The Theoben effect.

[Rick]

I would disagree with you about it being purely nostalgic. Most of the old Theoben gas rams shoot better than most new springers out of the box. They are very accurate and reliable with looks to match.
Hypothetical question: You have a choice of taking either a Theoben Sirocco or a HW97 out of the box into the apocolypse, which do you leave behind? My answer is, I wouldn't even unbox the 97 cause I already know.

I should take the 97 (modern hot hatch) as it will be more reliable, no o-rings to fail or valves to leak for example, but I wouldn't because I prefer the Theoben (classic hot hatch with all its faults and shortcomings).
(That said neither would be my first choice for an apocalypse)

 

[1260engineer]

I have a couple of rammers . these two

which are both very reliable and very accurate. i also have two versions of the rapid . a Mk2 Anschutz triggered and a GSX200 which is basically a rapid with all the toys .

And my rapid special which started life as a 12/250 and is now a lane regged 12/17

I would be quite happy putting any of them up against any modern rifle .
to be honest i have less problems with my Theobens than any of my other rifles .
not that i have many problems .
what i do like about Theobens over other classics are that parts and fixes are readily available. where as parks and whiskys are very specialized.
i personally think Theobens will be around for many many years to come . they might be old and some very ugly in some eyes but there is no doubting there following and there performance and accuracy. they are for some still there go to rifle for hunting and pest control .

 

[Blackrider]

I've owned many Rapids since they 1st came out, at the time they were a revelation!
Accurate , reliable, easy to use and really well made with high shot counts between fills. Fitted with quality barrels and walnut stocks, the only thing that wasn't top notch was the gamo trigger - but it can be tweaked to be acceptable.

The MK1 rapid is a design that only has 6 o rings and is easily setup and serviced. My shooting bag has always got a seal kit and allen keys, I've done a full o ring change on top of a straw bale in a barn! All done with zero check in under 15 minutes!

The Rapid for me is an iconic gun that ticks all the boxes and can hold its own with 99% of today's offerings.

You nailed it !

 

[Zarndo]

I bought an FAC Rapid a few years ago. While I respected it, the heavy weight of the gun and the agricultural feel of it put me off quite quickly.
I kind of understand why they’re loved as they are, but I wouldn’t buy one again.

 

[Bighit]

All I remember is the Reckord didn't really work with a standard ram, that's why the 90 has the Elite, I've never had the guts to take a Theoben apart yet but apparentlythe ram engages from the outside rim of it and not a centre sear like on a proper piston.
There was an 80 upgrade for a ram bit I don't know how it worked, it probably wasn't a standard ram if you kept the Reckord unit.
I do t know enough about them really but in sure someone here will straighten it out

This is similar to how the HW80 Ram worked. It used the original trigger.


Pic courtesy of Airenlaces .

vortek is making one but does not work the same way but still uses the record trigger.

Beeman R9 with Vortek center-latching air piston: Part 1 | Blog | Pyramyd AIR

by Tom Gaylord Writing as B.B. Pelletier This report covers: The Vortek unit Filling the unit How it works Spring guide Installation Disassembly Piston Barrel goes back End cap in Compressor How long and how difficult? Summary I try to stay away from products that are not available, but today...

www.pyramydair.com

 

[Bighit]

Quality.
The blacking and machining on Theoben rammers was superior to most other offerings from the same period.
The Rapid range are workhorses, built like tanks.

I imagine threads like this increase interest, which increases pricing...

At one point venom did Theobens blacking /bluing and at one point Theoben did Venoms blacking /bluing.

Martin Rutterford( who ended up owning Theoben then opened RAW) did the polishing and blacking/bluing on the Venom Mach 1 for Venom going by a thread on another forum.

 

[zZ WIGGLY Zz]

I love um bought my first in 97 and second when mk2 came out yes there basic by today's standards but if you look after them they will out live us all..

 

[vonbeck]

I have a couple of rammers . these two
View attachment 339159
which are both very reliable and very accurate. i also have two versions of the rapid . a Mk2 Anschutz triggered and a GSX200 which is basically a rapid with all the toys .
View attachment 339161
And my rapid special which started life as a 12/250 and is now a lane regged 12/17
View attachment 339162
I would be quite happy putting any of them up against any modern rifle .
to be honest i have less problems with my Theobens than any of my other rifles .
not that i have many problems .
what i do like about Theobens over other classics are that parts and fixes are readily available. where as parks and whiskys are very specialized.
i personally think Theobens will be around for many many years to come . they might be old and some very ugly in some eyes but there is no doubting there following and there performance and accuracy. they are for some still there go to rifle for hunting and pest control .

Lovely
Never shot a theoben of any description but would love to try a nice rammer

 

[theshootist]

Its pure nostalgia.
Take the Renault Clio V6 as an example - crap fuel consumption, slow by todays standards, cramped, no rear seats, no luggage space, turning circle of a crude oil tanker, wayward handling, expensive to repair, spares virtually non-existent.
That said it's still a Renault Clio V6 and I would!

I feel the same way about the Lancia Delta Integrale.. slower than a diesel Golf now but nostalgia has pushed the prices to crazy levels.

 

[theshootist]

I have a couple of rammers . these two
View attachment 339159
which are both very reliable and very accurate. i also have two versions of the rapid . a Mk2 Anschutz triggered and a GSX200 which is basically a rapid with all the toys .
View attachment 339161
And my rapid special which started life as a 12/250 and is now a lane regged 12/17
View attachment 339162
I would be quite happy putting any of them up against any modern rifle .
to be honest i have less problems with my Theobens than any of my other rifles .
not that i have many problems .
what i do like about Theobens over other classics are that parts and fixes are readily available. where as parks and whiskys are very specialized.
i personally think Theobens will be around for many many years to come . they might be old and some very ugly in some eyes but there is no doubting there following and there performance and accuracy. they are for some still there go to rifle for hunting and pest control .

