Well it all started with a telephone conversation with my ole mucker Giles from Air Gun Gear TV, (look them up on you tube) and him saying would I like to come with him to see him draw the Christmas winners for the raffle, this was  with Solware of Tamworth (www.solware.co.uk) gun shop. Of course I said yes and then Ty Ford who works at Solware dropped me a line asking would I like to come do my famous game cooking road show, The Bachelor Cooking For The Boys(oh and girls too)!

Blimey what an offer to cook for proper down to earth countrymen and women damn straight I would love to come and cook for you guys and gals. So The Ole Hedge Creeper (www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk) agreed in a flash as I love cooking as much as I like hunting.

A poster was drawn up saying "Bristol Hunting Legends Rob and Giles were coming to Solware to put a show on for the day", cheers Ty bloody legends. I have not lived that down yet but what I will say to those friends who are giving me stick dont knock it as you are friends with a legend!  Ok Ok stop laughing my ribs are hurting too and I have run out of Kleenex from laughing so much Ty ya daft bugger.


So the plan was hatched coming along on the day with his own stand was another ole mucker Simon Pritchard, a top shooting coach from Shot Gun Awareness training (www.shotgun.me.uk). The day was decided to be Saturday the 18th of January 9am to 3pm and that meant Giles and I would have to be on the road by 6am no later to get there in time to set up and be ready to meet the public.

As it was my Emilie (daughter number two) decided she wanted to come as she said there was no way she was going to miss any of her Daddy's game cooking! She said no body cooks like her Daddy! Awwwww I wonder what she was buttering me up for but well if I had said no or Giles for that matter I think we would have had to run for our lives as that daughter of mine has a tongue like a razor blade and a left hook like Henry Cooper! (A brilliant English Boxer) so of course I said she could come.

Well the morning of the 18th came and my alarm never went off, but being the ole country boy I am and never have I missed a days sport for over sleeping my body clock had me up by 5am anyway! I gave Emilie a nudge come on get up Giles will be here in an hour I got a mumbled reply of leave me alone, so I went and made a cup of tea and went back to wake her. No she was still snoring so I shouted quick were late for wildfowling I am going without you, Bloody Nora I have never seen anyone move so fast shouting Daddy Get my gun I am coming she was fully dressed and by the door shouting come on come on the wildfowl will be dropping in were late.

I fell about laughing trying not to spill my mug of tea when she realised what I had done then that fire arose in her eyes, "So were not going wildfowling then Daddy?", as she stamped her feet and threw her Jack Pyke coat on the floor! "No darling we have that cooking demo to do up at Solware remember?" Oh yes as the devil eyes faded to her angel eyes "Well in that case Daddy you can get me a MacDonald's breakfast on the way then as you really are not funny at all!". I quickly agreed better to let a sleeping dog sleep than wake them up all grumpy or something like that, I know what am I? a man or a mouse? I will say give me a piece of cheese and I will show you.

Another ole mucker Phil Crampton from Rat Works (Custom air rifle tuning etc look for them on Face book) found out the hard way not to wind Emilie up now he stands at a safe distance and throws bars of chocolate at her until the growling stops and she puts her colouring pens away. There is a story to be told there but I will leave that for another day ask me when I have a pint of finest West Country Cider in my fist at a game fair or something of the likes.

Giles got there 6am sharp we loaded the car with all the cooking equipment etc and hit the road an hour or so later we stopped at Mcdonalds as promised in the services and Emilie wolfed it down, a big MacDonald's breakfast along with about a gallon of BBQ sauce just from the look of the pic I took I dont know wether it was sour or she enjoyed it she never left a morsel though.!

An hour later we pulled into the Solware car park to be greeted by all the boys as the banter started over coffee and a look round the shop, WOW what can I say its not the biggest place but by far its the best stocked place I had been too in a while. Every nook and cranny was packed with what I can only describe as a fieldsportsman's dream shop,
I was like a kid in a candy shop I wanted everything, the gun racks looked fit to burst with everything from air rifles and pistols to shot guns and rifles and everything in between. I swear I had just walked into an Aladdin's cave, I don't think I could of opened my eyes any wider, then I was brought to earth with a bump.

