Watch & Discuss the Airforce Condor SS!

The Airforce airguns are awesome guns. I've been able to shoot a first generation Talon SS in .22 and it was great. These second generation guns with the spin loc tank and better baffle system seem awesome. It's hard to believe the power that this quiet condor puts out. I have a ton of .22 pellets that I could put through this beast. It would be awesome to win it!

I think this gun would be a lot of fun to tinker with. I liked Steve's disclaimer at the end about detuning for accuracy.

Great review Steve. 

AirForce airguns are definitely capable of excellent accuracy and more than acceptable shot strings once you get them dialed in. Granted it does take some time, patience and a chronograph. As mentioned, there are a few tricks like the o-ring or flat neoprene washer behind the tophat which can increase the shot count and tighten up the SD/ES once you find the sweet spot in the shot curve. It's literally like a 10¢ regulator. As Steve found out, they are sensitive to fill pressure depending on where you have the power wheel set. It's best to keep the power wheel lower to keep from wasting air and fill to the 2.5Kpsi range to flatten out the curve and prevent valve lock.

My first PCP was a .22 Talon SS I purchased at the 2003 SHOT Show. Once tuned and dialed in, it shoots one ragged hole at 25yrds with 18.13gr JSBs and I have shot a .67" 5-shot group at 50 yrds (not bad for a 12" barrel), and it's capable of a 10 shot string in the sweet spot with SD of 2 and ES of 7 just shot last week. Not going to win EBR but I can count on it to score a hit including headshots on squirrels and chipmunks out to 35+yrds when I need it to if I do my part.

The Condor SS is no different, it just takes the time to find the best combo of pellet, fill pressure, and power wheel setting, and I highly recommend experimenting with an o-ring/flat neoprene washer...

They're not for everyone, but they can serve their purpose and do it well.





I'd heartily accept a .22 Condor SS into my collection if I won it .

I enjoyed the video very much. AEAC does a great job. 

I dont on own a Condor but it has been on my wish list since I had a chance to shoot one. I didn't realize the power until I watched the video. The accuracy on the one shot was excellent. Can't say about the sound level - there was a 45 Texan going off in my in my ear. 

Jim

I like the built in suppressor. I would like to see more guns with this kind of suppression. A removable magazine and an adjustable regulator would improve this gun in my opinion. I understand keeping it simple to keep costs down so nice job.

Another great video I've shot the talon in .177, and the Texan but not the Condor. The Talon had a little bark while the Texan barked the loudest. It would be nice to give a Condor a try.

Great review Steve, as are all of the rest. The light weight with it being outfitted as it was makes it a great piece for hunting for sure. It would be nice for AirForce to bring out a repeater.

Thanks for all the support & encouragement in your comments guys. I read them all and I'm excited for one of ya.

I enjoyed my time with the SS... it's gunna give someone a lot of enjoyment. Already I've cleaned the barrel, wiped it down, and boxed it back up.

Good luck to all!!

The Condor was the gun I wanted to get but I got the Escape SS instead. My next gun will be the Condor SS. I have had nothing but good things to say about this gun and company. Plus they are made in the USA. What more could you ask for. My escape is great for hunting very light weight and accurate. I would love the Condor for pesting. This way I can get many more shots per fill. 

Have any of you guys that have a Condor 22 shot bullets or slugs through it?

Captain thats what I am interested in hearing about too. I would like one for coyote hunting. I dont know much about PCP rifles yet. What kind of yardages should I expect to get accuracy out too ? I mean hunting accuracy not FT.

I am certainly not qualified to give a definitive answer, but I would guess that if you can shoot bullets out of that barrel, I would think you could get hunting accuracy out to at least 75 yards. I would expect 100 yards or more based on what I have read about these guns. 

I don't know if there is any reason why you couldn't shoot bullets. That is why I was asking the question. 

"iowaairguns"I wish Steve would have talked more about the "optimal" medium setting. I think he said it was more efficient on medium power with little difference in energy. It would have been nice to show that instead of the full power setting results. I couldn't believe how much it dropped off over the course of 10 shots - that's a huge air reservoir and by shot 10 it needed to be refilled! It was awesome seeing a 22 cal making 70 FPE though, I think it has to be the most powerful 22 cal airgun on the market.

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I wanted to spend more time with the Condor SS buddy, I really did. I've just such a huge backlog of guns here at the moment waiting on review for us, that I can only afford to spend so much time on each. If it's any consolation, I had 37 total hours logged putting together the SS vid us and I'm already 2 days into working on the next.

Generally speaking, I noticed that after a power level of 6-7, there were diminishing returns yet more air was being progressively consumed. I imagine these higher power settings are there to help move (even heavier) slugs down range in excess of 70fpe. The SS I got was clearly tuned to maximize power for big game (hog, coyote, beaver) so I wanted to keep the vid consistent with the "extreme power" theme of this rifle. That's why I set the wheel to 10 and noted the fpe on each shot for you guys in the 25 yd groups.

If I were to own an SS for the purpose of large game, I would focus my time & effort between the power settings of 2 and 6 and see how well I can make things work with heavier lead. There's no manual on this stuff... one's just got to experiment.

"CaptainBravo"I am certainly not qualified to give a definitive answer, but I would guess that if you can shoot bullets out of that barrel, I would think you could get hunting accuracy out to at least 75 yards. I would expect 100 yards or more based on what I have read about these guns. 

I don't know if there is any reason why you couldn't shoot bullets. That is why I was asking the question.

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You can shoot slugs (not sure about bullets) out of the SS's barrel... in fact I'm told that slugs are being sent my way along with another SS .22 for a quick video supplement for you guys.

Steve

"LIVIT"Captain thats what I am interested in hearing about too. I would like one for coyote hunting. I dont know much about PCP rifles yet. What kind of yardages should I expect to get accuracy out too ? I mean hunting accuracy not FT.

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Check out some of my review vids... you'll find answers there.

"AEAC"

"CaptainBravo"I am certainly not qualified to give a definitive answer, but I would guess that if you can shoot bullets out of that barrel, I would think you could get hunting accuracy out to at least 75 yards. I would expect 100 yards or more based on what I have read about these guns. 

I don't know if there is any reason why you couldn't shoot bullets. That is why I was asking the question.

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You can shoot slugs (not sure about bullets) out of the SS's barrel... in fact I'm told that slugs are being sent my way along with another SS .22 for a quick video supplement for you guys.

Steve

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Thanks Steve. I look forward to it. I always enjoy your videos. 

I am not sure of the accuracy of this blog but here is some comments made about the very issue of .22 pellets compared to .223 and .22 bullets it might help clear the air.
Whatever the case I think it would mean that any bullet shot from the Condor would need to be cast and sized for the Condor specifically sized for it's bore
Bullets and pellets: What gives?[/QUOTE]http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2007/08/bullets-and-pellets-what-gives/embed/

I pay no attention to the chrony.. Just start the power wheel low and check the groups as I increase.

Tks Steve. Willie tks for posting that link. Interesting read. I shoot cowboy action BP and sizing is very critical. I agree a .22 cal air rifle is not actually really a 22. Makes you wonder how the terminology 22 cal got started for air rifles.

I was looking at buying one for my first pcp a couple years ago but didn't like the looks of it but they are growing on me may have to give one a try.