The Gauntlet has been around for some years, so – now that the Umarex Gauntlet 2 is in stock at Airguns of Arizona – let’s look at the new model in some depth and understand how it compares to the original Gauntlet.

The Umarex Gauntlet 2 continues in the tradition of the original Gauntlet. It redefines the PCP air rifle market in terms of price/performance – again!

The original Gauntlet set the PCP world alight because of its combination of features, including  a consistent, regulated shot count at an unmatched price point.

First off – there’s the new stock color and design. It’s a lot more stylish in my opinion and uses many less small parts. The breech now has Picatinny rails for scope mounting, in line with the current trend. In fact, the breech IS the same as the original Gauntlet with the Picatinny rails mounted on top as separate parts.

The scope ring you can see in the photograph above is a UTG POI ring. They’re manufactured by Leapers and I find they give good results.

Now we have an even more oversized bolt handle. It’s steel and knurled to provide good grip for operation. Actually, it works very well.

But even with this larger bolt handle, the cocking effort for the Gauntlet 2 is very high. All Gauntlet models have the heaviest bolt action I’ve ever tested!

Why so tough to cock? Well, undoubtedly the design of the Umarex Gauntlet needs a heavy hammer spring to achieve its power levels. That hammer spring need to be cocked before firing and you supply the effort to tension that spring when pulling back on the bolt handle.

To be sure, it’s far from impossible to cock. And it’s something that the owner will become used to. It’s also slightly easier than the original version.

Most will likely find it a very acceptable part trade-off for the significantly increased power of the second generation Gauntlet.

Furthermore, the Gauntlet 2 is available in .22 and .25 calibers only. There’s no longer a .177 model. This is not surprising as sales of .177 cal PCPs in the US market have become very restricted.

Note that this comparison is based on the .22 caliber Gauntlet. There are differences in specs between the .22 and .25 caliber models in both the “Gen 1” and “Gen 2” Gauntlets.

The regulator pressure for the .22 caliber gun has been increased from the original 1,100 PSI to 1,900 PSI. That’s an increase of 73%.

There’s also a different HPA bottle supplied with the Gauntlet 2. This offers a whopping 85% increase in capacity from 13 Cubic Inches of the Gen 1 model to 24 Cubic Inches.

Not only that, but the maximum fill pressure for the Gen 2 bottle has been increased, too. Now it’s up to 4,500 PSI from the original 3,000 PSI.

It’s an interesting commentary on the capability of the basic Gauntlet platform that it has proved to be capable of such significant power increases while still retaining the same overall design as the original Gen 1 model.

So what were the results?

Using mid-weight (13.43 Grain) .22 caliber pellets, the muzzle energy has jumped from 20.42 Ft/Lbs in the Gen 1 gun to 33.18 Ft/Lbs. That’s an increase of 62%.

The number of consistent shots per fill for the Gauntlet 2 fell by 16% (from 74 to 62). However, if we take the number of consistent shots and multiply it my the muzzle energy per shot for each gun, we find that there’s a 36% increase in the total muzzle energy obtained from one fill of HPA. As follows…

Gen 1 Gauntlet. 20.42 Ft/Lbs x 74 shots = 1,510 Ft/Lbs.
Gen 2 Gauntlet. 33.18 Ft/Lbs x 62 shots = 2,057 Ft/Lbs.

As is expected from any PCP, the Gauntlet 2’s power level increases with pellet weight. Starting at the 30 Ft/Lbs level with ultra-light 10.03 Grain H&N Field Target Trophy Green alloys, it rises to over 45 Ft/Lbs with JSB 25.39 Grain Jumbo Monsters. Now we’re talking!

This is in .22 caliber, remember. So the Gauntlet 2’s 45 Ft/Lbs of Muzzle Energy matches that of the original Gauntlet in .25 caliber. That’s a significant increase in power!

Sure it’s well down from the power of a .22 caliber Daystate Red Wolf HP. And the sophistication of the Gauntlet is nowhere near that of the Daystate. But for a $410 PCP, it’s very creditable and – after all – it is about $2,400 lower in price than the Red Wolf too…

There’s no doubt that the Umarex Gauntlet 2 is a large air rifle. Overall length is 47 Inches, which is longer than most PCPs. The all-up weight of the rig I tested was 11 Lbs 0 Oz, including the scope. This – in itself – is not exceptional. However the long front-mounted HPA tank brings the center of gravity well forward.

It’s manageable, but could be a tough proposition for smaller shooters to hold steady.

The new and improved stock design of the Umarex Gauntlet 2 does, however, allow for a bipod to be fitted. M-Lok slots are incorporated in the upper sides and base of the forend.

For testing, I mounted a bipod to a Picatinny rail adapter installed in the M-Lok slots. The result was solid and sturdy. This is another improvement compared to the original Gauntlet, which did not have provision for mounting a bipod.

Shooting from a bipod was found to be comfortable and stable. If you can, this is the best way to shoot the Gauntlet 2.

Overall, the Umarex Gauntlet 2 gives you a ton of gun for the money – in every respect!

Power, accuracy and consistency were all outstanding in the sample I tested. The consistent shot count is good, too. Yes, the Gauntlet 2 is more expensive than the original Gauntlet, but it’s easy to see why, given this stellar performance.

Downsides are the sheer length of the gun, the muzzle-heavy weight distribution and the very heavy, rather rough bolt action. But – if you can live with these drawbacks – there’s nothing in the market today to touch the Umarex Gauntlet 2 for value.

The name “cricket” brings to mind small noisy insects and, depending on your age, a classic Disney character. The Czech Republic manufacturer KalibrGun may have intended a connection to either of those things when they named their awesome bullpup air rifles, or, maybe not. Nevertheless, their handy and compact pellet launchers are accurate and well-designed, plus of high-quality old-world craftsmanship.

               The Cricket is the flagship model and KalibrGun has stuck with a good thing in the bullpup configuration. More recent models have improved by relocating the cocking lever to mid-receiver. However, all manufacturers must innovate and come up with a new product to stay relevant. KalibrGun’s latest model capitalizes on the popularity of tactically designed (tacticool?) guns.

               The Cricket II Tactical models are offered in barrel lengths of 17.7-inch and 23.6-inch. The shorter version comes in .177 and .22 calibers. The longer version comes in .22, .25 and .30 calibers. My sample is the long-barreled version in .22 and has an overall length of 34 inches. It weighs 8.5 pounds, which is on the heavy side, especially when adding optics, but it does balance well in the hands even so. I selected a Meopta Optika 6 2.5-15x44mm second focal plane scope to mount on the platform, bringing the package to just over 10 pounds.

               The receiver is made from aluminum and finished in a matte black. Two laminated wood pieces comprise the vertical grip and buttstock. My sample sported a dual color orange and grey laminate that really stands out in a crowd. Solid wood and other laminate colors are offered, of course. The vertical grip also has a nice laser-cut checkering to promote a good purchase. Having fairly large hands I found the grip filling. Those with small hands may find it a bit too large and search for a potential aftermarket option. A thick, dense rubber buttpad that is adjustable vertically. A 500cc carbon fiber wrapped bottle resides in front, under the barrel/shroud with a large, easily readable manometer marked in bars. Maximum pressure listed in the full color instruction manual is 300 bar. Since the manual covers several models, there is a mention of red, yellow and green fields that don’t exist on this manometer. Additionally, no instructions are given on adjusting the trigger, yet the specs show it can be changed between 2 and 10 newtons (approximately 7 to 36 ounces). Speaking of the trigger, it is a curved, wide, smooth-faced plastic job that is single-stage and averaged a pull of one pound, 4.1 ounces. It is housed inside a generous open-bottomed trigger guard and just above the trigger is a red safety button that blocks the trigger. Pushing the button to the left unblocks it.

               Two 14-shot rotary metal magazines ship with the gun along with the brass fill probe and extra O-rings for resealing. The two magazines can be stored in the wooden buttstock and are held in place by ball bearing detents. An 8.5-inch picatinny rail sits on top of the receiver with an additional 4-inch accessory picatinny rail on the bottom. The barrel has a sound dampening shroud and the muzzle is threaded to allow additional suppression to be added, although this gun is pretty quiet in .22. Adding a DonnyFL Koi suppressor took the noise down to a mouse fart, but of course, added length. Still, it made for a nice-looking package.

               Features on this gun include a swappable cocking lever, now relatively common on air rifles, making the Cricket II Tactical model truly ambidextrous; and MCL, the Magazine Control Lever. This lever allows manual indexing of the magazine in addition to loading and unloading of the magazine. There is also a red-tipped cocking indicator that projects out of the back of the rifle. Pet peeves about the Cricket are the lack of a hold-open or bolt stop after the last round is fired and the magazines cannot handle longer pellets such as the Predator Polymags. Also, a soft padded surface on the cheekrest area included for the price would have been a nice touch. Cheekrest options are available from the AofA website.

               KalibrGun offers a 12-month warranty, however, AofA extends that to three years. MSRPs are: $1695 for the shorter (45) model and $1795 for the longer (60) version.

