Home Blog  
Education / Training AirForce Escape: Part 1

AirForce Escape: Part 1

by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier

Today is Day 1 of the 2014 SHOT Show, and it’s also the day AirForce Airguns announces 3 new air rifles — the Escape, Escape SS and the Ultra Light. These air rifles, which come in either .22 or .25 caliber, are aimed at the serious survivalist — not just airgunners; so AirForce is envisioning a much larger market. That’s serious!

The Escape was the rifle that started the ball rolling, and it’s the brainchild of AirForce owner, John McCaslin, and Ton Jones, the star of television’s popular series Auction Hunters. John and Ton were on a road trip while hunting in Texas last year when Ton started talking about a survival air rifle. He wanted power, accuracy and light weight. But most of all, he wanted a pneumatic rifle that could exist off the grid — when the dive shops aren’t filling scuba tanks any longer.

As they talked, the idea of the TalonP pistol came up. Ton liked the fact that its air reservoir is small. That makes it easier to fill with a good hand pump. But he wanted more power than the 55+ foot-pounds of the TalonP. He wondered what would happen if a 24-inch barrel was installed in place of the 12-inch barrel that comes standard on the pistol.

He said John didn’t talk for 10 minutes after hearing his suggestion. He was obviously deep in thought. Then, he smiled and said, “You know — that might work!” Ton said the smile made it all worthwhile.

You know how these things can snowball! By the end of their trip, John was fired up to see what would happen by doubling the barrel length. Obviously, the gun would go from being a large air pistol to a light air rifle, but that was okay with Ton. He just wanted something light and portable. By starting with a TalonP, it looked like he could have it.

Our veteran blog readers already know what doubling the barrel length will do for a powerful PCP because we’ve already done it here. I took the Talon SS, which generated 25 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, and boosted it to almost 42 foot-pounds just by installing the optional .22-caliber barrel in place of the factory 12-inch barrel. So, guess what you get on a 55 foot-pound TalonP? That’s right, sports fans, we are closing in on 100 foot-pounds from a pellet rifle!

Ton with Esacpe
Ton Jones shoulders his new AirForce Escape at the AirForce plant in Ft. Worth.

You might already own one!
A couple weeks ago, I hinted that something big was coming and that some of you might already own one. This is what I was referring to. Those who own TalonP pistols can just add a 24-inch optional barrel in either .22 or .25 caliber and get most of the Escape rifle. It’s true, some redesign of the valve was done to make the new rifles even more efficient, but most of the raw power will be there.

In a day when most airgun manufacturers seem to go out of their way to make their new guns incompatible with what has gone before, AirForce turned it around. That’s the biggest story in my opinion! They want you to have the flexibility to experience the Escape if you already own a TalonP. All it takes is installing a 24-inch barrel to make the change. And many of you dedicated AirForce owners will own one of those already. Your gun won’t have the new Escape valve, but it will be very close.

How does the Escape differ from the Condor?
Here’s a good question that’s bound to come up. The AirForce Condor is already one powerful precharged pneumatic. Right? We know that it develops 65 foot-pounds easily in .22 caliber, and gets up to 20 full-power shots on a single fill. How is the Escape different?

Well, during development testing, Ton got a .25-caliber Escape up to 97.88 foot-pounds on the first shot! The fifth shot on the same fill produced 84.78 foot-pounds; and on shot 10, it was still putting out 70.96 foot-pounds. All 10 shots produced greater power than a .22 Condor at its highest. [I have to quote the .22 Condor because I don’t have the test data for the .25, but you can assume it will be more powerful than the .22.]

The air reservoir on the Escape is small. It’s the same size as the TalonP tank. It doesn’t hold air for many shots. While that may sound like a drawback, it was exactly what Ton was after because a small air reservoir is much easier to fill with a hand pump than a large one. This is an air reservoir that you can actually fill in the field and not spend all day doing it. During testing, Ton filled a tank from 2,000 psi (the ending pressure after firing 10 shots) to 3,000 psi (the starting operating pressure) in less than 3 minutes.

