Stubby Talon .25 caliber FPE results…
I purchased the Stubby .25 Extreme from Randy at R & L and I am pleased with the performance. I have a few comments.
First, under Shrouds and Moderators, I have posted an excellent write-up on the 4″ and 12″ shroud extenders. They are steel, threaded fore and aft, very heavy duty, and the 12″ is hammer slap/pellet impact quiet on my Extreme, at a power setting of “6”.
I don’t need 70 FPE to take down what I shoot. While I haven’t tried to max out this rifle, I’m betting 60 FPE is well within the reach of the .25 Extreme with heavier pellets and a higher power wheel setting. But, for my use, anything within the 40 FPE range is plenty good. Further, I wanted to use 850 FPS, as Ed suggested that general speed for best accuracy. I also wanted to see what the shot count would be at a medium setting. I also noted that 25 shots remained in the mid 800 range, then very gradually dropped over the next 15 shots.
My tests this afternoon produced 40 shots, using 28gr Benjamin hunting pellets, a power wheel setting of “6”, giving me an FPS range from a high of 866 (46 FPE) down to the last shot at 796 FPS (39 FPE).
I didn’t try for accuracy this time out. It’s 100 degrees out there and I moved a lot of mulch this morning.
40 shots took the PSI from 3K down to 2K in the Talon tank.
My particular Stubby Extreme is equipped with a Caldwell bi-pod and a 10X Millet sidewheel scope.
One point to consider about the Stubby is the fact that is short, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is light. Example, mine equipped with the Millet scope, Caldwel bi-pod, and a full air tank comes in at a not so svelte 11 lbs.
Yes, that’s eleven pounds. A sling is my next add on.
The stock is Maple and perhaps I got a dense piece of wood. Also, I have the 11 oz, 12″ shroud extender. I’m glad I did. But with steel construction, it’s never going to be light. Quiet as hell, yes. Seven baffles. No complaints here.
A couple of pics: (It looks long but measures 37″ OAL)
I can probably get the OAL shorter with one of the forum members shrouds, and reduce the weight about 1/2 lb. I’d like it to be shorter. Further, the adapter to mount the shroud can be drilled and air vented back into the Talon frame. That would help sound levels with a shorter sound modifier.
With a 12 inch barrel producing the above numbers, I can’t complain, but I would like a 14″ or 15″ barrel on it. I measured and I can get it done if I cut three of the baffles in half. I’d still have seven total and I could probably turn the power wheel down to “5” and get the same results.
The stock is a joy to use…feels good!
Given that you can adjust shot count and FPS by adjusting the power wheel, it doesn’t make much sense to me to pay this kind of money in a .25 caliber and not have access to an incredible range of FPS/FPE available with the “Extreme” valve. The “Hi Flo” valve is a Condor valve.
I see this particular rifle as more of a bench/target gun, or long range predator rifle. I don’t know that I would want to lug it around the woods without a shoulder strap.
I’ll post accuracy results when I get a chance. Can an LW 12″ barrel shoot straight at 50 yards??? It’s got the power for sure, now accuracy remains a question.
One thing is for sure…whatever is shot with this thing is going to stay shot for a long long time! It’s a real hammer! Now to find out if it’s a tack driving hammer….
Kindest regards to all infidels…
Hoot the Barbarian
All Replies
It’s quieter. You don’t hear the hammer slap. As a matter of fact I’m going to take that heavy hammer out of the gun tomarrow, and use the Airforce Hammer and weight.
I filled the tank to 2900 and shot a 25 grain pelet throught the cono and it was a little over 912 FPS and that was with the wheel turned plum off.
Sometimes a person can have too much weight. i think the standard Condor weight is enought thats what My stubby has and it is as good as the Talon SS. No use messing up a good valve.
My valves are stock.
I was looking on the PA site and the specks for the Talon SS 25 caliber is 750 Feet Per Second, Mine will easily do that with the 43.2 EJ’s.
As a Matter of fact with the heavy weight it will do it with the wheel off if I fill it to 2900 that’s 54 foot Pounds, and that’s not bad for a 12 inch barrel. 😀 Love my Airforce Guns,,, well! I like them all but the Air force is King of the hills. It also shoots round balls real good if you take the shroud off, and in the SS it isn’t all that loud unless you are shooting in the garage and the sound bounces off the walls and then it really gets loud LOL. 😀
I have one maoded Tony valve, and it is consistant too, I keep it in the case with the Talondor he set up,.
