Sunday, 28 December 2014

Bear Grylls




Bear Grylls got quite a bit of stick for staying in hotels etc last year, but just watched his survival weekend with Ben Stiller and was fairly impressed. 
We now stock the full range of BG knives. From £35. Will be reviewing some of them soon, including the fixed blade with fire striker as we start our survival training courses.



Saturday, 20 December 2014

Evanix GTL480. Now in stock



Our first batch of the Evanix GTL480 Semi-auto air rifles are now in stock.

A few changes to the prototype that I have been playing with need to be noted.

1. A longer rear stock. This was reccomended to Evanix to make the gun more comfortable to shoulder. The extra length is weight negligible due to the aluminium frame construction.
2. The charging valve is now discreetly underneath rather than sticking out at the side.
3. The cheek piece is now more adjustable vertically.

Looks like I am stuck with the prototype version for myself....there's no way the boss is going to let me play with these. Price is £1599 with most already sold and awaiting collection. If you want one be quick!

Monday, 15 December 2014

Evanix GTL480S Air Rifle. First Shipment expected


After all the fun I've had with the prototype, it looks like the final models are set to arrive at the shop ready for Saturday. Thanks to everyone who put down a deposit to help us get the ball rolling on these.  

Saturday, 6 December 2014

Rat shooting with the Evanix GTL480 and a Nite Site

I've really enjoyed playing with the prototype UK version of the Evanix GTL480. It's semi auto function has been great on the rats. (See my first review here)

Previously I had been using a Hawke foregrip with LED light and laser combo, now it's time for something else.

NiteSite have recently bought out their new range of night vision scope attachements. Unlike others these output to a monitor that sits on the top of the scope and actually gives you the scope picture. It's quite a strange way of shooting, rather than looking down the scope it's heads up looking at the monitor. Our first thought was that this was going to be awkward, but after getting used to the positioning it's really easy to use.

The set up looks quite top heavy as well, but it's actually a very light weight bit of kit and barely noticable.

It takes a little bit of adjustment to get the scope picture right, but with practice the whole unit can be fitted in minutes (Nite site claim 1 minute, but I have yet to do this)

The picture on the monitor is clear and the IR torch at the front of the screen lights up a huge area. It is also adjustable so you can get the light level right on screen.


Lazy Shooting

A couple of our customers volunteered to come out and test the whole set up rat shooting down at my chicken pens. They both agreed that it is very 'lazy shooting'
You can take a nice seated position, watch the screen and drink beer (which is exactly what we did).

Again the semi-auto action was well recieved and the accuracy so good that no one realised that the barrel was in fact smooth bore.

It would be better perhaps to have a bipod or shooting stick at the front of the gun for this type of shooting. Maybe even a table or stack of boxes so you can be even more lazy!







Stock picture to show image

The image you get on the monitor is as good as it gets. I would like to have shown one that we were using but forgot my output leads. The nite site viper doesn't have a recording facility itself but does allow you to plug in external recording devices with a 3.5mm jack.





It was quite cold last night with frost forming before midnight, and we were all impressed that this didn't affect the batteries on the Nite Site or on the gun.

The monitor allows for 'back seat shooting'. We sat behind watching as the targets were lined up. The rats were not being co-operative last night and were mocking us, ducking under a ridge and behind some boxes. Despite the coaxing ("Come on you little $%8*....out you come), it took a while to get them.

Anyway. The cold killed my camera batteries so no video, but we will be going out again soon as there are always rats down at my chicken coops.

Thanks to Graham and Tom for coming out and having a laugh.

Nite Site Viper is available now. 

Evanix GTL480S. We have a small delivery coming into the UK hopefully before Christmas. If you want one put your deposit down quickly.

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Nitesite on the Evanix GTL480


So it seems I'm going to be allowed to use the Evanix GL480 semi-auto air rifle a bit more. As I like to test new kit, I have mounted a Nitesite Viper on top of it. This makes it a failry heavy gun!
GTL480S by Evanix with Nitesite Viper
It works by fitting a tv camera to the scope and a small monitor to the top of the scope.
This gives the scope picture on the screen. At the front of the screen is an IR lamp that the camera can pick up and this is what provides the illumination.

