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 and HPA bottle capacities – as is common with many recent PCP air rifle designs. So, there’s Snipe 45, 60 and 70 models – indicating barrel length in cm.
KalibrGun Snipe calibers range all the way from .177 to .30 caliber, with the Muzzle Energy peaking at over 110 Ft/Lbs for the .30 cal.
There’s also a Snipe II model underdevelopment, as is shown in the close-up below. (That’s the regulator adjustment control between the pressure gauges).
Next, Richard showed me the company’s Springbok semi-automatic. Available in .177 and .22 calibers, this is a bullpup in the classic KalibrGun fashion.
As you can see, the Springbok bears a close family resemblance to the Cricket II Tactical – a model that’s available in a wide range of configurations.
HAM was very impressed by the initial Cricket II Tactical when we reviewed it. It was a HAM Gold Award winner with a 93% score. Now there’s more choices of caliber, stock and HPA bottle capacity.
Eastern European PCPs At The 2024 IWA Show – Epic Airguns
HAM readers first heard about Epic Airguns from our coverage of the 2023 IWA Show.
Epic Airguns is a new brand of Czech PCP that’s closely-associated with, yet different from, from Taipan. They share a common booth, together with PressSlug.
This year, Michal Kuhm showed me the new Epic One model. This bullpup is becoming available in both “tube” and “bottle” versions. Calibers run from .177 to .25 with a maximum of 118 Ft/Lbs available in .25 caliber with the long barrel option.
The “One” is the second model into production for Epic Airguns. The “Two” was the first. Duh! However an innovation for the Two in 2024 is the addition of a wood stock, as Michal shows us below.
That makes a big change to the tactical looks of the folding-stock Epic Two, as we can see…
Epic is also introducing a new riflescope of its own, the Valiant. This has a 34 mm tube with First Focal Plane “Christmas Tree” reticle and magnifications of 5 – 25 times.
Michal explained that his company has put much effort into the design and functionality of the turrets. They certainly felt very good to me.
Another well-known Czech product on the same booth was the Presslug. This manual slug press offers a range of tools and dies that enable the enthusiast to manufacture his own slugs. There’s more background details in the HAM post.
Eastern European PCPs At The 2024 IWA Show – Airgun Technology
Concluding today’s show coverage, Ivan from Airgun Technology showed me his company’s latest introductions.
First off – above – we looked at the stubby Uragan 2 Compact. This is a version of the well-known Uragan platform that’s less than 25 Inches long, yet still has a 14-Inch barrel.
The Netvor is Airgun Technology’s big bore PCP. The Netvor’s action is single shot. It’s in .458 caliber – see the PostIt Note proudly attached to shroud!
Next Ivan showed me the new Vixen. This is available in long and short versions and has a sidelever action. The HPA reservoir is around the barrel. Calibers are .177 and .22 cal.
What looks like a banana magazine is actually a magazine holder! Ivan explained to me that it can hold two rotary magazines for the Vixen in a convenient manner.
Finally, we see the Manul. So far as I am aware, this is Airgun Technology’s first PCP air pistol. Magazine-fed, it definitely looks as if it would provide a good punch in use!
Keep watching. There’s a lot more to come from the 2024 IWA show…
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