The Power To Pump

Mark Camoccio gets physical with the new Stoeger Airguns’ Manual Pump

- Mark Camoccio

Opt for a pre-charged pneumatic airgun (PCP), and you’ll have to consider investing in charging equipment. Of course a divers bottle is the easiest option, and I have one in reserve for awkward rifles with huge capacity; yet bottles have major drawbacks. They need periodic safety testing, can be heavy, and need safe handling and respect in transit at all times.

INDEPENDENCE

For those of us who wish to sidestep the worry and layer of stress that high-pressure bottles entail, there is of course the airgun pump. I’ve been a huge fan of airgun pumps for years, and still charge the vast majority of guns that I get sent for review, and my own personal rifles I hasten to add, via this method.

On test here is the brand new model from Stoeger Airguns, and they’ve timed it to coincide with their first PCP- the XM1.

BOX OF TRICKS

The pump comes effectively flat packed, and inside the box, there’s the main pump body assembly, base, handlebars, and bag of smaller items. There’s an instruction manual too, but help with assembly comes down to just one rather simple diagram. Lucky assembly is fairly simple then, so we’ll get straight to it. It’s always worrying when there’s a large bag of tiny bits, but with the largest tube simply a dismantling tool for servicing, and several other seals just spare parts, the task of assembling the pump really is within anyone’s capabilities.

ASSEMBLY