Budget air rifles for novices

• Price: £499 (synthetic stock)

If the shooting sports are to thrive, it’s vital to attract youngsters. Yet, there’s nothing worse than handing a slightly built junior an unwieldy, full-blown adult rifle. That’s where the BSA Ultra JSR excels: a properly scaled-down PCP that juniors can handle with ease.

The action is similar to the standard Ultra SE, but BSA has cleverly reduced the energy levels to 6 ft/lb. Beginners simply don’t need full power, and lower power means less noise and far more shots per charge.

This model includes classic BSA features like a floating, cold hammer-forged barrel, bolt-action cocking, a multi-shot magazine system, and a two-stage trigger. Where it really scores is the ambidextrous stock, which is deliberately scaled down for small hands and a short length of pull.

The result is a rifle that juniors can instantly feel at home with. At a little over 5 lbs, it’s super light and compact, yet promotes good technique. Expect a brilliant 100-120 shots from the small cylinder, making this one of the only dedicated junior PCPs on the market.

• Price: £699 (beech stock) / £808 (walnut stock)

While the design is classic, the Air Arms S400 remains a staple in airgunning. It’s a rifle most newcomers can handle easily, tipping the scales at just 6 lbs. While its specification might seem basic compared to some rivals offering more features for less money, that comparison misses the point: the S400 is all about premium quality and proven performance.

As an FT and HFT competition shooter, I favour the single-shot action for its clean simplicity (though the multi-shot S410 is available). It’s technically unregulated, but charging the cylinder carefully provides a sizable shot count with very acceptable consistency. The rifle features a top-class Lothar Walther barrel and a sensitive, precise two-stage adjustable trigger.

With classy woodwork made by Minelli in Italy, the S400 offers grace and poise in a stylish, lightweight configuration. Expect 60-80 shots (dependent on calibre) and top-class, competition-winning accuracy.

• Price: £470

For newcomers looking for an independent power source, free from compressed air gear, a quality springer is the answer. The premium German brand Weihrauch is synonymous with robust, built-to-last airguns, and the HW95K is a superb mid-weight choice.

This is an adult sporting rifle, yet at a highly manageable 7.5 lbs, it’s accessible to a variety of shooters. Weihrauch’s production blends time-honoured gunmaking skills with modern machinery, resulting in exceptional attention to detail and superb chemical bluing.

The break-barrel action features a Weihrauch-manufactured barrel and, in its shortened ‘K’ specification, the included silencer restores full leverage for the cocking stroke. Pulling the barrel down requires only modest effort.

The rifle is elevated by the renowned Rekord fully adjustable two-stage trigger unit, giving it an excellent start in life. A recent stock upgrade has made the latest HW95K a highly desirable, great value hunting and general-purpose sporter.

• Price: £350

When I tested the Reximex Lyra, I was genuinely impressed. I love the radical stock design, made from attractive matt oil-finished Turkish walnut. The bold styling includes a chunky cylinder which helps get the weight up to 7.6 lbs.

This rifle offers an extensive feature list that belies its low price, including:

• Side-lever biathlon-style cocking.
• Power adjuster and manometer.
• Picatinny scope rail.
• Two-stage adjustable trigger.
• Multi-shot system with two magazines and a single-shot tray.

I found great consistency over 170 shots in .177 calibre (expect 200 in .22), and it was seriously accurate. The Lyra represents astonishing value for money and is one of the best value airguns currently available.

• Price: £399

The ATA Airborne is another cracking PCP sitting around the £400 mark, with a retail price that has remained surprisingly stable over the years. It is the heaviest in this lineup at 9.3 lbs, but its weight is due to its bold design and solid construction.

The features are impressive: two magazines, a sound moderator, a Turkish walnut sporter stock, a two-stage trigger, a large capacity buddy bottle, a Picatinny mount, side-lever cocking, and even a regulated action.

The buddy bottle configuration means a high shot count. My test figures revealed an astonishing 300 shots in .22 calibre, all within 19 fps. While the side-lever and trigger are basic, the high shot count, regulated action, and accuracy at this price give the Airborne huge appeal for any newcomer.