OLD DOWNS PURSUITS HFT and Clay

Got a voucher for four free sessions at Old Down Pursuits rifle club off the Wifey Christmas just gone, so due to the fact that sessions are every second sunday and crap weather in general, i finally got to go. Its the other side of Cirencester from where i live, so 1st sunny sunday found me being dropped off by the wifey.(Two weeks later it's pissing down with rain again)

There is a lot of clay shooting going on which i ignored, but the 30 lane HFT course did take my fancy.

Some one with a HW100 using the HFT course at Old Downs Pursuits.

Though i didn't take advantage of this i did of the sighting and plinking range, with it's many spinning targets, knockdown targets out to 45 yards , and a large board for sighting with a couple of once used Shoot N C targets on it.

Two lanes and four spaces at the sighting and practice range.

Having brought a selection of rifles, a Hills pump and a small bag with some tools and pellets in it i was content to sit at the double bench and seats and plink away, next time i'll take less rifles and some target paper for fine tuning of sighting.

All set up and ready to rock and roll.

I started off using the Air Arms Shamal in .177 with 4.52 AA field diablo pellets, this rifle is heavy, incredibly accurate, but accuracy goes tits up if it's canted.

I get a boner just thinking about my Shamal.

I could not top up on air as i forgot to bring a 14 mm spanner to remove the forster fitting on the pump as the rifle dates from 1989 when diver's bottles where a screw fit, so i had no idea how much air i had in it.

It's a good job the air cylinder is this big on the .177 Air Arms Shamal,it's annoying if you forget the spanner to attach the refill hose.

Fair enough i must of got over 80 shots out of the Shamal so i could of used it, however i had topped it up on air over a year ago so it's nice to know the old girl is still air tight.

The .22 Air Arms s410 for which i did have an adaptor fitting for shot very accurately as well using H&N field target trophy pellets, I did have trouble hitting accurately past 40 yards as i had forgotten how much hold over i needed. I used clip after clip on the s410 and refilled the resevior twice, as i did have the adaptor fitted to the pump for this one.

.22 Air Arms s410 is also a bloody cool bunny basher

Later in the session i did use the ASI Sniper which has proven to be an accurate little springer shooting AA diablo's at around 7 ft/lb, annoyingly this one didn't hit a dickie bird as the sighting was out.

The ASI Sniper is not too bad for an old Gamo.

I met about three pairs using the HFT course who were very affable and friendly, they had rifles such as a BSA Ultra, a HW 100, and one of those Evanix tactical jobs. Also a father and son with a under lever and one of those 715 Dan Wesson rifled barrel co2 pistols which they kindly let me have a go with, i really was impressed with the pistol even if the trigger pull in double action was a little on the heavy side.

I was having so much fun i didn't even notice the clay shooters banging around and was saddened when the wifey informed me by phone she was on her way to pick me up, after all i would look a trifle dodgey walking through Cirencester with three gun baps on my shoulders. Any way that's it for now.

TTFN

Best wishes, Wing Commander Sir Nigel Tetlington-Smythe.   

.22 Air Arms s410 Carbine Review pt2

I bought and reviewed the s410 very early on this year, which really could only be a cosmetic review. Now that I have owned and used it for nearly a year, I can give a more comprehensive practical review of this classic air rifle.

.22 Air Arms s410 carbine with Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 scope.

This particular S410 is a pre-anti tamper model from 2002; the serial number to tell you this can be found on the hammer housing below the breech on the right hand side. 

Air Arms will be happy to let you know the age of your rifle.

The bolt handle on the right hand side curves upwards, almost as if someone had put a left handed bolt handle on by mistake, but this was how they were fitted from the factory for a short period. I perfer it this way as it feels a lot more solid and easier to use, it sticks out more but you can just tap it up with your palm and pull back. To cock and cycle the mag you need to use clear defined motions with a firm hand.

Bolt sticks out, but I actually prefer it that way.

There is no safety on the trigger blade which shows it's an earlier model, so I got into the habit of not cocking the rifle until I needed to take a shot. The trigger is two stage and adjustable in both, though it is set up perfectly as it is. There is is a shortish first stage travel and the second stage let off is crisp, predictable, and relatively light. I don't have any equipment to measure the trigger pull but I know a good trigger when I feel one!

