Doncaster Airgun Range Meet Up; Sat 18 Jan 2025

[TonyL]

The natty had its final coat yesterday. I'll let it dry properly and then band it up. Can't wait to try it out.

HW35 fettle started. It's the one I bought at a very attractive price from Nick, 18Wheeler, many years ago.

Prior to stripping, I thought I'd have a few shots to assess what's going to be needed here.....

The cocking stroke didn't seem too bad until right at the very end, just before the piston latches.

There's a bit of play in the breech and the barrel swings too easily. Nipped the bolt up tighter and this will be okay.

Trigger felt really spongey, like it's full of gunge.

First shot was accompanied by a loud crack but low power. Lots of smoke. Subsequent shots showed less smoke but power is very low.

Stock off. Once the spring was out, the very end of the cocking lever might just be rubbing. Will dress. But it might not be that and, with the barrel removed, the joint on the lever had a couple of tight spots. Oiled the joint and worked it and joint moves freely now. No witness marks on lever, so I'll just smooth the cocking "horn" and all should be good.

Trigger was full of gunge. Once set, if you took up first stage but didn't fire, the first stage was then really heavy and reluctant. Flushed out and oiled and now all good.

Spring a bit bent. There's a plastic guide but no top hat. Piston seal feels to be a very loose fit and breech seal doesn't fill you with confidence.

So, there's a kit + piston seal coming from Nick and I'll get a breech seal which will give plenty of time for polishing etc whilst awaiting parts.

[Waddy]

That is a full on overhaul on that 35 Tony Only the stock to do on mine as the action has been serviced Not sure how many coats of BLO it's had now but I'm itching to get it back together & off to the range.

You'll have to bring the catty to the May bash, & I'll have to remember to bring a motorcycle gauntlet for my right hand

I got the trigger & piston release sear in the Tempest, then I got stumped by the spring that holds the sear against the piston. Woke up this morning & it was glaringly obvious So hopefully I can pop that back in & get the rest back together & have a quick chrono tonight after tea.

Only one month to go to Donny

[TonyL]

That is a full on overhaul on that 35 Tony Only the stock to do on mine as the action has been serviced Not sure how many coats of BLO it's had now but I'm itching to get it back together & off to the range.

You'll have to bring the catty to the May bash, & I'll have to remember to bring a motorcycle gauntlet for my right hand

I got the trigger & piston release sear in the Tempest, then I got stumped by the spring that holds the sear against the piston. Woke up this morning & it was glaringly obvious So hopefully I can pop that back in & get the rest back together & have a quick chrono tonight after tea.

Only one month to go to Donny

Oh yes, indeedy, just a month to go, Paul.

I'll certainly bring the catty to the Bash, my friend. Out of interest, are you right or left eye dominant? If you're left eye dominant, holding the catty with your right is the correct way to go. But, if you're right eye dominant, you need to hold the catty with your left and draw back to your dominant eye.

Yep, I suppose it is quite an extensive overhaul on the '35. But then they're so simple to work on and very little to them really. I've got my fingers crossed that I don't need to do any breech void sealing, hoping Nick may have addressed that previously, if it was an issue. If it turns out that it does need doing, so be it.

Re the Tempest sear & spring thing; I'll often have those little lightbulb moments at unexpected times, too. I hope you get it back together this evening and manage to have a play.

Great that your '35 action is a sorted one and I bet that stock's looking lovely.

Nick had the one I'm working on now reblued a few years ago and the metalwork is in really good condition. Stock (standard) was re-finished, too, and rifle has sling swivels fitted and open sights all present and correct.

[TonyL]

Did you get the little Tempest up and running last night, Paul?

[TonyL]

31 to go, peeps.

BOING!

[Waddy]

Oh yes, indeedy, just a month to go, Paul.

I'll certainly bring the catty to the Bash, my friend. Out of interest, are you right or left eye dominant? If you're left eye dominant, holding the catty with your right is the correct way to go. But, if you're right eye dominant, you need to hold the catty with your left and draw back to your dominant eye.

Yep, I suppose it is quite an extensive overhaul on the '35. But then they're so simple to work on and very little to them really. I've got my fingers crossed that I don't need to do any breech void sealing, hoping Nick may have addressed that previously, if it was an issue. If it turns out that it does need doing, so be it.

Re the Tempest sear & spring thing; I'll often have those little lightbulb moments at unexpected times, too. I hope you get it back together this evening and manage to have a play.

Great that your '35 action is a sorted one and I bet that stock's looking lovely.

Nick had the one I'm working on now reblued a few years ago and the metalwork is in really good condition. Stock (standard) was re-finished, too, and rifle has sling swivels fitted and open sights all present and correct.

I realised about the hand just as I closed the lid on the laptop *insert facepalm emoji here *

Tempest still isn't quite there due to other things getting in the way I'm getting more "Bah, Humbug !" by the year

I hope the breech sealing is fine, sounds like a pain of a job to sort out tbh.


