Air Arms Pro-Elite Reviews
Latest Reviews
★★★★★
“quality rifle i love working with the pro elite, very...”
Written on: 04/07/2009
quality rifle i love working with the pro elite, very gud accuracy and power. (read more)
★★★★★
“The Air Arms Pro-Elite is an amazing airgun, very good...”
Written on: 31/03/2009
The Air Arms Pro-Elite is an amazing airgun, very good for hunting and light enough to carry anywhere. a very good buy (read more)
★★★★★
“I have owned this pro-elite (.22) for about 10 years....”
Written on: 09/12/2007 by EDDIE CASH
I have owned this pro-elite (.22) for about 10 years. I did try using it with a .177 barrel and that did give a flatter trojectory and faster f.p.s. But for me the .22 was the better combo for hunting. I have experienced this air gun in both cal's and in various stages of tune and myself I would say that it is just as accurate in either. Over the last 2 years though, I have been hunting with a Falcon Raptor 8 shot rifle that is an absolute joy to shoot, and over 5-6 hours of rambling about... (read more)
★★★★★
“This is a beautiful break barrel magnum rifle, that...”
Written on: 02/12/2006 by Bryan E (1 review written)
This is a beautiful break barrel magnum rifle, that Air Arms decided to quit producing several years ago. I don't know when they dropped this model, but wished the still made it. It's an awesome gun, and maybe one of the finest break barrel Magnum production springers ever to have been sold in the US. The stock design fits me perfectly and the gun is heavy but so well balanced that one doesn't seem to notice. I love the short bull barrel which has built in baffles which reduce the shot noise... (read more)
★★★★★
“Hi, to everyone that owns one, due to a money problem...”
Written on: 24/07/2006 by kris young (1 review written)
Hi, to everyone that owns one, due to a money problem i had to sell mine and it was ther worst thing i've ever do, i so regret it now, i've been looking for one for about 3 three weeks and can't find one. If anyone of you or your friends have one and are prepared to sell it, i will definitely buy it of you as longs as it's .22 and .22 in good condition. I'm prepared to travel and pay up to £250 for a mint one with or without scope. My email address is penn525@ntlworld.com. Please someone... (read more)
★★★★★
“The Air Arms Pro-Elite air rifle feels like real...”
Written on: 22/06/2005 by Dual Mag Mike (29 reviews written)
The Air Arms Pro-Elite air rifle feels like real quality as soon as you pick it up. Heavy, weighs about 10.5lbs with scope and mount. I am the third owner of this particular gun and I do not see myself getting rid of it except to buy another in better condition, maybe. I have owned a Beeman R1 for about 20 years and I thought that was amazing. Well I believe the Pro Elite does it better. Slickness of operation, solid function, power, and accuracy. I am still floored by the guns uncanny... (read more)
★★★★★
“I purchased my .22 Pro Elite as a secondhand unit. As...”
Written on: 07/04/2004 by dgeesaman (1 review written)
I purchased my .22 Pro Elite as a secondhand unit. As received, the mainspring was twangy and I had some trouble getting tight groups. However, the power was good. I sent it to a tuner who refined or 'un-did' several changes, some of which were apparently added by a previous amateur tuner, and installed Maccari internals. According to his Chrony, the gun went from a tired 19fpe to a crisp 21fpe. I've had it back for a week and I'm thoroughly pleased. I had one windless morning on the... (read more)
Fig4's Response to dgeesaman's Review
Written on: 05/11/2004
I enjoyed your article. I'm planning to get a second hand Pro Elite .22. Where would you suggest I have it tuned and how much would it cost?
<br>
<br>Thanks Peter
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Dgeesaman's Response to dgeesaman's Review
Written on: 09/11/2004
I had mine tuned by a guy in NJ named Jan Kraner. He doesn't tune a load of guns, but he's one of the few who doesn't mind trying to tune a PE. The problem is some PEs leave the factory with poor tolerancing on the receiver tubes, and there isn't much way to know if you have a 'good' one until the tuner has taken it all apart. If you have a bad one you're sort of out of luck and you'll burn seals and barely push 18ft-lb. A good one (like mine) makes 21ft-lb after the tune, and they're great. Many major tuners will avoid PEs because a few bad ones (which is nobody's fault) ended up with serious customer dissatisfaction.
<br>
<br>I recommend you consider one, but run it over a chrony and make sure it's still consistently shooting well. If it's been tuned, find out by whom and what they thought of it. Without something to go by you're taking a risk of gettng a lemon.
