As many of you will have noticed, Pinty is a new advertiser in Hard Air Magazine. So today we’re taking a first look at one of the company’s products – the Nightfall PCP air rifle.
In fact, what we have here is the brand-new “gen 2” version of the Nightfall. The improvements are internal – primarily an improved trigger with a lower pull weight.
Oh – for those who want to know – half a dozen quick tests using our trusty Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge registered an average pull weight of 3 Lbs 4 Oz. Very acceptable!
But before going further, I’m going to address the “elephant in the room” question. “But isn’t the Nightfall a direct knock-off of the Air Force Talon?”
The honest answer is “I don’t think so.”
Yes, the Nightfall certainly bears a strong overall resemblance to the general configuration of Air Force PCPs: rear tank, “straight through” air path, single shot, bolt pushed forward to cock.
However I am genuinely unfamiliar with Air Force airguns. I have never even held one before – let alone shot one. So I’m not qualified to pass an expert comment. But here’s a few thoughts…
Four Revolutionary PCP Airgun Design Concepts
Looking around, there seems to me to be very few truly revolutionary, unique PCP air rifle design concepts. Actually I can think of just four, right now.
First is the Daystate Huntsman. Introduced way back in 1980 and still sold today, this was the hugely-successful design prototype for countless PCP airguns that have followed over the years.
There’s a barrel, with breech behind it. The hammer and trigger mechanisms are below the breech with the valve forward of them and the HPA supply forward of that, under the barrel.
Millions of PCP air rifles have been manufactured to that basic design architecture all over the world, by every manufacturer there is. After more than 50 years, the whole design concept is second nature to all PCP air rifle owners.
So are people saying that the new 2026 Gen 3 Benjamin Marauder is a knock-off of the 1980 Daystate Huntsman because they share the same basic design architecture? I don’t think so…
Daystate was also responsible for the second revolutionary concept. The company’s electronic firing system first appeared in the Daystate Mark III introduced in 2002. Although the company has continued to use electronics in its guns, this concept has not been adopted elsewhere.
(Maybe we should actually say “not yet”, given the progress that electronics is making in every aspect of our lives).
Third is the FX Impact of 2015. This popularized the bullpup, “black rifle”, AR-15 lookalike design concept that remains widely-imitated by almost every airgun manufacturer around the globe.
Everyone recognizes that the Impact started that trend, but I don’t hear many people complaining that the huge number of similar-looking alternatives are actually knock-offs. Visually similar? You bet! But knock-offs? Not so much…
Fourth is the Air Force Talon. Another very old design – it was introduced in 1998 – this concept has inspired remarkably few other manufacturers. Maybe that lack of imitation is why the Nightfall PCP air rifle causes the “knock-off” comment to appear.
I undertook a US Patent search for the Talon design architecture but couldn’t find anything. However, even if there was a Patent issued for that concept, it would most likely have expired several years ago.
My opinion here is similar to that for the Huntsman and Impact. Architecturally and visually similar for sure, but a knock-off? I’m not convinced…
Pinty Nightfall PCP Air Rifle First Impressions
Having got that off my chest, what do I think of the Nightfall?
Well, as a complete newcomer to the “rear HPA bottle, forward cocking” airgun concept, my opinions are still forming.
For certain, the straight through, inline path for the High Pressure Air from bottle to barrel must be hugely advantageous compared to all other PCP airgun design architectures!
Above. The Nightfall is available bundled with a bipod for just $20.00 more than the base gun. How can you go wrong with that?
The rear bottle design architecture of the Nightfall is conceptually ideal. From a purely fluid dynamics engineering perspective, having the air make two 90 degree turns between leaving the valve and hitting the rear of the pellet – as it does in almost every other PCP air rifle – is a really, really bad idea that lowers efficiency and power.
The Nightfall has surprised me with its light weight and compact size. Mounting the scope was easy. The gun balances well.
It’s regulated. True, that’s expected nowadays. But it’s still good to have.
The fit and finish of the parts looks to be of a high standard, too.
But I’m not so sure yet about the forward push cocking action of the bolt handle. It’s a completely new experience to me, and reminds me of when I first moved to the USA from England and started driving on the “wrong side of the road”.
Can I do it? Yes, but only with thought and concentration. Does it feel natural or intuitive? Definitely not! At least not yet…
Of course, if the Nightfall were my first or only PCP air rifle, that would not be the case as I wouldn’t know any different!
Then there’s the fact that this is a single-shot only air rifle. The last occasion I fired a non-magazine PCP was when HAM tested the Benjamin Maximus, ten years ago in 2016.
So, as a convinced magazine user, shooting the Nightfall is like stepping 10 years back in time. But again, if the Nightfall were my first or only PCP air rifle, that would not be the case as I wouldn’t know any different!
Plus – of course – if that were a deal-breaker, Pinty offers magazine-feed air rifles as well.
Then there’s the “HPA bottle as buttstock” arrangement. Again, I’m not sure about this yet. Having a large, round buttstock – together with what can only be described as a primitive buttplate is another different experience for me.
Pinty Nightfall PCP Air Rifle Summary
For me, the Pinty Nightfall PCP air rifle is an unusual model that I’m sure will teach me a lot.
And the price is certainly attractive. It’s only $319.99 at the Pinty online store.
In summary, I’m interested. Stay tuned for a full, comprehensive HAM review!
The post Pinty Nightfall PCP Air Rifle First Look appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
