by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
This report covers:
- AirForce Airguns
- What’s next?
- Hatsan USA
- Hercules Bully
- Price point Hatsan
- Sortie Tact
- Air Venturi
- A new IZH 61?
- Multi-pump
- One last thing!
Here we go! I go to these shows thinking that nothing can get me excited anymore, and that ends at the first booth, Today that happened before the show opened. AirForce Airguns has been keeping a secret for many weeks that they promised to reveal just before the doors opened.
AirForce Airguns
A few minutes before the doors opened, AirForce revealed that they are incorporating the Theoben Rapid line of PCPs into their lineup. Formerly known as Rapid Air Weapons (RAW), the Rapid lineup is on the cutting edge of pneumatic quality. The only drawback they have is the long wait time when an order is placed. AirForce will bring their manufacturing prowess to bear on shortening the lead time between ordering and shipping, while maintaining the high level of quality the brand has become known for.
The four models they will begin selling are the Theoben Rapid Mark II Plus, the HM 1000X, The HM1000X LRT and the BM 500. The previous owner, Martin Rutterford, will assist AirForce for the next several years to ensure the transition goes smoothly and that quality doesn’t change.
These four Rapid PCPs were in the AirForce booth on opening day. They look to streamline the manufacturing process while maintaining the level of quality that made the brand famous.
What’s next?
This announcement will no doubt create a thousand questions like, will they bring back the Theoben gas spring rifles? I asked that and was told everything is still in flux. The most important thing right now is to streamline the manufacture of the current models to meet demands. But I am assured that everything will be considered.
The AirForce booth was crowded, so I will return to cover their other models.
Hatsan USA
Hatsan will be offering an air compressor that looks similar to one we have seen. But this one has a digital gauge for setting the fill pressure.
Hatsan’s compressor looks familiar, but has some different features. The retail price will be around $1,300. In front is the Hatsan 3-stage hand pump that will be budget-priced.
Along with the compressor Hatsan will also be offering two new hand pumps. Their 3-stage pump has an MSRP of $120 and will realistically sell for around $100. The 4-stage pump has an MSRP of $150 and will sell for a little over a hundred. These should boost entries into the PCP world!
Hercules Bully
They have turned the Hercules big bore into a bullpup and given it a carbon fiber reservoir, shaving off 4 pounds of weight and considerable length.
Hatsan rep. Daniel Settle holds the new Hercules Bully — a much smaller and lighter big bore.
Price point Hatsan
Hatsan has joined the race for a budget-priced PCP with their new Flash. It generates the same energy as their AT44 for a price of under $300. Best of all — this rifle is lightweight! It weighs about 6 pounds and feels like a feather in your hands. I predict hunters will love it.
Settle holds the new Hatsan Flash — a price point ($300) PCP.
The Flash will also come in a bullpup configuration they call the Flashpup. The one I saw had a beech stock and weighed a little over 6 pounds, which is still quite light for a PCP.
Sortie Tact
You asked for a stock on the Sortie pistol and Hatsan listened. The Sortie Tact has a folding stock that can be detatched from the pistol. It won’t add much to the pistol’s price and it folds to the side when it’s not needed.
Hatsan Sortie Tact has a folding stock.
Air Venturi
Over at the Air Venturi booth I saw several new things. First was a double-barreled air shotgun called the Double Shot. It gets 4 powerful shots on a fill and a patent-pending switch controls which barrel will fire. Like the Wing Shot, this one will shoot shot, arrows and slugs.
Two breeches and two shots. The Double Shot is the first double-barreled air shotgun — I think.
A new IZH 61?
I also saw what amounts to a new IZH 61. It’s called the TR5 and it looks just like the 61, except this one has some new things like a groove for a rail attachment under the forearm. The butt now adjusts, too. It accepts 5-shot magazines and works just like the old 61 that many of you remember.
The TR5 looks and functions a lot like the IZH 61.
