FAQs

  1. Why would I buy an AirForce Pre-charged over other PCP rifles?
  2. Why would I buy an AirForce Air rifle instead of a spring-piston air rifle?
  3. How quiet are the SS models compared to other AirForce Rifles?
  4. Which rifle should I buy?
  5. What is the maximum velocity?
  6. Does highest velocity mean most powerful?
  7. What are foot pounds of power?
  8. Are these rifles accurate?
  9. Should I buy a scope or purchase the open sights?
  10. How far will the gun shoot accurately?
  11. What type of trigger does the rifle have?
  12. What is the best pellet to use?
  13. How many shots do I get out of the tank?
  14. Should I use a hand pump or a scuba tank to fill the rifle?
  15. How many strokes does it take to fill the tank with the hand pump?
  16. Can I store the air cylinder filled?
  17. Are the air cylinders safe? How do I know?
  18. Does AirForce Airguns Recommend Hydro Testing Facilities?
  19. What about maintenance on the rifles? Do I need to clean the barrel or oil any parts?
  20. Can I fill the air tank with other gases?
  21. Can I use my home compressor to fill the air tank?
  22. What is the length of pull?
  23. What is the twist rate of the Texan .457 Barrel?

1. Why would I buy an AirForce Pre-charged over other PCP rifles?
A: Our rifles represent an “Integrated Shooting System.” The rifles feature 3 integral dovetail mounting rails which accept optical or open sights, bipods, nightvision, scope levels, adjustable sling mounting studs, lasers, flashlights, etc. Some of these items are currently available from AirForce or other manufacturers and some are under development. You can easily adjust the velocity levels down for indoor or outdoor target shooting, or up for field target type shooting, small game hunting, or pests. Customers can easily change the caliber of the rifle by changing the barrel. The rifles are manufactured in the United States so warranty service and spare parts are readily available.

2. Why would I buy an AirForce Air rifle instead of a spring-piston air rifle?
A: Spring-piston air rifles capable of approaching the velocity levels of our rifles weigh 8 to 10 pounds and require considerable effort to cock, they still will not develop very high energy levels because their velocities drop off dramatically in any caliber other than .177. AirForce rifles weigh 4 to 6 pound and require almost no effort to use when refilled from a scuba tank. Spring-piston air guns operate at a fixed velocity, our rifles are adjustable. Spring-piston air guns require special scopes because of reverse recoil, our rifles have no recoil and can use any scope that will focus in at the range you are shooting. A scope can be mounted on most spring-piston air guns but little else, our rifles are part of an "Integrated Shooting System" and offer shooters limitless ways to configure and accessorize their air rifles for a variety of shooting applications. AirForce Rifles can have more than triple the energy of the most powerful spring-piston air rifles.

3. How quiet are the SS models compared to other AirForce rifles?
A: Air rifles using high pressure compressed air are much louder than spring-piston air guns of comparable power. SS reduces the firing report to the level of a spring-piston air gun or less, depending on the velocity setting.

4. Which rifle should I buy?
A: All rifles have basically the same features. The TalonP is priced lowest and the SS models offer sound suppression. The Escape is our most powerful rifle. Whichever model you by can often be upgraded to add the features you prefer with a few easily installed parts.

5. What is the maximum velocity?
A: Maximum velocity is dependent on caliber, barrel length, and projectile weight. The Condor is extremely powerful, exceeding 1250fps in .22 caliber with medium weight pellets. We recommend only using heavy pellets to keep the velocity below the speed of sound. The Talon and Talon SS are capable of maximum velocities of up to 1100fps. Examine the table below for more detailed information.


Expected Estimated Velocities

Light Pellet Medium Pellet Heavy Pellet
Talon 18" barrel, .177 1100 950 850
Talon 18" barrel, .20 1050 900 800
Talon 18" barrel, .22 1000 850 750
Talon 18" barrel, .25 950 800 700

TalonSS 12" barrel, .177 1050 900 800
TalonSS 12" barrel, .20 950 800 700
TalonSS 12" barrel, .22 950 800 700
TalonSS 12" barrel, .25 900 750 650

Condor 24" barrel, .177 1450 1275 1200
Condor 24" barrel, .20 1200 1150 1050
Condor 24" barrel, .22 1300 1250 1050
Condor 24" barrel, .25 1250 1200 1000

CondorSS 18" barrel, .177 1300 1250
1000
CondorSS 18" barrel, .20 1250 1200 950
CondorSS 18" barrel, .22 1300 1250 1000
CondorSS 18" barrel, .25 1150 1050 950

TalonP 12" barrel, .25 1000 950 900

Escape 24" barrel, .22 1300 1150 1000
Escape 24" barrel, .25 1145 1100 950

EscapeUL 18" barrel, .22 1200 1075 970
EscapeUL 18" barrel, .25 1050 1000 900

EscapeSS 12" barrel, .22 1050 975 875
EscapeSS 12" barrel, .25 1000 950 900


Texan .457 Big Bore Expected Estimated Velocites, Shot Count and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
147 grain 960 10 300fpe
200 grain 900 8 360fpe
350 grain 791 2-3 486fpe
405 grain 785 2-3 500fpe


Texan .308 Big Bore Expected Estimated Velocites, Shot Count and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
44 grain 1270 10 155fpe
79 grain 1100 10 210fpe
118 grain 954 10 235fpe
132 grain 900 10 238fpe
156 grain 880 8 270fpe
171 grain 850 8 275fpe


