.30 Condor back on the menu!!

[YEMX]

I started this .30 condor build way back when...  I sent off a SS Condor of to Talon Tunes to modify it to .30, once he announced that he had built his first one.  I liked the numbers, and thought it would be a good build.  I got the rifle back, and it was just WAY too long.  Anyhoo, long story short, I got one of the last Microlite bullpup kits for it, had a custom breech made before the maker shipped the kit to me...  Sat on it for a while, but now that I have my mill up and running-

I shortened the Condor frame down to 16.25" OAL
I shortened the barrel down to 20" OAL
I began installing the  Microlite kit

This is where I am now.  I'll have to wait until Friday to order the reamer I need, as the breech is a touch too small for the barrel.  But once I get the reamer in, I'll be back on track!!  I still need to have a LDC mount made, and get an LDC.  I'll post pictures later, but if y'all remember my .25 TalonP bullpup, that's what this rifle pretty much looks like- just a touch longer.  I also have a WokGard on this- which is a trigger guard and AR15 grip mount...  I'm excited!  I sold the .25 because I knew I had this one in the works...  I'm probably going to mount the Sightmark Photon night vision scope I have on this.  It'll be my night time critter gitter.      Or maybe not.  Who knows?

[YEMX]

I probably will end up using this as my night time hunting rifle, bullpup?  Carbine?  Whatever.  Anyhoo, I'll probably end up using this for night time because the .30 packs more punch than the .25, and I won't need as many shots since there's not much around here at night to shoot.  I'm not certain, but I think this will be tuned for around 70 or 80 fpe.  No idea on shot count, but it'll be low.  Good thing it's a single shot! 

[YEMX]

Picture of the breech I have to modify very slightly:


This is the modified Condor SS with the Microlite adapter on it:


Just in case you didn't see my TalonP version, basically, the Microlite kit makes the AF gun a bullpup and a sidecocker.  I'll post more when I get her wrapped up.  I forgot I still need to drill and tap the end cap screw holes.

[SAGERAT NITEMARE]

WAY KOOL!!!

Keep us up to date...I am thinking of some way to do a larger cal barrel for mt Talon P...a QUICK AND EASY swap in/out.

Good Luck

[YEMX]

Unfortunately there's no real easy way to swap calibers... The correct way is to have a barrel machined, new barrel bushings if the O.D. of the barrel is larger than factory, and a new breech to match the breech side of the barrel, plus the top hat.  Of course, up to .25 and .30 you're covered.  Bigger than .30 and you're gonna have to make a new top hat.  AFAIK.  I could be wrong.  But this is the way Tony at Talon Tunes does it.  Dyotat100 builds completely custom guns, so he basically does the same thing... 

Case in point, my .30 barrel's O.D. is .588"  Not exactly sure what the O.D. of factory barrels is, but it's not that big. 

[YEMX]

Ah poop...  I meant to say "Case in point, my .30 barrel's O.D. is .588", which is bigger than the factory barrel's O.D., and I needed new barrel bushings made special for this barrel".  The Microlite kit also had to be modified to fit the barrel and top hat of the .30 conversion, since the typical breech wouldn't work.

[YEMX]

Ah poop...  I meant to say "Case in point, my .30 barrel's O.D. is .588, which is bigger than the factory barrel's O.D., and I needed new barrel bushings made special for this barrel".  The Microlite kit also had to be modified to fit the barrel and top hat of the .30 conversion, since the typical breech wouldn't work.

*sigh*  This is so aggravating.  The correction is in bold.   

[YEMX]

*SIGH* The "bold" that you can't see because it's in a quote box and is hard to see due to the color.     I'm just going to stop with the corrections... 

[screwwork]

Tom,
How do you turn a Condor into a bullpup with the tank as the gun stock plus new forward trigger assembly?

[YEMX]

Tom,
How do you turn a Condor into a bullpup with the tank as the gun stock plus new forward trigger assembly?

The trigger stays in the same spot, the tank gets moved back.  I should have specified- you have to use a TalonP tank w/the Microlite kit.  Otherwise the LOP is too long. 

A bullpup is just something that has a rifle length barrel w/the trigger assembly near the middle of the gun.  This has a 20" barrel and the trigger is near enough to the middle of the gun, with the tank pushed back- so I'm calling it a bullpup.

[screwwork]

Cool, thanks for the explanation.. I understand now.  It should be a cool build and a great hunting AG.

[gendoc]

i can't wait to see the pictures. 

BTW, how do you like the Photon XT ??

[kkarmical]

Looking good Tom.  You're like this airgun mad scientist always in the lab with all the projects you've got going...

Your 20" barrel past endcap is about the same as 18" barrel would be in the P?

[YEMX]

Cool, thanks for the explanation.. I understand now.  It should be a cool build and a great hunting AG.