What does survival really mean?
You’ve watched the movies and TV shows, so you know what survival means. The comet strikes and bombs civilization back to the Stone Age, or everybody turns into a zombie and it’s you against the world. Well, that hasn’t happened yet, but every year there are earthquakes, floods, tornados, blizzards and hurricanes that thrust millions of people into real-life survival situations. Survival means you have the ability to hold out (eat, drink, and stay warm and safe) for at least 3 days until the emergency services can get organized. And you know that it can really be longer than 3 days.

In a real survival situation, you aren’t going up against lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!), unless you live in a zoo or in places like the Pacific Northwest. But you may have a chance to hunt deer, feral hogs (especially in the south!) and other animals. Hunting licenses won’t matter when the bomb drops, and you’ll extend the abilities of your weapons to their maximum. In other words, you’ll make them do things they aren’t normally considered capable of doing. If you’re armed with an air rifle, you aren’t going to need a repeater, either, because survival is a one-shot, one-kill situation. You need power, accuracy and reliability to get the job done.

A .22 rimfire rifle is ideal in such situations. Given the current ammunition shortages, can you always count on having what you need? You can with this air rifle! The Escape produces about 82 percent of the power of a standard speed .22 long rifle cartridge, and 500 pellets are both affordable and available. Once you have them, they’ll last for a good half-century. Air is free and a reliable hand pump gives you all the shots you will need.

The rifles
There are 3 different models of the Escape. The Escape itself is Ton’s gun that has his logo on the side. It has a 24-inch barrel in either .22 or .25 caliber; and, of course, the other caliber is always an optional replacement in 5 short minutes. Because of the high volume of air flowing through the valve, no consideration was given to .20 or .177 caliber. For a pure survival rifle, what would be the point?

Escape Escape SS Escape Ultralight
Escape on top, then Escape SS and finally Escape Ultralight on the bottom.

Ton Jones logo
The Escape will have Ton Jones’ logo on the side.

Ton has lived in the southern California desert all his life. He was brought up with an appreciation of wildlife that no college can provide. He teaches survival preparation around the U.S., and air rifles are an essential part of his curriculum. He wants a rifle that a small person can handle all day, yet one that has plenty of power. It can’t require super-strength to cock, and it has to be accurate. He found a willing ear with AirForce, and these 3 rifles are the result. Until these were created, there was nothing that met all his needs. Let’s look at the other 2 rifles for a moment.

Escape Ultralight
The Escape Ultralight is a super-light variation of the rifle that sports an 18-inch barrel with a thinner diameter. Every possible ounce has been shaved from this gun, which weighs less than 5 lbs. unscoped.

Escape SS
The Escape SS also has an 18-inch barrel and has the active sound-reducing technology AirForce is famous for. It gives the shooter a quieter option. The Escape Ultralight and SS give up some sheer power when compared to the Escape, but both are powerful PCPs in their own right. I’ll test each of them fully for you, so you know what to expect.

Today’s report isn’t a test of the Escape. I’m just announcing it today. I’ll return and give you all the details you’ve come to expect from my tests for each of these 3 rifles.

But you can see the scope mounted on the Escape in the photo, so you know I’ve already begun. I’ve had this rifle out to the range one time so far, so I know how it shoots. This air rifle is so powerful that you now have some recoil with each shot — just like a big bore! But for that slight inconvenience, I’ll show you what you get in return.

Esacpe wooden target
That’s 10 shots at a wooden target from 30 feet.

Escape target back
The back of the same target.

Escape wooden target with ruler
The pellets sailed through about 3 inches of wood!

I’m calling this Part 1 of the Escape report, but I’ll give a more detailed description of the gun as the report advances.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

67 thoughts on “AirForce Escape: Part 1”

    • nice , i actually have my P set up with the 24 inch barrel right now, i keep it set on low power and shoot jsb kings out of it, which provides more than enough power for small game up to and including raccoon, woodchucks and fox.it is extremely accurate, and for my type of hunting, i have never needed a field refill yet, but it is my go to when out and about as it is FAR easier to fill with the pump (i dont like lugging tanks) i may need to get one of these just to say i have that model. already own a P, 2 ss, a talon, and two condors, and a “talondor” frankengun. so now i just need the edge and this one! so many guns , so little time! 😉

  1. I’ve been shooting alot of pellets this winter and I’m now shopping for a PCP. I’m currently leaning toward a Marauder but have also been looking at both the Talon and Condor. This article makes me look closer at these last two. I’m going to retro fit my 3D archery range with a field target course this spring and would also like to be able to do some close range varmit hunting. Would anybody care to offer their opinion on the matter? I’m rather clueless all around and it’s enough of an investment I’d hate regret what ever purchase I make.