Multi-pump
The Dragonfly multi-pump is another new product in the Air Venturi booth. It’s a wood and steel multi-pump that harkens back to years gone bye. And, to answer your question, it only gets one shot when it’s pumped.
The Dragonfly is a retro-looking multi-pump.
One last thing!
You know how I said “they” are listening? Well, the last thing I will share with you is something I have asked for for many years. I will show you first.
Tyler holds an M1 Carbine. This one is airsoft, but I’m assured there will be a BB-shooter to follow.
Air Venturi has entered into a licensing agreement with Springfield Armory to produce replicas of their firearms. The first ones will be airsoft, but BB and pellet models will follow. The M1 Carbine shown here is extremely faithful to the firearm’s design and feel, and when it comes out as a BB gun, old BB will be right there.
That’s it for today. But tune in tomorrow. There will be more to see.
BB,
Hooray for the Multipump. Please let it be accurate and fairly reasonably priced.
Hope you get one to test soon
Jim
JimQwerty123,
I hate to rain on your parade but it looks like the MSP version of the Diana Stormrider. Probably came from the same factory too. Hopefully Air Venturi has been listening and have corrected the faults seen with the Stormrider.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I noticed the same thing. The barrel, receiver,bolt, muzzle brake,sights, trigger guard ,safety placement, size and type, and the stock up to the front of the trigger guard look as if they came right off my crappy stormrider. As for AV listening and assuring good quality., I wouldn’t hold my breath. If they are not going to have their employees right there in the inspection room in the plant in China, then they will have to settle for whatever quality they get sent. RWS made the same promise and if they couldn’t pull it off I question whether an upstart like Air Venturi can.
The pump assembly is obviously different, but this doesn’t have the suppressor that the Stormrider does. It’s pretty loud without one.
Taemyks,
My stormrider’s “suppressor” is just a muzzle brake. sounds the same with or without it on the barrel. There is no room inside for baffles.
Bummer. All the press made it out to have one. I got one for the lr700, and it is good.
I have one actually. It an Aremis lr700w.
Taemyks,
It looks exactly like the lr700w in the picture. Are you happy with yours and is it accurate. Any information would be great.
Obviously Air Venturi has been listening and picked up on the lr700w It has all the features I have been looking for. Lets hope for good quality control. Halfstep’s experience with the Stormrider has left a bad taste in my mouth.
Don
The one I got was straight Chinese imported from the EU. So I paid extra for the privilege. I had to do fairly extensive cleaning, and adjustment of the valve piston. I also made the cocking handle longer, you couldn’t pump past 4 or 5 pumps without crazy effort. But it is fun to shoot. The mag works perfectly. And after I messed with it it will meet the manufacturer specs with crossman premier pellets.
Jim,I’m with you on the Dragonfly.It could be what I’ve been hoping for many years:7lb.or less,wood stock,multi pump,accurate ,good power in .22 cal.,and straightforward to scope.
Now you have to watch ‘ol Mr.BB.He’s real sneaky ,and can talk around a secret forever.He told us the Dragonfly only gets one shot ;but I’ll bet he’s not telling us that we won’t have to pump it 8 to 10 times to get our next shot.Look at the size of that tank.I’ll bet it is AV’s affordable answer to Fx’s expensive Independence.Or like the modified Benjamin 397/392 with the telltale poppit .
Well,one can hope anyway.I’ll be dreaming about that one tonight.
Tin Can Man-
It’s a rebranded snow peak/Artemis lr700w. It is one shot. But with work it is a nice shooter.
BB,
Interested in the Double Shot…any intel on when it may be available? Looks like a prototype, and patent pending. Almost bought a Wingshot, but this looks awesome!
msurf,
Welcome to the blog.
Some materials absorb gas and some don’t. You need to get the right o-rings from this guy.
B.B.
