POI changes: a study

A lot of information on this topic was permanetly deleted on the TOG. So lets get some good info going again. Here is a post I made awhile ago….

The Airforce guns are fun and flexible in there use�.maybe to flexible

Change in the POI has been observed and noted when shooting the Airforce guns. Some have hypothesized in the cause being bushings, set screws, barrel, temperature change .

With some careful testing I haves some results.

At first I thought temperature was effecting the POI due to changes in the frame. I hypothesized that the big window cut into the frame for the power wheel might have an affect upon the frame due to contraction and expansion of the aluminum frame in contrast to the steel barrel. The window is almost 1/2 the diameter of the frame and since the barrel is mount directly in front of this window. With careful testing this hypothesis did not bear it self out and had nothing to due with the POI shift.

I let my Talon SS come to temperature of the outside environment at 72*. I carefully test test shot with support on the forend and butt plate with no lateral pressure of the grip area. 15 shots into the same hole.

At 85* test was repeated and same results 15 shots into same hole.

90* same results
92* same results
85* same results
82* same results
72* same results.

So for today a large temperature change seemed to have no effect upon the POI.

What testing throughout the day did demonstrate is what we already knew. Over and over again I was able to replicate lateral POI change when a lateral pressure was applied to the grip region when shooting. When the lateral pressure was removed the POI returned to ZERO. This was repeated several times with pressure applied to either side of the grip. When pressure was applied to the right side of the grip the POI shifted to the right and vice versa when applied to the left.

When the butt plate is held to the right shoulder and the left hand is on the forend as the grip is grasped it tends to apply a right to left pressure on the grip which in turns transfer to the bottom rail of the frame. This is the thinnest part of the Airforce gun and allows the gun to bow with the forearm and tank used as anchor points. When lateral pressure is applied to the grip the POI shifts laterally each and every time.

The Airforce guns have their strengths as well as their weaknesses. The tri rail does help with increasing the rigidity of the Airforce frame but it does not eliminate the flexion that can occur. Only careful technique will do that.

So as far as todays result go the best way to eliminate lateral POI changes in the Airforce gun is to be careful to not apply lateral pressure into the grip region. When I simply used my index finger on the trigger and balance the grip with the web of my hand the accuracy was dead on. Sometimes technique means everything

So maybe with this info it might help others who are experiencing the POI changes with the Condors and Talons. Hamfisting these guns will drive you crazy.

A laser mounted on the front of the gun will show how the gun will flex when a lateral pressure is applied to the grip region.

Good Luck.

Adam in SoCal