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This new H&N Slug Sampler Pack will be a really useful product for many people who are interested in trying slug shooting with their air rifle. These slugs are for .22 caliber airguns and have an actual diameter specification of .217 Inches. The five types of slug are all in the “Heavy Slug” range and have weights of 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 Grains. So clearly, this sampler pack is aimed at those owners of powerful .22 caliber PCP air rifles. The slightly lighter, 25 Grain, .217 caliber H&N slugs earned a HAM Gold award on test, so we know that H&N can manufacture consistent, high quality slugs – just as they do with pellets! Given the almost-certain need to test multiple slugs to find the most accurate model for your particular air...

You can save up to $300.00 on top-quality riflescopes in the new Sightron May Sale staring today! These special offers are available directly from the Sightron company website using this special link. The models available are the SV 10-50×60 and fixed power 45×45 competition scopes. The HAM Team has been extremely impressed with the optical quality of Sightron riflescopes. One example of this is the SIII FT 10-50×60 model which was the subject of this HAM test review. And, of course, there’s always A TON of Sightron scopes in use down the line among many competitors at Extreme Benchrest competitions. So check out the Sightron May Sale and focus-in on some bargains today! Check out these other resources to find great airgun deals…...

HAM readers first read about the new Hatsan Factor BP in our report from the IWA OutdoorClassics show back in March. Now Hatsan USA has announced that the model will be available in the USA and provided more details. In fact, the Factor BP is being promoted as the “big brother” to the existing Factor RP as it will be available in two calibers- – .30 and .35 cal. Performance claims for the Hatsan Factor BP are maximum Muzzle Velocities of 956 FPS in .30 cal – 956 FPS, 888 FPS for .35 cal. That represents maximum Muzzle Energies of 140 Ft/Lbs in the smaller caliber and 144 Ft/Lbs in the larger, the manufacturer says. Hatsan also says that the .30 cal factor BP achieves 32 shots at “optimum velocity” from a 250 bar (3,625 PSI) fill of...

The new Benjamin Traveler portable compressor is now available from major dealers including Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot. It’s the latest in a family of Traveler portable HPA compressors that HAM readers first read about back in 2018. Now the latest model is more compact as it includes an internal power converter. It’s also lighter. Another improvement is the incorporation of a digital pressure gauge – replacing the previous analog version – together with upgraded performance. This is used both to set the desired fill pressure and monitor the actual pressure being generated at any time. As you would expect, an included benefit is the auto-stop feature that allows the user to set a pressure and have the unit stop when the pressure is...

The RAW MicroHunter PCP air rifle was first announced at the 2023 SHOT Show, as HAM readers saw here. Now it’s on the Pyramyd Air website with availability listed for this month (May). The MicroHunter joins a number of other compact PCP air rifles that have entered the market recently. The Umarex Notos is another example, although at a very different price point. It’s probably fair to say that this trend for compact, carbine-length PCPs started with the Brocock (now BRK) Ranger that appeared in 2021. Like the MicroHunter, the Ranger – and following models from Brocock – are dedicated for hunting and pest control in locations where there’s limited space to carry or deploy the airgun. The overall length is just 27 Inches and the...

Fifteen year-old Makenzie Larson of Wellington, CO set three new national records with her first day score of 599-57X at the CMP’s Three-Position Air Rifle Championships. Just think about that for a moment! That’s a nearly perfect score of 599 out of 600, with no less than 57 “X’s. That’s just incredible. And remember that […] The post 599-57X That’s Incredible Shooting! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine. Continue reading...

I’ve always been interested in the “scout rifle” concept. That interest has come in useful for Umarex Notos scope mounting. You see, the Notos is the ideal airgun scout rifle! The scout rifle takes a carbine-length, bolt-action firearm and adapts it for maximum utility. The focus is on practical accuracy versus highest power and the result usually includes a long eye relief scope positioned far forward on the rifle. To understand how this applies to the new Umarex Notos, it’s important to understand that this rifle was originally designed as a pistol. (That’s how it originally appeared, back at the 2022 SHOT Show). The carbine is actually supplied in two parts and you fix it together with four screws. Sure, the original idea was...