B.B.,
I think you gave Msurf the info for LarryA over here, /blog/2016/09/crosman-600-air-pistol-part-1/#comment-411979
Mike
Thanks Mike
No problem, and don’t worry about the wrong thread but if you post to the current days blog more folks will see your comment. /blog// that link will take you to the current day.
Mike
Thank you Tom, sorry I posted in the wrong thread!
Msurf,
Perhaps April, Tyler said it at shot show, don’t hold me to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-YJxWK13aE
Mike
Well, there goes my tax return….
So on the M1, is it gas blowback or spring?
My guess since the first is airsoft, it’s either green gas or co2.
But if you are making a gas operated M1, you might as well make it an M2.
Twice the fun in 1 gun…
Maybe this is leading towards a gas or co2 M14, or Garand.
I know there are gas Garands out there, but they are very expensive.
And the electric M14’s are good looking, and extremely detailed, but they sound like a sewing machine..
Tell us about the Crosman SBR when you see it.
Thanks for the updates!
45Bravo,
The first one will be CO2. Then PCP.
B.B.
45Bravo,,
I have seen the SRB. The upper is Nylon. I will tell more after I talk to them.
B.B.
BB
Pcp is interesting.
Hope theM1A will be a wood stocked model not the short plastic pistol grip SOCIM version. Will it be pellet or bb?
Michaelr,
Give it time and all will be available. At least that’s the plan.
B.B.
45 Bravo
There is an Airsoft full-auto, blowback, green gas M14, modified for 500 FPS out there, but it’s over $400.
Bob M
All exciting stuff. Really. If I only was told I could buy one of all the guns you mentioned today I would have a very hard time deciding which one.
But one does grab my attention. And a little secret I almost bought one but I been waiting for just what BB said.
Yep the Sortie with the folding stock. I was trying to figure out what kind of shoulder stock I could get on the Sortie. But now this. I just got a soft spot for semi-auto guns. And the shoulder stock is the kicker for me. And it will even be .177 caliber. Yep definitely excited.
Now to wait to see when it will be available. That’s the hard part. Guess I’ll make it. Been waiting it out this long. 🙂
GF1,
They told me earlier than later. April?
B.B.
BB
Thanks. I hope even sooner. 🙂
BB
A while back I mentioned how Airsoft was making some great replicas and wondered why they didn’t just convert them to regular Airguns. Well that King Arms M1 Carbine was the one I was talking about. I have it already and a really outstanding G&G replica of the K98…. with a replica scope and mount !
I imagine the Garand and other replicas are just as good. They have real wood and CO2 mags. Did you catch the wide, double stack looking mag on the M1. Could use something like that for real ones.
I believe your reply was, Perhaps they are just not ready yet. Do you have a crystal ball?
Bob,
It’s just the way I have seen things go for the past 20 years.
B.B.
It is amazing now the metal firing replicas have been ignored . Every bolt action , lever action , single shot and semiauto is accurately reproduced , but next ito nothing inmetal firing reproductions
B.B.
Since Hatsan listens to you and not their other customers, please tell them to support their break barrels with parts and service better.
Thanks,
Yogi
Yogi,
That is a business decision. I can’t change their mind on that.
B.B.
B.B.,
Wow. Almost too much to comment on. Glad to see RAW get picked up. Faster service is always better. Glad to see Hatsan put out something light weight. No cheek riser? Hatsan has been real good on features like that. A side shot of that shotgun would be nice to see.
It is obvious that “they” are listening. I love the innovation and new products.
** Perhaps the single most important thing that I would try to impress on all the makers is customer service and parts availability, direct to consumer. That is highly valued. Print some exploded views, assign part #’s (which no doubt already exist), put it on line.
That is a HUGE factor when deciding my next purchase. I do not want to send my rifle in. I do not want to be told “NO, you have to send it to us” or “yes we have the parts, but we won’t sell it to you”.
Service, parts, direct to consumer. They don’t have that,.. then well,.. they probably will not be getting any of my money.
Just something to mention if the topic just happens to come up in your travels at the show. 😉 Have fun and take care.
