JTS BRAWN
Dave Barham explains why the JTS Brawn bullpup air rifle is great to shoot and attractively priced
Dave Barham explains why the BRK Ghost Special Edition Plus will be attractive to target shooters and hunters
When it comes to listening to its consumers, both BRK Brocock and its sister company Daystate are all ears. They usually respond to high demand from their customers and this is just one of the reasons why the new BRK Special Edition Ghost has been produced.
Built on the success of the original Ghost, the Special Edition is packed full of exciting new features.
I say it’s a brand-new rifle because it is, but the main building block will definitely look familiar to many. Anyone who knows BRK’s sister company, Daystate, will recognise the Ghost’s mono block as being that of the original Delta and Alpha Wolf rifles. The big difference being that the Ghost is a mechanical rifle as opposed to the electronic Daystates.
There are two main options when it comes to the new SE, those being the sub-12ft/lb Plus and a FAC-rated HP model. The Plus features a 17in barrel, but when it comes to the HP there is a choice of either 23 or 28in barrels, all of which come shrouded with carbon. Both the Plus and HP versions feature 480cc carbon bottles, giving more than 400 shots in the sub-12ft/lb models. Filling is by means of a Foster connection, and the fill port can be found underneath BRK’s rather nifty magnetic port cover – simply pull it off, fill up and push back on.
As far as aesthetics go, they don’t come more pleasing than this new SE model, with metallic blue adonised material throughout the chassis, as well as on the superb silencer.
I know you’re dying to know how much one of these little gems is going to cost, and it might sound expensive to begin with, but the more you discover about the Ghost SE the more it becomes apparent that it is in fact very reasonably priced. Prices start at £1,950 for the sub-12ft/lb Plus model on test here, and tip just over the £2,000 mark for the HP models depending on barrel configuration. These rifles are built to last, and will no doubt outlive many of us who purchase them. And, just like the high-end car market, BRK rifles have a history of holding their value very well. I’d say it’s a wise investment given the countless years of enjoyment you’ll have from owning such a magnificent rifle.
One thing you’ll notice straight away with the Special Edition is the massive potential for all-round adjustment with these rifles. All of the Ghosts are fitted with Huma regulators, with regulator pressure viewed on a gauge on the left-hand side of the stock. They also feature a power wheel just in front of the butt pad, which adjusts the hammer spring tension with no less than 20 settings. This will come in very handy for the back garden plinkers out there, and those who shoot rats in confined spaces.
There will most definitely be occasions where a subtle tweak of the dial will help with accuracy, but we’re entering the realms of pellet testing and performance here and that’s a whole different story. It’s just nice to know that it’s there, especially if you’re one of the many technically minded airgunners who likes to fine tune their hardware to the absolute best it can possibly be.
The BRK Ghost Special Edition is absolutely rammed with features, both internal and external. One of the key points is the rail system, which cleverly features a 0.3-degree forward slant to help eliminate the need for shimming scope mounts when zeroing at longer ranges.
Everything about the Ghost Special Edition is geared to user customisation and fit. For a start there’s a height adjustable Gecko butt pad at the rear, which is exclusive to the Special Edition model. The cheek riser sits on a small dovetail rail, which can slide back and forth to achieve correct positioning via Allen screws. This rail also holds the Picatinny scope rail and can be used to extend the length of the top section of the stock. The whole system is geared to perfect eye relief and gun fit, and it’s very user-friendly to adjust. Speaking of adjustability, this Special Edition Ghost also features BRK’s quick-change barrel system, so you can swap between barrel lengths and calibres in a matter of minutes.
There are Picatinny rails mounted on both sides of the chassis for the plethora of add-ons, such as lasers and lamps. However, the newest addition to the Ghost’s evolution is the huge Arca rail underneath, with a huge array on M-Lok slots
Another exclusive feature with the Special Edition models is the inclusion of a rather ingenious single-shot magazine, which will really appeal to competition shooters. Unlike some other manufacturers who supply a single shot tray made from plastic as a token gesture, BRK has designed a rock-solid alloy magazine to do the job, which suggests that this Special Edition model is geared towards competition and club range shooters.