Typical picture on the screen with a bunny.



It was quite tricky to set up initially as you have to focus the camera and play about with it to center everything, however once done it seems quite stable.

Things I'll be investigating next week:
Battery life
Range of use
Accuracy
Comfort of use (you shoot with your head up looking at the screen)
Ease of use.


It does make the gun look pretty mean and even more space age than it was to start with. More to follow




Saturday, 22 November 2014

Crosman Pumpmaster 760 Pink -Girlie gun!


More and more younger girls seem to be getting interested in shooting (mine is only 5 years old and is having one of these for Christmas having played with one at a friend's house) and whilst it doesn't have to be in pink, it does seem to be the colour they like at these ages....The princess rifle is what she calls it. Having had lots of families in the shop recently we decided to get some new things in stock.

Crosman claim to have sold 12 million of these since the 1960's so it is a tried and tested model.

This is the Crosman Pumpmaster 760
760p

So for £69.99 what do you get?

First of all it's fairly well built but is very much plastic in its construction. Don't expect to be throwing it around and it too last too long. Having said that, at this price it is to be expected and provided you treat it right it shouldn't break. The plastic construction also makes it really light and easy to hold.

The internal resevoir holds 200 metal BBs and is easy to fill, with a button that locks them in position once filled. Alternatively you can use the 5 round rectangular manual feed magazine and fire .177 lead pellets.

 760p_6

Pumping is fairly easy up to 3 or 4 pumps (Kids can do it). This is more than enough for plinking. If you want to use a higher ftlbs for pest control, then you simply pump it 10 times, It does get harder to pump as you go, which is no bad thing if you want to stop the kids using anything too lethal. Anything more than 10 and there is a pressure release valve to prevent it going over the UK limit of 12ftlbs and to stop it from breaking.

A simple cocking mechanism loads a BB with a magnetic 'grabber' to ensure it loads snugly. It's then ready to fire. It also has a manual safety switch on the trigger guard. The trigger itself isn't too bad and the whole thing works well with the iron sights. No jams or any problems after 50 shots.
738613


It has mounts that can take accessories such as a scope and Crosman also do it in black if the pink isn't your thing.

760b


Compare this with a CO2 or standard break barrel air rifle and you will be dissapointed, but with the pumping system you are allowing kids to charge it themselves easily and the cost of not buying cartridges is also quite welcome.
As a first airgun for the under 12's this is a really nice gun. (or just something for us to play with in the garden!) 

These are in stock at A Different Calibre.

Remember to teach safe shooting under supervision, these are not toys and children shouldnt be left alone with them.

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Evanix Max ML


Thanks for all those that have shown an interest in the Semi-Auto Evanix GTL480. Whilst being an awesome air rifle, a lot of people have been asking if there's something similar available at a lower price. Not in semi-auto at the moment but if it's the styling you are looking for then carry on reading.

The Rainstorm Bullpup was brought in by AC Guns of Hastings a while ago and was covered in a number of airgun magazines. It is a great piece of kit, but has been reviewed a lot so here is something along those lines but a bit different in it's styling.
The Max ML. I have no idea how Evanix choose names for their guns, it all seems a bit random, but it is what it is and maybe they translate better in Korean.

Evanix Max ML with synthetic stock.
















At first glance the scope seems a bit on the high side, however in use it is very comfortable. It has a weaver rail for this purpose, so you wont be able to use 'standard' 9-11mm mounts but this does give a nice secure grip.

The UK version is at sub 12ftlbs but can be ordered in FAC if you have a license. It can be in .177 or .22 at the moment with most buyers opting for the .22 version. Other versions available in Korea and the USA at the moment include a semi-auto 9mm and .357 version but won't be here anytime soon.

The fully shrouded barrel means you don't really need an additional silencer, this gun is all about its short length, but if required the front cap unscrews, (I found a BSA R-10 silencer is a perfect fit). 

It has Evanix's standard side lever cocking action which like all of their models, cycles the 10 shot magazine nice and smoothly.

