Airgun Hunting Essentials with Ian Harford

We’re out in the beautiful English countryside with Ian Harford as he runs through his essential equipment airgun hunting.  

Binoculars are vital when it comes to spotting small animals in dense overgrowth such as forest. For this Ian uses the Hawke Frontier HDX 8x32 binoculars. Lightweight and compact the Hawke Frontier HDX 8x32 binoculars display sharp images and increased light reflectivity. Along with the binoculars, Ian uses the Hawke Endurance LRF 1000 Laser Rangefinder, which is perfect for pest control outings. Able to go out up to 1000 yards in all light conditions and features a wide-angle optical system so that a large field of view is monitored. 

Ian’s go to pellets for airgun hunting are the Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets in .22 16 grains. Offering terminal performance and fantastic accuracy, the Diabolo Field pellets are ideal for middle distance shooting from 20 – 50 yards. These pellets are matched perfectly with Ian’s air rifle of choice for airgun hunting, the Air Arms Galahad. Lightweight and manoeuvrable, the Galahad is ideally suited for any hunting environment. This is Air Arms first bull-pup based rifle and has quickly became an instant hit within the air rifle community. 

To go along with the Galahad, Ian has fitted a Hawke Air Max Compact 30 SF 3-12x40. The compact scope has been specifically designed for bull-pup rifles and lightweight, manoeuvrable rifles. This robust scope is able to withstand challenging environment conditions, the 16 layer fully multi-coated optics allows for exceptional clarity. 

When it comes to gralloching, Ian has the right tool for the job, his trusty Buck 110 Folding Knife. This particular knife has been in Ian’s essential hunting collection for over 20 years and continues to impress him each time. To keep the knife sharpe and ready for action, Ian uses the Blade Tech G2 Vivo Tool Sharpener in Realtree Blaze Orange.  

When out shooting you sometimes need additional support, the Vanguard B62 Shooting Sticks do so much more than supporting your rifle. Suitable for all manners of shooting from deer stalking in the UK to big game hunting in Alaska, the Vanguard B62 Shooting Sticks are versatile to allow for a number of rifle/scopes combinations. They can also be very handy when it comes to crossing uneven terrain to help keep your balance. 

Lastly, the final piece of equipment that is a must for Ian whilst out airgun hunting is the Pulsar Helion XP50 Thermal Imager. Having a thermal imager is a very useful tool and makes spotting your quarry much easier. Ian has been using the Pulsar Helion XP50 Thermal Imager in his hunting adventures for many years and continues to performance perfectly each time. 

When hunting in the summer, Ian’s choice is the Deerhunter Muflon Light in Realtree Edge. The outfit is lightweight and breathable, perfect for the unpredictable weather in the UK. Realtree’s Edge camouflage is most advanced pattern they have ever made, it has extensive detail and depth in the design. This breaks up your outline and softens the edges, allowing you blend into the environment seamlessly. 

There you have it, Ian’s airgun hunting essentials. Each item has been carefully considered for its use and benefits in the field. We’d love to hear about your essential equipment, let us know in the comment section.  

Ian is using: 

Air Rifle: Air Arms Galahad - https://www.air-arms.co.uk/galahad-hp.html 

Scope: Hawke Air Max Compact 30 SF 3-12x40 - 
https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/airmax-30-sf-compact-3-12x40-amx-ir.html 

Ammunition: Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets in .22 16 grains - https://www.air-arms.co.uk/pellets/diabolo-field.html 

Binoculars: Hawke Frontier HDX 8x32 - https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/frontier-binoculars.html 

Rangefinder: Hawke Endurance LRF 100 - https://uk.hawkeoptics.com/laser-range-finder-endurance-1000.html 

Thermal Imager: Pulsar Helion XP50 Thermal Imager - https://www.pulsar-nv.com/glo/products/33/thermal-imaging-scopes/helion 

Shooting Sticks: Vanguard B62 - https://www.vanguardworld.co.uk/products/quest-b62 

Knife: Buck 110 Folding Knife - https://www.buck-store.co.uk/knives-c35/buck-110-folding-knife-p544 

Knife Sharpener: Blade Tech G2 Vivo Tool Sharpener in Realtree Blaze Orange - https://www.bladetech.co.uk/blade-tech-g2-vivo-knife-and-tool-sharpener 

Clothing: Deerhunter Muflon Light in Realtree Edge - https://www.deerhunter.eu/en/collection/product/muflon-light-jacket-5830