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Hard Air Magazine readers first heard about the new 7mm Wolfiek caliber in our report from the 2025 IWA OutdoorClassics exhibition in Germany – the world’s biggest airgun show. Now HAM can bring you an exclusive update on progress and – trust me – there’s a lot! But first let’s quickly re-cap on the thinking behind this initiative. Why 7mm WOLFIEK Caliber? Wolfiek’s goal is NOT to modify or adapt an existing product, but to create a new caliber. Designed and tested over during three years of development, it has one central purpose: to be one of the greatest choices for long-distance extreme PCP shooting. Competitions such as Extreme Benchrest set the worldwide benchmark for precision airgun shooting. This kind of event attracts...

The Reximex RP 11 PCP air pistol is now available for pre-order at Pyramyd. It’s a new version of the company’s PCP pistol platform featuring an aluminum 1911-style pistol grip. The 1911 grip has checkered grip panels made from Turkish walnut. This provides a classic look and feel that many shooters prefer because of its angle and handling characteristics. Compared to the molded grips on the other versions of the RP series, this 1911 grip offers superior ergonomics according to many shooters. It feels natural in the hand and promotes accurate aiming, Pyramyd explains. The Reximex RP 11 PCP air pistol is available in both .177 and .22 calibers. It’s also available in both black and silver finishes. Either way, the RP 11 has a...

First shown publicly at the 2026 British Shooting Show, the BRK Ghost Zero HP is now in stock at AoA. This “base” model of the Ghost is promoted as being an up-grader’s delight. The main difference between the Ghost Zero and the other Ghost variants is that it is equipped with a 300 cc capacity HPA tube instead of a carbon fiber bottle. But it has handling benefits that make it an attractive alternative to the regular, bottle, version of the gun. At $1,999.99, it’s also somewhat less expensive. The Ghost Zero HP is available in .177, .22, .25 and .30 calibers. The Muzzle Energy peaks at a claimed 100 Ft/Lbs with the .30 cal version, as you would expect. Apart from now being in stock at AoA, the Ghost can be specified from...

Do you want to buy a $4,000 air rifle? If so, Pyramyd can help! Well, actually, one of these guns is selling for $3,999.99, the other for one Cent short of $4,300. But when you reach these rarified prices, what’s another few hundred Dollars? Let’s take a look at both these new models that have just appeared on the Pyramyd website. Apart from the price, they’re about as different as can be. Want to buy a $4,000 air rifle? Air Arms XTi-50 Benchrest Our first contender is a very unusual beast. It’s a benchrest version of the Air Arms XTi-50 Field Target rifle. And it certainly looks beautiful. Just look at that green/black laminated stock… As you would expect from Air Arms, the finish is superlative. There’s the expected Lothar...

Pyramyd Cup 2026 registration is now open and the official schedule has been announced. The format closely follows the successful 2025 event. Why change what’s not broken! Not messing with success, Pyramyd is sticking with the same outstanding venue, the Cardinal Center in central Ohio. The precise address is 616 State Route 61, Marengo, OH 43334. This is an terrific venue for many kinds of shooting sports and has proven to be a great choice for the Pyramyd Air Cup over several years. Here’s where you sign-up and register! Below, we have the full, 2026 Pyramyd Cup official schedule. Wednesday, August 5th 12PM-5PM – Registration and Benchrest Bench Selection* 12PM-5PM – Practice Ranges Open/Sight-In *Note. The first two groups...

From now, Pinty accepts HAM Airgun Points! The company has joined other big names in the industry to credit your HAM Airgun Points as a discount when you make a purchase in their online store. This is yet another great move for HAM Community members, as now you will be able to use your HAM Airgun Points when you buy from Pinty’s expanding range of airguns and scopes. Hard Air Magazine Airgun Points are our way to say “thank you” to HAM Community members. You accrue them by being an active member of the Hard Air Magazine Community, by helping others and generally having fun! So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to our friends at Pinty for joining the HAM Airgun Points loyalty program! Pinty’s HAM Airgun Points Offer From today...