    • This would not be suitable for FT. It is way too powerful. This is more for hunting and long range shooting.

      Now, having said that, you can take this and swap out the tank for a standard tank, change the barrel to .177 and shoot FT then. Of course you will have to tune it for optimum output and re zero you scope. Even with a standard valve and .177 barrel, these are pretty powerful and can really chew up cheapo FT targets.

      These are the most versatile air rifles in the world. You can set these things up to kill soda cans in the backyard without bothering the neighbors and then swap barrels and tanks and have the power to kill medium size game.

      The .177 Marauder is an excellent choice for a starter FT rifle and great for killing small game at under 50 yards. It can be tuned and tweaked quite nicely and some guys make some beautiful stocks for these things. It also comes in .22 and .25. Those who buy the AF rifle usually fix it up to the way they want it and leave it there. Then they get another and set it up differently.

      The .25 Marauder is not as powerful as these things and BB has shown us that the AF rifles are capable of 1 MOA at 50 yards. I have seen customized AF rifles produce 1 MOA at 300 yards.

      I guess all this babble of mine boils down to is this, how thick is your wallet? For a first PCP I would recommend the Marauder, especially if you want to pop FT targets. Even a standard tank .177 AF rifle will tear those things up after a while. Once you have shot it for a year or two and have mastered the concept of fine tuning a PCP, then get you an AF rifle.

      You are starting to slide down a very slippery slope my friend.

      • Thank you, I’m really leaning toward the Marauder for the simple fact it has a bolt. I’m just used to cycling after a shot. I can pick up an AF later if I decide I can’t live without one. Is there any disadvantage to shooting field targets with .22 vs .177 other than wrecking some targets? I’d also really like to take some varmits out. And don’t worry, I slid off the edge many years ago, I just did it with firearms and compounds.

  2. Very ,Very interesting B.B. Only 3 observations right now. More will be coming. As I understand it the Escape SS is identical to the Talon SS with the exception of the 18″ fully shrouded barrel and Talon P size tank. And, the Escape is identical to the Condor (not SS) with the exception of the Talon P size tank? And, the Escape SS is identical to the Condor SS with the exception of the Talon P size tank. Did I get this right? No other changes have been made,i.e. trigger, valve etc. ?

    I am still anticipating any other new guns . Hope your having a great trip.

    G&G

  3. These sound good! What’s not to like? Power, accuracy, light weight and very portable.

    Now please show us some more pictures of that new hardwood stock M-rod, it looks gorgeous!

    J-F

  4. Now were getting down to business. A air gun that shoots a pellet at almost a hundred foot pounds of energy. I’m jumping up and down again.

    The one picture that shows the date of 11-8-13 with the .25 cal. Escape shows a 43.2 grn. pellet.

    Let see. 1010 x 1010 x 43.2 / 450240 = 97.877

    The Escape is making some serious power. 1010 fps with a 43.2 grn. pellet. That’s going to make a nice thump when it hits something.

    I hope the rest of the SHOT show will bring more exciting news like this.

      • RR
        I like the big cal. stuff too. But for now I think my .25 cal. barrel in my Talon SS will do. I just put the .25 cal. 18″ barrel in my Talon SS and I was thinking about getting a high flow tank for it and a different striker.

        Hmm you remember I said I like modding guns. And I said I was going to leave the TSS alone and just shoot it. Well here I go again. 🙂

        • When you get tired of that .25 barrel let me know. Mine already has the high flow and striker weight. I need a barrel for it now. I have a 12″ .22 barrel, but that just isn’t up to it. I want a 16″ barrel in .25 or .30.

          • What I have in mind for my Talon SS is to make a kit if you will from one of those gun cases that are plastic with the foam in each half when it opens.

            I plan to make cut outs in the foam for different barrels and then also a cut out so a tin or two of different pellets can be placed by each barrel I have. Then I want to get a high flow tank and a micro-meter tank also that I hope will fit in the case. Then I have all the major components stored in one place.

