Post by Shaq on Mar 15, 2011 17:57:43 GMT 11
Here are a review and a few pics of the new Hammerli AR20FT
This rifle is to be imported and marketed by 'Bang On Target'
Hammerli AR20Ft Report/Review
Background
1. This rifle was introduced in Europe several months ago and has started to appear in various Field target competitions around the world. My understanding is that one of its biggest attractions is its cost effectiveness when compared to the more established rifles from Walther and Steyr.
2. The first of these rifles has made its way to New Zealand, imported in by ‘Bang On Target’ from Wellington. I have been asked to provide some thoughts on it and carry out some sort of trialling and testing.
Initial Impression
3. It arrived from ‘Bang On Target’ packaged neatly inside a box sitting in polystyrene and plastic bagged. Accessories included a weaver type scope rail, a selection of spacers (for adjustments) and Allen keys. Also a dive tank fill adaptor. For the purpose of the trial, ‘Bang On Target’ provided a Walther FT 8-32x56 scope. However no weaver scope mounts were provided so the scope was fitted onto the rifles dovetail.
Scope Setup
4. The scope was fitted (without the weaver rail) and positioned to suit to obtain a suitable eye relief.
Adjustment Features
5. An FT rifle needs to be adjustable in a number of ways. Each shooter requires his rifle to be set to suit him. This rifle has a good, if not rudimentary, set of adjustments.
6. The rifle can have the butt (synthetic) extended or retracted fore and aft by addition or removal of spacers. It can also be moved up and down.
7. The cheek piece (synthetic) is can be fitted to suit either a LH or RH shooter. It has up and down adjustment.
8. The pistol grip (synthetic) is adjustable fore and aft and also can be rotated slightly clockwise or anti-clockwise vertically about its centre.
9. The trigger tongue is adjustable fore and aft along the trigger rail and can be offset to the left or right.
10. The palm rest (synthetic) sits beneath the forestock in the accessory rail and can be positioned anywhere along this rail to suit. It can also be adjust deeper by addition of spacers.
Charging
11. For charging, the steel air cylinder is un-screwed from the rifle and is screwed onto the adaptor on the dive tank, in much the same way as a Walther or Steyr. For this test I charged to 200bar as indicated on the cylinder gauge.
Chronograph Test
12. For this test as mentioned above I had the cylinder charged to 200bar. I was going to use JSB Exact Diablo in 4,52. These were straight from the tin, no weighing, no sizing, no lubing. The chronograph was a Chrony Alpha.
13. After putting a couple of cleaning cloths though the barrel, I then shot a dozen or so shot before I recorded this string. These are the results- 792.4.791.8, 789.9, 791.4, 794.8, 791.3, 793.6, 789.5, 789.6, 790.9.
14. I consider this as pretty dammed good and its does give some idea of how well the rifle is regulated.
Grouping??
15. Initially I centred the windage (since I really hadn’t set up the scope fully). Once set I adjusted the elevation for the centre at a target set at 10m. Loading the rifle was a little fiddly, because it has a very short loading port, however at the end of testing I was getting pretty good at it!! I shot off a bench rest in sunny slightly windy conditions. Once again I used the same JSB pellets as earlier.
16. As expected, the 10m groups were almost a single hole. A good start!! The 25m groups were carried out after adjusting scope the elevation for that distance. Again the groups were pretty dam tight, with a ‘flyer’ appearing in each group. I’m not going to speculate why this was, however I’d suggest it wasn’t the rifle.
17. This is by no means a comprehensive test, but it is intended to give you an idea of the rifles possible capabilities. Its accuracy at 25m would give confidence to suggest it would also perform at longer distances.
Final Thoughts??
18. As mentioned earlier, this is not a comprehensive test. For that to happen I would have to spend a lot more time...months. But it is intended to give you an idea of what this rifle is about.
19. This is a better than good entry level FT rifle and in the right hands will provide a challenge to the more established brands.
20. It provides adjustments which enable setup to suit the shooter. The forestock and barrel shroud is aluminium and looks really good. Other parts already mentioned are synthetic but still provide functionality.
21. I found the regulation very good (albeit only over a string of 10!!!)
22. I found the cocking felt a bit ‘chunky’ to start with but was tending to smooth out the more I used it. It may need lubing??
23. For those in this country (NZ) who may be considering going into the ‘International Class’, then this would provide a very cost effective solution and well worth serious consideration
NOTE: Would I buy it? If I didn’t have a rifle in this class at the moment then I’d have to say Yes!
