts become less easy to find – even if they are about important issues that are still...

This PCP Airgun Fill Connector Background is the first in a three-part series. It is an up-dated version of an investigation that was originally published in Hard Air Magazine back in 2022. So why are we looking at this topic again? There’s two reasons. Firstly, as ever more PCP air rifles are sold, more enthusiastic, new airgun shooters will encounter problems related to PCP airgun fill connectors. The problems have not gone away, they are being discovered every day by newcomers to our interest. This series is intended to help them – maybe you! Secondly, it’s just in the nature of Internet publishing that historic posts become less easy to find – even if they are about important issues that are still relevant. So, it’s time to...

The Umarex Fusion 2 is one of those airguns that has become a little left-behind and – dare I say it – forgotten. Probably in this case, it’s due to the amazing success of Umarex USA’s outstanding Komplete. However that’s not completely fair. The Fusion 2 is still a very viable, fun air rifle that’s ideal for plinking in the backyard or takling those feral soda cans that are terrorizing the neighborhood! In fact, the Fusion 2’s low power levels and quietness may make it superior to the Komplete as a pure backyard plinker for many owners. The lower power means shorter range and a more backyard-friendly report, particularly as it’s available in .177 caliber only. In our comprehensive 2020 review, we said that “The Umarex Fusion 2 is...

Air Venturi PCP fittings can be a life-saver for anyone involved with airguns. If you have a PCP, you never know when you’ll need them. But one day – sure as fate – you definitely will! Today we’re looking at a range of PCP fittings that are available at Pyramyd AIR. Some are new, some unusual, but all will be useful at some time and it’s good to know that they are there. Air Venturi PCP Fittings – Female Connectors One of the unusual, recent arrivals is the “double female”. This is the product shown in our heading photograph above. It’s a combination of two female fittings, mounted back-to-back. The correct product name is Air Venturi Female-to-Female Quick Disconnect Fitting. Maximum working pressure is 4,500 PSI. Pyramyd’s...

Today we’re looking at some simple PCP improvements that the enthusiastic airgun owner can try themselves. They’re cheap and easy to do, too… Our subject is the Diana Skyhawk that we recently reviewed, however many of them could be applied to other PCP air rifles, too. BUY FROM PYRAMYD Diana Air Rifle Skyhawk PCP Air Rifle, Walnut 0.177 That Skyhawk gun performed very well, earning a HAM Gold Award with a score of 91%. I liked it a lot. But somehow I thought that it could benefit from a little love and attention – the sort that an average enthusiastic owner could provide. Please note that the aim here is NOT to strip and rebuild the gun. This is emphatically NOT a “professional” upgrade, but simply some “average Joe” changes that...

UTG Picatinny Riser Mounts are a very useful accessory to have available when mounting a scope on your new air rifle. Typically, I find them useful to achieve the correct eyeline with bullpup air rifles. They’re a simple and effective way to raise the scope to the right height for a comfortable sight picture. Sometimes high rings will do, but sometimes you still need more height. Then it’s time for a riser mount… For example, I used riser mounts on the Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup air rifle, with great results. Another popular PCP air rifle that I always use with Picatinny riser mounts is the Umarex Notos. In fact, I find one essential for scope use on this great little air rifle! As you would expect, the “go to” place for...

OK, here’s a subject most of us don’t like thinking about. Internal corrosion, the PCP airgun killer, is on the rise. Here’s why and what you can do to prevent it… Internal Corrosion The PCP Airgun Killer – Why Is It Rising? Hard Air Magazine first brought attention to the danger of internal corrosion in PCPs back in 2018. And yes, the cause is still the same – it’s water vapor (moisture) in the air entering the gun when it’s filled. Once inside the gun, the water vapor attacks metal parts and causes corrosion. That corrosion builds-up unevenly on the metal surfaces. We’ll give more details about this below. But why is the amount of corrosion in PCPs rising? There’s basically two reasons for this… 1. When HAM first published this...

VALUE FOR MONEY In fact, what we have here is the brand-new “Mark II” version of the Pinty Nightfall PCP air rifle. The improvements are internal – primarily an improved trigger with a lower pull weight and a standard thread on the barrel for attaching the bundled silencer. The Nightfall has an externally-adjustable hammer spring. It’s also regulated – as would be expected for any (non-big bore) PCP at this price or above in 2026. There’s no conventional stock, instead there’s a solid metal chassis that runs right forward from the pistol grip. It’s available in .22 caliber only. In comparison to the increasingly-large use of synthetics in modern PCP air rifles, the Nightfall is manufactured almost entirely from 6061 Aluminum alloy...

Airguns are not toys! Yes, I know, that seems obvious to all readers of Hard Air Magazine and anyone who understands anything about shooting. But that’s not the case with the current attempt to ban airguns in New York. Last month, HAM reported on the current spate of anti-airgun legislation that has “spontaneously” broken-out across the country. Well, it’s not going away and today we have – courtesy of the Airguns Shooting Association – some background on what the New York proposals are still trying to do. Amazingly, they’re trying to classify airguns as toys! Yes, TOYS! Somehow the earnest people behind this initiative feel that the world will be a safer place if airguns are painted in bright colors – like a toy – and treated as...

