The Prestige Airgun Co. Ltd have come up with an unusual marketing strategy for what in essence is the same rifle. I say this as the Prestige KUB can be purchased in side-lever action (KUB-SL), side-bolt (KUB-SB) or rear mounted bolt (KUB-RB) format. All other features of the rifle are identical. It’s the KUB-SB I’ve had for a relatively lengthy test period and this is what I found.

Class Act

Two major features that initially impress on the KUB-SB are the lovely looking stock and the over large ‘wooden ball ended’ cocking bolt. More on the bolt later as the stock really does deserve close scrutiny.

To launch a new rifle in American Walnut with no beech option shows that the Prestige Airgun Co. Ltd is going to be true to its name; that being class and quality of rifles from the very off.

The KUB stock boasts a high ambidextrous cheek piece and a sliding rubber butt pad. Both sides of the rifle show the true ambidextrous nature of the rifle, with thumb channels being crafted into the woodwork on both sides for a ‘thumbs up’ hold should you wish to employ it. The pistol grip drops down at a steep angle and is longer than most of this ilk, allowing people with larger hands to obtain a full grip. The forend has a rounded profile but tapers stylishly forward to end in the merest hint of a Schnabel tip. Even the chequering has a look of class, as the three panels of deep chequer diamonds seen either side of the forend, and two large single panels either side of the pistol grip, really do make this a very easy rifle to hold.

Practical Features

The rifle has a recommended fill pressure of 200-bar which gives 100 shots in the .177 calibre (as per rifle on test) and 130 in .22 calibre. A push fit probe (supplied) is inserted into the fill point in the side at the front of the air reservoir. When not in use the fill point is protected from dirt and grime by a rotating collar. There’s also a small air gauge recessed into the underside of the forend indicating the status of air in the reservoir; all well designed, practical and sensibly positioned features. Interestingly, the KUB features what is termed a self regulating firing valve which utilises a secondary chamber to ensure identical air release for each shot.

On the test gun I must admit that the ‘huge wooden ball ended’ side mounted cocking bolt is something neither your eye nor cocking hand will miss. It also gives one of the best action operating and delivery systems I’ve experienced on a multi-shot air rifle. To load the removable 10 shot alloy magazine you fully pull back the cocking bolt and remove the magazine from the action where it is held securely by two sprung centre ball bearings. This is a simple yet very practical and foolproof mechanism for retaining the magazine and keeping it exactly in the right position, shot after shot. As I familiarised myself with the action the rifle really did begin to impress.

As standard the 37.5” long rifle comes with a quality choked 19.1” rifled barrel. There’s a small muzzle shroud/weight on this semi-floating tube that unscrews to reveal a ½” UNF thread to fit a silencer of choice. I spun on one of the company’s own dBlocker multi-baffled silencers that can be modified to be calibre specific, as a .177 reducer is included to replace the first rear .22 calibre baffle.

I fitted a 4 -12 X 40 scope on the raised railed action block. Look closely and you’ll notice the top of the action is actually dual-grooved to accept the more usual 11mm, or not so familiar 22mm scope mount bases.

Off The Bench

The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has a nicely curved metal blade that your trigger finger naturally falls onto. Combined with the grip and bolt action, this makes the SB one of the most appealing multi-shot PCP air rifles. With its sensibly sized manual brass safety lever at the top and right of the action, the Prestige KUB-SB is a very easy rifle to shoot and one that keeps growing on you as you use it.

Obviously - with no recoil to contend with - this rifle is exceptionally accurate no matter what scope you opt to fit, and with the company’s own silencer being so effective, the whole package is a very appealing one. Using Crosman Accupells I was soon producing .177 calibre clover leaf clusters at the 30-yd set zero – nice!

Even with the silencer in place the Prestige KUB only measures 42” from butt to silencer end cap and weighing 6lb 12oz un-scoped. I feel this is one of the more lightweight, practical and hunter friendly PCP air rifles that has come onto the market in quite some time. I’ve tried the action of the other variants and all index and operate faultlessly, so it’s very much up to the individual how you have your KUB – rear bolt (RB), side lever (SL) or side bolt (SB) cocking and loading… the choice is yours.