               More about how it shot will be in Part II, but in the meantime, you can reach out to the knowledgeable folks at AofA for any questions or to talk about the other fine models in the KalibrGun lineup.

The ensuing month since the Part I post on the Cricket II Tactical (C2T) didn’t allow for a lot of additional time behind the gun due to some medical issues and totally uncooperative weather. However, I did enjoy the time I had working with this little powerhouse. Since the basics of this bullpup were covered in Part I, this installment will cover the scope used and results from range sessions.

               A loaner Meopta MeoPro Optika6 was in my inventory and it provided a good fit for the power of the C2T with its 2.5 to 15 magnification. That can really make small objects look very large and clear plus the oversized zoom ring makes adjustments easy with its rubberized covering and very aggressive texturing. Meopta also includes a threaded throw lever that screws into one of four holes along the rim of the ring for fast adjustments. Extra screws are also provided to cover the remaining holes to keep debris from collecting in them. A side parallax adjustment knob having a smaller version of the aggressive texturing also eases dialing in a clear sight picture at various yardages. Speaking of clear sight pictures, this scope is made in the Czech Republic and they are renowned for their optical glass. Meopta is in its 89^th year of making high quality optics, so it goes without saying you’d have a hard time finding an optic with better clarity, especially at this price point. Additional features include anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings along with being nitrogen filled and waterproof. Aluminum caps having the same aggressive rubber texturing cover the windage and elevation turrets, which are adjustable in ¼ MOA very positive clicks. Zero can easily be reset using a coin or screwdriver once sighted in. This is a Second Focal Plane scope so the reticle remains the same at any magnification and won’t obscure a small target zone at high magnification. The reticle is a duplex type and other reticle options are available when ordering the scope. The scope also comes with lens covers connected by heavy rubber straps that hold them firmly on the scope; much better than the flimsy elastic cords used with some other lens covers. Its black matte finish blended perfectly with the finish on the C2T. Excellent glass with high magnification capability does come with a cost in weight so it did add 25 ounces to an 8.5-pound gun. Having the bottom six slot picatinny to attach a folding bipod to helped the overall weight be less concerning.

               As far as performance, as can be expected from an airgun in this price range, it was very, very good. The C2T is also a product of the Czech Republic and Europeans take their airgunning seriously. The guns action was smooth and I never experienced any feeding problems other than when I tried Predator Polymags. They were just slightly too long to work with the C2T magazines and there is no way to feed individual pellets. The safety was positive at blocking the trigger and easy to use being just above the trigger.

               I didn’t get the chance to determine a total number of shots per fill at 6000 feet altitude as I never let pressure go much below 200 bar. From 230 down to 200, shooting a variety of pellets of differing weights, I was averaging 30+ shots before topping off the gun. The User’s Manual states working pressure is down to 110 bar so it seems feasible you could get 90 or possibly more shots from a single fill. Accuracy results were excellent across a range of pellets at 25 yards. Pellet weights ranged from 14 gr. Up to 25 gr. hollow point slugs with results of five shots touching to pretty much a single ragged hole in a few cases. While H&N Field Target Trophy and Hatsan Vortex Supremes were not its favorites, they’d still get the job done if hunting with the C2T. Extreme spread and standard deviation were excellent with all of the pellets tried, opening up a bit when shooting the Argentinian-made Apolo slugs. Even so, the slugs traveled at an average 892fps having a 9.65 extreme spread and 4.12 standard deviation. For hunting that means over 44fpe!

               A shout out here has to go to the new Norma branded pellets provided by AofA. They just recently started carrying this line and I think they have a winner here. Packed 200 to a tin, they were very clean. The S-Target Match at 14 gr. is designed for accuracy, of course and has a slightly reinforced skirt. It lived up to the accuracy claim producing a ragged single hole grouping. The Superpoint Strike at 14.5 gr. is designed for penetration and was also super accurate. The Golden Trophy FT Heavy, designed for energy, weighs 17.6 gr. and this domed pellet is considered a dedicated hunting pellet. It produced five shots touching and over 41fpe having an extreme spread of 5.60 and standard deviation of only 2.23. I have some similar results through another gun as well so look forward to doing more shooting with them.

               All-in-all a great experience with a great little bullpup gun. I mentioned a couple of pet peeves with the C2T and after spending more time with it I’d prefer the grip thinned out somewhat for more comfort but by no means a deal breaker.

               If interested in obtaining any of this kit or wanting to know more, give AofA a call.

Of course, all of us want our airguns to be more powerful, don’t we?

Well actually that is not always the case. The enduring popularity of the Weihrauch HW30, for example, shows that there’s a strong demand for quality, lower-powered air rifles.

Such lower-power air rifles offer the lure of great handling, light weight and easy shootability for the whole family.

Another quality, low-power air rifle that’s a delight to hold and shoot is the BSA Ultra PCP air rifle.

So if power is not the most important consideration a lower-powered air rifle has attractions of it’s own.

If you have a basement range – as many do in the North East, for example – then low power is actually a benefit. Likewise if you shoot in your home’s garage.

Low power can also be a benefit for some types of close-range hunting. Birds, mice, squirrels, rats and other small critters needing to be taken at close quarters could be the reason here.

Another hunting-related need for low power could be due to the surroundings. What if you miss the target? Low-powered airguns will cause less damage in that case.

In fact, the probable originator of the compact PCP air rifle concept was the BSA Ultra. This British-made model has been available for some years. In fact, AoA has the previous model available as a special right now!

Now there’s a new version – the BSA Ultra CLX.

At just 32 Inches long, this is a miniature “full length” airgun, not a bullpup. It has a 12.5-Inch barrel and weighs-in at just 5 Lbs 11 Oz.

In the hand it feels just a pleasure to hold. Handling and “pointability” are absolutely outstanding – everything just feels so good. It’s definitely not a toy, nor is it an out-and-out kid’s gun.

During a recent visit to Airguns of Arizona, I had the opportunity to investigate this compact PCP air rifle. So I mounted an MTC Optics Viper Pro scope (it’s on offer right now at AoA) and did some shooting!

The first surprise was that the MTC scope – a chunky 10 x 44 model with an overall length of 14.5 Inches – did not overwhelm the Ultra CLX. The handling and balance remained outstanding!

The second surprise was the quality of the trigger. The gun I shot was pulled completely at random from stock but the average of five pull weight tests was just 11.1 Oz. Yes, that’s zero Pounds 11.1 Ounces!

The trigger has an adjustable blade and the pull length can be adjusted by the user. The feel was very good, too…

The Ultra CLX has a threaded muzzle and is supplied with an air stripper as standard. In fact, the noise level was a little sharper than I expected in this configuration.

However it was easily hushed simply by screwing a 0dB dedicated airgun silencer into place in replacement for the stripper.

So, we have a beautiful little air rifle with a high quality Minelli hardwood stock, a terrific trigger and outstanding handling.

BSA claims up to 72 shots per 3,365 PSI (232 bar) fill for the .22 caliber model I was shooting. And the newly-designed 12-shot magazine – red for .22 caliber, blue for .177 – was easy to load.

The only immediate downside was the bolt action. It’s not at all bad, but I usually prefer a sidelever. However BSA PCPs are all bolt guns, so that’s just the way it is.

As for power, the manufacturer rates it to stay within the restrictive UK 12 Ft/Lb legal limit. So you can expect a maximum of somewhere around 11.5 Ft/Lbs.

I shot the gun with H&N Field Target Green alloy pellets. These 9.57 Grainers gave an average of 670 FPS and a Standard Deviation of just 5.1 FPS across a 10-shot string.

The Muzzle Energy works-out at 9.54 Ft/Lbs with the “Greens”. That’s quite reasonable given that the gun has to hold down below that 12 Ft/Lbs limit even with heavy lead pellets and that heavier pellets always have more power in PCPs.

Sure, I didn’t have the time to run a full test, but I did have the time to enjoy myself with the Ultra CLX – as you can probably tell from reading this post.

It was a clear reminder that power is not always everything and that a low-powered, compact PCP air rifle can be a ton of fun!

The Ultra CLX is on the AoA web page and they’re in stock. You can order by phone if you prefer, of course. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at this new little air rifle…

Now is a good time for an up-date on the LCS SK-19 platform!

Let’s start with the recent introduction of a new semi-auto LCS SK-19 air rifle. This rapid-firing, semi-auto only, PCP is very closely based on the selective fire (full and semi-auto) SK-19 model that has been available for a couple of years now.

The main difference is that the fire control lever of the SK-19 is now replaced by a simple safety lever.

The semi-auto model shows just a choice of “Fire” and “Safe”. This replaces the “Semi”, “Full” and “Safe” selections possible with the full-auto capable model. The “second” trigger safety above the trigger is also still included in the semi-auto model, however – presumably on the basis that it’s (definitely) better to be “Safe” than sorry!