Yessir- I know it's not a "true" bullpup, but I don't know what else to call it, since it meets the visual cues of a bullpup...

...how do you like the Photon XT ??

I like it a lot!  I had to add a IR flashlight though, as the picture just wasn't clear enough for me.  My only gripe, which would be the same on other company's equivalent products, is you have to use kentucky windage for your shots.  I wish I could afford a NV scope that you put in front of a rifle scope, like a PVS-14, but I'm NOT spending that kind of money on an airgun accessory.  It's not a deal-breaker by any means.  I just have to get used to using kentucky windage w/o the aid of striations on my crosshairs.  To help solve that and hopefully make more accurate shots, I'm going to just set up a range card for all my shooting spots.  That way I know exact hold over/under, and ranges.

Looking good Tom.  You're like this airgun mad scientist always in the lab with all the projects you've got going...

Your 20" barrel past endcap is about the same as 18" barrel would be in the P?

Me?  Mad scientist? Nnnaaaahhhh!!  I make a lot of mistakes and end up re-doing most of my projects/ideas...     I do try to do fun projects though.  Yeah, it's kinda the same look as the 18" barrel in a TalonP, or the EscapeUL, but my set up has less stickout- I cut down the Condor SS frame down to an odd-ball length.  That way, the 20" barrel only has a stick out of 3" or something.

P.S. I am SO glad the "modify" button is back... 

[gendoc]

...how do you like the Photon XT ??

I like it a lot!  I had to add a IR flashlight though, as the picture just wasn't clear enough for me.  My only gripe, which would be the same on other company's equivalent products, is you have to use kentucky windage for your shots.  I wish I could afford a NV scope that you put in front of a rifle scope, like a PVS-14, but I'm NOT spending that kind of money on an airgun accessory.  It's not a deal-breaker by any means.  I just have to get used to using kentucky windage w/o the aid of striations on my crosshairs.  To help solve that and hopefully make more accurate shots, I'm going to just set up a range card for all my shooting spots.  That way I know exact hold over/under, and ranges.

is the included IR illuminator weak ??

 just won a new XT on ebay for $255 shipped !!

hope it does as good as my x-sight 4k pro because it appears to be much more compact to use on my pitbull carbine.

i replaced the 4k pro's illuminator soon after i got it, it was weak too.

i will put the same kind on the xt after i play with it some.

thanks for your information 

[KnifeMaker]

Don't think I ever saw your BP AF. Would like to though!


Mike

[kkarmical]

Here is the BP talonP-

[YEMX]

is the included IR illuminator weak ??

 just won a new XT on ebay for $255 shipped !!

For me, yes- the included illuminator is weak.  It may be fine for others though, so definitely test it out before spending more money on a 2nd illuminator.  I've been spoiled by military NV equipment...  So the more light the better!  These digital NV certainly take some getting used to.  Congratulations!  That's about what I bought mine for, a few years back...

Thank you kkarmical- yep!  There she is.  This one will be longer though, but overall it'll look about the same.  I may do a actual camo pattern on this one, not sure yet.  Or possibly make a ghillie cover?  Dunno.  There's this stock I found on the web I want to try:
 

I want to use this one mainly because of the adjustable cheek piece.  The NV scope is kinda awkward with the AF bullpup set up, so the more adjustment the better.  I might have to make the buttpad slimmer though- it looks really thick.  The stock is expensive for what it is, but there's literally only one company making these, and it'll be worth it, as I'm not selling this build.  The Microlites aren't made anymore (the maker might have a few kits left), and I'm pretty sure I have the only .30, other than the maker of the Microlite.  The .30 is such a handy caliber!  As long as I do my part, I can take Coyote (at close range) and smaller varmints...  Not that I think the .25 couldn't do it, I just feel better with a .30.  I'll be ordering the LDC adapter around the 10th of June when the machinist is back in the shop, and the LDC probably the 1st of July.  So around August is the earliest time I'll be able to start sending lead down range...  Which is fine- it gives me time to see how close the coyotes are coming, and from what direction they're coming from.  I also have ample time to set up my range cards and possibly a tree stand if those coyotes are getting in close.  I sure don't want to rumble with them in the dark on the ground with just an airgun.  Anyhoo, I'll post more pictures when I can.

[sgtbunny]

Nice looking build.  I can't wait to see the new one.

[YEMX]

Nice looking build.  I can't wait to see the new one.

Thank you!  Me too!  I'm interested to see how this will turn out.

Not much of an update, I disassembled both the TalonP valves and the Condor valves, and Frankensteined the TalonP valve back together.  Basically it's just the TalonP valve body with all the Talon Tunes guts/top hat.  Everything measured very nearly the same, and Tony did say that the top hats are interchangeable between all the valves.  So *crosses fingers* here's to hoping everything works out!