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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...

Umarex Brimstone slugs and pellets are the latest types of airgun ammunition to be offered by Umarex USA. Both pellets and slugs are being offered in three calibers – .22, .25 cal and .30 caliber. HAM readers first heard of the new ammo in our report from the 2023 SHOT Show. Now they’re already available at Pyramyd Air. Caliber Brimstone Pellet Weights Brimstone Slug Weights .22 18.67 Grains 28.24 Grains .25 33.95 Grains 34.89 Grains .30 50.77 Grains 60.80 Grains The company says that Umarex Brimstone airgun ammo “shoots like heaven, hits like hell”. They’re intended specifically for hunting. Brimstone pellets have a traditional domed head, diablo shape. In .22 caliber, they’re available in 250 count tins. The .25 cal...

This Weihrauch HW90 tuning guide has been planned ever since we completed our review of this beautiful air rifle back in November 2022. The HW90 earned a HAM Gold Award on test. But at that time we didn’t check-out one of its highlight features – the ability to change pressure in the gas ram. Then, Winter weather in up-state New York delayed work. But now – thanks to HAM Tester Eric Brewer’s hard work – it’s done and we can all share the results of his labor. Thanks Eric! Oh yes, changing the HW90 gas ram’s pressure does change its shooting performance. A lot! Keep reading to find out how much… Weihrauch HW90 Tuning Guide – How To Do It We used a .177 caliber gun because that’s what we had from the test review. But the same...

ZAN Projectiles has developed from nowhere to a well-regarded name in the airgun slug world in an amazingly-short space of time! But there’s a reason why it’s not called “ZAN Slugs”. That’s because – coming shortly – is the first of a range of ZAN pellets. HAM readers first read about ZAN pellets in our report from the 2023 IWA OutdoorClassics show. And now a supply of these new pellets has arrived in the HAM offices, courtesy of Director, Žan Šude. Although we’ve not had chance yet to shoot these ZAN pellets yet – it’s snowing again today; would you believe it? – we can at least offer some initial impressions. The first Zan pellets are for .30 caliber with a 56 Grain weight. The model name is BR100. They’re a domed-head design...

The Skout Epoch 30 Caliber PCP air rifle is now in stock and shipping from Pyramyd Air. HAM readers learned about this long-awaited new PCP in our report from the 2023 SHOT Show. The Skout Epoch is an extremely versatile, electronically-controlled PCP that’s available in calibers from .177 to .35. As previously advised, the first production guns are shipping in .30 caliber. Other calibers will follow in due course… Pricing is $2,950 for all calibers from .177 to .30 cal. The .35 model with longer barrel is $100 extra. At the SHOT Show, Hans Semelsberger stressed to me that the Epoch provides the owner with a competition-ready air rifle “straight out of the box”. The Skout Epoch uses electronic controls for tuning and flexibility...

HAM readers have read about the new Benjamin Bulldog M357, it’s part of the 2023 Bulldog Magnum series. Now an M357 has arrived in the HAM offices and so we can take a close look at it for the first time. Velocity Outdoor engineers have increased the .357 caliber Bulldog’s power by 50%. The Muzzle Energy specification is now up to 300 Ft/Lbs, compared to the 200 Ft/Lbs of the original model. In preparation for our shooting tests, the HAM Team mounted a Hawke Sidewinder 6-24 x 50 FFP scope using Hawke 30 mm High Tactical Match Rings. With its’ 24x magnification and sharp optics, the Sidewinder gives plenty of “reach” for long-range shooting. The rings are definitely sturdy, too, with their six screw top fixing. The M357 Owner’s...

The new BRK Brocock Ghost was launched in October 2022. Such has been demand for this exciting new PCP that it’s only recently that a gun has arrived at the HAM offices. So why are we calling it the BRK Brocock Ghost? Well, BRK is the new name for the company formerly known as Brocock. Nothing has changed except for the name – and that change is being rolled-out in a planned manner. Whatever its name, the Ghost is definitely an interesting new air rifle. It’s the latest model in the company’s all-mechanical, bullpup “black rifle” line. That differentiates it from the (mostly wood-stocked, electronic and full-length) Daystate models that come from the same overall family. On arrival, we fitted the Ghost with an MTC Optics Copperhead...

The new Air Venturi RovAir HPA Compressor is now shipping from Airgun Depot, Pyramyd Air and other Air Venturi stocking dealers. This portable HPA compressor was first announced at the 2023 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. However, HAM Publisher Stephen Archer was very much distracted at the time by the new Air Venturi Avenge-X modular PCP air rifle! The new RovAir HPA compressor provides performance that’s similar to that of the Air Venturi Nomad III compressor. However it has a significantly-lower price. In fact, it’s selling at a remarkable $300.00 less than the Nomad III… The falling price of capable HPA compressors is a major incentive for many airgunners to use PCP airguns, or to buy a compressor for the PCP they already have. As you...

Standard barrels for the Skout Epoch are 25 Inches long. So, the Skout Epoch Long .30 Cal Barrel Kit is required if you want to install a 35-Inch barrel on your Epoch. The long barrel kit itself contains three, 35-Inch long barrels. There’s a standard .30 cal barrel, plus one for heavier pellets and slugs and another that’s specially-designed for lighter pellets. The “+” barrel is the one for slugs. The barrel marked “-” is for lighter pellets, as you can see in the heading photograph above. But wait, there’s more… The long, 35-Inch, barrels also require the use of a Skout Epoch 35-Inch Carbon Fiber Shroud. This is a separate item that needs to be purchased as well. When installing the Skout Epoch Long .30 Cal Barrel Kit, it’s...

Pyramyd Air has announced that 2023 PA Cup registration is now open. At the time of writing this story, there are still some spaces remaining, but they’re going fast. You’ll need to be quick! Detailed Ticket Information Weekend Pass / Entire Competition Includes entry into each competition – Benchrest, Field Target, Gunslynger Single Load and Mag-Fed PCP and Gunslynger Springer Competitions Includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday Lunches Includes Banquet Ticket Benchrest Competition Only Includes entry into 100 yard Benchrest Competition Includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday Lunches Includes Banquet Ticket Field Target Competition Only Includes entry into Field Target Competition Includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday Lunches Includes...