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27 December, 2012

New Leapers 4 x 32AO Airgun Scope Review

The second model in Leapers' expanding new range of UTG airgun scopes is the 4x32AO, Leapers product number SCP-U432AOD.


This Leapers/UTG scope is designed specifically for use with air rifles and checks all the boxes that airgunners want from their scopes:
- It's airgun rated against the forward and reverse recoil generated by spring and gas piston airguns (Leapers True Strength platform).
- It has Adjustable Objective (AO) focusing down to just 5 yards.
- The reticle has Mil Dots for easy, rapid elevation and windage changes.
- And it's supplied complete with a pair of strong rings that mount onto airgun dovetails.

Leapers claims that this scope is completely sealed and Nitrogen-filled, making it shockproof, fogproof and rainproof. Flip-up front and rear lens covers further protect the lenses from inclement weather.

The turrets are covered with screw caps and - once these are removed - rotate with definite and reassuring clicks without the need for a coin or tool to make the adjustment. The turrets are brass-based, further distinguishing this scope from lower-cost models.


The photograph above shows this new Leapers 4x32AO scope fitted to a Ruger Air Hawk air rifle. As you can see, it fits well!

This scope is an ideal upgrade or replacement for the many low-quality 4x32 scopes bundled with many $100-ish air rifles from Beeman, Ruger, Gamo and Crosman. You'll notice a significant improvement in image quality and usability by using this scope - that all adds up to improved accuracy downrange!

In my opinion, the quality of this scope is very good for the price, with clear, sharp, high contract images visible through the eyepiece. This scope is in stock today at Archer Airguns.

Leapers next airgun scope will be a 3-9x32AO model. Archer Airguns already has a sample of that scope in-house for testing and we'll report on that shortly.

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20 December, 2012

QB78 HDD Performance Data and Review

Apologies for the shortage of blog posts this month, but - as you can imagine - we've been extremely busy fulfilling customer orders...

There is, however, some new and interesting data on the QB78 Hammer Debounce Device - the HDD - that has been generated by the designer - Steve_in_NC. Steve used a sound recording software program to produce a graph of the noise generated by firing a QB78. And he did this when firing the gun both with and without having an HDD fitted.

The graphs are shown below. The basic way to understand these graphs is that the X-axis (across the screen) indicates time, while the Y axis (up and down) measures the amplitude, or strength, of the noise.

A comparison of the "with HDD " and "without HDD" charts shows that with the HDD fitted the hammer strikes the valve just once. Without the HDD, the hammer hits the valve repeatedly - you can actually see this in the charts as the three big blocks of up-and-down blue lines.

First, the trace from firing a QB78 WITHOUT a HDD installed.


When the QB78 was fired with a HDD installed, the chart looks very different. There's only one big block of blue lines - the hammer hitting the valve only once. It's a pretty dead blow.


These charts give a very technical description of the HDD actually working. Thanks Steve!

But what does that mean in practice?

The following graph shows the results of some shooting tests I undertook on a QB78 fitted with the HDD.


As you can see, the QB78 tested held a muzzle velocity above 495fps for 74 - YES SEVENTY-FOUR! - shots. This compares to the 50 - 55 shots that can be produced by a gun in factory (non HDD-fitted) condition. That means that the point of impact is held for many more shots with an HDD-fitted gun than without. The result is better accuracy and a considerably greater number of "good" shots per fill!

And yes, the QB78 HDD works with all QB78 type air rifles.

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12 December, 2012

Preview of January 2013 Airgun Hobbyist Magazine

The next issue of Airgun Hobbyist magazine is scheduled to be mailed immediately after Christmas. This looks as if it will be another excellent issue!


By agreement with the editor, Archer Airguns is able to reveal the contents in advance. Here they are:

Browning Airguns Hi Power Mk III by Gordon D. Smith
The P-Rod Double by Tim Smith
One I Hope They Bring Back by James E. House
Falke 90 - Rare Airgun or Not? by Tom Gaylord
AirForce Talon on CO2 by Dennis F. Haughan
It's a Daisy? by The Daisy Museum
CT Custom Airguns WFTF Diana 54 by Jock Elliott
Report of the 2nd Annual Extreme Benchrest Competition by Gordon D Smith
The Webley and Scott Value Max .20 Caliber Springer by Gordon D. Smith
Hunting Airgun: Power Requirement by Jim Chapman
Product Spotlight by Sue Smith
The Airforce Condor: A Versatile Airgun by Tim Smith
Hey, I have This Question About QB78 Air Rifles by Stephen Archer
Crosman Backpacker, A Blast From The Past by Rick Eustler
Umarex Browning Buckmark URX by J.I. Galen
Shootin' Sheridans by Top Dog
20th Anniversary Daisy get Together its the Bulls Eye by Wes Powers
William Schneider and His Airgun Masterpiece by Larry Hannusch
Blue Collar Pigeons by Roderigo Tardelli Meirelles
My First Time on The Line by Jim Chapman

You can order Airgun Hobbyist magazine online. A subscription makes a great present!

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04 December, 2012

Now There's a Choice of Wood Grade with QB78 Deluxe, AR2078A, AR2078B and AR2079 Air Rifles

As many people really like to see attractive wood stocks on their air rifles, Archer Airguns has long offered a choice of wood grade - Standard and Special Select - for QB78 type air rifle wood stocks when these have been supplied as spare parts or in our QB78 Deluxe Custom Shop.

Now, for the first time, we can also offer this choice with some new airguns, specifically the QB78 Deluxe, CAR78a, AR2078A, AR2078B, AR2079A and AR2079B models. Selection is made in the pages of the Archer Airguns online store by a simple dropdown. Either you can choose standard grade wood - which is still much better than many of our customers expect! - or Special Select grade.


The Special Select grade commands a small price premium of just $15.99. Please note that Special Select grade wood is never going to look like choice Grade 2 Walnut, but it does give some attractive figuring to the wood and can make your QB78-type air rifle look very good.


Our photographs show a couple of sample Standard Grade stocks, together with two sample Special Select stocks. No two Special Select stocks look the same, but they are chosen to offer distinctly more grain and figuring than the regular stocks.


As always, there's no obligation to choose this upgrade when ordering your next air rifle, but the choice is there and for the "woodaholics" among us - including me! - this should be a tempting offer.

Read more...

About This Blog

This blog shares information, ideas and knowledge about air rifles. It compliments the information Stephen publishes on the Archer Airguns website, on YouTube and the Chinese Airgun Forum.

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