KRAL Arms Puncher EMPIRE XS Walnut Bullpup Side-Lever PCP Air Rifle

The KRAL Arms Puncher EMPIRE XS takes the familiar Puncher platform and squeezes it into a seriously compact bullpup package. It shares much of its action and magazine system with the Puncher K, but moves the action further back into the stock to create a much shorter rifle.
Importantly, KRAL has put the cocking lever in the right place. Unlike some compact Turkish bullpups, including the Reximex ZONE, the EMPIRE XS keeps the side-lever beside the action rather than pushing it right to the rear. This makes cycling the rifle much more natural.
 
Seriously Compact
With the adjustable buttpad at its shortest setting, the EMPIRE XS measures just 60cm long. That makes it exceptionally compact for a full PCP rifle and particularly useful where space is limited.
Barns, warehouses, sheds, woodland and other confined areas can all make a conventional full-length rifle awkward. The bullpup layout gives you a proper shoulder-mounted PCP while keeping the overall package remarkably short.
 
At 3.4kg, it isn't an ultralight rifle, but the compact layout and traditional walnut stock make for a useful combination.
 
Puncher K DNA
The EMPIRE XS uses the same general self-indexing magazine system as the Puncher K, with 14-shot .177 and 12-shot .22 magazines. The side-lever is reversible for left- or right-handed operation and the trigger is approximately 0.5kg.
 
Unlike some competing bullpups, the EMPIRE XS is not regulated. The Reximex ZONE, for example, uses a regulator, while the KRAL keeps the air system mechanically simpler. That means one less component in the system, although it also means the rifle does not have the flatter pressure curve associated with a regulated PCP.
 
The 200cc cylinder provides approximately 50-60 shots per fill.
 
Adjustable Pitch Picatinny Rail
One particularly interesting feature is the adjustable-pitch Picatinny rail.
 
The forward mounting screw allows the front of the rail to be lowered, effectively adding elevation to the scope setup. This can be useful at longer distances where a scope is approaching the limit of its internal elevation adjustment.
 
Once set, the rail needs to be properly secured. The finger gaps make it tempting to use as a carry handle, but applying pressure to the rail could alter its position and therefore your zero. If you're experiencing an elevation-related zero issue, check the rail before blaming the scope.
 
Adjustable Walnut Stock
The traditional walnut stock is fitted with an adjustable buttpad, allowing the length of pull to be adjusted from approximately 380mm to 400mm. The buttpad can also be adjusted vertically to alter shoulder placement and help achieve a more comfortable shooting position.
 
Shroud & Silencer Options
The EMPIRE XS has a 1/2" UNF threaded barrel with a decorative 1/2" UNF threaded shroud/muzzle extension.
 
The shroud is primarily cosmetic, so the rifle benefits from a proper silencer. Due to the compact muzzle arrangement, we'd recommend a shorter, larger-bore silencer to reduce the risk of pellet clipping.
 
The shroud can also be removed and the silencer fitted directly to the barrel for a cleaner appearance, although the silencer must have sufficient internal clearance to get past the front cylinder cap. A larger-bodied design such as the Weihrauch Standard Silencer is the sort of arrangement that can work.
 
Always check alignment and clearance carefully before shooting.
 
Who Is The EMPIRE XS For?
The EMPIRE XS is aimed at the shooter who wants a genuinely compact PCP without giving up the traditional appearance of a walnut stock.
 
For farmers and pest controllers working around barns, buildings, woodland or other confined spaces, the 60cm minimum length is a genuinely useful feature. The adjustable Picatinny rail also gives it more flexibility for longer-range shooting than its compact dimensions might suggest.
 
It isn't regulated, isn't particularly light and isn't trying to be a competition PCP. Instead, it offers a compact, traditional-looking Turkish PCP with a sensible side-lever position, adjustable stock and a useful amount of rifle squeezed into a very small package.
 
As always with PCPs, pellet choice can make a significant difference to accuracy and shot performance.
 
A Note On Finish
There is one thing worth knowing before buying.
 
The EMPIRE XS can arrive with marks around the cocking lever/action area. This is not necessarily a sign of damage or previous use. It is a consequence of the operational clearances required to put the cocking lever in the correct position.
 
We see a number of these arrive with some marking around the cocking lever, and we'd rather tell you before you order than have you open the box and wonder what has happened.
 
If you want a rifle that is absolutely immaculate out of the box with a flawless finish, you may need to increase your budget and look further up the range.
 
For us, having the cocking lever in the right place is worth accepting some cosmetic marking. We'd rather have a practical action than a prettier rifle with an awkwardly positioned cocking lever.
 
Specifications
Weight: 3.4kg
Overall Length: 600-620mm
Length of Pull: 380-400mm
Trigger Weight: Approx. 0.5kg
Barrel: 405mm, 12-groove, choked
Action: Side-lever, left/right swappable (disassembly required)
Feed System: Multi-shot, self-indexing magazine
Magazine Capacity: .177 - 14 shots / .22 - 12 shots
Air Cylinder: 200cc
Maximum Fill Pressure: 200bar
Approx. Shots Per Fill: 50-60
Fill Connector: BSP threaded fill probe
Muzzle: 1/2" UNF threaded barrel with 1/2" UNF threaded decorative shroud/muzzle extension
Optic Rail: Adjustable-pitch Picatinny
Safety: In-trigger
 
Includes
KRAL Arms Puncher EMPIRE XS Walnut Bullpup PCP Air Rifle
2 x Multi-shot magazines
BSP fill probe