Air Rifle Snowpeak AP900 Mercury 4.5mm

The Chinese company Snowpeak Airguns (SPA) is a true specialist in low‑budget air rifles. This is confirmed by the new series of PCP air rifles called Mercury – these rifles are characterized by excellent workmanship, high modularity and, considering the available features, above all an unbeatable purchase price.

Rifle variants

The Mercury model is produced in 4 design versions:

• AP900 – 310 mm barrel, aluminium 118cc air cylinder and bottom M-LOK rail.
• AP1000 – 500 mm barrel, aluminium 250cc air cylinder and bottom M-LOK rail.
• AP900 B – 310 mm barrel, aluminium 350cc bottle and bottom Picatinny rail.
• AP1000 B – 500 mm barrel, aluminium 350cc bottle and bottom Picatinny rail.

Each variant is available in 3 calibres – 4.5 mm (.177), 5.5 mm (.22) and 6.35 mm (.25).

Functions and features

The air rifle is equipped with a rifled barrel designed for shooting lead pellets. The whole barrel is covered with a stylish sleeve / shroud with a finish imitating carbon fibre, giving the rifle a much more premium look. The muzzle is fitted with a sound moderator; after removing it you will find a 1/2UNF thread for installing another moderator (for models AP900 and AP900 B you can install only a moderator with a maximum body diameter of 28 mm. A larger moderator would interfere with the air cylinder).

If the threaded adapter remains on the moderator, you can simply loosen it, for example using a thin metal rod.

A major advantage compared to the competition is the integrated pressure regulator, thanks to which the rifle delivers consistent muzzle velocity both with a full cylinder and right above the regulator setpoint. The remaining pressure is shown by a simple manometer, which, depending on the model, is located either at the end of the standard cylinder or near the neck of the pressure bottle. There you will also find the port for the Quickfill filling pin for a quick‑disconnect coupler.

Loading mechanism

The manufacturer opted for a proven solution and used the popular biathlon‑style side lever with smooth operation and a grip large enough even for bigger hands. For shooting you can use either the pre‑indexed magazine (2 pcs included) or the supplied single‑shot tray.

Stock and mounting systems

A very interesting feature of this model is the folding stock, which you first have to install onto the rear Picatinny rail after unpacking the rifle. Once the stock is mounted, you get a full‑size long air rifle, which can be shortened by 25 cm by folding the stock, and in the folded position the stock is held in place by a magnet. The cheekpiece is fixed and the buttpad is, surprisingly, made of rubber instead of plastic.

A sufficiently long metal Picatinny rail is provided for mounting a scope, and on the sides you will find two more plastic Picatinny rails for attaching a laser, flashlight or other accessories.

Other parts of the rifle include a rubberized AR-15‑style grip, so you can replace it with another one, and the forend, depending on the variant, features either M-LOK slots (on versions with a standard cylinder) or a bottom Picatinny rail (on versions with an air bottle).

Materials and workmanship

Although this is a low‑budget air rifle, it is manufactured to a very high standard. The main body of the gun, the top rail and the trigger guard are made from a single piece of aluminium; there is no wobble and everything fits together solidly. Yes, you will also find a lot of plastics here – for example on the forend, side Picatinny rails and the entire stock is also plastic. However, thanks to the use of high‑quality polymer, these parts still feel solid and durable and do not negatively affect the overall function of the rifle in any way.

WARNING! The pressure regulator in this calibre is factory set to 150 bar. Shooting below this pressure level may cause damage to the regulator and subsequently also loss of air tightness of the rifle. When 150 bar is reached, we therefore always recommend refilling the cylinder.