Definitive Guide to AirForce Condor

When you first lay eyes on the AirForce Condor it looks straight out of a science fiction movie, at the same time its imposing rear mounted tank and extruded aluminum frame you know that this gun is all business. The construction of AirForce airguns is thoroughly modern when compared to the competition. As such, all the benefits of modern materials apply. The Condor weighs a scant 6.5 lbs and the Condor SS weighs in at 6.1 lbs due to its slightly shorter barrel. Most of that weight sits at the back of the gun nearest to the shooter when the rifle is pulled up into firing position which makes the gun very pointable, however, some shooters struggle with the lack of weight on the front of the gun, finding it hard to stabilize when shooting off the shoulder. With some practice, it is fairly easy to become adept with the AirForce Condor and before long you find yourself really appreciating the quick pointing nature of these great rifles. The trigger on the Condor is a two stage and comes pre-set from the factory right at about 3 lbs. Though it lacks the ability to be adjusted it is perfectly adequate for use in the field and general shooting. The first stage is a bit on the spongy side, but the break through the second stage is carrot-like. It reminds me of the trigger pull on a striker fired pistol, again not match grade by any means, but adequate for most shooting. The Condor and Condor SS come with full length 11mm dovetail rails that run along the top and the bottom of the gun as well as a raised scope rail. This allows you to attach just about any accessory you could ever want to your Condor. Also available are 1913 picatinny rail adapters that allow you to attach a myriad of scopes, lasers, night vision optics, thermal optics... really anything that you could desire. This versatility makes the Condor very popular among pest and varmint hunters who enjoy hunting at night. The sound suppression capabilities of the Condor SS are really something you have to experience first hand. These guns are, for lack of a better term, "stupid quiet?. If you live in a more populated area and have a pest problem, the Condor SS is the gun for you. Utilizing the same technology that goes into firearm suppressors and adapting it to airguns was a big win for AirForce Airguns and the results prove it. We disassembled the sound suppression system on a Condor SS and fired it unsuppressed. The gun barked at a sharp 104 dB, after reinstalling the suppression system the gun was quieted down to a mere 85 dB. Considering the average human conversation takes place at about 65 to 70 decibels, that's pretty impressive. When compared to a suppressed .22 pistol the sound is higher pitched but still, very quiet. The Condor and Condor SS, like all AirForce rifles, is a simple single shot design. The charging handle cocks the rifle on opening making it easy for anyone to operate. The pellet is placed directly in the breech and the charging handle is pushed closed. This operation is easy for both left and right handed shooters making AirForce rifles a great option for southpaws. The Spin-Loc tank system makes installing the tank fairly quick and easy, and though it can be removed for filling we recommend using the foster quick fill adapter on the tank and leaving it attached to the gun. The max fill pressure for the onboard tank is 3000 psi. Off your average fill, and depending on caliber size and projectile weight you can expect anywhere from 35 to 55 shots per fill. One of the real benefits of the Condor is that it has an adjustable air system so you can dial your pressure down for practice to allow more shots per fill, then crank it back up for extra power when hunting. Be sure to check out a great video put together by our good friend Rick Ward, The Urban Airgunner, all about how to adjust the power settings on your AirForce guns. Power? The Condor has loads of it. Whether .177, .20, .22, or .25 caliber, these guns pack a real punch. The Condor and Condor SS are some of the most powerful air rifles in their class. When using JSB 33.95 grain pellets the .25 caliber is capable of producing upwards of 70 ft lbs of energy (from a standard .25 caliber Condor non-SS version that has a longer barrel). That type of power in a .25 caliber PCP air rifle is pretty much unmatched. The Condor SS is capable of achieving upwards of 47 ft/lbs while the unshrouded Condor .22 cal can max out at 70 ft lbs. The Condor definitely holds up to its claim of "the most powerful mass-produced .22 caliber airgun made?. The accuracy of the Condor rifles is all the result of the quality made Lothar Walther barrels. These German made steel, button rifled barrels provide excellent accuracy from a number of projectiles and really make for a great shooting. We found that with JSB Exact pellets we had no problem achieving sub 1 inch groups at 50 yards and were consistently able to make hits on half size d-28 targets at 100 yards. The Condor is a great gun for everything from backyard sniping to precision pest control work. Join in on the conversation and leave your thoughts and impressions of the AirForce Condor. And don?t forget to share this page with others that you know would be interested in the in-depth review and videos we've put together on this gun.