            So I’m sorry RR I’m gonna keep my 2 barrels I got now. And I have in my mind to take a .177 Disco barrel and do some machining work to it and add it to the barrel collection too if it works out.

            All in time and money though. But that’s my plan.

      • TT
        Oh yea I like power. Especially if its accurate power. That’s why I got my 25 M-rod tuned for 60 fpe. I have shot it to 80 fpe but also with only a few shots available. So no not efficient at all with the 80 fpe tune. But fun to pop something with that much power.

  5. nice to see the guys at air force continue to make changes however not bringing down the house a survival gun of any sought should in-cooperate quick follow up shot where is the magazine. I believe if when air force installs a magazine system in their line of guns they will corner a huge portion of the global airgun market

  6. I love when I read about survival airguns. I am a pilot myself, cannot carry a firearm on board, and an airgun sounds like a good option. Whenever I go to a distant trip over wild territory I will carry a airgun on a case with me.
    The power developed by my “ideal” survival airgun never really mattered much (to me, at least). The mission that the airgun needs to fulfill in my survival scenario is to collect small game to keep me alive until I can take off again or the rescue team finds me. Honestly, a number of airguns can do that pretty easily. Shooting big game, or zombies and the like, never really was part of the targets I had in mind. I give higher scores to “easy to pack” than “power”.
    However, I never thought much of a PCP as a good powerplant for a survival gun. The need to pick up the rifle, pellets and a handpump did not satisfy my criteria for a good survival airgun. I always envisioned something that could be carried on a single case. That is because of the small space available in the cabin of my airplane.
    I think one has to decide on a compromise between power and “carryability” (is that a word??). At least for my current conditions, I think I would still prefer a survival air rifle that does not require another piece of equipment to work.
    Having said that, it is just amazing to see the power level that this gun can generate. I am sure it will be a huge success.

    • I’d be surprised if you can carry an airgun on board a plane even if you are a pilot. Once I put an airgun scope into my carryon when I was going through the San Francisco airport, and they called the police on me.

      Matt61

      • Matt, I own the plane. It is a Light Sport Aircraft. I travel from small airports, and, at least for the moment, all that is required is to carry the airgun in a case. Think of Alaskans’ brushplanes and you get the picture. As long as you do not cross any boarders, you can travel, by air or by land, with an airgun and any quantity of pellets you want. I am sure that in an airliner, you would be required to dispatch your airgun case with your luggage and cannot carry it in the cabin with your hand luggage.
        Anyway, my point is that the need to carry a handpump is not what I would expect for a survival gun.

        • The Escape is powerfull and a 3 minute fill time from a hand pump aint bad at all.

          But Im with you on the survival part. A high power springer in a bigger cal. may be the trick. And the gun would need to be quiet for multiple reasons.
          If your talking survival maybe the FX Independance would be a good choice. Or a gun built like the Idependance. Or just a good old fashioned high power big cal. pump gun would do the trick.

    • You might want to opt for something like the FX indy, perhaps in the bobcat bullpup style for size purposes. The indy series include a self contained pump that you can either get a couple of 70ish fpe shots in .30 cal, or quite a bit more in .22 before needing to pump the integrated pump again. If you really want to cut the pump out of the picture while maintaining pcp accuracy and having a follow up shot(s), it might be worth looking at.

  7. Neat stuff. At this power level, the escape has to be LOUD! Does it crack like a .22 rim fire?

    The initial shot data you described seems to indicate that the velocity decreases with each shot as opposed to a balanced valve system characterized by a rise and fall of velocities in the string. Will Air force continue tuning for balance or did Ton Jones simply adjust his prototype for max power?

    • Feinwerk,

      Yes, the rifle cracks loudly. It’s not quite as loud as a .22 rimfire, but depending on where you shoot, you may not be able to tell the difference.

      This rifle is tuned for sheer power instead of shot count. Ton says he only needs 1 or 2 shots at a time and has plenty of time to top off in a survival situation.

      B.B.

    • Wondered the same thing myself. But B.B. mentioned some other gun that is quiet while retaining plenty of power. And perhaps aftermarket accessories can be found to reduce the noise on the Escape.

