British airgunmaker, Brocock is unveiling two high-power variants of its popular semi-bullpup Bantam 2 PCP at this year’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas: the Patagonia and Bantam Magnum. Each offer power levels up to 46ft/lb in .22 calibre or a whopping 55ft/lb in .25. And thanks to a highly efficient, HUMA AIR regulated action that eliminates the usual ‘power curve’ associated with many PCPs, the 60 shots (minimum) they return between fills exit the muzzle with a consistency to satisfy keen match shooters and serious hunters alike.
Both the Patagonia and Bantam Magnum are equipped with the plethora of appointments that have made the base rifle so sought after, not least the shooter-friendly handling afforded by its compact configuration. Stand-out features include a sidebolt action, auto-indexing 10-shot magazine with single-shot loading tray option, integral power adjuster, 480cc carbon-fibre or 500cc alloy buddy bottle, Picatinny mounting rails, two-stage trigger and a polygon Lothar Walther barrel with full-length shroud that incorporates a 1/2in UNF muzzle thread. But while the pair’s specs may be similar, visually they stand very much apart.
The Patagonia has been developed in conjunction with Claudio Flores of Patagonia Airguns following his recent victory in the 2018 World Extreme Benchrest Championships – currently the richest prize in outdoor airgun competition – using a modified Brocock Bantam Sniper HR. Besides sporting an adjustable stock and the crack-shot’s signature on the shroud, the Patagonia mirrors many of the tweaks Claudio made to his match-winning hardware.
Distinguished by ported muzzle and businesslike look, the Bantam Magnum comes dressed in either a black Ballistic Polymer or dark grey laminate stock, each sporting an adjustable cheek and butt pad. For 2019, Brocock is also offering the new laminate stock on sub-12ft/lb models of its current, regulated Bantam Sniper HR model.