Dry firing an HW45 to size the piston seal...

[Mark A]

I did the dry firing twice thing after seeing it mentioned on here and it didnt do anything to stop it smoking. It made a loud bang with a lot of smoke twice and that was about it.

[Phil Russell]

Apart from dry firing not being a good thing I cannot see how it would help anyway. I know that dry firing is maybe not so bad as we all used to think but I still can't bring myself to do it, for whatever reason.
And, thinking about it, a snug fitting seal could actually promote smoking due to the more efficient pressure, and so heat, developed. Then again, maybe a loose seal would allow more lubricant to migrate in front of the seal. Why do you think the seal is loose? Is the power down? Remember the HW45 is a dual power pistol.
I guess the only proper way to eliminate smoking is to strip it down to clean excess lubricant away. Or, as most reviewers seem to do in the magazines when reviewing a new gun, ignore it until the excess lubricant is used up. So ... if your pistol is virtually unused you may prefer to ignore the smoke for now. It smells good anyway ....
Cheers, Phil

[tinbum]

I dry fire twice on rebuild, it won't stop the smoking, its all the grease you remove while its apart that does that. The seal is a hard PTFE and dry firing helps to expand it to fit the chamber.

I have written a picture heavy article on stripping and fettling the 45 which will be in the next issue of Airgun Shooter

[Phil Russell]

I have written a picture heavy article on stripping and fettling the 45 which will be in the next issue of Airgun Shooter

Excellent .. another guide for my collection. I look forward to seeing it.
Cheers, Phil

[NickG]

The standard seal for the 45 is rubbish, the aussie red seal is better though needs some material removing from the rear to make it work properly , the only 45 I have re built I ended up binning the standard seal and making my own , that made the power easily with no dieseling .

[Shed tuner]

The standard seal for the 45 is rubbish, the aussie red seal is better though needs some material removing from the rear to make it work properly , the only 45 I have re built I ended up binning the standard seal and making my own , that made the power easily with no dieseling .

Yup. I said as much on a similar thread last week 😀

[averageplinker]

I dry fire twice on rebuild, it won't stop the smoking, its all the grease you remove while its apart that does that. The seal is a hard PTFE and dry firing helps to expand it to fit the chamber.

I have written a picture heavy article on stripping and fettling the 45 which will be in the next issue of Airgun Shooter

Do you know when the issue with your strip guide is due to hit the shelves? A must buy for me now!

[averageplinker]

I have my own theory about the origins of this advice, probably only based on hearsay and misremembered facts. Didn't the Webley Omega start out with a PTFE seal too and did the advice originally pertain to that rifle??
Rich.

[tinbum]

Do you know when the issue with your strip guide is due to hit the shelves? A must buy for me now!

The publisher posts me a copy when it comes out, I'll let you know when it arrives

I have my own theory about the origins of this advice, probably only based on hearsay and misremembered facts. Didn't the Webley Omega start out with a PTFE seal too and did the advice originally pertain to that rifle??
Rich.

The 45 dry firing advice has been around as long back as I can remember, could more than likely have been Cardrew or Bowkett.

[Rob-Ontarget]

Do you know when the issue with your strip guide is due to hit the shelves? A must buy for me now!

December edition 102 is out around the 2nd of november..