We offer a range of options at Draper's Gun Centre for refilling airguns. You can buy canisters, cylinders, hand pumps or we can refill your airgun, right here in our shop.
A modern PCP air rifle must be filled with clean and dry compressed air either by a pump or a cylinder (scuba diving tank).
Hand pumps are an excellent option for portability, due to their size and weight. You can take it anywhere with you, pretty much as you would a bicycle pump! We sell the FX four-stage pump which has a totally unique gearing system and you will not find it on any other pump. This allows you to change gear, depending on whether you want high volume (with lower pressure) or high pressure (with lower volume). You can fill the air tube rapidly with over 300cc of air per stroke. Then change down gear (less than 200cc per stroke) to reach the recommended fill pressure with ease. If you are considering buying a hand pump, we recommend checking it has a decent filter and a dry pack. This stops dust and moisture getting into the internals of the gun, which will cause corrosion and may damage the valves and seals. A pump is undoubtedly hard work, becoming increasingly harder as the pressure inside your gun increases. You will have to weigh up convenience over effort!
Cylinders (or bottles) are currently the most popular method of filling up PCP air rifles. We only stock 300 bar cylinders, as this is the best pressure rating for air rifles. You can purchase the cylinder full from us and take it to any dive shop local to you to get it filled on their compressor. When using a 300 bar cylinder, do not under any circumstances use the pressure gauge on your gun to check the pressure of your fill. The gauges on most guns have such a small hole in the back to measure the pressure, that they respond slowly and you may get an over fill and ruin your gun. A separate gauge on the side of the dive cylinder side is a must have. A cylinder is a cost effective way of keeping your rifle charged, but of course not as easily portable as a hand pump! You should get a good 60 fills out of a 7 litre cylinder.
Remember, no matter what cylinder size or pressure rating you get, you will have to have your bottle tested and inspected 5 years after it has been made. The test includes a visual inspection of the inside of the cylinder and if required a hydro test. This is where the test centre fill the cylinder with water under extreme pressure and make sure that the bottle does not flex. When your cylinder passes, it will get a sticker placed on the side of your bottle saying that it has been tested. Without this sticker you cannot refill your cylinder.
Compressors are the easiest way to fill a PCP air Rifle we currently stock two models of compressors in store the Nomad II and the Wulf Compressor.
The WULF LCD 4500 PSI Portable PCP Compressor has been designed to accommodate the everyday PCP Air Gunner with a means to refill on the go. Gone are the days of having to head on out to your usual, stationary refill source. Now, with the WULF LCD 4500 Psi Portable PCP Compressor, you can simply refill from home or even your car!
Packed with handy features and a neat LCD control system, look no further when it comes to a Portable PCP Compressor, this product was designed by Air Gunners, for Air Gunners.
Wave goodbye to scuba tanks and handpumps forever with a compressor built to go anywhere you can—the Air Venturi Nomad II.
Boasting big features in a small package, the Nomad II is a compact compressor that can be powered from any 110 or 220V outlet. But don’t feel the need to stay put! If you have a car, you have a fill source, as the Nomad can also operate from a 12V car battery—a real lifesaver for PCP gunners filling up at the range or in the field. No matter where your airgunning takes you, the Nomad II will keep you aired up and ready to shoot.
If that wasnt enough, the Nomad II has built in LED lighting on the bottom of the unit, so even when light is fading, your air supply never will. And with the addition of the built in power supply and the included travel bag, the Nomad II is easily the most portable air compressor on the market.
Whether filling a PCP airgun from empty or just topping off, the Nomad II fills quickly and efficiently. When tested, our Nomad II was able to fill a 250cc cylinder from 0 psi to 3000 psi in as little as 9 minutes. The adjustable, automatic shut-off allows you to set the compressor to the exact fill pressure of your gun (up to 4500 psi) and the unit stops when that pressure is reached.
The Nomad II lets PCP air gunners break free of stationary fill sources forever! Become your own mobile air powerhouse with the Air Venturi Nomad II Compressor.
Come in with your airgun and have a chat with us and we will be more than happy to advise on what is best for you.
So you’ve just bought your new rifle from Drapers and want to know how to get it setup and shooting right. So we’ve come up with a step by step guide on how to put the scope on the rifle and make sure you’re getting the most out of your airgun.
Step 1: Mounting the Scope
First things first is putting the scope on the rifle itself to do this you must first place your mounts on the rail of the rifle this should be done with the included allen key and is as simple as loosening the mount placing it on the rail and tightening it up.
Now take the top covers off the rail (if your scope is not already on the mounts) and place the scope on the mounts making sure that the two zeroing turrets are to the Top and Right of the scope and allowing for room of movement for when you come to line the scope up. Sometimes you may have to move the position of the mounts to allow room for the scope to fit. To do this just loosen the mount and move to the best position.
After this is done place the top cover back on and screw the bolts in (but don’t tighten) until there is enough room for you to move the scope but it is not too loose in the mounts.
Step 2: Lining the Scope Up
Now you’ve put the scope on your rifle the next thing to do is line it up.
Pointing the rifle in a safe direction, aim the rifle as if you were taking a shot and look down the scope. Pick a straight object in the distance such as a post or target and move the scope so that the crosshairs align straight with the object.
Then carefully tighten the top covers of the mount to secure the rifle in place, be aware not to over tighten but just enough to where the scope cannot be moved by your hands.
Step 2: Zeroing on a target
Setup your target at the distance you’d like to shoot at (We recommend paper targets and a pellet catcher for this step!).
Now take your first shot and note where it lands on the paper (Note: if your pellet doesn't land on the paper you may want to consider getting closer to your target and zeroing in at that distance then moving back to your original distance).
