Falcon Prairie PF 18 MP Review

Overall Rating

Shorter and lighter than most other airguns of the same power / price range weighing in at just over 6lbs with scope and silencer. Unjammable multishot loader is well designed and the turn cap dust cover on the plug in charger valve is a nice touch.

Thumbhole stocked so may not appeal to more classic style fans but thats just preference. Bolt is smooth but good be improved and the rotary magazine where jam proof can be fiddly to use but you soon get the hang of it.

I picked this Falcon Prairie PF up at my local airgun supplier as my first PCP,I am normally a 10m pistol shooter. After having the strange looking rotary magazine explained to me and being intrigued by the brass disc that is associated with it, I was excited to give it a go. It's very simple to load once you know how (you place the brass disc on the back on the magazine and drop a pellet in then turn it, 8 times in total) place the magazine back in the breech then bolt action from there.
As I mentioned earlier the Prairie is a fairly light rifle, good for long stalks and helps on standing shots too. It comes with silencer which I must add is quiet (not sure how quiet exactly but around the same as the logun S-16 mk2) and the Falcons now standard built in pressure gauge is very accurate. You probably get around 100-150 shots with a 200 bar charge, thats full power of course, not much point hunting on anything lower its cruel and inhumane. Then again if you using it for hunting 100 shots is more than enough for one charge. Then gun itself is very well made which is what you expect for the retail price, around £620 in walnut stock, but well worth the money. The thumbhole stock just adds to the feel of the gun, so smooth and fits like a glove. I went to the shop to but a S-16 but too long for me :(, tried the Praire and after holding it once fell in love with the feel of it. It may not be the gun for you, I know a few friends who prefer more conventional or military looking PCPs but I must say see the gun in the flesh (or walnut to be exact :) ) before you dismiss it as an option, the pictures of it can be very deceiving.

Members' Comments onDagaros's Review

• jayhunter on 9th May 2006

  Is your rifle shooting at 12ftlbs? I get around 90 shots max in .22 with mine, then I start to notice a drop in power and have to refill, wouldn't like to risk leaving a rabbit injured and dying a slow death. I have had my pf18 mp for around three months now and have notched up nearly 120 kills truly superb rifle, happy hunting.

• Dagaros on 12th May 2006

  Well i would never use more than 20+ out hunting anyway so no chance of low powered shot suffering. And fraid its no the full 12ft.lbs as like to stay around the 11-11.5 mark to make sure i definitely under the illegal power mark.