Sumatra Carbine .22 carbine Review

Written by: Matt Sasso

Handling
The first thing you notice as you pick up an shoulder the Sumatra carbine for the first time, is that it is very well balanced and snugs up nicely and naturally. Your hand slips loosely into the lever and the gun holds steady almost effortlessly. One begins to picture taking fast running game on the fly and working that lever like a true western rifleman. This gun was designed ergonometricly which cannot be said about all air rifles. The Sumatra is designed for right or left handed shooters and one of the most notable observations about this gun is that everyone I have let try it has shot well with it immediately. There is a very low learning curve to get the feel of it. In addition, it also passed my spot shooting test. Spot shooting is done with both eyes open and focused on the target. The gun performed amazingly well and I was able to shoot quarter sized groups from a standing position.
What does that mean? It means the stock and barrel are aligned with a natural shooting position. I have a very expensive German gun that could never do that!!

Finish and craftsmanship
The Sumatra is built surprisingly well for the low purchase price. I was very happy when I first opened the box. The blueing is smooth. The metal parts work together firmly and the finish on the stock and butt are simple and even. I could not find any flaws with mine. Keep in mind that I do not purchase guns to hang on the wall. I expect them to look reasonably well and shoot awesome. I know I have already put a few dings in the stock and I am sure there will be a few scratches over the years but that is the life of a field gun.

Function
The Sumatra carbine is built on a very simple premise and that is to shoot heavy pellets very fast and very accurately. The six shot rotary magazine loads very quickly and simply snaps into the gun with the lever fully open. The Sumatra’s rotary magazine will take any .22 cal pellet on the market with no adjustment. A shooter can squeeze off six shots as fast as he can work the lever and pull the trigger. The trigger is somewhat adjustable although it will remain a “Crisp” pull at the lowest setting.



The Gun carries a nice size air chamber approximately 290cc under the barrel. This is filled to 3000psi using a scuba tank or high pressure air pump. At the end of the lower air chamber a rotating dust cup reveals the air fill port which the fill probe fits into.

I have had no problems with the well over 300 fills I have put into my gun. One question I often receive about this gun is how many shots do you get? I keep the gun set to shoot a little lower than maximum power and it seems to shoot 3 magazine or 18 shots without a drop in point of impact. That is a perfect match for field hunting and with the Sumatra you really need only one shot to take game to the size of a large raccoon.

Adjustable power
The adjustable power wheel is a really nice feature on the gun and it is located on the underside of the receiver. The wheel will adjust the power of the gun from almost zero to 1200 fps. Next to the power wheel is a compact PSI gauge which is a fantastic feature to have on a PCP rifle. However, the Sumatra gauge does not read accurately and a 3000psi fill may read 1000psi. The gauge works, it’s just that the numbers inside of it are not calibrated properly. So once you know your gun you can tell from the position of the needle whether or not you have a full fill or it is time for a refill.


Factory peep sight
The last feature I should discuss is the factory peep sight. This is the worst rear sight I have ever used and it would require a bit of drilling to actually be able to see through it. I think it would have worked fine as the front adjustable sight is built well and adjusts easily.

However, I had intended to drop a scope on this gun so I didn’t bother. I mounted a Bushnell banner 3x9x50 on the gun because I had one laying around. I used standard mounts and it works fantastic but I plan on switching it out for a compact Leapers mildot at some point.

Accuracy and shooting
The most surprising thing about the Sumatra is that it will shoot almost any pellet accurately. I have tried Eun Jins, Crosman Premiers, Predators, Kodiaks and Crow Magnums. All but the Crow Magnums shot perfectly and you can expect quarter sized groups at fifty yards although I regularly take game out to 80 yards with it.

I spent some time using the heavy 30 grain Eun Jins and I absolutely love them for hunting. They hit very hard and accurately although it takes a lot of air to push them out straight for the long shots and I found myself using Kentucky windage for the 90 yard shots. I have since switched back to Kodiaks for all game smaller than a fox. The Kodiaks shoot exactly the same as the Eun Jins only they shoot flatter and farther and you shouldn’t require any scope adjustment between the two. At a moderate power setting the Kodiaks should stay fairly flat out to 70 yds.

