Air Arms S410 Classic

To use the words ‘all time classic’ may well fit this gun test by way of a play on words but it equally suits this rifle as the action is now undoubtedly accepted as a classic in design and function. No one can doubt the efficiency of the mechanism, I’ve several carbine versions in my armoury, but until now haven’t tested the full length rifle of this award winning multi-shot. So theoretically - besides a higher shot capacity - just what appeals to those who purchase the long gun over the shorty?  Here’s what I discovered.

Classic Woodwork

Obviously the stock is exactly the same design Air Arms changed to near four years ago; how time flies! The butt has a high, right hand, roll-over cheek piece that positions your head perfectly for the scope.

The forend is slim and tapers forward with a semi-Schnable tip. It’s ideally proportioned for most shooter’s leading hand too. The fleur-de-lys enhanced chequering is ideally positioned and in sufficient quantity as to afford the maximum grip for all situations. This applies to both contact areas equally. The relatively steep pistol grip now boasts a rosewood end cap with a maple spacer; even on the beech version. The neck at the grip is quite slim making this a very easy rifle to handle and hold. The beech timber is finished with a rich, brown, lacquered finish and a thick rubber ventilated butt pad at the shoulder completes the picture.

In my opinion this is still a very well designed stock (a walnut option is also available) and the full length rifle balances well in it, despite the extra length and even with the optional silencer being fitted. Overall length is 43.8” – that’s almost three inches more than the carbine.

Clean Air

On the underside of the stock just forward of the trigger guard there’s a small air pressure gauge, telling you at a glance the fill status in the lengthy reservoir. To fill; unscrew the well-sized front inlet valve cover and push the brass cap quick fill adaptor onto the stainless steel inlet valve. Internally there’s a sintered disc for filtering any undesirable elements such as dirt, moisture or grime. Just squirt in the recommended 190-bar, which will give up to 80-full power shots in .177 calibre or just over 100 in the .22 calibre (as per the test rifle). 

Cocking and cycling the action of the Classic comes courtesy of an ergonomically shaped ball end cocking bolt. This big, fist-filling matt finish aluminium lever is ideally positioned on the rear of the action. To remove the magazine, open the bolt where it will lock back to allow you to pull the magazine out from the left of the action. With the Perspex cover plate facing you, it’s a simple matter of popping a pellet into each of the ten empty chambers via a hole in the cover plate as you rotate the inner aluminium disc around. The mag is re-inserted into the left side of the action and the bolt closed and you are ready to go.

The magazine is ‘un-sprung’ so all the indexing is done as the bolt is operated for each shot. As the action closes the pellet is probed into the barrel ready to be fired.

The Third Element

For the field test I scoped up with a Hawke Map Pro 4 – 12 X 50AO with Map 6 reticle set in high two-piece mounts to clear the magazine, this was a neat looking set-up and upon testing proved a perfect pairing. Now although it’s been with us some time now, the manual trigger safety still stands out due to its simple and practical design. 

What you have is a cross bolt button actually set into the blade. Pushed from left to right it physically blocks the trigger from moving back to trip the sear. This is quite the simplest solution to on-gun safety. The upgraded 2-stage fully adjustable trigger unit is known as the ‘Third Element Trigger.’ Simple reason being there’s a third sear in the trigger mechanism helping to totally eradicate the merest possibility of creep, resulting in a trigger that can be adjusted very precisely.

The silencer is an optional extra but as a hunter I feel it’s a necessity. Air Arms own Pro 76 moderator is so efficient that I’ve no reason to fit any other unit, but if you prefer something different, an adaptor for screw on moderators is available from Best Fittings. I say this as the AA moddy is not threaded but slides onto the end of the barrel where it’s retained by a screw. Very neat, stylish and incredibly effective at reducing muzzle report. As for accuracy, this isn’t an issue as any version of this rifle will easily out perform the user.

After now having experienced all the S400/410 series of air rifles in most formats I can say with a fully informed view that they’re all very accurate, top class practical PCPs, yet still understatedly stylish.

Despite the introduction of the new S500/S510 series I’m sure the S400/410 will still prove to be as popular as they ever were.

We Reckon:
• If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
• Dedicated moderator fitment
• Still one of the best choices for a multi-shot PCP

PRICE:
£532.80p Walnut option £597.92p
Optional Extra Air Arms Pro 76 Silencer £38.50p