Not to sound a bit snobish, but I do have a problem with ALL kits... simply on the basis that unless the port / stroke / piston weight is already well setup, they are going to have to be a compromise.
It's also slightly ironic that it can be cheaper and more effective (speaking generally, not talking specifically about 97s here), to sleave down a transfer port, or add a short stroke nose and touch nothing else, rather than invest in a kit that gives you a new seal, spring, guides, TH etc when actually they weren't the area that most needed improvement... if you see what I mean. Rather like a chain being as strong as it's weakest link, same with a tune.
Guns with good basic parameters (e.g. the 99s) DO lend themselves to worthwhile improvements with a basic kit, as that's the bit that's weakest (spring / guide fit). For guns like the TX200 Mk3, a kit is a complete waste of time and money until you have sorted the swept volume (and ideally the port too).
26mm 77s / 97s IMHO are somewhere between the two - need either a shorter stroke or a sleave really, but the spring / guide fit of a stock gun can be quite iffy too, so clearly some benefit there.
Rgds - JB
Always looking for any cheap, interesting, knackered "project" guns. Thanks, JB.
Got to admit it has taken me a long time for that to start sinking in:
Having been brought up (so to speak) on 80's, 77's, 97's etc, and had tuned and standard versions if each, my mindset was always that the guides, polishing etc was what did the trick. My experience was std=ok but not great. Decent tune = good.
And the examples I owned seemed to back that up. I even once got rid of what with hindsight was a perfectly good .22 25mm 77k because I thought the shot cycle was harsh and twangy, long before I had any understanding of how easy it would have been to put it right.
In recent years I've cottoned on a bit more to what is involved but even now I don't fully get what makes them tick: My 99s for example was ok but nowhere near as nice as my std stroke/bore tuned 80 (or its similar venom predecessor), yet with a decent guide, spring and minor fettle that same little rifle is now superb.
By the same token I own tuned standard stroke 97's which are to my eyes and hands also very good.
My old-school gut would tell me that the dinky little pistons and less volume being put forward by the likes of yourself, bigtoe et all OUGHT to be inferior, but I've seen them (and I think shot yours) at the bash, and respectfully I doff my hat because clearly they work. My gut was wrong and you guys are right.
I wish someone would put into production a version of what you lot are doing. I've heard rumours of a new weihrauch. It would make my day if it were a proper slimmed-down 97 with 99-esque internals. (HW57 mk2 but with a sliding breech anyone)
Last edited by Taz72; 22-05-2015 at 10:28 AM.
Cheers for that, Neil.
Will see what I can do.....I have Wednesdays off. Depending on how many more bikes I have to get out, I might be having the Thursday off as a lieu day for working Bank Holiday Monday.
But......a lot depends on what the Mrs has planned..........With it being Half Term, I'm suspecting she might be wanting to have a day out somewhere with the darling little cherubs!!
Will see what I can work out.
Cheers again.
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- May 2025.........BOING!!
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- May 2025.........BOING!!