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Walther Dominator

Walther Dominator

As the flagship outdoor airgun sport, Field Target Shooting places serious demands on the shooter. Of course anyone can participate, and with a great combination of picturesque outdoor locations and absorbing competition, everyone should enjoy their day at the very least.

Competitors can take part on their own terms, at any level, but like many sports, a hard core of enthusiasts derive additional pleasure from a hard fought scrap at the top. Gaining a foothold on the ladder to silverware requires dedication for sure, but the top exponents of the sport all depend upon top class kit, and unsurprisingly that narrows the choice of rifle significantly.

I’ve been an advocate in the past of the merits of less complex kit, yet after spending time with top flight rifles such as the feature of this test, I am reminded of just howfar the air rifle has come in the last few decades, and the advantage that comes of adopting such top grade kit.

Top Table
Glance at any results table from a Field Target match, and the same rifle brands feature time and again. Air Arms, Anschütz, Steyr, Daystate, and Ripley, all have their fair share of loyal, not to mention successful shooters, but in the last few seasons, the German brand of Walther has become more popular than ever, and some significant results have followed.

I’m featuring the Walther Dominator here, which is the company’s dedicated FT model, and with the 2011 Grand Prix Constructors Championship falling to the Walther FT team, all kitted out with this rifle, it should become clear that what we have here is a top class pellet launching device for the serious enthusiast with ambition.

The Dominator is based around the company’s LG300 action, and offers all the refinement we have come to expect from a match grade air weapon. Olympic shooters will be using this style of rifle, although where those target boys will be nailing a pin head with power in the region of 6ft/lbs, this Dominator has been boosted to generate an output just shy of the UK legal limit.

Well Specified
The features list for this type of rifle always makes for a reassuring read, and with a fully adjustable, ergonomically designed laminate target stock heading the spec sheet, it’s a mouth-watering prospect. A fully regulated action includes a removable main cylinder, side lever assisted cocking, full match trigger, shrouded barrel, and muzzle weight.

Before even firing a shot with the Dominator, it pays to spend time just methodically evaluating and fine tuning the feel of the rifle, until everything feels just supportive and comfortable, with the shooter free from stretching, straining and contortion in any way. The cheek piece is fully adjustable via the Allen hex bolt, accessible from the underside of the stock. With this bolt slackened, and the assembly removed, the various adjustment bolts can be moved to fine tune the cast of the cheek piece itself, as well as the height.

Likewise, the butt pad is adjustable for both height and length. Again a hex bolt is the main adjustment, and spacers can be used to alter the overall length in 10mm and 15mm increments. Finally, an accessory rail is recessed underneath the fore end, which can be used for stabilizer bars, counterweights, or a tripod /stand if so desired.

With everything set, a personal optimum can be achieved where fine balance and specific dimensions are concerned, allowing the rifle to fit the shooter instead of vice versa.

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Shrouded
In keeping with many target rifles in vogue, the barrel on the Dominator is contained within a shroud; and very attractive it is too, since Walther opt for carbon fibre. A stylish muzzle weight nicely finishes the business end.

Charging the Dominator requires the main cylinder to beremoved, and here lies my main criticism of the design. Having to remove the cylinder (or indeed any other major part of a rifle for that matter) is less than ideal, yet a path mysteriously trodden by many a manufacturer.

Aftermarket companies offer a service to fit a quick –fill option, where the valve is fitted in place of the pressure gauge, at the front of the cylinder. This then allows for the cylinder to be charged whilst ‘in situ’, and is infinitely preferable. That said, many competitors stick with the standard configuration, but a choice does exist.

Fill pressures vary quite markedly between brands, and Walther specify a charge of between 200 and 300 bar. I opted for 250bar, which in practise would allow for more flexibility where charging gear limits are concerned. Obviously the initial fill pressure governs the overall shot count, but regular pressure fills to 300 bar places more stress on the action than 250 bar. If a regime is adopted whereby the rifle is topped up after each outing, then huge shot counts become irrelevant in any case. It comes down to personal choice, and with the Dominator, the enthusiast gets plenty of options.

