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For a short time, you can save $200 with this Avenge-X Bullpup Lightning Deal at Airgun Depot. That makes the price $449.99, rather than the regular price of $649.99. This offer applies to the Avenge-X Bupllpup with wood stock and 210 cc High Pressure Air tube configuration only. However, it is available for all three calibers: .177, .22 and .25 cal. Hard Air Magazine tested the Air Venturi Avenge-X in full-length, .22 caliber “Tactical” configuration. We liked it a lot and it earned a HAM Gold Award with a 91% score for its performance on test. Given the modular nature of the Avenge-X platform, many of those conclusions will also apply to this bullpup model too. Well, with the exception of the stock configuration, obviously! This...

VALUE FOR MONEY The Diana Skyhawk Gen 2 Bullpup PCP air rifle is not exactly new. It’s been around for several years. However, it’s not been reviewed much and is not well-known, so a thorough HAM review is in order. In fact, it is an interesting gun and a great improvement on the original Gen 1 version with its mid-mounted cocking lever and other incremental improvements. Immediate impressions are that this is a compact, chunky and good-looking airgun. The overall feel is of a sophisticated, high-end product. It’s one of those guns where the deeper you look, the better it gets! At just 29-Inches long overall, it’s definitely among the shorter bullpup air rifles in the market at the present time. However the barrel length is still...

Just a few weeks ago I saw a new JTS AirStryke Carbine at the IWA OutdoorClassics show in Germany. In that report, I said that it should be available in the near future. Well, that was a slight under-estimate. It’s already in stock and available for sale at Pyramyd AIR today! As it’s name implies, the JTS AirStryke Carbine is a shortened version of the HAM Gold Award-winning AirStryke. This carbine model features an adjustable tactical stock. This provides an adjustable length capability to provide a customized length of pull for maximum comfort for each shooter. The overall length is 33 inches, down from 41 inches of the original AirStryke, and the weight has been reduced from 7 Lbs to 5.1 Lbs. This makes it easier to carry and...

The new Air Venturi Nomad Nano HPA Compressor is an example of how the price of filling PCP air rifles is falling. At only $399.99, it’s cheaper, lighter and smaller than previous Air Venturi HPA compressors, while offering similar performance. Not only has the price steadily fallen, but gone are the days when owning an HPA compressor was practically a second hobby! The need for frequent maintenance and adjustments, together with a shoe box of spare parts “just in case” is now history, as was the need – in some cases – for a separate bucket of cooling water… With a weight of 15 Lbs and dimensions of 12-Inches long x 9-Inches high x 5.25-Inches wide, the Nano brings HPA compressor portability to new levels. As with most other...

Now there’s a new Komplete HPA Tube from Umarex. This tube enables the Komplete air rifle to be used with High Pressure Air, rather than its own dedicated Nitrogen cartridges. “But hey”, I hear you say. “Didn’t Air Venturi already introduce a HPA tube for the Komplete?” Well, the answer is yes, they did. However there are some differences between the Umarex tube and the Air Venturi one, as follows… Komplete HPA Tube Comparison – First Capacity Both HPA tubes have approximately the same capacity. It’s 130cc for the Air Venturi unit and 132 cc for the Umarex one. It’s doubtful if anyone will notice the difference there. Komplete HPA Tube Comparison – Second Pressure The new Komplete HPA Tube from Umarex accepts a maximum fill...

You can save 20% in the Pyramyd Spring Refurb Sale. They have multiple FX Impact M4 and other models available. Plus there’s more, much more… For example, the HAM Gold Award-winning Springfield Armory M1A underlever springer is now just $159.99 as a refurb. Pyramyd says that its’ expert technicians inspect, repair, test, and re-inspect every open-box and refurbished product in their Tech Department to ensure it leaves the warehouse fully functional. The company explains that it can’t offer these items as new, and that they may not come with all the parts and accessories that are included with a new purchase. But they’re a great way for beginners to get outdoor products for their adventures or to add to a collection. Obviously...

