The big question following the recent debut of Crosman's Pioneer Airbow is how it will be classified, if at all, for hunting purposes. It looks like a rifle, but it uses air to fire a full-size, 375-grain carbon fiber arrow at speeds of 450 feet per second at the "muzzle."
But, as many archery traditionalists point out, it has no string and no limbs.
I tried this new device in January at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
You use a compressed air tank to charge the Airbow to 3,000-pounds-per-square-inch pressure. This juices up the Airbow for eight shots. A top cocking lever toward the base of the stock is a snap to operate — much easier than cocking a crossbow.
Follow-up shots from treestands, difficult at best with crossbows, would be simple with an Airbow. De-cocking the Airbow is also easy. Crosman touts the potential for 2-inch shot groups at 50 yards.
The device features a black synthetic stock with a Picatinny rail for mounting accessories, a CenterPoint 6x40mm optic with custom MTAG reticle offering aiming points to 75 yards, a sling and quick-detach quiver. It'll come with a Realtree AP camo decal kit. Available later this spring, the MSRP is $849.
Crosman is working to get the Airbow recognized for hunting. States will have to figure out where it belongs. Demand could be fairly high. My sense is traditional archery and crossbow manufacturers will resist efforts to allow its use during special archery seasons as it could really dent market share for crossbows.
Here's a look at other new rifles that stood out. Extensions of existing product lines, including caliber additions, threaded barrels, and varied scope and camo packages dominate the new introductions. Also, my winner for the most influential new camo pattern is Kryptek Highlander, which started showing up everywhere in the last year and is a centerpiece of several line extensions.
Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter
Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter
Photo Credit: Browning
New to Browning's X-Bolt line is the Long Range Hunter, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .26 Nosler, 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. — flat-shooting rounds designed to accurately deliver knock-down power at distance. This rifle features a composite stock with carbon fiber finish and a stainless steel receiver in matte finish. The stock has textured surfaces and a palm swell. A well-placed palm swell can greatly increase the shooter's grip and comfort. But, since not all shooters have the same size hands, it's advisable to handle any firearm with a palm swell before buying to ensure it has the right feel for you.
The 26-inch, matte finish, fluted barrel is free-floated. It has a muzzle brake that is easily removed to allow a suppressor (5/8-inch by 24 threads). Free-floating barrels are often seen on better-built rifles. All it means is the barrel doesn't make contact with the stock at all along the barrel's length. This helps preclude accuracy quirks that can come when a stock, especially a wooden stock, evolves over its lifetime or during certain weather conditions.
The rifles weigh about 7.5 pounds. MSRP $1,430-$1,470.
CVA Scout Compact TD
CVA Scout Compact TD
Photo Credit: CVA
CZ 557 Sporter Short Action
CZ 557 Sporter Short Action
Photo Credit: CZ
This rifle was specifically designed for short-action, .308-sized cartridges. With the shorter action, a 20.5-inch steel barrel, and overall 40-inch length, this line extension is more compact and lighter (7 pounds) than its line predecessors. It comes with an oil-finished Turkish walnut, American-style stock. It has a detachable 4-round box magazine, fully-adjustable trigger, and comes ready for scope bases and optics. MSRP $792. Available in March 2016.
Gamo Whisper Fusion Mach 1
Gamo Whisper Fusion Mach 1
Photo Credit: Gamo
This is the only true air rifle in this year's roundup. Gamo makes great air rifles, and this new, potent rifle is affordably priced for the package. Plus, it comes with a five-year warranty. It's a break-action rifle that advertises speeds of a screaming 1,420 feet per second with .177 PBA platinum pellets. The .22-caliber version delivers speeds of 1,020 FPS. The rifle includes an upgraded 3-9x40 scope and weighs a manageable 6.6 pounds. MSRP is $249.99. Available in March.
Mossberg MMR Carbine
Mossberg MMR Carbine
Photo Credit: Mossberg
O.F. Mossberg and Sons Inc. updates its line of modern sporting rifles with this carbine in 5.56mm NATO/.223 Rem. It's available in three versions, including models with fixed or adjustable stocks, 10- or 30-round magazines, muzzle brakes and more. Magpul components are dressing up a number of modern sporting rifles. A slim new 13-inch fore-end (handguard) sports the Magpul M-LOK system and a full-length top rail. The rifle also has a Magpul MOE+ grip and MOE polymer trigger guard. Standard features include a direct-impingement gas system; free-floating, button-rifled, carbon steel barrel with 1:8 twist rate; and adjustable sights. There is no forward assist or dust cover. The rifles come in a matte black finish. MSRP: $910.