This rifle is to be imported and marketed by 'Bang On Target'
Hammerli AR20Ft Report/Review
Background
1. This rifle was introduced in Europe several months ago and has started to appear in various Field target competitions around the world. My understanding is that one of its biggest attractions is its cost effectiveness when compared to the more established rifles from Walther and Steyr.
2. The first of these rifles has made its way to New Zealand, imported in by ‘Bang On Target’ from Wellington. I have been asked to provide some thoughts on it and carry out some sort of trialling and testing.
Initial Impression
3. It arrived from ‘Bang On Target’ packaged neatly inside a box sitting in polystyrene and plastic bagged. Accessories included a weaver type scope rail, a selection of spacers (for adjustments) and Allen keys. Also a dive tank fill adaptor. For the purpose of the trial, ‘Bang On Target’ provided a Walther FT 8-32x56 scope. However no weaver scope mounts were provided so the scope was fitted onto the rifles dovetail.
Scope Setup
4. The scope was fitted (without the weaver rail) and positioned to suit to obtain a suitable eye relief.
Adjustment Features
5. An FT rifle needs to be adjustable in a number of ways. Each shooter requires his rifle to be set to suit him. This rifle has a good, if not rudimentary, set of adjustments.
6. The rifle can have the butt (synthetic) extended or retracted fore and aft by addition or removal of spacers. It can also be moved up and down.
7. The cheek piece (synthetic) is can be fitted to suit either a LH or RH shooter. It has up and down adjustment.
8. The pistol grip (synthetic) is adjustable fore and aft and also can be rotated slightly clockwise or anti-clockwise vertically about its centre.
9. The trigger tongue is adjustable fore and aft along the trigger rail and can be offset to the left or right.
10. The palm rest (synthetic) sits beneath the forestock in the accessory rail and can be positioned anywhere along this rail to suit. It can also be adjust deeper by addition of spacers.
Charging
11. For charging, the steel air cylinder is un-screwed from the rifle and is screwed onto the adaptor on the dive tank, in much the same way as a Walther or Steyr. For this test I charged to 200bar as indicated on the cylinder gauge.
Chronograph Test
12. For this test as mentioned above I had the cylinder charged to 200bar. I was going to use JSB Exact Diablo in 4,52. These were straight from the tin, no weighing, no sizing, no lubing. The chronograph was a Chrony Alpha.
13. After putting a couple of cleaning cloths though the barrel, I then shot a dozen or so shot before I recorded this string. These are the results- 792.4.791.8, 789.9, 791.4, 794.8, 791.3, 793.6, 789.5, 789.6, 790.9.
14. I consider this as pretty dammed good and its does give some idea of how well the rifle is regulated.
Grouping??
15. Initially I centred the windage (since I really hadn’t set up the scope fully). Once set I adjusted the elevation for the centre at a target set at 10m. Loading the rifle was a little fiddly, because it has a very short loading port, however at the end of testing I was getting pretty good at it!! I shot off a bench rest in sunny slightly windy conditions. Once again I used the same JSB pellets as earlier.
16. As expected, the 10m groups were almost a single hole. A good start!! The 25m groups were carried out after adjusting scope the elevation for that distance. Again the groups were pretty dam tight, with a ‘flyer’ appearing in each group. I’m not going to speculate why this was, however I’d suggest it wasn’t the rifle.
17. This is by no means a comprehensive test, but it is intended to give you an idea of the rifles possible capabilities. Its accuracy at 25m would give confidence to suggest it would also perform at longer distances.
Final Thoughts??
18. As mentioned earlier, this is not a comprehensive test. For that to happen I would have to spend a lot more time...months. But it is intended to give you an idea of what this rifle is about.
19. This is a better than good entry level FT rifle and in the right hands will provide a challenge to the more established brands.
20. It provides adjustments which enable setup to suit the shooter. The forestock and barrel shroud is aluminium and looks really good. Other parts already mentioned are synthetic but still provide functionality.
21. I found the regulation very good (albeit only over a string of 10!!!)
22. I found the cocking felt a bit ‘chunky’ to start with but was tending to smooth out the more I used it. It may need lubing??
23. For those in this country (NZ) who may be considering going into the ‘International Class’, then this would provide a very cost effective solution and well worth serious consideration
NOTE: Would I buy it? If I didn’t have a rifle in this class at the moment then I’d have to say Yes!