Today HAM talks to Gen 3 Marauder designer John Solpietro. John is Senior Design Engineer at the Iconic Outdoor Group in the Crosman/Benjamin plant in Bloomfield, New York. Among other things, John was also the designer of the Crosman Challenger 2021, the Crosman 3622 and he is an enthusiastic airgunner himself. The Gen 3 Marauder is his project, so who better to tell us about the gun than him! The Gen 3 Benjamin Marauder is now shipping, in stock and for sale at Pyramyd AIR. You can get yours now. BUY FROM PYRAMYD Benjamin Marauder Gen 3 PCP Air Rifle 0.22 Hard Air Magazine: John, I know you are an enthusiastic airgun shooter. Can you tell us the types of airgun shooting you enjoy most? John Solpietro: You know Steve, I...

The Marauder Gen 3 with BSA barrel is available now for order at Pyramyd AIR. This is your chance to get in early in what is sure to be a huge demand for this new PCP air rifle! HAM has brought you information about the Gen 3 Marauder before. However the specific information about the BSA barrel fitment is relatively new news – at least to me. So I spoke to the gun’s designer John Solpietro. That’s John on the left in our heading photo with a prototype Gen 3 and along with Shawn Pragle, who runs the Crosman/Benjamin PCP assembly operation.. Here’s what John had to say… John explained that – in the past – most Marauders had Crosman-manufactured barrels. However, some specific models were fitted with barrels sourced from outside...

Now’s the time to benefit from the Pyramyd AIR 20% off 30th Anniversary Sale! You can get 20% off the regular prices of a wide range of products by going to this page. Plus, you can enjoy an automatic upgrade to Platinum Rewards on your Pyramyd AIR account during this birthday celebration. This means access to Platinum perks like 3+1 savings, discounted services, plus free shipping on orders of just $100 or more. Just make sure you’re logged in to see the savings! But wait, there’s more! There’s also an additional 15% off FX Leopard air rifles and 20% of the HAM Gold-Award-winning Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup. BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup, Regulated PCP Air Rifle 0.177 To achieve the 20% savings, simply use the...

It’s Pyramyd AIR’s 30th Birthday. Yes, the world’s largest airgun dealer has been in business now for thirty years. Happy birthday to Pyramyd! So let’s look back at some company history and how Pyramyd came to be the dominant force it is today… The Earliest Days Of course, Pyramyd was not always a big operation. The company was founded as Pyramyd Air in 1996 by Josh Ungier – the Owner, Founder and CEO with just 450 square Feet of space in the basement of his home. That’s Josh below when I interviewed him in 2015. Growth happened fast and the company moved multiple times in the Cleveland area. Today Pyramyd Air operates from a 65,000 square foot building and has 70 employees! Josh – as he told me himself – “was bought up on...

BACKGROUND This is a very unusual Hard Air Magazine pellet test review. It’s the first time that we have ever re-reviewed a type of pellet that we have tested before. The purpose of this is to look at the product of a high-quality manufacturer – in this case H&N – and see if production quality is being maintained over time. Originally, we tested the Baracuda FT .177 caliber pellets back in 2023. They were an easy Gold Award winner at that time. So how do they fare in 2026? The answer is even better. The Baracuda FT is a HAM “Double Gold” winner. Congratulations to H&N for the company’s superb manufacturing and quality control standards! And please remember that – like all Hard Air Magazine pellet test reviews – both tests were...

The Mantis 1x30DV Red Dot Scope is a new red dot sight with an unusual feature. It fits good, old-fashioned airgun dovetail scope rails! That’s a big deal as the overwhelming majority of red dot sights have – and always have had – Picatinny mounts. That’s been a source of frustration for me in the past as the two mounting styles are completely different and totally incompatible. So – if you have one of the following air rifles and are looking for a red dot sight, this new Mantis unit will be ideal for a wide range of airguns, including the following: – The majority of multi-pump guns that have an optics rail, including the Seneca Dragonfly, and even the Crosman 760. – Several very popular Diana models, including the Chaser and...

Umarex USA has introduced an interesting new emergency PCP fill solution. The company’s N2 Fill Station provides a low-cost, compact and convenient method for taking a back-up source of air with you in the field. It can also provide a “last ditch” solution in case of charging equipment failure. After all, in an emergency, this could be a life-saver by providing up to 3,600 PSI of pressure if you have no other source of High Pressure Air for your PCP air rifle. Basically, the Umarex N2 Fill Station is an on/off valve that attaches to an Umarex NitroAir 32 gram cartridge. The N2 Fill Station accepts standard PCP male Foster fittings, either direct to the rifle, or can be connected using an appropriate hose. Umarex “NitroAir”...

Today we’re looking at the Gunnr Heimdall 6-24×50 FFP rifle scope. This scope arrived with the Pinty NightFall PCP air rifle, so I mounted it on the gun and have been using it for testing. Here’s what I have found… Branding And The Story of Gunnr Heimdall Both Pinty and Gunnr are product lines of the same company, managed by the same R&D and Quality Control teams. In branding terms, Pinty is designed primarily for the mainstream market, focusing on delivering the best value and cost-effectiveness. Gunnr is the premium line, built specifically for enthusiasts who demand higher specifications and superior build quality. In Norse mythology, Gunnr is the name of a Valkyrie, symbolizing strength, courage, and decisiveness. As Odin’s...