Using the two zeroing turrets on the top and right of your scope remove the dust covers (If your scope has them) and adjust accordingly with the Top turret being up or down and the right turret being left and right (Note: if your turrets are not set this way repeat step one and two making sure the scope is lined up correctly). You may need a flat head screwdriver or coin for some turrets depending on which brand and model you have.
Once you have adjusted your sight take another shot and repeat until you are hitting the centre of the target.
Congratulations you’ve just zero’d your scope! Do be aware that if you change distance or bump your scope you may have to re zero so make sure to keep this guide handy just in case.
What a year it’s been since our last trip to The Great British Shooting Show and what a time it was we’ve seen some new faces in the gun industry as well as some old favourites so we thought we’d go over a couple of interesting things we saw for those of you who couldn’t make it down to show.
The Air Arms Kymira is a celebration of the heritage of Air Arms, where they are now and where they are heading. This rifle embodies their many significant milestones, spanning four decades and delivers prestige and performance to the shooter. Using their current cutting-edge technology, they are proud to present the Kymira, a limited edition, truly unique rifle that represents our heritage of world-beating performance and our commitment to excellence throughout their 40 years.
The gun is a piece of living history, artistically crafted from Air Arms' most notable models.
We’ve got 8 of these limited edition beauties coming in roughly May / June time so hop onto our website to pre order yours in either .177 or .22 calibre!
A dedicated, purpose-built air rifle made to win precision rifle competitions
The FX Panthera is unlike any rifle FX Airguns have made before. It is a dedicated slug rifle, purpose-built with precision competition in mind, and complete with airgun innovation that continues the FX Airguns tradition of pushing the boundaries of airgun performance.
Designed for Competition Shooting
The Panthera stock is designed for competition. It features a 14.75” long Arca rail complete with M-LOK sections and a barricade block nestled next to the breech. Achieve an ideal balance point by adding external M-LOK compatible weights or internal FX Barrel Weights that attach under the shroud
World Changing
Truly the precision rifle world will forever be changed with the new FX Panthera. The rifle feels and shoots like a precision 22LR, enjoying straight back recoil, but with precision and accuracy only found with an FX Airgun!
We should be getting our first batch of these very soon so keep an eye out on our website and social media for updates!
Winner of the Great British Shooting Show’s Budget Night Vision of the Year!
The HIKMICRO ALPEX A50T is breaking new ground when it comes to colour night vision performance, offering a true colour image in twilight to no light this pound for pound NV giant bridges the gap between ultra high performance and fantastic pricing. The unique 1/1.18 inch sensor and 3D DNR image algorithm provide clarity images even in low light conditions of 0.001 lux this is what helps you find a clear and detailed image of your target even in the dark and starry skies. The 1440x1080 HD CMOS sensor gives a ground-breaking image in both day and night. Making the HikMicro Alpex the obvious winner when it comes to LOW-LIGHT HUNTING.
The HIKMICRO ALPEX A50T with its advanced sensor technology and image processing delivers a detailed, full-color image throughout the day - automatically adjusting to twilight and continuing to display an amazing full-colour image up until total darkness.
We've already got one of these in store so if you want to see what's so award winning about the Alpex why not pop over and see what all the hype is about!
Winner of the Great British Shooting Show’s Airgun of the Year!
The S510 Tactical (S510T) is the perfect blend of usability and functionality. The action is built around the extraordinarily successful S510, used worldwide in many disciplines from field sports to HFT.
This versatile action has now been coupled with an ergonomic stock based on the style of choice by governments around the world. The tactical platform offers an almost limitless choice of sizes, handling positions and accessories that make using and shooting this rifle a unique experience.
The functionality of the S510T Tactical air rifle comes from the fact that all mounting points are to international specifications, the grip mount, the M-Lok slots in the fore-end and the mounting location for the butt stock. This means rifle configurations can be adapted to any shooter and indeed changed in minutes to suit changing conditions.
The M-Lok system allows direct fitting of enabled accessories or the mounting of a rail to facilitate the use of equipment you may already own.
The fore-end has M-Lok slots on 3 surfaces, one along the underside and one each side at 90°. Mount a torch on the right, sling mount on the left, bi-pod and vertical grip on the underside, or simply fit rubber inserts to further enhance stability when shouldering the rifle in the traditional fashion.
The scope rail is to the picatinny standard making swap out sights easy and precise.
The New budget rifle on the block the ASI Accumax is an open sight fibre optic rifle at a fraction of the cost of most other guns these days. Tuned to ASI's specifications this light weight rifle is perfect for both Juniors and Adults with a smooth full power spring. And with a lifetime warranty you won't have to worry about any problems with it either.
We've got these in store now so come down and have a look at the new name in Accuracy available in both .177 and .22
Well that just gives you a taste of what’s out and what’s to come in terms of new Airguns we saw at the show! As always we’d like to thank everyone that came to say hi to the team while we're at the show as well as all our customers who are just as excited as we are for the new Airguns and maybe even some Shotguns down the line…
Are you new to air pistol shooting? Maybe it’s something you have been thinking about giving a go and you’re looking at getting your first pistol, or you want to get the kids involved in your hobby, but don’t want to splash out too much cash, then you might find this article helpful.