But wait there’s more! Hard Air Magazine has already brought you information about airgun ownership threats in New York State. Now the ASA (Airguns Sporting Association) has found developing threats in the legislatures of Illinois and Washington States too. And there could be more that the ASA has not found yet! What this means is that all of us need to be concerned about threats to our airguns in many parts of the USA – particularly if you live in a “Blue” State. The remarkable “coincidence” of proposed anti-airgun legislation in the 2025-6 legislative sessions of so many States makes it possible that it’s not a “coincidence” at all. In fact, it’s easy to imagine that this is a coordinated policy by a range of anti-gun zealots at...

VALUE FOR MONEY This new Air Venturi Avenge-XL PCP air rifle is clearly a linear design evolution of the amazingly-popular Air Venturi Avenger and Avenge-X models. That much is obvious. However – unlike the Avenger and Avenge-X models, this is definitely NOT a general purpose air rifle. Here we have a special-purpose shooter. It’s designed purely for long-range shooting, shot from a rested or prone position. Many people will use it as a dedicated benchrest air rifle, some for hunting. The provision of replaceable hammer springs, together with regulator and hammer spring adjustments, means that this gun can be configured with two different personalities. Out-of-the-box as a hunter. With some tweaks for benchrest competition. HAM...

As many of you will have noticed, Pinty is a new advertiser in Hard Air Magazine. So today we’re taking a first look at one of the company’s products – the Nightfall PCP air rifle. In fact, what we have here is the brand-new “gen 2” version of the Nightfall. The improvements are internal – primarily an improved trigger with a lower pull weight. Oh – for those who want to know – half a dozen quick tests using our trusty Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge registered an average pull weight of 3 Lbs 4 Oz. Very acceptable! But before going further, I’m going to address the “elephant in the room” question. “But isn’t the Nightfall a direct knock-off of the Air Force Talon?” The honest answer is “I don’t think so.” Yes, the Nightfall...

Today we’re taking a close look at the JTS AirStryke Carbine. Hard Air Magazine readers first saw this model in our report from the 2026 IWA OutdoorClassics exhibition. Now one has arrived in the HAM offices and we can really examine what this new model brings to the table. As it’s name implies, the JTS AirStryke Carbine is a shortened version of the HAM Gold Award-winning AirStryke. So, having reviewed the “full length” AirStryke so recently, we have a “lite” test format for the carbine. BUY FROM PYRAMYD JTS AirStryke Carbine PCP Air Rifle 0.22 SHOOTABILITY Immediately I’m going to say that this .22 caliber, regulated carbine is a compact, lightweight and easy-to-shoot airgun. With the collapsible stock, adjustable cheekpiece...

Yes, another post about this New York State airgun law proposal! But I make no apologies because it’s a very strong bet that there’s many other states watching and you may find similar proposals in your area very soon. So, this is NOT just a New York problem, this could be just the start. We all need to remember that… Please watch this outstanding video from Colion Noir. He’s a noted “firearms guy”, attorney and gun rights activist. He sees the problem and is out there helping us. Thank You Colion! As a reminder, the New York State government is trying to ban air guns, and we need your help to stop this overreach that removes yet another of our legal rights. Two separate Bills, S9215 and A10701, propose to designate all air guns –...

For the first time in nine years, three-position precision airgun shooting has a new team champion! Navy JROTC’s Floyd Central High School, Indiana (photo above), fired a two-day aggregate score of 4717-345X to earn the overall title at the 2026 JROTC National 3P Air Rifle Championship – making them the first team to outdo Marine Corps team Granbury High School, Texas, in nearly a decade. The JROTC National sporter and precision air rifle event for high school athletes was held March 26-28 at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. Along with Nationals, the JROTC Championships included a Postals Match and Regional Service Championships – all facilitated by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The 2026 JROTC...

This very useful heavy duty pellet trap was built by HAM Tester Doug Wall. It’s been “battle tested” by the HAM Team over many years and has emerged with colors flying. Here’s Doug to tell us about it… If you go through all of the data that we’ve collected for various Hard Air Magazine articles and tables of data, you’ll come to the conclusion that we have fired many thousands of pellets downrange. A lot of the common, lower powered guns get tested on our own indoor 10 Yard ranges and Steve’s 25-Yard range. The more powerful, and precise airguns need to be tested at longer ranges, as well as all of the HAM Ballistic Coefficient (BC) testing. This gets done on the test range in my backyard. We have developed a “method” for this...

