I get asked all the time, especially now with the full release of my Talon line of rifles, "whats the real difference between the Talon and Prowler rifles, between the Prowler and Stalker rifles and finally between the Stalker and Raptor rifles……."
So, decided to write up an artical hopefully explaining the differences between all of them to help out potential customers.
Basically the price point difference is a main difference between these four models of rifles but the price point is determined by components selected for each model of rifles.
All four of my rifle model families are held and proven to meet a 1/2 moa accuracy potential standard at long range before they will ship, however, they are tested and proven at different ranges. The Talon rifles are tested at a minimum of 600 yards but usually try to test at 700 yards. The Prowler and Stalker model rifles are tested at a minimum of 800 yards and the Raptor model rifles are tested at a minimum of 1000 yards.
Lets start at the Talon and move up from there. The Talon model rifles were designed to replace my K-Rifles series of rifles at similar price points. Using a Bynuna/PTG receiver/ bolt combo that i blueprint in shop. This is a custom quality, economy priced receiver that i have proven plenty strong, stiff and rigid for this model rifle. It uses bolt on scope rail bases and sandwiched recoil lug to keep price down. Uses all remington 700 class triggers, stocks and accessories usually without much of any mods which also helps to keep price down.
As with all my rifles i will not compromise with barrel quality so bartlein SS barrels are my first choice. With the Talon class of rifles, i keep barrel length limited to 26" and limit barrel mass to a rem Varmint bartlein contour but most use an even lighter #3 or #3B contour barrel.
The Talon receiver is easily strong enough to support these barrels, even with the torque generated by my lapua based extreme performance wildcats such as the 25, 26 and 27 Stalker wildcats, as well as my Lapua based 7mm Allen Mag, 300 Allen Xpress and 338 Allen Xpress wildcats. As well as pretty much any other commercially offered chamberings.
Barrel fluting is optional but not standard to keep price point low.
Muzzle brakes are also optional, not standard item to keep price point as low as possible
Keeping with the theme of keeping price down, standard stock option for the Talon rifles are the Boyd laminate wood stocks in several models, all fully pillar and glass bedded to the Talon receiver.
Magazine systems available are rem 700 bdl style as well as Accurate Mag and Grey boe systems for detachable mags.
Barrels are finished in standard bead blast matte finish.
Talon rifles use the Triggertech Special triggers with 1-4 lb pull weight range.
Price point for the Talon rifles will be in the $2400-$2800 range for rifle price
Stepping up to the APS Prowler model rifles, we step up to a defiance made to my specs Prowler stainless steel receiver which is a noticeable step up in strength, stiffness and rigidity. Still has bolt on scope rail bases which are pinned to receiver but has an integral recoil lug. For the largest lapua class diameter chamberings it also has a 0.750" diameter bolt body for this class bolt face.
Still uses all rem 700 style triggers, stocks and accessories.
Again, Bartlein barrels used on the Prowler up to 28" in length and up to M24 contour or Heavy Varmint contours. Most are made using #3 to #4 contour SS barrels.
Barrel fluting is not standard option on the Prowler but is an add on option
Muzzle brakes are not standard option but available for add on.
Stocks again are Boyds Laminate wood stocks to keep price point as low as possible. Fully pillar and glass bedded to Prowler receiver.
As far as actual strength of the Prowler receiver, it is exactly the same as my top end Stalker receiver. Same bolt lug and head design and same bolt lug supports in the receiver body. Extremely strong. While the Talon is strong enough for anything even my wildcats can produce at appropriate loading pressures, the Prowler takes that to another level entirely.
Price point on the Prowler will be in the $3300 to $3800 range for most options or roughly $1000 more then the Talon model rifles.
Next step up is to my top end sporter rifle in the Stalker model family. This family is truly top end in every way as well as offering many more options to the customers. This family includes the Stalker Hunter, Stalker UL, Stalker UL Mag and Stalker Carbon Hunter.
