S_S_2015_05_

52 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

AIRGUN | GUN TEST

T

he Stoeger brand of airguns has
gathered apace in recent years, and as
part of the world famous Beretta group,
sound marketing and wide distribution have
certainly helped the cause. Break-barrel
springers have been the mainstay so far, but
all that looks set to change, as Stoeger
widen their range with a gas-ram powered
option. On test here is the brand new ATAC
Suppressor model, which not only
incorporates a gas-ram piston, but also
offers a full-on tactical specifi cation into the
bargain.

TRENDY PRACTICALITY
Trends abound in the airgun scene, and with
an ever growing number of manufacturers
introducing their own take on the theme,
Stoeger’s adoption of the gas-ram system,
should come as no surprise. Fitting a
gas-strut in place of a conventional
mainspring is deemed to bring several
advantages in certain quarters, but it really

is all about execution. Rarely have I shot

one that rivals the smoothness of

Theoben’s set-up, (once they had refi ned

their original design) I hasten to add! Yet a

plethora of manufacturers now boast such

a model in their line-up.

Stoeger have indeed gone the whole

hog with this ATAC model, kitting it out in a

Tactical black synthetic stock, but before

we evaluate their efforts, a quick break

down of general gas-ram specifi cation is in

order, for those unfamiliar with the term.

Break the barrel, and the cocking stroke

actually compresses a sealed chamber of

air (sometimes a gas such as Nitrogen)

which sits where the mainspring would

normally be in a conventional rifl e. As the

action fi res, this sealed chamber of air

expands rapidly, forcing the piston

forwards, compressing the air forward of

the piston, to propel the pellet in the

normal way. With no mainspring on board

fl ying around and vibrating, the shot cycle

should be smoother, with less vibration

and resonance.

MEAN MACHINE

Back to the Stoeger, and the full Tactical

furniture is eye-catching from the start.

There’s a dense feel to the black

synthetic compound used, unlike many

hollow rivals, so a serious feel prevails.

The ATAC comes bristling with features

too, all coming together to give this

radical looking model a unique profi le.

Stoeger’s ‘Dual Stage Noise

Reduction System’ has been lifted

straight from their standard spring

powered X20 model, and really looks the

part. The design sees a multi-baffl ed

expansion chamber and an air fl ow

restrictor, which reverses some of the

spent air, all contained within a full length

synthetic barrel shroud. The visuals are

certainly distinctive and purposeful. As for

the performance, more of that shortly.

Mark Camoccio tests

a fully fettled gas ram

rifle from Stoger

The Picatinny style

scope base does

not suit one-piece

mounts due to

spacing issues

Note that

neat safety

catch to

the rear of

the cylinder

Barrel open

ready for

loading

On test, this

model proved

pellet fussy, but

with the right

ammo shot well