I have been having fun with air pistols for many years, from top end competition models to backyard plinkers, and a vast array in between. So to get involved you need your first pistol, as a rule I always recommend the Umarex Walther CP88 as a good starting pistol, it was the first replica co2 pistol Umarex made and it is still being made over 35 years later, so it has stood the test of time and there’s a lot to be said for that, not forgetting it looks good, feels nice to hold, is accurate and doesn’t break the bank at around £240
That said not everyone wants to pay £200+ for their first pistol, and you don’t have to, there are some nice pistols out there in the sub £100 price range (ok two here are a little over that), but they will all give you hours of fun plinking away and even a bit of target work. We will be looking at 13 yes 13 pistols, mainly 4.5mm bb co2 pistols at this price range, though we will look at a couple of pellet spring guns, and a sub £150 pellet blowback. As there are 13 pistols to get through the reviews will be short, but it will give you an idea of what they are like. All were shot at a distance of 6 yards in my home range from a rested position to make it as uniform as possible for each pistol, with the point of aim at the centre of target, it’s the grouping we are interested in, point of impact can be adjusted later, the temperature was 20°C for new shooters temperature affects the CO2 capsules, the colder it is the less shots you will get and vice versa. All pistols are less than 3 Joules (approx. 2.2 foot pounds) and for testing purposes all were loaded with either Umarex Steel 4.5m BB’s or Umarex 4.5mm Mosquito Pellets.
Right let’s begin with a pistol I reviewed in September’s issue.
This little spring powered single shot pistol is light weight, but not the lightest here, having a polymer frame and barrel shroud weighing in at 625g and 274mm in length, the silver version I have has imitation wooden grips that look really nice, the build quality is solid and the most accurate of all the pistols in this review. It looks great, easy to cock and load, fully adjustable sights, comfortable grip with an automatic safety, the more .177 pellets you put down the rifled barrel the better it gets. Great fun for plinking and perfect for some decent target work and with a RRP of £74.95 in Black or £89.95 for the Silver you just can’t go wrong.
Umarex HPP
From a light weight to a heavy weight, the HPP is the second heaviest and second highest priced on the list, with its full metal construction, this blowback steel bb firer weighs in at 815g and is 175mm in length, it feels nice in the hand, has a 15 shot BB drop out plastic stick mag, which gave 120 shots from a single CO2 capsule. It has fixed sights and all the catches work and not just for show, and the safety is a manual solid slide action. The trigger is broad and lighter than expected and is double action only, the blowback isn’t harsh, and it does lock back after last shot, not as accurate as some of the others here, but add a laser to the lower frame picatinny rail, put some tin cans out and this compact handful with put a smile on your face for a RRP of £109.95
The Tornado is a 10 shot rotary mag futuristic looking BB revolver, it has a polymer frame though still a nice weight at 687g and 260mm long, has a metal hammer and trigger, a slide safety under the hammer, fixed sights and two picatinny rails to add a red dot and laser if you wanted to add to that futuristic look. Its single and double action, though double action is a little heavy, it’s an accurate little gun, giving 120 full power shots from a single CO2, and they really pounded the back of the target box, it did give me another 20 lower powered ones before the CO2 ran out. Perfect for plinking and target work, hours of family fun for a bargain RRP of £74.95
The Defender is a bit of a personal favourite, this stubby non blowback 1911 is all metal weighing a nice 760g and only 177mm long, the mag release allows the grips to slide back and reveal a built in 16 bb shot magazine so no chance of losing it, and simple CO2 fitting. From a single CO2 capsule I squeezed out a staggering 192 full power shots, and it still managed another 48 lower powered ones. It has nice trademarks and really looks the part, it has fixed sights, a single slot weaver rail, and imitation moulded catches. It’s comfortable, feels great and the double action trigger isn’t too heavy, with the safety being a nice press and slide action. Accuracy is pretty good for an entry level pistol, groups well with a few fliers. There you have it, compact, accurate with an amazing shot count for a RRP of £95.95
Dare I say another favourite, the M&P 40 has a polymer frame and a metal non blowback slide, weighs 577g at 194mm long. It is very similar in build to the Defender above with nice trademarks, imitation moulded catches except mag release, same press and slide safety, fixed sights, picatinny rail and double action trigger that’s slightly heavier than the defender. Though the M&P benefits from a metal 19 shot drop out BB magazine, from which I managed another high shot count of 171 full power shots and another 38 lower ones, accuracy again was very good, giving a reasonable group from this bb firer. This really is a great pistol if you’re on a budget at an incredibly cheap RRP of £79.95
The Makarov is an all metal non blowback with a moving slide for cocking, weighing in at 684g and 162mm in length, and has imitation Bakelite grips that slide bake to reveal the single CO2 compartment. It has an 18 shot drop out metal stick BB magazine from which it managed 126 full power shots, and like the Tornado they hit the back of the target box with some force, which makes sense considering the lower shot count from these two pistols, though it did manage another 36 lower powered shots. Its single and double action with a heavy trigger, the safety is thumb operated, along with fixed sights and nice trademarks. Though compact it felt nice to hold as the grips are broad, it is accurate for this type of pistol leaving a nice big hole in the target with only a few fliers. if you fancy a nice little replica, you can pick this up for a RRP of £89.95
Umarex TDP 45
The Tactical Defence Pistol 45 is the light weight of the bunch weighing in at only 455g and 165mm long, it is also the cheapest of the bunch, it does feel very plastic, but the price reflects this. Thank fully it has a 19-shot metal drop out BB magazine, had it been a plastic stick mag the TDP may have floated away. Sounds a bit naff I hear you say, oh no you would be wrong, if this is your first ever pistol, it will put a smile on your face just like the rest of the list, with its high 190 shot count, firm but smooth double action trigger and white dot sights, it’s a fun little gun. The back strap lifts up for easy CO2 insertion, a safety that does what it should, it also has a picatinny rail for a nice little laser. Yes, it’s simple, a no thrills budget pistol with accuracy that matched and beat some of the other pistols tested, and it can be yours for a bargain basement RRP of £54.95