The APS Stalker receiver is an extremely strong receiver but also extremely stiff and rigid for this class of receiver. One of the most rigid for a true Hunter class receiver design with its integral scope rail base/receiver bridge design and integral recoil lug.
All use Bartlein barrels but now with the Stalker, barrel fluting is standard. Muzzle brakes are also standard options. Same contours used for the Prowler rifles are also used on the Stalker line of rifles with the addition of carbon wrapped Bartlein barrels as an option as well. Barrel are standard length at 26" but can select up to 30" barrels if wanted. Most are in the 26-28" range.
Stocks used for the Stalker model of rifles are the mcmillan Game Hunter in standard fiberglass or full enhanced carbon. Fully pillar and glass bedded.
Triggers are triggertech Special or Diamond triggers and a wide selection of magazine systems are available as standard list options included in the Stalker line of rifles.
Price point for the Stalker rifles is $5200 to $5800 for most options or around $2000 more then the Prowler but truly a no compromise, world class custom big game hunting rifle.
The final step up is to my Raptor LRSS rifles. While the previous 3 models are designs as more conventional big game rifles in design, the Raptor LRSS is a no compromise, full tilt long range hammer design from the ground up. Designed to run head to head out to supersonic limits against rifles in the 25-30 lb range while the Raptor will be in the 16-18 lb class.
Based on the ultra strong APS Raptor receiver which features an extended length barrel thread tenon and minimal ejection port size to offer the stiffest receiver body possible. The bolt head, bolt and receiver bolt supports are all designed to work together to offer easily the strongest receiver offered in this size class. In fact it will rival many receivers in the Cheytac size class. Full length stainless steel, pinned scope rail bases add even more strength and heavy pinned recoil lugs are also used.
The Raptor receiver was designed from the ground up to support long, heavy barrels with ease. 30" is standard length for the Raptor LRSS but up to 34" and 36" can easily be handled buy the Raptor receiver. The Raptor LRSS even has its own custom and very unique barrel contour made for me by Bartlein.
The McMillan A5 fully adjustable stock is the standard stock option in standard fiberglass or enhanced carbon fiber.
Single shot is the standard option for the Raptor but most magazine system are also optional.
The Raptor is also available in most chamberings as well as my own wildcats including my 300, 338 and 375 Raptor chamberings, which all flirt real hard with full cheytac class wildcats but in a much smaller package.
Triggertech Special and Diamond triggers are used in the Raptor LRSS rifles.
Price point for the Raptor LRSS is in the $5400 to $6000 range depending on options.
So to compare all three, here is a good comparison, i shipped recently a Talon, Stalker and Raptor all chambered in my 300 Allen Xpress. All were tested with the 225 gr Hornady ELDM using Hodgdon US869.
The Talon had a 26" barrel, the Stalker a 28" and the Raptor had a 30" barrel.
The Talon easily met my 1/2 moa accuracy potential requirement at +700 yards and produced 3220 fps for comfortable test loads. Max working loads in that rifle clocked clocked 3275 fps. This was at the point noticable pressure signs were clearly present. This was with 111.0 gr US869 for 3220 fps test load.
The Stalker used same components and with 113.0 gr US869 it averaged 3313 fps for accuracy test load and 3335 fps max working pressure load at 114.0 gr. Easily met my accuracy requirements at 820 yards.
The Raptor LRSS with 114.0 gr US869 clocked 3392 FPS and a max working pressure load of 116.0 gr at 3420 fps. Simply ran out of case capacity with no real pressure signs present.
Some of the velocity gains were due to barrel length but that was about 1/2 the gains. The rest was the increased level of strength stepping up to the Stalker and then to the Raptor receiver.
So in the end, the higher price point gets you significant step ups in strength, much wider range of available options and and increase levels of performance and the ability to deliver that Precison and power at longer ranges with ease.
Again, the Prowler and Stalker are nearly identical in strength, stiffness and rigidity, just a different level of options to change price point. Hope this helps explain the differences in my four models of APS rifles.