Chris
Chris,
Umarex sent my Walther LGV back to me with a very nice (seriously, very pleasant) phone call and written evaluation that it was performing up to spec and that “All magnum springers vibrate and twang. That is normal for a gun of this power.” It sounds like a cross between a Canada Goose and joy buzzer.
I shot it twice and then tried a third time. The safety did not engage, the trigger does nothing, but it remains cocked. It’s been cocked for months.
Is it OK to ship a cocked and loaded air rifle? I didn’t even bother to call them back.
Michael
Michael
Chris,
Sorry. Semi-false memory. (See my posts below for an explanation.)
Michael
I never heard of anyone having the trouble you are with the LGV. you sent it back just because of some twang which I would have not done to have some minimum wage kid work on it. I bet is was very accurate before you sent it in
Mildot,
I sent it back because right out of the box new it twanged, buzzed and vibrated more than any other of my other 100+ springers, including my $39 Chinese Industry Brand sidelever. But according to Umarex USA, that is what Walther LGVs do, totally normal. If you turn up the volume on your headphones, this fellow has an identical one (including twang and buzz) to mine, and you can hear its action from 8:40 – 9:55. (Do fast-forward through to 8:40 as his music is loud and awful.) It’s actually a sustained, loud, “BINNG!” You’ll hear it clear as day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JPqfvHBEQc
I might not have found the right hold or pellet for it, but granting that, it was not as accurate at 10 meters as my TX200, tuned FWB 124, or HW77.
Michael
Actually, it goes on beyond 9:55 and is more of a “BINNGZZZ!” He also points out its lousy accuracy.
His other LGV lacks the buzz/twang and is accurate, if you keep watching.
His defective one, like my defective one, is .177. His non-defective one is .22. That of course has some role in smoothness and even accuracy (perhaps).
Michael
BB,
Thank you for the great report, I look forward to hearing more tomorrow.
Chris – I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!!! Parts diagrams and parts availability are a huge deal to me, too. And this definitely plays into any airgun purchase for me.
Gear Junkie,
If I want ANY part for an air gun, I want to be able to buy it,.. direct. Crosman seems to rule that “realm”, though not direct and on line. But,.. I can deal with a phone call,.. if it gets me what I am after. Simple as that.
There may be other brands that do pretty well,.. but I am just not aware of them.
I could be wrong, but I thought that Umerex was just a broker/importer. I did not think that they actually made anything. If I am wrong on that,.. then anyone and everyone,.. please feel free to correct me.
Me three, I don’t like disposable Airguns because I don’t consider my hard earned money disposable! I don’t mind spending money to be entertained, but can’t stand having to throw away an Airgun after the warranty is up because it needs a $2-$50 fix that I could do if I had the part. Things wear out, but it does not convey confidence in the overall quality to not have parts available! If Umarex doesn’t have enough confidence in their overall quality to support their customers WHY should I be one of them?
DanLK,
Very wells said. That is important to remember as we are all tempted with new air gun offerings from all directions. I feel strongly the same way, but tend to sometimes forget as new things come out. Thanks for the reminder to stick to my principals.
The way I see it if they won’t offer parts for repair they are saying it is really junk not worth repairing when it needs it!
Chris
I just have to agree with what you said. All very important stuff.
Chris
Just wanted to let you know I saw your spinner guards they’re similar to what I had in mind however I’m concerned that increasing the price point might be a turn off to some people. I found a beam style torque wrench and will test spinner arm strength later today and will be posting pictures tonight or tomorrow. Thank you for all the positive feedback.
Carl
Coduece,
Sounds good. I was thinking of just using Chairgun as a fpe reference and blasting away. If they hold up?,.. move them in closer. Do some point blank. Hit the bearing housing too and see what it can withstand. At what fpe,.. will hinder/stop bearing rotation? Direct hit, not a glance. If you know your fps, then Chairgun will give you the fpe @ what range. That would be good enough for me and manual notations/recommendations.
