ON THE FIRING LINE this month: THE NEW Stoeger THE BIG TEST XM1 COMBO It’s Quite A Combo!

18 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk THE BIG TEST

Dave Barham reveals the much anticipated PCP from Italian manufacturer, Stoeger

’ve been waiting for what seems screws and replacing the grip with like ages to get my hands on the the black one provided. Ifinal production model of Stoeger’s You can also change the cheekpiece first foray in the world of PCP air for the slightly raised one supplied, . I first saw a glimpse of the but I found that I didn’t need to do that prototype at the IWA Outdoor Classic once the scope was mounted. show in Nuremberg last year, and Stoeger has thought of everything It’s Quite A Combo! even then there was a buzz in the air with this package. Inside the box on their stand. I’m pleased to say that are two mounts that the buzz has most certainly continued attach securely to the fore end of here at Airgun Towers, because what the with the four Allen screws Stoeger has produced really is a provided. You’ll need to mount superb piece of engineering – and these in order to add the Stoeger what’s more, the finished product , but it’s worth mentioning that comes in at a rather interesting price unlike many other rifles with similar point – but more on that later. configurations, once mounted I didn’t find that the rails got in the way of SLEEK DESIGN my forehand grip in any way. One of The first thing you’ll notice about this the Picatinny mounts also has three PCP is the sleek design, typically magnetic slots built in, to house up Italian, it really looks the part from to three spare magazines, which is a whatever angle you view it. As soon nice touch. as you open the box you’re greeted OPPOSITE PAGE: It’s a light, weighing just 5.5lb without the real game changer as with a whole host of goodies, far as mobile hunting scope mounted! BIPOD! including a 3-9 x 40 scope, two is concerned With the rail mounts attached to the mag’s, a moderator, Picatinny rails, OPTIONAL EXTRAS stock I set about attaching the bipod. an interchangeable black pistol grip The XM1 comes fitted with a blue This doesn’t come as standard, but and a Monte Carlo raised cheekpiece. synthetic pistol grip, which I think Stoeger sent one to me to play with The stock is clearly designed with looks really nice on the , but if anyway. It’s an interesting concept ABOVE: You can swap ergonomics in mind, and I really out this blue pistol grip wouldn’t expect anything less from for a black one Stoeger, having used some of their “a superb piece of engineering – and what’s more, the finished springer rifles in the past. product comes in at a rather interesting price point ” As soon as I shouldered the rifle it felt comfortable and natural, and

it feels extremely solid and well BELOW: You even get a you want to change it to all black, involving two single legs, which attach built. What’s more, it’s amazingly decent scope included! you can by simply undoing the Allen to their relative mounts on each side of the foregrip. With the bipod attached, it seems very stable and is really nice to shoot from the bench and seeing that the legs are quite long and extendable, I think they will be extremely useful out in the field when lying in the prone position hunting rabbits. INTERESTING TRIGGER The trigger on the rifle is a single- stage type, but it is adjustable for length of pull. Stoeger call it their ‘Pro Adaptive Trigger system’, and by unscrewing with the small Allen key you can slide the trigger forward or backward to -4mm or +8mm to get the perfect length of pull you require. I’m no competition shooter, but I found that the factory setting was more than adequate for my needs, 

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and after putting 30 or so shots ABOVE LEFT: The flip the mag’ over and drop a pellet in FILLING UP supplied moderator through the rifle, I knew exactly simply screws on skirt first. This locks the clear cover in Stoeger also sent me one of their where the release point was going to place and then you just flip it over and stirrup pumps to fill this rifle with, be each time I squeezed the trigger. load the rest of the pellets nose first, but as I sit here writing this, I’m two Safety wise, this is a manual push- as you turn the cover until it’s full. weeks into having broken a couple button type situated immediately in ABOVE RIGHT: That’s Slotting the mag’ into the action of ribs, so that was most definitely one of the bipod legs front of the trigger guard. It’s very attached! is a doddle, too. There’s a small out of the question. I haven’t even positive in operation, with a solid lip at the bottom of the mag’ that unboxed it, but you can expect an in- push required to turn it on and off. slides neatly into the thin recess at depth review of the pump from Mark the base of the loading port, then Camoccio in the next issue! A COUPLE OF MAG’S The XM1 comes with two magazines BELOW LEFT: First job was to attach the “It’s very positive in operation, with a solid push and a single-shot tray, which will Picatinny rails please competition shooters. The required to turn it on and off ” mag’s themselves are 9-shot, self- indexing rotary types, which are really easy to load. Simply wind the you push the mag’ into place and The fill probe provided slots into a clear plastic cover round against the BELOW RIGHT: it’s held there by means of a small standard, quick-coupler socket, like Stoeger’s trigger is tension of the internal spring, then rather interesting magnet – simple, but very effective. those used by Daystate and Brocock.

