air arms tx200 hc review

Have a picture of Air Arms TX200 HC?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of Mark Dix.

Average Ratings

Accuracy	9.4/10
Handling	8.8/10
Value for Money	9.1/10
Reviewer Rating	9.4/10
Overall Rating	9.2/10

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96% Recommended53 out of 55 Reviews

100% Recommended2 out of 2 Reviews

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By Glider on 19th Oct 2007

Glider's Ratings

Accuracy	10/10
Handling	10/10
Value for money	9/10
Overall value	10/10
Glider's recommendation

Good Points

Everything about it.

Bad Points

None (although this will depend on what you bought it for).

General Comments

I got my .22 TX200CH in March this year, but held off writing a review until I had some experience with it (which means I can write a review of the rifle, rather than just an attempt to rationalise my spending so much on my limited budget).

It is not a cheap rifle, but that's the point. Nothing about this rifle is 'cheap'. As many have said, the build quality, finish and attention to detail are outstanding. Again, as many have said, it performs like a tuned springer straight out of the box, so I won't bother repeating these details. Instead, I'll present my review based on my direct experience.

My reason for getting a rifle was that I grow bonsai and in this area, we have a major problem with squirrels. I needed something reliable, accurate and powerful enough to deal with these surprisingly tough rodents quickly and humanely. Yes, I could have got any number of springers to do the job, but I think you get what you pay for. I opted for the TX200HC because all my research suggested that it was the right tool for the job; powerful, accurate, easy to handle and cock in confined spaces (being a carbine) and quiet (I have close neighbours).

Nothing about this rifle has disappointed me. I was a marksman in the Army, but have very little experience of air rifles (apart from the BSA Mercury I owned as a kid). So I can't compare this rifle to other air rifles (apart from my friend's HW97), but only to my expectations, ALL of which have been satisfied.

As mentioned, straight from the box this rifle performs smoothly. There is no spring 'twang', the recoil is crisp but due to the weight of the rifle, nicely damped. The weight is not an issue (for me) and provides a nice stable platform. Once I got used to the different requirements of an air rifle (i.e. using the 'Artillery hold'), I found the accuracy is excellent and extremely predictable. This rifle can outshoot me.

I fitted the rifle with a Walther 3-9x40 scope. This has a plain duplex reticle (I'm not one for fancy reticles: if it looks like it came from a tank or artillery sight, that's probably where it belongs). This scope has an advantage in that the parallax adjustment range works from infinity, all the way down to around 10 metres, whereas many scopes sold for air weapons use offer a parallax adjustment range limited (from infinity) down to around 30 metres, which puts a lot of practical air rifle shooting range out of the scope's capability.

In short, any scope of this specification is perfect for this rifle for hunting. Target shooters may want higher power magnification. For hunting, the 3-9 magnification covers well the effective shooting range of the weapon (as does the wide parallax adjustment range) and provides a good field of view, and the 40mm objective provides good light whilst still clearing the weapon without having to buy higher mounts.

The rifle has 3 scope stop holes towards the rear of the dovetails and using the scope stop lug in the rear mount is a good idea. With this setup, I can find absolutely no flaws in the performance of the TX200HC.

Cocking: The short cocking lever might suggest a heavy cocking effort, but I find cocking is smooth and not overly taxing, especially assisted by the knurled handle. My own cocking method overcomes the noise problems others have reported. I grasp the forearm with my left hand so I can wrap my fingers under the forearm and keep the beartrap release button depressed whilst cocking. I release the antibeartrap button whilst loading with my right hand and re-depress it whilst replacing the cocking lever. Cocking this way is silent (apart from the gentle click as the sear and safety catch engage), quick and easy in any shooting position.

The automatic safety catch is useful and, I think, well positioned. It tends to fall within easy reach of your right thumb as you shoulder the weapon to take the shot. Re-engaging the safety if you lose your shot simply means pulling back the cocking lever to re-engage it and I don't consider that an issue.