Emilie's voice rang out "Daaaaaad I want this pink air rifle" as Kev the owner of the gun shop stood there smiling holding a pink BSA ultra or something like that, Phew I had to think on my feet and well, persuaded her that her Air arms S200 was a far Superior gun and all the vermin would see her coming if she had a bright pink gun, she agreed "Ahhhh I didn't think of that Daddy you are very clever".  Hmmmmmm but what else would this little madam have in her sights to give me open wallet surgery?,thankfully I kept her busy on the cooking stand and taking photos and Giles had her as the sound girl holding the camera Mic's etc.

We started cooking and as Ty had requested I made a mixed game curry so I made madras for him as well as my Famous Sheiks Delight(stew) from my book available at www.fourteenacre.co.uk and by clicking on the Pass It On Link. I also did pan seared pigeon breast /pheasant in cider/rabbit in cider and oh so many more dishes one of the best was my famous woodpigeon and wild duck cherizio mini kebabs they went down a treat.

I will say the aroma of the game cookery drew hungry fieldsports folk and beyond from miles around like moths to a flame to the Pass It On Young Sports cooker stand ( www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk), Actually all I had left as the end of the day was a piece of garlic and a rasher of bacon!

All the pots were wiped clean with the fieldsports folk all taking a slice of bread and well mopping up what was left of the juices asking for the recipes, true to Emilie's word she was stuffed full of all the dishes and well she worked hard for them as she helped cook every dish and serve every bowl to the hungry fieldsports folk.

The day could not have gone any better and on the way home Giles and I were a buzz with ideas for our next trip up to Solware if we are invited back again for another brilliant day. Joining together like this with salt of the earth fieldsports folk at an awesome location that is Solware of Tamworth. Emilie slept all the way home dreaming of her bagging game and her Daddy cooking it for her as she kept sleep talking Giles and I giggled.

If you would like us to come review your shop or any equipment please drop us a line at www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk and I or we would only be to pleased to come do a review or test out any equipment or clothing etc. Please keep the amazing and positive emails coming and I try to answer you all personally but some do get through the net.

I felt it was time to do a review of some of my favourite air rifles but rather than being a technical article I will give you my humble thoughts on the fit, feel, looks and more importantly weather it does what I want it too.  I won’t go into all the technical stuff as you can read that a hundred times over else were on every forum known to man and to be honest that is not my bag at all.

Before we get going I will put my hands up and confess that this piece is all about my Air Arms rifles as yes I can stand up and proudly say “MY NAME IS ROB COLLINS AND I AM  AN AIR ARMS FAN BOY”

I started off with a love for Air Arms back in the late 80s early 90s with a rifle called The Air Arms Camargue. This gun was smooth and to be frank I have not used an Air Arms Rifle yet that is not been smooth like a well-oiled British made machine.

I know I have sang their praises from the roof tops but credit were credits due and they have never let me down.  This is unlike some of the foreign makes including a well-known German brand which literally fell apart in my hands.

I expect a gun to not only be smooth but take a pounding and give me 100% reliability.  I hunt in all weathers from high heat to freezing cold and monsoon rains and the Air Arms range has never failed me not once yet.  I do look after them with a regular service.  I also clean and oil them before and after every hunt which keeps them in tip top condition. My Pappy (grandfather) always taught me to look after your gear and it will look after you.

The four main air rifles I use are of course all Air Arms, each one in both  .177 & .22 calibres.  These are (in no particular order) TX200 (Springer), S200 (PCP), S510 (PCP), S410 (PCP).  I have both the Sub 12 ft lb and the FAC versions of the S410.  It is well documented that my favourite air rifle is the Air Arms S410.  Be it the sub 12ft lb or FAC it matters not, that gun is a sweet lady and feisty to boot.

This gun is very heavy I find this good as it helps with any recoil but I would not say this is a good starting gun for a Kid or Lady (oh dear perhaps I should not say that).

This is what I call a Man's Air Rifle. She is pretty on the eye and as feisty as an Italian house wife, but as my Pappy always taught me hold your woman firm and treat her right she will show you passion like no other.

