.30 Condor back on the menu!!

[YEMX]

I've got the reamer on order- should be here tomorrow.  Saturday at the latest.  I just noticed the WokGuard15 uses a smaller than normal screw for the AR grip, so I'll have to go hunting for a screw and lock washer tomorrow.  Well, at least the WokGuard I have here uses a smaller screw.  I'm not sure if they all do.  I'll have to mod the frame ever so slightly back by the grip as well- the lower rail gouges my hand a bit when gripping the gun.  I'll post pics when I get around to installing the grip.  Getting closer!  I'll also post a pic of the NV w/the IR illuminator tomorrow as well.

[YEMX]

Amazing what reaming a hole to size will do for fitment.  Seriously.  It is as perfect a fit as the Talon Tunes breech. 


I was thinking about getting a new breech knob made up, but now that I'm thinking about it- I really just want to assemble the gun.  I still have to wait for the custom LDC mount, and I'll still have to wait to order the LDC itself...  But this .30 Condor Microlite should be done around mid July... 

[YEMX]

I did a preliminary assembly of the Microlite Condor:



I'm going to have to disassemble it again- there's some sticking when cocking the gun.  I need to figure out what it is.  Also, I still have to drill and tap for the end cap screws.  I'm going to run 2 screws, top and bottom as I noticed the factory end cap was trying to work it's way off for some reason.  I also need to paint it while it's apart. 

I measured the barrel stick out, and its much shorter than I thought- 1.75".  No worries though.  It's plenty enough stick out to clear the LCD threads. 

Almost forgot- here's my NV scope with IR illuminator:



Not sure if I'm going to keep the IR illuminator on the top, or on the side...  I think I'll swing it back to the side, the lens cover will probably be less of an obstruction than the battery cover... 

The IR illuminator is a UniqueFire T20 from Amazon.  Uses an 18650 battery.  Not included.
 

[YEMX]

As you see it in the picture above, the Microlite Condor is a touch over 28" from the end of the tank to the muzzle.  With an 8" LDC that replaces the end cap from Mr. Clague, it brings the OAL to about 38".  Which is 4" longer than a factory TalonSS.  Not sure what the OAL will be with the stock though. 

Oh- and I ended up just rotating the illuminator to the side again- much less obstruction w/the lens cover compared to the battery cover.

I'm still giddy over how well the breech fits, now that I've reamed it to size...  It's the little things 

[YEMX]

How similar are the TalonP and Condor valves?  I was under the impression that they're essentially the same, save for the tank side valve threads.  Confirmed, they're the same save for the tank side threads...

My top hat seems to be sticking out further than what I remember as normal.  I measured my top hat gap, and it's .214".  That doesn't seem right.  Would anyone know the gap spec off the top of their head?  I can't adjust the gap as it's a Talon Tunes 1pc top hat, but comparing my gap to factory spec, I can see if mine is sticking out too far...  I have to push back on the top hat to get the breech to fully seated, which I probably won't be able to do once the tank is aired up.  Again, I swapped the guts from a Condor valve into the TalonP valve.  I compared everything, and they all seemed to be the same length and such...  Thoughts?

[YEMX]

Okay- I'm tired of fiddling with this thing...  I want to shoot it.  It's going back to it's original configuration.  Couple changes- It's getting a 62 cu in 3k psi tank that Doug modified for me a few years back.  I'll have to shorten the front of the frame by about a half inch more, just to make sure I'm fully engaging the barrel bushing in the original Clague LDC I had for the long version of the gun.  I also had to cut down the rear of the frame to clear the tank, since it's a larger O.D. than an original tank.  On the bright side, none of my original parts are going to waste!  The grip feel isn't that great though...  No biggie, it's comfortable enough to do the job.  I'll have pics for y'all tomorrow, along with initial numbers. 

It'll still be long, at around 41"+, but it's 9"+ shorter than it was originally, and fits in my rifle bag.  EDIT:  I just realized it's only 3" longer than what the bullpup version would have been with a newly made Clague LDC, and I get WAY more shots compared to the 13 cu in tank! Crossing fingers that it shoots straight! 

[KnifeMaker]

Thanks for posting the pic Ken!


