When Things Are Complicated Enough – Salix TX Air Rifles
THIS BLOG LOOKS AT THE NEW SALIX TX AIR RIFLE
Some things in life are just difficult. Alright, it’s not up there with re-wiring a house, or nuclear physics, but for many of us, choosing the right airgun is not without its problems. I mean, the choice is just enormous and they all sound great – at least on paper.
The simple fact is that in the last decade or so, the world has got a lot smaller. Wander into a gun shop now and you’ll be confronted with rifles from every corner of the globe. And then there’s the increasing complexity of them – especially a pre-charged pneumatics (PCP). Do you want mechanical action or electronic? And would sir like a regulator? Yes, excellent. How many?
It’s easy to appreciate that the choice of high-end PCPs, many of which cost well over a thousand pounds, is tricky. But even at the other end of the fiscal scale, choosing a budget rifle can be just as challenging.
Airgunning has enjoyed a boom since lockdown, especially at the entry level, as people re-discovered a forgotten love of the sport or simply wanted something to do in the garden.
As a result, sales of budget springers have increased dramatically. Unsurprisingly, so too has the number of manufacturers willing to supply them. And that just makes choosing the right rifle even harder.
Facing facts, most of us accept that a budget rifle is unlikely to be as good, accurate and well-made as one costing ten or 20 times as much. But that doesn’t mean we should meekly accept a piece of rubbish. Afterall, a budget air rifle is still a significant chunk of cash.
So, what I’m trying to say is that choosing a budget rifle is hard enough as it is. But choosing a budget rifle that is actually pretty good, a joy to shoot and well-made is even harder.
Well, it was. Because I’ve just discovered a new manufacturer whose range of affordable spring and gas ram rifles make a mockery of their price tag. To be more accurate, I should say that Just Airguns made the discovery, not me. The rifles are made by Salix, a previously little-heard of company from Turkey – a country that has seemingly made the manufacture of affordable air rifles a national industry.
Just Air Guns offers no fewer than 18 Salix models in .177 and .22 calibres, covering synthetic, wood and camouflage sporter and thumbhole stock designs. Prices for the Air Rifles alone range from just under £100 to just under £200. As bundles including a scope, gun bag, mounts and pellets, the range is £156 – £250.
The model we have on test is a .22 calibre Salix TX-01, which costs £109.99 on its own or £156 as a bundle which includes a Trimex 4×40 scope, mounts, a gun bag and tin of pellets.
STOCK CONTROL
Who doesn’t like a nice piece of walnut? The reality, and bear in mind affordable air rifles are often subject to enthusiastic use, is that nice pieces of walnut can soon become less nice, showing dents scratches and gouges.
A good quality synthetic stock on the other hand is as tough as old boots and the ambidextrous handle on the Salix TX01 is both durable and well-proportioned. From the tip of the forend to the butt, it accounts for 755mm of the rifle’s overall 1,130mm length.
That butt is finished with a soft rubber pad that is incorporated into the stock. There are subtle cheek pieces on both sides and a raised comb provides good sightline down the rifle. The synthetic stock is textured to provide grip and although there is no additional stippling or chequering, patches on the pistol grip and forend help break up the profile.
The seam from the moulding process runs down the entire length of the stock and although it is visible, there are no sharp burrs. Importantly, when subjected to the shake text, nothing rattles.
The pistol grip itself is quite steeply raked, offering the choice of a thumb-up or wrap around grip. And at 363mm, the length of pull is standard for an adult size rifle, even if the weight at just over 3.0 kgs makes the TX01 conducive to younger shooters.
ON AIM
Sited within a trigger guard that is part of the moulded stock, the trigger itself is a simple folded metal design and surprisingly for a rifle at this price point, is two-stage. There’s no obvious means of adjustment externally and whilst it may be possible to alter the length or pull by removing the stock, it’s really something you should only investigate if you’re confident of your gunsmithing skills.
Out of the box, the first stage was quite short, but came to a defined stop. The second stage was long and quite heavy – no bad thing given the target market for an affordable rifle – but let off crisply with no surprises.
Cocking a springer is usually a good indication as to the quality of engineering. A light tap on the 482mm barrel – which includes a plastic cocking aid – opens the breech easily with an audible snap so you can insert a pellet. The barrel returns with another snap and locks up tight with no movement I could discern.