The shot count is officially 170 for a UK .22, however I found I was getting slightly more than that out of the nicely fitted cylinder which also has a built in air gauge. The trigger pull measured at just under 6lbs with the weight of the gun without a scope is 8.59lbs (3.9 Kg) which sounds heavy but in it's short design is very acceptable.

The ML is also rigged to take other additions such as a foregrip and adjustable rear stock. (AC Guns have been experimenting with these as shown below from their Facebook page.... I have just used it as standard.).

The synthetic version of this gun is priced at £750 whilst the walnut stock will cost you £900. Personally I prefer the synthetic tactical look and feel that paying extra for wood is not worth it, however I am sure that some people will like the look and feel of it.
A Walnut stock version is £900.


Contact us at A Different CalibreInfo@adifferentcalibre.co.uk if you are looking in the Hertfordshire or surrounding counties for one, or our suppliers near Hastings can be contacted directly if you are too far south from us at AC Guns.


Max ML with silencer, bipod and foregrip
Additional adjustable butt pad.

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Rats

This mild wet weather we are having has led to an increase in the numbers of rats about. This is largely due to them breeding more but also all of the food that's available in our chicken pen.

I have already had 2 chickens killed in the past 2 weeks by them overnight and a lot of eggs have been taken, so not best pleased.  The most effective way to get rid of them would be poison but with all of our dogs running around and the livestock I'm not too keen on this method. Besides which poison just doesn't seem very humane and after a while they become resistant to it.

Shooting of course is the answer!

 Rats may sometimes seem harmless and cute, but they can cause all sorts of damage and spread diseases, not to mention eating my chickens and eggs!

We really don't want to see these in the pen either!! CLICK HERE





An airgun’s limited power and quiet operation mean it can be used for safe and discreet control of pests that pose a threat to other, more vulnerable, species, especially in confined areas where the use of a shotgun or rimfire rifle would be too risky, or too noisy. In the confines of our chicken pen an airgun is by far the most suitable weapon to use.

Fortunatley our run backs on to large fields (Which we have permission to also shoot over). This means we don't have to worry about a backstop as much.
It’s not always so simple. If your shooting in your garden and it has only has hedging or flimsy panel fencing for boundaries you must ensure that the pellet doesn't leave your property. Safety first. In this case, you either need to put up a temporary measure such as a paving slab, or ensure that the angle that you shoot at is downwards into the ground.
As the weather isn't great, to start with, we have put down a couple of live capture traps. This means that the rats will be shot whilst in cages. Not very sporting but we need to thin the population out a bit. You must check the trap at least every 24 hours and the only safe and humane way to get a kill is by shooting (not by throwing the cage into a water butt as someone suggested!) For this purpose I use a Benjamin Trail NP Air Pistol. It doesn't require any CO2 cartridges etc as it is a break barrel nitro piston and has enough kick to get the job done humanely. It also means I can have it in my tool bag and check the traps when I want to. Also I'm not carrying a rifle around the farm with me all day.

I'm hoping next week to get out and shoot with the air rifles if the weather clears up a bit (Dont like shooting in the rain). More to follow.
Benjamin Trail NP £120


Saturday, 11 October 2014

BSA Gold Star Air Rifle


The BSA Gold Star PCP air rifle will be in stock soon. This is priced at £899 and suitable for both target and hunting purposes. We like the 'Union Jack' stock, so will have that one in the shop in November for you to look at.


Friday, 10 October 2014

Daystate Wolverine Forester

Daystate Wolverine Forester

This is the limited edition from Daystate. Only 170 made worldwide. Out of that number only 20 are in the bottle version and out of those only a few have the thumbhole stock.

Check out the Airgun gear show's first look video below. 


We have these in stock now at the standard Daystate price of £1600.
http://www.adifferentcalibre.co.uk/new-air-rifles/daystate-wolverine-forester-c-detail

Friday, 3 October 2014

Laser night sight


New product came in today and I've been given one to play with!

The ND3 laser system is a new idea in lamping/night vision. Using a high power wide beam adjustable laser.

Looking forward to getting out with it next week.


Thursday, 2 October 2014

October give-away.



