Fiocchi Group has announced the acquisition of Lyalvale Express which has got us at Drapers Gun Centre very excited! Following our recent change of name over the weekend we are now officially stocking Lyalvale Shotgun Cartridges which was picked up by Rebecca and Christopher Draper personally earlier this week this comes as a change as for the first time in the our small shops history we will be moving onto stocking firearm products but don’t worry Airguns and Airsoft will still continue in the shop alongside our new range.
Fiocchi Group, the worldwide leader in the production of small calibre ammunition under Fiocchi Munizioni, Baschieri & Pellagri and Fiocchi of America brands, announces the acquisition of the entire share capital of Lyalvale Express, the historical British manufacturer established in 1983 in Lichfield, United Kingdom, and specialized in manufacturing and distribution of premium game and clay shotshells.
Closing of the deal occurred April, 6th , 2022. The acquisition of the manufacturing platform of Lyalvale Express in the United Kingdom has the strategic objective to further consolidate Fiocchi Group’s leadership in the game and clay target shooting segments, not only from a manufacturing point of view but also through the expansion of the Group’s product portfolio, offering to consumers a complete range of premium and super-premium products.
Unique to this sector, Fiocchi Group will benefit from four manufacturing plants in two continents: the historical Fiocchi Munizioni plant in Lecco (Italy), Baschieri & Pellagri’s centre of excellence in Bologna (Italy), the manufacturing platform with two plants in Missouri and Arkansas (United States) and the newly acquired Lyalvale Express plant in Lichfield, north of Birmingham (UK).
In addition, the strong complementarity of the brands’ product range, coupled with the unparalleled innovation footprint – the latest example being the biodegradable shotshell components launched within the Green Core project – will allow the Group to enjoy an additional, significant growth in the global markets thanks to the unrivalled commercial network the Group has consolidated over the years.
“We are excited to announce this transaction, which has a significant strategic value. Lyalvale Express becomes part of a Group with an unbeatable historical heritage and will benefit from outstanding innovation capabilities and from a large production platform which will generate important synergies” proudly says Maurizio Negro, Group’s CEO.
Stefano Fiocchi, Group’s President, highlights that “it’s with great pride that we welcome Lyalvale Express to our Group. We will benefit from another historical brand which will further contribute to strengthen and develop the Group’s leadership”.
James Rose, Fiocchi UK Managing Director, will become Managing Director of the new Group’s UK entity: “I’m extremely thrilled by this transaction, I’ve always respected Lyalvale’s high quality and positioning as a UK manufacturer, so I’m absolutely sure that together, we will be able to strengthen and further develop our market”
Here at Drapers Gun Centre, as some of you might know already, we not only have a large airgun showroom but have recently expanded our Airsoft Showroom to include even more deals and guns for those looking to get into the hobby or to stock up before their next game. Here is just a small selection of what we’ve got this week.
Back in Stock - G&G Firehawk / ARP 9
Coming back into stock now we have a couple of fantastic guns from G&G the Firehawk and the ARP 9 both featuring a low profile look and excellent out of the box performance. Perfect for any CQB games as well as outdoor all you need now is a Dye Mask.
The Firehawk is offered in both a Two Tone Green and a UKARA Black and is compatible with standard M4 AEG Magazines. The ARP 9 comes in Two Tone Blue and UKARA Black with it’s own magazine of which we have both Hi Cap and Mid Cap variants, as well as a Drum Magazine if you’re wanting a mini support gun!
New In Stock - Two Tone Vorsk Split Slide Hi Capa
The already iconic look of the VORSK Hi-Capas, with their rail-cut outs and grooved top rail, leading to a reduced slide weight, excellent grip, snappy trigger response and memorable looks have been further advanced with the introduction of a split slide. The split slide design improves the performance levels of the Hi-Capa series by reducing the weight of the moving slide, which in-turn increases the trigger response. This comes into Drapers with a Two Tone Blue Slide out the box so can be purchased by anyone and sent right to your door!
New In Stock - S&T Lee Enfield Spring Rifle
Join the Front! With the brand new S&T Lee Enfield now in stock at Drapers Gun Centre with full metal and wood body this beast of history allows you to storm the trenches with ease and with its spring power there is no need to worry about batteries being charged or gas to refill.
All this and more can now be found on our website and in store! Make sure you keep a lookout at our airsoft sections and feel free to pop down and let us know what you’d like us to get in store. We're always looking for suggestions to expand our new airsoft range!
I’m sure you, like me have had enough of the lockdown restrictions, yes, they were definitely necessary for everyone’s
protection, but they were also a major road block in my ever-expanding replica Airgun collection!
So, when came the first day of non-essential shops opened up last May, my son and I had a cheeky little visit to my local gun shop. I was interested in another 1911 replica, but after checking it out I found that wasn’t to my personal taste. Luckily for me, Drapers Gun Centre in Nottingham had something to interest even the most discerning of enthusiasts i.e., Me. Just as a side note in case you were wondering, my son treated himself to a very nice Umarex Legends Thompson M1A1.