Umarex IWI Jericho B
This was my first time shooting one of these, it was very comfortable with the finger grooves on the grip and felt substantial in the hand even though its only 548g at 190mm long. It has a polymer frame and metal slide, its stated as double action but you can pull the slide back, to give you a sort of single action, it’s a nice touch all the same, the trigger is however a bit graunchy but useable. It has fixed sights, a weaver rail and moulded catches apart from the right-hand thumb safety and mag release. The magazine is a full drop out version which houses the single CO2 and 23 BB’s, which gave 138 pretty accurate shots. It’s a shame this wasn’t a blowback version it would have made it even better, but it is entry level and it’s a fun pistol all the same. You can pick this up for a RRP of £79.95
Umarex Heckler & Koch HK45
Another new one to me, and this felt just right straight out of the box, the stippled grip and finger grooves felt comfortable and a nice weight at 630g and 203mm long. The HK45 has a polymer frame with a metal fixed top slide so no blowback here. It has a nice matt finish with H&K trades, fixed sights as we have come expect from this price range with a picatinny rail. The back strap lifts for a single CO2 capsule, the safety is thumb operated and the mag release is incorporated into the trigger guard, which drops a metal 19 shot BB stick magazine. The trigger is double action only and squeezed off 209 shots all staying in the black of the target, now that’s impressive. This pistol feels more expensive than it is at a RRP of £99.95
I have always liked the Buckmark, its cheap for what you get, self-contained being a springer and accurate. It is a mostly metal construction with a polymer barrel shroud, it has a rubberised grips with finger grooves, which makes it comfortable to hold, and its well-balanced weighing in at 680g and the longest of the bunch at 305mm. It has fully adjustable rear sights, and a picatinny rail fitted to the top, so you could add a red dot or scope to further improve its accuracy. The trigger is metal and quite broad, the pull is firm without being too heavy and has a predictable let off to each shot. Cocking this single shot shooter is easy and smooth, and like our other springer the Ruger it has a rifle barrel and is the second most accurate pistol here. All this can be yours for the truly amazing sum of £74.95 RRP
Bring out your inner Dirty Harry with this light weight 357 Magnum, the most powerful handgun here, weighing in at 561g and 290mm long, it’s lighter than it looks, but still a hand cannon. The Python really does look the part. As you can guess it is mostly polymer, and has a metal hammer, trigger and pellet mag. You get three 10 shot rotary mags included, two that are metal for pellets and one plastic that’s for BB’s. Even though the barrel isn’t rifled, more just a touch of swirling it’s still accurate, and its pretty good with BB’s too. It managed 100 shots, less than others on the list but with more hitting power. This can be shot single or double action; the trigger isn’t heavy and rather light once cocked, and the safety is found under the hammer. Fitted with fully adjustable rear sights, chequered grips, one of which houses the hex key for tightening the CO2 capsule. It looks nice in its matt finish with subtle trades. This is a lot of pistol for a RRP of £84.95
Umarex Legends P.08
The P.08 is a heavy weight, it’s all metal and the second heaviest here at 818g and 216mm long. This is the non blowback version, with imitation action and catches, apart from the sure-footed safety and mag release. It is fitted with plastic grips, of which the right-hand side comes off to reveal the CO2 compartment. The stick mag is metal and holds 21 BB’s and fired off a healthy 147 shots and kept them all in the black of the target. The sights are fixed, and the trigger blade is wide and heavy, not one for the kids, but it somehow suits this pistol. Give your trigger finger a workout and grab this piece of history for a RRP of £99.95
We have reached the final pistol, an entry level blow back pellet and BB shooter. The Storm has a polymer frame and metal slide, its well balanced and feels nice in the hand weighing a 755g and 192mm long. The mag is a plastic stick drop out that has an 8 shot rotary mag at each end, which take both pellets and BB’s and houses a magnet to stop the BB’s falling out. The shot count is low at only 80 shots as the blowback takes up a lot of CO2. Shooting with pellets it can hold its own accuracy wise, with BB’s you better find yourself a nice barn door, to be fair for some plinking at tin cans it will be plenty good enough. It has fixed sights with nice white dots to quickly acquire your target, along with a picatinny rail for a laser. The blow back is strong and adds to the real feel and will have you grinning from ear to ear. With nice trades it’s a good looker and a worthy first pistol. We are breaking the sub £100 with this but it’s still a steal at a RRP of £145.95
There you have it, after approx. 1800 shots and one sore trigger finger we have a baker’s dozen of pistols, types and prices to suit everyone, all you have to do is decide which one. Once you have shredded a few tin cans why not go to the Umarex Boys Club website and print off some free targets and enter our competitions to keep the fun going. Happy Shooting and Stay Safe.
I would like to thank John Rothery Wholesale, who kindly supplied the pistols I didn’t own to be able to complete this review, your support and help is always greatly appreciated.
That's right folks we are kicking off 2023 with a bang and what a bang of a deal we have this month with all our R10 SE Rifles going on packages as of now. From now on every BSA R10 SE will come with a Hawke Fast Mount 4-16x50 AO IR Mil Dot Scope with an RRP of £120 for Absolutely Free!
Each Rifle comes with a 2 Year Extended Warranty from BSA meaning you can rest easy with your new purchase and to top that off the Hawke Scope comes complete with a No Fault Lifetime Warranty giving you one of the most secure purchases you'll make in the New Year.
Plus if you come in store or ring and want something a little extra we're also offering a premium upgrade featuring a BSA Polytwill Hardened Gun Bag, a Drapers 3 Stage Pump and a Tin of Pellets all for the low additional cost of £99.99 meaning you can walk away with everything you need in a premium rifle for under £1000!
Released this Autumn the Pard DS35 is a revolutionary new optic that builds on the massive success of the NV008s.