I had an extra 177 caliber airforce tank so I ordered the valve from RL Airgunsupply, and the valve does a little better than advertised in my 24 inch 22 caliber barell and in the stuby 25 caliber barrel 12″. I get 74.76 Fpd’s of energy in the 22 caliber barrel, and it eats a 2X4 for breakefast.
And the 43.2 EJ’s get 59.07 FPD’s in the 25 caliber shorty 25 with the 12″ barrel. And that is on a 3000 fill wheel set to specks,,,,, Extreme valve is set to 88 and the fill is 3000, and leaving the top hat as it was sent(About .68 by the micrometer).
I also screwed the botum nut in all they way and then I cached it out about 3/4 turn and it felt good right there for me, any way it worked better than Randy said it would.
In all indications it is a modded high flow Condor valve but it is really worked right I don’t think the valve weakened any at all, the work seemed professional, I think he might have something to sell there in that valve.
Time will tell. But there isn’t any use putting a 14.5 pellet in it cause it shoots them too fast IMHO. And when shooting them ( I shot only 2) it cracks like a 22 short on steroids.
The 28.5 pellet went through the 2×4 and I caught it in a box of rags I used for a backstop behind the 2×4, it was flat as a flitter.
I’m not saing it will kill a Yote psst pssst,,,,But I don’t think you’ll have any regrets buying this gun . Oh Not my gun, but one like it LOL. 😀 Thats the best I can do fellers.
I forgot to tell you I used the shroud when I shot the 22 caliber 14.5 grains and it still cracked like a 22 ahort on steriods 😀 So the shroud helped, but it only helped in the Area where people just don’t know how loud it is without it. I never tried without the shroud, but I figured I’d leave well enought alone. 😀
It’s quieter. You don’t hear the hammer slap. As a matter of fact I’m going to take that heavy hammer out of the gun tomarrow, and use the Airforce Hammer and weight.
I filled the tank to 2900 and shot a 25 grain pelet throught the cono and it was a little over 912 FPS and that was with the wheel turned plum off.
Sometimes a person can have too much weight. i think the standard Condor weight is enought thats what My stubby has and it is as good as the Talon SS. No use messing up a good valve.
My valves are stock.
I was looking on the PA site and the specks for the Talon SS 25 caliber is 750 Feet Per Second, Mine will easily do that with the 43.2 EJ’s.
As a Matter of fact with the heavy weight it will do it with the wheel off if I fill it to 2900 that’s 54 foot Pounds, and that’s not bad for a 12 inch barrel. 😀 Love my Airforce Guns,,, well! I like them all but the Air force is King of the hills. It also shoots round balls real good if you take the shroud off, and in the SS it isn’t all that loud unless you are shooting in the garage and the sound bounces off the walls and then it really gets loud LOL. 😀
I have one maoded Tony valve, and it is consistant too, I keep it in the case with the Talondor he set up,.
Thats cool shaggy, so the 12″ gun can be as quite as a 24″ .
I just got my new 25 caliber barrel from PA, Only took 2 days to get it here, I put it on and set it wide open at 2700 PSI.
The barrel is 12″ long, and I’m using the Shroud I bought off of here from “Bean)
Wide open with the 43.2 EJ’s I get 56.04 Foot pounds of energy,, turned half way down it gets 51.08, the shot count seems real good too. About 20 Shots on High.
I used the 31 Grain Pellets and got 43.84 Foot Pounds of energy,, But they were the Match pellets and fit sorta loose and the gun just don’t like them at all, a dime in 25 yards with an air rifle isn’t too good for a high end gun that this is.
But the 43.2’s shoot almost hole in hole and so does the 25.4 Exact Kings,,, Being I only have one box I’m ordering me 8 boxes right now,.
The shroud I got from Bean has this gun shooting smoothly and as silent as a red Ryder daisy BB gun. That’s a fact! All you hear is a whish and a pellet smack, the smack is loud enough to wake up the neighbors on a real Quiet night. It is the loudest part of the gun.
The Hammer weight came from TagDagger but it isn’t the one he puts in his Arrow kit,,(Not sure ask him)!! I weighed it but forgot what it weighed, not too far from the Talon weight with the add on Condor extra weight attached.
As a matter of fact I have the Talon hammer and the add on weight on my stubby 25 talon. It is a mid 50’s Per Square Inch itself with the 43.2 EJ’s.
The barrel is accurate but it is only 12” so I recon I can say it has every right to be pellet picky on the fit , so the looser fitting pellets are not too good.