Thanks to that long barrel and the cocking aid, the stroke requires only a medium amount of exertion, which given this is a full-power rifle is impressive and makes the Salix TX01 usable even for younger shooters. There is a little grumbling from the action, but nothing excessive.
The process automatically sets a resettable safety catch at the rear of the action located well away from the trigger – always a plus in my book. To help prevent the barrel flying up during the loading process, the safety catch can only be pushed in when the barrel is returned and will pop out again if you break the barrel a second time after the rifle has been cocked. The downside is that you cannot de-cock the Salix TX01 which is possibly no bad thing.
ON THE RANGE
A 185mm dovetail rail provides plenty of real estate for a scope and the inclusion of a metal plate at the rear of the rail will help prevent any creep under recoil.
However, if buying a scope is something you plan to do in the future, you can get straight down to business using the open sights that come as standard. The foresight is a red fibre housed in a hood incorporated into the cocking aid.
The rear sight is located halfway down the rifle on the breech. A couple of green fibres help you frame the foresight and a couple of dials, that turn with distinct clicks, enable adjustment for both windage and elevation.
On the range, the chrono test showed an average power output of 11.6 ft/lbs and showed commendable consistency of just 18 feet per second (FPS) over 10 shots.
Treated to a quick pull through to clean the barrel of grease used to protect the rifling during transit and storage, the initial range test comprised a set of tin cans – every plinker’s favourite target – set at distances of between 15 and 20 metres.
Using the open sights, the cans proved to be no challenge for the Salix TX01 even when sent spinning far beyond 20 metres. So, I fitted a scope to see what kind of groups the rifle was capable of.
Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets proved to have an edge over JSB Hades and JSB Exacts, but not by much, suggesting an unfussy barrel. In terms of size, ragged 60mm ten shot groups were as good as I could manage at 30 metres, although there were plenty of them.
SUMMARY
There’s nothing worse than buying a pup, even if it is a bargain, and nothing will turn off someone coming into the sport quicker than a rifle that is incapable of hitting the proverbial barn door.
At the other end of the spectrum, some affordable rifles are the bargain of the century, offering a level of performance and shooting experience that would flatter many more expensive air rifles.
The Salix TX01 certainly falls into the latter category. Let’s be clear. At 11.6 ft/lbs, it is aimed squarely at those whose ambitions extend beyond knocking over tins cans and other improvised targets in the garden.
In fact, if you put the time into some extended pellet testing and learning proper shooting technique, I have no doubt groups would tighten, especially once the action settles down after a few hundred shots. And should you discover a problem rat under the garden shed you’ll be equipped to deal with it.
The Salix TX-01 is a handsome, well-proportioned sporter spring powered air rifle and provides a perfect introduction to the sport.
A soft rubber butt pad helps absorb the minimal recoil and looks good too.
The Salix TX-01’s safety catch is nicely positioned at the rear of the action. Push it in to make the rifle live.
The safety catch comes on automatically when the rifle is cocked and can be reset.
A plate secured at the end of the action helps prevent any issues with scope creep.
The Salix TX-01’s rear open sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation.
The foresight has a red fibre.
The two-stage trigger comes to a distinct stop after the first stage and lets off crisply.
The long barrel and cocking aid makes cocking the Salix TX-01 easy despite it being a pull powered rifle.
SALIX TX-01 AT A GLANCE
- Price: .22 £109.99 (gun alone) or £156 as bundle with scope, bag, mounts and pellets. (.177 is priced at £109.99 / £160)
- Weight: Approx. 3 kgs unscoped
- Length: 1,130
- Barrel length: 482mm including cocking aid
- Calibres: .177 and .22
- Test rifle power: 11.6ft/lbs
- 10 shot FPS variation: 18 FPS
- Safety: Automatic, resettable
- Trigger: Two-stage
ABOUT JUST AIR GUNS
We were the first to offer home delivery of Airguns in the UK, and today we have the largest number of our own drivers and vans on the road delivering to your door seven days a week. Simply place items into the cart to see the actual delivery price you will pay to have the latest Air Guns delivered to you. If you have any questions about our airguns delivery service, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via this website or call us on 0330 999 5224.
Shop Address: Just Air Guns, Trimex House, Pier Road, Feltham, TW14 0TW
Website: www.justairguns.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0330 999 5224
Blog Author: Richard Sanders