EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic PCP air rifle review

Edgar Brothers has been a familiar name on the shooting scene for as long as most of us can remember, but as with any long-running business, keeping pace with the times is what counts. Launching its own airgun brand was the natural next step, and EB Arms duly arrived in 2024. The Tactical EBA XV2 led the way with a sizeable buddy bottle up front, followed by the XV2 RS, much the same action but in a cylinder configuration. Then came the EBA Agincourt, with its more traditional, slim-line profile.

What is the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic?

The hardwood stock looked smart enough, but plenty of shooters simply prefer a more practical synthetic, and that is now on offer. This is the brand-new EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic. Just as the original Agincourt was unveiled at the British Shooting Show at the NEC, Birmingham in 2024, so this synthetic version made its debut at the same show earlier this year.

How much is the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic and what’s included?

Order this model and it arrives with two magazines, a filling adaptor, Allen keys, spare seals and instructions. A moulded, extendable bipod grip and a padded hard case are part of the deal too, though those were not sent through for my test owing to time constraints. I can vouch for both from testing the original Agincourt, and the hard case is roomy enough to take the rifle with a scope fitted, which is not always a given. All told, it adds up to a strong package for the current recommended retail price of £450, which is a £50 saving on the wood version. Prices quoted are RRP at the time of publication and may have changed since.

What’s the build quality of the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic like?

The metalwork, full-length shroud and long cylinder all wear that matt black anodised finish, and between the robust, chunky breech block and the knurled ½in UNF thread at the muzzle, the Agincourt Synthetic feels solid and thoroughly functional.

Sleek is the word that keeps coming up, and the new moulded all-weather stock is a smart piece of design. The rear stock is slim-line, with a good quality rubber pad in the shoulder and an adjustable cheekpiece. The grip is nicely shaped and runs into that elongated, stylish forend, finished off with a Picatinny accessory rail up front. Everything is ambidextrous, and with moulded panels of stippling across the grip and forend, it all works well in the hand.

How do the magazine and filling system work?

The Agincourt Synthetic is a multi-shot design with side-lever operation and a tidy manual safety catch on the rear right side. Mounting a scope is simple thanks to the two-part Picatinny rail on either side of the breech block. Charging is to a maximum fill pressure of 200 bar: just rotate the plastic dust cover at the front of the cylinder and insert the filling adaptor. A branded EB Arms manometer sits up front too, so keeping an eye on pressure is easy.

Two cassette magazines are supplied, as noted: a 14-shot in the .177 on test, and a 12-shot in .22. To load a magazine, rotate the clear lid fully clockwise, then, holding it against spring pressure, drop a pellet skirt-first into the single rear chamber that holds the drum. Fill the remaining chambers from the front and close the cover.

And so to the last bit of preparation: that excellent adjustable cheekpiece. It is a genuinely useful feature, and given the original wooden stock had no such adjustment, it is a real incentive to go the synthetic route. I was caught out at first, trying to press both sides, but stick to the spring-loaded button on the right of the stock and the mechanism works a treat. The cheekpiece rises from the closed position in three lockable stages, 3/8in at a time, up to just under 1¼in, leaving you to settle on perfect eye and scope alignment.

What’s the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic like to shoot?

The Agincourt Synthetic’s all-black look and straight-line profile carry a hint of the hardware seen in Planet of the Apes, but the easy handling and fuss-free design will win plenty of friends. It really is hard to fault once it is planted in the shoulder. Drawing back the side-lever to cock the action is smooth and takes next to no effort. Slot the magazine in from the right and a magnet draws it into place, close the lever, and you are ready to go.

The instructions make no mention of trigger adjustment, yet the unit proved light and predictable on test. Add in that adjustable trigger shoe and it really is hard to fault. The Agincourt is fairly noisy, though, with no expansion taking place inside the shroud, so for hunting and pest control put that UNF thread to use and fit a silencer. You won’t regret it.

What is the power, shot count and accuracy?

Power was set a fraction low on my test gun, but over the chronograph the Agincourt showed good consistency across the first 90 shots, with a total spread of just 23fps, achieved using heavy Bisley Magnums. Shot count reached 112 before residual cylinder pressure dropped to 100 bar, though velocity did open up over those final few shots. It pays to do your homework and work within that most consistent band, and 23fps is serious performance in anyone’s book.

It is worth noting that, although the Agincourt is designed to run with the magazine fitted, the breech is wide enough to allow single pellet feeding straight into the barrel, which adds a little versatility. On accuracy, it is a capable performer, with easy 5p-piece-sized groups out at 30 yards using most pellets. At a more demanding 40 yards my example was a touch more pellet fussy, but I consistently held ¾in clusters with JSB Exact RS Diabolo pellets, proof that finding the right pellet pays off.

EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic specification

Prices are RRP at the time of publication and may have changed since.

Is the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic a good air rifle?

Pick up this latest Agincourt Synthetic and the easy-handling stock and all-round simplicity make for a refreshingly straightforward airgun. It may not be the most sophisticated rifle out there, but everything cycled smoothly and reliably on test, without a single jam.

Start listing the features that matter in a hunting rifle and an all-weather synthetic stock will sit near the top for many. Add the generous number of shots waiting in the magazine, 14 in .177 as tested, and the Agincourt builds a real case for itself as a quarry and pest-control rifle.

In short, Edgar Brothers offers the same appealing Agincourt specification in either the original woodwork or this sleek new synthetic, complete with adjustable cheekpiece, and at good value too.

Strengths

• Highly economical: at £450 it is £50 cheaper than the wooden variant and includes a generous accessory package.
• Three-stage adjustable cheekpiece: missing on the original wooden stock, the spring-loaded button on this synthetic version locks into three stages (up to 1¼in) for flawless eye-to-scope alignment.
• Excellent shot consistency: a tight 23fps spread over 90 shots makes for highly reliable placement.
• Versatile feeding: the breech block is wide enough to support direct single-pellet loading alongside its 14-shot (.177) or 12-shot (.22) magazines.

Weaknesses

• Muzzle noise: because the full-length shroud lacks internal air expansion, the rifle is fairly loud out of the box. The fix is to use the ½in UNF muzzle thread to fit a dedicated silencer for hunting.
• Pellet preference at distance: it takes some testing to find the right pellet brand for tight grouping beyond 40 yards.

Verdict: is the EB Arms Agincourt Synthetic worth it?

The Agincourt Synthetic strips out unnecessary complexity to deliver a reliable, hard-working PCP that is hard to fault for the money. It might not be the most sophisticated rifle on the market, but it cycled flawlessly without a single jam throughout testing. With its high shot count, robust weatherproofing and that brilliant adjustable cheekpiece, Edgar Brothers has put together a superb, high-value package that suits field shooters and pest controllers down to the ground.