- Why would I buy an AirForce Pre-charged over other PCP rifles?
- Why would I buy an AirForce Air rifle instead of a spring-piston air rifle?
- How quiet are the SS models compared to other AirForce Rifles?
- Which rifle should I buy?
- What is the maximum velocity?
- Does highest velocity mean most powerful?
- What are foot pounds of power?
- Are these rifles accurate?
- Should I buy a scope or purchase the open sights?
- How far will the gun shoot accurately?
- What type of trigger does the rifle have?
- What is the best pellet to use?
- How many shots do I get out of the tank?
- Should I use a hand pump or a scuba tank to fill the rifle?
- How many strokes does it take to fill the tank with the hand pump?
- Can I store the air cylinder filled?
- Are the air cylinders safe? How do I know?
- Does AirForce Airguns Recommend Hydro Testing Facilities?
- What about maintenance on the rifles? Do I need to clean the barrel or oil any parts?
- Can I fill the air tank with other gases?
- Can I use my home compressor to fill the air tank?
- What is the length of pull?
- 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:
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