This is so true of the TX200 as whatever you decide to shoot weather a live target or paper when you squeeze that trigger she whispers a voice like a passionate kiss from a lover in your ear and sends the pellet straight and true to target.  As you can tell I am a pretty big fan of the spring powered TX200 and weather its in .22 or .177 when you hear the impact ahhhhh its like sweet music.


The TX200  is pretty on the eye accurate, reliable and powerful. Loading can be a little tricky at times with cold fingers but you will get used to that.  Because of its weight if you are out hunting I would say get a sling put on it. But all in all a great all-rounder for the target man or hunter alike.

Wow what a sweet little gun light, pointable, durable, reliable and deadly accurate. This gun punches way above and beyond its weight.   After using one I liked it so much I bought my daughter Emilie one to use. She loves it above out of all her shot guns and other air rifles and actually I have written several articles about her with that sweet little gun and how successful she is with it weather on the target range or out hunting with her old dad.

I would say this is a good starter gun for any kid or indeed anyone for their first PCP (Pre Charged Pneumatic).  It is packed with all what I have come to expect from a Brilliant British Company although this one is made for them in Czechoslovakia. But don’t let this put you off by any means. Emilie often out shoots all the others in the club with it and now her older brother wont shoot against her as she beats him every time, well that will teach him to take the micky out of her and call her gun a toy gun.

My final words on this gun is whether multi shot or single shot in .177 or .22 you won’t find anything better for your starter gun or life time one as she sure is an addictive little gun that you can pick up at an amazing price.

Above all this is my favourite gun in the Air Arms range as it feels like a big bore rifle in your hands and it looks stunning.  When it catches the light it looks like a chestnut mare (female horse) in a sun glazed Autumn paddock.  This gun is pure class in my eyes, she mounts like putting on your favourite slippers with that ahhhhhhhhh factor of comfort.  I am sure you guys will know what I mean with this when I say this gun just simply fits well and if I did not know better I would say it was tailored to fit me by Savile Rows finest.

To the eye she looks like a proper hunting rifle but would be as easily at home on the target range, in the hunting field were we dance together time and time again we are called upon by landowners to go and deal with vermin problems each and every time the S410 does the job asked of her with grace elegance, power and deadly.

The smoothness of the Air Arms magazines are one thing that has always impressed me as I have chunky hands they are easy to load even when freezing cold and I can’t feel my fingers. The smoothness of the action loading each pellet time after time I cannot fault.  Saying this I keep my guns well serviced and have no problems but I have heard of those that don’t and do have problems? Again I suppose this comes down to what my Pappy taught me.

My Final words on the S410 weather in sub 12ft lb or FAC, it's simply a must have for any air rifle shooter. I am hearing constantly people telling me it’s the worst thing they ever did swapping in their Air Arms for something else.  Well what can I say there will always be one in my gun cupboard.  As a proud Englishman this brings a smile to my face as we are in my opinion still a world leader in the design and manufacture of air rifles and this no small part to my beloved Air Arms.

Well there is not much I can add to this gun that I have not already said about the S410, except that is this gun is a side leaver unlike that of the S200 and S410. The S200 and S410 being bolt action.

It is as I have come to expect smooth as silk when using and re loading, So I cannot as get a cigarette paper between the S410 and S510.

But for me it has to be the S410 as I love the bolt action of a traditional gun.  My final word on the S510 is, It's every bit as good as the S410 so you will be hard to beat it with anything else.

I am often asked what are my favourite pellet and that answer is simple the Air Arms Field Diablo 5.52 in .22 16 grain and in .177 8.4 grain 4.52, (that’s about as technical as I get). Its quite simple they do what it says on the tin and kill humanly every time for me. On the occasion I shoot targets well they are the nail that gets hit in the hole every time.

I am always happy to have a go with anything and will give my honest personal opinion every time, but like I say these are what work for me what work for you may be different.

I have not been paid by anyone to say this about my beloved Air Arms guns but love them so much I could talk your ear off all day about them.

What I will say though is if you are new to air rifle shooting or an old hand coming back, try starting off with an Air Arms and you won’t look back,

Air Arms Review

By The Ole Hedge Creeper

Aka: Rob Collins.