Gun test: Brocock Compatto Target

Mark Camoccio takes us through the details of Brocock’s competition rifle

Distinctively styled and well equipped

credit: Archant

Today’s airgun scene is an exciting place to be for any enthusiast, and the array of new hardware emerging from major manufacturers on a fairly regular basis, is testament to an increasingly demanding public. Look behind the scenes, and there’s also an entire cottage industry of smaller specialised outfits, producing all manner of after-market accessories, and technical add-ons, all aimed at the serious airgun shooter who wants to improve down-range performance, and is prepared to pay for the privilege. The result is an unprecedented level of sophistication and specialist product availability that really is a cause for celebration.

Meeting of minds

Brocock’s evolution as a serious player – now part of the group that owns Daystate, don’t forget – has been most notable, and the presentation and finish of their latest products has been impressive, to say the least. So, when a company such as Brocock joins forces with a small specialist outfit that manufactures regulators, it has to be seen as an exciting prospect. On test here is the brand-new Compatto Target, and it represents a bold move by Brocock and the Dutch company, Huma-Air.

The Brocock Compatto Target is a specialist rifle, aimed at hunter field target shooting, based on the Compatto, but with a Huma regulator fitted as standard. I tested a standard Compatto when it was first released, and was immensely impressed with its design and performance overall. Externally, this Target version follows the same profile as the original, save for the words ‘Target’ and ‘HUMA Regulated’, neatly picked out in gold lettering on the raised scope rail.

Detail of that high-rise scope rail

credit: Archant

Semi?

So let’s refresh our memories about what the Compatto (Italian for ‘Compact’ by the way) offers for starters, and then, over the course of this and a second part, I’ll cover the full test report, and the capabilities of this new gun.

The bullpup phenomenon has had a big influence across the shooting world in general, and the basic concept is to set the action back at the rear of the stock. This has several perceived advantages, the first of which is that the gun then becomes incredibly compact, portable, and easy to store. Balance is also transformed because weight is distributed with a bias toward the rear.

The airgun market has exploded with bullpup designs over the last few years, but where the Compatto cleverly bucks the trend, is that it manages to be a semi-bullpup. The action is indeed set back, but only by around five inches from where it would normally sit in a conventional set-up. The result is a gun that is still incredibly compact, has a pleasingly different weight distribution, and yet still manages to retain plenty of aesthetic appeal.

Spec’ sheet

One look at the specification chart for this model, and it’s clear we have a serious piece of airgun on our hands. Obviously, we start with a pneumatic action, and this features the patented Slingshot anti-hammer bounce system, originally designed by Steve Harper, and utilised in several Daystate models. The system has been tweaked and rejigged to work with the Huma regulator, of course, and to that end, it should be more efficient than normal – an aspect I’ll be evaluating in the second part of this test. A 10-shot, bolt-operated, rotary magazine is also included, along with the quick-fill, probe style of charging; a two-stage, semi-match trigger; synthetic, soft-touch, ambidextrous skeleton stock with adjustable butt pad; fully-shrouded barrel, built-in manometer, three-stage power adjuster, manual safety catch, threaded muzzle, and reach-forward raised sight rail.

Credentials

As mentioned, Huma are a Dutch company making specialist regulators for a variety of airguns, and the reg’ fitted to the Compatto Target is a precision component assembly, apparently constructed using aircraft-grade aluminium, aluminium-bronze, chrome moly steel, and precision belleville springs. They claim one per cent variation, which is pretty damn good, but of course, pellets can affect these figures. I’ll be running a full power, consistency and accuracy check, which I’ll report back in part two of this test, so we’ll see how those claims stand up.

Touchy feely

Pick up the Compatto Target, and that synthetic skeleton stock can’t fail to impress. Yes, it still is a little hollow sounding around the fore end area, but the satisfyingly precise moulding combined with that silky-soft touch finish just lends an overall air of sophistication and quality. The configuration, as mentioned, is totally ambidextrous, yet wrap the trigger hand around that super-slim pistol grip, and you’re comfortable, in control and perfectly positioned on the trigger itself. That adjustable butt is a great feature too, allowing the shooter to set the height, and enhance eye-scope alignment at a stroke.

Finish wise, it all comes together nicely, with an ultra-matt parkerized look to the full-length barrel shroud, raised scope rail, and breech block. The main cylinder itself gets a gloss mirror finish, which seemed more glossy than conventional chemical bluing, but looks smart and slick, nonetheless. Unlike a full bullpup, the Compatto Target doesn’t require the shooter to sight up over the top of the action, so the raised scope rail is used simply as a device to throw a stretch of rail forward, to achieve the correct eye relief, rather than as an ‘intermount’. Fitting a scope is reassuringly easy too, given those super-deep dovetails.

Look to the muzzle, and that knurled cap can be unscrewed and a silencer spun into place. The Compatto Target’s full-length shroud does take off the muzzle crack for sure, but when I spun a PAX Phantom silencer into place for comparison, the difference was quite dramatic.

Range report to come

Inevitably, this model will arouse interest in the Huma regulator, so it should be made clear that Huma-Air regulators are not available from Brocock as a retro’ fit for existing Compattos. However, existing Compatto owners can still contact Huma directly, and get a special version of their regulator to fit these models. You can search their website here.

All ready to go then, and next month we’ll see how this Target model shapes up, both over the chrono’ and all importantly, down-range. I’ll see you then.

Specification

Model: Compatto Target

Manufacturer: Brocock

Country of origin: UK

Type: Multi-shot regulated PCP

Calibre: .177 (on test), .22, 22 and .25 FAC

Weight: 7lbs

Overall length: 33.75 inches

Barrel length: 17.25 inches

Stock: Ambidextrous, soft-touch skeleton thumbhole

Trigger: 2-stage semi-match

Power source: Pump/air bottle