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★★★★★
“I OWN 12 AIR RIFLES .MY PRO ELITE IS MY SECOND...”
Written on: 25/01/2004 by medinabrit (2 reviews written)
I OWN 12 AIR RIFLES .MY PRO ELITE IS MY SECOND FAVORITE 410 MY FIRST .FIND NO FAULTS .GOT MINE FROM TOP AIR GUNS AZ PRETTY NICE PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH .MINES A 22. WILL GET A 177 IF I CAN SELL OR TRADE MY RWS 54. (read more)
★★★☆☆
“Had one for about a year just sold it 2 weeks ago. ”
Written on: 26/11/2003 by ghandley (1 review written)
Had one for about a year just sold it 2 weeks ago.
I rang up gun shops to see if they would be interested in buying it and was told that the accuracy was poor because it was originally designed for an FAC rated spring. They then changed that and fitted it with a standard spring which is much litter and apparently hits the end of the chamber before the pellets leaves the barrel. So as it is recoiling the pellet is still in the barrel.I was amazed at this i have had trouble hitting anything...
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Punkboi26's Response to ghandley's Review
Written on: 21/01/2004
I can gaurantee that this gun is a monster in FAC form. I live in the US and my Pro-Elite bangs out 7.9gr Crossman Premieres at 1048fps which comes out to 19.27 ft./lbs. of muzzle energy using an Alpha Chrony to test with. I get one hole groups at 25 yards using a Leapers 3-9X40 Accushot Mil-Dot scope. The barrel is a shrouded Lothar-Walther with integral silencer so there is not one thing wrong with that. I have 0 problems with my rifle and am going to try to do a write up (Not sure when) on it in Addictive Airgunning soon. This is a serious gun and not for the ones who like to shoot lightly. I would say it's best for hands that normally have shot centerfire rifles. You know, there is a chance you just got a bum gun and might should have returned it assuming you got it from a reputable retailer.
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Bryan E's Response to ghandley's Review
Written on: 03/12/2006
I wish I was the gun shop that you agreed to give the Air Arms Pro-Elite gun away to. If anybody believes this review and won't buy one because of what he says, then I say that's great, because there are a lot of guys that love this gun and can't find one. It's one of the best break barrel magnum air rifles. and I love mine. It is extremely accurate, - 20.5 foot pounds energy. No, it's not designed for 12 ft. lbs or less, but I seriously don't believe that it had no accuracy. Maybe the piston seal was toast on yours. Did you try checking that? There are lots of things that can cause poor accuracy.
<br/>
<br/>Yes, a HW97 is nice, but it doesn't compare to the Pro Elite. Compare it to a TX200. I guess a lot of shooters do, as the TX200 is the number one springer used in FT in the US.
<br/>
<br/>Bottom line, if you can find a nice PE, grab it. If you then want it perfected, send it to Jan Kramer to work his magic on it. You won't regret it, and you will treasure it for a lifetime.
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★★★★★
“I recently was convinced by BWassung bot's review and...”
Written on: 21/11/2003 by Gee Eye Soldier (2 reviews written)
I recently was convinced by BWassung bot's review and advice to seek the Air Arms Pro-Elite rifle out.
I got lucky and found one at straight shooters.
This rifle is incredible!
I was able to set it up(bushnell trophy scope)and zero it in easily, which wasn't the case with my Gamo 1250 hunter.
Using the heavy @ss beeman 22cal. kodiac pellets, I hit a squirrel with a body shot and, well for that squirrel it wasn't nice, exit wound large, force knocked him out of the tree, I was about...
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Punkboi26's Response to Gee Eye Soldier's Review
Written on: 21/01/2004
Perhaps you should have got the .177 version unless you figured you had the .177 Hunter 1250 and would like a .22 in another gun. I have the .177 version of the Pro-Elite and I commented on another stating that this thing pumps 19.27 ft./lbs. of muzzle energy using Crossman Premiere 7.9gr pellets. With Skenco 5.6gr non-leads with the plastic sabot I easily hit 1265fps and I test accurately with an Alpha Chrony equipped with shooting lights. I've actually been curious about the Hunter 1250. Have you chronographed your gun yet? I would like to know what it's shooting with various pellets. It seems that nobody has chrono'ed their Hunter 1250 in the amateur reviews of the gun. Heck, I may just buy one to know what it shoots. Anyway, you can't really expect anything other than a PCP to shoot .22 cal pellets any faster than maybe a max of 1100fps and that's gonna be in a CrowMag at about $1100 compared to the $300+ you paid for the Gamo Hunter 1250 or the $400+ you paid for the Pro-Elite (I'm guessing at retail prices here).