Otherwise, appearance, specifications and performance are all very similar to the selective-fire model. It’s available in both .25 and .30 calibers.

Of course, given the ability of the SK-19 to fire so fast – even in semi-auto mode – everyone wants more shots per fill. So I tried-out a SK-19 fitted with two HPA bottles, courtesy of the Air Superiority V Twin dual bottle adapter.

Having the dual bottles certainly revolutionized the SK-19 for me. Now I could fire seemingly for ever without the need to refill with High Pressure Air

Well, actually, “for ever” was actually around 100 shots for the .25 caliber version with two 480cc bottles mounted. That’s pretty impressive!

Of course, there’s never anything gained for nothing. Naturally adding the adapter plus another bottle increases the weight of the SK-19. But that’s what the lower Picatinny rail is for…

I added an Accu-Tac bipod under the front end of the rifle. That took the weight and definitely is the way to go if you’re shooting from a bench.

As you can see from the photograph above, the other accessory fitted on this SK-19 was the Kraford And Lypt adjustable buttpad.

This provides a significant improvement in shooting the SK-19 as it provides the facility to adjust the plate up or down 20mm. There’s also a rotating pad for cant compensation, combined with tactile hard rubber pips for improved grip against the shooter’s shoulder.

As another bonus, the adjustable buttpad is designed with a smaller bottom plate than top. The claim is that this improves fit under your arm while the wider top plate distributes recoil pressure against the shoulder. It worked for me!

Meanwhile, back to the new Semi-Auto SK-19…

Loading the 19-shot magazine is undertaken in the same manner as the selective-fire version. Pellets (or slugs) are pushed into the non-removable magazine from the rear. Then the magazine is rotated clockwise to expose further open slots. And so on…

This new version of the LCS SK-19 will be welcomed by customers who do not need – or want – the fully-automatic fire capability of the selective fire model, but who can benefit from a rapid follow-up shot when necessary.

The Daystate Red Wolf in .22 caliber is already well-known as one of the most accurate air rifles available for long-distance benchrest shooting, out-of-the-box.

But a special ART Tuning service from Airguns of Arizona can improve even on that, should the customer wish.

In this post, we’ll find out how…

ART stands for Accuracy Research Team. It’s the name of a Daystate philosophy for ensuring that their products are developed to achieve outstanding outstanding accuracy. You can read more about it in this story.

But even with such dedication, skill and technology, it’s still possible to improve individual examples of a product and take it to even greater heights.

“Blueprinting” the engine for a race car is one example of this type of work. ART Tuning is another – it’s a service offered by Airguns of Arizona, specifically for the Red Wolf.

The way that AoA undertakes their ART service is to break it into two parts…

First, there’s a workshop part. Secondly, there’s long-range test-firing to prove the effectiveness of the tune.

Importantly, the two stages of this process are undertaken by two different people. This is deliberate as it provides an un-biased approach, combining outstanding workshop skills with world-class testing on the range used for the annual Extreme Benchrest competition.

Let’s Start With The Workshop Side.

A key part of the ART Tuning service is mapping and re-programming the Red Wolf’s electronic “brain”. In this way, the gun’s electronics is individually set-up to provide best performance when using one specific, great-performing pellet: normally this is the 25.39 Grain JSB Monster Redesigned.

Then the AoA specialist installs a new bolt probe that’s specially-optimized to provide best performance with this pellet.

Steve Buchanan is the “wizard” tuner. He also has several other specialist “magic” tricks that are incorporated into the tune…

If the customer has any other specific requirements, these will be incorporated while the Red Wolf is on Steve’s workshop bench.

After a lot of painstaking work, the results of this tune are documented and will be presented to the customer as proof of the exact set-up of his or her individual gun.

Then To The Range.

After this extensive set-up process, the gun is taken to the Rio Salado range and test fired.

I joined Jared Clark one evening and watched him test a batch of guns that had passed through the ART tuning process.

Jared explained that his shooting test typically takes around 100 shots. He’ll normally shoot 20, 5-shot groups with each gun. As you can see, he shoots from bags. This is to prevent any possibility of jump when shooting from a bipod and is another part of removing variables from the testing.

What he’s looking for is a “good feel” with multiple, consistently-excellent groups of around 1-Inch Center-to-Center at 78 Yards from the same gun.

If a customer orders a Red Wolf with a scope, that scope will be mounted, sighted-in and used for the test. Likewise, if the customer orders a dedicated airgun silencer at the same time, the whole ART Tune process will be undertaken specifically to include that configuration.

Let’s be clear, this is a customized process that provides the customer with an unique air rifle that’s dedicated to its new owner!

Normally, the ART-tuned gun will pass Jared’s testing first time. But if he’s not satisfied with the accuracy – it will go back for the tune to be double-checked, then tested again.

It has to be right!

The customer will also receive a test target illustrating the Red Wolf’s performance.

Note that Jared shoots the Monster Redesigned pellets “straight from the tin”. So there’s still additional accuracy improvement potential should the customer be willing to sort pellets by weight and head size for competition at EBR…

So why isn’t ART Tuning included with every Daystate Red Wolf? In a word – cost!

Like “blueprinting” an engine, this is a specialist tuning process that goes waaay above and beyond even the best that can be achieved with volume manufacturing in a factory environment. As you can tell, it takes knowledgeable, highly-skilled people a lot of time to achieve.

That’s why it’s an additional-cost option for those customers lucky enough to buy a Red Wolf from Airguns of Arizona.

If you’re interested in an ART tune for your new air rifle, the best way is to order by phone from AoA and discuss any specific requirements. They’ll be pleased to help you!

The Alpha Wolf is the second ‘future-proof’ PCP that Daystate has developed. Its launch places it alongside the Delta Wolf in their current line-up of world-leading, user-programable electronic air rifles.

And it’s beautiful!!!

The new Daystate Alpha Wolf sits alongside the Delta Wolf as a more sporter-orientated electronic PCP. It uses a state-of-the-art computerized and programable action, high-end appointments and power levels up to 95 Ft/Lbs. It also brings new options to Daystate’s catalog of hi-tech electronic rifles.

The British company’s investment into computerized airguns means its rolling development program can easily incorporate today’s latest performance improvements as well as tomorrow’s. The Alpha Wolf takes things a step further by offering all this in a stylish, new sporter package.

In short, the world’s most advanced air rifle is still the most advanced air rifle… and it’s now available in two formats!

While still complementing its Delta Wolf bullpup sibling, the Alpha Wolf’s individuality is immediately obvious courtesy of a beautifully sculpted, red laminate skeleton stock. This features an extended forend lip and new-look Picatinny optic rail – still movable fore-and-aft to cater for any day and night vision scope configuration – that is fitted with an anti-cant bubble.

Elsewhere, the Alpha Wolf maintains the high-end features first seen on the Delta Wolf: on-board chronograph, quick-and-easy barrel changes and touch-screen programming. There’s now Windows platform synchronization courtesy of an optional plug-in ‘dongle’, electronic air regulation, double-magazine system and A.R.T barrel.

In addition to the adjustable cheekpiece and butt pad, there’s a fully-adjustable trigger and blade, carbon-fibre bottle and multiple accessory rails.

The Alpha Wolf has also been designed to accept a host third-party options and upgrades, such as those from Precision Rifle Systems.

The company says that – as testament to Daystate’s future-proof rifle mantra – the new computerized technology built into Alpha Wolf can also be retro-fitted into its slightly older Delta Wolf sibling.

Indeed, Daystate is offering existing Delta Wolf owners upgrade kits at introductory prices for a limited period. These kits include the sleek laminate thumbhole stock, optic rail and DTD pen drive that allows users to program many elements of the rifle’s firing cycle (such as regulator pressure, power adjustment and caliber selection).

Ask AoA for details on this…

Airguns of Arizona has released a Daystate Alpha Wolf video. It shows unboxing the product and gives a great overview of this beautiful new air rifle.

As usual, Jared Clark makes the presentation. As always, he makes a great job of it.

The Alpha Wolf increases the Daystate “Wolf” series of products to three. There’s the Red Wolf, Delta Wolf and now the Alpha Wolf.

In this video, Jared takes us through the range of caliber and barrel length options. He also explains the 20 MOA compensation scope rail with built-in bubble level that’s a change from the Delta Wolf’s optics mount.

But the main thing is the sheer beauty of this air rifle. That fantastic Italian Minelli stock makes it definitely the most beautiful airgun I have seen for a very long time!

Airguns of Arizona has supplies of the Alpha Wolf in stock, but they’re likely to sell fast. When you phone to order yours, tell them that you read about it in this blog post!!!

