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Now for the practical airgun barrel twist testing! Here’s some practical results that the HAM Team have found so far. Plus we’ve added another twist to the discussion (groan)… Barrel Twist Rate Testing Well, it turns-out that it’s not so difficult to test your airgun barrel twist rate. All you need is a cleaning rod, plus a jag or brush for the appropriate bore diameter, plus some painter’s tape and a cable tie. For this HAM testing, we used cleaning rods manufactured by Bore Tech. These include a convenient, simple system of markers to simplify determining one complete rotation of the rod. In addition, we used cleaning brushes of each appropriate airgun caliber. That’s from .177 all the way to .30 caliber. Fortunately Bore tech...

VALUE FOR MONEY At a Street Price of $1,795, the BRK Pathfinder is not exactly a cheap air rifle. Plus – of course – you’ll need to add a decent scope, rings and HPA charging equipment. It’s also a highly-specialized air rifle. Intended as a pest control tool, that’s the whole focus of the product. It’s clear that it meets that goal extremely well. So this is definitely a “working gun” for relatively short range use – out to ethical shooting distances only. With the short barrel, limited air capacity and adequate power, the Pathfinder is not intended for long range, competitive benchrest competition, for example. But that’s precisely what makes it so good at being what it is. That’s why it rates highly for value. BUY FROM...

HAM readers have already seen the RAW HM1000x Mini Chassis Rifle in our report from the 2024 SHOT Show. Now it’s shipping and is available at Airgun Depot. The HM1000X Mini Chassis Rifle offers the same action as the larger models in the successful HM1000X series. However, it’s fitted into an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis with tactical features and styling. It’s another addition to the range of compact yet powerful hunting-focused PCP air rifles that have become available in recent times. The stock features an adjustable A-B Arms, AR-compatible buttstock with ridged rubber buttpad providing a variable length of pull. There’s also an AR-compatible grip for interchangeable flexibility. The HM1000x Mini is available in both .22 and...

This is the second post in our series about airgun barrel twist rates. Airgun Barrel Twist Rate Assumptions First I’m going to start this discussion on airgun barrel twist rates with some guesses and assumptions. Are they right or wrong? Somebody will certainly tell me, or we will find out… Assumption 1. Before we start looking to find data in confirmation, my guess is that one of the most common twist rates for .22 caliber airgun barrels is 1:16. We’ll find out if this is true in future. Assumption 2. It seems that the “traditional” and most common twist rate for .22 Long Rifle firearms barrels is 1:16. As .22 LR firearms were in existence well before mass-production airguns, my GUESS is that 1:16 became a common twist rate for...

Now I have not shot firearms in many years. However, I remember that barrel twist rate always seemed to be a big deal in the powder-burning world. Recently I was reminded of that when browsing the Midway USA website. Take a look at the product description pages for just about any firearm and there – among the key product specifications – is barrel twist rate. Looking further, I find much Internet information and discussion about twist rates, particularly for AR 15-type “black rifles”. What interests me about this is that relatively small differences in twist rate – say 1 in 7 or 1 in 9 (Inches) are attributed with considerably different levels of accuracy downrange, depending on the bullet weight. Moreover, the results of these...

As of April 8, you will be able to register for the 2024 Pyramyd Air Cup. The dates for this major airgun event have been announced. It’s September 11 – 15. Note that there’s one big change to the days! The arrival/registration day is WEDNESDAY – not Thursday as in previous years. The competitions will run from Thursday to Saturday. Sunday is now a “travel home” day. The 2024 Cup will be building on the success of the 2023 event. Not messing with success, Pyramyd Air is sticking with the same location, the Cardinal Center in central Ohio. The precise address is 616 State Route 61, Marengo, OH 43334. This is an outstanding venue for many kinds of shooting sports and has proven to be a great choice for the Pyramyd Air Cup over several...

If you want a special edition Weihrauch 1899 Jubilee Series air rifle, your chance is here! HAM readers will have read about this exclusive range of Weihrauch models that were announced at the company’s 125th anniversary celebrations at the IWA OutdoorClassics show recently in Nuremberg, Germany. In fact, there’s three special edition Weihrauch 1899 Jubilee Series air rifle models, a HW97KT, HW50 and HW100. Each one is available in a stunning red-and-black laminated stock and is numbered in a special series. Just 600 of the special HW97KT models are being produced, plus 900 special HW50s and 300 HW100Ts. That’s less serial number “ONE” of each series that is destined for the Weihrauch factory museum in Mellrichstadt, in the German...