Hunting
This is where the Sumatra Carbine shines. It is a hunting rifle made for field use. Its short compact build makes it perfect for maneuvering through brush and vines and almost disappears when tucked into the hunter’s body. I have taken many coons, a few foxes, rabbits, squirrels, pigeons etc. with this gun. If you hit something with the Sumatra the extra power is really unforgiving and even if your shot is off a bit you can expect deep penetration and massive damage.
I went coon hunting with a friend of mine and he was carrying a very nice Logun. We came across a couple of coons and when he saw me take a large coon with the Sumatra he said about his gun, “I have to get one of those, my gun is just a toy compared to it”. In many ways he is right. The Sumatra will handle the full range of airgun hunting from pesky starlings to Foxes and coons.

I had an experience while doing some pest control on a farm. I came across four coons at a feeder. They were all about 30 yards out and I took careful aim at the one closest to the woods. I dropped him cold then in the confusion I dropped the next one before he was aware of what was happening. The third coon fell as it darted for the tree line. Number four had taken a few wrong steps in the wrong direction when the commotion started and now he was headed up a tree. I dropped him midway up his climb. It was over in 6 or 7 seconds and I still had 2 rounds left in the gun. I took a total of 10 coons that night and the gun worked flawlessly. Oh, and I also took a running possum at 80 yards on the same night. You might say I am a great shot but I would contend that a good shooting team consists of the shooter and his rifle and both need to be able to do their part reliably.

The Sumatra is a little loud for regular back yard use. However, I have shot it many times with the power dialed way down and it is barely audible. At higher power you are going to get a fairly loud “Crack”.


Recommendations
If you are going to hunt with an airgun or you are looking for your first PCP then the Sumatra is for you. It is at the lower end of the Price scale and offers some great features. I guarantee you will love its simplicity, power and handling. The Sumatra carbine is to airgun hunting what the Winchester was to the old west. One gun for all occasions.


Factory Specifications

Model Cal. .22 Sumatra Carbine .22
Total Wt. Overall Length Velocity fps Muzzle Energy Cocking Method Cocking Effort Power Plant


7.0 lb
35.5" long

Lever Action
* New fully adjustable power
62 fpe
* quick fill adapter,
* Threaded Barrel
(10 x 1mm)
* Includes: 2 magazines,

* Installed scope rail
* Faster shut off for hand pumps
* 5/8" ctc at 50 yards using
Eun Jin pellets
* Adjustable 2-Stage Trigger

Sumatra Carbine Takes Some Squirrels

A Tired Deerhunter Hunts for Squirrels

It' late November and two months of archery season have passed. While there is still another month to go, I don't have a big rack to show for all my effort. I've spent hours and hours sitting in treestands only to be foiled by the crazy Noreast winds and abnormally hot weather this fall. There were also the equipment failures I did not anticipate. A broken bowstring, a damaged sight and some ridiculous broadheads I should never have purchased. All the while, the squirrels, seemingly in their hundreds have been scurrying about collecting acorns and enticing me back to my airgun roots. And so it was this Thanksgiving weekend that I decided to abandon my compound bow and fill up the airguns for some fast action on the bushytails.

For the last two months I had been mentally marking the prime squirrel spots. In one spot alone I counted no less than 12 squirrels at one time within 30 yards of my treestand. In another spot, I would always come across a half dozen when I was on stalk and now that the leaves were down I was looking forward to some long shots in the hardwoods. I new the time they would be out and exactly where I would find them. Of course when I arrived in the woods the damn wind had kicked way up again blowing leaves and branches and masking any movement that was occurring in treetop or leaf litter.

I decided to settle in against a large Oak and watch. As soon as I had become comfortable I noticed a couple tree hoppers in a large tangled pine over 50 yards away. There was no shot through the leafless limbs and the stalk was on. The wind did serve to mask my movement and noise as i crept from tree to tree making my way in range. Shooting at multiple squirrels is a bit like a game of pool. You want to anticipate the escape route the second squirrel will take once you fire and drop the first one. My Sumatra carbine in .22 was loaded with heavy Eun Jin pellets so any hit on these squirrels would mean they would be anchored. I raised the Sumatra to my shoulder and even though I was concentrating on the shot, I still sighed at the comfortable and familiar fit of my most trusted rifle. I'll continue with the story but I just have to say that the Sumatra carbine is one of the most versatile and best designed hunting rifles I have ever owned. Short, manuverable, accurate and powerful; what else is there to say?

The wind was gusting again as I took aim. I love this shot as you wait for the wind to move the branches and provide a clear path for your pellet. Wait , watch , anticipate and fire....the familiar crack of the Sumatra and the almost immediate sound of the pellet hitting home. Quick work on the lever action to load another pellet and back up to my shoulder, eye on the crosshairs waiting for the second squirrel to halt his escape. He stopped two trees away high atop an Oak. A touch to the crisp trigger and he was falling to the forest floor.