As Wolfiek Group is a new partner for Hard Air Magazine, we thought many readers would like to find out some more information about the company. In the first of these posts, we talk to Francisco Eizayaga, the Managing Director and founder (above). Here he tells us in his own words… Hard Air Magazine: Francisco, welcome to HAM. Please start by giving us a “one liner” overview about your company. Francisco Eizayaga: Steve, it’s great to be here! Competitive shooters, hunters, and airgun enthusiasts all recognize the same excitement: the instant when the right equipment transforms the shooting experience. That pursuit of precision lies at the heart of the story behind Wolfiek Group. That’s why our company that has grown into one of...

Here’s an update on the NY proposed airgun ban situation. The ASA – the Airgun Sporting Association – is actively involved, as you can read here. Earlier today, I spoke to Ed Schultz, the CEO of the Airgun Sporting Association. Here’s how the discussion went… Hard Air Magazine: Ed, thanks for taking the time to talk about this NY proposed airgun ban. I know that you’re working non-stop on this issue behind the scenes. But first, can you please remind everyone about what the ASA is? Ed Schultz: No problem, Steve. Technically, the ASA is a non-profit business league as described in section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. That means that it’s an organization to promote the common business interests of...

Looking carefully at the current proposed Bills to ban airguns in NY State, I feel that they violate both Federal Law and the US Constitution. Here’s why… You can read the proposed New York State Senate Bill S9215 here. You can read the proposed New York State Assembly Bill A10701 here. Please note that these are my personal comments and questions only. I am not suggesting that you should agree with them. Also, I am not a lawyer of any type. However I am a resident of New York State and – when I became a legal naturalized citizen of the USA – was required to study (and be tested on) the Constitution of this country. So here I have two questions about certain points in the proposed Bills. I am offering them here as an open letter to...

Yes, it’s true. There’s a New York State airgun ban in the works. It’s included in the current 2025-26 Legislative Session of the state. As the Session ends on 4 June, that means that things could happen very rapidly… New York State currently has bills in both the state Assembly and Senate that would effectively ban the sale and marketing of all current airguns. NO, THIS IS NOT A JOKE! The thrust of the proposed New York State Senate Bill S9215 is to reclassify functional airguns as “imitation weapons.” This legislation would require airguns to be transparent or brightly colored and have a plugged barrel, effectively banning current models as they would no longer be able to fire a projectile. There is also a proposed New York State...

Today we’re taking a first look at the Air Venturi Avenge-XL PCP air rifle. Yes, it’s due to be shipping by the end of this month – according to the Pyramyd website. Hard Air Magazine has received an advanced sample, full-production gun. So what you see here in this exclusive first look is exactly what you will be buying very soon. Sit down, it’s exciting… Our gun is in .30 caliber, however, the Avenge-XL will also be available in .22 and .25 calibers. Air Venturi Avenge-XL PCP Air Rifle Price This is a surprise. For the Avenge-XL, the price is big news. It just keeps getting better and better! HAM readers first read about the Avenge-XL in our post of 22 January, 2025. This recorded the first appearance of the gun at the 2025...

There’s two new Weihrauch breakbarrel models now available at Airguns of Arizona. They’re the HW35 K and HW95 S. You know, it must be very tough for Weihrauch designers! They have a long-running and comprehensive series of spring/piston breakbarrel air rifles that are loved by shooters. Their guns have been the subject of continuous subtle refinements over the years and are widely recognized as being close to perfection. So what can you do to improve them? If you change too much and alter the character and “soul” of these classic guns, there likely would be a HUGE backlash. After all, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” But everyone wants to see a new model at times. So stock improvements are a great way to do this… Naturally...

Dustin Harding of Athlon Optics talks to HAM Community Moderator Pan60 in this exclusive Hard Air Magazine interview. First, some background… Pan60 is an avid fan of Athlon Optics. For those that don’t know, he has several Athlon scopes on his airguns. His favorite model is the MidasTAC HD FFP 4-16 x 44 model. Yes – Pan60 says – the next scope he buys will be another Athlon. And no – he says – Athlon hasn’t given him anything other than great customer service. They replaced a scope he bought used that was hard to focus properly due to having been over-torqued in mounting by the previous owner. Above. In our heading photograph, Dustin shoots in the NRL22-style airgun “Steel Scramble” at Extreme Benchrest 2025 with a BRK Ghost...