Compasseco Tech Force 97 Air Rifle



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Compasseco Tech Force 97 Air Rifle

By American Rifleman, Jan 2001

Compasseco aims to be your source for sporting air guns and airgun accessories of all types. To this end, it offers a wide variety of airgun brands from all over the world including: Air Force, Rutten, Webley & Scott, Beeman, Gamo, RWS, Crosman, Benjamin Sheridan, CZ, Daisy, Marksman and Tech Force. Compasseco is the exclusive distributer of the extensive Tech Force product line made to its specifications. We received a Tech Force 97 air rifle in .177 cal. with a Tech Force 2-7X variable scope for test and evaluation.

Aimed at the adult airgun market with performance, weight and dimensions to match, the TF 97 is a high-velocity, sporting air rifle for pest elin-mination, hunting small game and informal target shooting or plinking. Offered in either .177 cal (muzzle velocity 900 fp.s.) or.22 cal. (muzzle velocity 700 fp.s.), the Tech Force 97 is powered with air compressed by a springpowered piston.

Unlike many Europeanmade, spring-piston air rifles, the TF 97 air rifle does not break open in shotgun style (Tech Force offers another model, the TF25, that operates in that manner). Rather, it has a fixed barrel and under-lever cocking with an anti-bear trap release. In appearance, the Tech Force 97 looks much like an overunder rifle, but the bottom "barrel" is in reality the articulated cocking lever. By placing the cocking lever in this position, cocking effort is substantially reduced to about 12 lbs. according to Compasseco. which, in turn, reduces shooter fatigue.

Cocking is accomplished by pressing the under-lever retaining latch under the front sight base to release the lever that may then be pulled rearward through an arc of about 150 degrees until a distinctive "click" is heard. The cocking lever pushes the air piston rearward inside the receiver against the compressed mainspring. At the same time, the breech block behind the barrel moves rearward to expose the rear end of the barrel for loading through a large cutout in the top front of the receiver. After inserting a pellet in the barrel and releasing the antibeartrap lever inside the trigger guard, the under-lever can be returned and locked in its closed position, thus completing the loading procedure. When the trigger is pulled, the air piston is released, travelling forward under pressure from the mainspring. Air inside the receiver is compressed rapidly and forced through a small vent on the front of the receiver aligned with the barrel. Flowing through the vent, the expanding air pushes the pellet down the barrel.

The TF97's steel receiver is grooved for a dovetail scope mount and also has a scope stop to prevent optical sights from shifting. Standard equipment includes a square front sight blade protected by a stamped, steel hood and a rear notch in blade fully click-adjustable for windage and elevation.

Our test rifle mounted an optional Tech Force 2-7X variable air rifle scope with a I" diameter tube, 32 mm adjustable objective lens and targettype adjustment turrets. Adjustment knobs have 1/4" click adjustments, clear whiteon-black lettering and knurled surfaces to allow easier finger adjustment. Our sample scope was of aluminum alloy construction with a matte black anodized finish. Exterior lenses were coated to improve light transmission. The reticle was a duplex-type with thin center crosshairs and thicker outer crosshairs. Included in the scope package were 1" diameter steel rings with tip-off bases and see-through plastic covers for both lenses.

Here, it is important to note that spring-piston-powered air guns require special scopes. The forward counter-recoil of the rebounding air piston will quickly loosen the internal components of standard rifle scopes that are stressed to accommodate rearward recoil only. Another problem with using standard rifle scopes on air guns is close range focus. Most standard rifle scopes simply will not focus at the very close ranges for air rifles. The TF 97 scope solves both problems as it has a lens system designed to handle both recoil and counter-recoil, as well as an ability to focus on targets as close as 22 1/2'.

The one-piece wood stock has a full pistol grip, Monte Carlo comb with cheekpiece and a ventilated rubber recoil pad with a white line spacer. Finish is a semigloss, oil-type over walnut-stained hardwood. There is no pistol grip cap and no checkering. With the 2-7X scope mounted, the balance point is about 2" in front of the trigger guard.

With a 7 lb.. 7 oz. weight, 41" overall length and 14 3/4" pull on the buttstock, the TF 97 air rifle is dimensioned for adults. As adults, we appreciated the heft, balance and fit of the TF 97. Handling of the TF 97 feels very much like a center-fire hunting rifle, which is why many owners will buy it-for off-season plinking and practice or dispatching the occasional pest. The high muzzle velocity, scope and easy operation of this air rifle make the TF 97 eminently suitable for such pastimes.

We found the overall fit and finish of the TF 97 fully in keeping with its intended purpose. The blueing is low polish and plenty of small tool marks remain in various places, but remember this is intended as a sporting air rifle and these minor imperfections do not affect operation or accuracy. Fit and finish of the stock were rather better with the wood grain nicely filled, the stain applied evenly and the oil finish adequately smooth.

Range testing of the TF 97 began by checking muzzle velocity and accuracy using several different brands and weights of. 177-cal. pellets. We found muzzle velocity as specified, provided light weight pellets were used. When heavier 9 gr. pellets were used, muzzle velocity dropped off to approximately 650 f.p.s. With matchgrade pellets, accuracy proved more than adequate for a sporting air rifle. The results of these tests are summarized in the accompanying table.

We experienced no operational difficulties with the TF 97 in shooting several hundred pellets both in the field and on the range. Everyone who shot the TF 97 air rifle liked the handling and accuracy. The fixed barrel and low cocking effort also received favorable comments, although several shooters suggested knurling the front end of the under-lever for better purchase.

As a moderately priced, sporting air rifle package for adults, the Tech Force 97 air rifle with 2-7X variable scope and rings offers good value. The dimensions, features, performance and handling of the Tech Force 97 air rifle with or without the 2-7X scope package should prove attractive to a wide variety of sporting rifle shooters.

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