While a lot of things got put on hold during the Covid pandemic, a couple of bright spots were forthcoming. New slugs were introduced last year under the Daystate banner and are named “Howler” slugs. Made in the U.S.A., the slugs come in .177, .22 and .30 calibers for your shooting enjoyment. Specially designed to provide the best performance out of Daystate “Accuracy Research Team” rated barrels, Daystate teamed up with Nielson Specialty Ammo to create these little beauties. Utilizing a hollow-point design, the .177s weigh 12.6 grains and are packaged 600 to the screw-top tin and retail with our friends from Airguns of Arizona for $33.99. In the .22s the 20.3 gr. slugs come 375 per tin and retail at $23.99. The .30s sell for the same $23.99 price and contain 140 slugs per tin. As an added bonus, each tin you purchase comes with a cardboard token that is worth $2.00 toward your next purchase of Daystate/MTC Optic product. These tokens have no expiration date and can be saved up to accumulate up to $100.00 toward an airgun or $50.00 toward an optic.

               My home range limits me to 25 yards so I am looking forward to taking them out to my gun range and trying them at longer distances through several high-powered air rifles. There is little doubt these slugs will live up to the expectations due to the reputation of NSA products and testing Daystate put them through before placing them under their brand.

               The other bright spot was the introduction of a line of pellets from the famous Swedish cartridge maker, Norma. Known for their high-quality and highly respected ammunition, they have been at it since 1902 and are a purveyor to the Royal Court of Sweden. The company is always improving and expanding their line as well as keeping an eye on market trends, so it was a natural extension for them to utilize their expertise in making lead bullets to begin making quality pellets in-house.

               Available now through Airguns of Arizona come four new pellets in .177 caliber and four in .22 caliber. First, for the hunters and Field Target folks in the crowd, is the Golden Trophy FT Heavy, a domed pellet designed for energy transmission to the target. At 9.1 grains in the .177 with 300 pellets per tin and 17.6 gr. with 200 pellets per tin, these are meant for use in more powerful air rifles (Norma suggests above 17fpe). Next up are the Golden Trophy FTs, a bit lighter version still designed to deliver energy on target. The .177s come in at 8.4 grains with 300 per tin and the .22s weigh 15.9 grs. and 200 pellets per tin. Again, Norma suggests an airgun that generates at least 17fpe for best results with these pellets. Take your pick at just $7.99 right now at AofA.

               Next up are the S-Target Match pellets. Designed for accuracy, these flat-nosed pellets come in 300-piece tins and weigh 8.2 grains. The .22s weigh in at 14 grains and come 200 to the tin. Norma suggests use in airguns under 12fpe and they retail for $9.99 on the Aof A website.

               Last, but not least, come the SuperPointStrike pointed pellets. Designed for penetration on small game and pests, the Norma suggestion is for use in airguns under 18fpe for best results. The .177s weigh 8.2 grs. and come 300 to the tin, while the .22s weigh 14.5 grs. and 200 per tin.

               Give ‘em a shot (I know, terrible pun. Just couldn’t resist.) The prices are certainly right and it is the summer season here in the U.S. so, plenty of opportunities should present themselves to get out and enjoy some shooting!

Coming soon is a new version of the RTI Prophet bullpup PCP. It’s called the Prophet 2 and it’s expected to be available at AoA in the late Summer 2022 timeframe.

The RTI Prophet 2 is the latest air rifle from the Slovenian manufacturer. As the name implies, it’s an upgrade to the successful Prophet model.

So what’s different about the Prophet II?

Essentially there’s improvements in three main areas: barrel, valve and breech block. So these are not insignificant changes. The RTI Prophet II looks very similar to the original Prophet, however there’s clearly some big improvements internally.

RTI says that Prophet II models in .22 and .25 calibers are equipped with the company’s lightly-choked proprietary barrel (RPB) which delivers improved accuracy with both slugs and pellets. They are fitted with a huge double transfer port for maximum air efficiency.

Yes, that’s the double transfer port at the rear of the barrel in the photograph below!

The .177 and .30 caliber guns are fitted with choked Lothar Walther barrels.

The new breech block includes an integrated 70 cc capacity plenum to increase Muzzle Energy. Theoretically, you could put two extended plenums on the gun and gain 44 cc additional volume, but it is not needed.

By comparison, he capacity of the first generation Prophet’s plenum was 57 cc.

This enhanced plenum operates in combination with a new valve which uses air from the barrel to close faster. RTI explains that the valve opens from zero to full in 1 millisecond. The result is that the Prophet II can achieve high power from low HPA pressures and with increased efficiency.

The regulator of the Prophet II Performance model can operate at pressures between 80 to 180 bar (1,160 to 2,610 PSI).

In fact, there’s two Prophet II models. The base and the “Performance”. The Prophet II Performance package includes a carbon fiber HPA bottle, adjustable hammer spring tension and the above-mentioned externally-adjustable regulator. This is the version that will be available at Airguns of Arizona.

The Prophet II Performance is also optionally available with a tan Cerakote finish.

Calibers available are .177, .22 cal, .25 and .30 caliber. There’s two barrel lengths, 24 Inches is standard, however the “Compact” model features a 20 Inch barrel.

RTI tells HAM that the external regulator pressure regulator is being enhanced with each production batch as well. RTI explains that they run this as a separate project to iterate upgrades quicker than on complete rifles.
 
To give some indication of accuracy, RTI has shared two test targets produced with the .22 caliber Prophet II PCP air rifle. The first was shot indoors at 50 Meters (55 Yards) with JSB Jumbo Exact Heavy 18.13 Grain pellets.

The second was shot outside at 100 Meters (109 Yards) with 24 Grain NSA slugs. Both targets show the excellent accuracy for which the Prophet has become known. Again, this is a five-shot group.

In addition, the manufacturer has provided test data about the power of the RTI Prophet II air rifle – in both “long” and “Compact” versions.

Here’s the graph for the full-length (24-Inch barrel) Prophet II. It compares Muzzle Energy against regulator pressure for each available caliber.

Here’s a sample of this data converted into US units.

Then, for the performance of the RTI Prophet II Air Rifle in “Compact” configuration, the graph looks like this…

As you can see, the power of the Compact model is lower. This is largely due to the shorter barre – as would be expected with any PCP air rifle.

Among the Prophet features retained in the Prophet 2 are the mid-mounted sidelever action. It’s still located on the left side of the gun. This is opposite to that of most sidelever actions.

However it makes sense for right-handed shooters as – in this location – it’s not necessary to release the right hand’s grasp on the pistol grip between shots.

The trigger also continues unchanged. It’s a two-stage trigger that can be adjusted down to a pull weight of just over 10 Ounces. The pull weight of guns I’ve tested has been around 1 Lb 12 Oz.

The first stage is long and very light, making it very easy to determine that you’ve reached the point of release. At this stage the “wall” is clear. In spite of almost no further rearward motion of the trigger blade takes place, the sear release is crisp – almost “glass break like”. I like the trigger a lot…

RTI also confirms that the Prophet II air rifle is now shipping from the factory and is becoming available through dealers world-wide. Obviously, Airguns of Arizona is in line for deliveries.

But – as everyone knows – supply chain and logistics issues are having a world-wide effect on products of every type right now, so it’s a good idea to phone to pre-order your Prophet 2 or check on availability.

The new Umarex Gauntlet 30 looks very similar to its .22 and .25 caliber siblings. However, it’s different to the smaller caliber Gauntlet 2 versions as it plays on the edge of the big bore PCP market with 100+ Ft/Lbs of muzzle energy.

It’s in stock now at Airguns of Arizona and will be visible on the AoA website very soon!

True, the Gauntlet 30 sells for somewhat more than the .22 and .25 caliber models. However that’s not a big deal compared to the competitive landscape it faces among 30 caliber air rifles.

Looking a a simple price analysis, we find that the Umarex Gauntlet 30 caliber is by far the lowest priced game in town. It’s roughly half the price of its nearest competitor. And between a third and a quarter the cost of most.

That’s compared to PCP air rifles with comparable high-level specifications: regulated, magazine feed and with a shrouded barrel. The Gauntlet has always been a value product – and the 30 cal versions certainly is!

OK, so the price is good. How about the performance?

The news everyone wants to hear is this. There’s plenty of power and the accuracy is pretty good too. And it shoots slugs really well!

I found 24 consistent shots from one fill of 4,500 PSI High Pressure Air, as we can see from the chart below.

The slug-shooting performance itself will attract many shooters…

My testing was restricted to three types of ammo due to the well-known ammo shortage. However, it’s clear that accuracy of the Umarex Gauntlet 30 caliber is very good.

At 25 Yards, the gun printed “one hole”, 10-shot groups on the target with the JSB pellets and Howler slugs. The KnockOuts performed almost as well, with just one shot opening-up the group a little.

Out at 75 Yards, the position was different. Here I shot a 5-shot group with a 0.75-inch Center-To-Center group size with Daystate Howler slugs. WOW!

As the photograph below shows, here we have “Extreme Benchrest”-level accuracy from a value-priced, out-of-the-box gun, shooting unsorted slugs. And with a scope magnification of only 16X and me on the trigger

That’s not at all bad!!!

(Note that the scope elevation and windage were untouched in my test to show how the Point-Of-Impact dropped with increasing range. The drop was actually about 4 Inches compared to the group at 25 Yards)

So, the Umarex Gauntlet 30 I tested really likes these Daystate Howler slugs!