October's prize draw on facebook. Like and Share for a chance to win a mini-led torch.
10 to give away this month. Once the post reaches 500 views.

https://www.facebook.com/ADifferentCalibreLtd 

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Jack Pyke



Our new Jack Pyke range arrived today. We are slowly bringing in new product lines, those of you that have been in the shop recently will have noticed a big change in our gun and accessories range.

As a introduction to this range we are offering special prices well below the RRP.

See our website for details.
www.adifferentcalibre.co.uk 

Thursday, 25 September 2014

Wax Jacket Sale


Our wax jacket sale starts tomorrow through till Saturday......and yes I am aware that Friday is the 26th not Saturday.

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Been a busy few days in the shop with lots of interest in the GTL480 (just few more orders needed so we can get them in). Lots of people have been looking at our second hand air rifle range and our new selection of targets are really popular.


Rev. Maynard Buttriss wins this month's Facebook draw.
Don't forget to Like and Share on our page to enter next month.

We will be having a 'zombie' related promotion in October for Halloween, lots of freebies to give away with gun purchases, keep an eye on our website and facebook page for details.

We will be out on the pest control again this week, so hopefully some new photo's and videos of us in action. 



 Here's a quick tour of our shop. We only have a small outlet but we are well stocked and can always get things in from our warehouse if needed. We are already taking orders for Christmas! Don't leave it till the last minute if you want us to get in something for you.

We are also now on Pintrest and are looking for any photos of our customers out shooting to put on our social media sites. Let me know if you have any good ones you would like to share with the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire shooting community. info@adifferentcalibre.co.uk.

Sunday, 7 September 2014

Evanix GTL480 semi auto air rifle.



UPDATE:  These are no longer being imported into the UK. 

We have a few of these left but are 'sold as seen' with no warranty etc as Evanix UK are no longer importing.


Contact us here

The new version has a longer stock and the valve is now discreetly underneath instead of out to the side. Please refer to the new photos at the end of the review.
Please get your orders in if you want one as our last batch sold out very quickly.

Out and about with 'my' Evanix GTL480 Semi-Auto air rifle. I 'borrowed' the demo model of this gun we have in the shop and I have to say I am fairly impressed.

In the UK we are not legally allowed to have semi-auto rifles of any type, except in .22 rimfire (as in bullet firing). However we are allowed to have them if they have a smooth bore. Strangely (according to BASC) it would seem that it isn't illegal to own a rifled version, but it is to sell them. Figure that one out for yourselves. Working with our suppliers at AC Guns in Hastings we had Korean company Evanix make up this especially to be legal for the UK market.

Evanix GTL480S Semi Automatic Air Rifle

The styling is very military, almost 'starship troopers' or 'aliens' in it's looks. This might not be to everyones' taste but you soon forget about it when using it.
Not quite a colonial marine's weapon.

The smooth bore barrel doesn't seem to make much difference regarding accuracy. I was getting good groupings at 30 yards with no problems and provided you want this gun for close pest control and plinking it will serve you well. Obviously with the smooth bore you will get 'flyers' but this was acceptable (see my accuracy report below).  I can't see many serious target clubs allowing this to be used, but it really isn't built for that market.

Please be aware that some RFD's are claiming that semi-auto with a rifled barrel is okay to sell. Our legal team and importers have checked this with the home office and BASC and this is not the case.

Do you really need semi-auto?
For most of the shooting I do, a semi-auto isn't required at all and I would assume that for most airgunners, the same is true. This gun comes down to want rather than need! In short, this is a fun piece of kit to use. Evanix also make the GTL in full auto...but not legal in the UK in any guise I'm afraid.
The action on this is very smooth, it is cycled by an electro-mechanical system with the battery  capable of 4000 shots before needing a recharge (Mains pack supplied with the gun).

The GTL has numerous accessory rails for attachments such as sights and lights. I have mounted a Hawke laser/torch combo foregrip on this one for fast action rat shooting which works really well. The laser also allows rapid firing from the hip (frowned upon by the more 'mature' members of our shop team but good plinking fun!)

