By Herb, Guest Contributor
Vince, a fellow airgun enthusiast, recently tuned up a Tech Force 97 and generously offered me the chance to test it out. Having spent time exploring the world of affordable air rifles, I was intrigued. My journey with budget-friendly guns has taught me a valuable lesson: you truly get what you pay for, and sometimes, even less. While a sub-$100 airgun won’t rival a high-end, precision rifle, the Tech Force 97 presented a surprising and enjoyable experience that challenged my expectations.
Perhaps, like many newcomers to the airgun world, I initially chased the allure of ultra-cheap options, hoping to find a diamond in the rough. This led to acquiring a few inexpensive models for various “experiments.” However, as B.B. Pelletier’s corollary aptly states, “You don’t get what you didn’t pay for.” The dream of a budget airgun performing like a top-tier rifle remains just that – a dream. In hindsight, starting with a more reputable and slightly pricier option like the Benjamin Discovery might have been a more efficient path. But as they say, education often comes through experience, including those less-than-ideal purchasing decisions.
First Impressions: Stock and Sights
For a rifle in the budget category, the Tech Force 97 boasts a surprisingly appealing wood stock. In a market segment often dominated by synthetic materials, the wood stock offers a welcome touch of classic airgun aesthetics. Personally, I find the feel of wood much more satisfying than the synthetic stock on my Crosman G1. The cheek weld on the TF 97 is particularly comfortable, providing a natural and well-aligned shooting posture when using a scope. While the length of pull is similar to my Benjamin 392, the pistol grip on the TF 97 feels somewhat blocky and substantial, which might not be ideal for shooters with smaller hands, but I found it manageable. The consistent width of the forearm makes the rifle comfortable to hold and shoulder.
Comparing the stock of the Tech Force 97 to the Benjamin 392, highlighting the pistol grip shape and length of pull.
Unfortunately, the front sight of the test rifle arrived damaged, having been sheared off during shipping. The sight appears to be constructed from cast metal with some machining work, suggesting a reasonable level of manufacturing effort for a budget gun. While the damage wasn’t a concern for me as I intended to use a scope, it does highlight a potential vulnerability. Interestingly, the rifle manual includes a parts diagram, hinting at the possibility of sourcing replacement parts, although no specific parts vendor is listed. Vince mentioned that parts are available from a dealer, which is reassuring for long-term maintenance.
The front sight assembly itself is quite intricate, featuring three removable components: two hollow ferrules and an aperture disc. It suggests a degree of adjustability and customization. While I’m unsure if additional aperture sizes are commercially available, creating custom apertures seems like a straightforward DIY project. The potential to upgrade to a fiber optic front sight combined with a peep rear sight opens up interesting possibilities for enhancing the open sight shooting experience.
Close-up view of the Tech Force 97’s front sight, showing damage sustained during shipping.
In contrast to the front sight issue, the rear sight impressed me with its simple yet effective adjustability. It appears to be a standard rear sight unit used across various Tech Force models. I found myself wishing that the rear sight on my Benjamin 392 offered a similar level of adjustment. It begs the question of why manufacturers like Crosman don’t invest slightly more in equipping their Benjamin 392/397 rifles with more refined and user-friendly sights.
Detailed image of the Tech Force 97’s rear sight, emphasizing its adjustable mechanism.
One minor cosmetic blemish I observed was scratching on the cocking lever, where the linkage rubs against the stock. It’s difficult to determine if this is due to slight warping in the stock’s extension or minor misalignments in the metal components. The rubbing is localized to the left edge of the forearm against the cocking lever, but I didn’t notice any significant friction or resistance during the cocking cycle. Again, considering the TF 97’s price point, such minor imperfections are to be expected and don’t detract significantly from the rifle’s overall functionality.
Image highlighting the scratches on the Tech Force 97’s cocking lever linkage caused by contact with the stock.
A design feature I particularly appreciate in the TF 97 is its fixed barrel. In my opinion, a fixed barrel design inherently reduces a potential source of inaccuracy in airgun shooting. Minimizing any potential error is always a desirable attribute in a rifle.
Scoping and Scope Selection
For testing purposes, I mounted an 8-inch 4x Beeman scope on the TF 97. This scope was originally paired with my Beeman RS-1. The compact size of this Beeman scope proved to be advantageous, as it ends just at the point where the breech opens for loading. This short length ensured easy pellet loading even with the scope mounted. In contrast, a 13-inch CenterPoint scope I had on hand for another project would have significantly obstructed the loading port, making pellet insertion cumbersome.
Visual comparison of scope lengths, demonstrating how a longer scope can interfere with the loading port on an air rifle.
A Lesson for New Airgun Shooters on Scope Size: For those new to air rifles (myself included not too long ago), scope selection involves more than just magnification and features. Pay close attention to the scope’s physical dimensions, particularly its length and weight, before making a purchase. Online product photos can be deceiving regarding actual size. The CenterPoint scope I ordered, intended for a different airgun, turned out to be much larger than anticipated. While Pyramyd AIR graciously offered a full refund for the unopened scope, the issue stemmed from my oversight in not verifying the scope’s specifications listed on their website.
