[Air Arms] S500 Beech Wood, Pre-Charge Air Rifle

Description:

The Air Arms S500 is a premium British-made pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle and the single-shot counterpart to the multi-shot S510.

Launched as part of Air Arms’ refined S500/S510 series (an evolution of the older S400/S410 platform), it keeps the same high-end engineering but strips out the magazine for shooters who prefer deliberate, manual pellet loading.

It’s built in Sussex, England, with the same focus on accuracy, quietness, and long-term reliability that Air Arms is famous for—ideal for precision hunting, target shooting, or anyone who enjoys the “one shot, one focus” discipline.

 

Key Specs & Features (current S500 range)

• Calibers: .177 and .22 (some high-power FAC models also in .25)
• Action: Super-smooth side-lever cocking with single-shot loading (wide, easy-access breech—no magazine)
• Power: Pre-charged pneumatic (fill to ~200–250 bar); unregulated or regulated (XS / XS Extra models) for rock-steady consistency
• Shot count per fill (approx., sub-12 ft-lb): 70–120+ depending on caliber, regulation, and reservoir size (regulated XS Extra gives the highest counts)
• Barrel: Match-grade Lothar Walther, fully shrouded for quiet operation (often under 65 dB)
• Trigger: Two-stage adjustable
• Other highlights: Built-in manometer, threaded muzzle (½" UNF), 11 mm dovetail scope rail, power adjuster on some models
• Length / Weight (Carbine – the most popular): ~38.25" (970 mm), ~6.2–7.1 lbs (2.8–3.2 kg)

 

Why You Should Buy the S500 (Especially After the S410 & S510)

• Pure shooting focus: No magazine means you load one pellet at a time—many hunters and precision shooters say this improves concentration and technique compared to the “spray and pray” feel of multi-shot rifles.
   

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• Same top-tier performance as the S510: Identical Lothar Walther barrel, side-lever smoothness, quiet shroud, and build quality—sub-½" groups at 30–40 yards are routine. The only real difference is single-shot vs 10-shot mag.
• Slightly more affordable: You get nearly all the refinement of an S510 at a lower price point.
• Regulated excellence: XS models deliver the consistency serious shooters crave without aftermarket tuning.
• British heirloom quality: Like the S410 and S510, it’s built to last decades with minimal maintenance and holds zero perfectly.
• Versatile and stealthy: Perfect for backyard plinking, pest control, or field hunting—compact Carbine version is especially handy.

Reviewers and owners call it a “masterpiece of simplicity” that rewards skill while delivering Air Arms’ legendary accuracy and reliability. The only real trade-off is reloading speed (which some actually see as a benefit for deliberate shooting).

In short, if you loved the S410/S510 platform but want the single-shot purity, lower cost, and extra focus without losing any performance, the S500 is the smart pick. It’s the rifle many airgunners choose when they want to slow down and shoot better.