Box to Bench & BEYOND with the Rapid Air Worx - RAW - Micro Hunter PCP Air Rifle in .177 Caliber

When Rapid Air Worx, RAW, announced the Micro Hunter with a functional prototype at SHOT Show 2023, I couldn't wait to see the production model. The fact that it was going to be available in .177 cal was just icing on the cake.
There are some people, most of them Americans, who think .177 is an irrelevant caliber. I've spent the last year shooting .177 in the 15-20 FPE range, and for pest control of animals in the sparrow to rabbit size, I don't think you can beat it under 60 yards.
But is it "enough" for iguanas? Some of these things are literal tanks. Canal Dragons with tough scales...surely you need big power to take them down. Or do you? If you have a hyper accurate .177 like the Micro Hunter, and you know your limits and take the right shots, well, watch the footage at 25:00 and let me know what you think.
This video turned into more than I started it out to be. My attempt at filming was interrupted by the ability to film testing of the modular Ryu moderator. I have a whole video of this airgun being the test case for how I do moderator tuning...and then came the ‪@pyramydair‬ Cup, where the Micro Hunter seemed the perfect choice for Field Target competition and finally a trip to South Florida to hunt iguanas with THE ‪@OriOnTheIguanaHunter‬
Oh yeah...I do a trigger test too.
This is a video about an air powered, pellet firing rifle. RAW calls the airgun the Micro Hunter. There is pest control in this review. If you want to see bench footage, see it here.
• Tuning Barrels with th...
All shots taken in this video were done on either a private, closed range, a range during competition or on private property at the land-owners request. All applicable safety precautions were taken and the iguanas taken were invasive and deemed by the State of Florida to be a pest species.
Thanks to my friends at Rapid Air Worx, RAW, ‪@AirForceAirguns1‬ sending this fantastic compact rifle over for testing. Thanks also for the support at the Pyramyd Air Cup and to ‪@TonJonesOfficial‬ for always taking the time for my calls.

[@OriOnTheIguanaHunter]

Awesome video! I was really impressed with the RAW! And as I mentioned on my video, the rifle is Orion Iguana Certified! Keep up with the good work PJ!

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thank you. The video wouldn’t have been the same without your hospitality. I’m looking forward to my next visit.

[@alexgorske6399]

Love the box to bench reviews. I'm from door county and trying to decide on what my first PCP will be. Time to graduate from break barrels !

[@WiscAirGunners]

It's a great step and you won't regret it.

[@joeschmitt8694]

Your reviews are excellent! Thanks

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thank you!

[@blackartsdesign1941]

Great video as always PJ. You're attention to detail is rare and does not go unnoticed. And what an opportunity to get feedback on the micro hunter being used in a real world situation as well as in one of the most challenging air gun competitions around. I've gotta say, this little package looks to be the ticket for pesting around the property... you may have even convinced me on the .177. When everything is within 40 yrds. the higher shot count really becomes appealing.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks! Don't dismiss the .177!

[@Indiana424]

Awesome!

[@WiscAirGunners]

I thought so too! Thanks.

[@Glimpsedshow]

In the UK, most hunters shoot .177 as we are limited to 12FPE by law. Many of us take shots, with a very good zero, worked out DOPE and practise, out to 70 yards. Theres a guy on youtube from NZ that, using a ballistic PARD DS35-70 scope, takes rabbits out to 100 yards using a 12.3 FPE Air Arms S510 and 8.4grain JSB pellets. Power mean nothing without accuracy. (Disclaimer, obviously we are talking about small game here. We are NOT talking about larger game like foxes or your 'Cayotes' etc. As they have thicker skulls and thats where you need 30FPE+

[@WiscAirGunners]

For small game I much prefer precision to power.

[@crazycressy7986]

If you want more power just get a FAC

[@Glimpsedshow]

@@crazycressy7986maybe I have one already. But the benefit of off ticket guns is you can have easy access to them without onerous security, storage, and land conditions.

[@crazycressy7986]

@Glimpsedshow also the benefits of an off ticket rifle is a few years in a 6x6 room with a soap on a rope ,and the worst place to brag about stuff like that is here ,plod often read comments

[@Glimpsedshow]

@@crazycressy7986 off ticket rifles are perfectly legal. They are called 12ft/b air rifles and millions are owned nationwide. I am saying that 12ft/b air rifles are useful to pest controllers, even those with tickets, because you don’t have the same onerous restrictions on their store and land usage. I think you’re totally misunderstanding my comments.

[@nolancaudill1712]

I really like that rifle!

[@WiscAirGunners]

Me too!

[@TheWelshman50]

Nice review wish these were in the UK

[@WiscAirGunners]

I’ve talked to some RAW shooters in the UK, so I know they have distribution, and this would be an easy model to tune to sub-12. Maybe there is hope?

[@TheWelshman50]

@WiscAirGunners Many thanks my friend will do a Google search to see if I can find one here in the UK

[@stedyone1090]

Very nice 👌 👍

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks a lot!

[@heithwatkins]

I have to buy this rifle........❤🇺🇲

[@WiscAirGunners]

It’s a good one!

[@JohnVentarino-ey5ln]

PJ your a good man buddy and I love your videos but that Micro Raw don't have enough power for the price of it but it's a beatiful gun.

[@WiscAirGunners]

You don’t need a super long barrel to generate big power, but a 9” barrel is only going to get you so much.

[@sandyschupper8401]

EXCELLENT/. I am ordering one from Central Florida Airguns. Jon Voss. Great Guy and company

[@WiscAirGunners]

Enjoy it.