Currently I have a BSA Majestic 6.5-20x44 scope mounted. This has a 30mm tube and the light gathering ability is more than adequate for evening shooting. The LED light is good and goes out to 150 yards with no issues. The red laser combo is a nice idea, but it takes a bit of effort to zero it in. We zeroed the laser at 20 yards for close action but I found the light of more use.



There's a video of this in action on our website and youtube channel , although this is made by Evanix and shows the rifled version.

 I'll be putting some video of this one in use up soon on some targets and on some pest control (rats) as soon as possible to give you a better idea of what it is capable of.

Weighing in at 3.9Kg, this is not  light gun despite being fairly short and compact, but it is fairly well balanced and with the added foregrip gives a stable platform. It works equally well using a bipod and the quick release screws on both means a change can be made in minutes and without tools.
Evanix have done a really good job with the composite air bottle to reduce the weight and the big bottle is needed (at least when you first get it) due to the large amounts of pellets you will unleash.

The stock and frame are made from aluminium to help with the weight and this means you don't have to worry about rust. The magazine holds 10 pellets in .22, which I find is adequate, but to begin with you do tend to fire as fast as you can so will run out quickly. I found that BSA Storm Pellets worked perfectly well as do Crosman pointed.

The big 480cc bottle will do you 300 shots before needing a refill. (Evanix states 60 but the UK version is rated at 12ftlb so does a lot more.) Filling off a dive bottle is easy enough, the valve is on the underside of the gun and uses the same push fitting as most UK Daystate air rifles. The pressure gauge is accurate. I found a noticable drop with the pellets as the pressure was towards the lower end as many air rifles do.
Side filling valve -Note Redesign 2015
valve is now underneath.

The magazine holds 11 pellets and can be loaded from either side of the gun. It is a bit fiddly to load and you need to use something to seat the pellets properly (end of an allen key is fine). Having said that the mag rotates freely to allow easy loading and I haven't found it all that of an issue having to push them in slightly. I didn't have any issues with the magazine when he gun was in use, it all works nicely with no jams.
Evanix do make a double magazine for 22 pellets however they are not yet available in the UK.
Electric off switch.


It has two safety buttons, one is the electric on/off switch in red, the other is a standard trigger locking switch. A story doing the rounds is that a technician at Evanix put his finger in the breech and the gun fired on full auto. As it's auto cycling the air pipe that pushes the pellet into the barrel acted like a hole punch on his finger! It might well just be a story or some Korean urban legend but either way it's something to be aware of.
The battery pack is easy to get to. The rubber end of the stock pulls away and it just slides out ready to be recharged. 


Battery slides out no problem

Overall length is 915mm, you can put an additional silencer on the end as well, but I found that the already shrouded barrel works very well considering how short it is. The two stage trigger is fairly good but isn't adjustable and neither is the stock length, which is a shame as other Evanix rifles such as the Sniper do have these features. The trigger linkage however is smooth enough for accuracy, has a good tactile response and goes off at under 3lbs of pressure. It has quite a short trigger pull but there isn't any noticable delay in it's response once you hit the second stage, which has been an issue on some electro-mechanical actions on other airguns. Notably though it does take a few shots to get used to the whiring noise by your head, as the first stage pull cycles the mag and the second fires off the pellet.

Accuracy
The pictures below are of a standard 'small' competition target with 'splash' marking when hit.

Our first target shown here is us zeroing for the first time. You can see the first two shots that were to the left moving up, followed by a higher tight grouping after adjustment. This was then taken down for the second grouping clustered in the black. These shots were taken at 30 yards firing slowly.

GTL480S Zeroing and scope adjustment
The second target shown is rapid fire action of all 11 pellets in one go, again at 30 yards. The grouping is still pretty good, but started to go wide towards the last few.  First shots are towards the bullseye with wider ones towards the end of the magazine. I was fairly pleased with this, it being my first go with it. Out on the pest control you would never need to fire off this many shots in such a short space of time, so if multiple hits and 'next target' shots are what you want then this will work really well for rapid fire of 2 to 3 shots. Again this comes down to what you want the rifle for. As yet we haven't tested it for longer ranges, will try to get that on video in the next week or so.

GTL480 on rapid fire -All 11 pellets in one go.
The current price is £1599 and we now have these in stock at our shop in Letchworth. Please be aware that we cannot send these out by mail order.