The first thing that users will notice is that the DS35 now takes the form of a traditional rifle scope. Core to the new form factor is a world first for NV Scopes, an 800x800px round display. The unique LTPS unit delivers high-clarity images with rich contrast and an extra-wide field of view for enhanced situational awareness. This perfectly formed screen fits neatly in the DS35s eye piece, for an experience close to using a traditional glass day scope. Other advantages include a 70mm objective, 5.6-11.2x magnification range and a 30mm Aluminium alloy body that enables the use of both traditional scope rings and rifle specific mounting systems.
At the heart of the DS35 is a state-of-the-art CMOS 0.001 Lux 2K imaging sensor, which when coupled with the units directional 850nm IR can see user push their night shooting out to 350m and beyond. Clarity is further enhanced by Pards custom developed VLEA imaging engine. This clever software upgrade helps the DS boost clarity by over 20% when compared to the older NV008p models.
Whilst clarity and handling are two of the 35s most obvious features, they are not the only enhancements shooters can expect.
The new kid on the block features a more intuitive one shot zero, where the image shifts to compensate for elevation and windage adjustments.
Like other Pard models the DS35 is a great choice for both day and night use, with full colour image modes available until the darkest parts of the night, at which point users can switch colour pallets for optimal image recognition when they can make use of the units powerful built-in IR.
In addition to improved tech, the DS35 retains all the popular features of the previous models including Wifi Connectivity, self-activated recording and a fully waterproof construction.
Once again we'd like to thank all our customers for you continued support of our small business we strive to be constantly giving you the best deals and the latest gadgets to make sure you're always leaving Drapers Gun Centre satisfied.
If you want an more information about what we've discussed in this blog feel free to call us on 0115 970 2525 or Email us at sales@drapers-airguns.co.uk
We’ve had a large influx of second hand since we first opened in 1975 with our Classic Room being chock-a-block since when your grandad was buying airguns from us and Chris still rocked his moustache!
Now the time has come to put more of a price on these guns as we switch to a more online business so we thought we’d highlight a few things about our classic and sold as seen guns.
What Does Sold As Seen Mean?
Well to put it simply sold as seen means that the guns have only gone through the most basic of testing. We make sure they shoot and mark down the rough power they are shooting at to make sure they aren't illegal and we put a price on them. Simple as. This does mean that these guns Do Not Have Any Warranty nor we will do any tuning or work to them this is because they’ve already gone through our workshop once and have been deemed either not worth a repair or too expensive to offer any warranty on due to part scarcity.
How will I know what the gun is like?
The best thing to do if you are unsure about any of our sold as seen is call 0115 970 2525 this will allow you to speak to one of our very helpful staff members who will be more than happy to talk you through every part of the gun your interested in we will try our very best to highlight any issues with the guns and also point out the ones that are working well to make sure you get a good deal as the cost of living goes up. Remember just because it’s Sold As Seen doesn't mean it’s bad!
So you’ve had a look online or in store, seen a few videos and decided that airsoft might be the right thing for you. So where do you start?
Finding a site
Finding an airsoft site can be as easy as going on Google Maps and searching for airsoft sites, don’t worry there isn’t any hidden membership or secret password, it's just as easy as clicking and booking a day! You can choose either Rent kit which will usually provide you with a rifle, BBs and face protection commonly in the form of a Paintball Mask or you can bring your own equipment in which case you will be responsible for your own Face Protection, Airsoft Guns and BBs.
Can I go on my own?
Yes of course airsoft sites have no minimum requirement to sign on and often rely on solo players to help fill in the gaps from big groups not wanting to swap sides. Of course going with friends is a great way to get some enjoyment but remember no one is there to look down on you and many airsofters are welcoming of new players in the hobby so long as you follow the rules correctly. Just make sure you take your hits and listen to advice and you might just find yourself a group!
What happens before a game?
Before you start the game you’ll be provided with a ‘Safe Zone’ this is the no fire zone and will usually have rules against loaded magazines in guns or firing guns while in the zone as this is the area where most people will not have protection on. You’ll be given a safety brief that will cover some basic rules such as:
The Safe Zone area where it is and what is not allowed in it (I.E. Loaded Guns)
When you are hit you raise your hand and yell “HIT!”
All Airsoft Guns you are using in a game must be Chronographed before the game and you must inform a marshall if you want to change BBs or use another Gun
Obviously some sites will have specific rules such as Knife Kills or Binary Triggers but these can vary depending on what type of site it is and the marshalls running, If you have any disabilities such as epilepsy this would be a good time to mention it to one of the marshalls so that they can inform all the players about strobing lights or any other changes that need to be made to accommodate you.
How do you Chronograph?
Before any game starts the Marshalls of the site will Chronograph every Airsoft gun you are planning on using, some sites may allow you to Chronograph later on during the day but it’s best to get it all done in the morning to avoid issues. You will let the Marshall know what BBs you are using or they will make you use 0.2g BBs either way you will shoot through the Chronograph and as long as your Gun is under the limit, usually around the 350 FPS mark, then you will be given an indicator that your gun has been Chronographed in the form of a sticker or Zip Ties depending on the site.
What should I wear?
Whether you are bringing your own equipment or are renting from the site what you wear in airsoft is very important to how you are going to look and feel. Go to an outdoor site in a t-shirt and shorts don’t be surprised when you come home looking like a human dot to dot. When starting out it’s best to just follow a few tips:
Never cheap out on eye protection! - Always a good word of advice this is the most important thing in airsoft is keeping your eyes covered BBs have been know to blind so make sure you’ve got glasses that are either ANSI or EN 166 rated these are able to withstand loads more impact than a BB would provide giving you the best chance of shaking off an unlucky hit
Keep it covered - The more of your body is covered the less a BB will hurt when it hits there. This goes for Face and Body. It's always best to wear an extra layer if you can to avoid any nasty stings.
