Spring Bash May 17th and 18th May 2025

[TonyL]

Into single figures we go!

Yay; just about very nearly, nearlier there or what?

Just those nine little sleepies to go, peeps.

And only one week for our super-lucky Thursday peeps.

BOING!

[TonyL]

And a splash of colour for the new page.

[TonyL]

I know the weather forecast can be less accurate once we're talking beyond five days, but looking at the forecast on the BBC site, the weather is looking glorious for the whole of the Bash weekend.

[MikeHW45]

Not long to go. I'm still having ridiculous problems logging on to and seeing the forum so apologies for my absence. Sodding frustrating

[CapitalBee]

Not far behind you Mark, we will be there Thursday.

I was in Kotor today. Just got back, great day, but now knackered

[bullett243]

Neil, I've sent payment over for me and Harry, hopefully arrive Thursday evening 👍🏼

[TonyL]

So, I finally got some playtime yesterday afternoon.

First task was to give my AM03 a quick check over and test so I could bring it along to The Bash (especially if the HW35 de-tune didn't go to plan). Result? Wow! I love this thing. I'd forgotten how easy it is. Quite a beast to cock but an absolute tack driver and accuracy comes so easily. And that trigger is superb.

Then I thought I'd fit a new pump seal to the HW40 and then do the '35. This is how they went:-

So, yesterday I was just about to remove the piston and replace the seal. Before I did so, I thought I'd just try it out to see how it was performing. The answer was "very well". I had about 15-20 shots with it and all was good. So, obviously, working the Pellgun Oil through had worked nicely. Apart from one shot at the end where compression was low.

So, before I replaced that seal I thought, "why not give it a go with the 30wt. oil and a little moly". Applied a couple of drops of oil to the piston and held vertically and then applied a small amount of moly paste to the piston body and applied another drop of oil to make a runny black "moly oil". Whilst working it through the pump, I noticed that at certain positions of the pump stroke, with the pistol held upside down you can see and gain access to the air inlet hole on the pump tube. I thought this would be a better way of getting the oil where it was most needed, ahead of the piston. Applied one drop of oil and held pistol upside down for a while to allow it to get into the tube properly. Then worked it a few times and wiped any bits of excess oil off.

Wow! Smoother AND compression seems much fuller and priming effort now much higher and more consistent. Had about another 25-30 shots and seems perfect. I'll give it another go very soon and see if this restored performance remains but, for now, looking good. And I still have the seal ready to fit as and when needed.

Thanks again for your input chaps.

So, I finally got some playtime yesterday afternoon........

Shortened the spring a little further, collapsed flat and ground flat again. Rebuilt with the same very sparing lube. The end of the guide now sits about 7 or 8mm below the end of the cylinder, so about 12mm preload.

Result, power still high. A nudge over and feeling to be a very quick cycle still. After a few shots my trigger finger was tingling a fair bit.

If there was scope to, the obvious thing would be to shorten the spring further. But as we're now at just 12mm of preload, no scope to do so, really.

So, Jon's suggestion all along of a softer spring is sounding to be the only way forward.

Guessing reducing this spring by more and making up the preload to an acceptable level by the use of washers, reducing the amount of "active spring" but keeping that preload will just result in too stiff a spring?

So, what we're working with is old-style piston with fixed-on steel 'O' ring head, made to the same dimensions as the synthetic head convertor. Older pistons being heavier than newer style ones, shorter stroke and then stroke reduced even more by the carrier. Plus a little heavier. TP in the 3 to 3.3 region, I seem to remember. Piston is a nice, sliding fit. A little bit of resistance. Prior to the 'O' ring head, a new HW parachute seal was a sloppy, loose fit.

Question is, this thing is seemingly so, so efficient, could I actually get away with that nice, weak TX spring? I'd be happy at 9.5 - 10ft.lbs and sweet, soft shooting. As I can't make guides and top hats, I'm guessing then that the TX rear guide would work fine with the flange being 30mm and guessing piston rod will work with the TX guide. If the flange is no thicker, rod should go through to the trigger okay, too?

Or a 77/97 spring?

Any suggestions, peeps?

[TonyL]

Not long to go. I'm still having ridiculous problems logging on to and seeing the forum so apologies for my absence. Sodding frustrating

Sorry to hear about your on-going issues, Mike. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Be great to see you again next weekend. Will you be arriving on Wednesday or Thursday?

(Fully understand if you can't get on to reply).

[TonyL]

I was in Kotor today. Just got back, great day, but now knackered

Sounds like you're having a great time out there, Mark. Keep enjoying it!

[TonyL]

Neil, I've sent payment over for me and Harry, hopefully arrive Thursday evening 👍🏼

Excellent stuff! Be great to see you again.

[TonyL]

It sounds like Dave from Chesterfield will be joining us again on this occasion. Possibly his friend Phil, too?

[TonyL]

8 to go, peeps.

(For the Saturday people).


BOING!

[gtfreight]

This time next week I'll be nursing my first hangover of the weekend.

[Waddy]

So, I finally got some playtime yesterday afternoon.

First task was to give my AM03 a quick check over and test so I could bring it along to The Bash (especially if the HW35 de-tune didn't go to plan). Result? Wow! I love this thing. I'd forgotten how easy it is. Quite a beast to cock but an absolute tack driver and accuracy comes so easily. And that trigger is superb.

Then I thought I'd fit a new pump seal to the HW40 and then do the '35. This is how they went:-

Sounding good on the HW40, I'll have to try that on my P17 Shame about the 35, I think Jon will be right about the spring, but I'd try it with half a coil off & preload, esp if there is no other use for that spring. Nowt to lose an' that.

That AM03 is doing well, what a bargain !


Still undecided on what to bring, except the little Relum, that's coming. Had an indoor plink last night zeroing the red dot. The dot on the red dot is a bit big, making it less accurate at 6m than my Original 6M pistol on opens, I'll have to see what it's like in daylight on the bell target.

One week today & I'll be loading the boot

[TonyL]

This time next week I'll be nursing my first hangover of the weekend.

Hee, hee, hee!