It was good to get out and feel successful again. I think that's what's best about any small game hunting. There is always more game to be had and a better chance to take some home. But of course, you can only guess that on my way out of the woods I came across a nice Buck not 15 yards away. I really think he knew he was in no danger because he only trotted off. Ah well, that's how it goes. I guess it's just better to get what you get and to appreciate all of it.

Written by: Matt Sasso

Talon SS, Squirrel Hunting And A Christmas Eve To Remember

This is the story of a Christmas Eve hunt with my Talon SS. I have written many stories about hunting with this gun but I have particularly fond memories of this hunt. Maybe it was because it was a cold, crisp December morning. Or maybe it was because I had the world; or a small piece of it; a winter wood; all to myself.

I'd like to say my beautiful wife told me I could go hunting this morning. But that would have implied I even asked her. I snuck out at O'dark thirty and hit the local woods hoping for some squirrel action. It was windy and brisk with an icy crunch to the leaves. I completely missed the first bushytail I saw. I must have knocked the scope out on my Talon. A few test shots and I was back on zero. That's the good thing about a gun you trust. If you miss you know something is wrong.

This wood is mostly big Oaks with lots and lots of holes that the squirrels hide in. In fact, there is barely one nest up in the trees. If you didn't know better you would think there were no bushy tails to be found.

I redeemed myself on the next shot. It was about 30yds out and I had snuck up on him a bit to get a better shot through the tangle of bare winter branches. He peeked his head out from behind the massive grey trunk and took his last breath. One on the ground.

The next two were chattering high up in a huge Oak. I had to watch them for a while to get a clear shot at either of them. They were about 75yds out so I new I would have to hold a little high. Finally, one of the nutters exposed himself to a clear line of sight. I placed the first mildot under center on his head, pulled the trigger, waited as the pellet traveled its course. I then heard the tell tale "whack, crunch" and down he came.

The second squirrel got mad and started to chatter louder and climbed to the top of the tree maybe 75’ off the ground. I was really looking forward to him taking the “fastevator” all the way to the ground once I popped him. I held over him and struck true. He hung on for a moment then just let go and fell fast alongside the grey trunk. There was a small white pine about 30' tall alongside the bottom of the great Oak and he disappeared as he fell through it.

Excited, I walked on over to collect my prize and was puzzled as I found only one squirrel. I new both shots were dead on center and I couldn't figure out where the second squirrel was. The ground was clear so I started looking to see if he got stuck in the pine. Nothing, then I noticed that the Oak's first massive limb had died and rotted off. This sometimes will form an upward facing hole and this one was probably about 14" wide. And you guessed it. Through the scope I could see a few hairs from the tip of the squirrel’s tail peeking up out of the basket.


Writen by: Matt Sasso

Airforce Talon SS Review

In the past, I have done a few video reviews and long forum explanations of the Airforce Talon SS and as such I did not realize that I never actually completed a full written review of this rifle. I need to begin by saying I have owned a Talon SS for several years now. And at this point there is no sense in disguising my affection for this rifle. It’s probably better if I tell you why it has become the “go-to” gun.

Overview: The first thing you'll notice when seeing a Talon up close for the first time is its simplicity. The bulk of the gun is made out of aluminum with the exception of the 12”walther barrel. Though it has a very simple construction the good folks at Airforce have done as much as possible to make the most of the surface area and geometry of this rifle. The Aluminum full barrel shroud hosts 2 standard scope rails on the top and bottom of the shroud offering innumerable combinations of gadgets that can be attached. Lights, lasers and bipods are just a few of the things I have seen mounted on these handy rails. Over time, I have chosen to mount a simple mini-mag light on the bottom scope rail of my rifle using a standard scope mount. The mag light has come in handy on more than one night hunt. Its ability to focus light at long distances has meant doom for more than one raccoon and many many rats.

