Storm Airsoft PC1 Electro-Pneumatic Bullpup Sniper Rifle

If you think you know it all about Airsoft..think again! Storm Airsoft out of France has produced one of the most cutting-edge sniper rifle designs we have seen in years, both on the outside and internally. The PC1 is a bullpup design and constructed almost entirely from fibre-reinforced polymer and carbon fibre, with CNC aluminium and polycarbonate internal parts.

Built for pure performance without the hindrance of following real steel designs, the PC1 tips the scales at an absolutely minuscule 1.4kg and handles like a dream, with a full complement of ambidextrous controls and comfortable ergonomic furniture. The innovation does not end here, quite the opposite!

The internals of the PC1 are completely unique, save for its VSR-10 spec HOP-up rubber and unbridged VSR-10 spec tightbore inner barrel. There is no spring, no gas and no gearbox to drive this thing; instead, we have an electro-pneumatic internal system which uses an electromagnetic solenoid to release each shot via a trigger microswitch. This means the bolt pull is easier than comparable sniper rifles and the PC1 can be more compact and lightweight than any VSR platform, with no compromises in performance and no external power source.

Starting at the front we can see a thread protector mounted to the tip of the real carbon fibre outer barrel. The use of real carbon fibre is a big part of what makes the PC1 so ridiculously light and it also adds a nice hint of sci-fi modernity to this novel platform. The thread protector conceals 14mm CCW male threads beneath, meaning tracers or suppressors are a go!

Following the barrel rearwards, we come to the handguard which boasts a combination of M-LOK negative space attachment slots at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, 20mm Picatinny rail at 12 o'clock with a short section at 6, and an ergonomic ribbed handguard further back. The upper 20mm rail is of ample length to allow for large scopes to be mounted, measuring a total of 39cm front to back. The lower 20mm rail is ideally situated for bipod attachment, but this rifle is so light we doubt you will be needing one!

The M-LOK slots allow for rail covers, tactical flashlights or two-piece bipods to be mounted should the mission require them, giving us an up-to-date accessory attachment interface to match the state-of-the-art looks of the PC1. The ribbed handguard follows shortly behind the 6 o'clock Picatinny rail, being of a comfortable rounded profile with deep ribs for flawless gripping qualities and comfort.

The battery compartment of the PC1 is inside the ribbed handguard and allows for either an 11.1V or 7.4V LiPo to be used. The pre-installed battery connector is a mini-Tamiya, meaning most Airsofters will have a battery to suit this platform already. We found a 7.4V 1200mAh nun-chuck style stick is a decent fit inside the handguard but there is room inside for most batteries designed for M4/AR-15 buffer tubes. To access the battery compartment, simply remove the pin at the front of the handguard and pull it downwards to remove it.

The bolt handle runs just above the handguard and can be attached on either side of the PC1 in one of three different positions. This gives the PC1 the edge over other sniper rifles when it comes to left-handed use, allowing the user to mount the steel bolt handle wherever they find most intuitive. The three different positions provide 3 different power levels, with the first position giving us approximately 380 FPS on a 0.2g BB, the second providing 420 FPS and the frontal position giving us 450 FPS on a 0.2g BB. This means you can tune the power level to match that of your local site with no extra springs or other parts needed.

To get the most consistent power output from the PC1, a consistent bolt pull is required to charge a similar air volume each time you cock the rifle. This means, to get the tight FPS and extreme consistency the platform is capable of, you will need to practice pulling the bolt and shooting until you are cocking the rifle at a consistent speed, and all the way front to back. It is possible to "half cock" the PC1 and the result will be a low FPS shot due to the cylinder not being fully charged.

The bolt throw of the PC1 is backwards when compared to a VSR-10 or L96, requiring that you rotate the bolt, push it forward and then pull it backwards to load the rifle. Cocking the PC1 is smooth and effortless for most of the bolt's travel, but on the pullback, there is a spot of resistance as the cylinder reaches capacity. This is still far less resistance than a spring sniper rifle would provide, but it can take you by surprise if you aren't expecting it! Thankfully, the design of the bolt handle itself is enlarged and has rubber o-rings set into grooves on its surface, providing plenty of grip to overcome this.

The pistol grip of the PC1 is a short, slim, ergonomic design intended to allow you to get as low as possible in the prone position to make the best use of surrounding cover and concealment. The linear grooves on the front pair perfectly with the recessed dot texture on the sides to provide superb gripping qualities in any weather conditions. There is also an extension at the rear of the grip which meets the magazine well, forming what is known as a "thumbhole" stock. This provides a bit of extra support for the palm but unlike many thumbhole stocks, is spacious enough to allow for gloved use.

The safety catch is located just above the pistol grip on the right side and offers two positions denoted with raised letters. The F stands for fire, and the S stands for safe. With texture on its surface and perfect placement, the safety can easily be operated from a firing grip for right-handed shooters. To the rear of the pistol grip, we are treated to raised trademarks reading "PC1 R-Shot System" on each side.

