The Firearm Blog

Aside from the questionable name of SOCOM being applied to air rifles, I really like the styling of these new rifles. Three models will eventually be available but only the Socom Extreme is currently available to be purchased.

The SOCOM EXTREME was created for an all new level in long distance air gun shooting and hunting.

Gamo took their famous 1250 powerplant and re-tuned the beast to deliver a stunning velocity of over 1650 fps using the new PBA Platinum .177 ammo. The powerplant was matched to a precision steel, composite jacketed bull barrel which also helps reduce the larger cocking force. The precision barreled action is mated to a newly designed tactical, light weight composite stock. This specially engineered stock has a long tapered sure grip forend which leads back to pistol grip with palm swell for quick steady mounting. The buttstock features an ergonomically shaped cheekpiece which works for right and left handed shooters. Each SOCOM EXTREME air rifle is fitted with a special 3-9x50 Scope with red, green and blue illuminated glass etched reticle securely anchored by the Gamo solid one-piece mount. The composite stock reduces gun weight to a manageable 9 lbs compared to a heavier wood stock air rifle.

MSRP $399.95

SOCOM EXTREME

The SOCOM TACTICAL is the ultimate air rifle for high performance flexibility for day or night shooting. The Tactical composite stock has a custom molded forepiece and palm swell grip area for maximum control. The fully adjustable tactical comb has a raised cheekpiece and allows for an instant sight picture adjustment using the optical or the included fiber optic fixed sights. The receiver is topped with a precision 3-9x40 AR Scope anchored by a solid Gamo one-piece rail mount. The scope is fitted with a powerful, fully adjustable precision laser and light which quickly readies the SOCOM TACTICAL for night operations. The 26" barrel is made of precision rifled steel and is shrouded in a fully composite jacketed fluted polymer bull barrel. The barrel on the SOCOM TACTICAL is also fitted with the Gamo ND52, Noise Dampening Technology muzzle dampner. Combined with outstanding velocity at nearly 1300 fps with new PBA Platinum .177 ammo. The Tactical is fully capable of handling any backyard varmint incursions 52% quieter than a standard spring air rifle.

MSRP $329.95

SOCOM TACTICAL

The SOCOM CARBINE is specially configured to offer quick mounting and target acquisition. Its Gamo power plant is tuned to deliver a sizzling velocity of nearly 1300 fps with the new PBA Platinum ammo through a short, composite jacketed, precision rifled .177 cal steel barrel. The 3-9x40 precision AR scope is securely anchored to the receiver by the solid, one-piece Gamo mount. The long eye relief and brilliantly clear optic work in tandem with the special all-weather composite stock with sure-grip forend, palm swell pistol grip and adjustable comb with cheekpiece. The shooter can instantly adjust the stock for his or her comfort.

MSRP $329.95

SOCOM CARBINE

The Target Cannon is a reusable reactive target designed to be used with .22 LR firearms or high powered air guns.

The device has three vertical “barrels” which are loaded with blackpowder. A shotgun primer is inserted into the side of the barrel. The shooter aims at a hole in the front steel plating. Through the hole is a steel plunger that ignites the primer. The result is a big bang and lots of smoke.

It looks like a lot of fun and only costs 25c per target (according to the manufactures website. I do not reload. ). That even cheaper than the poor-mans-reactive-target (pool chalk).

More info at Target Cannon.

Yesterday a highly placed source in the air gun industry (who wishes to remain anonymous) told me that air guns sales are also riding the gun buying frenzy wave. Crossbow sales have also noticeably increased.

There is a lot to be said about air guns at a time when ammunition is so expensive.

Crossman have licensed a gas piston technology and will be incorporating it into a range of air rifles. The word “gas piston” probably has you thinking of gas operated autoloader rifles. In the context of air guns, “gas piston” refers to the piston system of break barrel air guns. Instead of compressing a spring when cocked, they compress gas. When the trigger is pulled the piston is released, the piston is pushed forward by the expanding gas. The piston in turn compresses air which pushes the pellet out of the rifle.

From the press release:

The heart of gas piston technology is its use of nitrogen as the power, instead of a coiled steel spring.

Unlike steel and CO2, nitrogen isn’t adversely affected by temperature. In addition, the technology allows for much easier cocking. The nitro piston starts engaging the moment the shooter starts cocking the gun. Gas pistons can also be left cocked for long periods of time without degrading and losing velocity, the way steel springs do. Also, when a steel spring uncoils, the vibration is not only annoying, it compromises precision. “Nitro Piston technology solves both by creating a smoother cocking force and releasing the gun’s power more quickly,” said D’Arcy.

The new rifles will not be available until June, but Pyramyd Air have them available for pre-order. They claim the piston system produces a lot less noise (most of the noise from a break barrel airgun is the piston), less recoil, easier cocking and long lasting.

They are available for pre order for $324.99. They comes in .22 and .177 versions (1000 fp/s and 1200 fp/s respectively) and either either a black synthetic or digital camo thumbhole stock. They all feature a bull barrel and two stage trigger.