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Boltaction's Response to Gee Eye Soldier's Review
Written on: 16/01/2006
The Best High Power springer ever made, bar none.
<br>Rgds,
<br>boltaction, uk
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See next 10 reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 16 Reviews
★★★★★
“I'm writing a review since i heard that Air Arms will...”
Written on: 01/10/2003 by BWassung bot (3 reviews written)
I'm writing a review since i heard that Air Arms will no longer be making this Pro-Elite Air rifle.
Well, i've had one for 3 years, and its been the best break-barrel i can think of, yes even better than the HW-90. I'm just going to list technical information. Keep in mind these numbers are after a home tune, and proper beak-in of 1,000 shots. All numbers were achieved with Crosman Premiers (.22). Before the tune, it was about 35 fps slower, but accuracy was the same.
Velocity-850...
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Hec's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 03/10/2003
Thanks for your review as I was going to buy a pcp untill I read this review . The rifle is accurate ,powerfull which is what I am looking for and you don't have to pump it up. I need something to kill racoons and this sounds like like it could do that ok,what do you think. I have a 177 rws 94 now and it doesn't do the job.I love the rifle it just isn't powerfull enough for raccoons.If I do buy one could you give some more info on how to tune one,I would love to know how to do that.I would send you my email address
<br>Thanks again,
<br>Hc
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Bwassung Bot's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 04/10/2003
Thanks for reading, I agree that this rifle fills a great position. I have a few pcp's but find myself using them less. In fact, the only one i still use is my Quacenbush .308. My AA Pro-Elite and Beeman Dual Magnum are my main guns, my Beeman more for hunting. And yes, The Pro-Elite can kill a raccoon, but you have to go for the head shots, and not past 35 yards or so. I could give you the info on basic maintenance, but for the big tunes and spring replacement, i would suggest you buy a book, so you have the diagrams to show you. If you want to give me your email, my ICQ# is 336678240, so send it even if i'm not online, ill get it.
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Hec's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 04/10/2003
Thanks for you reply,
<br>Where do you find a book to show how to rebuild these? Is there another rifle you would recommend for shooting raccoons as they are a problem where I live and yes the shot would be under 35 yds..
<br>Thanks again,
<br>hc
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Bwassung Bot's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 04/10/2003
Are you looking for a PCP or spring-piston? I can give you a few around the same price as the Pro-Elite
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Makilo's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 09/10/2003
After internet shopping for several weeks I had decided on the PE as it seemed to be the best all-around rifle for me: accuracy, power, reliability, build quality, and quietness. I didn't want to have to lug an oxygen tank around with me as with the pcp's although the power and accuracy were tempting. Then I discovered that they were being discontinued! I was planning it as a father/son Christmas present and was going to purchase in Dec. until I heard the news. I found one at straightshooters.com, they were very helpful, by the way. Just got it delivered and it's beautiful and yes, heavy. I'll be shooting it with some kind of rest and hunting with a bipod! It shoots a one-hole group at 10 yards with FTS Exacts. Thank you to all PE owners who got on the net with reviews...can't wait to get it out in the field. M. from Salt Lake City
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Punkboi26's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 21/01/2004
I agree with you all, especially the guy mentioning one hole groups at 10 yards and I can vouch for one hole groups at 25 yards. This gun is definately a monster. I have the .177 version and I get 19.42 ft./lbs. with CPL 7.9gr pellets. Try not to use too light of a pellet (anything under 7.7 grains) or the gun will almost always go supersonic and make a loud animal scaring crack! just like a .22 rimfire. The lighter the pellet the louder the crack. Mine freaked me a little when it did it with RWS R-10 lights as I was used to only getting the crack with my BSA Lightning using a 5.6gr Skenco Hyper Velocity non-lead sabot pellet. This gun is very capable of shattering bones at up to 40 yards. If heard the saying "If it will pierce both sides of a soup can at whatever distance, it will kill an animal at that distance". I'm assuming a small animal like a squirrel but who is going deer hunting with a pellet rifle? so that was pretty much a given. I would agree it has great killing power and personally would prefer the .177 version due to the flatter trajectory. Honestly, you can always buy a heavier .177 pellet to equal a light .22 caliber pellet. I often use the H&N Silver Point 11.8gr pellet in mine with wonderful results. I wish I knew where you can get the 16.85 gr H&N Rabbit Magnum. I haven't found anywhere that sells them and this gun would be perfect for that pellet. Maybe it has been discontinued, who knows? About Salt Lake City.....Let's hear about that trip please. I would love to shoot somewhere so wonderfully flat. I live in the stupid mountains and it's tough to find anywhere to test the real reach of this gun.