If you thought that the new Crosman 3622 PCP air rifle was revolutionary, take a look at the Crosman CHOPPA. It’s a double barrel full auto BB gun! The specs for the Crosman CHOPPA are a little thin on the ground right now, so it’s probably best for us to quote directly from the manufacturer’s web site… “Crosman just dropped a gamechanger on the airgun market, and it’s called the Double Barrel Full Auto BB Gun. That’s right, two barrels spitting steel faster than you can say “hasta la vista, tin cans.” This ain’t your grandpa’s plinking peashooter. We’re talking full auto, double the firepower, and enough ammo to wipe out a platoon of beer cans. This beast will turn you into a one-man wrecking crew. You want to rule the range and...

OK, there’s still time – just – to sign-up for the 2024 Wasatch Front Fun Shoot. This annual event has been held every year since 2022 by the Wasatch Front Airgun League. It’s been a great success each time! Currently about 45 shooters have registered and there’s room for about 15 more – if you’re quick! Currently there are shooters registered from five states, including Nevada, Arizona, California, Idaho, and Utah. Match Director David Stevenson has provided this update. To register, click here. If you have questions, call, text or email him at davidstevensonb28@gmail.com, 801-928-9910. When is the 2024 Wasatch Front Fun Shoot? Friday and Saturday, April 12-13, 2024, 8 AM to 5 PM daily, with an awards banquet on Saturday evening...

Today we’re taking a first look at the BRK Pathfinder PCP air rifle. Introduced in 2023, the Pathfinder is a dedicated pest control tool. But it certainly has capabilities beyond that and joins the increasing band of compact PCPs that have entered the market recently. The Pathfinder is based on BRK’s successful Commander/Sniper platform. HAM tested the Sniper XR in March 2020 and were very impressed. That gun scored 96% and earned a HAM Gold award. To really appreciate how compact the Pathfinder is, you really have to hold it with the AR 15-style stock folded. In this case, the overall length is under 19 Inches. Plus, the BRK Pathfinder PCP air rifle is light, too. Even fitted with the Sightron S-TAC 3-16 x 42 scope and Leapers UTG...

VALUE FOR MONEY JSB Jumbo Monster Grand .22 caliber 28.55 Grain pellets are a new introduction from the famous Czech manufacturer. They are clearly intended as a heavier addition to the 25.39 Grain Jumbo Monster range, taking advantage of the ever-increasing power of PCP air rifles. However the additional weight comes at a price. These new “Grands” are selling for one third more than the price of the regular Monsters. At 10 cents per pellet, the price is actually more expensive than that for some slugs of equivalent weight. So the cost of JSB Jumbo Monster Grand .22 caliber 28.55 Grain pellets is relatively high. However – if you have a PCP air rifle that can make use of them – that will not have been a low-cost purchase either...

VALUE FOR MONEY In this review of the Diana Two Forty air rifle, we need to give special consideration to the level of value it offers. At a Street Price of $99.99 – just one critical cent under that $100 barrier – it clearly hits a price point that many people want to pay. For that price, the Two Forty delivers a great number of benefits that will make many shooters very happy. Many of these are directly related to its’ relatively low power, as we explored in a previous post. Even the disappointing accuracy can’t stop the Two Forty from scoring 100% in this category. BUY FROM PYRAMYD Diana 240 Classic Air Rifle 0.177 Mantis 3-9×40 AO Rifle Scope, Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/4 MOA, 1 Tube SPEED AND ACCURACY The Diana Two Forty air rifle...

Not many of us know that Crosman supports airgun target shooting through a range of initiatives. So I thought you would be interested to know about some of them… Although HAM readers are generally not interested in 10 Meter target shooting, this remains by far the largest organized competitive airgun discipline in the USA today. Literally thousands of youth shooters participate in clubs and high school programs associated with the JROTC, in conjunction with the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Although it seems that disappointingly few of these 10 Meter airgun target competitors progress to “our sort of airguns”, many of them do go forward to a lifetime interest in shooting, mainly with firearms. This is why Crosman’s support –...

Summer is not too far away and the 2024 FLFT Grand Prix is now open for registration! The third annual event is taking place on July 27th and 28th 2024 in the beautiful surroundings of up-state New York’s Finger Lakes. The FLFT is a two-day event with both rifle and pistol competitions being held over the weekend. Full details and registration can be found at the FLFT web page. The shoot is AAFTA-sanctioned and abides by all AAFTA rules. It’s sponsored by Airguns of Arizona and Hard Air Magazine. Not wanting to mess with success, the 2024 FLFTC will be held at the same range as in previous years. This is the Rochester Brooks Gun Club, 962 Honeoye Falls #6 Road, Rush, NY 14543. The location is on the edge of the beautiful upstate...

