AirForce Talon and Condor: What's the difference?

by Harley Ayre

All the pellet rifles from AirForce look pretty much the same, so today I'd like to discuss the differences with you. This information may help you make a decision for one rifle over another.

It all started with the Talon
When AirForce began making rifles with user-adjustable power, the Talon was the first model they produced. It's available in both .177 and .22. Because the barrels can be changed by the user in just minutes, you really aren't locked in by your choice. This is one big advantage all AirForce airguns have.


The power wheel on the left side of all AirForce guns allows quick adjustment to their rifles.

Three identifying characteristics
A Talon is different from other AirForce guns in three ways:

1. It has an 18-inch Lothar Walther barrel. Other barrel lengths can be purchased as options and installed by the owner, but the 18" barrel is standard to the model.
2. The Talon is the lowest-priced model in the line. You might think it would also have to be the least powerful, but that's not the case! The quiet Talon SS with its 12" enclosed barrel has less power than a Talon. In return, you get quieter operation. In .22 caliber, you still get 23 to 25 foot-pounds from an SS.
3. The Talon's lack of muffling. If you want quiet, buy the SS. If you want more power, get a Talon.

The Talon delivers about 30 to 32 foot-pounds in .22 caliber, depending on which pellet is used. Heavier pellets such as the Beeman Kodiak Match generate more power. In .177, the Talon delivers about 19 to 21 foot-pounds with a heavy pellet. That's significantly less than .22 caliber, which is why 99 percent of all AirForce rifles are sold in .22 caliber.

The Talon is one of the best values in airgunning!
The Talon is a very easygoing air rifle. Power adjusts smoothly from low to high, giving you much more control over velocity than the Talon SS, in fact. On lower power, the Talon is not very noisy. If you just want to shoot .22 pellets at 700 f.p.s., a Talon is a fairly calm, quiet gun. And being the least expensive, I feel a Talon is a super value in the AirForce lineup.

The Condor is a very versatile airgun
No doubt you already know the Condor is an enormously powerful air rifle. First offered in 2004, the Condor delivers more shots at greater power than any other .22-caliber air rifle made! It has a special Hi Flo air valve that only a Condor powerplant can operate. This valve not only delivers shots greater than 60 foot-pounds in .22 caliber, it gives as many as 20 of them on a single air charge! That cannot be matched by any other airgun currently available.

What many shooters have discovered, however, is that the Condor's power can also be adjusted down to the Talon SS range. You don't have to use the rifle as a magnum blaster if you don't want to. The 24" Lothar Walther barrel coupled with the Hi Flo valve makes this airgun a jack of all trades! While the other guns cannot use the Condor valve, a Condor can use a standard tank and valve and deliver about the same ballistics as a Talon or Talon SS with an optional 24" barrel installed! That's about 42 to 45 foot-pounds on the high end and under 12 foot-pounds on the low end. Plus, you get a lot more shots than when using the Hi Flo valve.

The Condor is more expensive, but it's also the most flexible gun AirForce makes. That's why it's Airhog's No. 1 seller! If you can afford it, this is the gun to buy. If not, the Talon is a super value, and the Talon SS is the quiet one. All three rifles accept barrels in both calibers and all three lengths (12", 18" and 24").

For the record, there is NO accuracy difference between a 12" and a 24" Lothar Walther barrel. Velocity is the sole difference.

My recommendations for scoping your rifle
AirForce rifles are capable of real long-range precision, and it takes a good scope to get everything they've got. I would choose the Mueller 4-16x50 scope with AO. It has a duplex reticle that you can see fast, yet the center portion of the crosshairs are thin for precision and the center dot is illuminated! This scope compliments the power and accuracy of all three AirForce models. I would pick B-Square adjustable mounts to mount the scope. That way, you can zero without using the scope's internal adjustments, saving them for precision adjustments in the field.

Buy with confidence - you need to know this!
Airhog does business differently than other airgun dealers. They test each rifle before sending it out. That takes time, but it means you get a working gun instead of an apology with another two-week wait. If a barrel comes to them with rust in it (and a surprising number do), they clean the bore professionally so your first shot goes where it's supposed to. And, they're there for you when those questions arise.

Precharged airguns take a little learning, and Airhog believes the sale isn't final until you're using the gun. All of this attention separates them from the cut-rate dealers who just want your money...and, then, please go away!

As long as you are getting into the top grade of airguns, do it right the first time and have only pleasant experiences.