Lightweight Hunting PCPs

Pete Wadeson gives us his Top 10 recommendations for those looking for a well- priced, fully featured lightweight ‘hunter’ multi-Shot PCP air rifle…



Like many other hunters, I’ve always favoured multi-shot PCP air rifles that are relatively compact and light, therefore being easy to handle in the field. There’s now a bewildering and seemingly ever-increasing choice of models specifically aimed at this sector of the sport. In that respect, I’d say look to the ‘varied’ selection featured as their design, features, overall performance, and in many cases, tempting price point are ones that demand attention and to have a place on your wish list!

• Air Arms S510K Super-Lite

  

  ‘Lightened’ versions of the standard models that bear the same model designation is due to their weight loss, is mainly to stock design and timber or material type used. Manufactured by Minelli of Italy and using Poplar wood, it’s available in three ‘finishes’ of Hunter Green, Traditional Brown and Deluxe Gloss. They have a high, ambidextrous cheekpiece, slim neck, thumb rest and a slim forend. Laser-cut chequered panels are found either side of the grip and both sides of the fore section. A 190- bar fill gives approximately 70-shots in .177 calibre and 90 in .22. An air gauge is recessed in the underside of the stock; better than at the end! A side-lever action runs the 10-shot, ‘un-sprung’ rotary magazine and the 2-stage adjustable trigger unit’s black alloy blade has a manual safety ‘button’ positioned through the blade itself. The Lothar Walther barrel is fully shrouded and holds a primary silencer, while the screw cut muzzle accepts a secondary unit. Air Arms’ calibre specific ‘Q-Tec’ Silencers are highly recommended and ultra-efficient.
  
  SRP: from £804
  
  W: www.air-arms.co.uk

• Brocock Compatto

  

  Featuring a heavily contoured, ambidextrous, synthetic profithumbhole stock, with height adjustable butt pad it has a stippled, drop-down pistol grip; plus, the forend has an underslung Weaver/ Picatinny accessory rail, which is a practical feature. The air reservoir has a forward-facing air gauge (manometer) and a 200-bar fill gives approximately 80 full power shots in .177 and 90 in .22. The all-alloy action uses the acclaimed Harper Slingshot Hammer system, to ensure a very high level of shot to shot consistency. A straight-pull, stainless steel cocking bolt runs an all-metal, 10-shot rotary removable magazine. The reach-forward raised scope rail is removable to accommodate certain optics, while the 2-stage, adjustable trigger unit has an ‘in-guard’ manual safety lever. The Lothar Walther barrel is fully shrouded, holding an integral, reflex sound suppression system, while the muzzle is screw cut to accept a secondary unit and there’s a 3-stage power adjuster on the action block.
  
  SRP: from £608
  
  W: www.brocock.co.uk

• BSA Scorpion SE

  

  Three ambidextrous stock options are available here; Beech, Realtree Xtra and a synthetic Black Tactical option (shown). All feature a very distinctive medium height cheekpiece, ventilated rubber butt pad, slim neck, thumb rest plus a very steep drop-down pistol grip with generous palm swell. The forend is slim, ending in a semi-Schnabel tip and to aid grip there are sections of recessed panelling and stippling. Sling swivel studs come ready fi tted. A fi ll of 232-bar gives approximately 65 shots in .177 calibre, 100 in .22 and 25 calibres. An air gauge is deeply recessed in the underside of the stock. The rear-mounted, Bolas bolt-action runs the 10-shot, self-actuating removable magazine held in its housing by a retaining catch. The action block has an uninterrupted fl at receiver for scope fi tting and the 2-stage adjustable trigger mechanism has a manual safety lever positioned top right.
  
  The free-floating ‘Cold Hammer Forged Barrel’ has a screw cut muzzle to accommodate a silencer of choice. Accuracy potential and shot-to-shot consistency are aided by a selfregulating valve system and ‘fast-strike’ hammer.
  
  SRP: from £589 - £649
  
  W: www.bsaguns.co.uk

• BSA R-10 SE Super Carbine

  

  Available in four stock options – Walnut, Camo, Black Edition and Black Pepper Laminate and with the choice of dedicated right or left hand confi gurations; all feature a high, roll-over cheekpiece, height-adjustable black rubber butt pad, slim neck, thumb shelf plus steep drop-down pistol grip. The forend is thick-set, ending in a semi-Schnabel tip. The removable 200cc buddy bottle has a neat inlet valve port on the underside of the stock adjacent to its air pressure gauge for ‘on-board’ fills – a 232-bar charge gives 190 shots in .177 calibre, 250 in .22 & 25. The CCS (Customer Confi gured Shroud) with integral primary suppression unit can be removed if you only require the front silencer supplied. A generous cocking bolt at the rear, runs the up-graded, 10-shot, removable magazine. The 2-stage adjustable, Match Grade trigger has a blade and shoe configuration plus a manual safety lever is positioned top right of the action block. The air regulator gives a very impressive shot to shot consistency throughout the charge.
  
  SRP: from £829
  
  W: www.basaguns.co.uk

• FX Streamline

  

  There are three stock options available of black synthetic (shown), beech and laminate. All have a high and well-proportioned cheekpiece, heightadjustable butt pad, slim contoured neck, steep drop-down pistol grip and a perfectly proportioned and slim forend. The air reservoir has a forwardfacing air gauge (manometer) and from a 230-bar fill the fully regulated action gives 150+ shots in .177 calibre and 200+ in .22. A biathlon-style side-lever runs a Perspex-fronted, 14-shot magazine and the smooth twist barrel is fully shrouded and holds an integral sound suppression unit. This is one of the quietest PCPs I’ve experienced, but, for total hush, the muzzle is screw-cut to accept a secondary can. The 2-stage, adjustable match-grade trigger unit has a blade and trigger shoe configuration plus the manual safety lever is positioned top right at the rear of the action block. Also, there’s a 3-position power adjuster dial for versatility. It handles like a dream and is the lightest here featured.
  