As for GTL480S.....well the 480 refers to the size of the 480cc air bottle. The S is for Semi-Auto. The GTL? Giant Tactical Lightweight would be my guess but feel free to make up your own name.

We have had a bit of time to use it out on pest control, now that the crops have been cut we are getting a fair few rats pushed our way. Here's a few pictures of Andrew. He has his hood up as we really thought it would be unfair for his face to detract from the rifle...?!....Video to follow soon on our youtube channel.

Andrew in the woods shooting right handed for once. It works fine for both left and right handed shots.

Hawke forgrip with laser/torch combo on the front.

Andrew shooting left handed is more usual for him.

Rainstorm Bullpup -An alternative
For those who like the 'futuristic' styling but are on a tighter budget and don't need/want the semi-auto feature, the Rainstorm Bullpup  at £699 would be a good alternative, this is a side lever action multi-shot and has had excellent reviews in some of the airgun magazines.This also takes a front mounted fore-grip or bipod.


If you like the Evanix actions but prefer a more traditional looking gun then there is the Blizzard S10 or the Windy City.

Overall the GTL is a good, well made, fun air rifle but it won't suit everyones' taste and won't suit every airgunner's shooting 'methods' either. Although Andrew (the boss) who prefers a more traditional long range rifle enjoyed using it...and he shoots left handed, so it is ambidextrous.

If used as intended it is an excellent piece of kit and I am certainly going to use it out in the field more (if I'm allowed).

Rats don't stand a chance with the semi-auto action.

Pros
  • Semi-automatic
  • Responsive trigger
  • Large air capacity
  • Easy to fill
  • Military styling*
  • 2 way safety system
  • Lots of accessory rails
  • Quiet 
  • Ambidextrous
  • Accurate for pest control
  • Additional silencer available 
Cons
  • A bit on the heavy side.
  • Smooth Bore
  • 'Flyers'
  • Military styling*
  • Lack of adjustment
  • Not a target rifle.
  • Price 
NEW NOTES ETC:
For those asking the modifications for the new model are shown below. A longer rear stock is much more comfortable and the underside valve is much more discreet. It is only available in .22 calibre and cannot be tuned to 'fac' power legally.

2015 model Evanix GTL480 Semiauto air rifle .22
 A Longer Stock and adjustable cheek piece
Filling valve and gauge now underneath.





 
This video shows the semi auto action on Evanix GTL480



A general overview.



Saturday, 30 August 2014

A Busy weekend

Pigeons and rats in gardens seem to be what everyone wants to get rid of at the moment. We can't get our break barrel airguns in quick enough.

The Gamo range seems especially popular, starting at only £129 for the basic Whisper X. Remember that if you are going for pigeons you will need pellets with a slight point on them and even then if you hit them square on in the chest you'll probably just end up with a load of feathers. The front crop acts like armour! For rats we find the best bait is actually peanut butter. They can't run away with it and stay still allowing for more clean and humane head shots.

Our air pistols have sold well this weekend, again the cheaper options being the most popular. The Crosman Vigilante is now our best seller. Get out while it's not raining and plink away at some cans and targets.  Hopefully the weather is going to improve for next weekend and I'll finally be able to get some video shots of the Evanix GTL480 in action.
Gamo Whisper X £129

Wednesday, 27 August 2014

August


So we have finally managed to drag our shop into the 21st century, kicking and screaming as some of us prefer to be out in the field than be indoors using a computer. Our new website is now up and running and we will be continously updating you on our facebook page (amongst other online places) of all our new products and second hand guns as they come in.

Please have a browse online, the mail ordering system should go live soon (just a few more bits to put in place as it takes time to train the more 'mature' members of staff on using the system).

Our website can now be accessed through www.diffcal.co.uk although all of the other addresses will direct you to it as well.

Now that we have revamped our airgun and targets selection (new exploding firebird targets are great fun!) our next task is to look at our clothing lines. We should be getting in some good brands in the next few months.