That’s great news because 30 caliber Howlers are in stock at AoA and they are a strong value, too.

So, overall, the Umarex Gauntlet 30 caliber represents outstanding value. It delivers power and accuracy downrange at a great price. The sample I tested shot slugs very well, too – as we have seen.

Downsides are the overall length of the gun, the muzzle-heavy weight distribution and the very heavy bolt action. The build quality is OK, but at this price there’s no way it can be on the same league as a Daystate or Brocock, for example.

But – if you can live with these drawbacks – there’s nothing in the market today to touch the Gauntlet 30 for value. In combination, of course, with those Daystate Howler slugs.

I suggest you phone AoA today to place an order for a Gauntlet 30 and a truckload of Howlers. You’re going to have long range shooting fun!!!

The new Western Airguns Rattler is a .357 caliber, semi-automatic PCP air rifle that’s in-stock and available right now at Airguns of Arizona. It provides the capability for rapid follow-up shots for hunting larger game and pest control purposes.

The Rattler is also suitable for long range benchrest shooting. Plus, it’s fun!

In an indication of how semi-automatic actions are moving towards the mainstream for PCP airguns, Western Airguns says that the Rattler is capable of long range target shooting. Indeed, they claim sub-MOA groups are possible at 100 Yards, courtesy of the hammer forged Nitrate-coated TJ barrel.

That sounds like definite Extreme Benchrest-winning capability except for one thing. The main EBR competition is for a maximum of .30 caliber. But I’ll bet you’ll see the Rattler shooting in the Big Bore competition this year!

The Western Airguns Rattler has a fixed, 15- round magazine manufactured from Titanium. The depth of the mag is 21mm, which Western Bigbore says is capable of holding some of the longest slugs in the market today.

The manufacturer claims upwards of 15 consistent shots per fill of High Pressure Air using the included, interchangeable 580 cc carbon fiber cylinder. The fill pressure is 3,625 PSI (250 Bar). Two pressure gauges display regulator and HPA tank pressures.

Airguns of Arizona will supply the Rattler set-up to fire 81.02 Grain JSB pellets at a muzzle velocity of 900 FPS. That’s around 150 Ft/Lbs of energy.

Using 170 Grain slugs, AoA reports 800 FPS and 250 Ft/Lbs, simply by adjustments to the power adjuster wheel.

Raising the regulator pressure can bring the maximum Muzzle Energy with slugs to over 270 Ft/Lbs, they say!

The Ratter 357 utilizes a hammerless firing system that’s claimed to deliver strong shot-to-shot consistency also.

For it’s expected use at long ranges, the scope rail incorporates a 20 MOA Picatinny angle. In addition there are dual side rails, and a Picatinny bottom rail for attaching the bipod or accessory of your choice.

The Rattler has a solid aluminum shroud silencing system. It’s also equipped with dual safeties, an AR style interchangeable grip, synthetic cheek piece, and comfortable butt pad.

Plus – as we can see below – it’s easy to remove the HPA tank and barrel from the Rattler 357 if required for cleaning and maintenance.

The Western Airguns Rattler is in stock at AoA. Of course you can order online, or by phone. But stocks are not limitless so you’ll probable want to do so soon. Like very soon!

Airguns of Arizona carries a selection of barrel adapters and cans, designed for airguns only, from a purveyor I’ve come to know for his high-quality products as well as integrity. DonnyFL is one of those “kitchen table” companies that started out as a way to fill a personal need. Donny purchased his first PCP air rifle, an Edgun Matador in 2014. The only drawback was the report of the rifle might disturb his neighbors and that started Donny on a path to make his entry into the PCP world more “backyard friendly”. While keeping a day job, Donny continued to experiment and expend funds on his goal. Even without formal training in acoustic science, he kept working at it until he had a viable working silencer for his air rifle. Others in his shooting circle took notice, which was quickly followed by requests for “could you make one for my airgun?”  Donny obliged and this led to referrals to others wanting his product so his business was born.

               Soon after that Donny started his website to grow the business and grow it did. Now, as a thriving business, DonnyFL also offers his products through dealers and distributors like AofA. Today his products are highly regarded by many airgunners to be the some of the best available. His cans are given Japanese inspired names and are well-made and effective, plus they look good and are reasonably priced.  Also, the range of adapters found on the website cover most makes of PCP airguns as well as a number of non-PCP models. In addition, they will make custom adapters based on user specifications. Prices start at $50 and can go up depending on the amount of material required. Custom adapters are not warranted the way standard adapters are, so exacting measurements are critical for you to be satisfied with the final product.

              Of course, all businesses claim to have good customer service, however, small businessmen like Donny have to actually back that up in the real world. I had first-hand experience with that side of it when an adapter I had ordered for an older AirForce Escape was too tight to seat properly on the muzzle. I had gotten it on far enough that I could not remove it, yet it was nowhere close to being fully seated. After communicating with Donny via email, he suggested sending the barrel with the stuck adapter to him and they would take care of the situation. Just before boxing everything up I was finally able to separate the adapter without harming the barrel. I followed through with mailing the two items to the Florida address and was expecting several weeks to go by before hearing back from them just as a normal course of specialty work taking time. To my surprise, I heard back the same day the package was expected to be delivered by FedEx! The gentleman who does machining work for them, Izzy, spoke with me about the work and we decided a new adapter was in order. I authorized the work and DonnyFL was willing to give me credit for the original adapter, however, I had heated the unit in an attempt to get the metal to expand so I could get it off the barrel and just planned to pay for the new adapter and have the old one sent back with the new one. The new adapter was ready in a day and to my surprise, they also reamed the original, steel adapter so it now fits and I have a choice as to which one I want to use! The price was $60 and that included the return postage.  To say I am pleased with DonnyFL and their service is a bit of an understatement. I highly recommend their products if you are in the market for a quieter airgun. Please check out AofA’s pages of DonnyFL products and give them a call if you don’t see what you need.

The latest model from Daystate is not another electronic marvel – it’s an updated version of the company’s longest-running model, the Huntsman! You see, the new Huntsman Revere Safari Edition incorporates Daystate’s tactile, raised-grain stock with height adjustable cheekpiece, increasing this classic model’s appeal both to hunters and target shooters.

Safari Editions have become an attractive option for a number of Daystate and Brocock air rifles. If you haven’t handled a Safari stock, you really should. It’s an interesting feel that grows on you with time and use . At least it did on me!

And now there’s a Safari Edition of Daystate’s most popular model of all – the regulated Huntsman Revere.

Combining classic sporter looks with sleek design and a lineage tracing back to the company’s inception over 40 years ago. The Huntsman series has remained a firm favorite with field shooters the world over.

The Safari Edition features Daystate’s tactile, raised-grain wood stock. The boldly-textured Safari stock is further enhanced by stippled panels to the grip and forend. This provides significant handling benefits in inclement weather.

Combined with its natural camouflage look, the Huntsman Revere Safari Edition has all the perfect attributes for the field, Daystate explains.

The ambidextrous stock incorporates the lower-seated action that’s been a hallmark of the Huntsman’s design for some years years. However, the Safari Edition’s stock has been subtly tweaked to also accommodate the needs of target shooters, without compromising the Revere’s inherent sporter feel.

A vertically-adjustable cheekpiece allows perfect eye alignment for both varmint and target-styled scopes. In addition, the comb is finished in a soft-feel rubber for comfort in all conditions and shooting disciplines.

The Safari stock’s forend has been shaped to suit all holds and disciplines, too. There’s a broader shape and flatter base to assist those preferring to shoot from a bench.

The weight-relieved construction will appeal to hunters with large permissions to trek across. The scalloped butt is both practical and good-looking. Daystate says that it provides good balance in the shoulder for hunters, yet also the ideal anchor if shooting off a bench or bean bag.

For further versatility, stud-points have been incorporated for those who want to fit a sling, bipod or other shooting aid.

Action-wise, the Safari Edition keeps all the attributes that have made the Huntsman Revere Daystate’s biggest-selling rifle. These include a factory-installed Huma-Air regulator and sidelever cocking – user swappable for right- or left-hand use. Cocking effort is minimal even on the 40Ft/Lb model, the company explains.

The Huntsman Revere’s self-indexing magazine has a new loading gate, while there’s also a single-shot loading tray supplied for those who prefer to manually load their pellets.

HPA charging is via the probe system with integral rotary dust cover. The shrouded, match-grade barrel is fitted with a threaded muzzle. Finally, the adjustable two-stage trigger with manual safety catch has a tough, anti-glare metal finish.

And guess what! You can pre-order the regulated Huntsman Revere Safari from Airguns of Arizona right now…

Most shooters think about three core features when choosing scope rings…

First – and most basic – is the diameter of the scope’s main tube. Typically these will be 1-Inch or 30mm, although other diameters such as 34mm are starting to appear on some high-end scopes.