      Matt61

  8. When will they be availible? I know the Escape is for me,My state Fl. just legalized air gun
    hunting and I hunt the Green Swamp,It will be perfect as a survivial gun.

  9. Ok, I don’t need to hear more. I’m officially razzled and dazzled. I’m looking forward to these. I’ll need to buy the 24″ barrel one in Michigan but this sounds like an excellent gun. I like it a lot even though where I live there are no serious disasters and I already have a very nice collection of guns that will work in emergencies. But this is the kind of new stuff I’m thrilled over. It is made with no compromises to quality here in the U.S.A., Backed with a true lifetime warranty, is reverse comparable so I could take a talon and turn it into one of these when parts are released for sale, so I can literally turn a talon into an escape or a talon p. And it has that serious power I like so much. This is a gun I would trust with my life. This is the kind of stuff I want to see happening.

      • Well that kind of disaster is not one where we need any kind of powerful air rifle to fix. I was thinking more like where the world around us all turns to excrement in a few minutes such as big earthquake, tornado, tidal wave in Lake Michigan (Which has never happened). We are talking natural disasters, not corrupt politicians but the way Obama is bypassing a weak corrupt congress it just might be necessary to bring out something much bigger than an air rifle to unseat those in power that crave it so much that they will put up a fight to keep it instead of listen to The People and step down. In that case, an air rifle will not come into play.

  10. Glad to hear that you won’t need a dive shop to pump these, but you will still need a special Air Force hand pump won’t you?

    For the SHOT Show, I’m trying to predict the direction of new products. My best guess for firearms is the new and improved accurate AK. This gun has been criticized for inaccuracy in its stock form. But what if you add the AR type innovations with the rails, ergonomics and optics, plus a cold-forged barrel and a good trigger. There are some products like this, and more will be on the way!

    For the AR, I don’t know what to think. Interest remains strong. But on the other hand, everything has already been done to this gun that you can imagine, so what’s next? For pistols, the interest seems to be in concealable handguns, and I look for that to continue.

    For airguns, I’ll confess to being stumped. The expense on pcps has already been addressed. We’ve got the ultimate youth rifle in the Bronco. We’ve tried the gas spring on springers. The Rogue was probably the most innovative idea for a Big Bore. I can’t imagine what’s coming next. Maybe it’s because I’m so perfectly satisfied with the airguns I have.

    Matt61

  11. Dwar Matt, how about aftermarket airgun stocks for popular air rifles ? For example, I would have more than one Bronco if I could put it in a 1903-a3 stock, an M1 stock and an adjustable target stock. I would even like a Tyrolean stock. Improvements in sights and stocks forguns already in production are what I would like to see in the near future. Ed

  12. B.B.

    Unfortunately for me I have congestive heart failure so I do not hunt. Nor am I likely to find myself in a nature survival situation.

    I am a pure target shooter so these guns do not really hold that much interest for me except for the technological achievement. That is unless you tell me that one of these variants is a great paper puncher, field target or long distance bench rest gun, all of which I am still able to do. I already have a Talon SS which is very good, but not the best, at these disciplines.

    If I can be so bold as to ask would you please keep your eyes open for anything new in target rifles or pistols at the Shot Show. As long as I’m on the subject would you (or anyone reading this) please tell me in your opinion what you consider to be the best two or three rifles for long range bench rest. I would appreciate it.

    G&G

      • Thanks B.B. Now you’ve got me all excited. I have been researching long range rifles for bench rest use for so long now I’m getting weary. I have narrowed it down to three prospects but I have been holding off waiting to see if anything new was on the horizon. I do not get the chance to talk to people that have actually shot these guns so coming to a final decision is something of a crap shoot. Whose reviews and articles am I to put the most trust in? Of course it is you because I have bought many guns based on your recommendation and have not been disappointed yet. I am in no rush really.

        G&G

  13. This is pretty exciting news. Count me among the crowd impressed with the idea of a deliberately small tank for easier hand-filling in the field. The idea of 10-20 max power shots before a 3m field refill fits right in with what I’d consider the ideal compromise for this pluperfectly nebulous “survival gun” concept. (Nobody, of course, knows what his own “survival situation” is going to look like in advance, but some of us are geeks who like to put thought to it nonetheless, and as long as we don’t get too self-serious about it, it’s fun and probably useful too.)

