Spring guide tightness?

[look no hands]

yeah, good call, that could create notchiness if it's burred or not profiled.

I'll see if I can see it through the cocking slot, if not then it will have to be a strip down in the future.

Pete

[look no hands]

a little update, I managed to prise the paint brush from my hand and decided to investigate inside the Lightning, well it turns out the guy who tuned the rifle before Chris owning it decided it would be a good thing to use a broken spring, after a rummage through the box of springs, I've come up with a very nice fitting Titan that fits the original metal guide lovely, there's a very slight resonance on firing but no twang and the addition of a top hat stolen from a spare kit finishes off the repair nicely, not sure what the power is as not chrono'd it yet, a job for the morning.

Pete

[TonyL]

a little update, I managed to prise the paint brush from my hand and decided to investigate inside the Lightning, well it turns out the guy who tuned the rifle before Chris owning it decided it would be a good thing to use a broken spring, after a rummage through the box of springs, I've come up with a very nice fitting Titan that fits the original metal guide lovely, there's a very slight resonance on firing but no twang and the addition of a top hat stolen from a spare kit finishes off the repair nicely, not sure what the power is as not chrono'd it yet, a job for the morning.

Pete

Sounding promising then, Pete. Guessing the spring will have broken whilst in use as opposed to being fitted in that state, though?

[look no hands]

Sounding promising then, Pete. Guessing the spring will have broken whilst in use as opposed to being fitted in that state, though?

Of course Tone, just my sarcasm creeping in, just chronoed it and it's doing just over 9ftp, I've not put any slip washers on it and to be honest, like we've talked about at the bashes, do we really need full power from all of the rifles we bring, it won't be used for hunting, I think after my plinking session with the Fenman and my arm aching after about 20 shots, really puts me off enjoying using hard to cock rifles, so I think softer sprung rifles are the way to go when bash shooting.

Pete

[TonyL]

Of course Tone, just my sarcasm creeping in, just chronoed it and it's doing just over 9ftp, I've not put any slip washers on it and to be honest, like we've talked about at the bashes, do we really need full power from all of the rifles we bring, it won't be used for hunting, I think after my plinking session with the Fenman and my arm aching after about 20 shots, really puts me off enjoying using hard to cock rifles, so I think softer sprung rifles are the way to go when bash shooting.

Pete

That Fenman was a particularly tough little bugger to cock, Pete. At least in that set-up.

I don't hunt these days. Some of my rifles are, indeed, "full UK power". But I have one or two that aren't. Rifles like that Mercury S I brought along. I asked Will for a slightly shorter spring than usual, mainly to assist building. The resultant very low cocking effort makes it a very nice rifle with which to shoot for long periods. Smooth, too. And at around 9.5 ft.lbs., it was connecting very easily with some of the smaller targets at more sensible ranges. And many have enjoyed considerable pleasure with the lovely little HW30 at Bash events due to the low cocking effort and mild manners. Even the longer targets are a reality, with wind drift effect as opposed to the more curved trajectory being the thing to watch for.

[gtfreight]

That Fenman was a particularly tough little bugger to cock, Pete. At least in that set-up.

I don't hunt these days. Some of my rifles are, indeed, "full UK power". But I have one or two that aren't. Rifles like that Mercury S I brought along. I asked Will for a slightly shorter spring than usual, mainly to assist building. The resultant very low cocking effort makes it a very nice rifle with which to shoot for long periods. Smooth, too. And at around 9.5 ft.lbs., it was connecting very easily with some of the smaller targets at more sensible ranges. And many have enjoyed considerable pleasure with the lovely little HW30 at Bash events due to the low cocking effort and mild manners. Even the longer targets are a reality, with wind drift effect as opposed to the more curved trajectory being the thing to watch for.

The HW30 is a cracking little rifle. It's Emma's favourite and at May's Bash she hit the bucket with it.

[TonyL]

The HW30 is a cracking little rifle. It's Emma's favourite and at May's Bash she hit the bucket with it.

Superb stuff. I think Trumpy Dave has also harrassed The Bucket with the '30. Maybe others too. Fully vindicating the "let's go lower power, even milder shooting" approach to getting the job done in a easier to cock and lighter weight package.

[baldinio]

a little update, I managed to prise the paint brush from my hand and decided to investigate inside the Lightning, well it turns out the guy who tuned the rifle before Chris owning it decided it would be a good thing to use a broken spring, after a rummage through the box of springs, I've come up with a very nice fitting Titan that fits the original metal guide lovely, there's a very slight resonance on firing but no twang and the addition of a top hat stolen from a spare kit finishes off the repair nicely, not sure what the power is as not chrono'd it yet, a job for the morning.

Pete

Sorry to hear the spring was broken mate, glad it was an easy fix though. Will buy you a pint at the next bash by way of compensation

[look no hands]

Sorry to hear the spring was broken mate, glad it was an easy fix though. Will buy you a pint at the next bash by way of compensation

Don't be daft, you weren't to know, and anyway where's the pub at the bash or do you mean your alcohol forcing area, ahem sorry, your tent

Pete

[baldinio]

Don't be daft, you weren't to know, and anyway where's the pub at the bash or do you mean your alcohol forcing area, ahem sorry, your tent

Pete

When I said buy you a pint what I really meant was ply you with homebrew

[look no hands]

When I said buy you a pint what I really meant was ply you with homebrew

I somehow thought that might be the case

Pete

[TonyL]

When I said buy you a pint what I really meant was ply you with homebrew

A tipple of the highest order.

[junglie]

Sorry to hear the spring was broken mate, glad it was an easy fix though. Will buy you a pint at the next bash by way of compensation

Very common in lightnings for the spring to snap, seen it in 2 mercuriys too, think bsa had a batch of overtempered springs at some point in the early 90's late 80's.

[TonyL]

Only the older brum built supersports & lightnings had it i think, not seen one in any later lightnings myself.

Very common in lightnings for the spring to snap, seen it in 2 mercuriys too, think bsa had a batch of overtempered springs at some point in the early 90's late 80's.

Not quite sure (as I'm far from expert regarding these) as to when they were fitting the sleeves. The .177 Supersport that I bought new in 1988 didn't have one. I'd guess they were introduced a fair bit later than then? Mind you, I seem to remember that those early ones should also have been supplied with different piston weights (steel washers?); mine came with none (neither fitted nor in the box).

The old Suoersport I have now's spring was broken upon arrival to me, hence Pete jumping in with his fine offer at the time of a free one. Cheers, Pete.

[evert]

a little update, I managed to prise the paint brush from my hand and decided to investigate inside the Lightning, well it turns out the guy who tuned the rifle before Chris owning it decided it would be a good thing to use a broken spring, after a rummage through the box of springs, I've come up with a very nice fitting Titan that fits the original metal guide lovely, there's a very slight resonance on firing but no twang and the addition of a top hat stolen from a spare kit finishes off the repair nicely, not sure what the power is as not chrono'd it yet, a job for the morning.

Pete

I get very good firing behaviour and accuracy with Titan #1 in the supersport/lightnings I've tried it in.
Just put a delrin tophat to guide it properly, plus a tight guide and som slip washers at each end of the spring, and you'll get a very nice 11-12fpe gun.