The Rapid Air Weapons (RAW) Buyers Guide

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Credit: Citizen K (ZAR) - https://www.airrifle.co.za/threads/4456 ... yers-Guide


The Actions

Rapid Air Weapons offers two basic model options:
HM ¤ "Hunting Model" - magazine fed actions
BM & TM ¤ "Bench Model - Target Model"

They are available in both Right Hand and Left Hand Options.

The HM Model accepts magazines but also sports generous scallops on both sides for those that prefer single shot loading.

The BM Model has an enlarged loading area for fumble free single shot loading.

Lastly the HM Models are equipped with a safety located just forward of the trigger. The other difference is the weight of the trigger; on the BM/TM they are set between 4oz to 6oz and the HM/HMX are set between 6oz to 12oz. They are by far one of the best factory 2 stage triggers available. To re-iterate, they can be fully adjusted to the shooters desire; take up length, both 1st stage and 2nd Stage weights.

In Total RAW Offers 5 Different Actions to meets any and all needs. They are:
HM1000x -357 - the reason is the basic HM1000x needs to have enlarged magazine to accommodate the longer .357 pellets.
(Left side) the Small actions - HM1000 (Magazine Fed) & BM500 Single shot
(Right Side) "X-Actions" HM1000X (magazine Fed) & BM500X Single shot

The HM / Hunter Model action series is available in any calibre: .177 ¤ .20 ¤ .22 ¤ .25 ¤ .30 ¤ .357
Ranging in power levels from Sub 12fpe to 150 FPE which covers just about any need.
The HMX Actions are now manufactured with a 22 MOA scope rail with true Picatinny Spacing..

The TM/BM Series were the first airguns manufactured by RAW. The only difference between a TM1000 and BM500 is the stock and air bottle they are fitted with. TM stands for Target Model - where BM stands for Bench Model

The BM series guns are available in .177 ¤ .20 ¤ .22 ¤.25 ¤ .30
They are also available in both left and right hand models
These actions can support power levels between sub 12 fpe to the highest .30cal velocities.

Barrels

Before we go down the "Rabbit Hole" on barrels; one thing that I have been searching for before I started working with Martin was the Quest for the "Perfect Barrel", I jokingly I tell people about my "Barrel Library", but the truth is Martin has many more barrels than one could even try.

One of RAW's top goals is accuracy. All RAW airguns are tested before being shipped to customer - 90% or better are good to go the first time they are test fired. Every now and then they require some special attention and "Once and a While" they go to the "Tomato Garden".

Every gun is 100% before it gets shipped.

One thing that came as a surprise is that barrel manufactures give "NO GUARANTEE" of performance, in their eyes every barrel from the production line is perfect; I can't tell you how wrong that is, most of the time they perform extremely well, most of the time the average barrel will out perform the operator EVERY TIME.

Here is the trick. It is about matching calibre and velocity to a given barrel. For the most part pellets and calibres work well but every now and then things just go side ways - every airgun from RAW is tested for accuracy either at 50 yards or 100 yards. If it doesn't meet Martin's (Rutterford) strict standards, it will not ship! Have confidence that a person with almost 30 years experience in the airgun business has spent part of his week "Crafting , Assembling and Testing" the new addition to your valued collection.

Here are a few photos of different barrels... they cover the entire range ....
Blued, Stainless Steel and chrome moly, C.F Mods, Full Shrouds, Double Shrouds.... Barrels sleeved with C.F, Stainless, and the Titanium etc

Sorry guys. I am not going to go into any details on twist rates, lands and grooves, depths and widths; I have been told "Bamboo under My Fingernails" will be the Best I could hope for...hahahahaha...

Just have confidence that every effort has been made to give you the best shooting airgun possible. I continue to say, "There are no bad shooting guns", just bad pellet - barrel combinations. To date I have NEVER washed or lubricated pellets. I will perform some type of measurement and sorting process when preparing for competitions to ensure I shoot the best pellets for a given barrel and calibre. Not all pellets are created equal. That said, the pellet manufacturers for the most part do an excellent job.

Stocks

RAW Offers six basic stock options...

Field target - and Deep Belly F.T.
Benchrest
Long Range Target - (LRT)
Vertical Target
Thumbhole
Sporter

Additionally stocks are available in Walnut or Laminate (various colors), the Benchrest and LRT Stocks are Ambi-stocks. All others are available in either RIGHT or LEFT Handed versions."