New Airforce extreme-highflow valve for condors

[Bullfrog]

Thanks Bullfrog! So the key is to purchase directly from AF. Did you notice any difference in efficiency? I have escape and planning to get bigger tank for it and thinking if the new valve is worth the upgrade.

Yep, that might be the trick. He ordered his from the Outlet Store. He bought one of the factory blemished guns.

I speculate that it is more efficient, but I haven't actually crunched the numbers. The closest "apples to apples" test was we shot each gun wide open on middle range spring settings with 34 grain Neilson swaged HPs and his was topping those out in the 1100s fps while mine couldn't do better than 1080fps, and he got more shots at the top of the power arch than I did. However, he ended his shot string about 200psi lower than I did. So I can't for the air usage which gun was best. His got a longer shoestring over a longer psi range, if that makes sense the way I've explained it. 

We were really interested in the 65 gn cast slugs. Our guns performed similarly at the peak (my 928fps to his 937fps). But we didn't shoot a full string. I was pressed for time and had to leave. 

A big HOWEVER is that I tried some of the 73 grain Mr. Hollowpoints at dusk and I was getting low readings (820s). I need to shoot them some more in good daylight to confirm their speeds. If the lower speeds for them remains the same out of my gun, then my gun may be hitting its ceiling for its max fpe level (120fpeish), while I suspect my brother's 2018 gun would launch the same bullet much faster. 

 

[mw243]

After 420 quick pumps, first 35 yard "out of the box" grouping for the condor with new oem valve seems encouraging. Got some work to do but it got well over 30 shots on first fill. I'm still not able to figure out the breech play adjustment on the top hat so I'm guessing maybe that's in the valve body or the accessory restriction orifices sold separately. Looking forward to trying some higher BC slugs. Do these LW barrels do okay with the slugs and choke combination or does the barrel typically need cut and recrowned?

 

[Digitalnight]

Hi mw243. This is a pic of the instructions from A/F included with my purchase of the Ring-Loc setup. I am still waiting on some slugs I ordered to see how well they work with the LW chocked barrel. Hope the pic helps.

 

[mw243]

Digitalnight, thank you, that helps tremendously. Wish that info came with the new air rifle, but that's about all I got to complain about. Interested in hearing how slugs work with factory choked barrel; hope to be ordering some soon. I'm guessing something from 55 to 65 gr is a good starting weight.

 

[Bullfrog]

I confirmed this weekend that my brother's 2018 gun can outpace my 2016 gun power-wise. As where both our guns shoot a 65 grain slug around 120fpe, his can shoot a 73 grain slug at 136fpe, while my gun shoots the same slug at 114fpe. 120fpe with a 65 gn slug is the peak of my gun's power potential, while his still has plenty more power to spare. 

 

[mw243]

I am very surprised Airforce stated the tophats interchange. The old tophat OD was .245" and the current production high flow valve tophat is .2795" OD. The factory O Ring in the brass valve body can blow out of the current production high Flo valve if old model tophat is used. The difference in airflow sectional area between the two tophats is significant.

I'm getting 1020 to 1030 fps stock with 33.95 gr. MK 2. Hopefully that is spec. If anyone knows what I should be getting out of a .25 SS please let me know. Accuracy seemed to improve for 10 shots with a little barrel break in / fouling. 

 

[UpNorthAirGunner]

So I can attest to the MASSIVE power this new High Flow Ring Loc valve for the Condor (or purchased separately) is producing. After shooting some 33 gr. JSBs out of my factory .25 cal 24 inch barrel, I had a theory that it was on par with my .30 cal Texan as far as valve power. To test this theory I had Jim Gaska make me a .257 barrel from a TJ Enterprise liner to the exact specs of the new Airforce Texan .257 but with Condor / Talon SS frame compatible barrel bushings so it would be a direct drop in replacement. Long story short - HOLY SH$T! Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE94fOTvj_I

 

[mw243]

Going by area opening alone, I fail to see how even an aftermarket top hat designed and based off the the old style top hat could transfer as much air as the new high flow valve top hat on right. Of course air usage would correspondingly be greater, all else equal, until alternate ring loc restriction orifice is installed.

What is the size, material and durometer of the factory o-ring installed in the brass valve body; i.e. the factory o-ring the top hat rides in? A replacement would be good to have on hand. For a utility air rifle, I'm currently uncertain what more is needed on this platform. Is this platform 1/4 inch capable at 50 yards consistently? The limiting factor with most of these pcps seems to be projectile consistency. Sorting would help but it is time consuming. 

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[fred27022003]

I just picked up a new .22 condor ss at a very good price. It's an older model. Ordered the new bottle and HO halve to work with ring loc valve. Got a .25 cal barrel and a large selection of slugs. Not as accurate as my Crown o, Impact, or AA s510, but it's powerful so far. I'm thinking of a more powerful valve and maybe a .257 barrel ?

 

[NuttinFancy]

I ordered a new air force condor with the new valve as well a couple moths back. I also purchased the Ring-Loc kit as well. I installed the .145 oriface and put the power wheel on MAX going off of Ton Jones video of the new Ring Loc kit. I did some chrony data on a variety of pellets and got some really good data I felt. I labeled all the strings with the pellet/slug(NSA swagged hollow points) as well as starting air pressure. All shot strings were with the power wheel on MAX with the .145 oriface as well. I re-filled at 1,625 psi and had an original starting pressure of 2800 psi. I topped off to 2950 psi once I noticed the FPS had dropped on the polymag around 30 FPS and shot the last 2 strings. The accuracy and POI never budged and was really impressed, hope this helps anyone with the new valve assembly wanting to run the Ring-Loc kit!

 

[NuttinFancy]

This is a .25 cal condor too which I’m sure most would gather from the weight of the ammo but sorry for not specifying originally 

 

[fred27022003]

I just fired some .25 cal NSA 52 grain boat tail Hollow points. Set on 8, 898 fps, 93 fpe. Way too loud in my yard with a Donny FL Shogun moderator. I'll get the big shroud from Talon Tunes. These 52 grain are really tight in the breech.

 

[NuttinFancy]

I can tell you first hand that Tony’s Gen 6 14” Shroud for the Condor with 24” barrel is mind blowing. I live in town and this .25 cal is 110% backyard friendly. Hell it is library quiet!!!! I love Talon Tunes and dealing with Tony has always been a pleasure and I highly recommend this moderator as the quality and function are above par. Good luck