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Makilo's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 24/01/2004
This is a follow-up note from some comments I'd written earlier about ordering the Pro Elite for a father/son Christmas present (Salt Lake City). "Santa" left the rifle and case under the Christmas tree and when my son saw it nothing else mattered. Unfortunately, we've had a cold snowy winter, 20 straight days in the 20's and many feet of snow so we haven't taken the rifle outside to shoot yet. I set up a basement "range" with a .22 bullet trap that works great. Between my son AND my wife I can't get a shot in. When spring comes we'll be out there looking for varmints and rabbits. Within two hours we've got both desert and mountains, it's great! My 8 year old son can barely reach the scope to shoot and he can't shoot it w/o a rest but he routinely shoots dime sized 3 shot groups. My wife loves the RWS Meisterkugelns and gets bull after bull with them although no one else seems to be able to replicate her success with that pellet. This is a great rifle, great price, and great performance (and great weight!). Snap one up if you can still find one. I just hope that aftermarket or replacement parts will continue to be found when it comes time to replace my mainspring! Good shooting!
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Bwassung Bot's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 29/01/2004
This is to Makilo from Salt Lake,
<br>
<br>After market parts are still possible to get, but most are from over seas websites. It isnt to much extra for shipping, but there is a wait (about 2 extra weeks) for parts. I'm going to get some website names and post it here in about a week.
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Punkboi26's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 29/01/2004
I would suggest to anyone who owns one of these to go ahead and get as many extra parts for this gun as possible. It is absolutely being discontinued and its already tough to get parts for it. Soon you will be out of luck unless you are a gunsmith and can machine your own parts. To be honest Ive been looking into metal lathes as of late.
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John Grassl's Response to BWassung bot's Review
Written on: 08/02/2005
Great review. Totally agree, I own one as well and can not believe Air Arms discontinued maufacturing this fine hunting machine. Would you happen to know if a silencer can be purchased for this rifle. I appreciate any help on this matter. Many thanks John
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★★★★★
“The Air Arms Pro Elite (.22 cal)....wow....I've owned...”
Written on: 16/07/2003 by wvhunter.
The Air Arms Pro Elite (.22 cal)....wow....I've owned an RWS 52, RX1 and RWS 45 and this powerful Spring Piston Air Rifle is by and far the highest quality magnum air rifle I've ever owned.
Awesome high quality stock, beautiful deep blue finish, an actual METAL trigger and trigger guard, a nice bull barrel (a stainless steel insert is the actual barrel with a blued thicker "oversert" and baffling system that gives it that bull barreled "look" and keeps noise level down.
Many advertised...
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Bwassung Bot's Response to 116125_wvhunter.'s Review
Written on: 11/09/2003
I have nver heard of anyone getting a P-Elite at under 800 f.p.s. But i wouldn't doubt it, mine gun came in at 805 after 1000 shots. I should suggest, if you want, you should ethier home tune your gun, or send it out. After 10,000 shots, i sent mine to Jim Maccari for a tune and one of his famous springs. After 300 shots on the new spring, i got 820 f.p.s., then after 1500, i get 850 f.p.s., and now at 12,000, its stays at 850. Jim said this is the usual after he puts in one fo his springs and tunes it. His website is www.jimmaccari.com, email him if you like it.
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Scotsmn's Response to 116125_wvhunter.'s Review
Written on: 10/04/2004
If you want an even greater rifle than this one invest in an RWS 54. It has excellent power, accuracy and craftsmanship without the recoil. The lack of recoil really improves your accuracy and it's plastic trigger is preffered as it tends to stay at a fairy even temperature. I've shot my friend's Pro-Elite and it's a superb rifle but not as good all-around as his RWS model 54. I'll be ordering the 54 within the next couple weeks.
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★★★★★
“I recently traded in my crosman ratcatcher for an air...”