Old style trigger with no safety, but still has all the adjustment you could ever want.

The Air Arms moderator is very good and on firing the rifle is whisper quiet, in fact the spring and hammer are heard over the report.  It slips over the end of the barrel and is secured with a grub screw, the fitting is 10 mm diameter.

Air Arms moderator

The barrel band at the front is secured by two grub screws and can shift if the moderator is knocked hard enough; this is sorted by loosening the grub screws, letting the barrel reset itself, then locking it in place by tightening the grub screws. You know this has happened if your POI has shifted over to the left or right for no apparent reason, though you can buy after market barrel bands that have three grub screws to hold it in place more securely.

One of the two barrel band securing grub screws,

Accuracy is very good, with the selection of .22 pellets I have tried in it so far giving half inch groups at 40 yards. Shots were taken sat down with my elbows supported on my thighs so could be improved upon if bench rested.

Pellets in order of accuracy.               Muzzle energy.

Air Arms diabolo's 16gr                            11 ft/lb

H&N Field Trophies 14.65gr                      11.3 ft/lb

Falcon Accuracy Plus 13.65gr                    10.2 ft/lb

RWS Superdomes 14.5gr                          10.5 ft/lb

Falcon Accuracy Plus being a lighter pellet will give less muzzle energy than a heavier pellet.

Until I recently got a new chronoscope I had been charging the rifle to 185 bar, shooting six or seven mags of 10 pellets, then topping up the cylinder when I got back home. The guage on the rifle will only give you a rough idea of how much air you have, after seven mags the rifle guage reads 100 bar but the more accurate pump guage reads 115 bar. One time air pressure in the rifle got so low that it dumped the rest of the air over the two hours before I got home to refill it, and this is why I now shoot no more than seventy shots.

 

On board pressure guage gives a rough guide.

I ran a shot string through the chronoscope recently with 5,51 AA diabolo's starting at 195 bar, pellets were straight from the tin and some of their skirts were not that round either. I measured one shot in every five, removing the mag and dry firing the other four. 18 shots were recorded giving the equivalent of a 90 shot string, I was mildly surprised and very happy with the results as there was only an extreme spread of 12 FPS.

The magazine is indexed by the rifle itself from a unit that runs along the right hand side of the action, and although the mag in it's plastic casing looks like a spring loaded magazine, it's not. 

Pellets are loaded nose first through the hole in the yellow plastic.

The casing keeps the pellets in the mag and helps it slide into the action and lock it in place, though sometimes the bolt slips forwards a little if not held back, and clashes with the mag when loading it. 

The tip of the bolt can get in the way of the magazine if you're not careful.

Pulling the bolt back to change mags also cocks the rifle, so fitting a full mag will leave the rifle cocked and ready to fire. I usually leave the last chamber empty then fit the mag returning the bolt; firing the empty chamber leaves it ready to cock and load the next pellet and acts as a safety. Filling the mag with most .22 pellets is simple as they fall in leaving it free to click on to the next chamber, however pellets that are 5.52 mm tend to need a nudge in from the head of the next pellet to be loaded.

 

The brass pin moves up to cycle the magazine when cocking the rifle.

The rifle is light and has a compact feel to it even with the moderator fitted, with a bipod fitted it would need a sling but I am in no immediate rush for one. I have found that it's size and weight make it easy to carry over the most treacherous of ground, and it comes to the shoulder and aquires target easily whether standing, supported, kneeling, or prone. What would be a vast improvement would be an adjustable butt pad; the rifle tends to sit high in my shoulder most of the time. Everything else fits really well; the length of pull, the fit of the pistol grip, and the chequering on the forestock and pistol grip works well and is not too obtrusive on the laquered beech stock.

Simple chequering gives good grip, even when wet.

The Bushnell Throphy 3-9x40 scope has got to be the best scope I own, most of my other scopes are Nikko Sterling and as good as they are, you can see how much better this one is. The quality of the lenses is absolutely amazing by comparison, though to look at externally the low turrets would be the only indication that this is a more expensive scope. 