Hope this helps as far as the 25 FPD’s is concerned, these guns grow on on ya so be careful and don’t shoot too much, it’s like Tobacco, you can’t put it down once you start 😀 😀 😀
Nice setup! 😛
I really don’t want to pull my rifle apart, it may never shoot as good as it does now again 😆 i would need to by a shroud for the short setup , but it would be cool to have a compact gun .
I have the short shroud on my 12″ 22 talon ss. Most of it is in the Gun close to the barrel. I bought it off of here. It is pretty quiet.
I have a scuba pump and 2 tanks so Air is no problem to me, but it isn’t any worse than the others I don’t count my shots I just wait till the gun sounds louder.
I have 5 Airforce Rifles, and am going to take the 22 caliber barrel off of my Talon ss and put the 25 caliber on it I ordered from PA, it should be here tomarrow. So I’ll have an extra 77 caliber and a 22 caliber barrel. I’m going to hold onto them for now But I might sell them in the future, don’t know for sure.Hop this helps. Oh and the 22 with the 24″ barrel, sends the pellets fast I have to turn it all way down.
shaggy is the 12″ set up as quite as a 24″ gun with both shrouded , i figure it will not be as air efficient as a 24″ gun set to lower fps with lighter pellets. i usually shoot 14 grain pellets in the 900’s and if i can get this with a 12″ barrel i thought i might try one.
I really don’t want to pull my rifle apart, it may never shoot as good as it does now again 😆 i would need to by a shroud for the short setup , but it would be cool to have a compact gun .
I chronographed my 12 inch 22 caliber using 14.5 grains and it went 1009 FPS That’s its high shot. The rest is in the 900’ds. So I keep the wheel on about 7 and the numbers on about 3, I have the high flow tank on my ss and the extra weight, virtually making it a condor.
The specks say’s it will shoot 800 but it will do 1009 FPS in it’s peak (sweet) spot. 😀
I’ve been thinking of building up a truck gun. something that i can shoot out the window, and get 900″s to 950 fps with 14 grain pellets in .22 . will a 12″ condor do this,
interesting thread!
Randy is a good guy to work with. He sells everything the Extreme has as separate parts, so build your own if you wish.
The Extreme valve is a modified Condor valve. The change is made very simple because he sends you the wrench to do the change out. Unscrew the old brass insert and drop in the new one. Who could pass that up for $75.00?
This valve is very sensitive to power wheel adjustments, so you can make it very very tame, or turn it up and shoot feral mules at 100 meters. You will need a heavier hammer weight because the kit comes with a heavier valve spring.
Now, I am not bragging that this valve will be as good or last as long as Tony’s…I’m not saying that because I have limited experience with it. But, it IS a poor man’s means to get incredible power without spending hundreds on a custom valve.
To each his own. For now, this works for me and my budget.
Oh…one other thing, be sure to put the cocking bolt in one of the side slots before firing. I didn’t and the force was so great it blew the bolt back and some air escaped out the sides of the bolt/valve interface.
Hoot
I’ll try to get some blood shots up soon. The forecast has changed in this area to Very Heavy Pain Expected.
Hoot
Depends on what you shoot, this morning my Stubby (Talon home made LOL)25 caliber 48 grain EJ’s shot by my calculations 54.6 Foot pounds. And it isn’t an airhog.
This gun will also shoot #3 buckshot .25 dia almost hole in hole at 43 yards.
I think you’ll keep that gun. Ive been reading up on it, and I personally think it is #1 in the best and most powerful out there in a 12 inch barrel. Congrats on your new Toy. 😀
My Talon 22 caliber 12 inch barrel with 28.5 grain EJ’s shoots 41.19 Fpds of energy. Gotta love those air force rifles. 😀
I’ll try to get some blood shots up soon. The forecast has changed in this area to Very Heavy Pain Expected.
Hoot
the only pics which will matter shall the carnage ones ! kindly post a few kill shots in all their glory and post pics of the same. i dont think u will be having any issue with accuracy. the point is what is the terminal effect on game going to be like.
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Wow, sounds like you are having a blast with that stuff for sure. 😀
that’s the way i was for quite a while after buying the condor, that shroud is probably doing allot , even if is still breaking the sound barrier. i noticed that mine would do away with pretty much all the report from the rifle, but the sound barrier crack would echo down the street , 😯 😯 ,,, very loudly. 😆
might as well have been shooting a rim fire. cant have that around here, one of the main reason i wanted a shrouded condor to play with,