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Reader Survey >AirMaks Krait Pro Review: A Deep Dive into the Adjustable Bullpup
- Last updated: 07/08/2025
When I first saw this latest incarnation of the AirMaks Krait, I knew I had to get hold of one to test. It’s just so dinky and solid, making it a real airgun hunter’s dream. Needless to say, Jamie Ransome at Hawke Optics, which now distributes AirMaks Arms in the UK, wasted no time in getting one to me, and I haven’t been able to put it down ever since.
The new Krait Pro brings the family of Krait rifles to a whopping 14 different formats, including the Krait, Krait-T and Krait Lite versions, with four different specifications for each of those models: Standard, Long, Long High Power and Extra High Power. However, only two models are currently available in the Krait Pro range: the Krait Pro featured here and the Pro L version.
Both the Krait and Krait Lite variations feature a carbon bottle, while the Krait-L models have a cylinder tube reservoir. The Krait Pro I have here in .177 has a 400mm barrel and a 300cc carbon bottle, while the Krait Pro L has a longer 520mm barrel and a larger 480cc carbon bottle. All the barrel lengths are available choked or unchoked and have a 1:17.7 twist.
All models also feature a modular shrouded CZ barrel system, which at sub-12ft/lbs gives the rifle a very quiet report from the muzzle, even when used without a ½” UNF threaded moderator.
Everything about the new Krait Pro has been beautifully engineered to an extremely high standard, and the machined components are produced to ridiculously high tolerances. The level of craftsmanship is excellent, and everything just feels right as soon as you pick one up.
What’s more, the Pro is completely customisable, right off the shelf. For instance, the length of pull can be adjusted a whopping 65mm by simply turning the thumbscrew at the base of the rifle. Then there is the butt hook itself, which is fully adjustable by unscrewing an Allen screw and sliding it up or down to suit, as well as rotating left or right. Even the hooks themselves, top and bottom, are adjustable for height and angle, so you can fiddle about and get the precise gun fit for you. Before extension, the overall length of the rifle is just 610mm, and unscoped, it weighs 3.45kg (7.6lbs).
“What’s more, the Pro is completely customisable, right off the shelf. For instance, the length of pull can be adjusted a whopping 65mm by simply turning the thumbscrew at the base of the rifle”
The cheekpiece is fully adjustable for height plus slant, and this is achieved by using two flathead Allen bolts spaced 25mm apart on a single bracket with two channels in the stock. Adjusting both screws to the same height allows the cheekpiece to be raised up or down, but if you loosen just one of them, you can tilt the cheekpiece up from the front or the rear.
Up top, there’s an extended 250mm-long Picatinny scope rail that has a 20 MOA gradient integrated into it, plus numerous M-LOK slots to add accessories. At the back end of this rail, you’ll also find an integrated bubble level, which is very handy for avoiding cant out in the field.
While I’m on the subject of the top rail, I would highly recommend that you opt for high mounts when attaching a scope. They provide a little extra height (around 6mm) and make the whole setup more comfortable for achieving perfect eye-to-scope alignment.
Underneath the rifle, you’ll find an Arca rail/fore-end that protects the carbon bottle. This too has numerous M-LOK slots for accessories, as well as a small Picatinny rail for a bipod.
When it comes to filling the rifle with air, the supplied probe simply connects to a Foster fitting. It’s a simple case of plugging the probe into the fill port located on the left side of the main action and filling to 300bar.
I love the short-stroke side-lever on the Krait rifles, as it cocks the gun with just over a 90-degree pull and very little effort, then returns to position with a positive, muffled click. The 55mm-long drop handle is chunky and feels great in your hand when cocking. The lever can also be swapped from right to left in a matter of seconds for those who shoot left-handed.
The AR15-style pistol grip really suits this rifle and the way it handles. It is made from reinforced polymer with a textured rubber coating on the outside and feels great to hold. It also has a rather aggressive 15-degree angle, which again suits this rifle perfectly.
I haven’t mentioned the main body of the rifle yet, have I? Well, that’s partially FDE Cerakoted, which gives the rifle a striking “Desert Storm” look and also helps protect the metalwork underneath. The 30mm barrel shroud is also Cerakoted and adds visual appeal as well as sound-suppressing functionality.
The Krait is not only adjustable externally, but also fully adjustable internally, with even the UK sub-12ft/lbs versions offering tuning potential.
Straight from Hawke Optics, the Huma-Air regulator is set to around 70bar, but this can be adjusted from 50 to 110bar. It is essential, however, that you drain the air first in order to decrease the pressure of the regulator. This is easily achieved by draining the 15cc plenum (60cc in FAC models) via the grub screw next to the fill gauge. AirMaks also produces an optional extra tool that is designed to do the job for you.
You can also adjust the hammer spring yourself via an adjuster hidden behind the buttpad. Simply pull the adjustable length-of-pull buttpad all the way back to expose it.
Tuning air rifles is not something I’ve ever attempted, as I’m a simple guy, and if the gun fits and the trigger is right, I’m happy. However, I can see the appeal of tuning a rifle to suit the pellets that you intend to use, to get as near to perfection as possible.
The fully adjustable match trigger on this rifle is nothing short of superb. It features a gently curved trigger blade, which can be adjusted on the post for height as well as rotational angle. As you would expect, the unit itself is also two-stage adjustable for length and weight. There is a manual AR15-style safety lever immediately above and behind the trigger unit, which can also be swapped out from left to right if required.
Each rifle comes with one of AirMaks’ spring-loaded alloy magazines, but additional units can be purchased if needed. They are a drop-in rotary type, very easy to use, and can only be inserted into the rifle from right to left. The magazine slots in with a positive “click” and is held securely by a sprung ball-bearing system. The .177 version holds 18 pellets, while the .22 holds 16, which is more than enough for most hunting situations.
Importantly, the magazines also feature an anti-double feed system, which eliminates the possibility of double loading, something I have been guilty of on many other rifles over the years.
I found myself repeatedly heading to my local club range with this rifle. It’s not because I needed to, it’s because I wanted to. It’s just such great fun to shoot, and as far as accuracy is concerned, well, it just doesn’t miss a beat. It delivers pellet-on-pellet accuracy out to 30m, and at 40m from the bench, I was punching fingernail-sized groups in the paper targets. I pushed it further to the far wall of the range at 53m and was happily hitting the spinner targets with ease.
“I found myself repeatedly heading to my local club range with this rifle. It’s not because I needed to, it’s because I wanted to. It’s just such great fun to shoot, and as far as accuracy is concerned, well, it just doesn’t miss a beat.”
I’m in no doubt that this little bullpup is going to make a fantastic hunting rifle, as the ease of use, reliable performance, and pinpoint accuracy dictate that. However, with the longer-barrelled L model, I can see a lot of dedicated club target shooters getting in on the action, too.
Whether you’re a hunter, club shooter or competition shooter, the Krait Pro is absolutely everything you’ll ever want it to be and more. GM
Former AirMaks UK agent Chris Roberts has stayed on as part of the team at Hawke Optics, personally tuning every rifle that enters the UK before it reaches the shops. He’s very proud of what he does, and it shows, as there are very few, if any, returns of AirMaks rifles due to this process.
Chris knows that each rifle sold in the UK has been through his hands first, virtually eliminating any future problems that the end user could possibly have.
Krait Pro L Model Details:
Mounting Systems:
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