Next is the type of mounting system that is on the gun. Nowadays this is typically a Picatinny rail. However, there’s also the very similar – but not identical – Weaver rail system. Meanwhile, dovetail rails still feature on some .22s and a number of airguns.

Then there’s the scope ring height. Mostly scope rings are graded as “medium” or “high”. However there are also “low” and “extra high” rings available. Although there is – to my knowledge – no standardization of measurement between manufacturers to match these descriptions, they all relate to the height at which the scope is carried above the action.

So what height scope rings to choose? This will be a combination of factors. One will be the diameter of the scope bell (front). Scope ring height will need to be chosen so that the scope does not contact the rifle in any way except via the rings. (If it does, that’s a sure way to ruin accuracy).

Now the shooter’s personal physique comes into play. How high does the scope need to be mounted in order to achieve a strong, consistent cheek weld when the rifle is shouldered?

Leapers provides a lot of information to help you make an informed decision on the profile of P.O.I rings. This includes the maximum objective diameter that can be accommodated, the saddle height and the center height for the rings.

For that extra personal touch, the experts at AoA will be happy to advise further when you phone-in your order.

To find out more, I visited Leapers, Inc. This company is based in Livonia, Michigan and they produce their P.O.I scope rings right here in the USA!

“P.O.I” is an abbreviation for “Precision Optics Interface”. To find out more, I visited the company to talk to the experts and find out some key features that should be considered when configuring your new air rifle.

The Director of Product Management at Leapers is Nick Lee. His advice was clear and valuable yet actually amazingly simple.

Nick explained that there are very precise specifications for the Picatinny rails. So, scope rings for these rails also must be designed to Picatinny specs. He directed me to the official specifications: MIL-STD-1913.

Although that’s a pretty basic statement, it’s clear that there are scope rings out there that are designed and manufactured to a somewhat “generous” interpretation of these specifications. Yes, they fit Picatinny rails, but they may do so rather more loosely than is ideal for that basic requirement of supporting a scope consistently and accurately.

To make his point, Nick pointed to the recoil stop bar that’s machined into the base of P.O.I rings. This bar is designed to be a solid fit in a Picatinny rail. And it’s rectangular in shape. There’s one in each ring. (See below).

Low cost scope rings often use a standard, mass-produced circular rod as the bearing surface against the “teeth” of the Picatinny rail. This is because it’s cheap. “But how,” asked Nick, “could that ever provide really long-term, consistent positioning for the scope against the battering the rings take from recoil? Particularly as they are often not a perfectly tight fit!”

Then there’s the material the rings are manufactured from. Leapers’ P.O.I rings are manufactured primarily from 6061-T6 Aluminum. That’s aircraft-grade material.

Why not steel? Nick explained that 6061-T6 Aluminum is plenty strong enough for this application. P.O.I rings are even qualified for use with .50 cal BMG! It also has outstanding corrosion resistance.

Plus, the light weight allows for a wide bearing area against the scope tube (it’s 22 mm for P.O.I rings). This minimizes the possibility of distorting the scope tube while also keeping the weight down.

We all expect to remove Picatinny scope rings from the gun and re-mount them later with minimal Point-Of-Impact change. So design and manufacturing precision also has to extend to the side plate: the part that clamps the rings in place onto the rail.

The locking side plate of P.O.I rings features dual spring-loaded guides to ensure that required secure and repeatable zero. They also prevent any tilting and mis-alignment. Again, another feature to consider as you choose your scope rings and an additional reason why Leapers labels these rings as P.O.I (Precision Optics Interface).

Leapers manufacture its P.O.I Scope Rings in-house in its “UTG PRO” facility on the company’s campus in Livonia. Manufacturing Director Kevin Jin showed me how P.O.I rings are manufactured.

At one end of a long conveyor belt system, strips of 6061-T6 Aluminum are loaded for delivery to whichever CNC machine is designated to produce the next batch of rings. As the P.O.I rings have a surprisingly complex shape, with many subtle curves to prevent snagging in use, they are manufactured on high-specification, Aerospace CNC-MAZAK 4-axis Horizontal machines.

Both Pictinny rail and inner bore hole for the scope are machined during the same set-up as this provides superior concentricity of the scope rings when mounted onto the gun. After that, the rings are cut horizontally into two pieces.

Particular attention is paid to the scope interface surfaces, Kevin explained. In order to secure the scope in place uniformly and without damaging the tube surface, the inner diameter is bored and finished with an endmill. Finally, there’s a final finish from a reamer to the precise diameter required.

After machining, the result is double-checked by Leapers’ extremely thorough Quality Assurance team.

Surface finish is provided by matte black, Type III hard coat anodizing. This gives a high-quality, non-reflective and long-lasting appearance to these scope rings. It’s a great match for the high quality airguns and scopes that AoA sells!

Kevin’s Manufacturing Team really cares about the quality of their products and you can see that when you look at P.O.I rings.

By investigating Leapers P.O.I rings, we’ve learned that there’s more to scope rings than meets the eye. We also found out some of the reasons why P.O.I scope rings are special.

Sure, you can buy cheap scope rings for $10.00 a set, or thereabouts. But a pair of high quality scope rings like P.O.I can be had for around $55.00 at AoA.

When you’re spending hundreds – maybe thousands – of Dollars on a new rifle like a Daystate Alpha Wolf, it just doesn’t make sense to skimp on scope rings!

This post covers something a little different as it is about a less-lethal .68 caliber projectile launcher powered by CO₂. Resembling a modern semi-automatic firearm, it fills a niche between lethal means of self-protection and non-lethal.

Byrna Technologies, Inc. is a publicly-traded Massachusetts technology company specializing in the development, manufacture and sale of innovative non-lethal personal security solutions to Police, Government and Civilian buyers. They sell a variety of self-defense items and have a Law Enforcement & Private Security division dedicated to providing top-notch training to these groups. This training has received national certification from the International Assoc. of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards & Training.  The launchers have been purchased for use by school security professionals as well.

The Byrna SD (Self Defense) launcher can be ordered in two flavors, the Kinetic kit and the Pepper kit. Both come in a well-made zippered nylon case with padded compartments for the “gun”, an extra magazine, three tubes of projectiles, two 8-gram CO₂ cartridges and manual/paperwork. Everything you need to get started and be able to practice with the SD. This particular kit only contains what Byrna calls “Kinetic” projectiles. Two of the tubes contained hard plastic Kinetic projectiles and one contained their Eco-Kinetic projectiles which are biodegradable, leaving no trace. Obviously, in today’s climate, there are restrictive jurisdictions that regulate or outright prohibit an individual from possessing or using pepper sprays and tear gas. I received the SD Kinetic kit for review, and that probably was for the best as I don’t have a ready stable of volunteers to shoot OC gas balls at…

Byrna refers to this device as a “launcher” and “un-gun” as opposed to a “CO₂ gun”.  Its dimensions are: 5.62 inches tall by 7.25 inches long by 1.25 inches wide and it weighs in at a light one pound, ten ounces. An ambidextrous safety can be engaged at any time and disengages the trigger. They are made in Ft. Wayne, IN and contain 108 parts, so it is a pretty complex device. No user serviceable parts here and it voids the warranty if you take the Byrna SD apart. They also make a couple of rifle configurations however; this review is of the SD version of their pistol configuration.

This form of non-lethal self-defense tool is useful for deterring a threat from as far as 60 feet away. Initially, if you find yourself in a situation, simply presenting the Byrna SD might act as a deterrent due to its resemblance to a semi-auto firearm. Should the threat persist, pulling the heavy double-action trigger will pierce the CO₂ cylinder and fire the first round from the five-round magazine. Each subsequent trigger pull fires another kinetic projectile. If carrying an extra loaded magazine, pressing the magazine release situated behind the trigger on the left side – just like a majority of semi-auto handguns – allows for a quick swap. One 8-gram cartridge gives anywhere from 15 to 20+ full power shots before exhaustion. The SD can be effective against small aggressive animals as well (but I wouldn’t rely on it in grizzly country!). Like any other projectile launcher, plan to purchase extra CO₂ cartridges and ammunition so you can practice and get very comfortable with the SD before you actually carry it.

Available from AofA, the Byrna SD kit can be ordered in Gray, Orange, Pink, Tan and Yellow. While some states may restrict possession and use of the Byrna, AofA definitely will not ship to the 5 boroughs of New York City, San Francisco, and several other liberal antigun/anti self-defense enclaves. Refer to their website for the restrictions.

Not being a practicing attorney, I cannot speak to the legalities of purchasing and owning a Byrna launcher in any situation and neither can AofA. I can say, however, that it is not classified as a firearm in the United States. Due to that fact, it is possible for persons with a felony conviction to have airguns in a lot of places, however; for questions about purchasing this unit the best bet is to check with a lawyer and the police jurisdiction you live and work in.

More about how the Byrna SD worked for me in Part II next month.

I have been using the Labradar Doppler radar system for airgun testing for some time. With experience, I’ve learned some useful Labradar tricks and tips. Labradar is not difficult to use, but this experience may be useful to those of you just starting – or thinking of buying – Ladradar.