OK, so here’s a question that many airgunners will NOT want to hear about. “What is the power loss shooting slugs in PCP air rifles?” Power Loss Shooting Slugs In PCP Air Rifles – Background As we take a first look at this question, a few explanations may be in order: 1. When speaking about “power”, I’m really referring to Muzzle Energy. Not the retained energy downrange. 2. Most people probably accept that the larger bearing surface of a parallel-sided slug against the barrel’s bore is greater than that for diabolo pellets. There’s just so much more surface rubbing against the steel barrel. That must mean that slugs create more friction when fired than pellets. That friction represents wasted power. 3. Here we are comparing the...

VALUE FOR MONEY At a current Street Price of $2,199.99, the BRK Ghost is not a cheap air rifle. However it offers a huge amount of value to the discerning, knowledgeable airgunner, as you’ll read throughout this comprehensive review. Overall, this is impressively-competent PCP that delivers accuracy and power in a sophisticated package. The Ghost is one of those few airguns that just feels “right”. Yes, that’s difficult to describe, but it’s a quality that shines-through to almost everyone who uses it. This is one case where we would have liked to award more than 100% for the “Shootability” section of our review! Sure, the HAM Testers found a few little niggles, that’s our job! But these gripes were small. HAM feels that the...

Now there’s great news for the many lovers of classic Crosman airguns. The Crosman Custom Shop is back and better! The “new look” Custom Shop allows you to customize three current Crosman models. These are the 2300KT CO2 pistol, the 2400KT CO2 rifle and the 1300KT multi-pump pistol. As you can tell by the “KT” suffixes, this means that you’re starting with a steel breech as standard. That’s a really good move as it’s undoubtedly what all Custom Shop customers will want. And your custom airgun can be engraved with your name – or whatever you choose, up to a total of 24 characters. As you build-up “your” gun, you see the results on-screen and can make changes as required. You also see a running total for the price your new airgun...

Now you can save $600 on Daystate LC110 Compressors at Airguns of Arizona. HAM tested the LC110 compressor back in November 2017 – it really just seems like yesterday! After the review, HAM Tester Doug Rogers was so impressed that he purchased the unit. He still has it and confirms that it has worked like a champ since then. In five years, Doug has made just three oil changes and replaced the drive belt once. That’s minimal maintenance for the amount of use it has had. That’s a testimony to the durability and reliability of the LC110. True, it’s not a cheap compressor – and never was – but Doug remains happy with the long-term performance, reliability and value that the unit has delivered for him. You can also see a video review by...

Before we proceed to tuning the gun – yes, I know that always means increasing the power – let’s first take a look at the Barra 1100z trigger. Once the stock is removed, the Barra 1100z trigger is found to be a version of the long-running QB78/Crosman 160 trigger. That means that it was first designed waaaaay back in 1955 in Fairport NY and since has been reproduced and – maybe – improved through use in the QB78 and, now, the Barra 1100z. So we know that this basic trigger is reliable and simple. Yet it can also be set to provide a really quite good trigger experience. As I’m convinced that this air rifle will become the “go to” model for many owners who want to learn about, and understand, air rifles, this seems a good time to...

Pyramyd Air is expecting FX Impact Tensioned Barrel Kits to become available in the very near future. These Tensioned Barrel Kits comprise a barrel plus the accessory parts required for installation. They are compatible with the FX Impact M3 for sure, and maybe older models that can accommodate STX barrels too, Pyramyd Air can advise on this. FX Impact Tensioned Barrel Kits are available with two barrel lengths – 70 mm (27.6 Inches) and 800 mm (31.5 Inches). There’s a choice of calibers in each length. Both can be had in either .22 cal, .25, .30 or .35 caliber. The shorter (700 mm) kits is also available in .177 caliber. These kits are designed to provide additional stability for the relatively-thin FX barrels when firing heavy...

The Norica Viriatus Bullpup PCP air rifle is a new addition to the range of airguns offered for sale by Pyramyd Air in the USA. To be precise, the model name is “Norica Viriatus 2.0 BP PCP Air Rifle”. Norica is a Spanish manufacturer based in the city of Eibar in the Basque area of Northern Spain. The company has been manufacturing airguns for over 100 years – it was actually founded in 1917 – and Eibar has been a center of arms production since as far back as 1482. (That’s 10 years before Columbus’ first voyage to the New World). Below we see the Norica team at the 2023 IWA OutdoorClassics exhibition. (Photo courtesy of Norica). Although Norica airguns have been sold around the world, the company has not had a strong presence in...