Is that an Eliminator on the rhs of the first pic? I've never shot one but really fancy trying one, despite what everyone says about them.

 

[1260engineer]

Is that an Eliminator on the rhs of the first pic? I've never shot one but really fancy trying one, despite what everyone says about them.

Yes mate the full ZZ Top
tiz a monster

 

[Rich79]

Is that an Eliminator on the rhs of the first pic? I've never shot one but really fancy trying one, despite what everyone says about them.

I'd really like one but it's 2 slots on your ticket and I've only got target down so not sure what I'd do with it apart from 50yd target.

 

[theshootist]

I'd really like one but it's 2 slots on your ticket and I've only got target down so not sure what I'd do with it apart from 50yd target.

You could easily make a case that it's part of a collection and for informal target shooting!

 

[Telbert]

I think you've answered your own question - for me it's because it was the first rifle that epitomised the modern age. It was the first proper multi shot Pre-charged but not only worked but worked very well and still works.

Absolutely this^^^^^^^^^^
I can still remember reading John Darling's first piece about the R7, detailing the pinpoint accuracy, rapid fire action along with the "pointability". I was hooked immediately. As a young man I went from having rude thoughts about Ulrika Johnson to being obsessed with this creation from Theoben. It would be a few more years until I actually got my hands on one. The R7, not U J.

 

[FTK67]

I have never tried a Theoben PCP rifle but would like to have a go with one to see what all the hype is about.

I tried a modern RAW product - apparently an evolution of the old Theoben brand - and that was spectacularly disappointing (polite understatement).

My dream gun was a rapid 7, lovely to look at and shot quite well but to me it’s more of a wall hanger than a shooter ?

 

[OlympusCol]

I have 2 Theobens

1 a gas rammer, which I originally had as a teenager and bought from my uncle. I then sold it to my cousin (same uncles son) and then bought back again when I got back into shooting again.

I think it is a Sirocco TH?

It's in .177 and I plan on getting it restored to like new condition.

My second Theoben is a MkII Rapid.

A rifle I always wanted when younger, and came across 1 by chance at my RFD

This 1 is in FAC and to be fair it's the air rifle I pick up most now. Accuracy is amazing and the build quality is brilliant. Being a precision engineer, things like that matter to me.

 

[Backgardenplinker]

I have 2 Theobens

1 a gas rammer, which I originally had as a teenager and bought from my uncle. I then sold it to my cousin (same uncles son) and then bought back again when I got back into shooting again.

I think it is a Sirocco TH?
View attachment 339622View attachment 339623

It's in .177 and I plan on getting it restored to like new condition.

My second Theoben is a MkII Rapid.

A rifle I always wanted when younger, and came across 1 by chance at my RFD

This 1 is in FAC and to be fair it's the air rifle I pick up most now. Accuracy is amazing and the build quality is brilliant. Being a precision engineer, things like that matter to me.

View attachment 339625

Looks just like the sirocco I had. I believe its a sirroco classic TH but I was never 100% sure. Excellent rifle.

 

[Jay Butts]

I’d like another Fenman, but would I swap with my LGV or 97? Not a chance….whilst some rammers such as the Fenman are ok, most are pants that destroy scopes.

The Rapid 7 was a trailblazer for sure but I never liked the fore end of the stock on the mk1 but that’s just a personal preference.

They have become iconic though and sought after and as such I’d like one…. Just don’t want to spend the kind of money that could buy me an HW100.

 

[zogg364]

For me and probably many others it’s a combination of things..When Theoben brought the Rapid out it was the first successful and more importantly reliable and achievable option out there.

Shooting one of these after many years carting a donkey of a HW77 around, was the difference between a steam train and Concorde and that’s makes a massive impression when you have been used to old tech

They were great out of the box with generally bugger all to go wrong unless were of the ham fisted and I must fiddle type, in which case on the quest to get them to do 30 ft lb, you managed to create the kind of monster that a lot of non Rapid lovers have had experience of..

Shoot one of those and I totally understand the need to pop it in the nearest bin, but shoot an original and unmolested example and most people get it.

I have a few and all of them will certainly match any other modern and vastly more expensive that I currently have with the exception of maybe one or two rifles..

The rammers are maybe not quite my thing as they are a bit too ‘springer like‘ for me but are beautifully made and finished especially in comparison to the current off the shelf rifles out there.. The early ones are gorgeous to look at and the multi shots are still light years ahead of their time if working as designed

A lot of dogs have put a lot of new shooters off the Theoben experience but they are still able to compete at the top end and for less money if you ask me.. Five of my current ‘Top end” rifles owe me over £2500.00 each but realistically my Rapids do pretty much the same job for well under a grand..

Not just the Theobens either to be honest, I have a 22 year old Webley FX2000 which shoots just as well as anything FX has made recently for the purchase price of £250.00… A lot prettier than a Rapid as well

You pays your money you takes your choice

 

[Rich79]

I have 2 Theobens

1 a gas rammer, which I originally had as a teenager and bought from my uncle. I then sold it to my cousin (same uncles son) and then bought back again when I got back into shooting again.

I think it is a Sirocco TH?
View attachment 339622View attachment 339623

It's in .177 and I plan on getting it restored to like new condition.

My second Theoben is a MkII Rapid.

A rifle I always wanted when younger, and came across 1 by chance at my RFD

This 1 is in FAC and to be fair it's the air rifle I pick up most now. Accuracy is amazing and the build quality is brilliant. Being a precision engineer, things like that matter to me.

View attachment 339625

I have one of those, it's a Sirocco Gramd Prix, but mine has the pull down safety in front of the trigger guard.