Air Arms XTi-50

Well, here we are. Surely one of the most eagerly awaited airgun launches ever. Rumours, false dawns, and delays, we’ve had it all. I remember seeing the prototype back at the BSS 2020, just before a global pandemic took hold. With the inevitable hit on the economy, supply chains, and just recently the threat of World War III, you really couldn’t make it up! Anyhow, Air Arms’ brand new flagship model, the XTi-50, is now in production, and the first few are finally finding their way to dealers worldwide.

Stunning

Given the not-inconsiderable RRP, Air Arms take the view that it’s safer to send them out in a padded hard case. Inside, we get neatly packed sections of palm grip, test details, a filling adaptor, Allen keys, and instructions.

The XTi-50 is a top-flight competition single-shot PCP that’s designed to offer every feature and refinement deemed necessary to winning silverware, and with Air Arms holding an incredible record of wins in outdoor tournaments, be that HFT or FT, it’s fair to say they have the necessary experience. They’re also known for listening to feedback, and the final production XTi-50 is the result of extensive field testing.

Options aplenty

Two versions of this model are available - the HFT (on test), and the Field Target version, but bear in mind the price differential is just £100. The FT spec includes a spirit level bubble in the windicator arm, an extended under-arm butt hook section, a high scope rail, and an extra high cheekpiece riser bar. Everything else is the same.

The stock looks particularly flash in the Orange Laminate, but there is an option for Black Laminate, and a limited edition, Red Laminate. Air Arms are talking of an ‘action only’ option further down the line too, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Strike the pose

The full target stock configuration offers an amazing level of adjustment, and Air Arms have responded here, primarily to demands from the FT circuit, so the butt assembly, and cheekpiece riser, get large knurled wheels for quick adjustment. Look to the butt hook assembly, and the quality of components just stands out, with plenty of grip incorporated on the contact points. Individual pieces can be added, and everything is individually adjustable, plus the entire assembly can be moved up or down via another quick adjustment lever. It all sits on a ball joint too, so it really is an ‘every which way’ design.

The cheekpiece is again mounted on a ball joint, and with lateral adjustment possible with the cheekpiece itself, this is another all-encompassing setup. Nowhere is stock fit more important than the grip section, and here, Air Arms has learnt from the FTP900 predecessor. A much shorter grip as standard, then two spacers and the bottom palm plate. Pick your preferred permutation, then tweak up the two bolts. Job done.

Integral hamster

A key feature of the XTi-50 is the stock raiser/hamster mechanism, which is neatly recessed in the underside of the forend. The quality of design and machining here is genuinely breathtaking. Strength and durability were a key part of the brief, and the result is a ‘one touch’ system, offering a drop-down, multi-positional support at the press of the spring-loaded button. Just swing it down and angle as required, then release the button to lock the mechanism. For Field Target shooters, this means tricky high tree targets can be navigated with ease. Of course, with HFT, rules dictate that we cannot make adjustments during the shoot, so the XTi-50 has that covered too. Just lower the Hamster, lock at the first vertical plane, and this remains HFT compliant, measuring 140mm between the centre of the barrel and the hamster base. Rules set a max of 150mm for the record.

I’m surprised that the HFT version didn’t get a much simpler raiser to be honest, given the rules negate much of the functionality, and it could have saved considerable weight. As it stands, it’s hard to fault the build quality and functionality.

Full specification

As this is the new flagship model, unsurprisingly there’s a plethora of on-board features. For a start, the cylinder is constructed from titanium for strength and to keep weight down. There’s a new design of regulator, a side-mounted manometer, and a specially commissioned match-grade Lothar Walther barrel. This, I’m glad to say, is properly floating, as in no contact whatsoever at the muzzle. There’s also a sleek air stripper, which features an adjustable cone, complete with a marked scale. For those unfamiliar, this device is designed to strip away turbulent air as the pellet exits the barrel and enters the cone. Factory set with a 4mm gap between the barrel and the lip of the cone, it is micro-adjustable, ideally to suit different pellets.

Once more into the breech

That curvaceous receiver perfectly shows off Air Arms’ CNC skills, and there’s a proportioned side-lever, spring-loaded for the first part of travel. Subsequent cocking effort is easy and smooth, and I love the way the probe closes and backs off at the last minute, thus applying consistent pressure to the pellet. Look closely, and there’s a series of holes around the probe, and these are evidence of yet another refinement - an adjustable, mechanical energy absorption device, to rival the ‘stabilizer’ systems fitted by the likes of Steyr and Anschutz. The idea is that even the movement of the pellet can be compensated for. Everything is set at the factory, and full instructions for adjustment are in the book. It’s simply a measure of the level of detail on offer with the XTi-50.

There’s a full-blown and fairly familiar, fully-adjustable 2-stage match trigger, complete with a button blade. This, as you would expect, is capable of super light release weights.

Fit & feel

Whichever way you look at it, this model is still fairly weighty, but the HFT version tips the scales at 9.9lbs, which is less than some of the prototypes. What I will say is, it’s pointless investing in such a glamorous machine as we see before us, unless time is taken to properly evaluate what’s on offer. Don’t be in a rush, and over several shooting sessions, make adjustments to each stock element in turn, until everything falls into place. I love the drop-down target grip, and my large hands just drop effortlessly into either one of the thumb-up shelves. The result is a super-relaxed hand position. Couple that with the pleasingly dead feel of the shot cycle, free from recoil, and the overall sensation is one of an ultra-sophisticated piece of machinery.

Test sheet

The action is specified with a 200 bar fill pressure, and Air Arms’ super safe ‘T’ bar valve is up front. My test gun recorded 100 shots over the chrono, all with a total velocity spread of 10fps using Air Arms Diabolo Field 8.44-grain pellets straight from the tin. Classy performance in anyone’s book, and evidence that the reg was ticking over nicely. As for accuracy, I was desperate to get out and see what this rifle could do over 50 yards, but persistent wet and windy conditions made me wait. Anyhow, after picking my day, ragged holes at 25 yards, an enlarged ragged hole over my zero distance of 35 yards, and groups at 50 yards, genuinely coverable with a 5p piece, finally put me out of my misery.

There’s very little feel at the breech to detect a slack pellet, due to the chamfer, similar to the EV2 and FTP900 that went before, and whilst we need to go back to the Pro-Target for such a luxury, apparently this latter configuration brings superior airflow delivery, so I’ll bow to the design boffins here.

Verdict

Considering the price, is it worth such an outlay? Well, the short answer is, yes. Looking at the rivals, they are all in this ballpark, RRP-wise. Again, consider the mouthwatering, ‘no compromise’ specification that Air Arms build into their new flagship from the start, and it definitely competes on a like-for-like basis, offering way more for the money in some cases. Now, consider global inflation and the spiralling cost of raw materials and components, and the cost seems justified. The target spec and Hamster mechanism all add weight, for sure, but the XTi-50 just exudes class. It’s superbly put together, and built to win at the very highest level.

You don’t have to just take my word for it either, as at the time of writing this review, news just came in of the first two major FT competitions of 2023. So, congratulations to Dorian Falconer for winning the BFTA British Championships, and the Welsh Wizzard that is Jack Harris for winning the Oaktree 60, both using, you guessed it, Xti-50s. It’s all about results with this level of kit at the end of the day, and Air Arms look to be off to a flying start with their new supergun.