Foul Play
Scoping up this Walther revealed an aspect which several similar rifles are prone to - namely that of the side cocking lever needing clearance around the telescopic sight. I initially went to fit an MTC Viper scope, only to find that the side lever fouled the mounts and chunky turrets. By reversing the mounts so that the protruding bolts were on the opposite side to the lever, and slightly re-positioning the scope, the problem was solved, yet this is clearly a consideration where the fitting of certain glassware is concerned. Given today’s wide selection of specialized technical accessories such as reach forward mounts and such like, no scenario should be insurmountable, but it’s a point to bear in mind.

One final dry run – familiarity with the lever, and the trigger, then to the performance stage. That trigger incidentally, is the real McCoy, being a full blown match unit, capable of stupendously fine settings and a multitude of positions. Whilst others dream of bikini clad beauties and hot beaches, my mind turns to finely engineered, sub 2oz trigger pulls (unnatural I know, but sadly true!!), and here with the Walther Dominator, my fantasies become reality.

Walther opt for a small button as the trigger shoe, set onto a threaded bar; itself set onto a vertical bar. Adjustment is all encompassing - for position, height, and of course pull weights.

Chrony
Over the chronograph, my 250bar fill returned an impressive 160 shots, all within 20fps, with pellets shot straight from the tin. The Walther regulator was clearly doing its job, and it’s this sort of consistent power output over an extended charge, that allows for a confident FT campaign to be launched.

Walther build in design features aplenty with these rifles, and with some careful weighting applied, the cocking-lever controlled bolt arrangement feels effectively power assisted. Just gently pull back the side lever, and it then moves back a short way under its own tension. Close the bolt and the final travel is again ‘micro managed’. A broad bolt head seats the pellet neatly too, and the whole arrangement, given the mild effort required, just feels supremely refined and efficient. I suppose if I have to be picky, the cocking lever handle itself just seems a little basic, given the Dominator’s significant asking price. Formed from a flat cut-out of steel, it hardly qualifies for a design award; yet having seen many a customized version of these rifles on the FT circuit, this is clearly an area that features in the upgrade process. A minor irritant rather than a major failing.

A complete lack of discernable recoil is helpful in extracting maximum performance, and given this rifle’s pedigree, accuracy and down range performance should be a given. Let’s just say the Walther certainly didn’t disappoint. Initial tight clusters over 35yds, recorded with a variety of ammunition, gave way to some sub 5p sized 50 yard grouping that left me in no doubt as to just why this rifle is picking up the plaudits and hoovering up a fair share of silverware, up and down the country.

It’s Personal
Personal preference of course plays a part in selecting an appropriate FT rifle, and match style stocks - especially laminatemay not be to everyone’s taste. Get past any objection on aesthetic grounds though, and this Walther will clearly deliver.

Top class respected engineering, coupled with one of the most refined actions available, just breeds confidence where it matters. Do your part, and the Dominator will deliver at the highest level; be that FT or HFT. GM

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gun
features

  • Model:: LG Dominator (based on LG300 action)
  • Manufacturer:: Carl Walther
  • Country of Origin:: Germany
  • Type:: FT Match
  • Calibre:: .177
  • Weight:: 9.8lbs
  • Overall Length:: 43inches
  • Barrel Length:: 16.5inches
  • Stock:: Wood laminate
  • Trigger:: Full match unit 1.8-4.2ounces
  • Power Source:: Removable steel cylinder
  • Fill Pressure:: 200-300bar
  • Shot Count:: On test from a 250 bar fill: 160 shots
  • Average velocity:: 823fps (using Daystate Rangemaster Li pellets)
  • Average spread:: 20fps over 160 shots
  • Average energy:: 11.9ft/lbs
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