Keep it concealed - No ones going to want you in their squad when you look like a big target and they blend in with the bushes. It’s best to bring some form of military camo, British MTP and DPM can be found cheap on most military surplus websites and works really well for blending into the British countryside. If you don’t want to go down the route of looking like you walked straight out of the latest Call of Duty just stick to a dark hoodie to avoid anything too bright.
Good Footwear is key - Regardless of what you wear above you should really think about what you're going to wear on your feet. Running around all day in mud and sweating is going to be hell on your feet unless you keep them protected. Ankle supporting boots are brilliant but also walking shoes can work just as well to avoid trainers unless you want to get your brand new Nikes ruined.
Hydrate - Like with any sport keeping hydrated is key bring a large bottle of water and keep it at the safe zone to drink between games or invest in a hydration pack for your equipment for quick relief between firefights.
So now what?
Have fun! Airsoft is a sport all about enjoyment so get out there and start shooting before you get shot and remember if you need any advice or just want to stock up on some essentials before your first game come over to Drapers Gun Centre Nottingham and ask to see our airsoft collection.
There’s a new Glock in town, a new Glock17 Gen5. Now there are a fair few Co2 Powered Glock’s from Umarex, their first iteration the G19 stick magazine BB pistol, then G17 Gen4 and Gen5 BB full size magazine BB pistol, the Dual ammo Glock17 and Tan coloured Glock19x. So, what is different with this new model? Well, it’s all in the magazine, being that it holds twenty-one 0.177 Pellets! That is some firepower right there.
Let’s start from the box, it is just like the majority of other Glocks being that of Cardboard with same design with the text on the side of the box to denote what model it is. Opening the box, the Pistol fits snuggly with the manual tucked inside a slot as well as a small Hex Key for the Co2 Capsule insertion. Hard cases are available including ones with the Glock Logo, which looks rather fetching plus are padded inside.
Anyway, back to the pistol or shall I say Manual first, again with all other Glocks the same standard and design are present with showing how to load, aim the sights and blowback diagram.
Taking the pistol out of the box, it feels solidly constructed and got a nice weight in the hand of 830g which is only 45g lighter than a fully loaded Glock17 Real Steel pistol. Keeping with authenticity Umarex has got the License for all correct Trades and logos to go onto their branded Pistols, such as model details, logo on the Slide
Whereas the Airgun details and serial number are discreetly on the underside of the Frame. A nice touch for me anyway is that Umarex have put 4.5mm on the Barrel, which is only visible when the slide is in its rearward position. I would like to add that within the airgun details on the underside of the frame is the mandatory airgun safety. Now this is rather hard to function and in an awkward place. However, this is only area to put it whilst keeping with the authenticity, plus if you decide to fit a torch or laser onto the underside Picatinny rail you won’t be able to use it. So as always maintain your safety precautions and trigger discipline.
The real Glock’s have the Trigger Safety Bars, which as you’d expect this Umarex Glock has. I own a few of the Umarex Glock’s and I am used to the Bar Safety’s and with this version it works perfectly fine without snagging like some people have mentioned regarding previous models. Above the trigger is the Slide release catches, these look like they are moulded in the Frame, though there two small screws underneath the Rear Slide that may be used to take off the Slide, but I am not chancing it. Onto the pistol grip, it again has the Logo and correct form of Stippling as on the Real Steel version, then on the baseplate of the magazine it is adorned with the Glock Logo.
Releasing the magazine from the grip reveals a belted magazine system, similar to the Walther PPQ M2 magazine. The inserting of the Co2 Capsule is just as on any other Co2 Pistol using a Hex Key, just do not over tighten. Now we come onto the loading of the Pellets, I chose H&N FTT Dome and Bisley Practice Flatheads which I inserted into the circular rubber belt, of which both fitted fine. The belt was really stiff when I was manually turning it to insert the 21 Pellets, this definitely felt harder to do than with the PPQ M2 when I had that to test?
Once I had the Pistol loaded, I went out and set up our Speed Challenge Target out at 6yd. I chose this target as it has a large circle, as my main objective was to see / feel how the Trigger and Belt Magazine preformed, as I was not looking for any grouping measurements or scores. I found that the trigger safety run smoothly with the trigger, but the trigger is quite heavy due to the belt system, though I was expecting it to be that way. I took 5 shots at first with the pellets striking near enough the centre, then shot the remaining magazine into the same target. The group spread-out widely, this was a combination of the heavy trigger with me not taking my time and composing myself, as the recoil from the blowback is quite sharp. Though all in all I was quite happy with how it handled. I made a video which is up on our YouTube channel, there is also a QR Code for ‘The First Shots Fired’. I then decided to give the 6yd Pistol Competition a go, this is simply 5 shots double Handed & 5 shots single handed. Really what I should have done is shot a few more magazines and got used to single handed shooting, as the pistol was really hard to keep still and lined up on to target for each shot.
Whilst working out why the belt was stiff to load and rotate, I had an email from James at John Rothery Wholesale, to show me a Tip on how to free up the belt with a few short demo videos, which was to spray Silicone Oil onto the belt while rotating the belt round. I done the process myself and could feel the belt become smoother.
Instead of going back to paper targets I went onto our Metal Terminator targets made by Gr8fun Targets. And a bit of can shooting. Now this is more like it, the trigger felt lighter, and cycling was much smoother with me hitting the plates and making the cans dance around down my range.
