Airforce Talon SS Review

In the past, I have done a few video reviews and long forum explanations of the Airforce Talon SS and as such I did not realize that I never actually completed a full written review of this rifle. I need to begin by saying I have owned a Talon SS for several years now. And at this point there is no sense in disguising my affection for this rifle. It’s probably better if I tell you why it has become the “go-to” gun.

Overview: The first thing you'll notice when seeing a Talon up close for the first time is its simplicity. The bulk of the gun is made out of aluminum with the exception of the 12”walther barrel. Though it has a very simple construction the good folks at Airforce have done as much as possible to make the most of the surface area and geometry of this rifle. The Aluminum full barrel shroud hosts 2 standard scope rails on the top and bottom of the shroud offering innumerable combinations of gadgets that can be attached. Lights, lasers and bipods are just a few of the things I have seen mounted on these handy rails. Over time, I have chosen to mount a simple mini-mag light on the bottom scope rail of my rifle using a standard scope mount. The mag light has come in handy on more than one night hunt. Its ability to focus light at long distances has meant doom for more than one raccoon and many many rats.

The Aluminum is finished in a nice flat black that is for the most part non-reflective and as I have found very durable. I do not baby this gun and it has yet to show any real scratches on it. The fore grip and pistol grip are made of a hard durable plastic and the simple factory steel butt stock mounted to the tank is indestructible. The forward cocking bolt is one of the easiest cocking mechanisms on any rifle anywhere and the large loading port allows even the biggest hands to load the single shot rifle with ease. The power is completely adjustable via a dial on the left side of the gun that contracts the hammer spring. The high scope rail, yes a third but primary scope rail is approximately 8” long offering the shooter a wide array of choices for scopes. The 490cc tank easily detaches from the rifle making the whole unit fit intro a small paintball case or back pack. The Talon SS is only 32.75” long when assembled so I prefer a more compact scope in keeping with the guns theme. However, the standard Talon with an 18” barrel and the high powered condor model (24” barrel) enter the realm of sniper capabilities with longer potential ranges and are deserving of more apt optics. Incidently, all of these Airforce models are built on the same frame and have interchangeable parts. So adding a longer barrel or a high flow kit is as simple as placing an order.  Airforce has also done a good job of manufacturing their own accessories. Scope mounts, open sights, bipods, sling studs and even a tri-rail are available. It shouldn’t be surprising that the sturdy Talon has become one of the most modifiable PCP rifles on the market. In fact, this rifle has spawned several user sights and forums of its own just to capture all the cool things that are being done with this gun.

            Price: At $500 (avg), the Talon SS is still in the economy range. With Modern PCPs reaching into the $1,000s this is not a bad way to get a precision rifle at a decent price. The Talon SS comes out of the box bare bones and you will need to factor in a few accessories like scope rings, a scope and high pressure fill equipment (Talon High pressure hand pump or scuba refill clamp).     

Setup: The fill method is exceptionally simple on this rifle. Unscrew the 490cc tank from the rifle, screw on the fill adapter and fill the tank with 3,000psi of high pressure air using a high pressure hand pump, or scuba fill adapter. In the world of airgunning, a 490CC fill reservoir translates into a lot of capacity and lots and lots of shots per fill. Extra tanks are also available with this rifle

You’ll absolutely need optics on this rifle as it does not come with any sites. I wanted to use this rifle for hunting and I wanted to maintain the compact theme so I looked for something simple and small. I have become partial to the Leapers scopes. They offer a great deal of value for the money. I chose the Leapers 3x12x44mm SWAT. This scope is extremely compact and has great magnification, mildot crosshairs and illuminated recticle. The geometry of this rifle dictates that the user’s cheek needs to rest on the curve of the tank when shooting. The eye is forced to a high position and the natural sight range moves with it.  You will need high mounts and I chose a pair of simple and sturdy steel B-square high mounts for this application. I also recommend a mildot for this rifle as it will shoot straight and the mildots give you great points of reference at very close ranges and very long ones as well.

Performance: My Talon is in .22 caliber and I have tried a variety of pellets in it. As a hunter I am always partial to the 21gr Beeman Kodiak and mine shoots them solidly and consistently at 753 fps. A standard 14.3 gr Crosman Premiere will travel at about 850 fps but I prefer the anchoring ability of the Kodiak and they seem to shoot very nicely out to 50 yards. Once you understand this rifle much farther shots are easily in reach and I have on more than one occasion dropped squirrels at 85yds with it. Like I said that mildot scope comes in handy. Also noted: I have yet to find a pellet that the Talon SS won’t shoot well and Predator pellets work fantastic in this gun.

On the bench, it performs very well. Using the Kodiaks I am able to keep the pellets in close to the same hole at 30yds and at 50yds it will easily shoot half inch groups. At full power, I get about 30 or so shots without any noticeable drop in point of impact. It may actually get more than this but 30 shots is about where I like to refill the tank. More a manner of habit than necessity.

The trigger is crisp but reliable and the narrow pistol grip creates a great level of comfort with this very light 5.25lb gun. If you tend to over pull your trigger on a shot you’ll find you probably won’t do it with this gun. The pistol grip and weight ratio maintain the hand in a very relaxed position.

There isn’t much else to say about performance. The action works flawlessly and it hits the target every time.

Target: The Airforce rifles are known for exceptional accuracy and with a 24” barrel they are more than capable of hitting accurately out to 100yds. The Talon SS and its 12” barrel will outshoot many rifles despite its short barrel. It isn’t the most ergonometric rifle on the market and resting your cheek over that tank takes some getting used to. I actually mounted a custom butt pad on mine to change the geometry of the gun and make it a bit more comfortable for large shoulders and my inflexible neck. Most owners stay with the stock butt plate and shoot very accurately and comfortably. With the bipod attached any of the Airforce rifles become an instant sniper rifle.

Hunting: I have taken every manner of small game with this gun from sparrows, rats and pigeons to squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and fox. All those rails to mount lights make it a natural night hunter and its compactness makes it a go anywhere gun. I also like the Talon SS for back yard and warehouse pests. The variable power and quiet report offer stealth and safety.

Written by: Matt Sasso