New Airforce extreme-highflow valve for condors

Hi, jNc, I recently purchased the new valve and Ring-Loc from AF for Condor .25. With limited testing so far, my Condor is spitting JSB 33.95gr. MKII pellets at 1170fps at muzzle. All I did was call AF and Racheal informed me that I can purchase the new valve along with the Ring-Loc. I know the velocity is crazy. The nice thing is it is easy to install a smaller diameter piece on the top hat to reduce velocity. I have some slugs on order as well to take advantage of the new valve. Before the new valve, I had the older high flow valve and max velocity with the same JSB was 1070fps. I am not sure if the older tophat valve will work with the newer valve. I sure would like to know what AF did with the new valve-I have not disassembled it yet to look inside. Also, the new Ring-Loc can be adjusted for travel.

I forgot to say that my previous setup was the older (not the really old) high flow valve with TT one piece tophat. I bought the new setup after watching the video from UpNorthAirGunner. Sorry, I keep editing my post. My Condor is prolly the first generation-at least 10 years old. I purchased a high flow valve from AF years ago and have just now gone to the new valve and .25 LW barrel. The barrel was before the new valve although I did some velocity testing with the .25 barrel before going to the new AF valve. Hopefully the slugs I ordered will work considering the choke on barrel. 

My condor ss is less than 2 years old and this did not fit my gun. I had to return it and have the site state that it is only for brand new guns. I wish there was a way to get this on my gun

jNc, yep just the valve. All I had to do was de-gas my existing tank, remove old valve, and install the new one from AF. 



crittahitta, seems strange that it would not fit your gun. Mine is much older and it works perfectly. As far as the appearance of the valve, it looks exactly like the older valve aside from the gauge and fill nipple (which I removed because I have TT tank adapter with gauge and nipple.) Have you called AF? All I did was call AF and tell them that I have an older Condor and want to use the new Ring-Loc. The gal I spoke with was Rachael. I placed the order on the phone at that time because the valve is not available for order online. I just reread your post-were you trying to use the Ring-Loc with your existing valve? If so, it will not work. You will need to call AF and order a new valve for the Rin-Loc setup.

It is interesting that the new valve with Ring-Loc does not seem to produce the metallic "tink" sound when firing. I am using the Donnyfl Ronin moderator. On dry fire, my Condor is noticeably louder with the new AF valve and Ring-Loc although the Ronin still does a good job. (Thank you to Donny!) Of course, when going supersonic there will always be that mini sonic boom "crack" but I am referring just to firing without a pellet. I prolly will not rest until I have disassembled the new AF valve just to have a look! The only other thing I can think of as far as the lack of the "tink" sound is that the tophat is not making full travel although as near as I can tell, it is. I am using what seems like a bit of an unusual setup as far as my hammer and spring. With that combo and older valve with one piece tophat, I always had full tophat travel at any tank pressure. Whatever AF did with the new valve is a step up!

jNc, I am glad that I could shed at least a little light on the new valve from AF. It seems odd to me that the new valve seems to have attracted little attention even after the video from UpNorthAirGunner. I certainly look forward to hearing about your .223!

Extreme? ....are you serious???.....

And here is this then that, super extreme? -

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/super-condor/

I just shot a 2018 .25 Condor yesterday and this morning, and I’ve own a 2016 .25 Condor since last Fall. 

The major change in the Condor valves happened a few years ago when the Escape came out. After the Escape, Airforce started putting Escape valves in Condors. My 2016 gun is one such gun. It will shoot a 65 grain slug at 928fps for 124fpe. 

My brother’s 2018 Condor will shoot the same slug at 937fpe for 127fpe. That’s with no fine tuning. I think we could lower the spring tension some and actually get a few more fps out of it by optimizing the bell curve. Its probably a 130fpe gun.

It is actually shipping and it is the valve my brother already has. He has the removable valve cap system. However, it doesn't come with extra valve caps. It only comes with the largest valve cap. Both my older gun and his gun perform at the power levels shown in the video, which his can edge mine out a bit. The power level increases with the size of the bullet in much the same way a Texan's power level self regulates according to the weight of the projectile. I can get 100fpe with 55 gn swaged bullets or 120fpe with 65 grn cast bullets. I have some heavy Mr. Hollowpoints I haven't chronied yet.

The newest valve is only an incremental upgrade the Escape valves. The Escape valves were advertised at making the high 90sfpe. The new ones are advertised at around 105fpe. In actuality both the Escape and newer valve can do in excess of 120fpe. 

If it helps, my brother bought his gun directly from Air Force about 2-3 weeks ago. 

Hi, new to the forum but just bought an airforce condor after about twenty years of looking into them. It seems difficult to find information on this ring loc top hat so I am thankful to have found this forum. It is stated above the Ring Loc can be adjusted for travel. How is this accomplished? Thanks for all the help as I can't locate anything in the instructions explaining the Ring Loc system. Also, is a one piece top hat and o-ring still advantagous with the new valve and ring loc system?

Welcome mw243! The Ring-Loc has different size orifices that are threaded on the inside as well as having a threaded lock collar to hold the chosen orifice in place. Using the lock collar, it is possible to adjust the distance from the tophat to the breech (should have no play.) I originally thought the adjustment could be used in place of an oring or spacer behind the tophat but I think it is only for adjusting the distance to breech. I think the new tank valve that accepts the Ring-Loc will not accept any other style tophat. I know for sure that the Ring-Loc setup cannot be used with an existing tank valve.If you do not have the valve that was designed for the Ring-Loc setup, you will need to call A/F to buy the new valve as it is not available online.



Edit-I just spoke with A/F and it seems the new valve will work with the original style tophat but would mean a significant loss of power so it makes little sense to use anything but the Ring-Loc because power can be adjusted with the orifices. Just to reiterate, the Ring-Loc cannot be used with any tank valve that was not designed for Ring-Loc. The adjustment is not used to adjust travel-only to make the distance from tophat to breech proper.

Thanks, my .25 condor ss did ship with the new ring loc valve but there is no mention of it in the paperwork so I appreciate the help. I am just getting the air rifle setup and have a chronograph, I'd gladly report back on anything of interest. 

Sent my TalonP in for warranty work on the frame and it returned with a new ring lock valve. It is a beast!

Thurmond, awesome! I think I will not rest until I know what AF did to improve the new valve! I have an itch to look inside but it works so well that I am gonna leave it alone for now.



The name “Thurmond” reminds me of the “Thurmond Rose Garden” in the movie “Frailty.” Oh, I gotta stop making references to user names! Please forgive me.