Written on: 08/04/2003 by james.
I recently traded in my crosman ratcatcher for an air arms pro elite .22. I've had many air rifles in my short life but this one is definately the best. i started airgun shooting at 8 years old using a chinese b2 rifle. It did the job, sort of. I picked up the pro elite second hand for £200. got a nikko stirling 4 by 40 scope and mounts for £35. Knowing the right people can by valuable. I zeroed the gun at 40 yards using air arms diabolo hunter pellets. An excellent pellet for the gun. By... (read more)
Real Hunter's Response to 87041_james.'s Review
Written on: 12/11/2003
what idiot would trade a Pro - Elite for a Crosman RatCatcher??? LOL!
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Punkboi26's Response to 87041_james.'s Review
Written on: 07/01/2004
Thats what Im screaming! In the US that Ratcatcher is a $60 gun, the Pro-Elite is more in the range of $500. Surely the guy got some money too. Personally I dont think anyone is stupid enough to make such a trade.
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★★★★★
“I have had this gun for 3 weeks and it is a superb...”
Written on: 21/01/2003 by Stone cold killer.
I have had this gun for 3 weeks and it is a superb hunting gun. Power is amazing. Very good finish on stock, only problem is it is a bit heavy. (read more)
★★★★★
“For the past 18 months my Air Arms Pro Elite air rifle...”
Written on: 07/06/2002 by Steve W.
For the past 18 months my Air Arms Pro Elite air rifle has banged out pellets at a consistent 21ft/lb, putting 5-shot groups into 1.5" at 50 yards (it can probably do better, but I sure can't!).
The engineering and quality of finish on this gun is excellent. Breech lockup is solid as a rock, and the trigger (once set to your preferences) is brilliant! In fact I'd go as far to say it rates alongside the Rekord trigger in the Weihrauch HW range.
Stock dimensions are comfortable. They need to...
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Boltaction.'s Response to 26752_Steve W.'s Review
Written on: 02/05/2003
exellent
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Medinabrit's Response to 26752_Steve W.'s Review
Written on: 21/01/2004
i agree i have pri elite & just love it
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Punkboi26's Response to 26752_Steve W.'s Review
Written on: 21/01/2004
I agree about the weight, this is a heavy one for sure and mine is scoped as they all must be since there are no open sites for it. The trigger has actually won awards for its perfection. The trigger, in my opinion, is as good as it gets. My favorite part about the gun is the lack of any noise from the reciever. There is no spring noise other than a small "pop". This is the closest to a real centerfire you are going to find in an air rifle as far as how quickly the internal mechanism goes through the process of firing the projectile. This gun is second to none in spring piston break barrels. No one mentioned the barrel. We are talking about Lothar-Walther with an integral silencer and shroud to help prevent any highly unlikely barrel deformation that some other wimpy barreled guns may exhibit. The recoil of the gun gives you the feeling of shooting a real firearm in the range on a .22mag rimfire or better considering the amount of recoil absorbed by the sheer weight of the gun and amount supressed by the versatile integral muzzle break/silencer. The bottom line on this gun is there is no better in a spring piston, break barrel air rifle.
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★★★★★
“I purchased an Air Arms Pro-Elite .22 air rifle for...”
Written on: 18/04/2002 by Chuck Hill.
I purchased an Air Arms Pro-Elite .22 air rifle for one of my hunting rigs. I previously used a TX-200HC .22 and a R-1 Carbine .20 for the outfits I used. Wanting something with a little more power I chose the Pro-elite .22. I scoped the rifle with a Leupold EFR 6.5-20X40 mounted to the PE using a BKL 260A mount. After approx. 500 rounds I did some chronograph testing. Using a Oehler 35P I clocked the PE with Gamo Hunter(15.54gr), Beeman FTS(14.94gr), and Benjamin/Sheriadan Diabolo(same as... (read more)
John Grassl's Response to Chuck Hill.'s Review
Written on: 08/02/2005
Great review, I agree. I need some help please. Would you happen to know were I can purchase a silencer for this rifle? I have owned mine for 3 years and although it is pretty good because of the fine work by Walther I would still like to incorporate a silencer for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
<br>Thank you John
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Dual Mag Mike's Response to Bryan E's Review
Written on: 27/01/2007
The barrel is actually shrouded and not a true bull barrel.
<br/>Jan's last name is Kraner with an "N" for anyone who wants to get one of his famous tunes.