Rowan Airgun Strippers

Though intrinsically nothing new, these precision accessories stand head and shoulders above similar products in design, effectiveness and quality of manufacture. The front Cover Caps are standard fair, mainly for HFT/FT boys who want to go retro polished brass or bling their rig up in polished aluminium.

The most important universal item is the Custom Barrel Band. Some shooters hardly know what it actually does, as it’s not only there to give support against the odd knock, but hold the barrel in-line also to some degree ensure the tube is semi-free-floating or almost fixed. I mention this as on a rifle I owned, the band touched on one side, but not on the other, so neither allowing the barrel to float or be held rigid. So it needed sorting. 

Rowan Ethos

Rowan has experienced this and as their ethos is to sort problems they came up with the Custom Barrel Band. It comes with two sizes of rubber O-ring, 1.5 and 1.6 mm. The former gives a very light grip whereas the latter offers a firmer fit. Yet knock the tube and you’ve still protection hovering nano-millimetres around the barrel’s OD!

Rowan machine the inside diameter of the barrel support hole larger than the factory dimensions to ensure that there is no metal to metal contact and the tube is only supported by the O-ring. This also gives the option of free-floating by removing the O-ring, but still gives protection in the event of an accidental knock. However, the 12mm barrel is not designed to be fully floated so be cautious if you wish to try a short experiment.

Strip

Air Strippers are another controversial item, but FT boys swear by them as they allow the pellet to travel through dead air before exiting the unit, as the propelling air blast is diverted away from the pellets path. As a hunter first and foremost I’ve been sceptical of these units but shooting with and without one I have to admit, though miniscule, the groups do tighten up and in competition that can mean win or be placed. The Rowan strippers are calibre-specific and adjustable for your preferred pellet. Trial and error by extending the end spigot reputedly can tighten groups further the more you experiment.

A good starting position is to set the cone knife edge a pellet’s length from the muzzle crown. The optimum position can only be found by experiment and this is best undertaken in perfectly still conditions and at a range greater than 35yds. Adjusting the cone by 1-2mm for each group fired until the best setting is found should see you find the optimum position.

Though only straying slightly in design from the original Cover Cap, the bling factor hits 11 when complimented by the other very useful and practical products featured.

Name: Air Arms S400 Adjustable Air Stripper, Custom Barrel Band & Fill Cover Cap
All available in Natural Aluminium, Black Anodised or retro-Polished Brass
Price: From £39.95 – £26.95
Contact: Rowan Engineering, 01295 251188
www.rowanengineering.com

For: Effectiveness, innovative design and value for money

Against: Not a lot for the competition range, but for hunters I recommend the barrel band

Verdict: Buy in confidence as any Rowan product has been well thought out and made to do the job 100%