Chris Parkin’s Floating 5

Price: £490.00

Which kid who hankers after an airgun wouldn’t dream of owning an HW95K? I have shot hundreds of air rifles over the years in both spring-piston and pre-charged format, at sub 12 ft/lbs or high power FAC specification. Yet, when it really comes down to it, what adult wouldn’t still love to own such a true representation of their shooting career from start to finish? The smooth break-barrel operation, a delightfully crisp trigger many centrefires would dream of, and accuracy you can’t doubt for plinking or pest control. All in a rifle that will outlast its owner, allowing it to be passed on to the next generation. Well, I bought one for myself and still love it now, because as I tell many a shooting student, if you can shoot a springer well, you can pretty much handle any rifle! You can push the distance, experiment with dialling scopes, learn to read the wind, and most importantly, learn recoil acceptance and trigger control within the complex dynamic motion of a sprung-powered operating cycle. The beech stock is well finished, the blued steel is deeply luscious, and all the machined components help to reinforce that Germanic heritage of gun making in steel, with no acceptance of cost or corner cutting, where form must follow function. The nods to modernity are minute, so no more iron sights, and a moderator is pre-installed for a little noise reduction. Otherwise, this rifle is not fundamentally far different in character from that old BSA Meteor or HW 35 you encountered as a child. Timeless!

Contact:

Hull Cartridge – www.weihrauch.co.uk

Price: £715.99

There are so many variants of the CZ 457, with looks, ergonomics, and prices to fit most pockets, making it a gun for everyone. It is functionally impeccable and after five years of use, I have yet to find fault with any of the 10+ that I have reviewed. My attention goes specifically to the action, which allows the barrel to be swapped out, and the chisel tip firing pin with a flat upper surface that prevents any damage occurring during dry firing practice. The trigger is a single-stage unit that’s adjustable, and tiny details indicate a true passion for gun making, with intelligent design and no cost/corner cutting. The availability of parts and spares is massive, and if you change your mind, go for a different barrel or stock. The range encompasses everything from the standard black synthetic hunting rifle through to the LRP and MDT chassis versions for ultimate precision with match-chambered barrels. All are screwcut for sound moderators, and you can have fluting, muzzle brakes, or bespoke walnut furniture. All the stocks are rigid and maintain a free-floating barrel. Rimfires are cheap to shoot and offer 100m+ potential for practice, allowing you to learn to read the wind and tinker with ballistics. When used with subsonic ammo and a moderator, they are totally painless to use for a full day. I have been asked to pick a favourite from the range and it’s almost impossible, yet I like the Stainless Synthetic, as it shows classic engineering quality yet fun modern looks and contrasting colours that are practical and corrosion resistant. A joy to own and shoot for any reason.

Contact:

Sportsman Gun Centre - www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

Price: £1216.00

I was fortunate to receive one of the very first M18s to hit the UK, and I still have it. It has many war wounds but still shoots sub-MOA, even after countless cold, damp nights while out foxing. It has been bumped, dropped, and immersed, yet with a clean-up, it’s still reliable and shows no signs of corrosion. The rifle features a three-lug bolt, the trigger is still crisp, and like many of its Mauser and Sauer brethren, it uses the superb twin-column polymer magazine that sets it apart from the competition, due to its silent operation, no ammunition damage, and the ease of loading in or out of the gun. The Picatinny rail has seen it used as the foundation for many optical and night vision reviews, and the .243 cartridge gives most moderators a run for their money. The bolt handle offers rapid operation, doesn’t jam, and can be used like the safety catch, in silence. It’s not the flashiest rifle I have ever used, and it might not shoot tiny bug hole groups on target, but it’s a hunting rifle that I love because of the functionality and ergonomic satisfaction it delivers, all at a very modest cost when compared to the Walmart specials that cost more and feel cheap in your hands. The M18 action has evolved, with stainless barrels and both solid or laminated timber stocks. There are chassis versions with a heavy barrel and the Fenris, which shows a GRS stock and a ten-round magazine for those wanting greater capacity. All of them have been reliable and beat the magic minute with factory ammo. Mauser got the balance perfect with this M18 synthetic rifle and boasts one of the finest names in the trade. They made a tool, not a toy, by coupling the needs of the hunter with modern materials and manufacturing methods.

Contact: Blaser Group -

www.blaser-group.com

Price: £9151.00

Blaser is probably the most innovative sporting rifle manufacturer, with the R8 standing out boldly, yet the K95 bewitches me. I used one a few years ago and as well as its ridiculously lightweight and compact character, it is very practical. It can be broken down into an attaché case for discreet travel yet unlike other simple break-action rifles, it uses a floating hinge mechanism to ensure you maintain tight headspace and reliable accuracy. Blaser’s quick-release scope mounting system is in place as well as a thumbhole stock and gloss-finished carbon fibre, with many additional options. Yes, it is only a single-shot rifle, and this is in huge contrast to the speed of the marque’s ultra-fast R8, but this rifle somehow captures your soul, bridging modernity with that ethos to hunt in close and make that single shot count, all while carrying a rifle that is little more than a shoulder strap in slung weight. It points like nothing else and feels like an extension of your arm. Regardless of this subtle mental feeling, the gun shoots well below MOA, and although you must break position to reload it, the fact the stock’s ergonomics are so utterly perfect allows you to reliably return to the same position in a heartbeat. The compactness of the build allows the action to remain small, and the cheekpiece to scope alignment is almost perfect. The recoil transfer through the structure is similarly linear, arriving directly to your shoulder, and even on such a light gun, there is minimal muzzle flip or aim point disturbance. A luxury rifle that’s undeniably expensive, yet technically superb, and possibly one of only two rifles I could describe as emotive.

Contact: Blaser Group - ww.blaser-group.com