GTA
Gateway To Product Reviews => Air Gun Reviews => : Gene_SC December 06, 2007, 10:55:04 AM
-
Received the TF 89 today around 2:30pm.. Immediately I opened the box and there was a beautiful air rifle in plastic.. Pulled off her see through skirt and held her up to my shoulder... mmmmmm Feels just like my Hammerli Titan..:)
Ok now for the fit and finish..:) The stock is fantastic for a Chinese air rifle. There is grain under the dark stain that has reddish highlights to it. Wood was very smooth and un blemished. The blueing is even and dark with no blemishes. The trigger unlike the black steel trigger in my Hammerli Titan is chrome in the TF 89. The checkering is perfect. I could not of asked any thing more for a $150.00 air rifle with wooden stock. The weight of the TF 89 is exactly the same as the Titan. Just right for the power you will expect to get from these magnums...:)
Now I took the TF-89 out to my shop and proceeded to clean the bore and my surprise wasvery clean. Just run one swab through twice and I was done. The lockup of course is the ball bearing type and locks up tight when cocked. Now when you cockthese two air rifles you have to slap the barrel a bit to break it loose. Also it has long cockingcycle and gets tight at very end of cycle. That is normal. It has a auto safety which just takes a flick of your trigger finger to unlock it before you shoot. The trigger cycle was like my Titan when I first bought it. A definite few pounds of pull then you get to the second stage. Not crisp but no creep. This will be taken care of when I do the major lube and tune, like Bob and me did on the Titan. The trigger is still great though. I just like a lighter pull and a crisp break.
So now I grabbed a tin of RWS Superdomes 14.5 gn. Proceeded to cock and load through about 50 rounds. Shooting a back stop 40 yards away. You could hear a definite hit on every shot..:) I did not notice any smoke. I wanted to put a few pellets through her before I set up the chrony. Then I picked up a two by four and was shooting into it in order to see the penetration.Great penetrationat 10 yards and I could not see any signs of the pellets that had lodged into the wood. So I know they went deep..:) I did notice that when I was sighting in the iron sights that it seemed I ran out of down adjustment. And the rear adjustable site on the TF 89 was not as tight as the Titan. I know Vince would have allot to say about that.. hehe.
Now it was time to set up the light on the chrony and start shooting for fps. I assumed by some of the reviews that I had read that around 800 with the Superdomes would be max. So first set of ten pellets through the chrony lit up my eyes.:) My chrony when tested against CDT's chrony is about 1% lower overall. What I was seeing blew me away. So I checked my distance, the light and realigned everything again. Took another shot and wow.:) I will post my first set of numbers here, but remember this is a new springer with less than 100 rounds through it. The deviation was not to my liking but the numbers are great for a .22 springer. Overall I am very impressed with the TF 89..to say the least..:) I know you guys who have previously bought and everyone who is waiting on this initial review will be happy with the results. I sure am. Best part is that the TF 89 in not to heavy and very easy to shoulder and shoot. Jeff you are gonna love it..:)
Here are a couple pics of both my .177 Hammerli Titan and my new Contender TF 89.
Gene
RWS Superdome Round Head. 14.5gn
893.7
879.2
827.8
889.6
863.8
827.3
876.8
900.3
883.6
859.2
-
Dang it Gene, now I've gotta add another to my growing list of soon to get. Looks like she'll make an excellent hunter.:)
Mike
-
Very nice review Gene. That is a powerful .22 springer, perfect numbers for a big hunting rifle. That is definitely a pretty stick of wood, for a Chinese rifle.
