14-Aug-2026
Few decisions in British airgunning are as finely balanced as choosing between the Air Arms S400 and S410. They share the same action, the same barrel, the same walnut-and-blued good looks, and yet the choice between them says a lot about how you shoot. One is a single-shot purist’s tool; the other adds a 10-shot magazine and a little extra versatility. Both have been mainstays of the UK scene for more than two decades, and both hold their value on the second-hand market better than almost anything else in their class.
If you’re weighing up a used example of either, here’s an honest look at where they differ, where they don’t, and which one deserves your slot, or your money.
Two rifles, one family
The S400 and S410 are built around the same core: a full-length air reservoir under a free-floating Lothar Walther barrel, a crisp two-stage trigger, and stocks from Minelli that put most rivals to shame. Air Arms builds both in Sussex, and the fit and finish is a big part of why these rifles command such loyalty.
The essential difference is simple. The Air Arms S400 is a single-shot pre-charged pneumatic: you load a pellet directly into the breech for every shot. The Air Arms S410 takes the same action and adds a rotary 10-shot magazine, indexed by the sidelever, so follow-up shots are a flick of the wrist away.
Everything else, the regulated consistency of the shot cycle on later models, the balance, the famed smoothness of the sidelever, is close enough that most shooters couldn’t tell them apart with their eyes shut.
The case for the S400
Single-shot rifles are often described as the “purist’s choice”, but there are practical reasons to prefer the S400 beyond romance.
Loading each pellet by hand means you see and feel every pellet that goes into the breech. Damaged skirts, wrong head sizes, and double-loads, the classic magazine gremlins, simply don’t happen. For hunters who take one considered shot at a time, and for anyone shooting informal target disciplines where a single-shot tray is required anyway, the magazine adds nothing.
The S400 is also mechanically simpler. There’s less to go wrong, less to fuss over, and on the used market that simplicity is reassuring: a second-hand S400 that cycles and holds air is very likely a healthy rifle. Our full Air Arms S400 review goes deeper on the shot cycle and trigger.
Search interest in the S400 has been climbing again lately, and it’s not hard to see why: as new PCP prices creep upward, a used S400 remains one of the most sensible routes into a genuinely premium British air rifle.
The case for the S410
The S410’s magazine is one of the better rotary designs of its generation, and for pest control, it changes how you shoot. Rats in a barn rarely wait while you fumble a pellet into a breech with cold fingers. A quick sidelever stroke and you’re back on aim.
That versatility is why the S410 has historically outsold its single-shot sibling in the UK, and why used S410s are among the most searched-for second-hand PCPs on the market. Demand supports prices, so a good S410 is rarely cheap, but it’s also rarely hard to sell on, which matters if you like to trade and try.
It’s worth noting the S410 can be loaded single-shot too. Remove the magazine and drop a pellet in, and you effectively have an S400 with a slightly different breech feel. If you genuinely can’t decide, that flexibility is the S410’s trump card. We’ve covered the rifle in detail in our Air Arms S410 guide.
Accuracy, power and handling: honours even
Both rifles use the same Lothar Walther barrel and, in sub-12 ft·lb UK trim, both deliver the kind of accuracy that wins club competitions: ragged one-hole groups at 25 yards with pellets they like, and consistent hunting accuracy out to sensible airgun ranges.
Shot count per fill varies with calibre, pressure, and model year, so treat any specific figure with caution when buying used, but neither rifle will leave you short over a normal hunting outing or club session. Handling is identical for practical purposes: the same slim fore-end, the same well-shaped grip, the same easy balance that makes offhand shooting a pleasure.
If accuracy is your deciding factor, flip a coin. It genuinely won’t be the rifle that limits you.
Buying used: what to check
Whichever model you choose, the checks are the same, and they’re mostly quick:
The breech and sidelever should cycle smoothly with no grating. On an S410, run the magazine through a full cycle if you can; indexing should be positive, with no skipped chambers. Check the air gauge holds steady over time; a rifle that leaks down overnight needs a seal service. Look along the barrel and reservoir for corrosion, and check the stock for cracks behind the action screws. Ask when the rifle was last serviced; a documented service history from an Air Arms-approved workshop adds real value.
None of this is unique to Air Arms, and a well-kept example of either rifle will run for years between services. If you’re new to second-hand PCPs, our guide to the best air rifles by budget puts both rifles in wider market context.
So which should you buy?
Choose the S400 if you shoot deliberately, hunting with one careful shot, plinking, or target work where a magazine is dead weight. You’ll pay a little less on the used market for what is essentially the same rifle, and you’ll own the simpler, arguably more elegant machine.
Choose the S410 if pest control is a serious part of your shooting, if you value quick follow-ups, or if you simply want the flexibility to shoot both ways. It costs more used, but it also holds that premium when you sell.
And if you’re still torn, remember the S410 will do everything the S400 does; the reverse isn’t true. That asymmetry settles it for most buyers.
FAQ
Is the Air Arms S400 still worth buying? Very much so. The design has barely needed to change in two decades, parts and servicing are readily available in the UK, and used examples represent excellent value for a premium British-made PCP.
What’s the difference between the S400 and S410? The action, barrel, and stock are essentially the same. The S400 is single-shot; the S410 adds a rotary 10-shot magazine indexed by the sidelever. The S410 can also be used single-shot with the magazine removed.
How much is a second-hand Air Arms S410? Prices vary widely with age, calibre, condition, and whether it’s a carbine or full-length rifle. Check current listings on RightGun to see what the UK market is actually asking today.
Are the S400 and S410 good for hunting? Yes, both are proven hunting rifles at UK legal power levels, with the accuracy and consistency for clean, ethical shots at sensible airgun ranges. The S410’s magazine gives it the edge for pest control volume.
Browse Air Arms on Rightgun.uk
The best way to decide is to compare real rifles side by side. Browse the current selection of Air Arms air rifles for sale on Rightgun, including the S400 and S410, from trusted UK sellers, and see how our comparison of the S510 against the Weihrauch HW100 stacks up if you fancy stepping up the range.
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