As always, if you have questions, shoot me an email at [email protected]
So, decided to write up an artical hopefully explaining the differences between all of them to help out potential customers.
Basically the price point difference is a main difference between these four models of rifles but the price point is determined by components selected for each model of rifles.
All four of my rifle model families are held and proven to meet a 1/2 moa accuracy potential standard at long range before they will ship, however, they are tested and proven at different ranges. The Talon rifles are tested at a minimum of 600 yards but usually try to test at 700 yards. The Prowler and Stalker model rifles are tested at a minimum of 800 yards and the Raptor model rifles are tested at a minimum of 1000 yards.
Lets start at the Talon and move up from there. The Talon model rifles were designed to replace my K-Rifles series of rifles at similar price points. Using a Bynuna/PTG receiver/ bolt combo that i blueprint in shop. This is a custom quality, economy priced receiver that i have proven plenty strong, stiff and rigid for this model rifle. It uses bolt on scope rail bases and sandwiched recoil lug to keep price down. Uses all remington 700 class triggers, stocks and accessories usually without much of any mods which also helps to keep price down.
As with all my rifles i will not compromise with barrel quality so bartlein SS barrels are my first choice. With the Talon class of rifles, i keep barrel length limited to 26" and limit barrel mass to a rem Varmint bartlein contour but most use an even lighter #3 or #3B contour barrel.
The Talon receiver is easily strong enough to support these barrels, even with the torque generated by my lapua based extreme performance wildcats such as the 25, 26 and 27 Stalker wildcats, as well as my Lapua based 7mm Allen Mag, 300 Allen Xpress and 338 Allen Xpress wildcats. As well as pretty much any other commercially offered chamberings.
Barrel fluting is optional but not standard to keep price point low.
Muzzle brakes are also optional, not standard item to keep price point as low as possible
Keeping with the theme of keeping price down, standard stock option for the Talon rifles are the Boyd laminate wood stocks in several models, all fully pillar and glass bedded to the Talon receiver.
Magazine systems available are rem 700 bdl style as well as Accurate Mag and Grey boe systems for detachable mags.
Barrels are finished in standard bead blast matte finish.
Talon rifles use the Triggertech Special triggers with 1-4 lb pull weight range.
Price point for the Talon rifles will be in the $2400-$2800 range for rifle price
Stepping up to the APS Prowler model rifles, we step up to a defiance made to my specs Prowler stainless steel receiver which is a noticeable step up in strength, stiffness and rigidity. Still has bolt on scope rail bases which are pinned to receiver but has an integral recoil lug. For the largest lapua class diameter chamberings it also has a 0.750" diameter bolt body for this class bolt face.
Still uses all rem 700 style triggers, stocks and accessories.
Again, Bartlein barrels used on the Prowler up to 28" in length and up to M24 contour or Heavy Varmint contours. Most are made using #3 to #4 contour SS barrels.
Barrel fluting is not standard option on the Prowler but is an add on option
Muzzle brakes are not standard option but available for add on.
Stocks again are Boyds Laminate wood stocks to keep price point as low as possible. Fully pillar and glass bedded to Prowler receiver.
As far as actual strength of the Prowler receiver, it is exactly the same as my top end Stalker receiver. Same bolt lug and head design and same bolt lug supports in the receiver body. Extremely strong. While the Talon is strong enough for anything even my wildcats can produce at appropriate loading pressures, the Prowler takes that to another level entirely.
Price point on the Prowler will be in the $3300 to $3800 range for most options or roughly $1000 more then the Talon model rifles.
Next step up is to my top end sporter rifle in the Stalker model family. This family is truly top end in every way as well as offering many more options to the customers. This family includes the Stalker Hunter, Stalker UL, Stalker UL Mag and Stalker Carbon Hunter.
The APS Stalker receiver is an extremely strong receiver but also extremely stiff and rigid for this class of receiver. One of the most rigid for a true Hunter class receiver design with its integral scope rail base/receiver bridge design and integral recoil lug.