-
Thankyou Peak... I was very impressed with some disbelief at first. I am anxious to put more pellets through her and then do a tune. After the tune that should tell the true story. Also impressed with how well the Chinese air rifles are starting shinewith fit, finish and quality. The trigger alone is one of the best features of these models. And I know Jeff for sure will love it for hunting. Not that heavy either. I know you like a shorter air rifle but I know you would even enjoy shooting one of these..:) Gene
-
Gene,,,, I am so psyched after reading your review,,,,, I can't wait for the rifle to arrive. Somehow I'm gonna have to talk the wife into letting me take her hunting before Christmas (by "her" I mean the rifle of course) :D
Jeff
-
Yep the 11th of December is cutting it close Jeff..:) When you get her you will want to do some night shooting I bet...lol I mean your TF 89...:) .... Jeff the Titan was pretty easy to take down... Just two pins that go through the action and trigger assymbly and waa laaa. I will be giving a another review with numbers after the tune.. Probably at around 1500 shots.. :)
Gene
-
Wow Gene, those are good numbers in .177, not to mention .22. It does look like a nice piece of wood, especially on a $150 rifle.....I must resist the order button, need more PCP's not more springers, help me stop pressing the order buttonnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!
-
Great review Gene !
I'm gonna have to move closer to you and help you take care of all these ladies !
This looks to be a nice one for sure, and Chinese,who would have thunk it !
Great addition to your collection buddy...
Bill
-
Very nice rifle! Now Ii want one too! Question, did you need an adjustable mount? Maybe it's just the picture but there looks to be some downangle (droop) on the barrel. If droop isn't a problem i thought of getting the scope combo from Compasseco. If it needs an adjustable mount I will get only the gun and an drooped BLK from Straight Shooters. Those are very impressive velocity numbers. Hows the overall shot cycle? Does it initially seem pellet or hold sensitive? I am getting closer to ordering one everyday, and these good reviews aren't helping any!
Regards
Nathan
-
No droop Nathan.. It must be the angle of picture.Just use a good one piece mount and your all set. I use either a BKL solid one piece or the Accushot mount. Yes the numbers are very high and I am taking it over to CDT's today and check it out on his chrony to make sure...:)
Gene
-
Thanks for the review, Gene! I was hoping to see some decent numbers. It looks like the 89 is everything I expected to have in a .22, without having to pay a Talon price for it.
Will be itching to hear more, until mine arrives!
Charles
-
I do have a question for the accessory gurus here; who makes a decent cheek swell (pad, stick-on?) for guns such as these, which only have the stock swell for right-hand shooters?
I've used right hand stocks before, and just get used to them, but a custom swell for this rifle would seem like a worthwhile addition.
Charles
-
Gene, other than the checkering is there major differences in the stock? The Titan in your pictures looks like it lighter color. Or maybe it's just the lighting. What about the overall fit differences between the two? Does the TF appear to have better fit and finish or are they pretty much the same?
Nathan
-
Got mine this evening. Fired a few pellets tonight, outside. Smooth firing rifle, no buzz or twang, just a nice solid thwack!
Enclosed find a few piccies. Couple of quick observations; muzzle handle has a deep gouge. Looks like the rifle fell against something sharp, like a knife blade. It is quite deep. Hope it hasn't affected the accuracy, time will tell.
Need a decent mount that will let the 4-16X40 bell clear the chamber. Don't want something too high, though.
Fit and finish are good. What I don't like is the "rattle" the cocking mechanism makes when handling the rifle. Cheapens the overall feel of the rifle. Linkage tolerances could have been held much tighter.
Easy to cock, the trigger definitely needs some adjusting/work.
Lefties will be able to use this rifle with no problem. The cheek swell for right-handers is not nearly as large as photos make it look. I was expecting a putrid, zit like protrusion.
Heft feels like my Gamos, without their scopes. I had no trouble shouldering or holding the rifle. It felt good.
Might have to wait a bit to chrony/sight-in. WX here is pathetic, with ice and non-stop rain this week.
Charles
-
Fired some .22 Cal. RWS SuperDomes into a phonebook this evening @ 810 fps or so. Very nice. Looks like any doubts about the TF89 power I had, disintegrated, much like the pellets...
Link below:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5134&mid=40734#M40734
Charles