The trigger itself is skeletonised to fit the ultra-modern aesthetic of the PC1, and looks fantastic as it is, though we are told aftermarket options in different colours are due for release soon. The trigger pull of the PC1 is absolutely exceptional, especially for a bullpup. The travel length can be measured in millimetres and the response is instant, as all the trigger does in this setup is deactivate the internal electro-magnetic solenoid to release the air compressed in the piston. Even with upgraded trigger parts, a VSR-10 would have to work very hard to compete with this light and responsive trigger.

On the right side of the stock, we can find the rotary HOP-up dial of the PC1. This rotary dial links to a TDC HOP-up unit inside which is compatible with unbridged VSR-10 type inner barrels and VSR-10 HOP-up rubbers. The dial adjusts in very fine increments with a tactile click with each, guaranteeing the HOP-up will retain its setting in the long term. The wealth of adjustment offered by this HOP-up system is almost unrivalled, offering 25 different positions for various BB weights. We recommend 0.32g BBs with the pre-installed Silverback HOP-up rubber and 6.05mm tightbore as this provided the best results in our tests.

Bringing up the rear we have a considerately designed stock with a raised cheekpiece and rubberised butt plate, with a pair of sling points, one on each side. The cheekpiece slopes upwards as it meets the receiver rail, providing perfect alignment with your choice of optical sight. The finish of the cheekpiece is smooth, unlike the textured surfaces across the rest of the rifle, meaning you can take aim without cheese-grating your face. The rubberised surface of the butt plate positively locks the PC1 into your shoulder, allowing for a respectable rate of fire despite its bolt-action operation.

The magazine well is right at the back, as we would expect for a bullpup configuration. There is no magazine release as such; the magazine itself functions as the release. To insert the VSR-10 magazine, you will first need to push the rear of the magazine in against the internal spring, then rock the front of the magazine forward to engage the retaining lug.

Like the bolt pull, this will take some practice to get right, and if you don't do it properly it can cause misfeeds. With a few practice runs, we found that reloading the PC1 is actually far faster than a VSR-10 once you get the technique down as it allows you to quickly flick the spent magazine out without searching for the tiny VSR mag release or ripping the mag out due to a tight-fitting mag well.

On the inside, the PC1 is nothing like any other Airsoft gun we have seen. The internal parts are all constructed from CNC-machined aluminium or polycarbonate; there is no low-grade alloy or horrible beige plastic anywhere to be seen. Storm Airsoft claim that you will never need to upgrade the PC1, and we don't doubt it! Nonetheless, we know Airsoft snipers have their own preferences when it comes to HOP-up and inner barrel parts, and thankfully the PC1 will not hold them back thanks to its compatibility with VSR-10 inner barrels and HOP-up rubbers.

If you are looking for a platform that takes a walk on the wild side, taking a tight line around conventions to redefine the Airsoft sniper rifle, this is it. The PC1 looks like it is straight out of deep space with its gorgeous modernistic visual language and brings over some pioneering engineering which is certain to change the game. If you aren't afraid to try something new, you'll have a great time with the Storm Airsoft PC1!

Features

• Radical reinvention of the Airsoft sniper rifle
• 6.05mm Tightbore inner barrel - Provided by Silverback Airsoft
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Ultra-light build - Majority 30% Fibre Glass/70 Polymer mix, real carbon fibre outer barrel - Only weighs 1.4 kg!
• Swappable bolt handle - Install it on the left or right side in 3 different positions for different power levels
• Ribbed ergonomic handguard - Very comfortable with plenty of grip, with or without gloves
• M-LOK Slots on each side - Ready for M-LOK accessories or 20mm rail adapters for M-LOK
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for your choice of optical sight
• 20mm Picatinny rail at 6 o'clock - Ready for your bipod (you won't need one, this thing weighs nothing!)
• TDC VSR-10 style HOP-up - Adjusts via a rotary dial on the right side of the stock with tactile adjustment increments
• Bullpup configuration - Long Inner barrel, only 670mm overall length - Very space-efficient
• Compatible with VSR-10 magazines - Spares are common and always available
• Skeletonised trigger - Looks fantastic, blends well with the futuristic design language
• Rubberised butt plate - Plenty of traction in any weather conditions, great for use with body armour
• Two-position safety catch - On the right side, well within reach from a firing grip. F= Fire, S=Safe
• Interesting magazine catch design - The magazine IS the mag catch!
• Install the charging handle in one of 3 positions to adjust the muzzle energy
• Approximate FPS with 0.2g BBs: Position 1: 380 +/- 10% | Position 2: 420 +/- 10% | Position 3: 450 FPS +/- 10%
• Compatible with VSR-10 style HOP-up rubbers - Aftermarket options are plentiful
• Compatible with unbridged VSR-10 style inner barrels - Likewise!
• Aluminium and polycarbonate internals - Ultra strong, no need for upgrades
• Designed and manufactured in France - Exceptions are the inner barrel and HOP-up rubber

Package Includes

• Storm Airsoft PC1 Electro-Pneumatic Bullpup Sniper Rifle
• 55rnd VSR-10 Magazine
• User manual