[@mrfishfreak66]

Thank you for the awesome video. I am getting back into airguns. I bought the raw micro. Upon inspection, I noticed that the regular on the gun moves up and down. Both the foster air intake and the regular. Is this normal?

[@WiscAirGunners]

I would call either your dealer or RAW/Airforce directly about that.

[@craigmartin7299]

I just got the same rifle, also in .177. I am curious what shot count you are getting before it falls off the regulator? My rifle is lefthand as I am LH. The adjustable cheek piece assembly actually pops off and can be flipped around so the cheek piece adjustment assembly housing doesn’t protrude into your jaw.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Good to know. I only have two mags, so I’ve been airing up when I reload since I’m usually going “back to base” to do that. But I’m still well above reg at that point. I expect at least 3 mage, maybe more.

[@Moses1973]

Question. What do you think of the safety placement? Never have had one like that. I'm going to look this up and maybe I missed this on your review as well as another review but isn't this regulated and adjustable? Thanks and don't let people get to you. I was a designer and probably one out of fifty people where asses LoL. Mostly because they didn't know the intricates of how things go together. Anyway take care and hang in there. Thanks for the review.

[@WiscAirGunners]

Thanks. I appreciate your support. It is regulated and can be adjusted, but there are some limitations to how much velocity you can generate with a 9 inch barrel and the platform’s hammer and valving. It wasn’t really designed to make frequent regulator pressure changes, and if I got a wild hair and wanted to try it, I would definitely be phoning a friend for guidance, so as not to mess the whole thing up. I have a couple of airguns that have the rocker safety inside the trigger guard, and in the field, I find the design to be very convenient. I know it causes some people pause. I understand their concerns. I would be less enthusiastic about it if I were using thick gloves, but as long as you have a normal level of dexterity, I don’t think you would have a problem with it during normal field use. The only way I can see that you could have an unintended discharge would be if you were carelessly applying the safety, missed the safety lever entirely and pulled the trigger thinking you were applying the safety. I would consider that at least negligent, if not reckless, as opposed to accidental.

[@Moses1973]

Thanks for a very complete reply. Bet you're enjoying Florida weather about now LoL. Thank you again for the reply.

[@dangyang2273]

Where you located?.

[@WiscAirGunners]

That story is in the channel description.

[@sandyschupper8401]

I would have liked to see better shot-to-shot consistency

[@WiscAirGunners]

A 9 fps spread is pretty solid in my book, especially from a short barreled rifle.

[@sandyschupper8401]

No regulator gauge?

[@WiscAirGunners]

It's not intended to be user adjustable. The factory set pressure is written on it. I think mine is at 140 or 145 bar.

[@sandyschupper8401]

@@WiscAirGunners it would be nice if that were mentioned in any review because had I purchased it I would’ve been pretty pissed off and I generally love your reviews and I am a subscriber. But omitting something like that from a review is omitting a material fact, just my opinion.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@sandyschupper8401 which you are certainly entitled to. I generally don’t mention things that aren’t there unless they impede function, and in this case it doesn’t.

[@dangyang2273]

You own a gun shop?

[@WiscAirGunners]

I do not.

[@josephchapman633]

Surprised you evaluated a American made gun! And not a Chinese or Fx gun from Utah airguns! Oh forgot you’re a Donny Fl employee.

[@WiscAirGunners]

I am a DonnyFL employee and proud of it. As to the country of origin, manufacturer or retailer, of airguns, I’m willing to work with pretty much anyone who wants to have an airgun reviewed. The truth is, it’s hard to develop those relationships, so if you know someone I should contact, I’d appreciate the tip.

[@josephchapman633]

My point is “relationships” vs. objectivity!, first thing you did was throw on a Donny FL product on the end of the barrel and claimed better accuracy, with out testing other pellets or other moderator’s giving the Nieves the impression that Donny’s moderator was the only way to achieve accuracy. Then not doing any research into the product you were testing you didn’t even know how or took the time to examine how the pellet probe sealed against the barrel ( which all or most know this with a RAW ) now in the middle of your so called review you couldn’t even finish the shoot you entered because of job obligations? But it’s all good, keep doing your thing I’ll just know not to waste time watching your “REVIEWS”.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@josephchapman633 thanks for watching this one and the feedback.

[@eddyeddy5440]

PJ, I thought your videos are getting too commercial and have just become advertising. Too bad your authenticity is now secondary to your commercial interests

[@WiscAirGunners]

Well, companies send out airguns to reviewers for the purpose of marketing, and I’m honored that RAW chose me to represent this rifle to you. I’m pretty transparent about who sends me what, and I’d never be able to fill a channel with any new releases based on what someone like me makes from KZbin. For what it’s worth, I report on the guns as I see them. I think in this case I’ve pretty thoroughly documented the positives and negatives I experienced. I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you or other viewers, that’s certainly not ever been my goal.

[@JohnVentarino-ey5ln]

​@@WiscAirGunnerspj don't listen to this guy saying your to commercial we like seeing what's new on the market in case we want to buy it that's the only way the average guy can see this stuff so keep doing what your doing brother.

[@WiscAirGunners]

@@JohnVentarino-ey5ln thanks. I appreciate it.

[@eddyeddy5440]

PJ, What I think is unfortunate is that you take it as criticism while I give feedback. Your videos are fun to watch, but it's becoming more commercial and less critical. You have to think about feedback and not get defensive or you will get stuck in your own truth