Are you happy with your Air Arms Pro Target rifle? In our opinion the Air Arms Pro Target is an excellent rifle, one that is capable of easily out-shooting its owners. However having used the Pro Target for competing in Field Target events there was, we believed, a way that the performance of the rifle could be further improved. This was by altering the rifle stock so that it was a better 'fit' for our height and build.

To test this we tried a number of modifications to the standard Pro Target stock. These included fitting adjustable extensions to the butt plate to increase the length of the stock, fitting adjustable extensions to increase the forend depth and also numerous modifications the shape and position of the cheek piece. Whilst these modifications went some way to improving the ergonomics of the stock we felt that a new, more radical approach should be tried.

Having looked at the stocks on the latest Anschutz, Feinwerkbau, Steyr and Walther field target rifles we decided to try and incorporate, what we felt were, the most desirable features of each stock into a fully adjustable stock which would be fitted to the action of the Air Arms Pro Target. After many months of head scratching, sketching, late nights, drinking coffee, machining aluminium, sanding wood, we finished our prototype fully adjustable stock.

The prototype has the following adjustments:

Length of Pull - suits most arm lengths (testers heights were 5Õ to 6Õ 4" tall (1.5 to 2 metres)
Forend (hamster) palm grip - position relative to trigger
Comb height - vertical eye position relative to scope centreline
Cheekpiece - horizontal eye position relative to scope centreline
Pistol Grip - can be canted and/or skewed
Buttstock - height adjustable and independently adjustable shoulder pads
Butt Hook - can be shaped to suit users shoulder

The prototype stock was completed in February 2002 and has been extensively tested.

The conclusions we drew from testing were:
The stock can be quickly and easily adjusted
Standing and kneeling shots are much easier with a lighter stock
The butt hook needs to be changed so its height can be easily altered
The hours taken to develop and make the adjustable pistol grip work was time well spent
The stock has survived the best and worst of the Scottish weather!

The prototype stock. The prototype stock.

Whilst the main aim of this project was to design a fully adjustable stock we also ended up making a stock which was almost a kilogram (2 pounds) lighter than the standard Pro Target Stock
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The prototype stock. The original and prototype.

Currently we are making more stocks and you can check our progress here. These stocks will be similar to our original stock. However, some details have been revised:

The shape of the forend shall be changed and the slots removed
The butt hook shall form part of the butt
Some aluminium components shall be remade in plywood
All aluminium components shall be anodised
All fasteners shall be stainless steel
All wooden components shall be finished with oil instead of wax
The weight will reduced by a further 1/2 kilogram (1 pound)

Here, taken from our CAD software, is the profile of the Mark II stock. This version was used at the 2002 World Field Target Championships in Isfjorden, Norway. You can see a pictorial record of the Mark II production by clicking here.

Also we will soon have a similar style stock completed which will be suitable for use with the Ripley AR4 and AR5 actions.
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