I got a rubber washer fitted under my tophat now, it is around .075" in height. running the .145" cap. power wheel up around 10. and getting 860 fps average. I think I'm finally getting a handle on the beast. Shot count is good and accuracy isn't bad. Its super windy today so I'm sure I can get the accuracy dialed in better. but I can consistently hit a 6 inch spinner at 43 yards with no issues(under 1 inch group). Kinda crazy that I needed to strangle this monster considerably to get it calmed down. But that is a good thing. Just means that is has plenty in reserve if its needed.I got a brass boat tail mold coming from NOE to try them out in the condor. Now that I got it tamed a touch, I may try some of my NOE 250-39-rf-e6 slugs and see if they are more consistent in it now. I know the boat tails should be a better match given the condor has a choked barrel.
Ok, I shot a bunch of rounds (didn't keep count) from 2,900 psi to about 1,600 psi with the power setting all the way down. Air Arms 25 grain pellets, 50 yds, almost zero wind. I'm sure the photo of the target looks a bit confusing because I kept changing the aim point so I could see where the pellet went. Ignoring my goof ups, all the pellets pretty much landed in a vertical line. From about 2,900 psi to just under 2,000 psi the pellet kept going up from my aim point and from just under 2,000 to 1,600 it went down. I wasn't able to group more than 3 pellets together which probably indicates the power is on a pretty steep bell curve. So I think I need to flatten that bell curve. The power is all the way down so my next step will be to try an o-ring behind the tophat.
Try some JSBs and H£Ns too because AA didn't like my Talon (though the groupings look fair enough)
With any unregulated PCP, you can't just assume that one combination of hammer strike and fill pressure will produce a usable bell curve.... At 50 yards, a 4% ES will only move the POI less than an inch.... Therefore, if your velocity is between 96%-100% of the peak, the shots should all fall with a 1" group at that range....If you can see the POI rising, plateauing, and the falling again, you have a MUCH greater ES than is usable.... Your solution is simple.... reduce the fill pressure and increase the refill pressure until the ES falls with a 4% ES.... Yes, you will get fewer shots, of course.... If you want more power, increase the hammer strike, rinse and repeat.... The more power, the fewer shots you will get within a 4% ES.... It's that simple....Bob
...If you can see the POI rising, plateauing, and the falling again, you have a MUCH greater ES than is usable.... Your solution is simple.... reduce the fill pressure and increase the refill pressure until the ES falls with a 4% ES.... Yes, you will get fewer shots, of course.... If you want more power, increase the hammer strike, rinse and repeat.... The more power, the fewer shots you will get within a 4% ES.... It's that simple....Bob
Cpt Paul's Condor might have the Newer Ring-Loc tophat system. The adjustable power/sound level 4 caps kit is about $45 To add an o-ring under that new system, Screw off both sections of the threaded cap's halfs ( top and lower ) I read 2mm thick works good. Screw caps back on and adjust outward with breech closed to take out any back and forth wiggle room. Power wheel works from 0 through 8 after that your wasting air. To de-cock it look on the forums or Youtube, The pin right above the safety blade. The highest one closest to the bottom of the barrel. is tapped out ( right side to left ) so the Auto safety cam drops out of frame. Pin has to be put back in. Left to right as it came out due to 3 teeth on one side. PS: This will VOID your new gun warranty.
I have to say that I -HATE- the safety on this rifle. Not only is it automatic (which is a PITA for target shooting)
I've tuned 7 AF guns so far. They can be a PITA at times. I just tuned a friend's gun last weekend. A Condor SS in .25. Took about 7 hours and a 300 count tin of JSB MKIIs. We had a chronograph too. His ended up with the PW set at 4 and a 1/16" poly oring and .05 brass shim under the TH. Velocity averages 900fps with 25 usable shots within 3%. Accuracy at 25 yards was one ragged hole in the paper. My advice, change one thing at a time and shoot through your chronograph until you reach your target Velocity. Then play with fill pressures. You want to find the knee of the bell curve. That will be your optimum fill pressure. Stick with it, once tuned They are amazingly accurate with plenty of power. We routinely shoot groundhogs out to 100 yards and sometimes farther.