Now, you gain what, about 4 4 1/2 iches of barrel at the same oal with tihs configuration?


Me Likey!


Mike

[YEMX]

Thanks for posting the pic Ken!


Now, you gain what, about 4 4 1/2 iches of barrel at the same oal with tihs configuration?


Me Likey!


Mike

No- the barrel is the same length- 20"...  But the bullpup's OAL w/a new 8" Clague LDC would have been 38" with the smaller tank.  This one will be around 41" w/the original LDC that Mr. Clague made for the original, super long version of this rifle.  So really, the bullpup kit didn't really save me enough length to make a big difference.  Plus I'll have more air on tap!  Now don't get me wrong- I do feel that the bullpup kit is an awesome addition to a TalonP!  I may (MAY!) get another one in the future, as now I have a AF bullpup kit with no home.  But after shortening the barrel and the frame, this .30 Condor is much more manageable!!  More importantly, it fits in my rifle case, which it wasn't able to do before.  I mean, 50"+ is a heck of a long rifle!!     

[YEMX]

I haven't assembled the gun yet- I'm waiting for the paint to dry.  I did a half-arsed camo paint job.  I only wanted to cover up all the areas that have been worked on, so the bare aluminium doesn't shine through...  But I just couldn't resist SMH...   

Anyhoo, I'm not sure how long factory frames are... I probably just did a lot of work for nothing (meaning I could have just bought the correct length frame if I had been patient)- but let me know...  Measured from the spinloc ring to the front of the frame is 15.5".  I just realized that the OAL of the LDC is longer than the frame itself at 16.5"!      So as you can see in the pictures, I had to cut down the top scope rail because of the larger tank.  I drilled and tapped for two end cap screws- top and bottom.  For some reason I was having issues with the SS end cap wanting to come out w/just the single screw.  I never had issues w/the Clague LDC- but I'm sure the collar that goes into the frame is longer than the end cap's collar.  But just in case, I drilled and tapped that second hole.  I had to also file down the bottom rail and give it a little radius because both the tank size and the AR grip- the frame was poking me a bit...  I've also taken a picture of the old 62 cu in 3k psi tank that Doug modified for me.  It's got a butt-plate, y'all will see that later when I assemble the gun.  I'll get final measurements when I finish assemble.  I'll get initial numbers tonight.

Apologies for the garbage cell camera pics- for some reason it just didn't want to focus...  Probably because my workshop is a mess- it didn't know what to focus on! 

 









I'm going to be mounting my NV scope on this rifle and it'll be my night time critter gitter...  Although, now that I'm using a larger tank, maybe I'll make my .30 Mrod bullpup my critter gitter, and this one a normal rifle... Oh boy.  Here we go again! 

[YEMX]

Well, here she is, in all her pug-fugly glory!!  She's 1" longer than expected:  42" OAL from the muzzle to the butt plate.



I'm going to need either high scope rings or adjustable rings, like those FX No Limit rings.  The tank's too big.  I'm not changing out the tank- I'm just pointing out I need taller or adjustable rings. 

Here's two more pics...  The first one is the grip area- I can work with it, but it sure isn't comfortable!  I may try a more vertical grip and see how that feels.  The other pic is of the butt plate.  Again, this tank was modified by Mr. Noble. 





Even though I didn't get to assemble this gun the way I'd like, It's only 4" longer than it would have been bullpuped, and would have been limited in shot's due to the TalonP tank.  It's still 9" shorter than the original rifle.  I'll figure something out for the AF bullpup kit- but in this case, I'm quite happy w/a normal rifle.

Now I just need to get some rings...  I WILL be putting that NV scope on the bullpup Mrod .30 I'm still trying to finish...

EDIT:  Okay- new grip...  I swapped it from another toy...  This angle feels MUCH better.  Still not perfect, but even more workable than the A2 grip...  I don't think anyone makes a vertical enough grip for this situation...  Oh well, I'm not changing it again- this is the grip.

[kkarmical]

That looks real good Tom,  I bet you're just itching to shoot it.

.30 Mrod bullpup? It's hard for me to keep track of all your builds, do you have a thread on that somewhere?

