Lightning xl.....TWANG!!! help please

[head shot]

Hi,
Firstly, I have been "lurking" for a while (as every other newcomer does!) Fantastic wealth of knowledge hidden in the collective brains of the board.
I have recently got back into shooting after almost a 10 year break, I have got myself a lightning xl .22 with a ags sapphire 3-9x40, managed to aquire shooting rights on the farm I live next to, (30 second walk!) There are plenty of rabbits to stalk, I managed to get 4 @ 30 metres in 2 hours at the weekend, which I was quite pleased with.

Main point of thread being......
As much as I love the lightning xl and the rabbits don`t always run a mile when I fire and it twangs, I can`t help but feel it would be a more capable rifle minus the horrible twang.
Anybody got any suggestions, other than selling it and getting a pcp.

Thanks in advance

Gary
p.s. I don`t always have time to get on line so sorry about any delay in replying to anyone.

[Sub Sea Sniper]

Hopefully it should settle down after a couple of thousand rounds. This allows everything to bed in and start working properly. It's the same as buying a new car, it runs more smoothly after a few thousand miles.

If the twang is really annoying you get a few tins of cheap pellets and have a mammoth plinking session in your garden, get as many rounds through the gun as you can.

If the twang doesn't disappear after two thousand rounds you may have a problem. Don't despair until then.

Sub Sea Sniper

[shrendi]

Twang is almost always guide fit, if you can replace the spring and fit guides that are a snug fit.

[ratboy2]

Is the gun new or second hand, if used then it may be suffering wear and tear like my 97k was, and I had it tweaked ... details here, so you may need it looking at.

[markone]

as sub sea said give it some time to bed in if you like the gun that much you could fit a Theoben Gas-Ram it will shoot nice then. I have one in my tracker its like a new gun

[shrendi]

It will be guide fit, almost 95% certain.

[phils_wicked]

A good ammount of vp90 (moly slip stuff) put onto the spring via the cocking grove on the underside of the cylinder can help.

I did it to my old supersprt many years ago to quieten down the action a tad. Im assuming the actions are mechanicaly the same.

Dont use tooooo much at first.

If that dosent work and you have put several 1000 rounds through it, look to get a new spring with matching guide (as previouslt mentioned)

[head shot]

I have been plinking quite a lot to get my eye back in, mainly on grapes and the "loveheart sweets" GREAT FUN"
I`ve only put 600-700 through so far, so I guess I'll see how it settles down.
In idiot language what is the guide fit?
any one else have an opinion on squirting a bit of grease up into the spring?? would dry ptfe do the same?
Thanks for your rapid replies by the way.
Forgot to say it is a new gun.

[Mad Pierre]

In idiot language what is the guide fit?

Idiot language caused by lack of punctuation.

He means the spring guide may not fit as well as it should.

Spring guides fit inside the spring to ensure straighter compression.

[shrendi]

The spring guide guides the spring and are often to loose, which causes the vibration known as twang. Fit more snugly and vibration is muted.

[Shakey]

I brought a lightning off Baz a couple of years ago, superb rifle and has accounted for many bunnies Cheers Baz!
I would say mine's got softer over those couple of years........


sits and waits for the puns....but non intended!!!

[GaraGun]

Have you listened to your XL with someone else firing it?
I find mine is so quiet, that big muffler does exactly what it's supposed to, that I hear every other little squeak rattle & roll
I'm not saying it sounds twangy at all, & I haven't had it apart yet, no need, after some 3000+ pellets but when my son's fire it, with me alongside, it's a very solid sounding little rifle.

[head shot]

Thanks for all the advice, I`ll get my brother to stick a few through it on friday, and see how noisy it is not firing it myself.
Other than that I guess I`ll have to be patient and wait until it`s worn in a bit.
Thanks again
Gary

[Graham2]

I shot a Lightning extensively recently, and I must say that the new spring guide they've fitted is very effective in dampening spring twang. I wouldn't go putting too much moly grease on the spring though, as you'll end up slowing down the piston and losing power. I'm sure somone on here could turn you up a tighter fitting spring guide for not a lot of money. Hopefully somone will see this and offer their services.

[zebedee71]

A good ammount of vp90 (moly slip stuff) put onto the spring via the cocking grove on the underside of the cylinder can help.

I did it to my old supersprt many years ago to quieten down the action a tad. Im assuming the actions are mechanicaly the same.

Dont use tooooo much at first.

If that dosent work and you have put several 1000 rounds through it, look to get a new spring with matching guide (as previouslt mentioned)

I don't know the propperties of the VP90 but if you use ANY other oils etc to lube your gun make sure they are NOT petrolium based and if possible try to use a Silicone based oil.

Reason being if you Oil your spring then inevetably oil will get to the Piston chamber EVEN putting oil BEHIND the spring you will eventually get a thin film of oil on the piston chamber walls and can cause Dieseling. Not only can it make your gun ILLEGAL (over 12FLB) but the extra force of the Dieseling can also damage your Gun.

phils_wicked!!!!

I am not having a go at your comment in any way Bud ok? I just wanted to point out some eventualities if the wrong Lube is used.

zebedee