    The Escape model I think I’m most interested in (before hearing more at least) is the SS. I’m curious about the barrel length; in the side-by-side picture, if the Ultralight is carrying an 18″ barrel, how can the SS have both an 18″ barrel and sound suppression too? My understanding with the SS rifles is that there’s about 6″ of shroud beyond the internal/backbored muzzle, for the suppressor baffles. At the rifle’s overall length in the picture, I’d expect it would be a 12″ barrel with suppression or an 18″ without. Or am I missing something there?

    I love the idea of a self-supporting system for the field. I suspect that in most “survival situations” (to give in and use that chupacabra-like term), the “need” for a follow-up shot so quick that it would require a repeater mechanism is probably very slight, and I don’t consider that any sort of strike against the elegant AF single-shot design. Where I live, the only real strike against an AF rifle might be manipulation in deep cold. Manually getting pellets into the breech does not look nearly as glove-friendly as either a repeating design or a pellet pen*. (Perhaps someone could invent an L-shaped pellet pen?) On the flip side, that looks like a great mechanism for loading when fingers are good for it.

    There certainly is the tradeoff of the hand pump as a required part of the system, but I’m not convinced that’s a net loss. One could argue that a gas piston or multipump pneumatic powerplant is “better” because everything required is onboard with no external devices required, but neither seems to develop the power possible with a PCP, and again, I suspect that if you can’t solve your “survival situation” in less than 10 pellets, you’re probably not going to solve it with 10+n rounds either. (Full disclosure: my own long-term readiness plan includes having multiple types available for this nebulous task: right now I like the idea of a .22 gas springer with pellet pen, and an M-rod with the glove-friendly turnbolt…but you can bet good money I’ll be paying close attention to the Escape series too!)

    And I had one other thought, too, if AirForce is deliberately trying to tap into what some people call the “survival market” and others call the “sustainability market”: offer a bundle that includes rifle, handpump, maintenance/parts kit–and a pellet-casting setup, maybe with how-to guides and such. Sure, pellets are pretty cheap when you can get them, but being able to roll your own would also seem to fit in nicely with this concept.

    Anyway, one way or another, I’m tickled to hear more about these guns.

    _________________
    * The holidays were good to me, and my recent PA order included a .177 pellet pen and deep-seating ram for my Bronco–as well as the sight risers to match the front sight with the (Williams) target rear. Initial glove testing with that pellet pen was gratifying; the biggest problem I can see with it will be avoiding a double-feed, but I think that will be a self-training concern more than anything else. (And the sight risers are simply beautiful: after bringing the line of sight up that little bit, my mounts are suddenly just as fast and sure as they are on my ghost-ring sighted firearms.)

    Oh, and as to that holiday order: I’ve now got a lot to discuss and ask about when we next talk Airsoft. Part two of the primer will be very welcome to see! 🙂

      • BB I may be wrong but it looks like they used the Talon SS frame for the Escape SS and the new tank. Not the pistol frame for the Escape SS.

        When I just put my .25 cal.18″ barrel in my Talon SS it is about flush with the muzzle end of the frame. And It came with a new end cap too for the bigger diameter barrel. And they say it is still supposed to function as a quiet gun. Mine don’t with the 18″ barrel. It probably would be quieter if the new end cap was a little longer or the Barrel a little shorter.

        Maybe you take a look and see if I’m seeing it right or wrong. Sometimes the pictures are misleading and hard to tell unless the guns are in front of you to measure and compare.

  14. Hi,

    For those of you lucky enough to be at the Shot Show, a heads up. Look for representatives of Team Rubicon who’ll be around and who may just have a small booth. Team Rubicon is made up of combat vets from Iraq and Afghanistan; when they returned many had PTSD and some few were really imbued with the idea of putting their organizational and life saving skills to work in service to the country.

    Basically, where ever there’s a disaster, they have a group on the spot. They were in Haiti just a couple of days after the quake. They sent a contingent to the Philippines. And were honored by the President at the White House for their relief work after super storm Sandy. They do it on a shoestring, and the teams are volunteers.