Sako 85 Long Range
Sako 85 Long Range
Photo Credit: Sako
This Sako bolt-action offers potent solutions to long, tough shots. It's available in either .300 Win. Mag. or .338 Lapua, the current standards in lethal solutions at distance. The 26-inch, free-floated, match-grade, blued barrel has a threaded muzzle brake. The stock is a dark gray laminate and designed with a more vertical pistol grip for shooting in prone positions. The rifle has a two-position safety and a single-stage trigger, adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds. With the hinged floorplate magazine, the rifle holds four cartridges. Optics mount atop integral, tapered dovetails. A bolt handle lock allows loading and unloading of the rifle with the safety engaged. The rifles are beefy at 9.7 pounds, but that weight helps tame recoil. Beretta USA handles distribution of Sako rifles in the United States. MSRP is $2,875.
Savage Arms Model 42 Takedown
Savage Model 42 TD Separated
Photo Credit: Savage
This neat little combo firearm fires .22-caliber rounds from the top barrel and .410-bore shotgun shells from the lower barrel. Then, it breaks down with the push of a button and quick slide of the forearm, making it easily packable for road trips or hikes into the backcountry. The shotgun barrel is 20 inches long and chambered to accept 3-inch shells, offering the capability to shoot either birdshot or slugs. The top rifle barrel (chambered in either .22 LR or .22 WMR), has open sights. The adult version weighs 6.1 pounds, while the youth model is 4.65 pounds. Synthetic stock and fore-end. MSRP: $500.
Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport
Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Sport
Photo Credit: Smith & Wesson
With an MSRP of $449, this new generation M&P15-22 Sport is one of the most affordable AR-styled sporting rifles available today. The original version was popular, but this Sport model adds a few Magpul accessories as standard equipment. Among these are a 10-inch M&P slim handguard that incorporates the Magpul M-LOK system, designed to make for easier accessorizing. Then there are the removable Magpul MBUS front and rear folding sights. Available in matte black or Kryptek Highlander or Moon Shine's Muddy Girl camo patterns. A Performance Center edition adds an enhanced two-stage match trigger, match grade precision 18-inch threaded barrel and match grade chamber, as well as a VLTOR adjustable stock and Hogue grip. This model checks in at $709. Limited lifetime warranty/service.
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Target Pistol
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Target Pistol
Photo Credit: Smith & Wesson
Many personal protection sidearms are coming to market, but the target plinker we'll look at here is Smith & Wesson's new SW22 Victory chambered in .22 LR. It's built with a single-action, enclosed hammer-fired, blowback semi-automatic design. It's equipped with a match-grade, interchangeable, 5.5-inch stainless steel barrel, plus stainless, heat-treated bolt, slide, and frame for superb accuracy on the range or in the field, along with a simple one-screw takedown design.
Comes standard with a fiber optic front sight and an adjustable green fiber optic rear sight. Alloy trigger with adjustable trigger stop. Fire controls include a single-sided thumb safety, slide stop and magazine release.
Weighs 37.4 ounces unloaded. Overall dimensions are 9.2 inches long and 5.6 inches high. Ships with two 10-round-capacity magazines and a lightweight Picatinny-style rail for easy mounting of optics or other accessories. MSRP is $409, black; $459 camo. Limited lifetime warranty/service policy.
Thompson/Center Arms T/C Compass
Thompson/Center Arms T/C Compass
Photo Credit: Thompson/Center Arms
Uberti 1885 High Wall Big Game
Uberti 1885 High Wall Big Game
Photo Credit: Uberti
This Italian-made replica "High-Wall Big Game" lever action rifle chambered in .45-70 Government is designed for big-game hunters. The .45-70 cartridge was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873, often called the "Trapdoor Springfield." It's for a sportsman who wants or needs to hunt with a straight-walled rifle cartridge. The rifle weighs 6.7 pounds, has a 22-inch blued barrel, and checkered walnut stock. Along with its standard sights, it comes with a Picatinny rail you can mount in minutes. MSRP is $1,119.
Webley and Scott Empire Rifle
Webley and Scott Empire Rifle
Photo Credit: Webley and Scott
This member of the Legacy Sports International family of brands, known for fine shotguns, makes its first rifle in 100 years. This rifle is made by Howa in Japan and adds some features not found on the Howa 1500 line, such as a jeweled bolt, knurled bolt handle, flush-fit, five-round detachable steel magazine, and slightly different internal workings. It maintains the three-position safety and two-stage trigger seen in the Howa line. It has a Minelli, Italian walnut stock. Current availability is only in .270 Win. and .30-06 Sprg., but short action calibers .243 Win., 7mm-08 and .308 Win., are expected later this year. MSRP $956. A scoped package with Nikko Stirling Panamax 3-9x40 scope, one-piece base and rings is $1,087.
