AirMaks Arms Krait Pro

When I first saw this latest incarnation of the AirMaks Krait at the recent National Shooting Show I knew I had to get hold of one to test. It’s just so dinky and solid, a real airgun hunters’ dream. Needless to say, Jamie Ransome at Hawke Optics, which now distributes AirMaks Arms in the UK, wasted no time in getting one to me, and I haven’t been able to put it down ever since.

The new Krait Pro brings the family of Krait rifles to a whopping 14 different formats, including the Krait, Krait-T and Krait Lite versions, with four different specifications for each of those models: Standard, Long, Long High Power and Extra High Power.

There are only two models available in the Ktrait Pro range at present, though, including the Krait Pro on test here, and the Pro L model.

Both the Krait and Krait Lite variations feature a carbon bottle, while the Krait-L models have a cylinder tube reservoir. The Krait Pro I have here in .177 has a 400mm barrel and 300cc carbon bottle, while the Krait Pro L has a longer 520mm barrel and larger 480cc carbon bottle. All the barrel lengths are available choked or unchoked and have a 1:17.7 twist.

All models also feature a modular shroud CZ barrel system, which at sub-12ft/lb gives the rifle a very quiet report from the muzzle, even when used without a 1/2in UNF threaded moderator.

Can you customise the AirMaks Krait Pro?

Everything about the new Krait Pro has been beautifully engineered to an extremely high standard, and the machined components are produced to ridiculously high tolerances. The level of craftmanship is excellent, and everything just feels right as soon as you pick one up.

What’s more, they are completely customisable, right off the shelf. For instance, the length of pull can be adjusted a whopping 65mm by simply turning the thumb screw at the base of the rifle to extend the length of the butt stock. Then there is the butt hook itself, which again is fully adjustable by unscrewing the Allen screw and sliding it up or down to suit, as well as rotating left or right. Even the hooks themselves, top and bottom, are adjustable for height and angle, so you can fiddle about and get the precise gun fit for you. Before extension the overall length of the rifle is just 610mm, and unscoped it weighs 3.45kg (7.6lb).

The cheekpiece is fully adjustable for height plus slant, and this is achieved by using two flathead Allen bolts spaced 25mm apart on a single bracket with two channels in the stock. Adjusting both screws to the same height allows the cheekpiece to be raised up or down, but if you loosen just one of them you can tilt the cheekpiece up from the font or from the rear.

Up top, there’s an extended 250mm-long Picatinny scope rail that has a 20 MOA gradient integrated into it, plus numerous M-Lok slots to add accessories. At that back end of this rail you’ll also find an integrated bubble level – very handy for avoiding cant out in the field.

While I’m on the subject of the top rail, I would highly suggest that you opt for high mounts when attaching a scope. They just give that little extra height (around 6mm) and make the whole thing more comfortable to achieve perfect eye/scope alignment.

Underneath, you’ll find an Arca rail that protects the carbon bottle and also acts as the fore grip. This too has numerous M-Lok slots for accessories, as well as a small Picatinny rail underneath for a bipod.

When it comes to filling the rifle with air the supplied probe simply connects to a Foster fitting. It’s a simple case of plugging the probe into the fill port located on the left side of the main action and filling to 300 bar.

I love the short stroke side-lever on the Krait rifles, it cocks the rifle with just over a 90 degree pull with very little effort, then slides back into position with a positive muffled click. The 55mm long drop handle is chunky and feels great in your hand when cocking. The side-lever can also be swapped from right to left in a matter of seconds for those who shoot left-handed.

The AR15-style pistol grip really suits this rifle and the way it handles. It is manufactured from reinforced polymer with a textured rubber coating on the outside and feels great to hold. It also has a rather aggressive 15-degree angle, which again suits this rifle perfectly.

I haven’t mentioned the main body of the rifle yet, have I? Well, that’s partially FDE Cerakoted, which gives the rifle a striking “Desert Storm” look and also helps protect the metalwork underneath. The 30mm barrel shroud is also Cerakoted and adds visual appeal as well as suppressing functionality.