  SRP: from £755
  
  W: www.a-s-i.co.uk

• Gamo Coyote

  

  The ambidextrous beech wood (ABS Tactical available) stock features a well-defi ned cheekpiece and ventilated rubber butt pad. The forend is relatively slim, having two-panels of skip-line chequering set either side, while large contoured panels are on either side of the grip. The air reservoir has a forward-facing air gauge (manometer) and a fi ll of 232-bar gives approximately 90-shots in .177 and 110 in .22 calibre. The tear drop cocking bolt runs a 10-shot, self-actuating magazine that sits deep in a recessed ‘loading well’ held in place by magnets. The SAT2 denoted trigger mechanism is a 2-stage adjustable unit with an ‘in-guard’ manual safety blade. Its hammer-forged barrel is strengthened by a wholesome looking band, while the screw cut muzzle is protected by a ported cover cap and accepts a silencer of choice. A lengthy run of uninterrupted scope rail atop the action block allows the fitting of any size optic and the rifle handles and balances wonderfully well.
  
  SRP: £399
  
  W: www.bsaguns.co.uk

• Kral Puncher

  

  The ambidextrous Turkish walnut stock has a high cheekpiece, slim neck, steep drop-down pistol grip plus ventilated rubber butt pad. The slab-sided full forend ends in a semi-Schnabel tip. Two panels of chequering are set either side of the pistol grip and three either side of the fore section. A fi ll of 200-bar gives approximately 120 shots in .177 and 140 in .22; plus, there’s an air gauge in the underside of the stock. The barrel is supported by a substantial band and the muzzle is screw-cut to accept a silencer. A side-lever cocking mechanism runs an auto-indexing 12-shot removeable magazine – capacity varies per calibre - .22 has 12 chambers .177 has 14. It comes with a removable pair of useful Hi-Viz open sights and there’s a power adjuster dial only applicable on FAC-rated models. The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has a manual rocker-style safety lever positioned on the right of the action block. SRP: £405
  
  W: www.range-right.co.uk

• Webley Raider 10XS

  

  The ambidextrous walnut stock has a relatively high cheekpiece with a ventilated rubber butt pad. The quite lengthy and slim forend has fluting along the top edge to offer a good leading hand hold. The relatively slim neck has a well-sized thumb shelf plus the pistol grip has a chunky palm swell.
  
  A 190-bar fill gives approximately 60 full power shots in .177 calibre and 80 in .22. An air pressure gauge is recessed into the underside of the stock. A blacked, side-positioned cocking bolt runs the 10-shot wheel-shaped removable magazine, which is secured in its housing by a ‘sprung’ retaining pin. The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has a manual safety catch positioned directly at the rear of the action block. There’s an integral primary silencer inside the full barrel shroud; plus, the rifle comes supplied with the company’s QGS II Silencer already spun onto the screw cut muzzle.
  
  SRP: £646.99
  
  W: www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk

• Weihrauch HW100KTS

  

  This variant of Weihrauch’s acclaimed ‘100’ series has an ambidextrous, olive green, synthetic stock with a medium height cheekpiece, elongated thumbhole, a steep, drop-down pistol grip and a sliding rubber butt pad. The slim forend almost covers the whole of the lower section of air reservoir, giving it a high-level of protection. Soft-touch black, semi-rigid, rubber inserts are integrated into the build at key areas aiding grip and/comfort. The detachable air reservoir has a forward-facing air gauge (manometer) while a 200-bar fill gives approximately 50-shots in .177 and 75 in .22 calibres. The side-lever action runs a 14-shot, removable, wheel-shaped magazine held in its housing by a retaining catch. Also, it’s one of only a few multi-shot PCPs that can’t be double-loaded. The semi-free-floating barrel has a substantial supporting band and the company’s HE silencer comes ready spun on the screw-cut muzzle. The 2-stage, adjustable, match grade trigger mechanism has a manual safety lever positioned on the right and at the rear of the action block. The self-regulating valve system ensures a high-level of shot to shot consistency.
  
  SRP: £805 W: www.hullcartridge.co.uk

• Weihrauch HW110 MS PCP

  

  The beech stock is black with a rubberised over-moulded soft-touch coating, offering a tactile and secure hold. Ambidextrous, it features a high cheekpiece with a full rubber butt pad, steep drop-down pistol grip, a slim neck and thumb shelf. The trim forend tapers to a distinctive tip with panels of chequering on both sides. The air reservoir has a forwardfacing air gauge (manometer) and a 200-bar fill gives approximately 110 shots in .177 calibre and 130 in .22. It comes with their HE silencer on the semi free floating barrel’s screw cut muzzle. A side-lever runs a 10-shot wheel-shaped, removable magazine, secured in its housing by a retaining catch. The breech block, chassis and Weaver-style scope mount rail have been manufactured from a hi-tech ballistic polymer which reduces weight without sacrificing strength. The 2-stage adjustable trigger unit has an ambidextrous safety lever positioned just forward of the magazine well. A self-regulating valve system ensures a high level of shot to shot consistency.
  
  SRP: £684
  
  W: www.hullcartridge.co.uk