Author Topic: Airforce Condor safety issue (Read 18656 times))

TimmyMac1 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 17, 2011, 11:34:40 AM »

Quote from: mustangmike on November 16, 2011, 10:58:29 PM

where getting off topic ..........every time i go to my dads deer lease with him to just check feeders or do some work he hands me a pistol and ya you dont go anywhere outside with out it..

When we go Hunting Pigs I always do the first stint as bird dog to chase the adults out of their safe place. I can't even imagine doing that without my 1911 in my hand. Even when we are sitting around BSing around camp everyone has their sidearms at the ready.

The theme is be ready for anything. Failed mechnical systems are part and parcel to using them. If you are pointing it in a safe direction all times and only have it loaded when you are on target it is a non-issue.

We always assume failed system/loaded gun & safe direction saves you grief.

Bandit_46 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 17, 2011, 12:06:33 PM »

Thanks Tim! It's reassuring to know what I've read, that the safety issue has only been a few guns out there. I just bought my Condor .25 in July and the only issue,(Well it was a foreseeable issue) was the cocking knob slamming back against the notch in the frame and beating it up. I installed a Nylon bushing on mine as soon as I took it out of the box and it's worked Perfectly!

I really don't see all the negativity about the Condor as being legitimate other than it being a single shot. I've yet to need a follow up unless I would have missed,and I really love this one I have.My Sumatra's got 5 follow up,and it's the same case,(if I hit the Quarry)I've haven't needed the follow up as both of these guns are Powerful enough for one shot kills at 50 yards,(And there's 11 less masked pests) that the Birds taken down so far,lol.

Terry I hope they get you fixed up ASAP,as these rifles are a Blast IMHO,and a real Pleasure to own and Mod if you so desire.

If mine fails it'll be pointed at the ground,but so far I haven't had an issue,and the Trigger broke in real Nice as well.

Thanks

Ribbonstone · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2011, 01:56:07 PM »

the advice to let AirFroce take care of the problem is excellent...they've been top notch in that kind of customer service (isn't that a big advantage to buying from a US maker?).

I'd certainly rather have no safety than a malfunctioning one...nothing quite as unsafe as a safety that isn't.

Have bought repeaters and tossed the repeating feater right out of the box...really do prefer single shots. But do realize that there is no reason a repeater can't be used as a single shot at least in philosophy...no rule that makes you shoot faster or more often, its a mater of mind set. The one repeater I have kept as a repeater is a Sumatra (and if I figure out a better way to make it an easy to load single shot, it may become one), but you'd not know if from listening to me shoot.

For me, repeaters are just a more convenient way to carry spare ammo when your hands are too cold.

MustangMike · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2011, 02:23:52 PM »

Quote from: TimmyMac1 on November 17, 2011, 11:24:46 AM

That gun should be sent directly to Air Force or to them via the selling dealer. They have had that issue on a small number of guns and the factory has a fix for it.
When they first came out they had an issue with the gun not firing when the trigger was pulled also. Whenever it has anything to do with a factory based liability issue I step aside and let them deal with it. It is their problem to sort out and stand behind & from my perspective they have done a good job of it.

I joke that when they do a repeater I will use it on my US FT & Hunter but reality is you need a back up shot only when YOU screw up and it is 95% of the time not going to be an opportunity at all. Replace folow with screwed.

Manufacturers are the only ones that should deal with these sort of things.

well said man, its like when you go and buy a new car and then 4 months later there is a recall for something.. i love doing my own wrench turning but if its under warranty or a recall i let some one else deal with it. if every one fixed every single problem on stuff their selves the companies like air force would never know there was an issue with something on their end of things..

Bandit_46 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2011, 03:19:31 PM »

When it comes to Safety's malfunctioning I agree 100%! The advise I've read when it comes to the safety problem is to take it out all together and forget it.I just read a post on another forum last night dedicated to AF rifles and the advise was, ''to remove it all together as it's junk''!Not Good advise I wouldn't think.

Little things like a cocking knob hitting the frame is not a Safety concern,But the day that mine go's off when disengaging the safety is the day it'll be going back,For Sure!

I really would like to know though,What causes this problem? From the layout it looks like it would have to be a flaw in the machining of the Seer bar as all that's happening is your moving the safety bar ahead to clear the Seer to rock and release the hammer.

I've only seen a handful of posts on this problem,so I wonder how old Terry's rifle is,and if it's been completely Resolved today?