What adjustments can you make the the AirMaks Krait Pro?

Not only is the Krait adjustable externally, it’s also fully adjustable internally too — even the UK sub-12ft/lb versions can be tuned. Straight from Hawke Optics the Huma-Air regulator is set to around 70 bar, but this can be adjusted from between 50 to 110 bar. It is essential that you drain the air first in order to decrease the pressure of the regulator. This is easily achieved by draining the 15cc plenum (60cc in FAC models) via the grub screw next to the fill gauge. AirMaks also produces an optional extra tool that is designed to do the job for you.

You can also adjust the hammer spring yourself via an adjuster hidden behind the buttpad. Simply pull the adjustable length of pull butt pad all the way back to expose it. Tuning air rifles is not something I’ve ever attempted — I’m a simple guy, and if the gun fits and the trigger is right I’m happy. However, I can see the appeal of tuning a rifle to suit the pellets that you intend to use, to get as near to perfection as possible.

The fully adjustable match trigger on this rifle is nothing short of superb. It features a gently curved trigger blade, which can be adjusted on the post for height as well as rotational angle. As you would expect, the unit itself is also two-stage adjustable for length and weight.

There is a manual AR15-style safety lever immediately above and behind the trigger unit, which can also be swapped out from left to right if required.

What magazines does the AirMaks Krait Pro use?

You get one of AirMaks’ spring-loaded alloy magazines with each rifle, but you can purchase extra magazines if required. They’re a “drop in” type rotary magazine and very easy to use. The .177 magazines hold 18 pellets, while the .22 holds 16 — more than enough for most hunting situations. The magazine can only be inserted into the rifle one way, and that is from right to left. It slots in with a positive “click” and is held in place via a sprung ball bearing system.

These magazines also feature an “anti-double feed” system, which eliminates the possibility of double loading — something I have been guilty of on many other rifles over the years.

I found myself repeatedly heading to my local club range with this rifle. It’s not because I needed to, it’s because I wanted to — it’s just such great fun to shoot and as far as accuracy is concerned, well, it just doesn’t miss a beat. It’s absolutely pellet on pellet out to 30 metres, and at 40 metres I was punching groups in the paper targets the size of a fingernail off the bench. I pushed it out further to the extreme far wall of the range at 53 metres and was happily hitting the spinner targets with ease.

I’m in no doubt that this little bullpup is going to make a fantastic hunting rifle, the ease of use, reliable performance and pinpoint accuracy dictates that. However, in the longer barrelled L model, I can see a lot of dedicated club target shooters getting in on the action, too.

Whether you’re a hunter, club shooter or competition shooter, the Krait Pro is absolutely everything you’ll ever want it to be and more.

First class service from Hawke Optics

Former AirMaks UK agent Chris Roberts has stayed on as part of the team at Hawke Optics to personally tune every single rifle that comes into the UK before they go out to the shops. He’s very proud of what he does, and it shows — there are very few, if any, returns of AirMaks rifles due to this process. Chris knows that each rifle sold in the UK has been through his hands first, virtually eliminating any future problems that the end user could possibly have.

AirMaks Krait Pro technical specifications

Model: Krait Pro
Manufacturer: AirMaks Arms
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Distributor: Hawke Optics
Type: Pre-charged, multi-shot
Calibres: .177 and .22
Cocking: Side-lever (reversable)
Trigger: Fully adjustable, with manual resettable safety
Stock Type: Ambidextrous, adjustable, alloy
Weight: 3.6kg (7.6lb)
Overall length: 610mm (24in)
Barrel length: 400mm (15.7in)
Cylinder capacity: 300cc
Fill pressure: 300-bar max
Shots per charge: approx. 300 in .22, 250+ in .177
Muzzle energy: 11.7ft/lb 7fps variation over 10 shots
RRP: From £1,899
Website: airmaksarms.co.uk