I am not sure how a beam torque wrench would directly apply to your test quest, but I guess that you have that figured out.
Looking forwards to your data findings. I have the bearing guards now, so no worries. I already pushed the 20 fpe limit. Heck, surpassed it. 0% issues.
ChrisUSA,
Well said! I wish I was as diplomatic…
-Y
BB,
AirForce is taking over RAW. I do indeed hope they keep the high quality. I would not mind if they brought back the gas spring line also.
I am not in the least bit surprised that they put a shoulder stock on the Sortie this year. It looks nice also.
OK, now let us see if “they are listening”. We need to see the Double Dragon .50 double rifle.
RR,
I hated the look of the Sortie before, but with the shoulder stock it looks much better to me. I don’t know why. Maybe it appears more balanced.
Michael
Michael,
Now it will be a fun little plinker. Most tempting.
Michael
To me the Sortie Tact resembles a bull pup. And the cool thing is with out the bull pup linkage trigger issues.
And the regular Sortie is around 4-3/4 pounds. So I bet the Sortie Tact will still be in the 5 pound range.
I think it should be a nice balanced little semi-auto.
I will keep my eye on that Bully. Really like the looks of the M1 also. 1:30 in the morning; take care of yourself and get some sleep BB! rk
B.B.
I have to fully agree with Chris about customer service. I had to send an airgun in for service last year. While the process with Sig service was painless it made me appreciate the availability of parts and information from other makers.
Gerald
B.B.,
I almost dropped my coffee when I saw that the M1 is finally going to happen! Do people do happy dances any more? If so, I’ll consider it (and I am a terrible dancer). Coincidentally, yesterday morning I just happened to dust off my ol’ Crosman M1 carbine and pop off a few shots out the back patio door before I left for work.
B.B., as it is beginning as an airsoft, I imagine the M1 carbine will never come out in a rifled pellet version, but still, very cool.
Michael
B.B.,
The Dragonlfy looks as though it has a huge air reswervoir for a multipump. Do you know how many pumps and max foot-pounds they claim?
Michael
Michael,
In the words of Sergeant Schultz, “I know nothing!”
B.B.
B.B.,
O.K., I’ll be the one to write it: the Hatsan BULLY? I get it; it’s a bullpup. Bully – bullpup. Clever. But it is also tone-deaf. Why not just call it the Hatsan Scut Farkus? Every morning (including this morning) I read of another teenager who has decided to stop living because her friends have been cyber-bullying her.
Slightly related, two days ago in a big box store I saw Crosman is selling the Vigilante under a different name, at least for Wally World stores.
Michael
Michael,
I think Scott Farcas was already taken my someone.
B.B.
B.B.,
“There he stood, between us and the alley . . . staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So help me, God! Yellow eyes!” ;^)
Jean Shepherd was an amazing writer.
Michael
B.B.
I saw Rossi’s American Airgunner Live video at the Umarex booth. He didn’t mention if Umarex has a prototype for a Glock replica on display at their booth.
If you can, please get us some information about the new Umarex Glock replicas.
I would also like to know if Umarex has plans to release the new Legends Cowboy Lever Action as a rifled barrel pellet shooter.
Charles,
There is no Glock prototype that I am aware of. Glock will not license their brand as far as I know, so maker stay away from it.
There is no way the Legends Cowboy lever action will be made in pellet. They already make the Walther lever action rifle.
B.B.
B.B.,
I read a press release a couple months ago announcing Umarex had obtained licensing from Glock, a major coup.
Michael
Did you not see this announcement?
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/industry-news/glock-airguns-coming-umarex-receives-glock-license/
Charles,
I probably saw it but it didn’t register.
B.B.
No Legends Cowboy pellet because the have the Walther lever? That’s is like a produce market making the decision not to sell lemons because they already sell oranges!
