Review Roundup
11
BEST BUYS
Highlights of reviews from consumer magazines
Umarex ReadyAir Compressor
KIT TEST
Mat Manning tries out Umarex’s ReadyAir Compressor and finds it to be an effective filling solution “If, like me, you use a pre-charged airgun for most of your shooting, you will appreciate its recoilless firing cycle and the level of accuracy it makes possible. It is also likely that you are aware of what a pain it can be when you have a gun that needs to be refilled with high-pressure air on a regular basis. “For years, I laboured away with a stirrup pump to keep my PCPs filled. Eventually, I gave in to the temptation of buying a diving tank, and immediately savoured the ease of filling my airguns
NEED TO KNOW n MODEL: ReadyAir Compressor n MANUFACTURER: Umarex n TYPE: Portable air compressor n DIMENSIONS: 37 x 37 x 23cm (14.5 x 14.5 x 9in) n WEIGHT: 10kg (22lb) n MAXIMUM FILL PRESSURE: 300 bar n WEBSITE: bisley-uk.com n PRICE: £839.95
at the turn of a tap. The only downside to using a tank is that you also need to have it refilled, which usually means going to a shop with a compressor. This arrangement can work well enough, but not for people who live in remote areas, and none of us need reminding of the struggle to get our tanks refilled during Covid lockdowns. “One of the latest models to hit the shops is the Umarex ReadyAir Compressor, which promises a dependable, portable and—most significantly— ever-ready air supply. Distributed in the UK by John Rothery Wholesale, the ReadyAir charges to a pressure of 300 bar and retails for £839.95. That is quite a sum of money, but having used this compressor for a few weeks, I can confirm that the price tag is justified and this piece of kit has been built to last. If you have one or two shooting friends who live close to you, it could be a good idea to club together and buy one to share. “The first thing to strike me about the ReadyAir compressor was that it’s very compact. It measures about 37cm long by 37cm high by 23cm deep— and that includes the parts that jut out from it. That
Airgun World is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000
means it should easily fit in the boot of most cars. Weighing in at about 10 kilos, which is significantly lighter than some compressors that claim to be portable, it should be a comfortable lift for most people, so it really is a case of grab it and go. “Another great thing about Umarex’s compressor is that it’s very easy to set up and comparatively
Telos LRF XP50
fuss-free to operate. It simply plugs into the wall or you use the provided crocodile clips to run it from your car battery. The ReadyAir is more or less ready to go straight from the box, in which you will find all the accessories you need to get it up and running and to keep it in tip-top condition— not that it should require much maintenance.”
OPTIC TEST
Paul Austin takes a look at the long-awaited ‘upgradeable’ Telos LRF XP50 “The Telos series, with or without its LRF, has been on everyone’s radar since IWA Outdoors. It’s now finally taking its place as Pulsar’s premium product in their monocular line-up. It doesn’t have the HD sensor of the new Mergers, but it does have some ‘next generation’ features designed to future proof the device, which is another first in the thermal market. “The Telos is designed to be upgradeable, and is the first thermal on the market to offer such a feature. Pulsar are to be applauded for this. It’s no doubt a way of maintaining market share and ensuring customer loyalty, but if that translates into lower running and upgrade costs for shooters, I’m all for it. “Options include the ability to change lenses, so potentially a wider FOV for woodland work and a longer lens for open country. There will be the option to add a higher resolution sensor or enhanced internal display. Details are sketchy, but the units will need to be returned to either the UK distributor or Pulsar themselves for upgrading. DIY upgrades will not be supported. “Apparently you can even add an LRF to the standard Telos, as well as additional optical channels, although Pulsar’s blurb is a little vague as to what ‘optical channels’ actually means. It’s most likely a daytime camera option, as seen in their recent update to the Thermion scope range. Importantly, Pulsar have stated that all Telos monoculars purchased in 2023 will be eligible for upgrades as soon as this service becomes available, which is scheduled for 2024. As you’d expect, Pulsar’s excellent f50/1.0 germanium lens features in the new range, while
Rifle Shooter is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000
NEED TO KNOW
OVERALL “Excellent design, great in the hand, intuitive to operate and plenty of power in both battery life and functionality. The big USP is the upgradability of the device and the added clarity and visual information that’s provided by the ultra-low NETD. Even though the Merger has the wow factor of the new HD sensor there’s a lot to be said for the Telos.”
the built-in LRF delivers as advertised in the right conditions, with a 1,000m reach in both single and continuous scanning modes. “On the software side there are no complaints, with Pulsar still leading the field in terms of functionality. All the regulars are on hand, including multiple colour modes, which are still the best selection on the market, plus an array of contrast adjustment, PIP, smoothing algorithms, pic and video
recording. Essentially everything you could ever need, alongside connectivity to Streamvision 2 for remote control and file sharing. “Menus get you to key features quickly while manual adjustment of the sensor sensitivity improves detection quality if conditions worsen. A smoothing filter and a wide range of brightness and contrast settings all add up to make prolonged observation a more comfortable experience.”
n Sub-18mK NETD thermal sensor n 640x480 @ 17µm thermal sensor n Sub-18mk NETD sensitivity n Zoom adjustment ring behind front focus n f50/1.0 Fast Lens system n Integrated laser rangefinder n Upgradable device n Advanced Pulsar image boost technology n Objective ring zoom control n Precise laser ranging up to 1,000m n Dual battery system n Customisable user interface n Fast aperture f50/1.0 germanium lens n Built-in video recorder with 32GB memory n Stream Vision 2 wi-fi integration with iOS and Android devices n High-contrast 1024x768 AMOLED display n Dual wi-fi waveband support – 2.4/5GHz n Operation in extreme temperatures n IPX7 submersion waterproof rated n Selection of 8 colour palettes