The Ghost Special Edition also comes supplied with one of BRK’s flip cover magazines, they’re just so easy to load. You get 13 shots in .177, 11 in .22, 10 in .25 and eight in .30, and because these magazines are magnetic you can use them in a “double-up” formation, enabling you to fit two loaded magazines into the rifle and simply shunt the loaded one across when the first one is empty.
To load the magazines simply open the flip-up cover, turn the interior drum clockwise until it stops, then drop a pellet nose-first into the bottom chamber to hold the spring tension. Then you just drop the remaining pellets in – that’s it, you’re done. Close the magnetic lid, insert the magazine and off you go.
Bearing in mind that the mono block was originally designed for use with an electric rifle, the sheer excellence of manufacture shines through with the mechanical Ghost Special Edition. The tolerances of engineering are so tight that the side-lever and internal workings run exceptionally smoothly. Another key design feature of the Ghost Special Edition is the updated valve system inside. BRK has spent a lot of time developing this to be a “one valve does everything” unit. It has been trimmed down to as few internal parts as possible to make it more efficient and more reliable –less parts means there’s less to go wrong.
The side-ever is a short stroke drop down unit that effortlessly glides the pellet probe back and forth. Immediately in front and below the drop-down handle on the main block you’ll find the tiny push button manual safety. It’s very well positioned and easy to use with the rifle shouldered.
We all know that Bullpup linkages often lead to trigger unit problems, not with operation just the actual feel and action, however, the Ghost Special Edition linkage is so smooth that it feels like using a trigger you’d find on a regular-length BRK rifle. There’s absolutely zero creep, the release is crisp and predictable, and I like the way it comes set from the factory with a relatively short first stage that stops unmistakably before the second stage release. It is, of course, adjustable for length of pull, plus blade height and angle. The blade itself is very flat faced with the gentlest of curves on the vertical axis. It feels great against the pad of your index finger, both when bare and when wearing gloves, which provides a great deal of control.
Such is the quality of manufacture, you should be expecting no less than pellet upon pellet at 30 metres in ideal conditions. When it comes to pushing things out a little further, the groups I experienced using Rangemaster Sovereign pellets were thumbnail-sized, and out to 50 metres that remained the case – I was still managing to hit the spinners with ease at 53 metres on our club range. In the right hands, this Special Edition model will become an elite competition rifle, I’m sure.
There’s something for everyone in the BRK Ghost range, especially with the launch of this Special Edition rifle, from the Plus model which will appeal to the majority of club/ target/ hunter enthusiasts, and of course those epic .25 and .30 FAC models.
I drive a beaten up Mitsubishi Outlander, but if I could afford a brand new Range Rover I’d get one – the same applies to the BRK Ghost Special Edition. If you can afford one, you can’t afford to not own one.
Manufacturer: BRK Brocock
Model: Ghost Special Edition
Type: Multi-shot bullpup with variable power
Stock type: Tactical
Cocking: Side-lever
Trigger: Two-stage adjustable
Safety: Manual crossbolt
Calibres: .177; .22; (.25 and .30 High Power FAC)
Magazine capacity: .177 (13); .22(11); .25 (10); and .30 (8)
Overall length: Plus 731mm (28.8in); HP 890mm (35in)
Barrel length: Plus 430mm (17in); HP 600mm + 711mm (23in + 28in)
Weight: Plus 3.2kg (7lb); HP 3.5kg (7.7lbs) without scope
Fill pressure: 250 bar
Shots per fill: Over 400 sub-12ft/lb
Energy of test rifle: Avg 11.4ft/lb over 20 shots
Variation (10 shots): 6fps
RRP: £1,950 (for Plus model tested)
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