The Secret Pleasures of the Springer Buff

[Segata]

Is it me or does each Springer have it's own scent? Each of my running 3 has its own distinct whiff.

[averageplinker]

Is it me or does each Springer have it's own scent? Each of my running 3 has its own distinct whiff.

Absolutely 😁

[Hsing-ee]

Its the smell of a springer i enjoy. It takes me back to the good old days when a bit of dieseling was cool!
Its a proper aroma (a bit like old cars with carburetors smell like real cars used to)!

I think it was 3-In-1 that most people used in their guns before Airgun World molybdenumised everything, and oxidised 3-In-1 is probably the smell you're enjoying.

I did once plan to make a leather washered cheapie lubed with Castrol-R40 race oil so that when it dieseled enthusiasts would get a double dose of nostalgia, air-rifle shooting in the 70s and TZ750 race bikes of the same era.

But it never happened.

[TonyL]

Untill fairly recently (couple of years ago) my only break barrel was my BSA Mercury Challenger. Then I finally got a HW98; I'd wanted to get a new break barrel to see how good they are. Well, I have to say when I cocked it I liked it. But the lock up; oh my god! I described it at the time (and still do) as orgasmic. The engineering is deligtful.

Now I have a Pro Elite in the collection which is also lovely to use and a recently aquired HW80k; also lovely. The other break barrels in the collection including the Mercury Challenger are a Umarex M4 which is surprisingly good and a ASI Paratrooper repeater which definitely does what I intended when I got it; takes you right back to the 80s. The smell of it, cocking it, definitely not orgasmic with the wobble although the lockup is reasonable; I mean it works at anyrate!

I much prefer to use a break barrel than underlever although I do have a 97 too.

Nice post.

[TonyL]

One solution regards any fatigue for the springer connoisseur I give you the Browning Airstar

Zero popeye arms after a session but perhaps some ear defenders maybe required

https://youtu.be/V3e9JizlWzs?si=mNgnHrzQ6XVM6BOM

Ps I still actually want one or at least a go on one

Unframed Dave once brought one to a Bash. A most rackety thing for sure.

[TonyL]

Its the smell of a springer i enjoy. It takes me back to the good old days when a bit of dieseling was cool!
Its a proper aroma (a bit like old cars with carburetors smell like real cars used to)!

Oh yes!

And don't you be forgetting two strokes and good old Castrol R.

And, if you haven't got one already and can afford / justify, treat yourself to a HW45.

[TonyL]

I think it was 3-In-1 that most people used in their guns before Airgun World molybdenumised everything, and oxidised 3-In-1 is probably the smell you're enjoying.

I did once plan to make a leather washered cheapie lubed with Castrol-R40 race oil so that when it dieseled enthusiasts would get a double dose of nostalgia, air-rifle shooting in the 70s and TZ750 race bikes of the same era.

But it never happened.

Oooops! Should have read this before I posted. At least I have a good excuse as the eyes are still nowhere near working properly.

[TonyL]

Is it me or does each Springer have it's own scent? Each of my running 3 has its own distinct whiff.

Absolutely 😁

Oh yes, most definitely indeedy! And, as mentioned up above, the leather sealed ones have an aroma all of their own.

Alistair's quite right with the 3-in-1 thing, I think. And, as well as any internally produced aromas, a wiped down with the 3-in-1 on exterior metal surfaces can bring those old memories flooding back. 3-in-1 and walnut oil. Yummy!

[Gerry B]

I just love shooting break barrels, well run in , with nice smooth cocking stroke, and an accurate barrel / pellet !!

[junglie]

A sub-12 fpe rifle ought not to be hard to cock really. I guess it’s down to efficiency and mechanical advantage. My long stroke old school HW50 is much easier to cock than an HW35 making the same 11fpe. Short barrels are going to be a problem though.

Do the old HW 50's have the longer 192 barrel then, i find the opposite with my 2 new type HW50's to the old 35 I have it's much easier to cock , all making 11+ too. I put it down to the shorter 15" 50's barrels giving less leverage.

[Hsing-ee]

Do the old HW 50's have the longer 192 barrel then, i find the opposite with my 2 new type HW50's to the old 35 I have it's much easier to cock , all making 11+ too. I put it down to the shorter 15" 50's barrels giving less leverage.

It must be. The barrel on my working old school 50 is full length plus an inch as someone cut I thread on the muzzle and I stuck a small muzzle brake on it to cover the unsightly threads ..

[TonyL]

Its the smell of a springer i enjoy. It takes me back to the good old days when a bit of dieseling was cool!
Its a proper aroma (a bit like old cars with carburetors smell like real cars used to)!

I think it was 3-In-1 that most people used in their guns before Airgun World molybdenumised everything, and oxidised 3-In-1 is probably the smell you're enjoying.

I did once plan to make a leather washered cheapie lubed with Castrol-R40 race oil so that when it dieseled enthusiasts would get a double dose of nostalgia, air-rifle shooting in the 70s and TZ750 race bikes of the same era.

But it never happened.

And, as regards those lovely, older springers with the leather seals......does Neatsfoot Oil deliver a scent / aroma?

[TonyL]

When tuning / fettling I, obviously, always polish any contact areas to deliver that joyous smoothness. I also always rub in some moly powder, moly paste or Dri-Slide. But how many of us also polish the entire piston? I always do. I appreciate that it's not strictly required or necessary, but it just seems the right thing to do to me.

[Dornfelderliebe]

And, as regards those lovely, older springers with the leather seals......does Neatsfoot Oil deliver a scent / aroma?

It does make a distinctive smell but I can't put it into words and it smokes a bit at first then settles down (MK1 & 2 Airsporters)

I'd love to smell Castrol R.

[tinbum]

They sound good. I might have to try one