My apologies if the wrong thing was taken from my Post,but I do still wonder how this could happen!
It's too late when someone's accidentally shot and then they recall the rifles, I would think they would have resolved it on the Newer guns, and for sure recalled all the Older ones whether owners had the problem or not,so it could be checked...

Tdubya · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2011, 04:08:35 PM »

Received the Condor in question about 3 weeks ago from PA. And they were waiting for stock to arrive, so I'd say it was a brand new gun. I may end up just removing it. If the new ones are still just using a piece of hardened wire to disengage the safety then I'll never trust it and may as well not use it. But I'll let em know about the problem. If they pay shipping both ways then I'll go that route. I love the rifle. Awesome power and accuracy. The safety is just such a joke.

Bandit_46 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 17, 2011, 04:12:50 PM »

Now that's NOT Good,,a Brand new rifle! I thought maybe she was a few years old.Well I guess it's all BS that they Fixed the problem,which means i may have the same problem as you one of these times.Mine go's off way easier than it did when it was new,,but if yours has the problem,well that means we all could have the same!

Thanks Terry.

MustangMike · « **Reply #27 on:** November 17, 2011, 04:20:04 PM »

i would call airforce and inform them of this, even make video of it happening so when you call them you can ask the person on the phone fo their email addy and send it to them so they can view it on while on the phone wth you.

wonder tho how hard it would be if some one wanted to fix it their selves by maybe drilling a small hole and using a pin or something.. but that would only be my choice if i owned a condor and af refused to fix it.. but a safety not working and letting a rifle fire while the safety is engaged leaves them open for a law suit.. so im sure they will fix it just need to call them and the fire under their rear ends lit up

cactusrat · « **Reply #28 on:** November 17, 2011, 07:28:27 PM »

Quote from: Bandit_46 on November 17, 2011, 04:12:50 PM

Now that's NOT Good,,a Brand new rifle! I thought maybe she was a few years old.Well I guess it's all BS that they Fixed the problem,which means i may have the same problem as you one of these times.Mine go's off way easier than it did when it was new,,but if yours has the problem,well that means we all could have the same!

Thanks Terry.

Yep! Same o same o. I just bought a new Talon SS from PA and it's the same safety as the Talon SS I bought six years ago. I remove the safety before I even fired a shot in the new one.

only1harry · « **Reply #29 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:52:18 PM »

Yeah the safety stinks, but it should not happen on a new gun. Sometimes this happens when you upgrade the hammer and spring together. The tension is too much on the safety "wire" and all the trigger components, that after a few thousand shots it ends up discharging when you disengage it. So it's usually with guns that have been modified, that this surfaces down the road after many shots.

This is the 1st I heard about it on a brand new Condor from the factory after 4yrs of owning and reading about them. Tim/Mac1 said they sometimes have this issue, so I don't doubt it at all. Your gun is proof enough. I just thought it was with modified guns with an aftermarket (stronger) spring that is the cause, because I had the same thing happen to ME, after it got tuned by a "professional". The gun started firing by itself <1,000 shots later, so I sent it back to him. He replaced a couple of trigger components, removed the aftermarket hammer spring, put an OEM spring in it, and it was like new. He said the problem is the aftermarket springs and so have others..

My 1st Condor, the .22cal, had no safety either when I bought it used (was removed by previous owner), and I liked that.. but I replaced the frame since, and I made the decision to order the new frame with the trigger & safety assembly from Air Force (they put the trigger in the frame and shipped it pre-assembled.. they didn't even charge extra for labor or anything), so that if something goes wrong with the tank or valve or any other component, I can send it back to them under warranty. I am only concerned with the valve as far as warranty goes, (the rest of the gun I can fix anything myself because it's pretty simple to work on), but they usually ask you to ship the entire gun, and if there is no safety on, or any other aftermarket part, they void the warranty.

As far as the Talon & Condor being a single-shot, so what? You need a 2nd shot to kill a squirrel or any small-game animal with 60 or 70fpe? I have never needed a 2nd shot with 600-700 critters I have taken with my Condors, except with a downed crow 3yrs ago. It was just my shot placement was a little off (windy and 50yd shot), and the pressure in the tank had gotten pretty low, but the crow didn't go far on the ground, so I was able to reload and finish it off. You can reload the Talon/Condor very fast. Faster than a Springer.
I have taken 25lb raccoons (fox, possum, etc.) with a single shot. Never needed a 2nd shot for any critter except that 1 crow. I hate crows

Air Force will take care of you. They are in Texas good od' USA and are very helpful. They will ship both ways. If they try to get out of that, complain a little until they do or tell them you will return it for a refund where you bought it from. No need to send your gun to Korea or a Korean-gun tuner to get it fixed

Made in the USA and the manufacturer takes care of everything(!)