PRICE: £639 in Walnut Ambi Thumbhole or £605 in Walnut Sporter Stock
OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Prestige dBlocker Silencer £44.95

The Prestige Airgun Co. Ltd have come up with an unusual marketing strategy for what in essence is the same rifle. I say this as the Prestige KUB can be purchased in side-lever action (KUB-SL), side-bolt (KUB-SB) or rear mounted bolt (KUB-RB) format. All other features of the rifle are identical. It’s the KUB-SB I’ve had for a relatively lengthy test period and this is what I found.

Class Act

Two major features that initially impress on the KUB-SB are the lovely looking stock and the over large ‘wooden ball ended’ cocking bolt. More on the bolt later as the stock really does deserve close scrutiny.

To launch a new rifle in American Walnut with no beech option shows that the Prestige Airgun Co. Ltd is going to be true to its name; that being class and quality of rifles from the very off.

The KUB stock boasts a high ambidextrous cheek piece and a sliding rubber butt pad. Both sides of the rifle show the true ambidextrous nature of the rifle, with thumb channels being crafted into the woodwork on both sides for a ‘thumbs up’ hold should you wish to employ it. The pistol grip drops down at a steep angle and is longer than most of this ilk, allowing people with larger hands to obtain a full grip. The forend has a rounded profile but tapers stylishly forward to end in the merest hint of a Schnabel tip. Even the chequering has a look of class, as the three panels of deep chequer diamonds seen either side of the forend, and two large single panels either side of the pistol grip, really do make this a very easy rifle to hold.

Practical Features

The rifle has a recommended fill pressure of 200-bar which gives 100 shots in the .177 calibre (as per rifle on test) and 130 in .22 calibre. A push fit probe (supplied) is inserted into the fill point in the side at the front of the air reservoir. When not in use the fill point is protected from dirt and grime by a rotating collar. There’s also a small air gauge recessed into the underside of the forend indicating the status of air in the reservoir; all well designed, practical and sensibly positioned features. Interestingly, the KUB features what is termed a self regulating firing valve which utilises a secondary chamber to ensure identical air release for each shot.

On the test gun I must admit that the ‘huge wooden ball ended’ side mounted cocking bolt is something neither your eye nor cocking hand will miss. It also gives one of the best action operating and delivery systems I’ve experienced on a multi-shot air rifle. To load the removable 10 shot alloy magazine you fully pull back the cocking bolt and remove the magazine from the action where it is held securely by two sprung centre ball bearings. This is a simple yet very practical and foolproof mechanism for retaining the magazine and keeping it exactly in the right position, shot after shot. As I familiarised myself with the action the rifle really did begin to impress.

As standard the 37.5” long rifle comes with a quality choked 19.1” rifled barrel. There’s a small muzzle shroud/weight on this semi-floating tube that unscrews to reveal a ½” UNF thread to fit a silencer of choice. I spun on one of the company’s own dBlocker multi-baffled silencers that can be modified to be calibre specific, as a .177 reducer is included to replace the first rear .22 calibre baffle.

I fitted a 4 -12 X 40 scope on the raised railed action block. Look closely and you’ll notice the top of the action is actually dual-grooved to accept the more usual 11mm, or not so familiar 22mm scope mount bases.

Off The Bench

The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has a nicely curved metal blade that your trigger finger naturally falls onto. Combined with the grip and bolt action, this makes the SB one of the most appealing multi-shot PCP air rifles. With its sensibly sized manual brass safety lever at the top and right of the action, the Prestige KUB-SB is a very easy rifle to shoot and one that keeps growing on you as you use it.

Obviously - with no recoil to contend with - this rifle is exceptionally accurate no matter what scope you opt to fit, and with the company’s own silencer being so effective, the whole package is a very appealing one. Using Crosman Accupells I was soon producing .177 calibre clover leaf clusters at the 30-yd set zero – nice!

Even with the silencer in place the Prestige KUB only measures 42” from butt to silencer end cap and weighing 6lb 12oz un-scoped. I feel this is one of the more lightweight, practical and hunter friendly PCP air rifles that has come onto the market in quite some time. I’ve tried the action of the other variants and all index and operate faultlessly, so it’s very much up to the individual how you have your KUB – rear bolt (RB), side lever (SL) or side bolt (SB) cocking and loading… the choice is yours.

PRICE: £639 in Walnut Ambi Thumbhole or £605 in Walnut Sporter Stock
OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Prestige dBlocker Silencer £44.95