Shooting: The two stage trigger is nice and predictable. I haven't had to adjust mine at all. From the box, the first stage wasn't too long and the second stage is obvious. Release is nice and crisp with no creep.

Using the 'Artillery hold', i.e. as gentle as possible, almost 'free-floating' resting the forearm on the flat of your left hand close to the trigger guard, holding the pistol grip gently and with the stock in loose contact with your shoulder, shot placement is extremely reliable and predictable, by which I mean if you can make your hold the same for each shot, you can guarantee each shot will hit the same spot and after each shot you get the feeling "I knew it was going to land there", which is exactly what you want from any rifle.

Pellets: AirArms field (15.9g) are recommended by AirArms for this rifle and I can't argue with them. The TXHC does not seem to be overly sensitive to pellet type (assuming all types are of good quality) but AA Field seem to provide greater consistency over large numbers of shots in my weapon. UK owners without FAC should note as the TX200HC is set close to the FAC limit (usually around 11.7ft/lb), using lighter pellet (e.g. accupel 14.3g) will put you over the limit.

As has been mentioned by many others, this rifle will outshoot most owners at all practical air weapon ranges, as well it should, given that both the HC and the Mk III are equipped with choked Lothar-Walther barrels. I have read (elsewhere) reviews and reports from some people who have confused the shroud length and barrel length, and also the relationship between barrel length, accuracy and power.

The TX200 HC barrel is 9.68 inches long (242mm) with the outer shroud at 320mm, whereas the TX200 Mk III barrel is 13.4 inches (355mm) long with the outer shroud at 395mm (data from Air Arms). As I said, both are choked Lothar-Walther barrels. Barrel (and cocking lever) length is the only difference between the Mk III and the HC.

First off, barrel length has nothing at all to do with accuracy. As for power, the barrel length makes no difference in power in a rifle with a pre-set power level (i.e. non FAC). In any modern spring powered air rifle, the pellet achives maximum velocity within 9-10 inches of its travel, so for FAC versions of the TX, the extra 3 inches of barrel length in the Mk III (or any other rifle with a barrel longer than 9.68 inches) doesn't make that much of a difference (I believe it's reported at between 0.9ft/lb and 1ftlb between the two TXs in FAC spec.).

When handling the rifle in the shop, I found the HC a little less front heavy than the Mk III and so, for me, holding and aiming the HC is easier as the balance point is a bit further back and so I can have my left hand back nearer the trigger guard than with the Mk III in all shooting positions, which I find tends to be more stable.

In practical use, this rifle is quick, easy and silent to cock and load (if you depress the anti-bear trap button whilst cocking). Accuracy is outstanding and shot placement with good quality pellets is predictable. The rifle came with the plastic plenum insert which is very effective on its own. This rifle is very quiet anyway with the barrel shroud and no twanging and clattering from the action, but if you remove the insert the muzzle crack is startling by comparison.

I did buy an Air Arms silencer which reduces muzzle sound to almost nothing from a few metres away, but I don't really think this rifle needs it. I like the idea of the extended barrel shroud and insert anyway, as it effectively protects the muzzle crown from any accidental damage.

As for the squirrels, I have taken 14 with this rifle since March (I don't go hunting for them. I'm protecting my bonsai, so I only go for those that come into my garden), and each one has been a clean, single head-shot from a number of ranges. Even without squirrels about, I now shoot more or less every week and I'm never bored with it.

In short: I think people will find it extremely difficult to find a better rifle in this class (spring powered), but extremely easy to do much worse. For those who have many rifles in their collection, I think this, of all those that may come and go, is definitely a keeper.


NB. The only reason I scored value for money at 9/10 instead of 10/10 was because the local gunshop is quite expensive. I could have got the rifle cheaper online, but I wanted to handle and examine the one I was going to buy before I bought it, so that score is a reflection on the gun shop, not the rifle. I think the rifle is worth every penny.

Total Respect: +2