AIR RIFLE REVIEW: CZECH THIS OUT!

Created on 14th May 2009

MARK CAMOCCIO tries out CZ's latest offering, the Slavia 634 Lux, and suspects it has been undersold

AS A lifelong fan of airguns, part of their undoubted attraction has always been the self-contained power source. OK, pneumatics have taken over at top level and they invariably require some external pump or air bottle to keep everything ticking over, but the sheer enjoyment and satisfaction that are derived from the humble spring-piston design takes some beating.

At the top of this pile sits the break-barrel. The configuration of this type of rifle allows for no-nonsense, fast-fire action, free from the hassles of pumping-up and having to connect to an air supply. Simply snap down the barrel, push home a pellet, snap the barrel closed and you're away.

My test rifle for this month is the Slavia 634 Lux, which is a prime example of this best-selling break-barrel format.

Hailing from the Czech Republic, and the increasingly significant CZ company (or Ceska Zbrojovska, to give it its full name) the Slavia clearly comes with pedigree. When you consider that it's CZ that manufactures the S200 PCP model for Air Arms, and the plaudits that this rifle has attracted, any offering from this go-ahead company must be worth careful consideration.

And so it is with the Slavia. When I first clapped eyes on this model in a local gunshop a few months back, something about it suggested it was going to impress. Now, having finally completed a test, I can report that the Slavia hasn't disappointed. I must begin by stating that the rifle is basic and not without fault, but it has raised my expectations for a budget-priced model.

While the layout is fairly conventional, one really striking feature is the stock. With that deep, tapered box section just forward of the trigger, a semi-target approach makes a welcome change in a rifle of this sort - and while the woodwork may appear a little Spartan in places, the Slavia handles surprisingly well.

The angular forend tip is stylish and feels comfortable in the aim, despite stopping a little short of the breech; the drop-down grip feels correct. Generous, full-length finger grooves feature on both sides of the forend and aid grip in the aim, while the front stock-securing screws come in from below, leaving an uncluttered, smooth surface for the leading hand. On the negative side, while the lacquered finish allows for plenty of attractive graining to show through it's rather slippery, so chequering of some sort would have been beneficial.

The cheekpiece is near non-existent, CZ preferring a bland, featureless shape at the butt. Although I appreciate this is probably a cost-cutting exercise, a little definition in this area would have been nice.

Where this rifle loses most points is in the atrocious hard plastic plate, which should be covered in soft rubber - it's rock-hard, silky-smooth, and slides around the shoulder with ease! Again, presumably CZ is trimming down the price, but surely a rubber pad wouldn't cost much more?

Why am I bleating about minutiae when this rifle isn't aimed at the top level? Well, as you'll see, its performance is such that it deserves slightly more sophisticated woodwork.

The engineering quality is impressive for a start. The entire breech area is exceptionally well-machined and includes an adjustable cross-bolt and the all-important secondary locking screw. This means that the breech jaws can be fractionally tightened and locked up to compensate for future wear, keeping performance levels high. Add to this a breech lock that requires a barrel release catch to be pulled forward before breaking the action (keeping everything tight and true) and it becomes clear that this is actually a tidy, considered package with much to offer. The barrel catch is that strange-looking and unfortunately plastic ‘fin' shape, just forwards of the breech; the internal piece of the lock is, reassuringly, made of metal. As the action is cocked, an extremely neat, automatic safety catch is employed, which can be switched off by pushing the knurled button to the rear of the cylinder.

One more gripe with this rifle is the dovetailed scope rails cut into the main cylinder. It's been a long time since I've had a complaint in this area, but the Slavia's frighteningly shallow rails are reminiscent of those on my old BSA Airsporter S. Finding mounts to suit was an irritation, but with care I achieved the desired result. Maybe CZ doesn't expect many customers to fit glassware, but only a fool would ignore the inherent accuracy on offer.

All the metalwork is of a uniform blued finish, yet lacks a rich lustre.Triggers are never that great on rifles in this price range, but the Slavia's is reasonable. The final pull weight is still a fraction too heavy, but after taking up some creep the pull is at least consistent and fairly predictable. A broader trigger blade could only help.

The 17.5" CZ barrel is finished off with a hooded foresight, as the Slavia comes with solid metal iron sights as standard. The notch and post sight picture is crisp.

I shot several impressive groups over 25yd in an FT over-arm position. Invariably, four shots landed in a genuine ragged hole (which would have gripped a .177 pellet!) while the fifth still formed a sub ½" cluster. This pattern was repeated, but I get the distinct impression that overcoming the creep on the trigger was the only minor obstacle. It may be that I'm just being picky here, but the level of accuracy cries out for some further refinement. To put it into perspective, many PCPs would struggle to equal this rifle in terms of its accuracy - it really is that good. Cocking effort is manageable and the action is well mannered, while a little spring ‘twang' was present. In short, this rifle is a revelation that is reminiscent of the much-missed Feinwerkbau Sport 124 in several ways: it's lightweight, well made, and deadly accurate.

My advice would be to snap one up; buy a decent butt pad; get a tune-up and trigger mod from Airmasters or V- Mach, and enjoy! If you can't manage all the refinements, it's still hard to beat as a starter pack aimed at the novice, hunter or budding HFT shot.

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