by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier
The Cometa Fusion Premier Star is stunning! This is the actual test rifle.
How many times do I show you a photo of the actual test rifle because it’s prettier than the example on the website? Well, this one is. The .22-caliber Cometa Fusion Premier Star air rifle has a gorgeous blonde wood stock that has a subtle fiddleback pattern running across the grain. I’m testing serial number 4243-12, but it’s on loan from AirForce Airguns and I doubt they will sell it.
The Fusion Premier Star is a Fusion action in a nicer stock with an adjustable cheekpiece. This one has a slight bias for right-handed shooters because of the low-profile raised cheekpiece on the left side, though a lefty should be able to do quite well with it. There are no bad angles anywhere. The wood is stained blonde, and as you can see in the picture, it’s attractive! The checkering pattern differs from the one on the standard Fusion. The cheekpiece adjusts via two large hex screws found on the right side of the butt. Finally, I’m going to have a rifle that fits me exactly without resorting to a Tyrolean stock.
The checkering is different on the Fusion Premier Star…and isn’t that wood pretty?
Now that I know how the trigger adjusts, you can be certain that this one will be adjusted perfectly for all the testing. And I’m mounting the Hawke 4.5-14x42AO Sidewinder Tactical scope, so the rifle will have the best possible chance to shine.
A powerful air rifle
We already know that the Fusion powerplant is right on the money, as far as the advertised velocity goes. So, I assume the advertised velocity for the .22 is correct, as well. They say 1050 f.p.s.; and if that’s right, this rifle is in Beeman R1 territory for several hundred dollars less! The rifle I’m testing retails for $392.50, and a new R1 goes for $614.25.
Metal finish
Some things remain the same on the Fusion Premier Star. The metal is finished in a matte black, with the same contrasting matte silver muzzlebrake. I neglected to mention it in the Fusion report, but both the trigger blade and the triggerguard are made of plastic. They’re not offensive in the slightest, and the straight shape of the trigger blade is actually a quality feature. It makes the trigger pull feel so much more positive and controllable.
Wood finish
The wood on this rifle really sets it apart from the regular Fusion. Not only is the stain blonde, the grain of the wood looks like walnut to my eyes. It can’t be or they would advertise it for sure, but it sure looks like it. And the wood is finished in a satin finish that looks like a fine oil finish. Again, it can’t be, but it does accept Ballistol readily and develops a deeper luster after wiping with an oily cloth. The buttpad on the Premier Star is the same soft, solid, thick black pad that’s on the Fusion.
The checkering on the Fusion Premier Star is cut diamonds instead of the pressed pebble grain that’s found on the Fusion. The diamonds are sharp and really grab your hands when you hold them.
You know that the barrel is backbored and really only 11-9/16 inches long when the freebore is subtracted. We know that the rifle is accurate in .177, and I’m expecting the same in this .22 caliber. The long barrel gives you a longer lever to cock the rifle, which is why it only takes 31 lbs. to cock the gun, despite the power it puts out.
The rifle is supposed to weigh 7.5 lbs. as it comes from the box. We know, of course, to allow for small variations that are based on differing weights of the wood in the stock. The test rifle weighs 8.75 lbs. with the scope mounted. That’s lighter than a Beeman R1 with no scope, so the Fusion Premier Star really is a medium-weight spring-piston air rifle.
Sights
Just like the Fusion, you’re going to have to install optical sights of your own because the rifle has no open sights. The same 11mm dovetail grooves are cut directly into the spring tube, and there are the same four scope stop holes for a vertical stop pin. They’re located along the top center of the scope grooves.
Overall impression
Thus far, I’m very impressed by this rifle. Can you tell? The appearance, alone, would be enough to guide me to the Premier Star over the regular Fusion. And I’m assuming the performance will be just as good, though we never know that for certain until the test has been completed. I’m looking forward to this one!
B.B.,
She’s a real beauty with the makings of a good hunting air-rifle. And the weight and cocking effort aren’t too bad either.
Victor
Pyramyd site says it is indeed walnut. Looks great.
Derrick,
Yup, it’s walnut. Don’t know why I didn’t catch that when I proofed the blog.
Edith
G’day BB
‘Tyrolean stock’ had to look that one up!
