some pcp (condor) questions

[1shotwander]

my very first pcp is gona be a condor, which will be like next year or christmas this year( have to pay my bills off before fun comes)
but any way, i got a few questions
1) is there a big drop difference in using 16 gr pellets and 32 gr pellets?
2) does the tank have to DOT approved every 5 or so years?
3) whats this hammer thing that people talk about?
4) longer barrel makes gun quieter, but less volicity right?
5) you can unscrew the bottle to fill right?
6) how long can you keep it loaded with out a problem
7) i herd that pcp's use springs, what kind and were are they located?
8) do these need a lot of taking care of (forget what the word is)

thanks in advance

[melloroadman]

Answers
1 . YES
2 . In reality all pcp air tubes should be checked but few are .
3 - http://www.stealthresource.org/home.htm
4 - No to both
5 - yes
6 - never store a gun loaded but you can hunt all day with it loaded and store it for years filled with air .
7  - refer to 3
8 -  no

[1shotwander]

well yeai know that #1 is kinda common sence, but how big of a difference?

[1shotwander]

alright i got another question (sorry for all the questions) what will different hammer weights/spring pull (?) have to do with air efficiency?

[ribbonstone]

System looks a lot different (and is different) but it's still running on a spring powered weight (the hammer) striking a valve stem (in the Condor's case, the top hat...which is mounted on the valve stem).  Basically, a heavy hammer opens the valve longer....valve open longer, more air squirts out before it closes (the time the valve is open is often called "dwell").

There does come a point where letting more air out for each shot just makes more noise...chronograph will show little or no increase in speed.  

Some people (me included) have gotten better results with a LIGHTER hammer and a stronger spring, giving the valve a fast quick "jab" (light hammer moving fast) rather than a slow round-house punch (heavy hammer moving slow).

[melloroadman]

Give Harry a p.m. and may be he can answer the fps question for you . This is what he has said to me in this thread . Also what was said about the hammer weight I agree with . Mine is a .177 and the high flow valve has a stronger spring in it than the .22 or the Talon tank . Which gives it a fast dwell time . If you look for the 1300 condor minus sticker weight reading on this sight I think you will see what can be done with a light weight hammer .Marvin
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12160&mid=95379#M95379

[1shotwander]

how do you change the pressure of the hammer? just a spring?

[melloroadman]

Spring or bushings .Marvin
http://www.stealthresource.org/barrel.htm

[SAVAGESAM]

Unless I missed it, you never said what you were going to use this condor for.  I use mine to hunt vermin with. In my case I have found that the 21.1 Gr. Beeman Kodiaks at 900-950 Fps. Work very well.  One of the nicest things about the A.F. line is their inherent flexability. You can set it up as a power gun or as a air miser.

[1shotwander]

oh, hell i'm gona use mine for hunting, thats the only reason i'm gona buy it, so theres no need to use the highest power on the power weel?

[SAVAGESAM]

Re: P.W. No reason. It will make your pellets go S.S. which is not good for accuracy. Do yourself a favor and buy a chrony if you don't have one already. You'll need it to get dialed in.

[SAVAGESAM]

Hey one shot,  are you gonna buy a scuba tank or hand pump?

[1shotwander]

at first i'm prop gona use a hand pump, but prob. latter i'll be using a scuba

[SAVAGESAM]

1shotwander - 2/13/2009  5:45 AM

at first i'm prop gona use a hand pump, but prob. latter i'll be using a scuba

Lol. Yes you will.