Let us know how you make out, and please ask them to describe exactly what the problem was, and why did that gun slip through their QA? Also ask them about a multi-shot version

MustangMike · « **Reply #30 on:** November 21, 2011, 10:36:42 PM »

yes tell them please there is a big interest with a repeating condor... if i were to buy a condor it would be my long range gun

TimmyMac1 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 22, 2011, 10:59:39 AM »

Quote from: mustangmike on November 21, 2011, 10:36:42 PM

yes tell them please there is a big interest with a repeating condor... if i were to buy a condor it would be my long range gun

When the Single shot AF guns were released they told everyone that there would be a repeater version coming. That really blew my mind because I'm picturing some sort of Repeater mechanism like the Old HyScore 800 series guns put how to implement it as a retrofit was one of those mindbenders.
At the 2011 Shot Show John McCasalin the boss finally admitted it was a pipe dream and he had tried so many ways it was ridiculous and he had finally thrown in the towel and admitted it would have to be a fresh approach to get it done.
Up to that point I had told everyone I was waiting for the AF repeater system to come out so I could fit it to the US FT & Hunter.
There will be no retrofit but it was so long that they said they would have it that it is now a running joke.

only1harry · « **Reply #32 on:** November 23, 2011, 12:34:49 AM »

I guess my (sarcastic) smiley face wasn't enough for some

The repeater version from AF is something we have always joked about. I cannot see retrofiting a repeating mechanism to the current design, without major modifications to the rifle, or staring from scratch with a totally new design. That is the price to pay when you have an ingenious but simple design to begin with. I am sure they can keep the all-aluminum frame though.

They should really be working on a little better trigger (1.8-2lbs instead of 3?) & safety though, but again, I don't think there is a lot they can do because of the design of the rifle and the limited space they have to work with at the bottom of the frame. If they were going to do it, you would think they would have done something after 10yrs.. except all they can come up with, is different colors and a shorter version they dare call "pistol".

HauntedMyst · « **Reply #33 on:** November 23, 2011, 01:42:14 PM »

This happened with me so I stared down the barrel to see if I could see what was happening while I pulled the trigger. Now I have just the one good eye.

only1harry · « **Reply #34 on:** November 23, 2011, 01:49:36 PM »

1 eye is better than none, no?

Yeah it's a good idea to look down the barrel from the muzzle end when a 65-80fpe PCP (depending on .22 or .25cal) is not discharging for some reason

Also put the barrel up against your ear too so you can hear what is going on... NOT!

Talon22 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 25, 2011, 11:39:23 PM »

what happened?

Bandit_46 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 26, 2011, 05:44:57 PM »

I was talking to Airforce about this issue, and Rachel wanted to check my Serial. Mine was just built in July of this year,(It was ordered for me from my supplier) and she Guaranteed me mine was not gonna have the Safety Issue,(that's a pretty big guarantee),but I'll take their word for it.

Apparently there was a problem,(and they can tell you by your Serial)if your rifle is in the batch with this problem.She wanted to check and see if I had bought a gun that had been on the Shelf for awhile,but mine was Ordered in July and delivered August.I still wanted to hear that from her as I thought mine might be a gun that was switched from a .22 to a .25.

I do have a question though.My Safety has never been hard to push off,Is that a Bad thing? It doesn't take much effort to take it off (no more effort than it takes to snap my Sumatra's off),and I was concerned that mine might be a candidate for problems down the road.

Anyway,Terry I hope you get yours fixed up as she said to pass the word to you and call her or email her and she would make sure to get you fixed up.

Thanks and here's her email address: rachel@airforceairguns.com

Jaymo · « **Reply #37 on:** November 26, 2011, 07:17:13 PM »

I'd love to take my DR200, NHM91, and Mini Thirty on a heli-hog hunt.

Bandit_46 · « **Reply #38 on:** November 26, 2011, 08:28:42 PM »

Huh,lol?

Tdubya · « **Reply #39 on:** November 26, 2011, 11:55:50 PM »

Bandit_46
Thanks for the info. Been busy with the holidays and all. But I'll send her an email with my serial #.

Thanks again!
Terry

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Airforce Condor safety issue

Author Topic: Airforce Condor safety issue (Read 18656 times))

Jaymo