A few unexpected delays, but the pistons and main cylinders were shipped today! So at some point next week the build will start.
The plan is to build one up as a recoilling version to start with, just to check it's all sealing as it should, and the trigger is safe. Then I'll build the second up as a full fat recoilless version.
Whilst I've been waiting for these parts, I've been costing up a production version. Tentatively looking around £900. It initially seems a lot for a springer, but it will be low production, hand built, and completely recoilless. In this world of £2000+ mass produced PCP's, maybe £900 isn't so bad
Following with much interest 😁
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Can't see this being anything other than very special and looking forward to further news.
Affording one, certainly in the shorter term, could be a different matter, though.
Best of luck with this project, Dan.
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Out of interest, would you use an off the shelf trigger unit ? HW or AA ?
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This is building nicely! Heh! Big birthday year too
Unfortunately any advances are usually small scale and the preserve of enthusiasts. This one probably included.
A recoilless springer that could be sold for £400 would be something else! Maybe I'll have a word with the people at Hatsan
The prototypes are using AA triggers, with a modified top sear. Purely because I wanted to develop the recoilless mechanism first, rather than try to do everything at once.
I've already designed the production intent trigger though. It was based on the Diana 66/75 to start with, but as you look at other manufacturers you can see how ideas are borrowed/developed. To me the Anschutz match triggers (9003/9015) look a lot like developed versions of the Rapid Mk4 trigger. Which looks like a cassette version of a Diana 75.
Mine is another version of this layout. It currently has 1st and 2nd stage travel, over travel, and trigger weight adjustments and the safety is reset-able. Also, if the rifle is not cocked, manually setting the safety will set the trigger, so it can be dry fired (for helping setup trigger, or trigger practice).
I need to be careful with the leverage ratios because this will be holding back a lot of spring, but it shouldn't be far off an old Diana.
Thanks. If other people can get excited about this project, that might help with motivation during the less smooth times
I'm excited!!
Not a springer fan,but this looks really exciting.people will pay that money if the quality and performance is right.good luck and keep us posted.
Dan, I think there is a place for a top end springer and if right and built with quality etc, price will be secondary, look at the likes of whiscombe etc. I know not a springer, but look at the quality of Shauns ISP Spartan, all ways a waiting list for quality. I am looking forward to seeing the end result. What timescale have you put on a full working prototype. ?
Rough outline of timeplan:
- July/August/September develop the recoilless system on these first prototypes and work out stroke/tp dimensions
-october onwards start shooting with prototype 2.0 which will have my trigger and barrel block on.
-shoot HFT winter series. Got a few HFT shooters in mind to spend some time and give me feedback. I want to make sure there are no weird shooting characteristics from different positions (kneeling/standing/prone etc).
- assuming all goes well, raise some funds to make the first batch round about April 2021
I'm planning to fund the first 10 or 20 actions myself. Then when people order one, take a small deposit to put towards the stock. This way people can physically see their action before parting with any money, but I also won't end up with the wrong number of right/left handed stocks.