    So how do I know all this? My daughter’s boy friend is one of the founders and leaders of the group. He’s at the Shot Show, tall and incredibly charming; name of Matt Pelak. Look them up and get acquainted with one of the country’s greatest groups of young people. Find out more at

    http://teamrubiconusa.org/the-story-of-team-rubicon/

    Yesterday Matt was in Little Rock accepting the gift of a trailer truck fully outfitted as an emergency command center and the promise from Tyson’s Food to provide a driver and gas to take where ever and whenever needed in the US.

    Say “Hi!” To Matt from me; surprise the hell out of him; he didn’t think I even knew what SHOT was.

    Best,

    Pete

  15. I’ll echo everyone else… This looks like a nice piece to have in your kit. A pump is pretty heavy, but at least you don’t have to drag it everywhere with you. And it’s nice to have the knockdown power of a .22lr without having the worry of where to get extended ammo supplies for it. Even if you never need it, it’s still fun to bust up some lumber with that power!

    /Dave

  16. BB
    With that power/velocity how good will accuracy be at long range with a pellet? Is AF considering a slug barrel to take advantage of this power house? I guess they want to leave it up to the modifiers like Crosman has with their guns. Still they are shying away from what I consider the ultimate mod – the multi shot.

    Matt61
    Won’t making the venerable AK more accurate compromise reliability – the biggest asset of this unique weapon?

  17. BB,You said Ton fills this gun back up in 3 min.So the pump isn’t passing enough volume with the pressure to cause the pump to heat up and require a halt and cooldown period.This illustrates ease and usability but do we need that so much or would we be better off with lighter weight and ease
    of carry?
    Let’s go back down the hill a minute before I lose you.What if AirForce made a light weight,thin tube pump with strong fold up feet ?It could have a handle that slips out of a partial tube at the top of the pump rod and pivots down compactly.Now you would have a compact light pump that could be hooked to the gun like a tube pump that fits under the top tube of a bicycle.This would solve two problems with using this gun as a survival gun.You won’t have to look for the pump when disaster strikes because it’ll be connected.And you won’t have to juggle the pump with the gun and who knows what else when you’re trying to move.I don’ see a rail under the pistol like the rifles but some method to fasten should put the pump to one side and allow for easy removal.

    Separate question;Would the barrel also be a Lothar Walther barrel?

    • Tin Can Man,

      A lightweight hand pump? I think the hand pumps we have now are lightweight. Do you know what they have to do? Pumping air to 3,000 psi is no easy task! It’s right up there with anti-gravity and cloaking devises. The reason people talk about it so easily is because it has been done, but when they first came out, they seemed to defy logic.

      I think we are doing pretty good with what we have. What is needed, in my opinion, is greater reliability, so more people can use them without babying them.

      B.B.

  18. I bought my firsts PCP, a .22 condor, in 2009. I had a few springers, the best of which was a RWS Diana. I purchased another Condor, two years ago,a .25 this time, but included in that purchase was a 12 inch .22 barrel, fixed sights, and a Talon Tank with the smaller valve and another hand pump with the hose. I have since purchased an extra talon Valve, a sound loc kit, four pump rebuild kits from Sun Optics, and have printed out the documents needed to maintain the air rifles. I am a sheet metal guy by hobby, and have built two cases that will carry the scoped rifles, pumps, tools, extra tanks, and back up parts. First, it is handy to have all that crap when shooting, and second, both of these were purchased and built with Teotwawki in mind.

    I have read all the pros and cons of PCP’s in a survival situation, and when piloting my own plane around, the Ruger 10/22 breakdown, its cool backpack, and a bunch of typical grab and go survival stuff is in there. I would never want to be reaching for all of the support equipment to shoot PCP’s in a crash survival situation. But for long term shelter-in-place survival scenarios, the two PCP kits are perfect.

    First is ammo, I have thousands of pellets that don’t take up a lot of room, and could keep a family in varmints from starlings to squirrels, to raccoons and the feral cats that roam. Those pellets would last for YEARS! With the short barrel .22, sound loc, talon tank, and some 18 grain pellets, I’ve got quiet dinner, from squirrels to Turkey. With the .25, the long barrel and a few thousand rounds of 42 eun jins, hog, deer, and coyotes (2 or 4 legged) become fair game. I have the ability to cast both calibers in pellets, and while not ideal, these air rifles could be providing meals many years down the road without the need for conventional ammunition–which we know is difficult to obtain and afford right now, let alone during a panic.

