Condor vs Condor SS in .25"
Had an itch for AF guns for 7+ years, almost bought one back in November, ended up buying a new .22″ AA S510 instead, now its time to finally scratch this itch. Narrowed down the choice to .25″ cal, either Condor or Condor-SS. The rig will evolve a little with a few TT bits such as LDC, TTTA, adjustable top-hat, possibly TT hammer, ultimately want 55-65 ft/lb with JSB Kings, Beeman Kodiaks or equivalents per what the rig prefers, (40-80 yard plinking and hunting of small game, stickler for consistent accuracy).
A couple questions for the seasoned AF owners;
1) Considering the mods I have planned, (top-hat, hammer, …), does the Condor SS with its shorter barrel give up much if any energy vs the Condor? If it does can it effectively and efficiently be brought up to comparable power levels while retaining its tack driving accuracy without too much compromise vs the Condor?
2) TT LDC for the Condor SS, does it replace the Sound-Loc shroud or add on to the end? Most interested in over all length of the Condor SS vs Condor with comparable performing TT LDC attached.
Thank you in advance,
Paul
All Replies
The FPE figures that you are looking for are going to require a much heavier pellet, or as many of us have done, a custom barrel and shooting cast bullets rather than Pellets. 😉
KnifeMaker
Thanks Knifemaker. Agree 100% on the marketing hype, guilty of falling for the GAMO marketing hype back in ’04-’05, after 4 different GMAO’s almost gave up on airguns all together from not experiencing the wonderful GMAO experience as advertised…. I digress.
Any how, one of the main reasons I am drawn to the AF, like most of us desiring the holy grail, I’d like an air gun with the flattest trajectory over a long range, as you already know requires heavy projectile flying as fast as possible without going too fast. Was originally thinking of Kodiaks in the 1050 FPS range for example assuming 1050fps would be a safe acceptable max velocity for most pellets being just shy of mach, sounds like I was bit optimistic and need to readjust my max velocity target to the 950 range with whatever pellet/s the gun shoots most accurate.
Be prepared to experiment and tinker. I’ve got an S510 FAC in .22 and love it. Yes, limited power, but the accuracy was good as received, with JSB 15.9 gr. The AF guns almost always require experimentation which is a lot easier with a chrony. I mention this only because you’re starting from experience with a rifle which normally is more accurate for more shots as it is shipped. You can get a Condor accurate enough to nail a golf ball at 100 yds, but it probably won’t do it out of the box.
congrats on scratching!
Love my S510 FAC Extra as well. Great accuracy with JSB Exacts, good fit and finish, its almost perfect.
Dont mind tinkering, could say tinkering is of one of my life hobbies, modest shop on back of property that is modestly equipped. 😎 Golf balls at 100yards would be a nice goal to achieve.
Have a chrony and use it regularly, recently used it to set up a .22″ M-rod we bought my father for Christmas, spent a couple days and over 500 shots of over 20 different pellets finding its ideal pellets and setting it up to shoot across the bell curve from 3000 psi, out of the box was shooting down the back side from 3k. Really enjoyed shooting the M-rod, it is a great value. He since bought a .25″ Syn-Rod and LOVES it, far less pellet finicky vs the .22″ M-rod…
I have .25 24″ barrell TT shroud, TT top hat with inserts and the TT hammer with the slap mod. and now its sitting in a mad dog ultima long stock.
I started with just the TT shroud. couldn’t get the gun to shoot worth shit. Then added tonys top hat with the large restrictor. set at around 8 on the PW i was getting 40 shots within a 22 FPS spread. I then added the hammer cause i wanted the slap mod. I get the basically the same string but at pw setting 6.5 or so.
The TT shroud is a must have it is damn quiet. but i still hear the hammer. if your shooting it out in the open and at just nothing you may think your gun was broken. its that quiet.
