Welcome to the FX club. I’ve been a believer for a while now. Their guns simply deliver. Excellent triggers, good ergonomics, outstanding accuracy, tunability, etc.
Upvote 0
Eating my words here... FX Panthera thoughts
- Thread starter _CTAIRGUNNER_
- Start date
I usually do not read Pantera post..as it isn't my cup of tea for what I do.. but this is a great down to earth and honest well written review.. well done!! Hope it works well for ya in competition.
Upvote 0
I have been struggling with the Panthera dilemma myself. At first it was the new shiny object and I recognized it shortly after it hit and told myself to be patient and see what kind of kinks need ironed out before jumping in.
Then I read posts extolling the performance and features that really make some difference and I am back on it again. This posting has rattled my cage again. I have observed CTairgunner posts and he ain’t no FX fan boy and seems pragmatic as well.
Now I am contemplating again.
Then I read posts extolling the performance and features that really make some difference and I am back on it again. This posting has rattled my cage again. I have observed CTairgunner posts and he ain’t no FX fan boy and seems pragmatic as well.
Now I am contemplating again.
Upvote 0
It is certainly a purpose built rifle...
The mlok rail is also arca so easy to mount to a tripod, bipod, or a bag backbone, I mounted mlok to pic adapters as everything I have except my tripod is pic
It is very well balanced making it easy to palm and also easy to find a center point for balancing
Its easily adjustable and the 1 reg turns me on a lot more than 2... when I built an Impact last year I specifically sought out an MK2 with plenum so I could use a single reg (IMO better for max power rifles where shot count isn't a concern but big power consistency is).
Its also really easy to clean the barrel, lot of space before the breech, unscrew the shroud and start running a patchworm kit through.
Like I said in original post, I was going to just sell it used after the competition but I don't think I want to anymore.
Upvote 0
Ho hum, another FX version of an airgun. Now they have shotguns and guns that shoot arrows. What next? Maybe a toilet plunger model.
Upvote 0
They are indeed the apple of airguns. This one performs. Ive yet to see a production air rifle with a shot string like this one.
Upvote 0
I will say the Pantera is the only air rifle from FX that I'd consider. But then again short of a competition gun or pester you could set up from a spot I don't see much use for me. But does sound like a nice gun that's more robust than any of there other offerings.
Upvote 0
Why is it any different than the other FX guns? They kinda used the same receiver block with some modifications, then mounted the air bottle in the back. True, maybe the guts are a bit different. Then, they mounted this hugely long barrel on it. I'm sure the barrel uses the same liners. This isn't a carry piece because it's so long, IMO, but a bench gun. Performance specs are in the same ballpark as other FX rifles, so tell my why this is so good?
Upvote 0
If you distill it down, every new airgun is just another version of an airgun. Which is near enough a fancy blow dart.
This particular version is however a genuinely a good product, whatever you think of the rest of the FX offerings.
Be careful of coming across petty and bitter. It's little better than the unicorn crap spouted by all the oily ticks responsible for FX's YouTube marketing.
Upvote 0
Who's being bitter? I'm just questioning the reason for the existence of this rifle. I have 4 FX rifles now and all shoot very well. To me, it looks like a Crown that has had it's bottle moved to the rear. If it truly excels in some respect, tell me? Is it accuracy, shot count , is it power? I can't seem to see that. Every other FX can be jacked up in power as much as the other. I can equip any of my rifles with 500, 600, 700, or 800 mm barrels just like this one.
Upvote 0
This is a single regulator rifle, nothing but the crown or dreamline have a single regulator, neither of those platforms have the plenum this has so they cannot perform the same... the plenum shrouds the first half of the barrel, it is HUGE. The barrel is only 600mm long, so not longer than the impact, the rifle is just not a bullpup. It is certainly too long for me to walk and stalk, it definitely isn't a bench rifle, its design was conceived by looking at PRS rifle setups, its a competition rifle, its balanced, incredibly well. The action FEELS a ton more robust over an Impact by far. The entire bottom portion of the rail is arca as well.
