Webley Hawk MKIII - Can I improve it?

[murkywaters]

Thought I would ask if there is anything I can do to sweeten up a Birmingham Webley Hawk MK3?

I was given this rifle recently in bit of a sorry state, it's now all stripped down, cleaned and degreased, bit of rust on action/barrel cleaned up okay with oil and wire wool and stock will be refurbed.

Looking around an O-ring seems the common way to improve the piston along with a deburr and polish in the right places, but what else can I do?

Any ideas greatly appreciated..

[evert]

The Mk2 needs a transfer port sleeve as the port has too much volume for synthetic seals, and it also needs a spring guide, as there is no real guide in the gun from the factory.

I dont know if these points aplly to the mk3, but if they do, they are worth a try.

Edit: looking at the prints at the Chambers gunmakers site, I see that the Mk3 would benefit from a proper guide.

[evert]

I have found some good info from Mick here:
http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....50#post5976450

[WILBA]

Do not put to powerful a spring in it or you will elongate the rear block retaining pin holes.

[murkywaters]

Thanks everyone for the info so far, going by the link bringing the transfer port down to 2.5mm looks a good mod but how do I do that, is it a case of taping out the 4.00mm port and screwing in the 2.5mm port? If so where can you buy different transfer ports?

I also agree a spring guide should be essential, but without machining the back block how can the spring be guided?

Thanks again ;-)

[evert]

If you have access to a lathe, make a brass sleeve measuring 3.9mm on the outside, and loctite it in place. Some people have bought brass tubing of suitable dimensions and cut to length.

My hawk actually benefitted from a piece of copper tube as a floating guide in the spring. I made it a semi-snug fit in the spring, and cut it to maximum length after adding a top hat. Not as good as a bolted on rear guide, but better than nothing.

[EdSIII]

I have bought the chambers spring guide and top hat in their "tuning" section for the vulcan and after turning down the base in a drill press with sandpaper to the correct diameter have used them in a few webleys like the tracker that all use the same basic spring. Helped quite a bit.