The Czech manufacturer AirMaks enters the market with a hot new product for 2021, named after the Black Sea shark – Katran.
The HP (High Power) version offers a larger Power Plenum volume and its unchoked barrel is specially optimized for shooting slugs. Of course, you can still shoot standard pellets as well.
AirMaks Katran, despite its overall length of 1210 mm, stands out for its light weight. The total weight is just above 3 kg. The lightweight stock is machined on CNC machines. By pressing a button it can be folded to the left side. The locking of the stock against unintentional opening is cleverly solved with a magnet that reliably holds it in place. The buttpad and cheekpiece are made of durable ABS plastic. The stock also includes space for mounting two magazines.
Loading is fantastic. Hats off, the manufacturer really put some thought into this. You can cycle the action quickly with one finger, without having to take the reticle off the target. The biathlon lever has a short and almost unbelievably smooth travel. Many bullpups can only dream of that. The side lever can be positioned on either side to suit the shooter. The icing on the cake is the protection against loading two pellets into the barrel.
The barrel made in the Czech Republic measures 700 mm (1/17.7) and is ideal for shooting slugs. It is finished with an efficient cup-style sound moderator. If you want the rifle to be as quiet as a summer breeze, you can additionally add more cups, or any moderator with a 1/2 UNFx20 thread.
The air supply is provided by a kevlar air cylinder with a capacity of 580 cm3 and a maximum working pressure of 300 bar. The cylinder is surrounded by a tactical forend with KeyMod slots. Thanks to this, the balance point of the rifle is shifted slightly forward. For mounting optics there is a Picatinny rail.
In calibre 5.5 mm, the magazine holds an impressive 16 shots. A fully adjustable trigger is a matter of course.
The pistol grip made of soft-touch polymer conforms to the AR-15 standard and ensures a comfortable hold. The manual safety is located on the left side of the action and can be operated even with the stock folded.
The AirMaks Katran air rifle is supplied in a nice padded hard case.
Key features
– Kevlar air cylinder with 580 cm3 capacity
– Excellent loading system
– Folding stock
– Integrated sound moderator
– Protection against loading two pellets