Air Rifle Hunt with the Air Arms S510 Tactical

In the latest episode of Air Arms TV, we join Richard Leonard in New Zealand for shots, shots, and more shots of his self-filming, solitary hunt, which turns out to be rather epic.

In a proclaimed campfire story, Richard takes the Air Arms S510 Tactical out at early bell from the farm to find turkeys, rabbits and anything else he can find. Richard is renowned for making Air Arms TV the 'show with a difference'; you'll see exactly why in a few clicks.

Watch Richard Leonard's S510 Hunt here:

From the get-go, bright and early, Richard gets right into it after spotting a field of turkeys right over the hill. With his stealth and foresight, he quietly stalks the group of birds to see if he can get set up without them jumping over the fence and flying off.

Meticulously keeping a close eye while setting up his rifle on top of his hunting bag, Richard gets the shot ready and waits for the turkey to get in the perfect line of sight before taking a successful shot. After seeing one bird jump off the post and one bird moves away, Richard seamlessly shoots one of the only two remaining turkeys straight down in a clean, epic shot.

To make matters even better, it was a "big, fat hen"—hey! Richard's words, not ours. They are a lot sweeter, after all.

Reflections

After showing us his catch, Richard reflects on how tough those turkeys are to hunt and tells us about how he started learning how to shoot tough birds like that. It started for Richard in South Africa with a guinea fowl. These birds aren't so big, but they are super tough—having resilience and sharpness that most ground birds do not have.

After many hunts targeting these kinds of animals—all the way from the Lompopo down to the Eastern Cape—he learned one critical shot placement for these kinds of birds: the lower neck. There is a much bigger surface area, which gives you a higher shot of success—if you nail it, they're straight down.

Over the Ridge

Richard gleefully makes his way over the ridge, hoping to spot some rabbits. The sun is shining on this clear day, and as he reaches the top of the hill, his binoculars are out. He can spot a few—but they are right on the edge of the bush line. It's the quickest way for them to escape any sort of danger.

The rabbits on this property have this place 'waxed' and are so weary of any slight movement or sound that stealth and precision are paramount to a successful shot. If they spot you, they are straight in the bush - and you'll never find them again.

Make a plan

Richard talks through how he's going to make a plan and follow a path that's just down the bottom of the bush line—hopefully giving him the slim chance he needs to make a successful shot on one of these rabbits.

Knowing Your Area

With air rifles, it's important to know where you're shooting. With any kind of hunt or pest control, while it's important to choose a quiet and precise air rifle to get the job done efficiently, a lot of work also goes into planning your stalk and knowing where to go.

Going for the shot

Richard finds a spot, being as quiet as possible before getting down and setting up his S510 air rifle. It's a perfect spot, but he needs to be quiet. With his air rifle locked, Richard spots two rabbits in the field, looking down his scope, ready to take a headshot on one of them. However, by the time he loads up his barrel, the rabbit has legged it. Just that slight bit of sound and movement shows how, even after stalking and being as quiet as a mouse, even the pros sometimes don't get it.

In this area, the rabbits are quite weary in the daytime (not from hunters but from hawks and Vulcans), so while it's not at all surprising, it's still disappointing for Richard nonetheless.

On to the next one

Despite the failed rabbit hunt, Richard goes off again - confident in a spot he wants to visit between a group of gum trees on a bank. In the hopes of finding those rabbits again, Richard makes his way up the hill and comes into the zone - not to find rabbits but some more turkeys on the horizon.

Staying low

He stays low, bending down quietly as he sets himself up. With his air rifle ready, propped up on his hunting bag, he has a clear shot down the scope of a turkey and takes the shot. Feathers fly everywhere and while at first glance it looks to be successful - the bird flies off. Upon further inspection, looking back on his self-shot footage, we can see that the pellet only made contact with the front feathers in a disappointing realisation.

Richard doesn't give up!

Still remaining positive, Richard quietly follows the flock of turkeys that has now moved right between the gum trees. He uses the trees as cover so as not to spook the animals, stalking his way forward and keeping a close eye on their whereabouts. With his air rifle locked and ready, Richard looks down at the scope, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

One after the other, the birds move along the field, unaware of Richard's presence. When the right moment comes, and Tom pauses for a fraction of a second, he takes the shot. As Richard mentioned before, it is right in the lower neck—another fantastic shot.

What an awesome stalk

After the buzz of another successful shot, Richard takes us through his hunt while reminiscing about the last time he shot big toms like this—when he was with his son David. Even then, he was blown away by the performance of the S510 on such a big animal—with David getting two shots from 60 yards in a successful hunt.

A little bit about the Air Arms S510

From what Richard and many others have noted, the Air Arms S510 has a lot more in it than you might think. The Air Arms S510 is one of our highly regarded PCP air rifles, known for its precision, power, and quality construction—as can be seen in the amazing shots taken by Richard.

Key Features

Caliber Options:

The S510 is available in .177, .22, and .25 calibers, giving shooters flexibility based on their specific needs

Barrel Quality:

It features Lothar Walther barrels, which are renowned for their accuracy and consistency.

Power and Regulation:

Models like the S510 offer full regulation and larger air cylinders, providing consistent power and extended shooting sessions.

Ease of Use:

The side lever action with a biathlon-style drop-down lever makes it easy to operate in moments of pressure.

Customisable:

The S510 has various configurations, including carbine and tactical versions, to suit different preferences and uses.

Precision and Power:

The S510 Tactical is renowned for its accuracy, which is crucial for ethical hunting. While the shot itself is important, knowing that you have the best air rifle for the job also gives you peace of mind to humanely take down small—to medium-sized game.

Adjustability:

Features like adjustable power settings allow hunters to tailor the rifle to different types of prey and shooting conditions.

A Reflection of the Day

Richard makes his way over to the massive bird and proudly shows off this air rifle's sheer precision and power. There were highs and lows in this hunt, but after taking a gamble and shooting through the trees, Richard has a tom with big spurs and a nice beard that's going to taste good in the pot.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about the Air Arms S510 or if you'd like to find the perfect air rifle for you, please get in contact with us. We would love to help you on your successful shooting journey. From entry-level air rifles to more powerful air guns, we have an air rifle for you.