Tag Archives: SHOT Show

AirForce Texan big bore rifle: Part 3

Posted on by ↓ 171 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2

Texan big bore
The Texan from AirForce Airguns is a .458 big bore to be reckoned with. The 4x scope and bipod are options.

This report covers:

• Starting to test accuracy
• Scope swap
• On my own
• The best bullet
• Yada, yada, yada…
• At 100 yards
• Summary

When I ended the last report, I said there was a lot more to say about the new AirForce Texan and that I would get to it in the next report. Today, I’m going to talk about accuracy, which all of you want to know about. This will be a complete report; but even when I finish, there will still be more to tell. I have a special report coming about the effectiveness of big bore air rifles on big game in general, and I’m sure that one will evoke a lot of discussion. read more

2015 SHOT Show: Day 4

Posted on by ↓ 120 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

This report covers:

• Remington
• SIG
• Dueller
• Beeman
• Chiappa
• Diana
• Summary

Remington
Today, I’ll finish the SHOT Show 2015 report for the blog. My first stop on the last day was the Remington booth, where I hoped to learn how their airgun sales are progressing. Remington told me several years ago that they’re getting back into airguns in a major way, and their first 2 years seemed to back that up. This year, however, I was sorely disappointed.

While waiting for my conversation with the representative, I overheard him advise the man he was talking to that the Remington 1911 BB gun is perfect for his morning walks, because he could use it to shoot all the stray cats and dogs he encountered. That was enough for me! Edith and I left the booth, vowing not to return this year. read more

AirForce Texan big bore rifle: Part 2

Posted on by ↓ 159 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Part 1

Texan big bore
The Texan from AirForce Airguns is a .458 big bore to be reckoned with. The 4×32 scope and bipod are optional accessories.

Note: I just found out the scope is not included with the Texan. I’ve added a note to part 1, where I originally mentioned it was included.

This report covers:

• Power
• Air pressure
• The bullet weight tuner
• The bullets
• Using the bullet tuner
• Maximum power

Before I begin, I’m asking the organizers of airgun shows around the country to please send me their show information. Several readers have asked me for this information, and we need to publish it in a place everyone can find. The North Central Texas airgun show will be held at the Parker County Sportsman Club in Poolville, on Saturday, August 29. Send your airgun show info to [email protected]. read more

2015 SHOT Show: Day 3

Posted on by ↓ 75 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Day 1
Day 2

This report covers:

• Right Now Range
• American Airgunner TV show
• Air Ordnance
• Leapers
• Airsoft
• Dan Wesson
• One more report

Today, we’ll continue our look at the 2015 SHOT Show. Let’s begin back at Media Day at the Range. This is held the day before the SHOT Show opens, and it gives the manufacturers and importers a chance to demonstrate all their new products to the media. A line of ranges that’s over a quarter-mile long is open to hundreds of different vendors, and the media gets a chance to shoot the guns they’ll soon be seeing at the show.

I showed you some of that already, when we talked about the Crosman and AirForce airguns that I shot. And, if you follow any of my 4 Godfather of Airguns social networks, you have been exposed to dozens more pictures and videos. read more

2015 SHOT Show: Day 2

Posted on by ↓ 96 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Day 1

This report covers:

• Gamo
• Umarex USA
• Hatsan USA
• Big news at Leapers!

Gamo
I’ll pick up where I left off. Let’s finish Gamo first. They have a new PCP under the name Gamo Coyote. The barreled action is made in the UK by BSA, and the stock is made in Spain. That means you get a dead-accurate BSA barrel, which a lot of folks will like.

Gamo Coyote
Gamo’s new Coyote has a BSA barreled action in a Gamo wood stock.

Umarex USA
Okay, someone wanted to see some springers, and Umarex has a pair coming out this year. The Walther Terrus is a sleek-looking breakbarrel that’s available in either a wood or synthetic stock. This is one I want to test as soon as it comes out — just because it looks so svelte. It reminds me of an FWB 124. I see fiberoptic sights, but a scope can also be mounted. read more

2015 SHOT Show: Day 1

Posted on by ↓ 83 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

This report covers:

• Media Day
• Hatsan USA
• Gamo news
• Custom Action Trigger
• Umarex USA

Media Day
Monday was Media Day at the range, and I was out there shooting as many guns as possible. Of course, I shot the AirForce Texan. But since yesterday’s report was about the Texan, how about I tell you about some guns in the Crosman booth?

The Benjamin Bulldog is a .357 repeater that’s made in a bullpup style, which, by the way, seems to be a most popular style for airguns in 2015. Normally, bullpups have lousy triggers, but this one seemed very crisp and responsive. The rifle is a repeater with respectable power for a .357-caliber big bore. I shot one with 148-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and was pretty easily hitting the target at 50 yards. read more

AirForce Texan big bore rifle: Part 1

Posted on by ↓ 144 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Texan big bore
The Texan from AirForce Airguns is a .458 big bore to be reckoned with. A 4×32 scope comes with the rifle, but the bipod is an option.

I found out after this was published that the scope is not included with the rifle.

This report covers:

• AirForce builds a big bore
• Cocking mechanism
• The trigger is gorgeous!
• Much more to come

The 2015 SHOT Show begins today, and our subject rifle is being revealed to the shooting industry. This is the airgun I have been teasing you with for the past 3 months. It’s a .458-caliber big bore from AirForce Airguns called the Texan.

I first shot this rifle while it was in early development last year. I was impressed by the accuracy, light weight and power; but the cocking effort was difficult. That got fixed so well that this has to be the easiest-cocking big bore on the market. You can cock it with one finger! But I’ll come to that. Let’s look at this remarkable new air rifle. read more