    Anyone would be foolish to put all of their eggs in one basket, and I wouldn’t want any one tool for a bad situation. But a great part of the hobby is PRACTICE, and I can afford to feed the .22 condor while the ARs and big game stuff gets real expensive real fast to stay competent.

    No one tool is right for every situation, but I feel the several thousand dollars spent in this hobby is well justified in practicality if the lights ever go out or our second Amendment is eroded. Also, once the condors were paid for, five or six thousand rounds equals the break even point when shooting even moderately inexpensive rounds! I shoot the condors, the pump Benjamin’s, the RWS, and the Crossman 1377 pistols WAY more than any powder burners! Heck, the kids and grand kids and I shoot Red Ryder’s a lot too.

    Last thing to share, a 2 foot length of 4×4, drilled every inch and a half, studded with golf Ts, and capped with cheap paintballs make great cheap reactive targets for the little ones! Seeing a big “splat” hit the backstop puts a big smile on the kids faces! If you aim low and hit the golf t, they are pennies to replace, and shots into the 4×4 take years to mess it up. I’m on my second on in ten years.

    • I thought I heard myself talking when I read your comment. But I don’t own a airplane though. Well not one you can fly in anyway.(I got R/C planes) But I agree with what you said.

      The breakdown 10/22’s are cool. And I totally like your reactive paint ball target idea.

    • Tom A,

      I don’t know. Over the years I’ve been associated with them I have seen several conversions to the current rifle they came up with, but nothing was ever reliable enough. I expect the repeater will have to be a new model.

      B.B.

    • austin,

      You can find all the Escape models by clicking the link below. Prices are shown there:
      /search-results-ext?Ntt=escape&sid=1375A617A415&N=0&Ntk=primary&q=escape&cx=002970863286801882398:jlcminxfwdw&cof=FORID:11;NB:1&saSearch

      Edith

Leave a Reply to nyhunter Cancel reply

Buy With Confidence

  • Free Shipping

    Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

    Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

    View Shipping Info

  • Shipping Time Frame

    We work hard to get all orders placed by 12 pm EST out the door within 24 hours on weekdays because we know how excited you are to receive your order. Weekends and holiday shipping times will vary.

    During busy holidays, we step our efforts to ship all orders as fast as possible, but you may experience an additional 1-2 day delay before your order ships. This may also happen if you change your order during processing.

    View Shipping Times

  • Shipping Restrictions

    It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. It's up to you to research and comply with the laws in your state, county, and city. If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

    U.S. federal law requires that all airsoft guns are sold with a 1/4-inch blaze orange muzzle or an orange flash hider to avoid the guns being mistaken for firearms.

    View Shipping Restrictions

  • Expert Service and Repair

    Get the most out of your equipment when you work with the expert technicians at Pyramyd AIR. With over 25 years of combined experience, we offer a range of comprehensive in-house services tailored to kickstart your next adventure.

    If you're picking up a new air gun, our team can test and tune the equipment before it leaves the warehouse. We can even set up an optic or other equipment so you can get out shooting without the hassle. For bowhunters, our certified master bow technicians provide services such as assembly, optics zeroing, and full equipment setup, which can maximize the potential of your purchase.

    By leveraging our expertise and precision, we ensure that your equipment is finely tuned to meet your specific needs and get you ready for your outdoor pursuits. So look out for our services when shopping for something new, and let our experts help you get the most from your outdoor adventures.

    View Service Info

  • Warranty Info

    Shop and purchase with confidence knowing that all of our air guns (except airsoft) are protected by a minimum 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted on the product page.

    A warranty is provided by each manufacturer to ensure that your product is free of defect in both materials and workmanship.

    View Warranty Details

  • Exchanges / Refunds

    Didn't get what you wanted or have a problem? We understand that sometimes things aren't right and our team is serious about resolving these issues quickly. We can often help you fix small to medium issues over the phone or email.

    If you need to return an item please read our return policy.

    Learn About Returns

Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

View Shipping Info

Text JOIN to 91256 and get $10 OFF Your Next $50+ Order!

* By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Pyramyd AIR on 91256. Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 18+ in order to receive texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.