Id get the shroud the top hat. then re assess and see where your at. if you feel you need the hammer go for it. :2cents:
Ohh almost forgot change them orings in the breach to some 90d urethane orings. get some silicone, and some moly for the trigger
When you say you couldn’t get the gun to shoot for crap do you mean a rough/coarse shot cycle, inconsistent trigger, inconsistent accuracy? Did the mods you list help bring the gun to more acceptable shooting experience? Trying to narrow down the mods I should focus on first.
That’s good advice Dman! 😉
I wouldn’t go with a much heavier hammer and spring combo unless I was really wanting to shoot a MUCH heavier pellet ALL the time. All it will accomplish will be a gun that is hard to tune for accuracy with normal pellets. With the unwanted added weight of the hammer giving the gun a jar every time is is shot. (Which can make for harder to get consistent accuracy.
Knife
Condor owner here unseasoned..
I have .25 24″ barrell TT shroud, TT top hat with inserts and the TT hammer with the slap mod. and now its sitting in a mad dog ultima long stock.
I started with just the TT shroud. couldn’t get the gun to shoot worth shit. Then added tonys top hat with the large restrictor. set at around 8 on the PW i was getting 40 shots within a 22 FPS spread. I then added the hammer cause i wanted the slap mod. I get the basically the same string but at pw setting 6.5 or so.
The TT shroud is a must have it is damn quiet. but i still hear the hammer. if your shooting it out in the open and at just nothing you may think your gun was broken. its that quiet.
Id get the shroud the top hat. then re assess and see where your at. if you feel you need the hammer go for it. :2cents:
Ohh almost forgot change them orings in the breach to some 90d urethane orings. get some silicone, and some moly for the trigger
I have a set up like that, and I only fill to 2000 psi, I think I am going to clip the spring back some, for I have no power-wheel action at all.
I am not a seasoned owner and have only had my condor .25 with 24 inch barrel for about 3 weeks but it was grouping right out of the box.i hit a soup can at 100 yards almost at will with the Jsb’s. I have a R&L shroud and it is way less noisy with it.I have a heavy hammer spring on it now and am waiting to get heavy hammer and top hat in the mail.
For small game, accuracy and plinking, the Kings in 25 gr. should be fine. I’ve killed groundhogs with Kings. In my rifles, they usually like to fly around 900-930 fps. Up around 945+ fps, my guns won’t deliver them with best accuracy.
Be prepared to experiment and tinker. I’ve got an S510 FAC in .22 and love it. Yes, limited power, but the accuracy was good as received, with JSB 15.9 gr. The AF guns almost always require experimentation which is a lot easier with a chrony. I mention this only because you’re starting from experience with a rifle which normally is more accurate for more shots as it is shipped. You can get a Condor accurate enough to nail a golf ball at 100 yds, but it probably won’t do it out of the box.
congrats on scratching!
No, it won’t give up any “Useful energy”, as most guns with the JSB’s will shoot well in the neighborhood of 880 to 950 fps. So well under the fpe you are wanting. Pellets tend to spiral, particuarlly at longer range if pushed past these speeds. ( A big reason those of us that know AirGuns know that the advertizing hype of most ag companies such as Gamo is pure scam to trickpeople with lesser experience with AG’s into buying their junk).
The FPE figures that you are looking for are going to require a much heavier pellet, or as many of us have done, a custom barrel and shooting cast bullets rather than Pellets. 😉
KnifeMaker
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I wouldn’t go with a much heavier hammer and spring combo unless I was really wanting to shoot a MUCH heavier pellet ALL the time. All it will accomplish will be a gun that is hard to tune for accuracy with normal pellets. With the unwanted added weight of the hammer giving the gun a jar every time is is shot. (Which can make for harder to get consistent accuracy.
Knife
Thank you. Will avoid heavier hammer and spring as I would like to be able to shoot one of the hollow point offerings for close range hunting if the gun will shoot them accurately and also be able to shoot a heavy weight for the trips to the desert popping sage rats out to 70 or yards.