Rowan AA S400 Retrofit Multi Shot Magazine Systems

Retrofit magazine systems are nothing new but usually more an afterthought or optional extra offered by the airgun manufacturer to address a need or just make more money! With the ever increasing popularity of HFT (Hunter Field Target), some buy a rifle dedicated to that purpose. The rules state when moving from firing positions, the gun should be seen to be unloaded and safe. This is one of the reasons certain manufacturers where quick off the mark to devise and make single-shot adaptors for HFT-favoured multi-shot PCP’s.

Comp to Field

So if you compete in HFT and also hunt and want to use the same gun, which is never a bad thing; the ability to easily swap from single shot (competition spec) to multi-shot role is attractive.
This is how Rowan Engineering Ltd came to design and produce retro-fit, manually-operated, multi-shot magazine systems in both calibres (otherwise stated) for the Air Arms S400 (as shown), S300 (.22 calibre only), S200, MPR, Brocock Hunter (.22 calibre only), the QB SMK XS and various older model single-shot Falcons. Reason the S200 version was devised, although Air Arms manufacture an auto-indexing, retrofit 10-shot unit, Rowan where swamped by airgunners/HFT competitors as theirs allows a scope to be mounted lower.

Here’s what you get: 1 X 10-shot, manually-operated magazine, securing bracket, 3mm Allen Key and lock screw. Fitting is easy! The securing bracket fits onto the rifles’ scope rail and sits in front/above the single-shot loading aperture. At this stage do not tighten up the securing screw.

Then pull back the bolt but not so far as to cock the rifle, then slide the magazine in from the left or right according to your preference. Or if you are using a scope with a big side wheel it will have to go in from the opposite side for obvious reasons. Now adjust the position of the bracket on the dovetails so that it doesn’t cause the magazine to ‘bind’ when inserting or removing.

Up and Under

When satisfied, tighten the bracket while holding it in position with the magazine in place – job done. The magazine is retained by two strong magnets and is removable for loading. Unlike other multi-shot drum mags for the various PCPs the Rowan version fills and operates a little differently.

With the magazine turned upside down place a pellet into the cradle - heads facing away from the exposed inner alloy drum. Fill up to nine pellets but leave the tenth position empty otherwise as you pick it up this one will fall out. Slide the mag back into the housing so it secures, then fully pull back the cocking bolt, this allows just enough room to place a pellet onto the gun’s loading tray.
Close the action to chamber the first round. Conversely you could just go with a load of nine and index the mag on-gun, which is a lot less fiddly; certainly in the field.

Pretty Good Overall

Once you’ve taken a shot, pull the bolt rearward and keep it there, then rotate the inner drum through the cut-out with the thumb of your leading hand and the next pellet drops onto the loading tray ready to be probed into the breech.

The multi-shot magazine operates well and the quality of engineering is faultless and the system -though manual - does not take a lot of getting used to. Rowan Engineering has a huge selection of retro-fit parts for many guns such as cocking bolts, barrel bands and the superb trigger unit seen in last month’s issue. Check out the website.

For: Well-made and effective
Against: Placing the 10th-round a little fiddly
Verdict: A cost effective and practical solution to upping the payload on a single shot rifle

PRICE: £59.95 + £2.95 P+P for any model mentioned. Spare magazines for any £39.45