All use Bartlein barrels but now with the Stalker, barrel fluting is standard. Muzzle brakes are also standard options. Same contours used for the Prowler rifles are also used on the Stalker line of rifles with the addition of carbon wrapped Bartlein barrels as an option as well. Barrel are standard length at 26" but can select up to 30" barrels if wanted. Most are in the 26-28" range.
Stocks used for the Stalker model of rifles are the mcmillan Game Hunter in standard fiberglass or full enhanced carbon. Fully pillar and glass bedded.
Triggers are triggertech Special or Diamond triggers and a wide selection of magazine systems are available as standard list options included in the Stalker line of rifles.
Price point for the Stalker rifles is $5200 to $5800 for most options or around $2000 more then the Prowler but truly a no compromise, world class custom big game hunting rifle.
The final step up is to my Raptor LRSS rifles. While the previous 3 models are designs as more conventional big game rifles in design, the Raptor LRSS is a no compromise, full tilt long range hammer design from the ground up. Designed to run head to head out to supersonic limits against rifles in the 25-30 lb range while the Raptor will be in the 16-18 lb class.
Based on the ultra strong APS Raptor receiver which features an extended length barrel thread tenon and minimal ejection port size to offer the stiffest receiver body possible. The bolt head, bolt and receiver bolt supports are all designed to work together to offer easily the strongest receiver offered in this size class. In fact it will rival many receivers in the Cheytac size class. Full length stainless steel, pinned scope rail bases add even more strength and heavy pinned recoil lugs are also used.
The Raptor receiver was designed from the ground up to support long, heavy barrels with ease. 30" is standard length for the Raptor LRSS but up to 34" and 36" can easily be handled buy the Raptor receiver. The Raptor LRSS even has its own custom and very unique barrel contour made for me by Bartlein.
The McMillan A5 fully adjustable stock is the standard stock option in standard fiberglass or enhanced carbon fiber.
Single shot is the standard option for the Raptor but most magazine system are also optional.
The Raptor is also available in most chamberings as well as my own wildcats including my 300, 338 and 375 Raptor chamberings, which all flirt real hard with full cheytac class wildcats but in a much smaller package.
Triggertech Special and Diamond triggers are used in the Raptor LRSS rifles.
Price point for the Raptor LRSS is in the $5400 to $6000 range depending on options.
So to compare all three, here is a good comparison, i shipped recently a Talon, Stalker and Raptor all chambered in my 300 Allen Xpress. All were tested with the 225 gr Hornady ELDM using Hodgdon US869.
The Talon had a 26" barrel, the Stalker a 28" and the Raptor had a 30" barrel.
The Talon easily met my 1/2 moa accuracy potential requirement at +700 yards and produced 3220 fps for comfortable test loads. Max working loads in that rifle clocked clocked 3275 fps. This was at the point noticable pressure signs were clearly present. This was with 111.0 gr US869 for 3220 fps test load.
The Stalker used same components and with 113.0 gr US869 it averaged 3313 fps for accuracy test load and 3335 fps max working pressure load at 114.0 gr. Easily met my accuracy requirements at 820 yards.
The Raptor LRSS with 114.0 gr US869 clocked 3392 FPS and a max working pressure load of 116.0 gr at 3420 fps. Simply ran out of case capacity with no real pressure signs present.
Some of the velocity gains were due to barrel length but that was about 1/2 the gains. The rest was the increased level of strength stepping up to the Stalker and then to the Raptor receiver.
So in the end, the higher price point gets you significant step ups in strength, much wider range of available options and and increase levels of performance and the ability to deliver that Precison and power at longer ranges with ease.
Again, the Prowler and Stalker are nearly identical in strength, stiffness and rigidity, just a different level of options to change price point. Hope this helps explain the differences in my four models of APS rifles.
As always, if you have questions, shoot me an email at [email protected]
