You’d be forgiven for thinking the Weihrauch spring airgun line up hasn’t changed in years. True, the same models have been in production for decades, but subtle changes and improvements mean the company still dominates the sector both in terms of accuracy and reliability.
The HW95 S Adjustable is a case in point. The original rifle was an instant hit, but the addition of an alterable butt turned a good rifle into one a great one.
It measures 1160mm (45.75 inches) including a 190mm (7.5 inches) screw on silencer that does a good job of muting muzzle crack and makes breaking the 310mm (12.25 inches) barrel easier.
Thanks to its slim stock, the HW95 S Adjustable is light at around 3.4kgs (7.5lbs) unscoped. Weihrauch says it is ‘walnut finished’. I don’t know if that means it is walnut or walnut stained beech. It matters very little though as it looks superb as does the inky black metalwork.
Slackening an allen bolt adjusts the solid rubber shoulder pad by 20mm up and down. Another bolt on the right of the ambidextrous butt raises the cheekpiece by up to 35mm to aid eye to scope alignment.
The pistol grip enables either a thumb up or wrapped around grip and has panels of stippling on either side, as does the forend which is rounded on the underside.
Weihrauch’s Rekord trigger unit redefined how good an air riffle trigger could be when introduced in the last century and it’s still setting the standard today. Creep-free, the two stages are clearly defined and the let off is crisp and clean. A screw behind the blade accessed via a hole in the trigger guard adjusts weight.
The cross-bolt safety catch on the HW95 S Adjustable is another tried and tested Weihrauch design. Located at the back of the action, it sets when the barrel is swept down to cock the action and needs only to be pushed through from left to right.
There’s no anti-bear trap mechanism but the automatic safety ensures that if you pull the trigger for some reason the barrel won’t fly up and damage you or the rifle. It also means you can de-cock the action by holding the broken barrel down, releasing the safety and pulling the trigger to return the barrel under control.
I’ve shot the HW95 many times, so the range test held few surprises, although the ability to adjust the butt was a welcome improvement, making the rifle even more comfortable. A ten-shot string averaged 558 feet/second (FPS) with 14.66 grain H&N Field Target Trophy pellets (10.47 ft/lbs) with a variation of just five FPS.
Accuracy was consistent across a range of pellets but marginally best with H&N Baracuda 15 which produced 26mm centre-to-centre (CTC) five-shot groups at 30 metres with a higher average power output of 11.35 ft/lbs.
Weihrauch HW95 S Adjustable is pictured below
While it will no doubt divide opinion, there’s no denying the Norica Black Eagle’s distinctive two-tone colour scheme will get you noticed. And that’s a good thing because whether you like the aesthetics or not, this is an extremely competent rifle.
Measuring 1,190mm (47 inches) overall with a 354mm (20 inches) barrel and tipping the scales at 3.3 kgs (7.4 lbs), the Black Eagle is a full-size rifle. The stock is made from ‘vaporised’ beech and covered with a water-based black ink finish that is relieved by panels of natural wood chequering on the steeply raked pistol grip and forend.
The sporter design stock is well proportioned with a non-adjustable ventilated shoulder pad and subtle comb to help eye alignment down the rifle. A cheekpiece on the left favours right-handers, but lefties should be able to shoulder the Black Eagle comfortably enough.
The trigger blade, like the guard, is made from plastic. However, despite this, the action is good for a rifle at this price point. There is adjustment via a screw at the back of the trigger accessed via a hole in the trigger guard. However, with a smooth first stage, distinct stop and short second stage, I found it fine straight out of the box.
A large plastic cocking aid makes breaking the Black Eagle easy and sweeping down the barrel, if a little crunchy, requires only minimal effort and lock up on return is nice and solid.
The cocking stroke also automatically sets the safety catch which is a blade forward of the trigger. You’ll need to push it forward to take a shot and although I’m not a fan of safety catches within the trigger guard, it does operate very smoothly and is undeniably easy to access.
There’s no anti-bear trap but the automatic safety catch affords some protection should the trigger release with the barrel broken. As a result, you can de-cock the Black Eagle by holding the broken barrel, pulling the trigger and returning the barrel under control.