After a few magazines and Co2 (which as per usual I had all intention of actually counting how many shots you get out of the capsule, however I was having too much fun and forgot) I put the pistol away with a smile on my face. The following day I was back out in my Range and set up another Fun Shoot using my portable Porthole Screen, where you shoot either a Square Hole, a small Circle Hole, under the screen or to the side of the screen, to acquire your targets. This time a different set of Terminator Targets, again blasting away at my heart’s content giving myself certain sequences of which target to shoot and from what position within the screen. The Glock preformed great with me once again tinging on the metal plates with no Ricochets as the lead pellets would deform on impact and fall straight onto the floor, this time I did get a count of shots, where you just get 3 magazines worth with one Co2 Capsule.
All I need to do is get more practice shooting single handed, so I can tighten up my groups, and then enter the 6yd Competition with more confidence and composure, this is what makes shooting fun and challenging at the same time.
Specifications: Energy Level: <3.0J Velocity: 120m/s (394 fps) Calibre: 0.177 Pellet Power Source: 1x 12g Co2 Shot Capacity: 60 Rounds Magazine Capacity: 21 Rounds Trigger: Single / Double Action Safety: Automatic Trigger Safety & Sliding Safety
Looks like we’ve got a couple new contenders getting in on the Side Lever game here at Drapers Gun Centre Nottingham with the familiar face of the Daystate Huntsman Revere in .177 and .22 now in a new lightweight Safari Stock and the Brand New BSA CLX R12 in .177 and .22 a hybrid rifle between the ever popular R10 and CLX models of rifle using a 12 shot magazine from the CLX and the bottle from the R10 this is sure to start turning some heads down at the range.
The new Safari Edition Huntsman Revere incorporates Daystate’s tactile, raised-grain stock with height adjustable cheekpiece, increasing this classic model’s appeal both to hunters and target-minded shooters
Classic sporter looks, a sleek design and a lineage tracing back to Daystate’s inception over 40 years ago: the Huntsman series is iconic and has remained a firm favourite with field shooters the world over. The latest, Huma-Air regulated Revere sets performance levels good enough to entice precision-minded target shooters too, and this has led to the development of the new Safari Edition – a Huntsman offering added practicality and versatility for field and range shooters alike.
The Safari Edition features Daystate’s tactile, raised-grain wood stock. Ambidextrous and incorporating a lower-seated action that’s been a hallmark of the Huntsman’s design for years, the ‘high-grip’ advantages the textured Safari stock brings are further enhanced by stippled panels to the grip and forend. Combined with its natural camouflage look, it has all the perfect attributes for the field.
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 rise-and-fall cheekpiece allows perfect eye alignment for both varmint and target-styled scopes – and its comb is finished in a soft-feel rubber for extreme comfort in all conditions and shooting disciplines.
The Safari stock’s forend has been shaped to suit all holds and disciplines, too, with a broader shape and flatter base to assist those preferring to shoot off a bench. Its weight-relieved construction will appeal to hunters with large permissions to trek across, though stud-points have been incorporated for those who want to fit a sling, bipod or other shooting aid. The scalloped butt is as practical as it is aesthetic, ensuring good balance in the shoulder for hunters, and making the ideal anchor if shooting off a benchrest or bean bag.
Action-wise, the Safari Edition keeps all the attributes that have made the Huntsman Revere Daystate’s biggest-selling rifle: a factory-installed Huma-Air regulator, sidelever cocking – user swappable for right- or left-hand use – that keeps cocking effort minimal even on the 40ft/lb model, self-indexing magazine with new loading gate (with a single-shot loading tray supplied for those who prefer to manually feed their pellets), probe-charging with integral rotary dust cover, shrouded match-grade barrel with threaded muzzle, adjustable two-stage trigger with manual safety catch and a tough, anti-glare metal finish.
Available in gun shops from the end of July 2022, the new Safari Edition of the Huntsman Revere melds sporting and target elements in perfect harmony. The classic Daystate that always offered perfect combination of performance, handling and style now just became even more versatile.
Following the successful unveiling of the Ultra CLX model in 2021, BSA Guns are delighted to announce their next launch in form of the R12 CLX Pro. This will initially be available in .177 and .22 with additional calibres planned.
Building on the success of the ‘Thumbhole’ version of the R10, we have designed the new, Mono-block side lever, regulated R12 CLX Pro to maintain the classic and much-loved Thumbhole stock. Maintaining the core benefits and features of the Ultra CLX and utilising the Sidelever action launched exclusively in the 160th Anniversary Ultra CLX, this new gun combines the key features and benefits into our new Flagship model. As ever BSA will present the R12 CLX Pro in one of Minelli’s quality made stocks. This latest thumbhole variant will be available in both walnut and black pepper laminate.
Designed, developed and manufactured at our Head Quarters, in Birmingham England, we have taken advantage of the very best in new design and prototyping processes and facilities, the benefits of this new PCP are easily seen when compared to its ancestor the R10 TH, and no doubt other competitor products. With over 50,000 test shots put through our specially designed automated test equipment, we truly have put this new PCP through its paces.
Throughout this process, we have kept the core values of the ‘R10’ firmly at the forefront of our minds. We engaged with the expert designers at Minelli in Italy to ensure we jointly delivered a stock design that was clearly a “BSA Thumbhole”. The achieved result completely met the brief.
Accuracy, Precision and Craftmanship have been combined to produce this next generation, new R12 CLX Pro but don’t just take our word for it, judge it for yourself and come on over to have a feel of the future.
As always we love to see new products come out from some of the shops favourite manufacturers and we’d love to hear your opinion on them too. So if you're looking for a new hunting rifle or just wanting a new range gun before the holiday season kicks in why not have a look at some of the latest out!
