Help Please in Purchasing a .257 Condor

[shamu25]

Been looking  into getting into a .257 and it appears that the Condor has the best gun for the $$$.  I spoke with Randy at R&L and he can ship a Condor with the 700mm LW barrel and spin  lok tank for what seems  very reasonable.  I plan to cast bullets for this gun and use soft lead in  the 65 to 80gr range.  Been  reading lots of stuff on the Condors here and on other sites.  A couple of  questions.  Is  the TJ barrel that much better than the LW?  Should I go for the extreme valve up  front?   Seems like  these guns have sufficient power with the stock valve.  Plan to use this gun for varmints and punching holes at long ranges.  How should I bore the chamber for cast bullets?  Thinking  of  initially  shooting JSB's for awhile before boring the chamber.  Thoughts?

[rsterne]

The LW barrel is choked and runs about 0.254" bore with 0.246" lands (at the breech), and will be better for pellets, which are 0.250" head diameter and about 0.260" skirt, and can collapse as intended in the choked section.... There are three TJ's barrels available, the .25 ACP is 0.250" bore, 0.243" land and is great for pellets, but you need bullets sized 0.250" for it.... The .25/20 barrel is 0.257" bore, 0.250" lands (maybe a bit less), with a 14" twist and works great with 65-80 gr. cast.... The .25/35 barrel is a 10" twist, also 0.257" bore 0.250" lands, and is necessary for 100 gr. and longer bullets, but in reality you need a 200 FPE gun like the Haley Scandalous (which runs 4500 psi) to take advantage of it.... The chamber needs to be bored to just clear the bullet OD (which should be the same as the bore diameter) and long enough that the bullet engages the tapered leade with the nose or front driving band.... If it's too short or too small, you will have great difficulty chambering the bullet.... 

Bob

[Ratbuster]

I suggest you read the thread just a few below this one titled "65 consistent shots from Condor .257"  for some really good detail about an R&L Airgun Supply Condor with TJ's .257 barrel and their Extreme Valve.

Dave

[shamu25]

Thanks Bob and Dave
Really appreciate this input.  Going with the R&L deal for the Condor with 700mm .257 barrel.  I found out today that the 700 mm barrel is a TJ's not the LW.   I apparently misunderstood this detail when talking to them a few days ago.   Randy is out of extreme valves so will shoot stock valve and JSB's for awhile and move into bullet casting and boring out the breech later and maybe upgrade to the extreme valve should the stock valve prove to be on the weak side. 

[sshewins]

By any chance did he say when he might have some more of those valves?

[shamu25]

I waited for the extreme valve and have had the gun for about 2 months.  Give Randy at R&L a call to see if he has more available.  They are very good at responding to your questions.  Jodie usually answers the phone and she is very knowledgeable about what's going on there.