A rather splendid Bushnell Trophy scope.

The sight picture is crystal clear and at 9 mag there is no distortion around the rim of the lens, it transmits plenty of light well into dusk and in dark woods which is where I do a lot of shooting. It has a very fine half mil dot recticule, this also makes for a good aquisition of target in low lighting. It's sighted for 8 and 30 yards, around 20 yards is a mil dot above, 38 yards is a mil dot below and 45 yards is two generally.

Just to show the half mil dot recticule, the sight picture is really crystal clear. Honestly.

Admittedly I don't tend to shoot things as far out as I do my other Air Arms PCP which is the Shamal, but that one is .177 and the S410 is .22; the larger calibre with it's more pronounced trajectory hits home with more authority. There is room for improvement but Air Arms have addressed this over the years by bringing out the S510 and then the Ultimate Sporter, and the quality is reflected in the prices for these air rifles

Air Arms Shamal, one solid, accurate air rifle.

One niggle I do have is that when the end cap is removed to fill the rifle with air, if you are not careful the adapter on the pump can scratch the underside of the moderator when taking it off after charging. I have have to be really careful when doing this, although I could just wrap a piece of cloth around the moderator to protect it which is the better option all round.

Scuff marks on the moderator are caused when removing the charging adaptor.

So there you have it, a review on the Air Arms s410 Carbine after using it for ten months. I could have shown you some groupings with different pellets at different ranges, but truth be told the rifle easily outperforms my ability as a marksman.

TTFN

Best wishes, Wing Commander Sir Nigel Tetlington-Smythe.

.22 Air Arms s410 Carbine Review

There is a part two on this air rifle written after using it for a year, you can find it HERE

  My latest joy!

I'm in air gun heaven.

It took a while but I finally got my .22 S410, paid off in installments over the last three months. I have to thank Allsports of Gloucester as well as my wifey for  this as it was a Christmas and birthday present combined, and Allsports were very happy to hold the rifle for me until it was paid off, just like they did with my AA Shamal last year.

Allsports of Gloucester.

It cost £550 secondhand with a 3-9x40 Bushnell Trophy scope and Air Arms moderator. As expected for it's age it is not anti tamper which is always a bonus. Being a carbine it is very short even with the moderator fitted.

Sits nicely  when kneeling.

Just the right size.

The stock being made of beech makes it very light compared to the Shamal and easy to handle. It weighs 6.27 lbs without a scope and moderator, is 41 inches long with the moderator and 36 inches without. In .22 it is capable of up to 70 shots from a full 200 bar fill, although I find it best to give it a 175 bar fill and get 50 shots, just how many shots do you need when out hunting anyway?!

Sits nicely to the shoulder

Typical of all Air Arms, the blueing is very deep and well polished, and the aluminium is adonised to the darkest black. For a secondhand rifle it is in near mint condition, and that is what you will find if you get an air rifle from Allsports.

Looks new, near as dammit.

The magazine holds ten pellets and cycles easily if you cock the bolt firmly, 

Cocking bolt curves upwards making it more comfortable to cock.

being solidly built it can take this and I found if I cycle it lightly, it doesn't rotate the next pellet every time.

Magazine loaded and fitted, it does help to have a seating tool for loading the pellets though.

Pull the cocking handle back to remove the magazine.

Though the moderator may seem long in comparison to the rest of the rifle it is whisper quiet when fired, and still would be ideal for use in a hide or from a motor. In fact I had trouble telling the difference in volume when firing a pellet and firing it with no air in it, all you can hear is the hammer striking.

Unbelievably quiet moderator, to be this quiet it has to be this long.

Below the moderator is the fill valve which is a clip on type with a solid aluminium screw on cap to protect it, as a carbine it is good for 40 to 50 spot on shots.

Brass filling port and protective end cap.

There is an on-board pressure guage to tell you how much air is left, though I generally prefer the guage on the pump for a more accurate reading.

Built in pressure guage, it's all new to me.

The stock has checkering on the pistol grip and the forestock, but I like to support the rifle with my finger tips as this let the rifle move up and down with my breathing.

Chequering on the pistol grip

Chequering on the forearm.