OK, I admit it! As an airgun tinkerer at heart who started with the QB78, I can’t resist tinkering with the Barra 1100z PCP air rifle! As we mentioned in the recent HAM review of this airgun, the 1100z could well become “the new QB78”. It looks to be a simple, cheap, robust air rifle that would respond well to a little loving care from an enthusiastic owner. Barra’s decision to make spare parts freely available for this gun is to be applauded. Tinkerers will take note and buy in droves! Yes, let’s repeat this, Barra Airguns is making spare parts for the 1100z readily available! You can simply order them from their website – as we’ll show you below. First, go the the Barra Airguns Home Page. Resist the temptation to click on the “Air...

The Baby Desert Eagle BB pistol is a new addition to the incredibly-popular category of firearms reproduction airguns. Such guns can be used for training by owners of the centerfire versions. For the rest of us they can be fun plinkers or just collectables. This one is a BB-firing pistol based on the Polymer-frame Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle powder-burner. As you would expect, it’s powered by a single 12 Gram CO2 cartridge that’s housed in the drop-free magazine. That magazine also holds 22 BBs, according to the manufacturer. The Baby Desert Eagle BB pistol has a light-weight polymer frame with metal internal parts. As with many BB-firing replicas, there’s a short Picatinny rail in the underside of the frame. This can be used...

H&N Baracuda 8 pellets were one of the new products announced at the IWA OutdoorClassics Show in Germany recently. They are seen in the hands of Joerg Siemens, H&N’s Marketing Manger at the show, above. (Joerg is obviously a great hand model, in addition to his many other skills!) Now we can take a first look at this new airgun ammo. The new H&N Baracuda 8 pellets are available in .177 caliber only. They actually have a manufacturer’s weight specification of 8.44 Grains. This makes them slightly lighter than those long-running favorite pellets the HAM Gold Award-winning H&N Field Target Trophies, at 8.64 Grains. Compared to the Field Target Trophy design, the Baracuda 8 has a shallower head and longer skirt. However, both are...

This TriggerCam 2.1 overview and first look aims to give you a basic idea of what this product is about. We’ll move forward to a comprehensive HAM test review in the near future. I’ll start by saying that I’ve tried a number of products that allow the user to take a photograph through a riflescope. Usually, these are devices that attach a cellphone to the scope by means of an adapter of some sort. I’ll continue by admitting that I’ve been singularly unsuccessful with these devices. I feel as though I’m the only person in the shooting world who has been unable to take a photograph through a scope! So, when I was offered the chance to try a TriggerCam, it seemed as though I had nothing to loose! Firstly, let’s say that the...

The new 30 Caliber H&N Slug HP II is another type of airgun ammo that was officially launched at the 2023 IWA OutdoorClassics exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany in March 2023. In fact, the caliber of these 54 Grain slugs is actually .301 Inches, as is shown on the base of the tin. H&N says that this diameter was chosen as it proved to be the most suitable for all of their .30 caliber in-house test guns from multiple different manufacturers. Initially H&N will offer two 30 Caliber H&N Slug HP II weight options: 50 Grains and 54 Grains. There’s the possibility that other weight options may be offered in the future as well. The Slug HP II .30 incorporates the company’s two-stage “T-Slot” hollow point design.
The upper part features a...

Anyone who has ever shot in any type of competition – even a competition just against yourself – knows how difficult it is to achieve a perfect score. The closer you come to the last shot, the exponentially tougher it is to calm your mind, do everything right and shoot like you know you can. Even testing air rifles, or shooting in “perfect” weather conditions for groups, HAM Testers have the same issue. It’s always shot 9 or 10 that ends-up being a flyer… So when we hear of a shooter achieving a perfect score in a competition, that’s something to really celebrate! And that’s what has happened in the Civilian Marksmanship’s 2022-2023 National Three-Position Air Rifle Postal Competition. A young lady called Gracie Dinh cleared the...