The Aluminum is finished in a nice flat black that is for the most part non-reflective and as I have found very durable. I do not baby this gun and it has yet to show any real scratches on it. The fore grip and pistol grip are made of a hard durable plastic and the simple factory steel butt stock mounted to the tank is indestructible. The forward cocking bolt is one of the easiest cocking mechanisms on any rifle anywhere and the large loading port allows even the biggest hands to load the single shot rifle with ease. The power is completely adjustable via a dial on the left side of the gun that contracts the hammer spring. The high scope rail, yes a third but primary scope rail is approximately 8” long offering the shooter a wide array of choices for scopes. The 490cc tank easily detaches from the rifle making the whole unit fit intro a small paintball case or back pack. The Talon SS is only 32.75” long when assembled so I prefer a more compact scope in keeping with the guns theme. However, the standard Talon with an 18” barrel and the high powered condor model (24” barrel) enter the realm of sniper capabilities with longer potential ranges and are deserving of more apt optics. Incidently, all of these Airforce models are built on the same frame and have interchangeable parts. So adding a longer barrel or a high flow kit is as simple as placing an order.  Airforce has also done a good job of manufacturing their own accessories. Scope mounts, open sights, bipods, sling studs and even a tri-rail are available. It shouldn’t be surprising that the sturdy Talon has become one of the most modifiable PCP rifles on the market. In fact, this rifle has spawned several user sights and forums of its own just to capture all the cool things that are being done with this gun.

            Price: At $500 (avg), the Talon SS is still in the economy range. With Modern PCPs reaching into the $1,000s this is not a bad way to get a precision rifle at a decent price. The Talon SS comes out of the box bare bones and you will need to factor in a few accessories like scope rings, a scope and high pressure fill equipment (Talon High pressure hand pump or scuba refill clamp).     

Setup: The fill method is exceptionally simple on this rifle. Unscrew the 490cc tank from the rifle, screw on the fill adapter and fill the tank with 3,000psi of high pressure air using a high pressure hand pump, or scuba fill adapter. In the world of airgunning, a 490CC fill reservoir translates into a lot of capacity and lots and lots of shots per fill. Extra tanks are also available with this rifle

You’ll absolutely need optics on this rifle as it does not come with any sites. I wanted to use this rifle for hunting and I wanted to maintain the compact theme so I looked for something simple and small. I have become partial to the Leapers scopes. They offer a great deal of value for the money. I chose the Leapers 3x12x44mm SWAT. This scope is extremely compact and has great magnification, mildot crosshairs and illuminated recticle. The geometry of this rifle dictates that the user’s cheek needs to rest on the curve of the tank when shooting. The eye is forced to a high position and the natural sight range moves with it.  You will need high mounts and I chose a pair of simple and sturdy steel B-square high mounts for this application. I also recommend a mildot for this rifle as it will shoot straight and the mildots give you great points of reference at very close ranges and very long ones as well.

Performance: My Talon is in .22 caliber and I have tried a variety of pellets in it. As a hunter I am always partial to the 21gr Beeman Kodiak and mine shoots them solidly and consistently at 753 fps. A standard 14.3 gr Crosman Premiere will travel at about 850 fps but I prefer the anchoring ability of the Kodiak and they seem to shoot very nicely out to 50 yards. Once you understand this rifle much farther shots are easily in reach and I have on more than one occasion dropped squirrels at 85yds with it. Like I said that mildot scope comes in handy. Also noted: I have yet to find a pellet that the Talon SS won’t shoot well and Predator pellets work fantastic in this gun.

On the bench, it performs very well. Using the Kodiaks I am able to keep the pellets in close to the same hole at 30yds and at 50yds it will easily shoot half inch groups. At full power, I get about 30 or so shots without any noticeable drop in point of impact. It may actually get more than this but 30 shots is about where I like to refill the tank. More a manner of habit than necessity.

The trigger is crisp but reliable and the narrow pistol grip creates a great level of comfort with this very light 5.25lb gun. If you tend to over pull your trigger on a shot you’ll find you probably won’t do it with this gun. The pistol grip and weight ratio maintain the hand in a very relaxed position.

There isn’t much else to say about performance. The action works flawlessly and it hits the target every time.

Target: The Airforce rifles are known for exceptional accuracy and with a 24” barrel they are more than capable of hitting accurately out to 100yds. The Talon SS and its 12” barrel will outshoot many rifles despite its short barrel. It isn’t the most ergonometric rifle on the market and resting your cheek over that tank takes some getting used to. I actually mounted a custom butt pad on mine to change the geometry of the gun and make it a bit more comfortable for large shoulders and my inflexible neck. Most owners stay with the stock butt plate and shoot very accurately and comfortably. With the bipod attached any of the Airforce rifles become an instant sniper rifle.

Hunting: I have taken every manner of small game with this gun from sparrows, rats and pigeons to squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and fox. All those rails to mount lights make it a natural night hunter and its compactness makes it a go anywhere gun. I also like the Talon SS for back yard and warehouse pests. The variable power and quiet report offer stealth and safety.

Written by: Matt Sasso