When I was asked if I would like to visit the Weihrauch airgun factory, it took me about a Zillionth of a Nanosecond to say “Yes”! After all, what airgun enthusiast would not want to look around place that’s widely regarded as the “Holy Grail” of quality airgun manufacturing? So let’s go… Above. Our heading photograph shows Hans and Felix Weihrauch in front of the main office building. Weihrauch Airgun Factory Expectations Like everyone, I have expectations about places, people and things before seeing them for the first time. So what was I expecting to see? Well, I have visited a number of airgun factories over the years. They are always interesting. All have similarities, yet every one is different. So I was expecting to see...

Here’s how you can help the Student Air Rifle Program! All of us started shooting at some time in the past and here’s how you can help a new generation of shooters discover the enjoyment and skills that we’ve all gained from shooting. It’s easy. It will cost you just less than a cup of coffee and – together – we can make a huge difference! Today, the Airgun Sporting Association (ASA) announced a major fundraising initiative aimed at generating $10,000 in support of the Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program. But it needs your help! To reach this $10,000 goal, the ASA is collaborating with Pyramyd AIR and Airgun Depot, the airgun industry’s two largest retailers, to leverage their established charitable checkout platforms. By encouraging...

The Chiappa Rhino 60DS CO2 .177 BB Revolver, Gold is the ultimate bling BB gun! It’s a “gold-finished” version of the Chiappa Rhino BB gun range. And – at $229.99 – it’s a cool $1,421 cheaper than it’s .357 Magnum firearm version! In any version, the Rhino is an extremely distinctive design, with it’s chunky appearance and low-slung barrel. This BB gun version reflects those characteristics, making it close to identical in appearance and handling to the powder-burning Rhinos. The weight is somewhat lighter than the firearm, but it still weighs-in at a respectable 2.65 Lbs. The Rhino can be fired in either single- or double-action mode. BBs are loaded into individual cartridges before loading into the 6-shot cylinder for that...

The Student Air Rifle Program (SAR) celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. This marks a decade of enhancing youth development through firearms safety and target shooting education. OK, so this is some really worthwhile news! We should all thank Jake Hindman, the Founder and President of the Student Air Rifle Program for his vision, dedication and determination in attracting youth into the outdoors, responsibility and safe, enjoyable target shooting. That’s Jake standing far left in our heading photograph above. Since its first pilot in 2014, followed by nonprofit incorporation in 2016, SAR has grown from a visionary initiative into a cornerstone of the shooting sports community, serving more than 30,000 students across the...

Hard Air Magazine readers first found out about the Reximex Lieva in our report from the 2025 IWA OutdoorClassics show in March 2025. Now they’re shipping in the USA and you can buy this cowboy-style PCP air rifle at Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot. The Lieva is an interesting model as it’s “upside down” compared to the normal configuration for a PCP air rifle. This is best shown by looking at the muzzle (photo below). As you can see, the 3,625 PSI-fill HPA pressure tube is above the barrel. This means that the rotary pellet magazine is below the action, again the reverse of a conventional configuration. The gun is regulated at 1,450 PSI. This is not adjustable externally. However, Pyramyd’s specs show this will give around 60 shots...

Was Nova Vista’s TMS system the most innovative new product at IWA 2026? Well, we covered it in outline in an earlier post. But here we’re taking more of a deep dive as there’s more to this Three-In-One modular PCP airgun system than initially meets the eye. Keep reading to the end to find out why… Above is a photograph of the system I took at the show. Amazingly, it all comes in one box! The TMS, three-in-one modular system is clearly a very innovative design. The system comprises: One base receiver unit One collapsible stock One height-adjustable cheekpiece One buttstock spacer Two pistol grips Three barrels Three HPA tubes One pressure gauge assembly Two forend extensions Two cocking levers Two magazines One fill probe...

If you took a walk around the show, you found airguns everywhere at IWA OutdoorClassics. See what I mean as we explore the show floor… Our first stop is in Hall 3, at stand 633. Here we find JTS Airguns where we found a new model, the JTS Airacuda Elite (shown in our heading photograph above). Plus, we discovered that JTS plans to make available the chassis from the HAM Gold Award-winning Airacuda PRS Max available as an upgrade part for existing Airacuda Max owners. Good move, JTS! JTS also has a number of other PCP air rifles in the course of development for release in the near future, like this compact carbine with folding stock. Turkish manufacturer Reximex had a new semi-auto PCP on display. It’s the upper model of the two...

