I like the way the stock is
scalloped, plus the high
cheekpiece works very
well with most scopes41
GUN TEST | AIRGUN
RESULTS
PELLETS WEIGHT MUZZLE VELOCITY MUZZLE ENERGY ACCURACY AT 30 YARDS
■ Accupell 14.2gr 595fps 11.2ft/lbs 0.65
■ Lazapell 15.2gr 554fps 10.4ft/lbs 0.75
■ Logun Penetrator 16.2gr 540fps 10.5ft/lbs 0.95
■ Bisley Magnums 21.6gr 447fps 9.6ft/lbs 1.0
■ RWS HV 10.6gr 662fps 10.3ft/lbs 1.0
■ H&N Hollow Point 12.4gr 598fps 9.8ft/lbs 0.95
■ A.A.Fields 16.0gr 557fps 11.0ft/lbs 0.75
■ RWS Superpoint 14.6gr 559fps 10.1ft/lbs 1.0
■ Bisley SuperField 15.0gr 581fps 11.3ft/lbs 1.25
■ FTT 15.0gr 584fps 11.4ft/lbs 0.75
■ Premiers 14.2gr 572fps 10.3ft/lbs 0.95
■ Bisley Pest Controls 18.4gr 496fps 10.1ft/lbs 1.25
■ Z2 12.0gr 635fps 10.8ft/lbs 1.25The trigger is adjustable and of a 2-stage
design. There’s a small take up of the fi rst
stage before the pressure is reached. Set at
the factory mine broke at a clean 4.5lbs with
a small amount of creep! You can adjust it
with the Allen keys provided but it felt right to
me so I left it alone. The guard is a slow
looping band of steel which is a bit tight when
you have gloves on but looks really nice.NOT FUSSY
The XL was not at all pellet fussy and also
nice and smooth to use with the silencer
really muting down any muzzle report but it
did prefer the domed pellet designs! Muzzle
velocity was nice and consistent with four
pellets standing out in particular, the
Accupell, AA Fields, Bisley Superfi elds and
FTT. The two former brands proved the most
accurate at 30 yards. The Accupells shooting
595 fps/11.2 ft/lbs @ 0.65”, the FTT gave
0.75” and 584 fps/11.4 ft/lbs. Although the
Superfi elds had a healthy velocity of
581fps/11.3ft/lbs but accuracy was poor at
1.25”so a no go in this rifl e. The AA Fields
shot 0.75” and 557fps/11.0 ft/lbs. In truth
any of these three would be a good hunting
choice dependent on your own preference.
Its size weight and really good handlingWhat is different is the more scalloped form
of the XLSE that has a high comb slant
higher to the rear which incorporates a
sweeping cheekpiece to both sides.
This enables an almost ambidextrous
fi eld use, even if you are right handed as
sometimes you need to take a shot from the
other shoulder so as not to reveal yourself.
The forend too is elegant with a tapered and
recess portion adorned with twin-cut,
skip-line checkering, duplicated on the pistol
grip but in one larger single panel with a nice
thumb rest also. Oddly though the sling
swivel studs are re-positioned; the rear one
is still on the butt but the front now resides
on the underneath of the forend and not on
the silencer shroud. Personally I prefer it on
the silencer; it’s in the way on the stock and
makes the rifl e sit high on the shoulder.TRIGGER AND SAFETY
The safety is situated at the rear right of the
compression tube and is a simple, push-pull
layout – forward to FIRE and back for SAFE.
It’s reasonably well positioned for operation
by the fi ring hand thumb with just a bit of
disturbance to your fi ring grip! It’s a simple
arrangement that works fi ne and easily
accessible even in the dark when lamping.The barrel is only 10” long and is cold
hammered with a rifl ing twist of 1 in 19”
with the muzzle crowned correctly that
makes such a serious difference. This
achieves optimum accuracy although it is all
covered by the integral sound moderator.
This is over 11” long and 1 inch diameter
and covers most of the barrel and cannot be
taken off and has two functions. First the
large interior certainly mutes any muzzle
report well and secondly it makes cocking
very easy as it adds extra leverage. To cock
sharply tap the moderator to break the grip
the smoothly pull down the
barrel until the trigger sear
is engaged. Pop in a pellet,
close up again and you’re
ready to go; simples! It’s a tight seal and
consistently delivers power and accuracy as
one would expect.
STOCK
Just what you want from a sporter stock,
looks great and better still handles really
well adding confi dence so you can achieve
some impressive groups on targets. Beech
is used with a matt lacquer fi nish with the
typical ventilated all black rubber recoil pad.
A sharp tap on the barrel opens it up from its
secure locking detent
No nonsense lever safety, the trigger breaks
cleanly, perfect for rabbiting, note the Maxi-Grip rail
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