[YEMX]

That looks real good Tom,  I bet you're just itching to shoot it.

.30 Mrod bullpup? It's hard for me to keep track of all your builds, do you have a thread on that somewhere?

I shot her today- For the 60-70 FPE it's putting out, it's stupid quiet...  Mr. Clague's LDC is amazing!

I have a hard time keeping track of my builds sometimes too...  The bullpup .30 Mrod build:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=149978.0



I'm going to have to do a lot more shooting...  Here's some initial numbers- I don't trust the air gauge on the gun...  Doesn't seem right.  The original blew it's face plate and was leaking.  So I swapped it out, and all seems well.  As I said above, this thing is silly quiet for 60-70 fpe...

Here's the string using the original gauge.  The face plate blew off at 2k, so that's what was in the gun when I fired the first 20 shots...

2k psi-1.5k psi(??).  In fps.  44 gr. pellets.  Power wheel (PW) 4.0

777
777
774
774
777
774
774
777
777
767
764
757
760
731
757
754
757
754
754
751

I played around a little bit with the power wheel... decided to start at the bottom...  Only did 10 shots, my set up wasn't very comfortable.

3k psi-2.5k psi(?).  PW 1.0.  44 gr. pellets.  Again, fps.

849
862
856
842
846
839
833
833
820
826

I'm definitely going to have to fiddle with it some more...  I'm going to go back to the 20 shot shot string.  I'll keep y'all posted.  I'll add this- the larger tank FEELS AMAZING!!  The only down side is having to find new scope rings.  But the length and cheek weld, just fits me.  I'm really glad I went back to this configuration! 

[Stikman]

I like the Magpul  MOE Plus Grip, it is over molded with a quality rubber jacket. They also offer the MOE K2 Plus which has a more vertical profile, quite reasonable pricing to boot.

https://www.magpul.com/firearms-accessories/grips/ar15-m4-m16-sr25-m110-ar10/firearms-accessories/grips/ar15-m4-m16-sr25-m110-ar10-grips/moe-k2-plus-grip-ar15-m4?ProductColor=VO343

https://www.magpul.com/firearms-accessories/grips/ar15-m4-m16-sr25-m110-ar10/firearms-accessories/grips/ar15-m4-m16-sr25-m110-ar10-grips/moe-plus-grip-ar15-m4?ProductColor=VO343

[KnifeMaker]

Tom, I have what is probably the prototype of that ldc on my .257. Even at 200 fpe, she is astonishingly quiet!  

[YEMX]

I've said it before, but Mr. Clague does some amazing work!!  His Gen2 LDC on my .357 is the bee's knees!!

Nothing new, as the weather's been bad.  I'm also leaving on a trip soon...  I'll have to pick back up when I get back.

[YEMX]

I didn't see that I had mentioned it, but for anyone interested, there's 6.625" of barrel stick out from the frame. 

[YEMX]

I'm gonna have to get a "large tank angled extension" from PCPTunes.  The grip is just not comfortable at all, and I don't like it.  Anyhoo, it's supposed to push the tank back a touch, and also angles the tank down a bit so that you don't have to use crazy scope mounts.  At least, that's what it's advertised to do.  So I'll get that first, and see how things go before I go buying those No Limit rings...  Hopefully I can get away with just that angled tank adapter.  HOPEFULLY, the angled tank adapter will solve two problems- the grip issue and the scope ring height issue!  Worse comes to worst, I'll have to use this angled tank adapter and something like those no limit rings...  Unless I can measure how much more I need the scope angled, and just get some drooper rings from Mac1 instead...  That might be a better idea.  Well, cheaper at least! 

Even with the angled adapter, the Condor will still fit in my rifle bag- but dang it, it'll be that much longer!    I'll keep y'all posted.  I'll be ordering it in a week or two. 

[KnifeMaker]

I think your gonna really like the angled adapter. Works well!

[YEMX]

I think your gonna really like the angled adapter. Works well!

I hope so!  I really dont want to fork over the coin for those FX rings! 

[YEMX]

I just ordered that angled tank extender/adapter thing from pcptunes...  Holy. Frak.  $31 for shipping?!  Nope.  Never ordering from them again.  Jeeze.