Loading Procedure and Anti-Beartrap Mechanism
When loading the TF 97, I adopted a technique of pointing the muzzle straight upwards. This allowed gravity to assist in seating the pellet on my thumb as I positioned it in the breech. Despite the TF 97 being equipped with an anti-beartrap mechanism, I still exercised a precautionary measure: I maintained a hold on the cocking lever with my left hand while loading pellets with my right. My aim was not to fully disengage the cocking lever, but to keep it securely restrained in a partially cocked position. This prevents the cocking lever from inadvertently slamming forward due to a potential failure of the anti-beartrap system. The thought of a finger or thumb being caught in a closing breech is certainly unsettling. Therefore, with this rifle, adopting the extra safety step of manually securing the cocking lever during loading is highly recommended.
Illustration of the recommended loading technique, emphasizing holding the cocking lever for safety, even with an anti-beartrap mechanism.
On a couple of occasions, I encountered a minor issue during the cocking process. The rifle would seem to reach the cocked position, but the beartrap release wouldn’t disengage, preventing firing. To overcome this, I began cocking the rifle with a more assertive and complete motion. After adopting this firmer cocking technique, the problem became infrequent. However, the initial instances of the beartrap not releasing cleanly did slightly undermine my confidence in the absolute reliability of the mechanism.
Shooting Performance and Trigger
The firing cycle of the TF 97 is characterized by a satisfying, solid “thump.” It feels less harsh and jarring compared to the action of my Crosman G1 or Beeman RS-1. This smoother shooting experience is likely attributable to the TF 97’s moderate power output, as it’s not attempting to propel pellets at extreme velocities. The recoil and perceived “kick” are noticeably subdued, contributing to a more pleasant shooting session. The lower power level also translates to a relatively easy cocking effort. Given the TF 97’s short, approximately 14-inch cocking lever, a high-power “magnum” spring would likely make this rifle very difficult to cock for many shooters.
Vince informed me that the TF 97 utilizes a leather piston seal. In contrast to synthetic seals, leather seals generally require less stringent manufacturing tolerances, which aligns with the TF 97’s budget-oriented design. Leather piston seals are a proven technology, having been used in airguns for many years. While they function effectively, leather seals do require ample lubrication (evident by the noticeable smoke upon firing in this rifle). However, I experienced no instances of detonation, presumably due to the rifle’s moderate power level preventing excessive heat buildup.
I conducted accuracy testing from a benchrest, experimenting with supporting the rifle at different points: the balance point, the end of the wooden forearm, and near the barrel band. While there were some minor shifts in the point of impact depending on the hold, the TF 97 didn’t seem excessively hold-sensitive for a spring-piston air rifle. My limited experience with springers makes it challenging to offer a definitive assessment of its hold sensitivity, but I suspect the moderate power output contributes to its relatively forgiving nature.
The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the TF 97 test was undoubtedly the trigger. I have no baseline for the trigger’s original condition before Vince’s tuning, but in its current state, it’s genuinely impressive. It’s the nicest trigger I’ve encountered on any of the budget airguns I’ve tested. The trigger breaks cleanly and crisply with a gentle squeeze. “POW!” It makes me wish my Daisy 22SG had a trigger this refined. Having primarily shot inexpensive airguns, my trigger standards are admittedly not set by high-end, two-stage Rekord triggers. Perhaps it’s best I don’t experience one, as that level of refinement might escalate the cost of this hobby, much like the allure of premium JSB pellets!
Vince also mentioned cleaning the barrel prior to sending the rifle. Unsurprisingly, JSB Exact Express pellets emerged as the most accurate among the pellets I tested. While the TF 97 doesn’t quite match the inherent accuracy of my Daisy 22SG, it still delivered respectable results. With JSB Exact Express pellets at 10 meters, I achieved six-shot groups consistently under dime-sized on Gamo paper targets. I appreciate Gamo targets for their quarter-sized white center spot, which serves as a clear aiming reference with scope crosshairs, and the bold numbering aids in shot identification. Acknowledging my still-developing artillery hold technique, the TF 97 might be capable of even tighter groups in more experienced hands.
Image of a six-shot group fired at 10 meters with JSB Exact Express pellets, demonstrating the TF 97’s accuracy.
It’s becoming an expensive habit ordering JSB pellets from Pyramyd AIR! Why is it that no airgun ever seems to shoot optimally with those readily available, cheap Walmart pellets?
The chronograph data I collected using an Alpha Master Chronograph is summarized in the table below. The velocity results for the 14.3-grain JSB Exact Express pellets deviate slightly from the general trend observed with other pellets, which is somewhat perplexing. However, I re-verified these values, and they remained consistent across multiple measurements.
Chart displaying average velocities achieved with various pellet types fired from the Tech Force 97.
Final Verdict: A Fun and Affordable Plinker
In conclusion, my time with the Tech Force 97 has been thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly positive. My overall impression is that it’s a commendable and fun plinker, particularly for its price. Given its moderate power level, which is comparable to my Daisy 22SG, it might be less ideal for serious hunting. For hunting applications, opting for the .177 caliber version might be a more suitable choice for flatter trajectories and potentially greater accuracy at longer ranges. While the TF 97’s accuracy doesn’t reach the pinpoint precision of PCP target rifles, for casual plinking and backyard fun, it’s a very worthwhile and affordable option. The combination of leather seals and a modest spring suggests that this rifle could be easily maintained and provide reliable service for an extended period. With some creative DIY work on the front sight apertures and the addition of an inexpensive peep rear sight, the Tech Force 97 could even serve as an engaging entry-level target rifle. Just remember the crucial safety practice: ALWAYS block the cocking lever when loading pellets!
By Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier) – Editor
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