HW35 Fettling

[TonyL]

I'm beginning to think Pete Look No Hands has a valid point when it comes to 35s


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Do not give that murderous villain any further fuel, Paul. He's a nasty piece of work.

[TonyL]

I think it was rose tinted glasses, I had a really nice although worn 35E when I was 18, although it was cheap it was the best of the guns I had as a teenager. It was the leather washer one and very much run in with tens of thousands of pellets through it.

This one seems hard to cock, not very accurate and nasty to shoot. Its younger sister the HW50 long-stroke gives the same power and easy cocking and fine accuracy while weighing 2 lbs less. I’m not happy with the bastard.

Mines .22 and is fairly harsh for a .22. It's also harder to cock than most if not all my other springers, maybe it's the linkage geometry But then again it's got the fattest spring in it I've ever seen.

It's very nice rifle to look at but a battered .22 BSA Super sport that I recently paid 100 quid for is a far far nicer rifle to use. I wasn't expecting that !


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Treat every 35 as though it has a porous breech and fix accordingly.

The most extreme example of a porous breech is the 35E I bought off Willenium it had blown the square barrel arbor out of the front of the cylinder.

Having had fun and games with two older '35s in recent years, and going by what I've gleaned on here, I'd say you're dead right there, Mick.

To be fair, the previous older one I fettled, with V-Mach spring and guide set, synthetic seal adaptor, Knibbs seal and 4mm port, shot beautifully. But only did 7.5ft.lbs. Once I sealed the breech with Perma Lock and fitted the new style piston you supplied me with, it's up to 11ft.lbs.

This old one I've currently got dismantled also wasn't making power. As well as suspecting the breech, the piston seal fit was really sloppy too. So, with NickG being the perfectionist that he is and having more experience and facilities than me & the kitchen table set-up, that's why I asked him to do this current one. Having the breech done properly and with the bespoke fitted 'O' ring set-up should have solved both likely issues in one.

My parcel landed yesterday. Hoping to schedule the re-build for later today after work, or maybe tomorrow.....

[T 20]

Excellent finds with the barrel and the '85, Mick.

It gets worse, Tone.

Today I found 3 HW35 cylinders and back blocks --- I know where 2 came from, but the third one is a complete mystery.

I'm now considering turning my LGV pistoned 35 into a .177" HW35E with another glided rotating piston.

[Waddy]

It gets worse, Tone.

Today I found 3 HW35 cylinders and back blocks --- I know where 2 came from, but the third one is a complete mystery.

I'm now considering turning my LGV pistoned 35 into a .177" HW35E with another glided rotating piston.

It sounds like you've got a right Aladdins cave of airguns & parts there



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[junglie]

I’ve got a Frankenstein HW35 Export, the cylinder is unusual in that the blueing is different on the breech section and the end block, plus the barrel is a different tone. When I tried to sell it the buyer refused it on the basis of it needing rebluing because of this fault so I’m going to end up having to break it for parts or accept a shitty amount of money for it.

When I picked up my '77 35e action from the hot bluing guy he told me he had to put the back block through the tank twice to get it to match the cylinder, different steels was his guess, so another dip should get it matching.

[TonyL]

It gets worse, Tone.

Today I found 3 HW35 cylinders and back blocks --- I know where 2 came from, but the third one is a complete mystery.

I'm now considering turning my LGV pistoned 35 into a .177" HW35E with another glided rotating piston.

Wow! Nothing bad about that, Mick; that's awesome news!

Lovely to have so many options for new tinkering possibilities. Especially with all the skills and gear at your disposal.

[TonyL]

It sounds like you've got a right Aladdins cave of airguns & parts there



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Oh yes, Paul, you gotta see it to believe it!

Plus a hallowed little field across the road with a polytunnel 75 yards from the hedge and an area suitable for camping. I wonder what that was used for?!!!!!

[TonyL]

Got the '35 built yesterday evening after work. The "catalogue chrono" test would indicate a healthy power increase - whereas there was a dent and zero penetration previously, the .22 Hobbys buried themselves deep. Firing cycle feels lovely. Will run it over the chrono proper later.

[Shed tuner]

Got the '35 built yesterday evening after work. The "catalogue chrono" test would indicate a healthy power increase - whereas there was a dent and zero penetration previously, the .22 Hobbys buried themselves deep. Firing cycle feels lovely. Will run it over the chrono proper later.

good result Tone.... gives me an idea for a reference thread on the BBS.. a pages penetration vs chrono'd power output reference database

Would need to be calibre and pellet specific, but with those constraints, should be fairly indicative

[NickG]

Got the '35 built yesterday evening after work. The "catalogue chrono" test would indicate a healthy power increase - whereas there was a dent and zero penetration previously, the .22 Hobbys buried themselves deep. Firing cycle feels lovely. Will run it over the chrono proper later.

Result 👍

[TonyL]

Thank you for your brilliant work (and impressively swift turn-around), Nick. I just know it's going to be perfect.

I might even strip "Donkey Tits" down at some point and ask you to seal that cylinder too, if that's okay? I had done it before and it seems okay but I know it'll be so much better with your professional and expert input.

[TonyL]

good result Tone.... gives me an idea for a reference thread on the BBS.. a pages penetration vs chrono'd power output reference database

Would need to be calibre and pellet specific, but with those constraints, should be fairly indicative

Hahaha! Could be a go-er, Jon. As you say, it'd have to be calibre and pellet specific. I wonder how much things will vary with different paper densities, how tightly bound the catalogues are, what they're rested against etc?

Bring back those mail order catalogues and the lingerie pages!!!!

P.S.....The result is all down to Nick's superb input.

[TonyL]

And WOW again, this is perfect.....

Ran it over the F1 a short time ago. Used the Hobby and Superdome.

Hobby averaged out at 661fps for 11.5ft.lbs.

Superdome 600fps for 11.6ft.lbs.

Consistency was +/- 5fps and this thing still has to settle, having only fired about 12 shots maximum!

The firing cycle is fantastic. Quick but not harsh at all.

Vindicating what Mick said earlier - getting the leaky breech fix done has got to be THE go-to fix for these older 35s. Done expertly, as Nick has done for me, coupled to his superb experience with the use of 'O' rings has resulted in a most special feeling and performing rifle.

Thank you so much, Nick.

Credit also to Monsieur Le Tinny Bum - the spring I've used is one of his. Mated to his top hat and new style guide. Spring shortened by about an inch. The end of the spring guide protrudes only 4 or 5mm from the cylinder, so easy to fit by hand.

Shortened spring and the already shorter stroke of the earlier 35 reduced further by the 'O' ring head really emphasises the efficiency gains coming from the breech fix and Nick's attention to seal fit.

Loving it!

[T 20]

It sounds like you've got a right Aladdins cave of airguns & parts there



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You know it's bad when you find a tractor you'd forgotten about.

[Shed tuner]

You know it's bad when you find a tractor you'd forgotten about.

And he's not joking... I had to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find my way back out of Mick's hanger when I used one of his lathes for running repairs a few years back at one of the Bashes !