Airforce(US) OR GunPower(UK) Talon(US) OR Stealth2000(UK) Review

Overall Rating

Functional design, quasi-military appearance, light, easy to take down and store compactly, high power, accurate, flexible mounting arrangement, getting a good reputation for a relatively new gun having modularity and practicality.

Poor dealer familiarity with product and its use, hassle with air adapters/fittings, too-high eyepoint for my taste, extra tank (if desired) is expensive, and appears available in 22 cal only, although other (interchangeable) barrels are planned. Safety is awkward and hurts the finger to use. Power setting variations may not always result in the velocity changes expected, considerable experimentation with the pop valve on the tank as well as the built-in adjuster may be needed to obtain optimum performance. Forearm stock is inadequate. Delrin parts may be a concern, but I've heard of no part failures as yet.

I recently purchased the 12" barrelled Air Force Talon SS air rifle having built-in suppression, also purchased an Axsor HP hand pump to fill it. Darn near gave me a heart attack by the time I got to 2900 PSI with it, probably a scuba tank's a better bet to recharge it. Rifle is compact, light and has a straightforward, simple design throughout. Valving mechanism is contained on the tank. I would prefer that they offer this in a version better suited to scope use, since it has an AR-15 style frame that positions the scope too far above the bore for practical use at the short ranges suitable for airgunning. lso this gun might profit from some better attention given to the ergonomics so as to permit a better eye position. It has loads of power and fine accuracy, and accepts the heaviest pellets without slowing down much. I've also got a Beeman R1 that is a heavy spring-type, and it's probably going to be spending a lot of time in the closet now, since this SS is very portable and relatively quiet. If you can survive the 400-500 pumps required to fill the tank by hand, you'll get at least 60 good shots off before needing to top it off, depending on power setting. Carrying an extra tank into the field might be a solution to an all-day shoot, but they run about $145 discounted. I'd like to see a 25 caliber barrel offered. All in all they've done a good job of engineering this, but I think it could have been offered at a somewhat lower price.

Members' Comments onRoger.'s Review

• Bertie on 9th Oct 2003

  Roger....I know nothing about PCPs and seeing your review gained a well-deserved Expert status, please buy a few more guns (like 9 or 10) of the genre and review them too which would be of inestimable value to me should I ever wish to own one.
  
  The upside of all that pumping is that you'll acquire a physique that'll put old Arnie to shame and HE got a Governorship from his!