Supersport gas ram converion

[miller]

Hi folks I acquired a very nice 1986 Supersport Custom last year which is down on power. It's had a after market gas ram fitted don't know what make it is. I like the way it shoots and was wondering if anybody knows if fitting a new ram will give me more power.
It's currently running at about 9.5 ft lbs. 22 cal
Cheers Pete.

[flyingfish]

The horrid answer is possibly
Modern rams seem to be sealed so cannot be adjusted like a Theoben
Have you tried it with Jumbo RS?
They put 2ft/lb on my Superstar

[CapitalBee]

The sealed rams have a habit of dropping power. I've a Webley Excel doing about the same on a gas ram. John Knibbs used to stock replacements, or search eebay or Protek

[miller]

Thanks for the replies, I'm using falcon pellets which I think are rebadged jumbos.Have two different rams online one supposedly made by same people that did work for theoben which is more expensive than the second one.

[Neil54]

Sealed rams can be regassed.
There is a company in Derby that are very good.
You will need to tell them how much energy you want in it.
I think it's 40 or 400 newtons, the exact figure escapes me. It has a four in it.
If its a sealed chinese ram, they are about £40 new.
If its an aftermarket theoban ram, I would have it recharged.

[miller]

Thanks Neil think the theoben rams are about £65,is there any to tell which one I have and do you know what the company is called

[miller]

Found some theoben type at J Knibbs @£65, The ad it says not to use the 177 in a .22 because it would make gun hot, has anybody experienced this and what sort of power can I expect to get from using the correct ram.

[TonyL]

The horrid answer is possibly
Modern rams seem to be sealed so cannot be adjusted like a Theoben
Have you tried it with Jumbo RS?
They put 2ft/lb on my Superstar

Thanks for the replies, I'm using falcon pellets which I think are rebadged jumbos.Have two different rams online one supposedly made by same people that did work for theoben which is more expensive than the second one.

Yep, Jumbo RS and the RWS Hobby give by far the highest output in my early Supersport.

The ram in my Brocock Independent was from a Brazilian company. I know it's a completely different action to the Supersport one (Gamo 25mm based), but one of theirs might help. Pete, look no hands, would be able to come up with the details......

Or you might want to spring it. Mine makes power very easily with the standard spring and TbT guide set. After two spring shortenings, firing cycle very sweet and benign. Feels like it's just "ticking over" but very healthy output.

[p.j.]

I agree with Tony. Source a good quality replacement - not much wrong with the standard BSA item, change breech and piston seals, and so custom made guides.
The ram could make what is a nice little gun, unpleasant to use. It will be possible to get the BSA running like it has a ram with a spring, although not possible vice versa.

[mattyw1987]

I reckon it will be 400 newtons as the rams in the .177 Diana n-tecs say 600n on the side and Neil made me realise what that must mean 600 newtons.

[Neil54]

SGS engineering is the company.
400n for .22
440n for .177

These are only a guide from my experience.
I do have a gamo ram that I am not using at the moment.
When you get yours apart, take a photo against a ruler and we can help you further.

[look no hands]

I wa given a Theoben ram at one of the last bashes, fitted it last night to my Lightning and its doing 8ftp, so going to put some guides on the original BSA spring, I dud notice there was no piston weights in the piston, may be that's why mine was underpowered, the company in Brazil charge a fortune for postage to the UK and then you'd get hit for tax etc, so wouldn't be worth it, get the AWT one from Knibbs, if you want to stay rammer.

[miller]

Thanks for all replies chaps,think I will try going back to spring power
Cheers Pete

[Neil54]

You may need a spring compressor to get the rifle apart.
There is very little preload but you'll not compress the ram by hand.

[TonyL]

I wa given a Theoben ram at one of the last bashes, fitted it last night to my Lightning and its doing 8ftp, so going to put some guides on the original BSA spring, I dud notice there was no piston weights in the piston, may be that's why mine was underpowered, the company in Brazil charge a fortune for postage to the UK and then you'd get hit for tax etc, so wouldn't be worth it, get the AWT one from Knibbs, if you want to stay rammer.

I remember being a little disappointed many years ago upon stripping my first Supersport to find there were no weights fitted, Pete. That was a .177.
There were no weights in the one I currently have, but there's no guessing how many times it had been apart prior to coming into my possession a few years ago. Makes power very easily (it's a .22) with no weights and lightweight Delrin top hat. Guessing the long barrel helps too and that the weights might become desirable with the stumpy barrelled Lightning?

I'll certainly be keeping the ram in the Brocock for now. It's my only gas ram, so something different. Shoots very nicely and power output very respectable (Neil chrono'd it on Sunday). If, however, it ever ran into issues, I'll simply fit the spring & guide set you gave me for it.