Hammerli's Force B1 rimfire rifle isn't your usual .22. The company made target pistols for Olympic competition for much of the 20th century, including biathlon. Biathlon may be one of the most difficult shooting sports out there, given that the shooter must cross-country ski to various targets before shooting, meaning that biathletes compete against their own exercise-induced heart rates and breathing.
As such, the Force B1 uses a straight-pull action. This ultra-efficient type of bolt action has been in use since the late 19th Century, and is more common in Europe than in America. That said, adapting to the straight-pull is very simple, even for shooters who've never encountered it before.
The Force B1 uses Ruger 10/22 rotary magazines. Ruger .22 WMR rotary magazines fit easily into the magwell, and for the shorter .22 LR magazines, Hammerli makes a special adapter that fills the extra space in the well. Two are included with each rifle, and additional magazine adapters are available from Hammerli Arms.
First announced this past January, what's really special about the Force B1 is its easy barrel-swapping mechanism. Hammerli offers both .22 LR and .22 WMR barrels for the Force B1, and swapping them out is easy and tool-free.
In this terrific video from our friends at American Rifleman, you'll get to see how the Hammerli Force B1 made the NRA Gun of the Week! For more, visit HammerliArms.com.