If you’re interested in determining the Ballistic Coefficients of your pellets and slugs, or understanding the performance of your airgun downrange, this is the way to go…

First a reminder. The primary benefit of using Labradar is that it is able to record the velocity of a projectile at multiple distances downrange.

Secondly, its accuracy is not dependent on light conditions or being exactly parallel to photo electric sensors – which can result in false readings. Both these things make it different from a traditional chronograph.

Generally I have found that Labradar performs better than the manufacturer claims. However, there are obviously some limitations to using it. We’ll cover these below.

I first published a post on using Labradar back in 2019. This post updates that with some additional tricks and tips. The current model being sold is the Labradar Lite. This is identical to the original version I have, except for the lack of Bluetooth functionality (which I don’t use anyway).

Labradar calculates FPS by recording radar waves as they bounce back to it from the pellet. For this reason, the radar waves can bounce back from a wall, ground or ceiling. That will cause incorrect FPS measurements. So…

Labradar cannot be used indoors. It’s best used outdoors in a “open field” environment. However I have found that it does work well in a covered shooting range, even if located next to a vertical post or other roof support.

Also, it works best set on a shooting bench or tripod. Don’t sit low to the ground.

Often, I’ll mount the unit on a small tripod and place that on the shooting table.

In order to work with an airgun, Labradar requires the use of an additional-cost microphone. This is supplied with a mounting bracket and plugs into the Labradar box. This microphone should be positioned just a little behind and to the side of the muzzle for correct operation.

I always use the foam wind guard that’s supplied with the microphone.

Before first use, you’ll need to set the Labradar unit to recognize the microphone as it doesn’t do this automatically. (Set the Trigger Source to “Trigger” instead of “Doppler” in the setup screen.

Use the sighting notch at the top of the unit to point Labradar in the correct direction – at the target, that is. This is pretty primitive and I experimented with using a short length of drinking straw in the notch as a “peep sight”.

But a little experience made sighting easier to do and the straw sighting system was discarded.

My testing has found that Labradar gives valid data at different ranges depending on the size and type of pellet or slug.

For .177 caliber, I obtain good results out to 35 Yards. Some pellets record out to 40 Yards as a maximum. That’s with lead pellets.

Generally, I cannot obtain valid data from alloy pellets in .177 caliber, however. That’s a limitation, although not a big one for most people.

In .22 caliber, I have had good success out to 50 yards, even with alloy pellets. Larger calibers record at longer distances, however 50 yards is the maximum I generally use. My Labradar is set-up to display FPS at the muzzle and at 10-Yard increments out to 50 Yards downrange.

The unit’s screen displays data from the last shot. V0 represents Muzzle Velocity (941 FPS) in this case. V10 means 10 Yards, V20 is 20 Yards, etc. The pistol icon means that it’s set-up to record relatively low Muzzle Velocities between 246 and 1,722 FPS – ideal for airgun use.

Another huge benefit of Labradar is that it is able to record and store data onto a SD card. You don’t have to write it down or type the FPS numbers into a computer.

However, I do make written notes of the shot FPS data at the time of testing. That helps when analyzing the data later when multiple different pellets are being tested.

I use SD cards previously used for digital cameras but replaced by higher capacity ones. As Labradar is generating data only, the file sizes are small and pretty-well any old SD card will have plenty of capacity.

The card can then be read using a PC. It appears as a .CSV file that can be opened, manipulated and organized using Microsoft Excel. Here’s how the raw .CSV file displays…

The columns headed Ke are an automatic calculation of Kinetic Energy using the Projectile Weight input by the user. Because I’m constantly testing different weight pellets, I make Kinetic Energy calculations in templates set-up in a spreadsheet (rather than resetting the Labradar unit each time) and so use only the first seven columns of data.

Unfortunately this Labradar output is next to impossible to open using a Mac

As I use Apple computers, I find it necessary to load the .CSV data into Excel using a PC. It’s then saved as an .XLS file and exported to a Mac. The Mac is able to read the .XLS file and I then manipulate the data using the Apple Numbers spreadsheet program.

Trust me, that’s the easiest way to use Labradar data on Mac!

Labradar can be powered using six common AA batteries. This does work, however my testing sessions often last several hours and this eats batteries fast! So, I prefer to power Labradar either by using a separate battery pack or, even better, using a cellphone power charger connected to a 110 Volt electricity supply.

With the rapidly-increasing interest in airgun BCs, for both pellets and slugs, more and more people are using Labradar to understand the performance capabilities of their airgun. And – of course – you can buy Labradar Lite from Airguns of Arizona. They have it in stock!

Yes, Extreme Benchrest 2022 is coming soon! It’s running from 6 to 9 October.

Some aspects of the airgun industry’s leading competitive event are to be the same as usual. After all, why mess with success?

For example, the location’s the same – the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club just outside Phoenix. Also, of course, there’s the headline Extreme Benchrest Competition with the 75- and 100-Yard cards that have never been cleared yet.

And – as usual – the event is completely full. In fact it’s over-subscribed with 200 competitors having registered and a strong waiting list.

But there are some improvements, too. A new competition for 2022 is the Action Armor Steel Scramble. This is a NRL-style shoot with a range of disciplines including precision, benchrest and  Field Target. The common factor is that all the targets are steel. This is also the only course of fire where slugs can be used.

Of course, you don’t have to shoot to enjoy Extreme Benchrest! Every year there are visitors who come to watch the shooting, soak up the atmosphere, meet-up with old friends and make new ones.

You can also see some great shooters in action, like Tom Adams – above – the overall winner of EBR 2021. John Bagakis is another consistent shooter who’e always there among the top scorers. That’s John below…

To ensure that you can watch the action downrange, Sightron is EBR’s official spotting scope sponsor for 2022. You can just walk up and take your turn watching the hits!

There’s also a chance to meet industry personalities too. Here ws see Tom Costan – the owner of American Air Arms – proudly displaying his new EVOL Paradigm model at the 2021 event.

And there’s always the chance of an exclusive glimpse of a new product or two. Usually you can try out the new model on the “trial range” too.

In fact, there’s rumors that at least one new air rifle will make its first public appearance at Extreme Benchrest 2022. Which one? My lips are sealed…

So what are all these people doing below?

They’re placing their tickets in the raffle! This is a huge part of Extreme Benchrest as it offers the chance to win some really high-end airgun equipment. In fact, some EBR Raffle prizewinners have returned and won competitions the following year with the gun they won in the raffle!

The EBR Raffle prizes are donated by the many sponsors of the event. For 2022 Extreme Benchrest, there’s a huge list of sponsors.

These include major airgun manufacturers such as Daystate, Brocock, KalibrGun, American Air Arms, Western Airguns and Umarex. A new sponsor for 2022 is Velocity Outdoor, with its Benjamin Airguns brand.

(Note that you need to attend Sunday’s Awards banquet to claim your prize. If you want to attend the banquet, email AoA for details of cost and availability).

Not surprisingly, many optics manufacturers will be participating in EBR 2022 also. We’ve already mentioned Sightron, but Hawke will be there too.

Kevin Sheehan – Hawke’s VP of Sales and Marketing for the US – has become an enthusiastic airgun shooter as a result of attending Extreme Benchrest in previous years! He’s developed into a formidable competitor and will be shooting again at EBR 2022.

New optics sponsors are Athlon Optics and Leapers. So there will be plenty of opportunity to talk to leading riflescope vendors, see their offerings, talk and learn.

Other companies attending Extreme Benchrest 2022 will be Predator International, the US distributor of JSB products. ZAN slugs will be there, too, as well as Accu-Tac, the bipod specialists.

Oh, of course, there’s the prizes!

This year’s competitors will be sharing a record $77,000.00 – yes $77 THOUSAND – in prize money and certificates. You can watch some of the best airgun shooters in the world competing for their share in that pot…

It’s going to be fun. See you there!

Before getting into testing results with the Byrna less-lethal projectile launcher, a couple of other background bits of information are in order. Two five-round magazines ship in the fitted, zippered case and additional magazines can be ordered through AofA. Each magazine floor plate has two slots where locking tabs engage. Forward thinking Byrna engineers had the clever idea of including orange colored locking tabs to replace the standard black tabs as a quick visual indicator of which type of projectile is currently loaded in the magazine. These locking tabs are quick to swap out and one extra of each color is contained in the kit. Caution: take care when handling the loaded magazines as it is very easy to move the bar that holds the rounds in the magazine, causing it to empty immediately and send you chasing after little round balls. Don’t ask me how I know this.

