Air Arms X200 Vanguard PCP air rifle review

Air Arms’ tie up with Precihole Sports, India’s number one airgun manufacturer, made sense to me the moment I heard the news at the British Shooting Show.

There were (inevitably) a few critics on social media determined to spread negativity and deliberately miss the point. For me, the logic was clear: it was a business deal that benefitted both parties.

Air Arms is now the global distributor for Precihole, but there’s so much more to the deal than that.

Is the X200 the same as the S200 model?

Nothing changes with Air Arms’ original models, made in Sussex, but what the Precihole deal does enable is the release of a new range of additional, cheaper models carrying the Air Arms logo, that Precihole is able to produce simply by virtue of their lower production costs.

The end result? More airgunners owning an Air Arms airgun, and benefitting from the experience.

So what you are looking at here is one of the long-awaited Air Arms-branded X200 Vanguard models, made for Air Arms by Precihole in India.

For context, let’s not forget the incredible tie up that Air Arms did with CZ to produce the super successful little S200 — a gun with which many began their shooting careers.

The S200 ceased production some time ago, but is the new code number X200 a coincidence? I’m not so sure, and having now had time to play with this new creation, it has all the hallmarks of a successor.

It’s also something of a landmark model, being the very first Air Arms to feature a buddy bottle-fed action. Inside the box we get two magazines, a filler probe, a single-shot tray, Allen keys and instructions.

The current recommended retail price is just under £700, and Air Arms has confirmed that the first batch of these rifles will include one of its Q-Tec Silencers, worth £60, which softens the deal further.  

Design features

First impressions of the X200 Vanguard are certainly favourable, and it’s the relative simplicity of design and clean lines that appeal.

Yes, the barrel is quite long at 20 inches, but with no restrictions or brackets, the proper “free floating” aspect is a big plus. The barrel comes traditionally blued to a good standard, while all other metalwork gets a matt black finish, which is highly practical, if a little lacklustre.

Biathlon side-lever cocking, two-stage adjustable trigger, and single or multi-shot function is a great start to any specification sheet, but we also get a manual safety, recessed accessory rail under the forend, and a threaded muzzle with fitted muzzle weight.

As for the synthetic stock, it looks vaguely familiar, since it loosely follows the profile of the much loved (discontinued) Air Arms MPR model. The full 90° drop down grip just sits the hand behind the trigger perfectly, and with a thumb-up position possible, coupled with that extended forend, full support and fine handling are assured.

Look at the rear stock section, and it’s four-way adjustable: butt pad height, length of pull, cheekpiece height and cheek profile, which means that a perfect supportive shooting position awaits.

Stock adjustments are all easy and positive. Want to increase the length of pull? Just slacken the side screw and slide the rear assembly back or forward. This can add 1.6in. Likewise the cheekpiece height, again sitting on twin riser bars.

In addition, pull out the cheekpiece and replace it back to front, and the side profile is switched from straight to curved. A subtle detail and a nice touch. Factor in a super soft butt pad, and we are talking serious comfort here.

How do you charge it?

Air Arms is always thorough where its instructions are concerned, and a comprehensive sheet comes with the X200 Vanguard.

One hundred and sixty bar is the surprisingly low specified fill pressure, so after clarification, I set about the task. Now, I have to admit to being initially foxed trying to charge the Vanguard, as that extended fill probe is machined in such a way that it wont seal with a quick fit coupler.

After wasting a while with spanners trying to get a seal, I contacted my main dealers (Range & Country in Sleaford) simply to call on its practical experience. The staff arrived at the conclusion that the probe needs to screw directly into the initial thread of the airline. I seemed blind to this obvious solution, but thanks, chaps! With that key bit of information, it was back to the test.

The probe inserts into the inlet valve alongside the manometer under the forend, and the gun is then filled to 160 bar. Bleed the line and that’s job done.

Does it use single or multi-shot magazines?

The Vanguard is currently only available in .177 and, as mentioned, comes with two 12-shot magazines.

To fill a magazine, twist the drum anti-clockwise, just so the first chamber is clear, insert a pellet and repeat. The magazine design is slightly irritating in that there are no O rings in the chambers so some pellets want to fall through. Just be mindful and hold the magazine slightly upright and it’s no big deal.