After taking up far too much of Ethan’s time, I managed to decide on a copy of a good old stalwart of the assault weapon world, the H&K MP5K. For those of you that are interested, the Heckler & Koch MP5 has a very long history dating back to 1964, where it was designed around the “G3 Battle Rifle” and has been and still is used by over 80 countries in over 23 different variations (For more information have a look online at Firearms news.com) Unlike the original MP5K chambered in 9x19, the Umarex version the MP5K-PDW is a smooth bore semi-auto action 4.5mm steel BB gun powered by a 12g CO₂ cartridge, slightly more back yard range friendly I’m sure you will agree.
What’s in the Box?
The Umarex MP5K-PDW is mostly constructed externally from good quality plastic, it weighs in at 1635g with the folding stock attached and feels good in the hand and features a full blowback action. In the box you will find the MP5, a 41- round magazine, removable muzzle compensator, a removable Picatinny 20mm sight rail and the all-important instruction manual. There is also an interchangeable back plate to convert it to the even shorter MP5A1 stockless version.
Sights are fixed rear and hooded front, and fairly “on target” at 6 to 10 yards but don’t forget the included 20mm picatinny rail. For those of us approaching our more senior years whose eyes aren’t quite what they used to be (yes me again) you can easily attach a red dot or similar sight to the included rail in order to stretch the accuracy that bit further.
To the range!!
Power is supplied by a single 12g CO₂ cartridge placed in the rear of the action and retained by a steel plate held in by two easily removable pins and tensioned by a finger screw. This plate can be substituted for the supplied blanking plate should you wish to use it in the stock-less configuration. This plate can only be changed whilst replacing the CO₂ canister as it forms the retaining mechanism, however, emptying a 12g CO₂ cartridge won’t take long in my experience! A full cartridge is good for around 100 shots (depending on temperature).
The magazine is loaded with 41 x 4.5mm steel BB’s by sliding down the tensioner plunger until it locks in place at the base of the mag (you will see a small pin protruding from the hole in the base). Then fill up the mag from the top whilst pressing the locking leaver down. When full, let go of the locking leaver press the pin in at the base of the mag and the mag is tensioned ready for use.
When you’re ready to fire, after ensuring the gun is pointing in a safe direction and the safety selector is engaged, insert the mag into the mag well with a very reassuring click, remove the duel ambidextrous safety catch and you’re ready for some good safe fun.
Accuracy
As I’m still restricted to the home range, all groups are shot at a max of 10 yds. As you can see from the picture, at 10 yds. I managed a 36.74mm C to C group (1.44”) which with non-adjustable open sights (and an old blind bloke shooting it) is quite respectable for a smooth bore BB replica gun. You’re not going to win any target competitions with it but that’s not really what it’s for.
What it is for is shooting tin cans and fun plinking, speaking of which brings me on to the reason I purchased it, Umarex Boys Club monthly comps.
So over to the monthly UBC “Police Assault Rifle competition”, if you haven’t tried them yet, there is a UBC shooting competition to appeal to just about all shooters with just about any type of pistol or rifle and even pistol cross bows, so click on the UBC competition site and have a look!
Value for Money
With a RRP of around £170.00, this is an officially licensed replica from Umarex that’s well designed and great fun to shoot. Not only do you get the MP5K, but you can also use it as the even shorter version without the butt stock, two guns for the price of one (sort of) great value in my book. It is predominantly constructed from plastic but has a very sturdy feel and the steel internals give a very positive simulated recoil when firing.
Christmas Update
I know you’re probably reading this in April, but bear with me!
Up to Christmas time I’ve had the MP5K for just over 6 months now, it gets regular trips out of the gun cabinet, mostly due to the rapid-fire fun time this gun provides. I decided when it was time to come up with a new idea for our shooting club Christmas party, it was time for an outing for the MP5K and the Walther CPS for a bit of rapid-fire fun. Both guns
got packed into the range bag with plenty of BB’s, pellets and Umarex Boys Club fedora targets and it was off to the
Shooting Gate air gun club Christmas party.
The course of fire was fairly simple with a double tap with the Walther CPS, transition to the MP5K for 4 shots then back to the CPS for a final double tap. All shots against the clock and the final scores calculated by taking away the time in seconds from the shot score and this gave the final score. I win!!
Except I didn’t, as they are both my guns I thought it was only sporting to disqualify myself, and I didn’t even cry about it, much….. don’t like chocolate oranges anyway.
The winner was Wayne Callaghan, the proud winner for the seniors of a 100% authentic chocolate orange no less, Zak took the honours for the juniors. We won’t mention the name of the member that managed to miss the target twice with all eight shots though Ross so don’t worry!
