Not every air rifle for sale in the UK is an Air Arms, Weihrauch or BSA. Plenty of good rifles come from smaller or overseas makers, and they can be excellent value second hand, as long as you know what you are buying and can get parts. This guide covers the lesser-known brands you are most likely to see in UK ads.
For the big names, see our buyer’s guides to Air Arms, Weihrauch, BSA, Daystate, FX and all our guides.
Before you buy a less common brand
- Parts and servicing: ask a local gunsmith whether they can service the rifle and get seals. Some brands have no UK importer any more.
- Power: many of these rifles were made for countries with higher power limits. In England and Wales an air rifle must shoot under 12 ft-lb (6 ft-lb for pistols) to be held without a firearm certificate. Ask for a chronograph reading.
- Resale: unusual brands can be harder to sell later, so don’t overpay.
EDgun (Russia)
EDgun is a Russian maker of compact, high-end PCPs. Its best-known rifle is the Leshiy, a very short, folding-stock rifle with a quick-change barrel, followed by the Leshiy 2. The Matador is a bullpup. EDgun rifles are well made and very compact. In their home market they are often very powerful, so check that any EDgun for sale in the UK is a 12 ft-lb version, or that you hold an FAC covering it. New Russian-made guns are now hard to get in the UK because of trade sanctions, so used EDguns tend to hold their value.
AirForce (USA)
AirForce Airguns is an American company from Texas, known for its unusual design where the air cylinder forms the rifle’s stock. Models include the Talon, Talon SS, Condor and Escape. They are modular and easy to change, but many are built for high power, so check the power carefully.
Baikal (Russia)
Baikal is a brand of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant in Russia. Its air guns were cheap and almost unbreakable, and several are classics in the UK:
- IZH-46M: a single-shot target air pistol that is still popular with 10m shooters.
- IZH-60 and IZH-61: light, small spring rifles, the 61 with a magazine strip.
- MP-513M: a full-size break-barrel springer.
- MP-532: a target spring rifle.
New Baikal air guns are now hard to get in the UK because of trade sanctions, so used ones are the main source.
CZ (Czech Republic)
CZ (Česká zbrojovka) is a big Czech firearms maker. Its air rifles include the Slavia 630 and 631 spring rifles, which many UK shooters remember from their youth, and the CZ 200 and CZ 200S PCPs, used for field target and hunting. CZ also makes rimfire and centrefire rifles; see used CZ rifles for sale, which need a firearm certificate.
Artemis and SPA (Snowpeak) (China)
SPA, short for Snowpeak Airguns, is a Chinese maker, and Artemis is one of its brands. They make budget PCPs and springers, including the Artemis P15, M30 and CP1/CP2 CO2 pistols. In the UK they are imported by SMK, so see used SMK air rifles too. They are good value, but check carefully for leaks and that shots are consistent.
Ataman (Russia)
Ataman makes premium Russian PCPs, including the M2R range and the AP16 PCP pistol. They are well made and accurate. As with other Russian brands, check the power and whether parts can be obtained.
Evanix (South Korea)
Evanix is a South Korean maker of PCP rifles and pistols, including some unusual multi-shot and semi-automatic designs such as the Rainstorm. Parts can be harder to find in the UK, so buy from a seller who knows the rifle’s history. See also our Sam Yang guide, another Korean maker.
Hammerli (Switzerland, now Umarex)
Hammerli is a famous Swiss name in target shooting, with a history back to the 1860s. Older Hammerli match air rifles and pistols are highly regarded. Today the Hammerli name is part of the Umarex group and is used on rifles such as the 850 AirMagnum CO2 rifle. See our Umarex guide.
Norica (Spain)
Norica is a Spanish maker from Eibar in the Basque Country, a town with a long gun-making history. It makes budget spring and gas ram break-barrels and some PCPs. They are simple, cheap rifles that suit beginners.
Cometa (Spain)
Cometa is another Spanish maker, known for spring rifles such as the Fenix and Lynx, and for PCPs such as the Orion. They are solid, affordable rifles.
Taipan (Bulgaria)
Taipan is a Bulgarian maker of PCP rifles, such as the Taipan Veteran, which is known for its modular design. It is less common in the UK.
KalibrGun (Czech Republic)
KalibrGun is a Czech maker of high-quality PCPs. Its Cricket bullpup is the best known, a compact, accurate rifle that is popular with hunters. Used Crickets hold their value well.
Daisy (USA)
Daisy is an American company with a very long history, famous for the Red Ryder BB gun. Daisy guns are mostly low-power BB guns and youth rifles, ideal for supervised plinking. Daisy is now part of the Gamo group, see our Gamo guide.
Black Ops (USA)
Black Ops is an American budget brand selling tactical-styled spring rifles, CO2 guns and accessories. They are cheap, entry-level guns. Check the power and condition carefully.
Buying or selling a less common brand
Browse all used air rifles for sale or other air rifles. Selling one? List it free. Put the make and model in the title so the right buyers find it.