Magazines are plastic but feel very precise, as does the single shot tray which can be snapped in from the left side. It’s worth noting that the breech is also wide enough to single shot load even without the tray installed, which is handy for competition as rain water can’t so easily enter the barrel.

As for that beautifully ergonomic biathlon side-lever, it’s designed to be easily switched from right to left side, so the X200 gets full marks for being truly ambidextrous.

Trigger-wise, this is a proper two-stage unit (rather than pseudo) and the match blade can also be adjusted to suit. First and second stage and release can be adjusted, but the instructions play it safe and don’t offer guidance. The release on my test rifle was fine, so I left well alone.

The muzzle weight unscrews and I would recommend a silencer, as the X200 is noisy without, and deadly quiet with one fitted.

Is the Air Arms X200 Vanguard easy to use?

Pulling back the side-lever takes minimal effort, and with the breech open, the magazine slots home with satisfying snugness from the left side. Closing the lever completes the task, and everything just feels smooth and reassuringly well designed. My initial accuracy testing with QYS Dome pellets showed the X200 as a little pellet fussy. Switching to Air Arms Diabolo Fields soon had me drilling tight clusters at 30 yards. I would say it was fractionally more accurate in single-shot mode but with genuine clover leafs over 40 yards, I was left mightily impressed by this new arrival.

And so to the chronograph. As mentioned, 160 bar may sound low, but having now tested this model, all I can say is that fill pressure is actually a selling point, as there will be far less stress on components for the life of the gun. I managed 133 shots in all, but reduce that to 90 shots and consistency is far tighter at 29fps. 

However, looking at my recorded stats, reducing fill pressure to 145 bar would return 75 shots with a total spread of just 14fps. That’s brilliant consistency in anyone’s book, raising interest I’m sure from the competition fraternity, as well as responsible hunters with an eye for precision with every shot.

Conversion kits

Interestingly, Air Arms is offering a conversion kit for the X200 Vanguard, and this allows the owner to switch from the 350cc buddy bottle to a compact cylinder configuration.

The kit costs £215, and consists of the 12.5in cylinder, stock insert and fixing screws. For the simplicity of the task, all you need to know is I’m no DIY specialist, and I could complete the task in minutes. 

First, ensure that all air is expelled from the action by firing off the last few shots.

Remove the stock screw and washer and pull the action from the stock.

Unscrew the buddy bottle and mounting plug, and the filling valve and spring will then fall out, so don’t lose them.

Insert the valve and spring into the cylinder and screw into position. Recharge the action to test. Remove the first two screws from the accessory rail and fix in place the stock insert. Finally, refit the stock.

On test, with the cylinder installed, and from the 160 bar fill, I managed 67 shots with a total spread of 25fps. That’s not bad from such a neat cylinder.

Experimentation in conjunction with a chronograph, charging to a lower pressure would tighten consistency, albeit for a few less shots.

Is the Air Arms X200 Vanguard any good?

I’m totally smitten with this Air Arms X200 Vanguard to be totally honest with you. The robust, streamlined design, coupled with that subtle side-lever action, just hits the spot. The stock configuration is classic Air Arms, competition bred and highly functional, and the level of accuracy on offer from the test rifle, was nothing short of superb. Definitely one to investigate.

Air Arms X200 Vanguard technical specifications

Make: Precihole Sports, India

Model: Air Arms X200 Vanguard 

Type: Multi-shot buddy bottle PCP 

Calibre: .177 only (.22 possibly later)

Weight: 7.8lbs

Length: 38.75in (40.35in fully extended)

Barrel: 20in

Stock: Ambidextrous synthetic target configuration fitted with UIT accessory rail, with adjustable length, adjustable cheek and butt section

Power source: External pump or divers bottle

Trigger: Two-stage adjustable

Magazine: 12-shot

Fill pressure: 160 bar recommended maximum

Shot count: 133 shots on test with buddy bottle/ 67 shots with cylinder

RRP: £699 including two magazines, filling adaptor, Allen keys and instructions 

Options: Spare magazine £29.99, conversion kit (buddy bottle to cylinder) £215