Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it. I'm out of the woods with this thing. I shot it a bunch today. The noise didn't return. It's a much more enjoyable gun now. Besides losing the annoying ping noise, it cocks and shoots smoother. I couldn't check if the accuracy changed as the winds were strong, gusting and from random directions.
As long as the gun is accurate, I'd be ok if this gun stays shooting this way.
Be well all.