Considering a Condor
I am writing to request advice on the purchase of a Condor. I have read a lot about the rifle but I would like the advice of some folks that have already made the purchase.
I am considering the 22 cal. I see a lot of shooters perfer the 25 cal. Why?
I also want to have a shrouded barrel in addition to the long stock barrel for basement/back yard shooting. I intend to use the rifle for general plinking, pests and some small game. Is is best to have two barrels or just get one tuned that will work for everything?
I look forward to any input you have for a newbie.
Thanks,
Tom
All Replies
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That is a very good point. I intend to use this rifle as a plinker and training rifle for my AR. I can’t always get the range to shoot my AR. By the way, I also have a heavy barrel 10/22 that I really enjoy shooting too so I get your point about the rim fire power. I want to use my Aimpoint glass on the rifle and shoot it mostly in my basement range. However, I may also do some backyard shooting and take the occasional pest. I thought you could just “dial down” the power on any of these Air Force rifles to lower the velocity. Is that not true?
I have read on this site about the Condor ripping up most pellet traps, including ripping through a 2×4. That is impressive but I don’t think I need that most of the time that I will be shoot this rifle.
I live in a building with 20′ x 150′ concrete basement. So I am limited to 30 yards of indoor shooting. Great for my bow but a little short for the Condor. I already have an archery range down there and would like to add a good pellet range. I used to shoot my Beeman R7 down there but it is not holding my interest.
Would you get more shots per tank out of a .22 Talon SS vs. a .22 Condor? I assume there would be more shots with the slower FPS of the Talon SS and less energy since the tanks are the same size.
Thanks again for all your help. This is a great site!
The Condor is a very powerful airgun. Ask yourself the question do you really need all that power and do you have enough space and backstop when pesting/hunting for a gun with more than 1/2 the power of a .22LR high-velocity bullet or 80% the power of a standard-velocity .22LR? Think of it as shooting a rimmie (if you have before). Can you safely shoot at critters in your yard or neighborhood with this gun? Those are the questions I would start getting the answers to.
You don’t need all those things listed. A scope and an air source are a given.. After that a good shroud is a must unless you are at a farm or have a huge property. Everything else is an option but I would recommend the better shoulder piece like the Work-Butt or some other piece and high rings for your scope, or medium-high rings with the tri-rail, so that get your head in the right position to look down the scope, and don’t strain your neck.
Bipod, bolt handle, eTac, etc. are all small improvements that you don’t need off the bat or at all. You can get those later if you are not happy, but you won’t be disappointed. The Condor will give you a lot of enjoyment out of the box with very few or no “add-ons”. Don’t let the long list deter you. None of my 3 Condors has every thing on that list..
I agree with the others. Don’t get the AF pump. Spend the $ on a Scuba (3-3,400psi) tank or a 4500psi SCBA fireman’s tank and a good hose assembly. I used a single 3k psi 80cf SCUBA tank for about a year on my .22 Condor with no problems, before I got more .25’s and acquired a 4500 tank. I only filled my .22 Condor to 2200-2300psi and still get 1,030-1,040fps velocities with 21gr Kodiaks, and that was at a relatively low power-wheel setting too. It was powerful enough. You don’t want to be shooting any faster than that.. I would re-fill the gun when it was down to about 1700psi or 30+ shots. I still do this to date. This “setup” is very economical on air and I am able to get 30-32 fills from a single Scuba tank. Most of the time my Dive shop filled it to 3100psi (sometimes 3300psi but it came down a little by the next day) which was a bonus, and you can ask them to do the same. Of course a 4500 tank is a lot better but it also costs about 3x as much. If you are going to have a couple of PCP’s, 4500 tank is worth the expense IMO.
If you have a local dive shop then a pony is very convenient. If you have a long drive then get a carbon fiber or 100cuft 3500psi steel tank.
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/catalina-30-cu-ft-pony-tank/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/catalina-80-cu-ft-aluminum-tank/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/blue-steel-fx117-steel-cylinder-3442-psi/
Run your own calculations here: http://www.airhog.com/tank.htm
Here is my suggestion if you have $1000 – 1200 (if not – sell all your small firearms, ammo and other airguns).
Get the 25 caliber Condor.
Get a shroud.
Get a hand pump.
Get a bipod.
Get a scope.
Get the Tony – 95 gr hammer.
Get the Subssonic – bolt handle.
Get the WOK – Strap On WokButt.
Think about an E-Tac or E-TaC Reg.
Think about a Tri-Rail.
Read all my posts here which start with Condor -.
You’ll be very happy in the future, when you look back and say – I made the right choice 😀
Save your money and get a tank unless you have no way of getting it filled.
I dont know if you have a chrony but you will need one. The gun will require some testing to find the best fill pressure and power wheel setting ect. This is were the air tank come in handy.
If you get a .22 get lots of Beeman Kodiak or H&N Barracuda 21.14gr pellets.
:tag:
Just DO NOT get an AF pump, unless something has changed that I am not aware of… 😀
jusst take a look at pyramid air
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show_necessities.pl?show=NEW&Caliber=0.22&Type=0
all you need to know, you can shoot 22 way cheaper than 25, if you dont want the extra power. or you can buy more expensive pellets in 22 also.
if you are only going to punch paper you might consider a 177,
Is there a difference in pellet selection between the .22 and .25 cal?
they are going to 25 for more power. i never had a 22 air rifle before i bought my condor, and don’t need a 25 , the 22 works out great for me. i have shot my condor from 7 foot pounds of energy with a shot string of 175 shots, and up to 80 foot pounds of energy, i love the gun, it can be temperamental.
It is a shooter.
Here is my suggestion if you have $1000 – 1200 (if not – sell all your small firearms, ammo and other airguns).
Get the 25 caliber Condor.
Get a shroud.
Get a hand pump.
Get a bipod.
Get a scope.
Get the Tony – 95 gr hammer.
Get the Subssonic – bolt handle.
Get the WOK – Strap On WokButt.
Think about an E-Tac or E-TaC Reg.
Think about a Tri-Rail.
Read all my posts here which start with Condor -.
You’ll be very happy in the future, when you look back and say – I made the right choice 😀
Thanks for the tips! I will read up on your posts.
I am a first time buyer of a Condor and have done lots of research and owned some springer air guns in the past.
As for Hunting and Pest Control:
Here is my suggestion if you have $1000 – 1200 (if not – sell all your small firearms, ammo and other airguns).
Get the 25 caliber Condor.
Get a shroud.
Get a hand pump.
Get a bipod.
Get a scope.
Get the Tony – 95 gr hammer.
Get the TagDagger AirArcher Spring and Nut
Get the R&L Extreme Valve
Get the Subssonic – bolt handle.
Get the WOK – Strap On WokButt.
Think about an E-Tac or E-TaC Reg.
Think about a Tri-Rail.
Read all my posts here which start with Condor -.
You’ll be very happy in the future, when you look back and say – I made the right choice 😀
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Plinking indoors 30 yard range?
I dont think a condor is the gun for that.
Mabey a talon would be a better choice.
A condor is a hunting or pesting rifle.
🙂