Obviously, I like my shooting, both pistols and rifles, whether HFT, paper punching or just good old plinking. I’ve always been more into my pistols, but I have to say I really do enjoy a budget spring rifle. The UBC has a budget rifle comp that I enter 10+ rifles in a month, and it is really enjoyable, it’s a budget rifle so there is no pressure for high scores, it’s just proper good old fashioned fun, and there is something about trying to get the best out of these budget bits of kit using only open sights, and some can really surprise you with their accuracy, even if they do twang a bit. So, I was quite pleased when I got to review a new budget spring pistol, the Ruger Mark IV, best of both worlds possibly. It arrived in a nice cardboard box as do a lot of the Umarex mid-range pistols.
Now I hadn’t even seen an image of this budget pistol, I knew what the Ruger Mark IV looked like it’s a classic, all I knew was I was getting the Stainless version to review, it is also available in all black. On opening the box I was a little disappointed that the stainless I was expecting was more of a silver powder coating, as I do like a bit of shiny bling, but it is a budget pistol so I was probably expecting a little too much, it still looked very nice, especially with its plastic imitation wooden grips, which again as on some of their other pistols Umarex have made a good job of, so budget yes, but the effort has been put in to looking the part.
Reaching in to pick it up I was surprised how light it was, weighing in at only 625g not that its small at 274mm in length. Looks like this how they kept the price down, with a plastic/polymer lower frame and barrel shroud, but it does feel quite nice, and is comfortable to hold, it’s just missing that bit of heft, though at the price you can’t have everything, that said if you do fancy a budget pistol with a bit of weight and power to it, check out the review of the New Browning Buckmark Magnum from Umarex by the UBC’s Kevin Cudmore aka Combat Gerbil. After giving the Ruger the once over, it was time to see what this .177 rifled barrelled spring powered lady could do.
I broke the barrel and cocked it, it was very easy to cock with a relatively smooth action, I popped a pellet into the breach and took aim at the first object that came into sight which was a tin can, I pulled the trigger and oops the safety was on, I flicked the safety off with my thumb and took aim again, I squeezed on the trigger again which wasn’t as heavy as I thought it might be and totally missed my target, thinking I pulled the shot I put in another pellet and oops safety again, ok so this pistol automatically engages the safety every time you cock it which isn’t a bad thing, and as a starter pistol for the younger shooters, it helps build on their safe gun handling, oh and yes I missed again.
Ok I should have started on paper to see where I was shooting but tin cans just have that fun grass roots fun appeal. Now with a 14 cm target in my sights I took aim and it clipped the bottom edge of the target, no wonder it missed the tin can. This may be a budget pistol but it does have fully adjustable rear sights, so a quick twist of the elevation screw and the pellets were dancing around the middle of the target.
Now that it was on the paper, it was only right to give this lightweight budget pistol a fair crack of the whip by grabbing a shooting bag and see what she could do rested. My next 10 shots at 6 yards gave me a sub 3-inch group, not great but ok, I put another 50 shots down range and the group tightened up to a sub 2 inch group, much better. This pistol is no powerhouse, but I was still curious on what she was putting out, so out came the FX chronograph and I was pleasantly surprised to see the RWS Geco’s I was using flew out the barrel averaging 305 FPS giving an acceptable 1.8 FT LBS (2.44 joules) not bad at all, as Umarex state 308 fps / less than 3 joules so bang on the money. Just for the heck of it I shot our 6 Yard Pistol Comp, this is just 5 shots single handed and 5 shots two handed, standing unsupported, I managed a 43 two handed and only 37 single handed, I just found it too light shooting single handed, but it’s not a target pistol so I was pretty happy with the results.
About a week later I fancied a bit of fun shooting, I set up some tin cans, chalk disc’s, plastic soldiers, bottle tops and anything else I could find for a proper plinking session, I was about to grab my Beretta 84 FS as it hadn’t been out the cupboard in a while, when I saw the boxed Ruger and decided what better way is there to test it. I will be honest I was missing things left right and centre, except for the cans as the rest were small targets but I didn’t care I was having fun and every hit was an achievement. After about 100 shots I rested my cocking arm, reset the targets and had a coffee. A short while later I was back in the range continuing the destruction. 20-30 shots in I noticed I was hitting more than I was missing, as little green plastic soldiers pinged over the range. I must have put at least 200 pellets through the Ruger by the end of play time and decided to shoot another paper target rested to see what the results were.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised, it seems now the barrel is nicely leaded up, things start coming together with a very respectable 10 shot inch group. With these results I thought I would enter our Budget Pistol Comp, with a twohanded grip, free standing I was more than happy with a score of 96/100. I have heard some bad reviews about this pistol, and the only one that has any validity is the fact it is light, but it’s budget pistol that punches above its weight in its class. So, if you do fancy one, feed her half a tin of pellets to bed in, and I’m sure you will be happy with the results for the money you paid.
I was then joined by Amanda who wanted to have a go, she does prefer Co2 pistols but any excuse to have a shoot. She found the cocking a little harder than I did, but to be fair I shoot a lot more springers. Loaded, she took aim, flicked the safety off and happily put a pellet in the 8 ring. She continued to happily pepper the target with holes until after 20 or so shots her arm was getting tired, so she called it a day, she really enjoyed the pistol and said she would do better once she got used to the recoil, which her Co2 pistols don’t have.
The last test was to take it with me to the Greyhound Shooting Club in Coventry, where Amanda and I were meeting up with the rest of the UBC Review Team, for a Fun day of HFT and pistol shooting. They all had a go with the Ruger, and the same comments came from all of them, its accurate enough for the money, seems to be built well, it’s just very light.
There you go, a budget, reasonably accurate, pellet spring pistol, that’s cheaper than a tank of fuel at the moment, if you just like reading this magazine and haven’t taken the plunge into buying your first airgun, give this ago, all you need is a tin of pellets, and your imagination on what to use for plinking targets, but be warned this shooting lark, grows on you and gets very addictive very quickly. Happy Shooting.