A set of open sights are included, the front one of which, a red fibre encased in a ventilated hood, is fixed. The rear sight comprises a pair of green fibres and is adjustable with a screwdriver for both windage and elevation.
Most people will choose to fit a scope to the 170mm (6.7 inches) long dovetail rail to which Norica has attached a plate to prevent scope creep.
I tried several brands of pellet on the range before setting on 8.4 grain JSB Exacts which served up 29 mm five shot groups at 25 metres. The chronograph showed an average of 772 FPS on our .177 test rifle (11.12 ft/lbs) with a spread of 23 FPS.
Norica Black Eagle is pictured below
On a recent Airgun Extra podcast someone asked: ‘what makes a good air rifle?’ A simple question on the surface and yet it led to a lengthy debate the upshot of which was nothing more conclusive than ‘it depends’ with factors like being cheap, well-made, good-looking, accurate, durable and consistent all thrown into the mix.
Every now and then a rifle comes along that ticks most of those boxes. The Crosman Summit could well be one such rifle. It’s undeniably affordable at well under £200, which includes a surprisingly good quality parallax adjustable 3-9x40 scope and equally good single piece mount. And if traditional sporter looks are important to you, the Summit is a handsome devil too.
The ambidextrous beech stock is finished to a standard that would put many more expensive rifles to shame. There’s a ventilated but non-adjustable recoil absorbing shoulder pad and the comb sets you up to look through the scope perfectly.
The butt transitions nicely into the steeply raked pistol grip that swells to fill your palm and will allow either a thumb up or wrap around grip. Panels of chequering either side of the grip as well as the forend look good but are too shallow to give much grip.
Including the plastic cocking aid, the barrel accounts for 475mm (18.75 inches) of the rifle’s overall 1,035mm (40.75 inches) total length. Weight, including the scope and mount, is 3.8kgs (8.5 lbs).
Given the price, you can’t expect everything to be perfect and although the Summit’s trigger can be adjusted with the stock removed, out of the box the first stage was short, and the second stage very long with a little creep. When it does come though, the recoil is surprisingly light and there’s very little in the way of muzzle flip or spring twang.
The cocking action too is smooth and fuss free. Sweeping back the barrel requires little effort. Located within the trigger guard, the safety is a short blade which I found too close to the trigger when in the safe position, requiring me to poke a fingernail behind it to push it forward. There is an anti-bear trap to prevent accidental discharge with the barrel broken, though this does prevent you from de-cocking the rifle.
All these are relatively minor things, especially when you remind yourself of the price and the inclusion of a decent scope and mount.
On the range, the chronograph showed an average of 534 FPS or 9.28 ft/lbs with 14.44 grain H&N Field Target Trophy pellets, and a spread over 10-shots of 11 FPS. Accuracy for a rifle that will be used mainly for plinking and dealing with the occasional rat under the shed was more than acceptable too with CTC five shot groups of 31mm at 20 metres.
Crosman Summit is pictured below
Having been brought up on a BSA Meteor, Mercury and Airsporter diet, the brand holds a special nostalgic place in many airgunners’ hearts. For the same reason, we desperately want a BSA springer that can mix it with Germany’s finest. In the new Lighting CLX, the only UK made break barrel in the market, many believe we have one.
The old Lightning, available either as a springer or gas ram, was a marmite gun. Those who liked it loved it. And those that didn’t could not be convinced. The good news is that the CLX version is likely to satisfy die-hard fans and may well convince some of those in the other camp.
Just about everyone agrees the new rifle is a looker. Especially the sumptuous walnut stock version which carries a £20 premium. That’s not to say the beech version won’t turn heads either, thanks to its curvy and swoopy stock.
Our .22 calibre beech rifle measures 1,050mm (34.25 inches) and weighs 3.17kgs or a hair under 7lbs. The .177 version is 50mm (two inches) longer.
The butt has a recoil-absorbing shoulder pad that is not adjustable. Raised cheekpieces on both sides of the stock means the Lightning CLX is truly ambidextrous, and a high comb both gives good eye alignment to a scope and balances the deep cut out on the underside.