Christmas orders...... I know it is a long way away but it always seems to come around quickly. We are already taking orders for presents! We are happy to keep your item in our store room until you are ready to hide it at home. We will be putting together some well priced deals on airgun packages that will make ideal presents for the novice shooter. Please be aware that we don't hold everything on our website in stock in the shop as we simply haven't the space, some orders are sorted from our new warehouse.

That's about it for now. I'm currently writing a few new articles for the blog; one on the upcoming pheasant season as we've been out with a local gamekeeper.

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

BSA Airguns The 'Tens'

A Different Calibre talk about their experiences with the BSA 'Tens'


The BSA Superten was their first pre-charge pneumatic that offered a bolt action multi-shot action. It won several awards and was one of the first PCP airguns that I ever used back when it came out in 1996.

The Mark 1 was a solid piece of kit and I spent many hours out in the field doing pest control wrapped up in my camo thinking I was some sort of special forces operative. At the time I had only ever used a 'break barrel' so for me this was new territory and very exciting to be using what I considered to be a 'proper gun'.


These are still available second hand (from around £300 for a good one) and I would still reccomend them as an all round airgun for anyone on a budget. Second hand models seem to be as accurate as ever provided you get one that has been looked after (watch out for rust!) They do tend to need their seals replacing every now and then, but this isn't a difficult or expensive job to do, the gun is fairly simple in it's operation.

The Mark 2 and 3 versions were essentially the same gun but with a more lightweight and slightly differen shaped stock, The stocks are actually interchangable on most Supertens regardless of version. Many people didnt like the air bottle system, finding a fixed cylinder to be easier to handle, however I liked the fact I could unscrew the bottle and get it refilled without having to carry my gun around on my bike (or get asked for ID in the gun shop). The bottle provides around 150 shots per fill as minimum.
 
It wasn't until 2003 that the 'bull barrel' version came out, the Mark 3
stock being very popular. This much shorter rifle whilst a bit on the heavy side was not as unwieldly as the full length rifle with the lengthy silencer. However I personally never found the shrouded barrel to be all that effective, although others have commented that I am wrong......

In 2005 BSA brought out the special edition of these to celebrate 100 years of them making air guns.

In 2007 the Scorpion T-10 was launched. This gave BSA much more variety in their range having a cylinder air system rather than a bottle. The T-10 to my mind was never as good as the Supertens, they just didn't have a solid feel to them and with the introduction of the R-10 in 2008 it was soon surpassed.

The R-10 had a sleeker look and was very popular, we had huge demand for these and friends who had them found they could take their shots out just a little bit more than I could with my old Superten. This too was soon to be replaced in 2011 by the Mark 2 version.

Everyone seems to really like the look and feel of the R-10, but BSA seem to keep on bringing out new versions.



 
This year the limited edition Tactical Carbine version came out. These sold out very quickly and all reports I have had suggest that is the best version yet being very accurate and amazingly lightweight.  A small number of these were made with walnut stocks as well, they are extremly good looking guns. (See below)



'Is it worth the £780 price tag?'  Possibly not if you already have a good PCP that does the job you want it to do, however for those looking for a first PCP air rifle, you really can't go wrong with these, especially if you are looing for a 'traditional' rifle. BSA have certainly spent a lot of time and research into devloping this gun and the build quality and grade of wood used are excellent.

Out of all the air rifles I get to play with, I still really like my old heavy weight Superten mark 1, it just has a more positive feel to it, but perhaps this is me thinking back to my teenage years sniping at the rabbits on the farms. (that and i tend to be the 'chuck it in the back of the landrover' type of shooter so perhaps I shouldn't have an expensive gun to use!)

Reccomended set up for the gun above is with a harris extendable bipod and BSA Essential Mildot 6-24x50 scope and using BSA storm or elite pellets. (We are currently trying out the Red and Blue star pellets.. will let you know how I get on with them)

BSA have now released the woodland and black versions of the R-10 with a .25cal version coming out towards the end of 2014. Not sure how popular that will be, but many airgunners do seem to slowly be using the .25 pellet at shorter ranges. Time will tell.

Info on these air guns can be found at www.bsaguns.co.uk and don't forget to check out our latest stock in both new and second hand guns at www.diffcal.co.uk