Today, let’s take a final walk around IWA 2024, looking for airguns and associated products. So our first stop was with Diana. There Markus Dombrowski showed me the new new Skyhawk Gen. 2. That’s Markus above in our heading photograph and a close-up of the gun below. The main change for the Skyhawk Gen. 2 is the mid-mounted sidelever cocking action. It’s a big improvement on the rear-mounted lever of the “Gen. 1” model, in my opinion. Markus also showed me the Outlaw Gen. 2 Outlaw. This adds a regulator gauge, Picatinny scope-mounting rails and a new stock with M-LOK slots to the previous generation model. Below, Leapers was at the IWA 2024 show, of course! The indefatigable David Ding showed me the latest scope models from his...

Today we’ll look at the new products shown by Karma Airguns, FX Airguns and Element Optics at the IWA OutdoorClassics show 2024. Karma Airguns occupied a part of the booth of AEA Precision Airguns at IWA. AEA, of course, is the manufacturer of the Karma Airguns. Many HAM readers will be familiar with the prototype Karma Red Panda that was shot with great success by Thayne Simmons in 2023. Thayne won the 100 yards benchrest competitions at the 2023 Rocky Mountain shoot, the Pyramyd Air Cup and Extreme Benchrest. That gun will be reaching production in 2024 as the “Red Panda Bench” model. And – here to show it to us – is none other than Thayne Simmons himself! The Red Panda will be available in calibers from .22 to .35 caliber and...

Today we’re looking at Nova Vista and Macavity Arms – two innovative airgun companies that were exhibiting at IWA OutdoorClassics 2024. 1. Nova Vista The first of today’s innovative airgun companies is Macau-based Nova Vista Company Limited. I’ve been meeting-up with Nova Vista since the IWA OutdoorClassics show in 2017. During that time, the company’s product range has steadily expanded. Nova Vista has a well-publicized relationship with Air Venturi, which has resulted in the Air Venturi Avenger and Avenge-X models. Indeed that relationship is headlined front and center on the Nova Vista booth. For this year, Nova Vista has announced a second generation version of their “Pneupump” model, with built-in hand pump (below). This...

Eastern Europe is a hotbed of PCP airgun development. It’s also close to Nuremberg, where the IWA OutdoorClassics show is help. So let’s look at Eastern European PCPs At The 2024 IWA Show… Today – for Part One of this report – we are looking at PCPs from three manufacturers from the Czech Republic. These are KalibrGun, AirgunTechnology and Epic Airguns. Eastern European PCPs At The 2024 IWA Show – KalibrGun At the KalibrGun booth, the owner Richard Janoušek took me though his company’s current product range. First we looked at the Snipe – that’s Richard and the Snipe in our heading photograph above. Here he shows us some close-ups of this versatile sidelever PCP. The Snipe is available in multiple calibers, stock configurations...

Back in March 2018, we published the Hard Air Magazine Guide To Understanding JSB Pellet Tin Labels. Well, time has moved on and it’s time to refresh and update that guide. So this is JSB Labels Version 2.0… I had always been a little confused about the names on JSB labels. But it was also clear to me that obviously the company has a system behind the words on its pellet labels. It’s just that I had not been able to comprehend it. So, at the 2018 IWA OutdoorClassics show in Nuremberg, I spoke to Pavel Kolabec – JSB’s main man – and asked for his help to translate the meaning of the words on JSB pellet labels. He did and the first version of this guide was born. I spoke to him again at the 2024 event and this article is the result...

Benjamin Airguns has employees who not only make and sell high-quality air rifles: they also competitively shoot them too! So let’s take a look at Team Benjamin as they look forward to the 2024 season… Daryl Van Why, Ethan Butterfield, John Solpietro and Shawn Pragle make up Team Benjamin. That’s them from left to right in our heading photograph above. They all frequently compete in the Hunter class of American Airgun Field Target Association matches. In the final AAFTA National standings for 2023, Team Benjamin shooters all finished in the Top 60 shooters nationwide: – Pragle 40th – Van Why 43rd – Solpietro 51st – Butterfield 57th Congratulations gentlemen!!! Below. Shawn Pragle prepares to take a standing shot at the Pyramyd Air...