TF-89 Accuracy (Pics)

[photomunkey]

I thought since I'd just signed on here I'd share what I'm doing.

Through Rick Eutsler's website, Airgunweb.com, where he reviews air rifles, he decided to accept me as a "tester" and arranged the shipment of some Tech Force Contender Series air rifles to me. My "arsenal" as my wife calls it, includes a TF-89, a TF-59, a TF-49, and a TF-39. I purchased a BAM B26 as a benchmark of sorts out of my own pocket.

Rick's going to publish my review of the TF-89 pretty soon (all the materials have been submitted), but I thought I'd share a few 20 yard targets I've shot with the TF-89. Why 20 yards? Because that's how much room I have in my side yard, inside my fence, that's why. Besides, if I can make pellets group at 20 yards I figure it'll be ac acceptable hunting rifle.

So how did my TF-89 do? See for yourself... The second photo was the sighting in, starting at 10 yards, and finishing at 20 yards. "Fire for effect", as they say!

[photomunkey]

This was on a blustery, windy day. Crosman Centerpoint 3x9x40 AO scope, one- piece mount, an Crosman Premium Pointed hunting pellets. The groupings I shot 3 days earlier, when I first discovered the Premium Pointed pellets were this rifle's favorite food, are even better, but I don't have photos of those done with a pellet or measuring device (other than a dime).

[Gene_SC]

I to have bought a TF-89 about a year ago. It turns out that it is one of the best .22 magnums I have every bought and shot. After a complete tune including the trigger, she was very accurate and powerful for a .22 springer. I made a couple changes to the build, and that I think is one of the reasons she is so smooth shooting. Also the trigger is an excellent trigger in a Chinese air rifle. Lots of room for moding there. I have her set for the break at 2lbs. The groups that I have shot have been at 30 yards using AirArms Pellets 16 gr, and end up with groups under 1". No flyers but with a better person behind the thrgger I am sure she would shoot under half inch groups at that distance. Her overall fps average is right at 825 fps, which put her up with the RWS boys..

I also bought a TF-59 which I tuned and moded in a different manner. My goal was to have a smooth cocking, smooth shooting and quiet springer. I did accomplish that but took 30 fps drop in order to accomplish this. The trigger is a Theoben desighn and will accept a CDT GRT-III trigger but you have to machine a new pin for her. So with that done and the GRT-III trigger the TF-59 came out great in my opinion. I gave the TF-59 to Ed, aka Shadow for testing and evaluation. You may find his pros and cons on the outcome on the GTA somewhere or maybe he wil chime in with a couple words and pictures..

Thanks for sharing with us Eric

[photomunkey]

Gene,
Ah, I thought I'd read you'd played with the TF-59... Was that the one where you sleeved the spring with Delrin? What FPS were you seeing at the end of your work? With mine I think the velocity is jumping around quite a bit, sort of unreasonably so at the moment. I'm getting a "hazy cloud" of pellets around the POA. When I started with the rifle a few weeks ago I was getting one-hole groups when sighting it at 10 yards. I'm not certain it will do that now though as this "hazy cloud" is bugging me. That was the reason the 3x9x40 AO scope ended up on the TF-89. I thought the scope had a problem, and I'd already verified the 89's accuracy so I strapped on the bigger scope and went at it on a windy day. I was very surprised, yet pleased, with my results.

My B26 hasn't settled down completely either. I could hunt with it, but that's about it. No headshots on chipmunks at 30 yards at the moment. I might even end up selling the B26 (despite the fact that I've always wanted to own a Beeman rifle) if it doesn't settle down and act more like the accuracy I'm getting from the TF-89!

This 89 could use just a touch of a trigger tune on it. It's nowhere near as smooth as the B26 trigger, but the break is more crisp than the BAM copy of the Rekord trigger.

[shadow]

The TF59 from Gene is one sweet deal of a shooter. After the tune from Gene the 59 is nothing but smooth from the cocking cycle to the firing cycle. As Gene mentioned she has the GRT-III trigger and the combo of a perfect tune and trigger make this 59 a perfect target shooter or in my case a outstanding mid range hunter, she already has a squirrel under her belt. You'll have to check the Hunting Gate or my "ALBUM" for dem pic's hehe but here's some of here posing for you.   Ed

[photomunkey]

How does it do for accuracy? Any one-hole pics to show off?

[shadow]

Sorry not to speak of. I get my shooter's sighted in tight at 25yrds and the target pic's of mine are in the Hunting Gate. Nothing against punching paper but I'm a airgun hunter at heart and the closest thing to a wadcutter pellet that I have is hollow point's. As far as accuracy, she can hit a nutter at 20+ yrds right in the sweetspot, tween the ear and eye. Ed

[mikeiniowa]

getting the recoil somewhat tamed, or at least getting it smoothed out, Gene has it down to a T, I'm still working on it but it's comin' have had a few of the 89's and the same type throught the shop, big thing is the shooter, some guys can get it down and some can't, it's just the way thing do with these power houses....

[photomunkey]

My B26 .177 kicks more than my TF-89 .22... Not sure why that is yet.

I'm shooting off of a rest I built using 3/4" MDF board I had. The top "shelf" is about 5" long. I figured that, even if a rifle was "hold-sensitive" by averaging the distance the rifle touches the rest, I could minimize this effect. I also use a terry cloth towel as a "cushion" so that the rifle can buck both directions around its balance point. The TF-89 is pretty insensitive as far as my hold. From the rest, I use my left hand to keep the rifle upright when it bucks, and I use my trigger hand to provide enough pressure on the rifle stock to keep it against my shoulder. This works great for the 89, but only produces average groups with some fliers with the B26.

[mikeiniowa]

hey try the other way hold it tight...it can be a mind boggler trying to find the right way to do it. most of the 26's will give a 1/2 inch at 20 with the irons, better if you aren't older than rocks......

[photomunkey]

Well if the rain moves out of here tomorrow, I'll try that. I'm really getting good groups with the 89, and I got some of the same Crosman Premium Pointed pellets for the B29. I've also got some Crosman Destroyers and RWS SuperDomes. These three seem to be the best pellets I've tried so far.

Hmmmm, tight old on the B26. I'll let you know how this works.

[mikeiniowa]

It's one of those things, the 26 is dead on most of the time, only had one out of around 100 taht was crappy, if your luck is like mine it could be the one but I wouldn't bet on it....

[photomunkey]

I've also got one with a really soft, really smooth trigger. You can't tell the difference between the first and second stage. There is no crispness... it's just puuuuullllll... blam! If I've been shooting one of the others for a while I ALWAYS screw up the release of the first shot from the B26. Always.

[mikeiniowa]

time to pull the trigger group and adjust it right, get a 4mm allen screw and nut to fit, remove the front screw and install the allan screw and nut. look in the adjustement hole and set it up right....see the Pair blog for more info or call me.....

[photomunkey]

I pulled the entire action out of the stock and looked at it. I don't have the drifts necessary to remove the trigger group so I can play with it. I also don't live anywhere near someone with the right tools either. I might be able to get over to Airguns of AZ one weekend, and I could see if they'll help me out. That's one option I'm considering.