The grip sports rubbery inserts having a “honeycomb” design which feels good in the hand. The grip is hand-filling however, when practicing with good technique even those with small hands should have no problem operating the device. Being a double-action only trigger, it is recommended that the first joint of the trigger finger be placed on the trigger to facilitate firing, as would be done with a revolver. A loaded chamber indicator on top of the unit pops up slightly if a projectile from the magazine is pushing against it. Once the magazine is removed, if a round is still in line with the barrel, simply pressing down on this loaded chamber indicator will release the ball out through the magazine well. Do not attempt to insert a fully loaded magazine if there is still one round in the breech or it can cause a jam. The safety lever disengages the trigger when activated, yet the trigger doesn’t feel that much different making it good for dry-firing practice while not activating all of the internal mechanisms. The unit also has a three slot picatinny rail located on the underside in front of the trigger guard for attaching lights or lasers as you may desire.

A big selling point to the Byrna SD (other than it’s less-lethal aspect) is that it can be stored with both a CO₂ cartridge and loaded magazine in place so it is instantly ready for action since the cartridge is not pierced until it is taken off safe and the trigger is pulled fully. As with any CO₂ powered airguns, the Byrna SD should never be stored with a partially used CO₂ cartridge as this will deteriorate the seals. Besides, if you are going to depend on this unit in an emergency, you’ll want a fresh, full cartridge in the device. The User Manual also states not to leave a loaded launcher in temperatures below 20 degrees F or above 120 F.

To keep the Byrna SD in good working order, after every 500 shots the mechanism should be oiled. The easiest way to accomplish this is by using special oiling cartridges that oil and cycle the mechanism at the same time. There is also an optional oiler kit to accomplish this maintenance task. Please contact my friends at AofA for further information.

The Byrna SD was fun to shoot and provided good accuracy out to the suggested 60-foot range. Of course, it’s very heavy double-action trigger, non-adjustable sights and smooth bore do not promote pin-point accuracy which was as expected. However, a dog or man- sized target at that range is easy to connect with, especially since the launcher can be fired as quickly as the trigger can be pulled. I did find my sample launcher shot high and to the right. Keep in mind when shooting the gas projectiles that they will be affected by the wind. Safety glasses are always recommended anyway when doing shooting sports and especially so with the Byrna. The report of the Byrna SD is fairly loud and sharp, so if practicing indoors hearing protection would be a good idea, as well as a backstop that will alleviate the practice projectiles bouncing back toward the shooter.

My results were as follows:

Shots per 8-gram cartridge averaged19. Once the pressure was too low to discharge a round, there was still enough CO₂ in the cartridge so that care should be taken to slowly remove the cartridge cap and control the release of remaining gas.

The Kinetic Projectiles, weighing 44.6 grains averaged 285.9fps at a mile above sea level on a 90-degree day. The Eco-Kinetic biodegradable rounds weighed 47.5 grains and averaged 279fps. The trigger pulls averaged 10 pounds, four ounces after the initial pull that pierces the cartridge and fires the first round. That first pull exceeded the 12-pound limit of my trigger gauge.

The warranty provided on the Byrna SD is one year to the original purchaser. Of course, should the user attempt to take it apart or use non-Byrna projectiles will void the warranty. The kit also contains a nicely done color User Manual that is very clear and easy to follow, although for us older users a larger type font would be appreciated. Also in the kit is a wallet card that indicates the Byrna SD is “Not a firearm under Federal Law” on the front and that it is TSA Approved on the back.

All of this protection and peace of mind comes at an MSRP of $399.99. The .68 caliber projectiles can be purchased in plastic bottles containing 95 rounds. The Eco-Kinetics run $34.99, the Kinetic Projectiles at $54.99 and a Professional Training Projectile runs $79.99. The chemical agent projectiles only come in the five-round tubes and cost $34.99 for the Byrna Max or $29.99 for the Byrna Pepper Projectiles. A 10-count package of 8-gram cartridges lists at $19.99. Please check them out by clicking on the active links or connecting with the fine folks at AofA.

“BRK – Brocock”. Huh??? Yes, BRK is actually the new brand name Brocock is using on its products. And the “Ghost” is the new flagship product for the brand.

The company says that BRK better reflects the brand’s emergence as a leading manufacturer of pre-charged pneumatic air rifles.

Moving forward, it’s current line-up of rifles as well as future models will be badged as ‘BRK Brocock’. Production of the range, which comprises the Commander XR, Sniper XR, Concept XR and Ranger XR will continue at the company’s manufacturing facility in Staffordshire, England.

“Brocock rifles have progressed far beyond its air cartridge and Co2 fun-gun origins,” says sales director Rachel Flint. “Today our rifles are the first choice of pest control professionals, serious competition shooters and enthusiasts the world over.”

Not is the Ghost announced today, it’s actually available immediately in a variety of configurations from Airguns of Arizona!

The Brocock BRK Ghost PCP air rifle is built around a titanium-colored chassis to maximize both rigidity and accuracy. Three model configurations are available in .177, .22, .25 and .30 calibers, offering power up to 100 Ft/Lbs.

Devotees will immediately notice that the Ghost is the first Brocock model to include the availability of .30 caliber.

Thanks to a quick and easy interchangeable barrel system, the BRK Ghost’s caliber can be swapped in minutes.

The BRK Ghost comes in three styles. The High Power (HP) features a 23-Inch barrel and 480cc carbon air bottle. The Plus has a 17-Inch and 480cc carbon air bottle. There’s also a carbine version with a 17-Inch barrel and super-short shroud matched to a 300 carbon air bottle.

With their combination of light weight, compact size and high power, the company claims that all models are optimized for hunting in any environment.

The power dial at the back of the action offers no fewer than 20 settings, providing multiple power levels at your fingertips. It’s actually a graduated hammer spring adjuster for precise power tuning. There’s also a finger-adjustable dial to adjust the BRK Ghost’s regulator pressure.

Brocock’s proven sidelever action user-swappable from right- to left-hand operation. There’s also an adjustable cheek and buttpad, and left- or right- magazine feed. These are features that make the new Ghost truly ambidextrous.

Supplied with a hard case, the Brocock BRK Ghost has many more desirable features. These include a fully adjustable, match-style trigger, fully-shrouded barrel with a ½ in UNF thread for an additional silencer. There’s a cross-bolt manual safety, adjustable Picatinny scope rail and three additional accessory rails.

A full range of accessories including butt pads, grips and rails from BRK’s official custom supplier PRS are also available. The cheekpiece riser allows the Ghost’s magnetic magazine to ‘double-up’ by twinning two units back-to-back. This provides an onboard payload of between 16 and 26 shots – according to caliber- yet retains a compact profile.

The Ghost looks like another cracker from Brocock – er – BRK! You’ll be wanting to phone your friends at AoA immediately to ensure you’re the first on the block with this beautiful new air rifle. The price is a very attractive $1,995.00.

The eleventh Extreme Benchrest event has now come and gone. As always, it saw some spectacular shooting, combined with outstanding organization, dedication and prefessionalism by the whole Airguns of Arizona team.

EBR remains THE outstanding airgun shooting event of the season. Thanks to all the AoA folk who make this possible!

So – if you weren’t there (and even if you were), here’s a round-up of the 2022 event…

The overall winner was Jeffrey Hernandez – that’s him looking slightly “shell shocked” in our heading photograph above.

Jeffery placed first in the prestige 100 Yards Benchrest competition in Pro Class with a score of 229 7X. Congratulations to him for some outstanding shooting!!!

In the photograph at top, Jeffrey takes center stage in the top row with Nikolai Boldov (left) who placed second with 225 4X while Mike Bricker (right) was third in Pro Class with a score of 216 1X.

Below, Lauren Parsons was shooting a Daystate Red Wolf with this very stylish red anodized PRS chassis stock and matching 0dB moderator.

Competitors came from around the world to shoot at EBR. I personally spoke to shooters from Lebanon, Denmark, Great Britain, Russia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and more.

Representing the international contingent, we see Soren Drost from Denmark, below. Thanks also to all those who took so much time and effort to travel to Arizona for the event!

The Action Armour Steel Scramble was a new Course of Fire for 2022’s EBR. This was an exciting test of versatility, accuracy and speed, with shooting from a variety of positions.

The winner was Justin Welch (center), with Dave Thornton (left) second and Pete Papathemetrios third. Congratulations to all!

The Speed Silhouette is another exciting competition, with some real speed shooting taking place. Pro Class winner Tom Adams is always amazing to watch as he loads, aims and fires, seemingly all at the same time.

That’s Tom in action, below. If you look closely, you can see that he has modified the cocking lever of his Daystate Red Wolf for faster operation.

Below, another highly-successful Daystate Wolf Pack shooter – John Bagakis – has also modified his Red Wolf for rapid fire use in Speed Silhouette competition.

For Extreme Benchrest 2022, KalibrGun sponsored the very popular Extreme Field Target competition.

This is another tough competition with flat, long-range shooting being a major requirement from the competitor’s air rifle

And watch out for the cacti!!!

The big bore competition is a class that’s growing steadily, year-on-year. Below we see Tom Costan, owner of American Air Arms, competing with one of his own very fine airguns

And – of course – all the competitors receive a “Goodie Bag”! The Extreme Benchrest 2022 bag contained a huge amount of useful stuff, as we can see below…

See you at Extreme Benchrest 2023!!!