20 AIR GUNNER www.airgunshooting.co.uk THE BIG TEST

Once attached to the hose, you ABOVE LEFT: The through the chrono’, which gave me one flyer, with the other 44 shots bolt is ergonomically simply remove the plug in the end of designed and smooth a solid 12.5 ft.lbs. in the .22 model grouped within half an inch at 20 the rifle cylinder and push it in, then in operation I was testing. Then it was time to hit metres. Very impressive for a non- fill. The air reservoir on the XM1 is the range. regulated .22 rifle. tiny, it’s not even an inch in diameter, yet can be filled to 200 Bar. ABOVE RIGHT: The “The more I shot it in my back garden, the more I wanted to keep push button safety is TEST TIME positive shooting it, and I found it very hard to put down, ” One thing that kept on running around my head as I was screwing on the scope, Picatinny rails and After quickly zeroing the scope, I really like the magazine system, bipod, is this rifle’s price. Stoeger BELOW LEFT: A handy which I won’t go into detail with and cocking the action is extremely way to store spare are selling the rifle (minus bipod) mag’s here, maybe in the next issue, I easy. I was expecting a ‘click-clunk’ for just £395. Yes, you read that settled down on my garden bench to type of affair, I don’t know why, maybe correctly! The more I shot it in my see what this .22 can do. I wasn’t that price point was still running back garden, the more I wanted to disappointed either, and with each around my brain, but the action is keep shooting it, and I found it very BELOW RIGHT: The squeeze of the trigger I sent the smooth and positive every time. magazine slots in hard to put down. easily and is held there pellet into the kill zone. After putting I gave the rifle the good old ‘rattle As always, I pushed two mag’s via a magnet five mag’s through the rifle, I’d had test’ and everything is solid there;

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it’s an extremely well manufactured ABOVE LEFT: This reservoir takes up to piece of machinery. 200 Bar “it’s far lighter than anything else I have shot before, which will CONCLUSION make it ideal for youngsters and older shooters, too ” I absolutely loved shooting this rifle in my garden. As I mentioned previously, I’m still really suffering ABOVE RIGHT: Pull the hunter’s dream due to the accuracy plug and insert the fill with broken ribs, but I found the probe and sheer lack of weight. I bet you’d XM1 really easy to shoot whilst notice the difference after a couple Specification standing, and even easier to shoot of hours carrying this rifle around from my bench. I think this is in part a copse in search of squirrels and Model: XM1 Combo (Includes to the rifle’s weight; it’s far lighter pigeons, compared to a traditional 3-9 x 40 scope and silencer) than anything else I have shot springer or heavier PCP hunter. Well before, which will make it ideal for done, Stoeger, on producing a very Manufacturer: Stoeger youngsters and older shooters, too. affordable and multi-functional PCP UK Distributor: GMK: BELOW: The real test I can’t wait to take this rifle out took place on the rifle. I have a feeling that sales are 01489 579999 in the field hunting. It really is a bench going to be very good! ■ Type: PCP, multi-shot rotary mag’ Stock Material: Ambidextrous, synthetic Cocking: Bolt-action Trigger: Single-stage Safety: Manual, push button Calibres: .177 and .22 Overall Length: 986mm Barrel Length: 565mm Weight: 2.5kg (5.5lbs) without scope Fill Pressure: 200 bar Shots Per Fill: 60 (.177), 80 (.22) Energy of Test Rifle: Avg 11.5 ft.lbs. over 20 shots Variation (20 shots): 8fps Websites: www.stoegerairguns. com or www.gmk.co.uk RRP:£395

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