Texan .357 Big Bore Expected Estimated Velocites, Shot Count and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
67 grain 1100 10 180fpe
81 grain 1075 10 200fpe
95 grain 1050 5 230fpe
127 grain 950 3-5 250fpe
160 grain 875 2-3 270fpe
190 grain 850 2-3 300fpe


Texan .257 Big Bore Expected Estimated Velocites, Shot Count and Energy levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
87 grain 960 10 175fpe
107 grain 895 10 190fpe


TexanSS/Carbine .457 Big Bore Expected Velocities, Shot Count, and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
147 grain 935 10 280fpe
166 grain 893 6 295fpe
250 grain 793 5 350fpe
350 grain 714 2-3 396fpe
405 grain 670 2-3 400fpe


TexanSS/Carbine .308 Big Bore Expected Velocities, Shot Count, and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
50 grain 1130 10 140fpe
118 grain 850 3-5 190fpe
156 grain 790 1-2 215fpe
171 grain 770 1-2 225fpe


TexanSS/Carbine .357 Big Bore Expected Velocities, Shot Count, and Energy Levels

Ammo Weight Velocity Shot Count Energy Level
61 grain 1060 10 165fpe
81 grain 1000 10 180fpe
95 grain 975 5 200fpe
127 grain 850 3-5 200fpe
160 grain 825 2-3 240fpe
190 grain 775 2-3 250fpe

6. Does highest velocity mean most powerful?
A: No, at a given power setting, a heavier projectile traveling at a lower velocity will produce more muzzle energy than a light projectile at a higher velocity.

7. What are foot pounds of power?
A: The power levels of the rifles can be calculated and expressed in foot pounds of energy. This calculation is based on velocity(V) expressed in feet per second and pellet weight(W) expressed in grains and can be determined with the following formula- V squared times W divided by 450240.

8. Are these rifles accurate?
A: Yes, they feature German-made Lothar Walther barrels commonly used by target and benchrest shooters.

9. Should I buy a scope or purchase the open sights? A: It is up to the user but the accuracy levels the rifles are capable of require the average shooter to use optical sights.

10. How far will the gun shoot accurately?
A: The Talon and Talon SS can shoot 50 to 70 yards. The Condor can shoot to 75 yards.

11. What type of trigger does the rifle have?
A: A 2 stage trigger set at about 2 pounds of pull.

12. What is the best pellet to use?
A: The pellets that normally provide good results are JSB Exacts, Crosman Premiers, Eun Jin, Predators and Beeman Kodiaks. The Condor will shoot .22 pellets that weigh 30 grains or more. In .177, shoot pellets weighing 15 grains or more.

13. How many shots do I get out of the tank?
A: The volume of the cylinder is 490cc and is the largest airgun reservoir we are aware of. The number of shots available before a refill is needed depends on the velocity you have your rifle set to. With the Talon and TalonSS, at high velocities of 800 to 1000fps you should get 30 to 70 consistent shots. At low velocities of 300 to 500fps you should get 200 to 300 shots. The Condor gets 10-15 full-power shots per fill.

14. Should I use a hand pump or a scuba tank to fill the rifle? A: It depends on the shooter. The pump allows complete independence from air compressors and scuba tanks but requires physical effort on the part of the shooter. Using, a scuba tank to refill makes the rifle easy to use by shooters who may have been reluctant to get into airgunning because of the considerable effort to cock a spring-piston air gun.

15. How many strokes does it take to fill the tank with the hand pump?
A: It will take several hundred strokes to fill the gun’s air cylinder the first time; you actually need to pause several times to rest and let the pump cool. But the air cylinder is not completely emptied when you shoot. After the cylinder is fully charged the first time you will only top off the cylinder to replace the air from the shots you have just fired. If you shoot at high velocity, you normally pump 2 to 3 strokes to replace the air in the cylinder for each shot fired. Low velocity settings require about 1 stroke per shot to top off the cylinder. Warning: When filling the air cylinder for the first time the pump should be allowed to cool for 15 minutes after each 5 minutes of pumping or damage to the pump seals may result.

16. Can I store the air cylinder filled?
A: Yes, the high pressure air cylinders are designed to remain pressurized.

17. Are the air cylinders safe? How do I know?
A: Yes, the air cylinders are produced in accordance with Department of Transportation specification 3AL and are each pressure checked and serial numbered. The air valve used with this cylinder incorporates a pressure relief device as required by the Code of Federal Regulations.

18. Does AirForce Airguns Recommend Hydro Testing Facilities?

A. Yes, you can contact:

Spectrum Gas Products Inc.
2381 E Winston Rd
Anaheim, CA 92806
ph: 714-444-0477
info@spectrumgas.com

Astoria Scuba and Adventure Sports, LLC
100 39th St, Pier 39
Astoria, OR 97103
503-325-2502
fholcom@astoriascuba.com


Bulls Eye Air
2725 State Hwy 32, Ste F
Chico, CA 95973
530-537-3132
info@scubahut.org

For a small fee and return shipping they can hydro test your tank for you.

19. What about maintenance on the rifles? Do I need to clean the barrel or oil any parts?
A: Maintenance is minimal and is covered in the instructional DVD provided with each gun.

20. Can I fill the air tank with other gases?
A: This practice is not recommended and voids the warranty of the rifle. The air rifle was designed for use with clean, dry compressed air or nitrogen gases only.

21. Can I use my home compressor to fill the air tank?
A: Normal home compressors will not achieve 3000psi. This is why the use of a scuba tank or special hand pump is needed.

22. What is the length of pull?
A: 14 1/2 inches

23. What is the twist rate of the Texan .457 Barrel?
A: 1:20 Twist