New Condor with Predator and UltraMag Pellets, 50 yards
** UPDATE FEB 2012, SEE COMPARISON BELOW DATED 2/11/2012 **
I went to the range last Saturday and sighted in my new Condor 24″ .22, I ran a number of pellets through based on recommendations here. The Kodiaks and JSB Jumbo Monster delivered a punishing 50-55 ft/lbs and were okay in the accuracy department… But I’m interested in long range hollow points…. so I tested them to death. Here’s the results.
New out of the box – Condor 24″ .22 PW 1.8 – that’s right 1.8 – anything more and I had 1240fps and no hope of keeping the pellets on target. Start pressure 2400psi end pressure about 1700psi.
* 50 yards/150ft or for the Euros 45m/4572cm
* The target grid is 1″ squares for visual measurement.
* Five shot groups because I want to test consistency.
* 7 mph crosswind for realistic hunting conditions
* 800ft above sea level (whatever that means)
* 60% humidity.
* 85F / 30C – balmy for Texas, can’t wait for 105F
First up: Skenco Ultramags, .22, 18.2gn at 1080fps for 45ft/lbs:
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/Skenco_Ultra_Mag_22_Cal_18_2_Grains_Pointed_100ct/901
** I started with the bottom left target, realized I was screwing up and adjusted my position a little, the rest show how good the gun can shoot**
Next was the Predator .22, 16.0gn, 1050fps (PW 0.0) for 40 ft/lbs
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/Predator_22_Cal_16_0_Grains_Pointed_200ct/343
** I shot several more targets but couldn’t improve, I refilled the gun, tried some more, switched back to the other pellets with no problem and then returned to the predators – same inconsistent group **
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Ummmm…. I LIKE ‘EM ALL !!!! And they ALL look like “here kitty kitty” sized groups to me!!!!!!!! 
The Polymags were tested today along side the pellets above and would not group. That is the second time I tested them (along with the original test session) and they failed to group.
Read the whole thread… other people have experienced the Predator accuracy problems in 22 for 50 yards and beyond.
try shooting the polymags super sonic i think u might be supprised at there performance
thing is amazing. They are a lttle pricy for 100 in a tin. Have you tried Cudas/Kodiaks or
Crow Magnums?
Range test today in 15-25mph winds… I expect the groups to shrink in ideal conditions. I out shot my bench neighbor who was using a 223 AR15 🙂
Conclusion: H&N Match 21.14, JSB 15.9 & 18.13, UltraMag 18.2 performed very well. My preference… the H&N Match for kinetic energy and wind bucking ability.
In a separate test with centerfire steel target plates I found the H&N Baraccuda/Beeman Kodiak more capable than the UltraMags at knocking the plates over out to 50 yards. I need to test the JSBs in the same setup.
I tested a full range of JSB pellets and only included the best groups. The ultra light pellets (13gn and 14gn) were no good in my Condor.
JSB Diabolo Exact Jumbo .22 Cal, 15.9 Grains, Dome, 500ct, Head 5.52mm
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/JSB_Diabolo_Exact_Jumbo_22_Cal_15_9_Grains_Dome_500ct/584
JSB Match Diabolo Exact Jumbo Heavy .22 Cal, 18.13 Grains, Dome, Head 5.52mm
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/JSB_Match_Diabolo_Exact_Jumbo_Heavy_22_Cal_18_13_Grains_Domed_500ct/690
H&N Baracuda Match .22 Cal, 21.14 Grains, Round Nose, Head 5.51mm
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/H_N_Baracuda_Match_22_Cal_21_14_Grains_Round_Nose_200ct/21
Skenco Ultra Mag .22 Cal, 18.2 Grains, Pointed, Head 5.50mm
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/Skenco_Ultra_Mag_22_Cal_18_2_Grains_Pointed_100ct/901
Just complete penetration tests on over here –> http://www.talonairgun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19428
Ditto same experience with Predators in 22 and 25. I just shot a guys P-Rod 22 today and it does very well with Predators. Something about the LW 22 barrels the Predators don’t like.
My Condor .22 will not group well with the 16gr Predators past 20yds. It is nowhere near the 21gr Kodiak’s accuracy or the 28.4gr EunJin’s.
On the other hand my TT Codor .25 groups amazingly well with the 26gr JSB Preds. Just as good or better than the 31gr Kodiaks and almost equal to the 25.4 Kings.
They are extremely accurate but the BC is is the same as a Predator (about .022) which has more drag than a Kodiak/Cuda. I have shot squirrels beyond 60 yards with Condor velocity. They will tumble with less velocity sooner.
How do they shoot at 50 yards? I will order some on my next round and compare them. I thought the wide mouth caused a lot of drag. At least in 177 they do.
The crow Magnums are hollowpoints and the effects are similar.
I did (except crow) and they were comparable BUT they are not hollowpoints which have the advantage of more damage per/lb than a round nose.
I don’t plink with hunting rounds so cost is not a consideration. I also hand sort for defects. One shot one kill. So I don’t burn many after sight in.
Interesting. I’ll pick up a tin of them and try them with my gun vise. That thing is amazing. They are a lttle pricy for 100 in a tin. Have you tried Cudas/Kodiaks or Crow Magnums?
It is interesting because 177 predators shoot great in my TSS LW barrel… So it’s odd to see the 22 predators unable to group… When I briefly owned an M-Rod the only thing it would shoot are the 22 predators.
I’ve measured the 22 predators and the head is on the smaller side compared to Kodiak and Ultramag.
It sounds like M-ROD or LW 22 chokes are slightly different to each other and happen to favor certain pellets.
The good news from my POV is that UltraMag is a alloy tipped (not plastic) hollow point with good 50 yard accuracy. I’ll do some penetration testing to see how they expand compared to a predator.
I cannot shoot the unshrouded Condor in my backyard so I will have to let one of y’all do some hunting tests with it.
** Temperature 85F
I forgot to mention a story where a guy couldn’t get his 22 24″ Condor barrel to shoot anything well until he just recently threw his hands up in the air and had a gunsmith cut off the choke (last 3/4″) and recrown it. That fixed it.
Your Condor is shooting a lot better than his was.
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And with the crazy wind I expect tighter groups. The gun likes 18gn and 21gn.