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Rapid Airweapons HM1000

Rapid Airweapons HM1000

Rapid Air Weapons haven’t messed about you know; in fact I can confidently say they’ve hit the ground running! Not content with taking the market by storm with their TM1000 match rifle., there’s now a collection of other specialist models - all catering for the high-end user.

‘Bench Rest’ airgun shooting has really been a case in point, and with something of an explosion of interest in recent years, RAW wasted no time tapping into this ultra competitive sector of the market. Dedicated models complete with flat platforms, were aimed to please the most fastidious of competitors; and with a string of tournament results in their favour, ‘RAW’ as a brand has surely been elevated faster than the designers could have ever dreamt of!

Inevitable Development

On the back of all this race-tested success comes the brand new HM1000 hunting derivative, on test here, and in the flesh, it’s one hell of an appealing airgun, I can tell you!

Asked to quickly list my ultimate features in the perfect airgun, I would start with a fully floating barrel; no Fig-  8 or shrouds just the tube, unrestricted and able to vibrate and move as necessary during the shot cycle. A side-lever action would be nice, as would a true match trigger and woodwork that features a full target grip, complete with thumb shelf. Well everything on my wish list is incorporated into the HM1000!

Well that’s quite a start then! In fact the HM1000 is quite a rifle. Visuals are a cross between Theoben and Daystate - for that, read chunky, reassuringly solid components. Part of the attraction of the Rapid Air Weapons brand comes from their bold styling, and over-engineered designs, and this model is straight from that mould. OK it uses a buddy bottle power plant and that undoubtedly means that at some point, you will have to grip some cold steel as it doubles up as part of the forend. But in its defence, the bottle is of the more compact 200cc variety. And the forend does extend a little, to minimize such contact. However, I’m definitely in a minority regarding my distaste for buddy bottles – many other people love the concept… in their droves. Well if you are one of them, take it from me; they don’t get much better than this!

In-House Woodwork

One amazing fact with Rapid Air Weapons, is that they actually produce their own stocks, which eliminates at a stroke any supply chain issues with an external manufacturer. The stock supplied with the HM1000 is fashioned from walnut, and whilst my particular specimen was less than stunning, grain pattern wise, the thought applied to configuration overall is there for all to see.

From an aesthetic stand point, the way the wood forms the integral trigger guard is nice, but the drop down handle and raised cheek piece, set this model apart from many rivals. Just place a hand in that sumptuous target grip, select one of the generous thumb scoops, and revel in how trigger control has just improved immeasurably. Position and tighten the well-shaped, concave rubber butt pad, to allow for optimal eye scope alignment.

Handling and feel are a major asset for this rifle, and part of the reason it will find a ready market. Top notch engineering and finish don’t do it any harm either!

Filling Procedure

Getting air into this style of rifle can be a bind, but RAW have side-stepped the major irritation of having to remove the buddy bottle, by fitting an inlet valve under the forend, similar in style to that of Daystate’s Air Ranger.

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However, the process of fixing the Foster- style connector onto the valve is complicated by having to use asilver ‘top hat’ accessory, which is a little Heath Robinson, if you ask me!

The idea is that, due to physical access to the valve being limited, the ‘top hat’ allows for the bayonet coupling to be released after charging. Having spoken to Rapid’s UK importer, Mike Tawn, and explained my point, it sounds like future examples somewhere down the line, may address this aspect. Anyhow, a 200bar fill should return around 200-shots in .22 apparently, and according to my test, in excess of 150 usable shots in .20 (the calibre of the test gun). At this stage, we should note that a pressure gauge is fitted as standard.

Magazine-Fed

My background of course brands me as a competition man, but I do hunt now and again. Part of that pre-conditioning though, means I’m well known for being less than enthusiastic about using a magazine. I try not to be a bore on the subject; I’ve just been weaned on FT, where single-shot, ultimate accuracy is all that matters. Multi-shot systems, however good, are simply not required or appropriate in target rifles…

However, the HM1000 is a precision hunting machine and an altogether different animal, and with that in mind, RAW fit a plastic, cassette-style mag, very similar to the Theoben design. The .22 and .20 are 12-shot designs with the .177 pumping that up to a generous 17. My test gun came in the more unusual .20 calibre, regarded by many as the ultimate compromise for hunting. It gives a flatter trajectory than .22 and is heavier than a .17 so giving more terminal energy.

Of course a debate for another day, and largely irrelevant for the purposes of my evaluation. More an illustration of how Rapid are prepared to offer a wide choice of options, for an increasingly knowledgeable and demanding public. Despite .20 calibre gaining more of a foothold these days, there’s less choice where ammo is concerned, which is a point worth noting. That said, with major players such as JSB now producing in this mid-size (my test pellets were Daystate FT made by JSB), opting for .20 isn’t such a rash decision as once it might have been.

Loading the mag is as per Theoben too, requiring the clear lid to be first twisted anti clockwise almost one complete turn, until the initial chamber is exposed. Push a pellet in head first, then gently rotate the lid clockwise, and chamber a pellet into each compartment, until full. Here lies something else to whinge about, though it may only relate to my test example. On twisting the clear lid anti-clockwise initially, the first chamber was slightly less than fully exposed, causing the pellet to be a tight fit through the aperture. I should point out that the magazine otherwise operated throughout my test without a hitch, and performance, as far as I could tell, was unaffected. But in an otherwise top class gun, it was a surprising irritation nonetheless.

Home On The Range

My test reports are tailored to the grade of gun used, and once I clapped eyes on the HM1000, I just knew any meaningful evaluation had to include longer range groupings. For the record, RAW fit the same, industry-standard Lothar Walther barrels to all their rifles, and the HM1000 gets the same regulated action as the TM target model. A chunky moderator completes the hunting spec that not only looks the part, but also features baffles; effectively internal chambers, packed out with noise dampening material. I can certainly vouch for the highly effective result, with the muzzle report best described as civilized and muted.

A gun of this class deserves a sophisticated trigger, and let’s face it; any hunter wants to maximize accuracy for the cleanest kills possible. Yes I’m fussy, but since this trigger is identical to the super-light match unit, fitted to the TM1000 target model, we’re all happy. A long flat blade, coupled with a crisp, ultra light release, puts this unit up with the best. There’s a neat little manual safety tab in front of the trigger incidentally!

Single enlarged ragged holes at 35 yds, and 3/8” c-t-c clusters at 45yds (the latter in breezy conditions) all executed with a feel of precision and refinement that can’t fail to impress.

Join The Club

In short, the HM1000 is a fabulously impressive hunting machine, deservedly joining an elite club at Rapid Air Weapons, alongside its stable mates. Their target rifles have already taken silverware where it matters, and now the HM1000 hunter just brings that assured performance into the field; and that has to be a good thing. GM

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

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  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

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  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

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  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

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  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Rapid Airweapons HM1000 - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model: Rapid Air Weapons HM1000
  • Type: Hunting pre-charged pneumatic (pcp) rifle
  • Calibre: .20 on test; .177, and.22 available
  • Weight: 7lbs 10oz un-scoped
  • Length: 40.25”
  • Barrel: 17.5”
  • Stock: Walnut Sporter
  • Trigger: Adjustable, Match grade 2-stage
  • Power Source: Buddy bottle
  • Fill Pressure : 200 bar
  • Shot Count: 154-shots on test before velocity drop in .20 calibre
  • Average Velocity: 600fps
  • Extreme spread : 22fps over 154shots using Daystate FT (JSB) pellets
  • Energy:: 11ft/lbs
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