Hw77 heavy cocking

[Mach 1.5]

If it's an early 77 before ser no. 144*** as someone put a 26mm seal on instead of a 25mm one? Mach 1.5

[piggy589]

I've heard it said that the early guns have seriously high preloaded mainsprings.

[Mach 1.5]

As per Piggy...had an early 77 and when I took it apart...38 coil came out..Beware. Mach 1.5

[TonyL]

I've heard it said that the early guns have seriously high preloaded mainsprings.

As per Piggy...had an early 77 and when I took it apart...38 coil came out..Beware. Mach 1.5

Yep, 'tis true, but, being a "softer and longer" spring doesn't equate to a heavy cocking effort.

Of course, what it does mean is that extreme caution is required when stripping and this will always apply if working on a gun that has been previously worked on and you don't know what spring has been fitted / preload amount.

In this case, I guess that the heavy cocking action will be a result of a very short cocking lever, too stiff a spring etc as above.

[paul8932]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

On closer inspection, it does look like the underlever has been shortened, probably when the venom silencer was fitted.

Internally all is ok, no tight seals, lubed properly, spring kit is a wonky donky one.

So I’d guess that the problem is the shorter underlever

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not unusable and it shoots very well, it’s just a shame that it’s heavy to cock and it spoils it a bit...I wouldn’t want to plink all day with it if you know what I mean...

Would it be worth trying a different spring?, as mentioned before I don’t mind dropping power somewhat.

Paul

[Rapid7Nick]

Normally the venom silencer is just slip on and cocking lever doesn't need shortening. I fitted a venom silencer years ago. All what needs to come off is the existing catch block.

I found that having a silencer fitted, made the rifle too long and front heavy. In the end I cut 3 inches from barrel and cocking lever. Maybe yours have been cut.
Although if you measure the cocking lever, someone can compare against another 77.

[Mach 1.5]

Back in the day there were two types of Venom silencer for the 77. Short catch and long catch silencer. The short catch version meant they could shorten the barrel and leave the cocking arm std. The long catch was just a slip on job so leaving barrel and cocking arm as per factory. A friend of mine as long catch fitted to a 12 inch barrel and so the cocking arm would be around 10inch long so a bugger to cock. A venom cocking aid helps. Mach 1.5

[paul8932]

Normally the venom silencer is just slip on and cocking lever doesn't need shortening. I fitted a venom silencer years ago. All what needs to come off is the existing catch block.

I found that having a silencer fitted, made the rifle too long and front heavy. In the end I cut 3 inches from barrel and cocking lever. Maybe yours have been cut.
Although if you measure the cocking lever, someone can compare against another 77.

Good idea, I’ll have a look later when I get home 👍

[TonyL]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

On closer inspection, it does look like the underlever has been shortened, probably when the venom silencer was fitted.

Internally all is ok, no tight seals, lubed properly, spring kit is a wonky donky one.

So I’d guess that the problem is the shorter underlever

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not unusable and it shoots very well, it’s just a shame that it’s heavy to cock and it spoils it a bit...I wouldn’t want to plink all day with it if you know what I mean...

Would it be worth trying a different spring?, as mentioned before I don’t mind dropping power somewhat.

Paul

The WonkyDonky kits are excellent so it'll all be down to that stumpy underlever.

So, as you say, you could just put up with that higher cocking effort or be happy to accept a lower power output by shortening the spring slightly. Don't think there'll be a massive scope for shortening, as I seem to remember that Dave's kits don't run lots of preload. Or, maybe, as you say, a softer spring.......

[paul8932]

The WonkyDonky kits are excellent so it'll all be down to that stumpy underlever.

So, as you say, you could just put up with that higher cocking effort or be happy to accept a lower power output by shortening the spring slightly. Don't think there'll be a massive scope for shortening, as I seem to remember that Dave's kits don't run lots of preload. Or, maybe, as you say, a softer spring.......

Thanks Tony,
Yes Dave’s kits are as good as they get as far as I’m concerned, and no preload is used on this one.
Any suggestions for a softer spring?, I’m comfortable fitting a service kit but could get out of my depth easily here
Or should I just get a cocking aid? 🤔