Overall, there where smiles all round, we are a 6-yard target and bell target club, so our Christmas parties do tend to be a break from the norm and a welcome break from nearly two years of COVID interruptions to our shooting club and daily life in general.
The only downside to ownership is the amount of CO₂ and BB’s you’ll go through!
Shoot safe, stay healthy and enjoy our sport!
‘Paddy Says’
I have owned my Umarex MP5 PDW for over 11yrs now, when they first come into the country, and it is still going strong.
I occasionally enter in the UBC Police Competition with mine and do the customary MP5 Slap. I am glad that Darren is now entering into the competition too. It would also be great to see other people enter as well.
Over the years we have even done dedicated competitions, the most memorable was a SAS themed one based on a certain event in 1980.
I for one really enjoy the tactical type of shooting that can be done with this airgun like transitions from SMG to Pistol and by the looks of it so does Darren.
As long as you are using the airgun responsibly and know your boundaries the amount of fun to be had with the MP5 is amazing! For plate and reactive shooting, I use Smart Shot Lead BBs, they feed well, and the ricochets are down to a minimum with none coming back past my firing point when I done specific testing for a YouTube Video.
All in all, it is a great airgun that will last and everyone really should own an MP5 don’t you think?
The HM1000x from Rapid Air Weapons derives its lineage from the famed Theoben Rapid 7. Featuring many of the same design cues, the HM departs from its family history with the integration of such features as side lever cocking, an on-board manometer, an easy access Foster-style fill adapter and fully regulated design. The HM ( or Hunting Model) is a rifle for the discerning enthusiast who desires the most that an air rifle can offer. The fit and finish of these rifles come second only to their reputation for accuracy and reliability. Your quest for air rifle perfection ends now. You have found the holy grail.
Capable of sub-1-inch groups out to 100 yards, the HM1000x Chassis Rifle by RAW Airguns is the ultimate in long-range precision. The most accurate pre-charged pneumatic air rifle made in the USA has been designed with hunters and competitors in mind. The LRT combines reliability, accuracy, and American craftsmanship to provide confidence in hand that is unmatched by any other air rifle.
Available in either the LRT laminate stock or an all aluminium chassis system. Both stocks feature ample M-Lok® mounting points for bipods, slings, or other accessories. R.A.W. has partnered with American Built Arms of Glenn Rock, PA to provide the standard furniture for the R.A.W. Chassis Rifles. The American Built Arms Urban Sniper Stock (U.S.S.) features true ambidexterity with an adjustable cheek rest that can be set up for both left and right-handed shooters, A Fixed/Adjustable™ design that creates a rock-solid stock that eliminates movement and noise, and a spring-loaded butt pad extends 1.25” with the touch of a button and is adjustable in .45” increments with four positions. R.A.W. rifles that ship with American Built Arms furniture will also ship with an SBR*P pistol grip and Mod*X buffer tube.
The HM1000x Chassis Rifle fires from a rotary magazine that holds 12 shots in .22 and 17 in .177. The side lever cocking mechanism offers unmatched smoothness as well as hardened steel linkage ready for a lifetime of shooting. The trigger is a fully adjustable version of the TM1000 target trigger with an added safety catch and features polished and hardened steel parts for durability and smoothness.
The RAW HM1000x Chassis Rifle builds on the heritage of its forbearers while adding updated features that hunters and competitors have asked for, combining to create the pinnacle airgunning experience. Whether in the field or on the competition firing line, RAW delivers.
This week we have been busy working hard getting a bigger, better range of used Pistols for you to choose from, concentrating on producing our new used Pistol display wall, we have collected all our outstanding Pistols as well as adding additional new Pistols to the collection and displayed them in a area of the shop that will make it easier for customers to see them altogether, and to help you decide on the perfect used Pistol for your needs. And remember all our Used Guns and Pistols have been service, tried and tested by our Technician and come with a 3 month warranty.
Staff used Pistol Picks.
Josh
Josh’s favorite from the used Pistol wall has to be the good old, fail safe UMEREX GLOCK 17 GEN 4 always popular with the younger generation, but also loved by all. Nice to hold, nice to shoot, with the added bonus of realistic blowback action. Always a winner!
Ethan
Ethan has chosen his all time favorite of a mock shell, the COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY PISTOL, the good old Cowboy Gun that never fails to entertain old and young, whether you just love to spin the chamber or reload the shells, the classic design will never go out of fashion.
Karen
Karen’s pick this week has been the Beretta M92 FS with real wooden grip, an amazing looking Pistol with a nice realistic weight, As with all Beretta’s they are well designed and beautifully made, a great gun to shoot, a real must for the replica seeking Pistol owner,
Come down to see our new Pistol Display wall at Drapers Gun Center Hartley Road Nottingham or just come and have a good look round at our extensive stock range or a chat with our friendly team.