The shell ejecting and more faithful dimensions\shape of the stock make it much more desirable to a different taste, but if they aren’t going have customer support in wearable parts it is mute anyway. It sounds like they are listening, but just to hear what they want to.
Dan,
Or is it like discontinuing the Oldsmobile line because Buick and Pontiac were encroaching on it?
B.B.
Many Oldsmobile’s Pontiac’s and Buick’s parts would swap perfectly and were the same car competing in name only. This would be a better comparison between Cadillac and one of the three. A Chevy Caprice was a fine car but didn’t compete with the Cadillac Flettwood and they sold plenty of both. I would say also if they quit selling parts for Buick and Pontiac they wouldn’t be around much longer either. I realize a car cost way more than an Airgun, but the principle applies. If my one hundred or so Airguns all needed one part each that I could not get and thus became junk it would cost me about what a good used car costs.
BB, thanks for the pics; that M1 Carbine looks really cool! =D
B.B.,
I don’t know if you remember my (clearly defective) Walther LGV that sounds like a goose hinking.
I sent it to Umarex, they sent it back saying that higher powered Walther LGVs all vibrate and twang and that it was up to spec. I shot it twice. I then tried to shoot it a third time and the safety did not come on, the trigger would not pull, and it has sat for a few months in a corner loaded and cocked. (I got busy with my work and actually forgot about it until just now.)
Is it probably safe to send it to Umarex? Or, should I try to open up a cocked and loaded rifle as my first air gun disassembly?
Michael
B.B.,
Actually, you solved this for me back in November: /blog/2017/11/weihrauchs-hw55sf-part-3/#comments
Maybe I can do a guest blog on my opening it up and doing an exorcism on its powerplant! ;^)
I apologize for oversharing, but it might be I’m a bit PTSDed since hearing about the KY school shooting. For 45 minutes I had to lock down my classroom during an active shooter event (NOT a drill) awhile back, and these things affect me sometimes. It is VERY weird, and the symptoms are inconsistent.
Again, sorry for oversharing, but just writing the above helped immediately. This blog is a place where I feel I have friends.
Michael
Michael,
My brother has a Colt M4 in 22 lr that is imported by Umarex. It started going full auto and firing before the bolt was fully closed, so he sent it back to them. They returned it with a letter stating that they replaced a spring ( didn’t say which spring) and that it was tested and good to go. He didn’t get through the first mag before it did it again. He,s not going to send it back, so they win. In another comment I stated that I never even pay attention to warranty promises any longer. Your experience and my brother,s, along with many of my own, are the reasons why.
I think I remember BB suggesting to another reader with a similar problem to try recocking with more force or something like that.
Halfstep,
You recall B.B. giving that suggestion (and he was correct — it worked like a charm) to ME back in November. I’m having a rough day of sorts.
Michael
Michael,
I was pretty certain on both of those facts as well, but wasn’t quite sure enough to put it in print out there on the ol’ interweb. 😉 Now that I got your gun fixed again ( still ), how do I fix my brother’s M4?
Have a better remainder of your day!
Half
I just saw this interview with Sig Sauer’s Joe Huston at Hard Air Magazine.
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/exclusive-shot-show-interview-joe-huston-general-manager-sig-sauer-airgun-business/
The new pellet shooting Sig Sauer P226 X-Five with blowback is one pistol to watch for. I’m eager to read the reviews when it comes out.
Cstoehr,
The BB models are exceptionally accurate inside of 10 meters for a smoothbore. I will be interested to see how the pellet one turns out.
Michael
BB,
Isn’t the IZH 61 the gun that you have pointed out as one of the best deals in airgunning, until it was foolishly banned as a military weapon because it is manufactured in a Russian arms factory. If my memory is correct on that point and if this is essentially the same gun, how is it getting past the ban. “The Donald” didn’t get it overturned ,did he?
Idaho,
If your out there, that Hatsan Flash looks like another gun you’ll need to look at.