A riding saddle for your cheek.
Does the adjustable cheek piece have cast adjustment?
Cheers Bob
Bob,
No, it’s just up and down. You generally only find the other adjustments on 10-meter guns.
B.B.
I like the idea of the adjustable cheek piece, but the eyesore on the muzzle end needs to go.
twotalon
BB,
What is it with you and the blond wood?! I’d prefer it be darker, esp. walnut, but to each his own :). With R1’s at the price they are, there’s some room for good quality alternatives, I think. Probably also competes with the D350 Magnum. I just don’t really see the need for more power than the D34 or R9 class given how squirrelly breakbarrels can be at high output, but I know some people want to get all the fps they can! I’d be interested in your subjective judgment on the firing cycle differences in this rifle between .177 and .22, also, if you can work it in…
BG_Farmer,
Firing cycle differences? I’ll see what I can do.
B.B.
Is the advertised velocity a typo? A 1050fps in .22 greatly surpasses the performance of an R1 and then some!
1050fps is listed for lead free pellets, but a powerhouse like this its a sin to shoot light pellets from. I think it’s a great looking gun, BB has me drooling over this gun, been waiting weeks for this.
I see the grain on the wood, but where or what is the fiddleback part?
Mac, you’re right about the sense of play. I can remember in elementary school how I exulted in recess (and detested the school part). Airgunning is one of the very few things in adult life that has produced that exact feeling.
Hm, I got an estimate from a gunsmith that restoration of my Enfield No. 4 Mk. I* stock would be up to $200! I think I may settle for removal of the dings. You folks who are talented with woodworking have a very valuable skill.
Matt61
Matt,
I missed the entire discussion on dings here but are you looking to remove dings from a wooden stock? While I haven’t tried it, a buddy who is a good woodworker once suggested putting a wet cloth over the ding and applying a hot iron to try to steam the indentation out.
Fred DPRoNJ
Matt,
Okay — fiddleback. A fiddle is slang for a violin. The backs of fine violins have wood grain that runs across the back in stripes. Tiger maple has this phenomenon, but so do other hardwoods like walnut, mahogany and others
Now look at the butt picture again and see if you can see the stripes that run perpendicular to the real grain of the wood (and look like the back of an expensive fiddle). Fiddleback.
B.B..
Matt,
B.B. described fiddleback very well. The characterization of fiddleback in wood is that it often looks like flames that run perpindicular to the actual grain in the wood.
kevin
I suspect “fiddleback” is fading in usage… At least in the guitar world, where this would probably be described simply as “flamed” <whateverwood>
Not to be confused with “quilted”, “spalted”, and “bearclaw”.
In all cases, the real grain is still longitudinal on the instrument, but the flame/bearclaw run across the real grain; except for spalted woods where a fungus has affected the base tree (I have a spalted mango ukulele, and a quilted something Taylor T5 — it was used, but had much nicer looking wood than the new one I’d been ready to buy, and was $800 less). Think my Flatiron A5 is flamed…
I just wanted everyone to know that I bought a Talon SS at the Roanoke show from Mac but what I wasn’t aware of was that an instructional CD that it came with features a rather young and handsome looking Tom Gaylord explaing the workings and maintenance of the Talon! I think this CD is so valuable that it is worth the price I paid Mac for the Talon alone!
For a small fee, anyone can have the honor of owning this delightful instructional DVD for the Talon featuring BB! Tom, if you want to buy back the CD and any copies I have made so far, we can negotiate that as well but act fast, I expect demand to soar!
Fred DPRoNJ
Fred,
If that CD is really worth the price you paid for the gun, how about you give me the gun and you keep the CD? 😉
B.B.
Tom,
while I like you a lot, I don’t like you that much :). However, if you’re interested in a trade …….
Fred DPRoNJ
Ship it to Germany, Roll Mark “Made in Germany”…ship to the distributor in the states. Or, buy an HW.
Pete
guys
any idea how to remove silencer on cometa fenix 400 compact ? thank you
Sami,
Since the U.S. rifles don’t have silencers on them, no one here has seen one with a silencer. Sorry.
B.B.
Sami,
The compact version is not imported to the U.S.
Edith