Is professional tuning worth it?

[Shed tuner]

. But the key ingredients will be the knowledge and necessary equipment (obviously), an inquiring mindset and the time to build, test, strip, improve, test, strip etc etc., to achieve empirical results as opposed to theoretical ideals.

yup, but it's amazing once you know what works and all those experiments are done, how well it can be applied to different guns. I knew my 24mm HW80 was going to work, and it is awesome (even thought I say so myself) Sleeving down excessively large ports is just a no-brainer now I know the range to work in (3mm is seldom far out on anything but the shortest ports)

[Wilderbeest]

IS PROFESSIONAL TUNING WORTH IT?

Starting point ; Air rifle under 12ft/lbs maximum output.

End Point ; Air Rifle under 12ft/lbs maximum output , but can be mechanically more refined to use.

Cost ; £100's .

You have to fill in the next bit ; {Yes........ (No)..

[rapidresponse1]

id say yes

[Zomboid]

Is it worth it? Yes.

What does it mean?

I have three home "tuned" rifles. Two BSAs which are from the 1980s. Easy to work on and not hard to get shooting nicer. And a HW77 which all I did was detwang it. Again, relatively easy but nothing ground breaking. Cost was low and not too long to do - although the BSA Mercury was a full rebuild. The comments I have received from other people are very complimentary. An engineer at Bisley was most impressed with my 77. Doing it yourself gives you a connection with the rifle you don't get if someone else does it.

In contrast my other guns have all had the SFS treatment and the difference is notable. Triggers are crisper, the actions even smoother and they are a genuine pleasure to shoot.

That for me is the most important thing: A Pleasure to Shoot.

Ok I had to wait a while for them to be done but that's the rub isn't it. Some things are worth waiting for.

If you spend even more you can go crazy with all sorts of alterations, but I think the saying about "diminishing returns" runs true. There is a point when some things cannot be improved anymore. So it depends on what you are starting with - an 80s HW77 or a BSA Lightning?

[Seaneverz]

I got a brand new hw97 and fitted new guides top hat etc de burr polished short stroked and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I then got a Paul short stage 3 tuned hw97 with titanium piston etc and the difference is massive and I would definitely say it is worth it. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t get the work done just came across the gun but I can now appreciate the work that has been done compared to my original gun. End of the day both guns are better than out the box in terms of smoothness and recoil.

[bozzer]

... and the difference is massive ...

See ... that's the sort of comment that gets springer shooters rushing out to get their rifle tuned that way.

I'm never knocking the work that the pro tuners do. I think I judge a rifle on it's ability to shoot accurately at the distances that I need it to. For me, it is a tool that is used to put pellets where I want them to go.

So this has always been my view on the mega tunes ... If I have a springer that is cocking and shooting smoothly with no spring noise or other mechanical noises, and it's putting pellets say inside 18mm (5p) at 45 yards and my best PCP isn't doing much better, then I don't see how further tuning can make a 'massive' difference.

So we must be down to people referring to shot cycle or maybe hold sensitivity.

I have often asked for examples of accuracy tests that show groups considerably improved after a mega tune. Most will say that it's this magic phrase 'Hold Sensitivity' that is improved.

So has anyone actually done any tests regarding 'Hold Sensitivity'? How would we actually do that?

Maybe this is worthy of another thread.

[TonyL]

yup, but it's amazing once you know what works and all those experiments are done, how well it can be applied to different guns. I knew my 24mm HW80 was going to work, and it is awesome (even thought I say so myself)

Absolutely, Jon, and all down to experience and that never ending quest for springer nirvana.