Seven years of PCP testing pics and observations

Well over the last 7 years I have been doing lots of testing on my Airforce Condor platform as I required a platform that could be readily changed.

I have tested .177, .22, and .25. Used CO2, 800 psi, 1200 psi, 2000 psi HPA regulated , 2400 to 3000 HPA with a 490 and 858cc bottle tank.

12" .22, 17" .22, 24" .22, 18" .177, 14" .25, 24" .25, LW standard and Polygonal twist.

Pellets in .177 7.9 grain to 52 grain .25 slugs.

Over barrel, under barrel bipods.

Stock hammer, 90, 100 and 110 gram hammers.

Velocity up to 1450 fps.

25 to 150 yards pesting.

4 power to 40 power scopes.

11mm and 20mm rails.

So one kind of gets the picture that I have done a fair amount of config testing. Now Walter (Voltar1) has made this all possible and I commend him for his patience and kindness in teaching me about airguns and all his time invested in making requested parts for my testing.

So here are some observations:

1. .177 pellets driven at 1450 fps remained stable while in the supersonic range but the sonic crack is useless if pesting.

2. Barrel length has nothing to do with accuracy only the crown as far as barrels alone go.

3. A wide stable bipod mounted in a supported area aids accuracy.

4. JSB pellets seem to be the best all round and most forgiving pellets in LW choked barrels and as well seem to have the best longrange flight characteristics.

5. Filling a PCP at 2400 to 2500 psi really maximizes bottle refills when using a 3000 psi fill tank.

6. CO2 was nowhere as consistant as HPA when used outside.

7. Even a regulated HPA tank on my Condor only showed marginal increases in accuracy as opposed to my tuned 490 and 858cc bottles. This is where the KISS principal really shines as having a tuned tank as opposed to a regulator is just one less thing to go wrong in the field.

8. A heavy one piece custom hammer from Talon Tunes really aids in a flatter more consistant shot string.

9. I found the 3X9 scope with Mildots way better suited when pesting but a 24 to 40 power is required when doing long distance paper tests.

10. 11mm rails are really silly all guns should standardize to 20mm rails way more choices out there for accesories and mounts, I am 100% converted to 20mm systems.

11. Pesting past 75 yards has many variables that are outside a shooters control therefore I will only use .25 pellets which results in way more one shot anchored kills wind is the enemy such as flight time.

12. Standard twist are way more forgiving in pellet choice whereas Polygonal barrels once matched to pellets such as JSB produce higher velocities and great accuracy.

13. A higher volume main tank really flattens out a bell curve and allows for mild to wild shooting velocities.

14. I have standardized on .25 JSB Exact King pellets as confirmed by Harry down under. .25 pellets are more humane not question retain much more energy downrange and deal with the wind far better then .177 or .22. Punching thru 5/8 plywood attests to how much power is available.

15. Velocity must be kept under 960 fps for any accuracy with the 880 fps range being the most accurate however when pesting mid 900s I found worked best all round.

16. Too short of a barrel makes poor use of an aircharge with a 24" barrel making the best aircharge use and returning the flattest bell curve.

Finally some pics from over the years:

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14" .25 casual groups:

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.177 and .25

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.22 AA410 and .25 Condor at 45 yards doing casual groups:

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My friend's young son 1st introduction to PCPs:

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.25 24" config while pesting:

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24" .25 config:

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.25 150 yard power:

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Cowpie test: stupid idea

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150 yard views:

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20mm rails added:

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.22 28 grain Eun Jins at 50 yards the wifes cookie sheet also took a beating!:

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.22 12" Condor:

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100 yard .22

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17" string Blue Predators, Red 18.1 grain JSB:

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88 g CO2 test:

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858cc .25 string:

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My son just had to shoot the big airgun:

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Oh and my 14" .25 pushes .25 JSB 25.4 grain pellets at 917.8 fps so the 10" shorter barrel, lighter weight, and shorter overall length was well work it.

Randy