RAINSON WILD PLUS

Rainson is a relatively new name on the scene and is a subsidiary of Armakon Defence, based in Turkey. All of their PCP airguns feature a side-lever action and offer variations on the tactical/bullpup style.

Model selection
UK distributors, Anglo Spanish Imports (ASI), are understandably selective as to which models they bring in for the UK, but interest seems to be growing. The Rainson Edge models have been around for a while, but on test here is one of the latest—the Wild Plus. The standard Wild comes with a cylinder as part of the configuration, but my Wild Plus comes with a sizeable carbon-fibre buddy bottle up front. At the time of this test, this airgun retails for a shade over £850, so it isn’t exactly cheap. That said, considering the extensive spec sheet on offer, this price doesn’t look overblown.

Well appointed
We’re looking at a tactical-style rifle with a side-lever-operated, bullpup configuration. An adjustable butt and cheekpiece are listed, along with a manual safety, two-stage adjustable trigger, dual regulator system, power adjuster, AR-style grip, and three manometers. The gun comes well protected in its packaging, and we also get a filling adaptor, three magazines, a silencer, and even some spare O-rings and seals. No instructions are included, but you are referred to the Rainson website for a download. It all looks well-made and feels sturdy, so first impressions are a definite thumbs-up.

Gauge the response
So, why three manometers? That’s a good question. With the Wild Plus, Rainson is offering an alternative to the likes of Daystate and FX, with their tactical, tweakable models primarily aimed at the high-power FAC market. The Wild Plus utilises a dual regulator system, and here the three side-mounted gauges keep tabs for the user. The left-side manometer shows residual main bottle pressure, the middle gauge shows the first regulator pressure, and the right-hand gauge monitors the second regulator pressure. With an FAC specification, it can sometimes be preferable to have the bottle feed the first regulator (set to a higher pressure), which then, in turn, feeds the second regulator (set to a lower pressure). By doing so, the system can be more efficient and experience less working stress in certain scenarios. In sub-12ft/lbs, the dual-reg approach isn’t so relevant, but the hardware is here nonetheless for those who wish to experiment.

Filling regime
The fill pressure is specified as a maximum of 250bar, and whilst that certainly makes sense when dealing with FAC power levels, for sub-12ft/lbs, as per my test gun, I’m reliably informed by ASI that 200bar is perfectly adequate. Of course, the shot count is directly linked to fill pressure, so expect far more at the higher figure. Rainson fits this model with a fairly standard Foster filling valve; the brass protrusion just forward of the angular trigger guard. Whilst the requisite snap-on, spring-loaded adaptor piece was supplied, it wasn’t needed, since my bottle’s airline snapped straight on. Hooray! Civilized and easy charging.
The Wild Plus can be used as a multi-shot or single-shot, and with three cassette magazines included, hunters are well catered for. The mags offer 12 shots in .22 (on test), 14 in .177, or 10 if you opt for .25 calibre. Filling them is simple and conventional. First, wind the cover anti-clockwise in the direction of the arrow, all the way around against spring pressure. Next, insert the first pellet head-first, blocking the back of the hole as you do so, and then move the cover slowly back clockwise, filling each chamber.

Final tweaks
Our final consideration regarding preparation at this stage is getting the stock elements to fit. This can all be done without firing a shot. The Wild Plus sports a pleasingly soft rubber butt pad, and by tweaking the retaining screw on the right side, the pad can be shifted forwards or backwards, effectively setting the length of pull to suit. Surprisingly, it doesn’t adjust for height, but given that the synthetic cheekpiece does, via its raiser-bar, this is no big deal. Suffice it to say, I achieved satisfactory results on test, with a well-supported sight picture, despite the Wild creating a high sightline.

Handling and feel
Shoulder the Wild Plus and you’ll soon know whether the underside Picatinny accessory rail is a bonus or an irritation in the aim. This depends on where your leading hand falls up front. It’s great to have the option for add-ons, but if you do need to remove it (via two screws), there are two small rails, one on either side, just ready and waiting. As for gripping the carbon-fibre buddy bottle, this material is somewhat warmer than steel, so it works well. I love the soft rubber pistol grip, and the contours are spot-on.
The bullpup configuration gives a ‘planted’ feel with the action centralised, and that’s a big part of the appeal for many. Factor in a pleasingly light, adjustable, two-stage trigger, and we’re off to a great start. With three magazines included, it seems a shame not to utilise them, but for those who wish to single-load, fear not, as the breech block has been designed to be wide enough to allow for this. There’s no tray, but I have to say, I didn’t miss one. Cycling the side-lever requires little effort, but just occasionally it proved a little sticky with certain pellets when magazine-fed, yet smooth as silk in single-shot mode. So, be selective with your ammunition, as the correct pellet choice can so often make a big difference.

Chrono corner
Fill pressure-wise, for the record, I stayed at 200bar. Now, given that there’s a power adjuster located on the left side of the breech, I thought I would see what it does before running a consistency check. With the power level set to max, my test rifle produced around 10 to 10.5ft/lbs depending on the pellet. Set midway, it produced 7.4ft/lbs, and the low-power setting dropped this to around 7ft/lbs. Just being able to wind down power like this is great for informal plinking or practice, and low power, of course, means many more shots per fill.
OK, back to high power. Remember, this model comes with a regulated action, so it’s the consistency we’re looking for at this stage. I decided to monitor the first 100 shots using Wasp pellets, which yielded an average of around 10ft/lbs and a total spread of just 13fps—an excellent and entirely realistic result using unprepared pellets straight from the tin. JSB Jumbos tweaked the power up to 10.5ft/lbs, but the action could be set higher if need be. For the record, after 100 shots, the residual main bottle pressure was 140bar.

Moderator?
In terms of muzzle report, the Wild Plus isn’t overly noisy as standard, but it does come supplied with a chunky silencer in the box, so I was itching to see it in place. It simply screws onto the ½” UNF thread at the front, but be warned—at a hefty 10oz, this moderator adds significant weight and, unsurprisingly, alters the balance. No doubt it stabilises the muzzle, but the desired weight distribution, in my experience, is very personal to the shooter. I like weight up front, but many don’t. Having the option to experiment, though, is a big plus.
As far as downrange performance with and without the moddy in place, I detected little difference in terms of accuracy. The initial results were fairly average using JSB Jumbo .22 ammunition, with ¾” groups over 30 yards. However, as is so often the case with airguns, this Rainson proved a little pellet-fussy. Stumbling across some Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum pellets, I suddenly closed groupings down to sub-½” at 30 yards and ¾” over my 38-yard range. Very usable indeed and satisfying in such a compact sporter.

Verdict
Overall, quite encouraging, as the Rainson Wild Plus proved to be both a pleasure to shoot and a solid performer. Yes, the dual regulator system is primarily aimed at the FAC sector of the market and is not so relevant in sub-12ft/lbs, but Rainson’s slick presentation, sturdy build, and extensive features list, not to mention all those goodies included in the box, make for a highly appealing airgun. Price-wise, we’re talking mid-market, and there are cheaper options out there, but for lovers of this style of rifle, the Wild Plus ticks all the right boxes.