A 600mm crown with moderator is 49 inches , my panthera 600 with moderator is 48"
Last edited:
Upvote 0
You sound bitter. In your toilet plunger comment about an airgun.
Answering the rest of your post however:
It is effectively an mk3 crown.
It's specs are significantly improved over the mk2 crown as well as other fx guns in many respects.
It has higher power potential than the impact has at this stage.
It is MUCH less hold sensitive than an impact at much higher power levels, with a far more civilized shot cycle, making it much easier for the average shooter to extract precision from the gun.
It is far more consistent than any fx and indeed the vast majority of other airguns out there.
It has better overall balance than FX guns before it.
And it needs virtually no mods to perform as claimed, except possibly for a small hammer weight if you absolutely must send 40gr at stupid speeds
The PRS rail can be easily removed for an additional bottle if preferred. Not necessarily needed but nice to have the option. Plus it makes the gun a brilliantly weighted bench shooter.
It's had effectively one significant issue which has been rapidly corrected. Find one gun that hasn't had at least one point of weakness.
Yep they use the liners. But with CF as standard and the plenum really does stabilize things. Plus you don't have to buy the long version. The 500mm is right there for all to see. And how often have you bemoaned the continuous use of the 'same' LW and CZ barrels by companies or complained about the length of the Red Wolf HP? I'm guessing never?
Of course it's not necessarily for everyone, but it is just as worthy an upgrade to the fx line as the uragan 2 to agt, prophet 3 to rti, etc etc and certainly not deserving of vitriol.
Upvote 0
For me the plenum holding the barrel in place makes it much more rigid than any of there previous rifles that alone is a big reason. I'd go 500mm but again too long for my wants and needs. Alot are saying the cocking is better in smoothness and robustness than other FX guns. ARCA rail built in is big for me as I went that route on my other guns personally.
But was just saying the only FX I'd be interested in, not that I'd get one. Too long for what I like even the 500mm one. The others are just way too long and silly, but I've thought that with a number of rifles like the HP Redwolfs and Wolverines and Crowns and Texans and RAWs. I think 700mm and 800mm barrels are silly on bullpups as well. I'm on opposite end of spectrum and prefer guns with 10-16" barrels. But we all have different preferences. If they made a 380mm version then I'd definitely have a hard time looking past it. Setup for shooting lightweight slugs would be fun.
Upvote 0
I bought a Crown with a 600 MM barrel and though it was way too long. I almost sold it, but bought a 380 MM barrel. With some minor tuning, I'm getting excellent performance and accuracy from it and love it's circumcised length. Wouldn't it be nice if FX gave you the option of barrel length when you buy a rifle?
Upvote 0
There’s a lot of complaints about it being so long. While it’s too long for hunting duties, it’s no longer than a red wolf, or crown, or any other standard (non bullpup) rifle with a 600mm+ barrel up front. Only this time, its “soda straw” barrels have been properly tensioned and made as ridgid as some of the other brands options along with a plenum that would put some guns air reservoirs to shame. It fits a niche in the airgun world, and is not for everyone. This doesn’t make it a crap gun, it makes it a gun for a niche market. Other manufacturers can’t afford to do the same, and maybe that’s some people’s gripes. FX has made a household name for themselves in innovation, and because a large percentage of our market sales go to them, they can afford to build “niche market” guns.
Upvote 0
Fun to read this stuff. Ok, I shoot weekly at the range. But what I really like to do is shoot ground squirrels. That season is now. Be positive or negative about the Panthera. All I can say is wow. Very easy to tune and shoot. More accurate out of the box than my tensioned impact. Length is not an issue shooting from a bench. The small air bottle is not an issue for me. I am always hooked up directly to my air tank. If I only had one rifle, it wood be the Impact. Why because it is more versatile. I am so glad I have the Panthera. It is just a solid performer. 
Upvote 0
When you've had time to process the custom M16A, I'd love to know what you think of it in comparison to rifles that cost 2-3 times as much.
Upvote 0