Well it finally arrived after waiting about 6 weeks. I was expecting the usual superb Red Box signifying the Cartier Style that is Hammerli, borne of tradition and the highest quality of workmanship. Unpacking it therefore was a little bit of a comedown as it was delivered in the usual style of airpistol case that is used by Morini ,FAS, Pardini et al… That is not to say that it is no good as it provides perfect protection and holds most of the accessories apart from pellets..

On opening the case I wasn’t disappointed. The quality was there for all to see. The parts and the quality of fitting deserved the name. If you expected a Wood grip you would think that they have put some form of cheap plastic here, but NO ! it isn’t what it looks. It is a special resin grip with perfect roughening in the right areas and can be filed and adjusted as wood and it breathes. You can use special paste to fill in areas as with wood.. Picking it out of the box the first observations are that it is very light in weight. Maybe a bit too light but at least that give you the option of applying weights in whatever position you want to get the balance to suit. I have ordered a barrel weight and will see what it’s like when it arrives. I noticed that the barrel is aluminium.  This is certainly unusual and accounts for the light weight. I wonder if it will wear well..The cylinders are in aluminium also with a steel end-piece and are well made with gauges. You get 2 of these.

(see picture).

The sights are well made with adjustment in width and depth easily afforded. The front sight is unusual as it is a rotating 3 way unit with 3 different widths. On purchasing you ca specify which selection you want. The max size though is only 4.7 mm and I would have preferred 5.00 mm. Next to receive attention is the Trigger. I can only say SUPERB with every adjustment possible. (see picture) The factory setup needed no adjustment.

How does it shoot ?

Well to load, you lift the pellet cover all the way back which cocks the pistol. You then place the pellet in the little trough showing and just close the cover. It is that simple and very easy even in cold surroundings when handling pellets is not the easiest thing in the world.

For me the grip angle although adjustable isn’t quite right. The shooting position is typical Hammerli 208 with an upright grip. This is totally opposite to that of the SAM or Steyr which allow a much more dropped wrist position. The large part of the grip under the rear sight needs to be made a load thinner and then the angle could be increased, but that is the pleasure of the gun as all this can be easily achieved with the right tools……(Says me with a file in hand…)

Shooting it without the barrel weight I managed within a few cards to reach my meagre average so it was very comfortable. I then remembered the bit that said that it was recoilless ??? No it wasn’t I could feel more recoil than the SAM but not in the same league as the Steyr or Feinwerkbau. It didn’t matter as it was straight back and didn’t spoil my poor follow through. Maybe the velocity is set too high ?? Changing cylinders was a snap, but do not change the direction of turning the cylinders on fitting as you will break a rubber seal. Now I know why there are extras provided, must get some more. The instruction leaflet is ideal with good translation unlike most of the competitors who haven’t quite got the grasp of the language.

But last but not least was the service from the factory, which despite re-organisational problems has been superb. They have bent over backwards to give the sort of service that is associated with the name.. Well done.

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