Is the place or person who re-blued your 35 still doing bluing ? Only that 80 I bought a little while back is pretty bad in that department, the action has minor pitting on it & the bluing is very thin where it remains. I'm going to have to strip it at some point & check the piston seal etc. It's down to about 9.5 ft/lbs & it needs to be a bit nearer the limit to be in with a reasonable chance of hitting the bucket.

[flyingfish]

Phew
Move complete
Just need to buy a 2nd shed. You don't know how much stuff you have until you have to move it!

[NewPaul]

Phew
Move complete
Just need to buy a 2nd shed. You don't know how much stuff you have until you have to move it!

Well done Pete. Hope you settle in nice and quickly.

[TonyL]

Yep, well done, Pete.

It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate over the years. We moved into here almost 24 years ago and it was bad enough then. I dread to think what it would be like to move now! Even now I'm struggling to find things!

[TonyL]

I realised about the hand just as I closed the lid on the laptop *insert facepalm emoji here *

Tempest still isn't quite there due to other things getting in the way I'm getting more "Bah, Humbug !" by the year

I hope the breech sealing is fine, sounds like a pain of a job to sort out tbh.


Is the place or person who re-blued your 35 still doing bluing ? Only that 80 I bought a little while back is pretty bad in that department, the action has minor pitting on it & the bluing is very thin where it remains. I'm going to have to strip it at some point & check the piston seal etc. It's down to about 9.5 ft/lbs & it needs to be a bit nearer the limit to be in with a reasonable chance of hitting the bucket.

I hope you get the time to sort the Tempest, Paul.

Re the bluing, sorry, I don't know, as the previous custodian Nick, 18Wheeler, had had it done. It'll be worth asking on here who still does it. There used to be so many options, now not so many. The bucket can be done with lower power but, yes, a little more should be on the cards with the '80 (unless deliberately de-tuned for certain disciplines).

And do check out your eye dominance / hold thing. Then it's onto stance and consistent hold & technique and then no more hand or fork strikes but accuracy to come.

[Blackrider]

Phew
Move complete
Just need to buy a 2nd shed. You don't know how much stuff you have until you have to move it!

Know what you mean Pete, its all these "long blue/black" metal things with a slab of wood at one end and a sort of tube holding glass bits on top that get in the way isn't it ?!

[TonyL]

Know what you mean Pete, its all these "long blue/black" metal things with a slab of wood at one end and a sort of tube holding glass bits on top that get in the way isn't it ?!

I think Pete thinned the numbers of guns down a while ago, John. Unlike some of us.

My clutter mainly involves other family members' stuff.....like a large double garage that I can't make workshop space in and my "man shed" thing that is now also crammed with stuff, meaning tinkering is still taking place in the bloody kitchen!!!!!

[Blackrider]

Yup, I know that only too well and so to a greater extent so does "The Management" !!

[Waddy]

Phew
Move complete
Just need to buy a 2nd shed. You don't know how much stuff you have until you have to move it!

Moving house is about as stressful as it gets, at least you are in for Christmas. If you buy another shed make sure you are the only one with the key

I hope you get the time to sort the Tempest, Paul.

Re the bluing, sorry, I don't know, as the previous custodian Nick, 18Wheeler, had had it done. It'll be worth asking on here who still does it. There used to be so many options, now not so many. The bucket can be done with lower power but, yes, a little more should be on the cards with the '80 (unless deliberately de-tuned for certain disciplines).

And do check out your eye dominance / hold thing. Then it's onto stance and consistent hold & technique and then no more hand or fork strikes but accuracy to come.

I've only gone & dropped the link fulcrum off the Tempest somewhere It can only be in one of two rooms, they've got one at Protek for six quid but I know it will appear the moment a second one arrives.

I'll put a thread up about bluing / blacking after Christmas, I'm even wondering if it's DIY-able ?

My clutter mainly involves other family members' stuff.....like a large double garage that I can't make workshop space in and my "man shed" thing that is now also crammed with stuff, meaning tinkering is still taking place in the bloody kitchen!!!!!

That's Boingeratti abuse that is

If that was me I'd cram the stuff out of the shed into the garage & change the lock on the shed

Failing that organise a holiday for the females & hire a skip for the same week



.

[TonyL]

I've only gone & dropped the link fulcrum off the Tempest somewhere It can only be in one of two rooms, they've got one at Protek for six quid but I know it will appear the moment a second one arrives.

I'll put a thread up about bluing / blacking after Christmas, I'm even wondering if it's DIY-able ?



That's Boingeratti abuse that is

If that was me I'd cram the stuff out of the shed into the garage & change the lock on the shed

Failing that organise a holiday for the females & hire a skip for the same week



.

I hope that fulcrum part turns up for you, Paul.

Top advice re the shed and garage.......If only I had the bottle to accomplish the task!