Air gun expert and blogger Tom Gaylord was involved in the development of the system. If he was involved it must be good! I don’t think he would risk his reputation on an inferior product.

At SHOT Crosman unveiled two new PCP air rifles: the Challenger 2009 and the Benjamin PCP Marauder.

The Challenger 2009 is an upgrade of the Challenger 2000 and is designed for three-position air rifle competition.

The new challenger features a fully adjustable, match grade trigger. The individual shooter can adjust length of pull, seer engagement and trigger weight. The breech has also been completely redesigned to the loading port is farther forward to accommodate a new ambidextrous PCP bolt action. The breech redesign also allows for more eye relief adjustment. The rear diopter sight can be adjusted for all three shooting positions. The new breech also made it possible to incorporate a floating choked Lothar Walther barrel.

…

Because this gun is specifically designed for three-position shooting the velocity will be factory set at 530 fps for a minimum of 70 shots.

Its will sell for $549.99 and should be available in May.
The Crosman Benjamin PCP Marauder is an interesting air rifle. According to Crosman is is integrally suppressed … or something like that:

The Marauder features an internally shrouded barrel that captures the sound and makes this gun significantly quieter than any gun we have released and makes it one of the quietest guns on the market today.

The Marauder has been designed to operate at a starting fill pressure of 2000 PSI. However, this gun can be filled to a higher fill pressure of 3000 PSI for even more shots at a sustained velocity of 1100 fps with .177 caliber and 1000 fps at .22 caliber. The Marauder offers our Dual Fuel technology so it can be filled with CO2 for more shots at a lower velocity.

The Marauder will be available in April for $529.

Gamo have a new break barrel air rifle called the Hunter Extreme. They claim it is the fastest spring air gun on earth.

Gamo Hunter Extreme .22

The .22 rifle will push a lead pellet at 950 fps. From my limited knowledge of air guns, I think this is 10-20% more power. The downside is that is take 65 lbs of effort to cock the rifle.

Specs:

Caliber: .22
Velocity: 1300 feet per second (fps) with PBA*, 950 fps with Lead
Max Energy: 32 Joules
Break Barrel: Single Cocking System
Barrel: Jacketed steel bull barrel
Cocking Effort: 65 lbs
Trigger: Second Stage adjustable

* Gamo PBA: Performance Ballistic Alloy. A lighter non-lead brand of pellets.

In a promotional video from Gamo a hunter takes down a 250 pound boar with the .177 model using the PBA pellet (being pushed at 1600 fp/s).

I am pretty skeptical about this video. I originally uploaded it to youtube to embed it on the blog but then decided to delete it. I do not think they should be encouraging kids to go pig hunting with a .177 air rifle. Especially since the video looks like a setup – a docile pig is shot at near point blank range from an elevated angle.

More info on the rifle and the video mentioned above can be had at the Hunter Extreme website.

Scott Pilkington, who owns Pilkington Competition Equip. LLC, has invented an AR-15 PCP air gun upper. The BF-17 is powered by CO2 with a gas is tank is inside the handguard.

Interestingly enough the upper is a real A2 upper that they then modify and fit the air gun parts.

From Pilkington:

We all know that one the best ways to practice in the off season is an air rifle and it certainly develops your skills, but there still numerous fine points of muscle memory and sight acquisition that cannot be the same as your Service Rifle, at least with traditional air rifles. But we decided that we could give you everything your want, the same as your target AR-15 has them already. The exact sight picture and EXACT trigger feel along with the exact feel of your buttstock weighted just the way you like it against your own cheek.

How can we do that? Half of the answer is already in your hands, your personal AR-15 lower receiver. The other half is the new BF-17 upper that houses an air rifle action made by Pilkguns. The BF-17 upper uses actual AR-15 components like an A2 upper, front sight mount, charging handle and handguards. It also has National Match ¼ minute rear sights matched to a top quality .177 Lothar Walther barrel to put your shots in the X ring where we know you have the talent to place them.

Why would you want this upper? Cheap practice with the exact same trigger pull as your 5.56mm upper. If you are used to the AR platform this would be a great competition air gun.

The cost is estimated to be between $800 and $1100. You can pre-order one for a $250 deposit. A semi-auto and A4 flattop upper version are in the works.

More info here.

Gamo have updated the suppressed Whisper air rifle. The Whisper X is apparently makes less noise and has a cool looking ergonomic stock.

The Whisper X is a break barrel and is comes in a .22 or .177 caliber

Specs:

Weight: 6.61 lbs
Muzzle Velocity: .177 ft/s 1000
Muzzle Velocity: .22 ft/s 722 .

I am not sure about availability or pricing yet. Gamo USA do not update their website very often.

More info here.

Mark Dennehy is a programmer and an ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) qualified judge. He is developing a tool to analyze the results of the air rifle shooters at his gun club.