The pistol grip has panels of graduated chequering that look good and aid grip. There’s more chequering on the forend that swells nicely to accommodate your lead hand before narrowing towards the end.
A 217mm (8.5 inch) silencer screws onto the 255mm (10 inch) cold hammer forged barrel for a combined length of 382mm (17 inches). The combination makes the Lightning CLX easy to cock and relatively quiet to shoot.
At the rear of the action, the rotary safety catch is manually operated and in the fire position, indicated with a red flag, when turned to the left. To prevent injury or damage, the Lightning CLX is fitted with an anti-bear trap that prevents the ability to de-cock the rifle.
The rifle’s ergonomic strengths coupled with the renowned quality of BSA’s cold hammer forged barrel demands a trigger that won’t let it down. Fortunately, the new two stage adjustable design doesn’t disappoint and is a delight to shoot.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Lightning CLX showed a preference for BSA’s own brand pellets with the 14.66 grain Goldstar versions proving to be best over 25 metres. A 10-shot string showed 587 FPS with a variance of 12 FPS for an average 11.22 ft/lbs. In terms of accuracy, I was able to return five shot groups with a CTC of 28mm in a moderate breeze.
BSA Lightning CLX is pictured below
Air Arms announced its distribution deal with Indian company Precihole just over a year ago. As a result, rifles that were almost a household name in their home market are now available to British airgun shooters.
The brand is aimed at the budget to mid-price market and includes a number of PCP rifles. However, its break barrels have increasingly found favour in the affordable spring gun sector.
Available in .177 calibre only, the Minerva measures 1090 mm (43 inches) and weighs 3.2 kgs (7lbs) unscoped. The black plastic sporter stock helps save weight and is bomb proof, which is handy given the rifle is likely to appeal to younger shooters and beginners despite it being full-sized.
That’s not to imply any lack of quality. Far from it, there are no sharp edges or obtrusive moulding seams, and the finish on the matte back metalwork is just as good.
There’s no adjustment on the rubber recoil shoulder pad but prominent cheekpieces both sides as well as a raised cheek comb means the Minerva is both ambidextrous and comfortable on aim.
The pistol grip is quite slim – something that will also appeal to younger shooters – but adults will find it easy to use as well. Panels of moulded chequering add grip.
A broad trigger blade provides plenty of feel and there is weight adjustment via an allen screw forward of the blade. Affordable the Minerva may be, but Precihole has not stinted on the trigger – there is a defined transition between the two stages with a clean let off and only a hint of creep.
Like many rifles at this price point, the Minerva comes with a set of open sights – a hooded post at the front and a notched rear sight that you can adjust for elevation and windage. There’s also a 140mm (5.5 inches) dovetail to accept a scope.
You need only a light tap to break the 450 mm (17.7 inches) barrel, and the cocking action requires minimal effort – a process that is pleasingly free of any graunching. With a pellet inserted into the breech, lock up is solid.
Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets (8.4 grains) had the edge in terms of accuracy on the range, returning 29mm CTC five shot groups at 20 metres. The firing action was twang free and the pellets were delivered at an average of 766 FPS (10.95 ft/lbs) over 10-shots with a variance of 19 FPS.
Precihole Minerva is pictured below
Spring powered airguns have enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years. In part we have the covid lockdowns to thank as lapsed shooters remembered the fun they used to have in their back garden and purchased a springer to resurrect those memories.
However, it’s fair to say that more experienced shooters fed up with the unerring consistency of modern PCPs have sought out springers for added challenge. How many people have you heard say their PCP is ‘soulless’ or ‘too easy to shoot’?
And they have a point. Spring powered air rifles are harder to shoot, but only because they demand practice and proper shooting technique. Get it right though and a good springer has the potential to be every bit as rewarding and accurate as a PCP. You don’t have the expense and hassle of charging gear to worry about either, which makes spring powered airguns an excellent choice for newcomers, youngsters or shooters on a tight budget.
First published 20th March 2025