In this post, we’ll look at new products from Umarex, RTI and Diana at IWA 2026. Let’s start with Umarex… Most interesting to me were a pair of new target pistols. In Germany they’re called the Umarex SPA Master and SPA Professional. Both models are very similar, but the “Master” uses PCP propulsion, while the “Professional” is a CO2-powered gun. Based on previous examples, we would expect these names to be changed for the US market. They are clearly on-going devolutions of the SnowPeak (hence SPA in the name) pistol family that HAM testers like so much. Umarex has always been “the king of replicas” and this was continued at IWA in 2026. First we see the new Ruger SR1911 Competition. This is a CO2-powered blowback pistol, of...

Spain’s Wolfiek Group majored on its new Pandora launched at IWA 2026. This was a significant introduction for the group and the first gun to be announced for the 7mm Wolfiek caliber that was previewed at IWA OutdoorClassics in 2025. The name Pandora originated in Ancient Greek mythology and has come to have the meaning of being “all gifted” or “all giving”. Either way, the Wolfiek team is clearly positioning their Pandora PRS as a multi-use, multi-disciplinary PCP air rifle. It sounds to be both “all gifted” and “all giving”! They are aiming to create a platform product that’s attractive to a wide range of shooters who are serious about PRS, NRL22 and ultra long-range competition shooting. Francisco Eizayaga, otherwise known as...

In this post, we’re taking an IWA OutdoorClassics 2026 business perspective. Why bother to do this? Well, Hard Air Magazine is read by every airgun manufacturer around the world, so I feel this summary will be useful for them – plus those industry participants who were unable to make it to the show. IWA OutdoorClassics is the world’s largest trade show for the airgun industry. We all need it to be a vibrant, comprehensive event as that’s good for everyone – manufacturers, distributors, dealers and shooters. Below. Airgun Technology has a typical “average” stand at the show. Below we see a larger stand. This one’s for Kral Arms. This year’s show once again demonstrated the significant role IWA plays in the international shooting...

Continuing with Hard Air Magazine’s coverage of the IWA OutdoorClassics show in Germany, let’s take a look at BRK and Daystate at IWA 2026… Regular HAM readers will know that most of the new 2026 announcements from the company have already been covered in HAM – some shown at the British Shooting Show a few weeks ago. But it was still interesting to see the new products “in the flesh” and hear about their background and development. My guide to the new BRK and Daystate products was Olivia. That’s her in the photograph above. Thanks Olivia! Of course, the Blackwolf featured prominently on the Daystate side of the stand. A full range was lined-up for review and was – from my observations – very popular with visitors. However the...

With all the interest in new airguns, it’s easy to forget that there’s a ton of airgun ammo news at IWA 2026 as well. Today we’ll rectify that bias… Of course JSB has a high profile at the show. The Czech ammo manufacturer was busy presenting a complete makeover of its product branding, as we can see here. Pavel Kolabec – JSB’s main man – explained to me that the product names remain the same but the labels and packaging design is all completely different. I have to say that I like the “borescope-view style” graphics concept for the design. Meanwhile the tins are also given additional treatment. The angled black-and-white banding will remind you – and inform others – that it’s JSB pellets and slugs you are shooting so accurately...

Today we’ll look at Weihrauch at IWA 2026, together with FX Airguns. Both of these European manufacturers have an important part in the show, as well as the overall airgun market, of course. They are also an interesting comparison in business and product strategy. Weihrauch was proudly showcasing the 75th anniversary edition of its classic HW35. Yes, this gun has been in production – with subtle on-going upgrades – for no less than 75 years! That’s Felix Weihrauch in our photographs showing us this “Jubilee model”. By the way, this gun is serial number 001 of a special production run of just 600 examples. The finish is mirror-perfect, making it difficult to photograph without reflections… Felix confirmed to me that every one of...

Chinese OEM airgun manufacturers are a huge and important part of the overall airgun industry. So let’s take a look at some of them and see what they had to offer at IWA OutdoorClassics 2026. Some of these products are already familiar to us and we’re shooting them today. Others are ones that we will likely be owning in the near future… The business model for OEM manufacturers (in any industry) is to work as a design, development and manufacturing facility for the companies that actually sell the products we buy. The “selling companies” provide the brand, distribution, warranty and spare parts support in countries around the world. This combination of OEM manufacturers and – usually Western – selling companies working as a team is...