Shooting Precision Rifle Competitions with an airgun? Really? Yes, with FX Airguns‘ new FX Panthera there is now a dedicated, purpose-built air rifle on the market designed to compete and win Precision Rifle Competitions. According to the press release, the FX Panthera feels and shoots like a precision 22LR, with “laser-sharp precision and accuracy“.
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FX Airguns was founded in 1999 by a passionate airgun enthusiast in a small town called Mariestad, Sweden 1999. When he couldn’t find the airgun of his dreams, he created one.
Below is a selection of close-ups of the FX Panthera.
Here with the reloading mechanism.
Below you can read the announcement made by FX Airguns.
Introducing the New FX Panthera: A Dedicated, Purpose-Built Air Rifle Made to Win Precision Rifle Competitions.
The FX Panthera is unlike any previous FX Airgun. It is a dedicated slug rifle, with precision competition in mind, pushing the boundaries of airgun performance and accelerating the FX Airguns legacy.
The Panthera includes technology displaying a generational leap-forward for an airgun. It begins with the new Dynamic Block, a new breech block designed from the ground up for performance slug shooting. The Dynamic Block utilizes a compact one-piece valve. This High-Power / Short-Impulse Valve is extremely efficient while allowing an immense and precise flow of air.
The plenum design (i.e. Dynamic Plenum) feeding the Panthera is revolutionary and the first of its kind. It is an over-the-barrel plenum which provides a consistent regulated pressurized plenum around the barrel, adding increased rigidity to the barrel as well as allowing multiple plenum lengths to be employed to match the caliber and power of the rifle. Precise levels of pressure are maintained by the single AMP MKII Regulator. Three sizes of plenum will be utilized initially depending on length of barrel and caliber: a Micro Plenum (sub 12ft/lb rifles), Macro Plenum (62cc) & Magnum XL Plenum (156cc).The results of the Dynamic Breech & Plenum are extraordinary. Testing has yielded constant 10-shot strings with standard deviations in the low 1.0–2.0 range and extreme spreads as low as 3-4. This ability to precisely control air flow paired with the world-class FX Superior STX barrel using premium slugs will yield competition wins, and not just in airgun competitions. .22LR precision shooters will identify the ability to shoot the same BC slugs and weights they are used to, but with the control and standard deviations that only FX Airguns can deliver.
The Panthera stock is designed for competition. It features a 14.75” long Arca rail complete with M-LOK sections and a barricade block nestled next to the breech (you can achieve an ideal balance point by adding external M-LOK compatible weights or internal FX Barrel Weights that attach under the shroud). The Panthera further fits the shooter using a fully adjustable butt stock and an adjustable cheekpiece that is also ambidextrous. The Panthera’s air source is a 300cc carbon fiber bottle attached in the rear and is filled via a rear located foster quick disconnect.
The Dynamic Block has a larger breech than previous rifles that allows projectiles up to 13mm in length. It uses the Standard Side-Shot Magazine but with a newly designed deeper lid to accommodate longer length slugs (Now called the Standard Plus Side-Shot). The FX Panthera employs the Quick Tune System (the same as found on the FX Impact M3), uses a 20MOA picatinny scope rail, comes standard with a zero-angle AR grip, and has an ambidextrous sidelever cocking handle that is reversible to the left side of the rifle. Dual angled Manometers on the left side of the block show the bottle pressure and the regulated plenum pressure.
The FX Panthera will be offered in three configurations, the Panthera 700, Panthera 600 & Panthera 500 (corresponding to barrel length). The Panthera 600 & 700 utilize the FX Superior Heavy STX barrel liner as standard as they have been purpose built for slug shooting. The Panthera 500 uses the standard FX Superior STX barrel liner that shoots both pellets and light weight slugs. The rifle allows for the quick change of barrel liners but changing calibers and affixing different barrel lengths to the Panthera can only be done by an authorized FX dealer.
Additional accessories will be offered to further customize the rifle including a bag rider, barrel weights, offset M-LOK weights, smaller profile competition Mini-Mag, Picatinny accessory sections, and an optional tungsten hammer.
The new FX Panthera will forever change the precision rifle world. It feels and shoots like a precision 22LR, enjoying straight back recoil, but with laser sharp precision and accuracy only found with an FX Airgun
The FX Panthera will be offered in three configurations, the Panthera 700, Panthera 600 and Panthera 500 where the numbers in model names correspond to the barrel length.
Here is a video with the new FX Panthera, including some PRS shooting. It looks like a lot of fun!
What do you think? Would you consider this instead of a 22LR rimfire rifle?