Halfstep,
I am suppressing an urge to uncork a muzzle velocity joke or two. :^)
Michael
Halfstep,
This one isn’t made in Russia.
B.B.
B.B.,
The Hatsan Flash looks like it will be more than a flash in the pan. Apparently, early testers are getting one in groups at 50 yards in .22 caliber. Two different testers decided on H&N Baracuda Extreme pellets (19.09gr) and H&N Sniper Magnum pellets (18.0gr).
The Flash will also be available in .177 and .25. As with numerous rifles, one caliber may prove more accurate than the others.
There will be plenty more about the Flash, but it does go on my current short list for my potential PCP rifle.
In other news, from someone not competing with PA, this episode of American Airgunner looks at a .82 (20mm) PCP and using helium as a PCP power source.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBT2V4_rrk
~ken
B.B.,
I read that Sig Sauer’s new break barrel ASP20 was designed with light cocking (for the amount of energy) in mind. I think that is potentially a big selling point manufacturers either ignore. Either that, or perhaps it is difficult to design such a mechanism. I always look for how difficult a springer is to cock. Actually, there are some CO2 air guns, such as the bang-for-buck champ 2240, that are difficult to cock.
Michael
Michael,
I cocked and shot it this morning. This is one serious breakbarrel! It has design features I have never seen anywhere. I can’t wait to test it.
B.B.
B.B.,
Crosman was on the losing end when it’s Chief Engineer went to work with Sig Sauer.
Siraniko
B.B.
What is the pistol on display in the Hatsan Bully photo?
Coduece,
It’s called the H1911. It’s a CO2 pellet repeater. Max vel. 435 f.p.s.
B.B.
B.B.
That sounds awesome very respectable velocity for a pellet pistol, hope it has adjustable sights.
Carl
B.B.,
I just got the news about the Benjamin Fortitude PCP. If last year was the year of the big bore, it appears 2018 is the year of the entry level tsunami. I am swooning but I will not jump in to the water without facts. The Hatsan Flash impresses; I hope the Fortitude does also. The trigger on the Flash is nice, apparently. The trigger on the Gauntlet is improvable. I hope this single stage trigger is both crisp and light. Of course, the rifle’s accuracy is paramount. With the right rifle and pellet, I will know it is I who am on target or not.
/product/benjamin-fortitude-gen-2-pcp-air-rifle-regulated?m=4569
~ken
Ken,
You took the words out of my mouth! This is the year of the entry-level PCP.
B.B.
B.B.
After looking at the Hatsan Bully pic I couldn’t help but think of Teddy Roosevelt who coined the phrase bully pulpit, and who might have said after seeing the gun, talk softly and carry the longest 1911 rail, no problem with eye relief there.
Was just about to order Umarex’s new 1894 rifle that uses SAA cartridges when I noticed it’s not out yet. Any sense of when it will be available or when you’ll evaluate it (in your spare time, of course :^>)?
Joe,
You must remember SHOT is a trade show for the wholesale community. I would expect to see the Cowboy Lever Action by July.
B.B.
B.B.,
Octagonal barrel, gold/brass-ish receiver and some sort of scoping rail and this would have been SOLD (to me). Like I said before, while the idea of ejecting shells is SUPER cool,.. I would prefer a bb feed tube, like some of the originals were. They might have over-thunk this one, but I also have a feeling that it will be a huge hit.
Chris
I love the idea of a WWII PCP replica. But I’ll tell you what I really want….a replica Girandoni, modern valve and tank, that I can take to rondevous….it would be so fun to stand toe to toe with some powder burners and surprise them!
Bej,
Replica Girardonis have been made, but they were quite expensive.
B.B.
Look up “Martin Orro” or “Girandoni” on the airgun yellow page. From what I’ve read, Martin Orro made a couple of Girandoni replicas and about 3 Lukens replicas. I believe one of the Girandoni’s was sold and the price was $15,000. At that price, we can only dream.
Brent