Hammerli 400 Air Rifle

I have just re-discovered an old friend whilst clearing out my attic.
I had put my old Hammerli model 400 into the attic along with a Hammerli model 401. The 401 had a broken lever, but the 400 just needed some TLC and a service. After servicing it, adjusting the still very light trigger I have had some great fun with it over Easter. I had one of these from being 16 (many years ago) and it is as accurate as I remembered it. The power isn't bad either, being a little over 10.5 ft/lbs. I personally love the rotary tap, I have a Webley MK3 and Pre-War BSA Underlever both with lever taps and I prefer the Hammerli. Mine has the barrel weight as well. I have quite a collection of Air rifles including a BSA Super 10. The Hammerli is good fun to shoot. The anti bear trap doesn't work so I disabled it (it used to jam on so the rifle could not be fired). This is to do with the release lever not moving forward enough with the return stroke of the side lever.
All in all a lovely rifle.

[Opticman]

I have a 401 still working very well side tap and side leaver,when i was looking into it some time back i think WEBLEY had something to do with this modle,if i remember in the auction they had they also had one in the catalog,still works as it did spot on out to 35 ,40 m

[18 Wheeler]

Nice! I remember thinking that the 400 was the dog's danglies when I was a nipper.

[I. J.]

Ive got a very early Model 400 (Puma) in .22 in my collection. Very well built with rather an odd loading tap. A round knob (with direction arrow) rather than the usual lever like BSA, Webley etc.
My model doesn't have any anti-bear trap so loading does require rather a thoughtful procedure which involves me opening the loading port will still holding back the side cocking lever.
Good rifles which are now becoming quite rare.

Welcome aboard CADNOISSEUR and nice first post.

ATB
Ian

Shooting with air rifles was and is an abiding pashion of mine.
On a sunny spring evening it is the air rifle I will more often than not
reach for when I go over the land I shoot.
To hunt successfully with an air rifle brings far greater satisfaction for me than using a shotgun.

From my early teens I have owned Diana G79s, BSA Airsporters, HW35, Crossman Model 1, Original 45 (Very powerfull). I now collect older more unusual airguns. I have a lovely pre-war BSA Underlever with 2 flat coil springs in 0.22 calibre. My uncle bought it from new. I also have an immaculate Webley MK3 - quite unmarked. This shoots very well. The Hammerli 400 also brings back many happy memories and shoots very accurately. I also have a BSA Super 10, a couple of BSA Meteors for my children and a HW95.

I still enjoy using the open sights, but as I am middle aged now, my eyesight is not as sharp as when I was younger.

I cannot resist looking in old antiquee shops for old, unusual air guns and pistols.

[I. J.]

Most of the rifles you have mentioned in now own or have owned in the past. I to 'haunt' the local gun shops and second hand shops looking for the Holy Grail which in my case includes a Sharp Pan target and a Normay Vixen both bought from gunshops that didn't know what they had.

Our club still holds regular Open Sight competitions and I have found that using a (Williams) peep sight does help.

ATB
Ian