Cool stuff.

More here.

I came across a Russian firm called DAC / Demyan who manufacture a bullpup conversion of their T-4 Carbine PCP bolt action rotary magazine repeating air gun.

T-4 Bullpup


T-4 Carbine

The conversion to a bullpup configuration is straight forward. Initially I was confused by what appears to be a double set trigger but after looking at the below diagram is seems to be a simple safety that prevents the trigger from moving.

If you have ever wondered how bullpup rifles work then take a look at this cutout. I have annotated the diagram so that it is comprehensible by those with less technical knowledge of firearms. The parts needed to move the trigger forward, the trigger linkage, are plain to see.

Click to expand (warning: it is a big file)

Another interesting feature of this rifle is the built in suppressor. This probably prevents it from being imported into the US and any another other country that regulates suppressors. The Gamo Whisper, which also includes a built in suppressor, is apparently legal because its’ suppressor is made from plastic and would be blown up by the gas from even a .22 LR cartridge.

The T-4 is available in .177, .22 and .25.

Specs:

Weight: 2.8 kg : 6.1 lbs
Length: 680 mm / 26.7″
Barrel length: 420 mm / 16.5″
Trigger pull: 1.5 kg / 4.4 lbs
Magazine Capacity: 8 pellets
Operating pressure: 30 MPa (300 bar)
Verification pressure: 45 MPa (450 bar)

Price (Carbine, bullpup price not listed): 40000 Rubles (currently US$ 1371.88).

The stock seems to have been through a variety of evolutions. These are other photos I found:

I prefer the P90 inspired stock, although the pistol grip looks a bit square.

A cursory google search did not reveal a US distributer. Demyan is going to be at SHOT Show 2009 so either they do have distributor lined up or are looking for one. The SHOT Show description of the company:

Original research and manufacture of sportguns. Our company produces high-quality air rifles for Fild Target, BenchRest, as well as compact powerful air rifles for hunting by caliber 4.5, 5.5, 6.35.

10, 2nd Donskoy Lane
Moscow, 119071
Russian Federation
Business Phone: 011 74959847629
Business Fax: 011 74959847629
www.demyan.info

Booth : 2080

If you are going to SHOT and come across their booth I would be interested to know who their distributer is, if they have one, if the T-4 carbine is going to be exported to the US, and if so its’ price.

B.B. has written a very interesting post about a working replica of an outside lock air rife. This type of air rifle was made between 1600 and the mid 1700s. It is called an outside lock because the firing mechanism is literally on the outside of the action.

Instead of knocking open a value with a hammer and instantly releasing gas when the trigger is pulled, a cam is used to time the release of the gas. It creates a very effective system, although to take advantage of the slow release of gas a 32 3/4″ barrel is needed.

I highly recommend this article.

The latest Popular Mechanics (Jan 2009) has an article about the 12 foot long vertical gun NASA has at the Ames Research Center. The gun is used to simulate impacts from meteor and space debris.

What is very interesting is that it utilizes a hybrid air gun / gun powder system. It uses a gunpowder charge to accelerate a piston which compresses hydrogen gas to 100,000 psi (maximum pressure of a .338 Lapua Magnum is 60,916 psi). This propels a saboted projectile at 26,400 fps!

The piston system if very common. All spring air guns use it, even the simple springer airsoft guns use a simple piston system. The difference is they use a spring to propel the piston which compresses air.

Here is my attempt at explaining my understanding of how the NASA gun works:

Excuse my drawing skills. Click to expand

UPDATE: A diagram by NASA of a Light Gas Gun (thanks to R.A.W and Billl):

I got it more or less correct

Gamo have released a new .117 pellet called the PBA ARMOR. The PBA stands for “Performance Ballistic Alloy” which is a non-lead alloy. The alloy used in these pellets is harder than the alloy used in the PBA/Raptor pellets, hence the name.

New ARMOR Performance Ballistic Alloy, the non-lead Alloy Airgun Ammunition that increases piercing power up to 20% over lead, while maintaining “match grade” accuracy. Specifically designed as a hunting load, the new P.B.A.™ ARMOR ammunition is 50% harder than lead causing penetration to be enhanced by up to 100% in tests in actual hunting situations as well as ballistic mediums. ARMOR P.B.A. test results show ballistic stability at super-sonic speeds and up to 90% weight retention using the new semi-pointed design.

Retail price: $12.95 / 80 pellets

H/T: Ammoland

I received an email from a company called ActionAirgun. They are running a game which starts later this month.

What do you do when you love shooting, but live in a climate where you can only shoot outdoors (comfortably) a couple months of the year? You start a new indoor action target shooting sport and invite the world to participate via the internet … that’s what.

Each week, registered shooters download three Courses of Fire from the Compete section. The COF specifies how to set up the range for that week’s competition – indicating how many target stands are needed, where to place the targets, where to begin and end the shooting course, and any props that may be needed to complete the challenge.

More here.