HW77 .177 transfer port size

[bigtoe01]

Bruce, peak power is not produced with a TP of 3mm, that means a TP of 3mm is not efficient. As you increase the TP dia the power grows till eventually it peaks and for a small further increase in TP dia you can tune the distance from the breech face the piston stops before slamming into the breech face...so you can tune the bounce point.

Peak power is around 3.9mm, 4mm gets the piston a little closer to the breech face (and lets not forget piston weight plays a part also)

So if you increase efficiency you can use a weaker spring...however this may not be ideal but often does result in less felt recoil.

On an O ring piston you need to go smaller with TP dia as the pistons fly faster and generally the O ring is more efficient with less lost volume, so peak efficiency may be 3.5mm...i fell in the trap of expecting an o ring head to work like a synthetic seal ...they don't.

So quick answer is it should require less preload.

I tested 3 to 4.2mm in .1mm steps and settled on 3.9, i know Wonky likes 3.9 also, JB likes 5/32 which is just a nats over 3.9, T20 uses 4mm, BTDT runs 4mm on his 77k....the list is long for rifles that all run very close to the same transfer port dia...now ask yourself why

[MattyBoy]

In answer to Bruce, I just drill them then polish them with Autosol on a boot lace .

In answer to Tony, in that case I'll be taking my ports out from 3.2mm to 3.8mm immediately

Matty

[brucegill]

Bruce, peak power is not produced with a TP of 3mm, that means a TP of 3mm is not efficient. As you increase the TP dia the power grows till eventually it peaks and for a small further increase in TP dia you can tune the distance from the breech face the piston stops before slamming into the breech face...so you can tune the bounce point.

Peak power is around 3.9mm, 4mm gets the piston a little closer to the breech face (and lets not forget piston weight plays a part also)

So if you increase efficiency you can use a weaker spring...however this may not be ideal but often does result in less felt recoil.

On an O ring piston you need to go smaller with TP dia as the pistons fly faster and generally the O ring is more efficient with less lost volume, so peak efficiency may be 3.5mm...i fell in the trap of expecting an o ring head to work like a synthetic seal ...they don't.

So quick answer is it should require less preload.

I tested 3 to 4.2mm in .1mm steps and settled on 3.9, i know Wonky likes 3.9 also, JB likes 5/32 which is just a nats over 3.9, T20 uses 4mm, BTDT runs 4mm on his 77k....the list is long for rifles that all run very close to the same transfer port dia...now ask yourself why

Many thanks Tony! Better find some nice drill bits

In answer to Bruce, I just drill them then polish them with Autosol on a boot lace .

In answer to Tony, in that case I'll be taking my ports out from 3.2mm to 3.8mm immediately

Matty

Thanks Matty!

Appreciate the info guys

[bigtoe01]

remember however, if the gun you have is nice already, why alter it?

If you must experiment drill the TP to 4.2mm and tap to m5, get some 6mm long m5 grubscrews and have them drilled from 3 to 4mm in .1mm steps, use a little blue loctite to hold them in and seal the threads, you can now play with TP dia and see what works for you

A little heat and an allen key gets them out, run the tap back in to clean the threads and screw a new one in to resume testing.

[greenwayjames]

"I tested 3 to 4.2mm in .1mm steps and settled on 3.9, i know Wonky likes 3.9 also, JB likes 5/32 which is just a nats over 3.9, T20 uses 4mm, BTDT runs 4mm on his 77k....the list is long for rifles that all run very close to the same transfer port dia...now ask yourself why"

The list of many longtime professional "tuners" who kept to the original or even sleeved transfer ports is even longer..... now ask yourself why? from first hand experience I include in that list Cardew, Mike Wade of Power without Powder fame, Venom, Worcestershire Black Powder Supplies, Kestock and many more. They must have done a half decent job to stay in business as long as they did with many repeat customers.

The best piece of advice is.
"If you must experiment drill the TP to 4.2mm and tap to m5, get some 6mm long m5 grubscrews and have them drilled from 3 to 4mm in .1mm steps, use a little blue loctite to hold them in and seal the threads, you can now play with TP dia and see what works for you

A little heat and an allen key gets them out, run the tap back in to clean the threads and screw a new one in to resume testing"

[T 20]

The list of many longtime professional "tuners" who kept to the original or even sleeved transfer ports is even longer..... now ask yourself why? from first hand experience I include in that list Cardew, Mike Wade of Power without Powder fame, Venom, Worcestershire Black Powder Supplies, Kestock and many more. They must have done a half decent job to stay in business as long as they did with many repeat customers.

I thought Mike Wade just supplied his "Viper" tuning kits and didn't actually tune guns for anybody ?

If you look at Mike Wade's order form that came with Power Without Powder, he recommends drilling the transfer port out on the 77 for both his Max power and FT Viper tuning kits.




All the best Mick

[greenwayjames]

My mistake. I was thinking of his recommendations for the HW80 tune. He did tune some himself for a chosen few in addition to selling his 80 springs. He also made a regulated high power PCP for his own use I was lead to believe. Ahead of its time.