The monte carlo cheekpiece is ideal for hunting and HFT shooting, though I have to admit it's not as good as the one on the Shamal, but all the same it is very comfortable.

I just love the styling of the comb!

At the rear of the rifle the rubber butt pad is very comfortable, and even though it's not adjustable it fits perfectly.

comfy ventilated butt pad.

Standing, kneeling or prone at any anglem, the butt sits comfortably against my shoulder, giving me a perfect picture through the scope.

Don't worry, it wasn't loaded!

The trigger is very light and although there is no safety there is no chance of a premature shot. It's two stage with several points of adjustment and though i've not looked into it as yet it is perfect as it is. It's not too thin and is set back which I find really helpful when taking a shot, it's different to the trigger on the Shamal which is also a pleasure to use.

excellent trigger, nice and light.

With a fill of 175 bar, the rifle is set at the start of it's sweet spot and is good for at least 50 shots before it starts to drop of it's POI, though in a hunting situation I wouldn't need more than 20 shots at the most.

While looking over the Bushnell scope I found the serial number for my rifle, it's printed on the tube where the hammer hits the valve below the magazine index assembly.

serial number should tell me it's age when I can be arsed to look into it.

The 3-9x40 Bushnell Trophy scope is a splendid upmarket scope; though there is no adjustable objective or illuminated recticle, the quality of the lenses is superb. 

The mag ring on the left is very smooth

The view is crystal clear with amazing constrast and still holds a picture in near dark conditions, it certainly puts my Nikko Sterling to shame even though they are pretty impressive as scopes go.The caps for the cross hair adjustment are set very low, which is something I really like the look of and has a very fine mil dot rectical.

Nice low turrets.

Also being short sighted and having to wear glasses, something I find with a lot of cheaper scopes is that I have to slip my glasses up my forehead to get a focused sight picture , but with the Trophy I simply have to wind out a ring on the eye piece to get a focused picture with my glasses on or off.

I took the S410 down the woods to see how it compared to the Shamal which is unbelievably accurate.

The AA Shamal is unbelievably accurate and feels almost twice the weight

 At 30 yards the scope was out by 4 inches to the left and 6 inches down, but after several sighting shots the rifle was shooting true to 12 and 30 yard. All shots were taken sitting with my back to a tree, supporting the rifle with my off hand resting on my knee. I had to crane my neck to get a good sight picture without parralax as the scope is set up for your more traditional shooting positions.

In the woods and ready to go with a bag full of different pellets.

I sighted in with Air Arms Diabolo Express as they tend to be brilliant in PCP's, but I might give Falcon Accuracy Plus a go as they are lighter and I have been spoiling myself with .177 lately. They will give a flatter trajectory and certainly proved their worth in the Sharp Innova, but AA diabolo's with their 16gr of knockdown power will do for now without a doubt!

These first shots left me with a smile on my face, now to concentrate on a good 10 shot grouping.

.

At 30 yards, out of the 10 pellets in the magazine, 4 were used to fine tune and the final 6 made a decent ragged hole, though when the breeze started you could see the difference.

Just trying to compensate for the wind as i haven't used .22 for a while.

But when I waited patiently for the wind to still I managed to get a pretty decent group from 28 yards, again resting my back to a tree and supporting the rifle with my hand on my knee.

Actually 9 shots in the ragged hole as the bottom one was a flier.

All in all I must have put about 7 magazines worth of pellets through the rifle which left me with under 100 bar reading on the guage from 175 bar from the pump guage. This is the start of the sweet spot for this carbine and in hindsight I should have only put 5 magazines worth of pellets through in this session, because unwittingly I left the rifle with too little air pressure in it, and by the time I got around to pumping it back up again two hours later, all the remaining air had leaked leaving it empty. I won't be making that mistake again, that's for sure!

Just one more picture as it's so nice.

I'm not sure if I should fit sling studs to it as it is light enough to carry all day, but I do want to get some flip up covers for the scope as Allsports has a whole load of them at £5 each at the moment. Also i'd like to fit a bipod and lamp, as I don't think the extra weight will make any noticeable difference to this well balanced excellent piece of British engineering. 

TTFN

Wing Commander Sir Nigel Tetlington-Smythe.