The use of airguns for hunting has gained a lot of traction over the past few years, and this segment of the shooting sports has seen technological innovation and the development of many new guns. This trend was reflected in the airguns and accessories on display at the 2022 SHOT Show in Vegas this past January. These products consisted of both new designs and technologies, as well as refinements to existing product lines. 

Most of the newer guns on display were pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) models, but there were examples of improvements to spring-piston and multi-pump rifles as well. The following are a few of the most interesting new products I came across on the floor of the exhibition. Not all the manufacturers could make the show this year because of Covid travel restrictions in some countries, so I will also include a couple new guns that I’ve had a chance to look at that were not at SHOT.

Air Venturi Dragonfly

When I stopped by the Air Venturi booth, one of the rifles on display took me right down memory lane. Its new take on the multi-pump air rifle, called the Dragonfly, offers a classic design that will bring many of us back to our formative years as shooters. The Dragonfly takes the core of those early multi-pump designs and improves on it. The rifle is built on a lightweight frame that is easy to handle for shooters of all ages and sizes. It wears a beech stock that is streamlined and fits well, enhanced by checkering on the grip and forend, along with a rubberized recoil pad. 

The Air Venturi Dragonfly can be pumped up to eight times per shot, allowing the optimal shooting profile for target shooting, plinking or pest control. But where things are different with the new design is in the pumping mechanism. In the past, multi-pump guns became more difficult pump with each subsequent stroke. But the Dragonfly’s linkage between the cocking arm and the pump assembly has been designed so that cocking effort starts off low and stays low up to the eighth pump. Many hunters will appreciate that this gun offers everything needed for small-game hunting or pest control but is fully self-contained.

Hatsan Model 65

Another upgrade to an existing product that caught my eye was a spring piston rifle from Hatsan, the Model 65. I was impressed by the comfortable and ergonomic stock using Hatsan’s SAS shock absorber system, adjustable comb, laser cut checkering and a rubber recoil pad that contribute to the rifle’s smooth shooting characteristics. This traditional break-barrel air rifle is easy to cock and comes with the Quatro trigger assembly, which I think is best of class. The rifle offers a good balance of accuracy and power for small-game hunting.

Umarex Gauntlet

For the airgun market to reach its full potential in the States, we need more quality guns offered at an affordable price. Umarex stepped up to address this need with their Gauntlet PCP rifle. This platform has been on the market for a few years now and Umarex has done an outstanding job of providing a feature rich, high-performance rifle at a very competitive price point. What we see with the new generation Gantlet is a more streamlined design and the addition of a .30-caliber version. This rifle is powered by a high-pressure high-capacity air storage reservoir and a regulator set to operate at a 2,800 psi charge. The new .30-caliber version of the Gauntlet 2 generates 25 full- power shots with outstanding consistency! 

I find the synthetic stock, cocking bolt, air management system and trigger assembly to be ergonomic and well designed, and think this is an excellent option for hunting small to medium game. The Gauntlet .30-caliber ships with two magazines and a single-shot loading tray, which is an advantage when shooting slugs or other specialty projectiles.

Brocock Ranger XR

As someone always on the search for the ultimate compact hunting rig, the Brocock Ranger XR .22 appealed to me right away. This is a very compact design, with a folding stock that can be easily slipped into a backpack for stealthy transportation to your shooting site. The Brocock Ranger XR has an adjustable trigger for a crisp shot release, a .22-caliber 11-shot quick-load magazine (13 shots in .177-caliber) and a single-shot tray is also included. An AR compatible buffer tube and folding stock mount are part of the Ranger’s list of features. This gun offers adjustable power and outstanding accuracy utilizing Brocock’s proven HUMA-Air regulator and floating hammer system. 

I had a chance to use this gun in the field before SHOT and it has range and hits hard, an excellent small-game gun. It can deliver up to 20 foot-pounds of energy and generate 30 shots per fill, very good considering the small dimensions of the air reservoir. A three-position power adjuster with a hammer dwell adjuster is standard, allowing the hammer spring to be accessed and adjusted when the stock is folded. As I have frequently stated, having these adjustments on an air rifle is tantamount to handloading a powder burner. My only wish with this great little micro-carbine would be to see it in .25-caliber version.

JTS Airacuda

JTS is a new airgun company that introduced itself at SHOT Show, but has a long history in the Airgunning world through its parent company Xisico, which has been manufacturing airguns and components for the OEM market for many years. They recently brought on Travis Whitney, an American-based engineer with years of experience in the airgun industry, and gave him the resources and freedom to develop a portfolio of airgun products for the U.S. market. 

The first guns presented at the SHOT Show were in the Airacuda line, which include the Airacuda and Airacuda Max models. These PCP rifles are available in .22- and .25-caliber and are similar in appearance and dimensions though the Max is a regulated version with a plenum that is absent in the standard Airacuda. What impressed me about these guns is the build quality. There is no plastic, they are all high-quality metal and hardwoods. The stocks (a traditional sporter and a thumbhole stock) are streamlined and elegantly shaped with laser-cut checkering on the grip and stock. But what really impressed me was the pricing. These Airacudas are being positioned to compete with guns that don’t even approximate their combined fit, finish and performance. I expect to see good things from this company in future.

AirForce ArrowGun

I’ve been shooting the AirForce rifles, both standard caliber and big bores, for many years. They are solid performers that have proven themselves as rugged guns capable of standing up to harsh conditions. That’s why I wanted a closer look when I heard they were releasing a new gun based on its proven design but optimized to fire arrows (actually bolts). 

Unlike most arrow guns I’ve used, the AirForce ArrowGun has been optimized to run off lower fill pressures (1,500 psi), so it’s uniquely suited to be filled with a hand-pump, which makes the gun less dependent on expensive filling equipment. There are two versions, the standard model and the carbine, that send broadhead-tipped arrows downrange at speeds in line with a modern crossbow. What I especially like about these guns is that they are compact and lightweight, especially the carbine version. The bolts on the carbine are much shorter than those I’ve used on other arrow guns, and I am looking forward to doing some testing on the range. Many states are allowing the use of arrow-launching airguns for deer hunting, and these two airguns offer some key features that appeal to me: accuracy, power and compact dimensions being high amongst those.

AEA Zeus

Another one of the new guns released before SHOT was from AEA, another one of the newer companies to emerge. They are building some impressive rifles, including compact high-power carbines and semi-autos. But what is really causing a stir is its .72-caliber big bore, the Zeus. This rifle comes in three configurations with barrel lengths of 16, 24 and 32 inches, and can generate over 1,500 foot-pounds of energy (the 32-inch version) making them arguably the most powerful big-bore rifles in production. I’ve shot deer and wild hogs with this gun, and it hits like the proverbial freight train. 

I don’t have the space here to present all the new improved and existing rifles on the market, but all the airgun companies such as Daystate, FX, Brocock, AirArms, Hatsan, Air Venturi, Kalibr and Gamo have products well worth looking at. I think 2022 is going to be a very busy year — and a very interesting one for airgun enthusiasts.