Summer Bash 19th and 20th July 2025

[MartynB]

That's how wives work

Got a wardrobe full of clothes I won't wear to prove it

[TonyL]

The HW 70 is an old one with bakerlite grips, it's only doing around 1 Ft/lb so needs sorting, looks far simpler than the HW45. It takes a different mainspring to the 45, not surprising as the piston is bigger. Apparently there are two types of piston, the older one being the hard one to source seals for, so I'm wondering about a thick tapered washer type conversion. I've got a couple of breech seals so I can swap that for nowt.

My ideal day is to be left in peace full stop, not got kids, but have got parents that seem to think I want to spend a lot of time with them listening to tales of what they ate on holiday :
That's how wives work

Got a wardrobe full of clothes I won't wear to prove it

Yep, I think I've stumbled across threads discussing the different piston seal arrangements previously. It'll be most interesting to hear of your journey with this one. Mine's only doing about 1.5ft.lbs but is so accurate and shoots so sweetly that I'm reluctant to delve inside just yet. And, even at this lowly power output, it seemed to be whacking those cans on the Tin Can Alley target with enough oomph. Spring wise, looking at details of the springs fitted to the old HW25 and 45, I wonder if the 70 has a very thin gauge wire spring fitted?

Oh yes, a nice day, left alone and in peace, in the company of boingery toys (or even pneumatics and CO2 ones) would be the ideal.

Sounds like most wives are all nuts. It's just the amount of craziness that varies.

[TonyL]

I did manage to get to have a quick try with the lead-lined baking tin yesterday when the wife nipped out. I only tried it with the HW40 as I wanted to test at lower power first and it's quicker & easier to grab a pistol. Plus it gave me the chance to further evaluate if the lubing of the pump seal with the 30wt oil and moly paste mix was still proving effective. It was.

All pellets nicely and safely embedded into the lead "bed" with the back ends sticking out. And the sound is quite a dull "slapping" sound as opposed to the much louder "ring-ding" of pellets on steel. So, looking very promising. Will have to try with full power rifle next time. It's looking like this and the plumber's mait one are both fine, then, just the box with the biker jeans / carpet to play with next.

[TonyL]

34 to go, peeps.

BOING!

[Waddy]

Yep, I think I've stumbled across threads discussing the different piston seal arrangements previously. It'll be most interesting to hear of your journey with this one. Mine's only doing about 1.5ft.lbs but is so accurate and shoots so sweetly that I'm reluctant to delve inside just yet. And, even at this lowly power output, it seemed to be whacking those cans on the Tin Can Alley target with enough oomph. Spring wise, looking at details of the springs fitted to the old HW25 and 45, I wonder if the 70 has a very thin gauge wire spring fitted?

Oh yes, a nice day, left alone and in peace, in the company of boingery toys (or even pneumatics and CO2 ones) would be the ideal.

Sounds like most wives are all nuts. It's just the amount of craziness that varies.

From what I have seen online the older HW70s have a piston seal held on by a screw & washer in the centre like the old leather seals, whilst the newer ones are like the rifles. So if it's got the newer type piston then I'm thinking it will take a seal for a 25mm 77/ 97. I'm not sure when the newer type piston came in, I suppose only stripping it will reveal it's secrets.

The piston looks like the webley tempest ones, ie rotating so even though it's 25mm I'm expecting the inside dia to be less than a HW97's 25mm piston but way bigger than a 45's. I've got a spare almost new 45 spring but that will be way too small.

Shooting sweetly is what I'm after, I don't expect it would be that easy to cock if too much spring is crammed in there anyway


Sounds like the lead backed target holder is a winner Tony.


As for the other subject, that's probably a discussion to be had in the middle of a field having left phones in cars


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[TonyL]

From what I have seen online the older HW70s have a piston seal held on by a screw & washer in the centre like the old leather seals, whilst the newer ones are like the rifles. So if it's got the newer type piston then I'm thinking it will take a seal for a 25mm 77/ 97. I'm not sure when the newer type piston came in, I suppose only stripping it will reveal it's secrets.

The piston looks like the webley tempest ones, ie rotating so even though it's 25mm I'm expecting the inside dia to be less than a HW97's 25mm piston but way bigger than a 45's. I've got a spare almost new 45 spring but that will be way too small.

Shooting sweetly is what I'm after, I don't expect it would be that easy to cock if too much spring is crammed in there anyway


Sounds like the lead backed target holder is a winner Tony.


As for the other subject, that's probably a discussion to be had in the middle of a field having left phones in cars


.

I'll very much look forward to your findings and analysis upon opening up the '70, Paul. As you say, cocking would be very "interesting" if anyone tried to cram too much spring into one of these, with the very stumpy barrel. And it'd wreck its lovely easy-going manners.

I'll be hoping to regularly top-up the lead in the baking tin trap, Paul. More would have gone on over the last few days if things had panned out as I hoped. Never mind.....

Yes, you're right re that other subject.....definitely better a discussion better conducted in a lovely, safe field well out of range of the subject matter and away from pots, pans and other hard objects!

[TonyL]

Already warm now and with the temperatures set to rise further over the next few days, giving opportunities for those lovely outdoor sessions. Let's hope that things are like this in just under five weeks' time.

With rivers and reservoir levels low, many fields drying out and one or two areas declaring droughts, let's hope we get some much needed rain in the near future or else we'll be in big trouble, but that we see a return to the dry and warm conditions come Bash time.

[TonyL]

33 to go, peeps.

BOING!

[Waddy]

I'll very much look forward to your findings and analysis upon opening up the '70, Paul. As you say, cocking would be very "interesting" if anyone tried to cram too much spring into one of these, with the very stumpy barrel. And it'd wreck its lovely easy-going manners.

I'll be hoping to regularly top-up the lead in the baking tin trap, Paul. More would have gone on over the last few days if things had panned out as I hoped. Never mind.....

Yes, you're right re that other subject.....definitely better a discussion better conducted in a lovely, safe field well out of range of the subject matter and away from pots, pans and other hard objects!

Royal mail tracking says the 70 will be delivered today It's a bit addictive getting these parcels in the post

I take it that this baking tin trap will just need a going over with the blow torch every now & then ?

Pots & pans ? It's the bloody bread knife that worries me It's like a hobbits b@stad sword



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[TonyL]

Royal mail tracking says the 70 will be delivered today It's a bit addictive getting these parcels in the post

I take it that this baking tin trap will just need a going over with the blow torch every now & then ?

Pots & pans ? It's the bloody bread knife that worries me It's like a hobbits b@stad sword



.

Exciting times re the new arrival, Paul. Hopefullh no hitches and you get the parcel on time.

Exactly that re passing the blow torch over occasionally. And less time collecting spent pellets (as they're already where they're destined to be) is a bonus!

Lol (I think!) re the kitchen utensils!

[TonyL]

Royal mail tracking says the 70 will be delivered today It's a bit addictive getting these parcels in the post


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Has it arrived, Paul?

[Waddy]

Has it arrived, Paul?

Yes it has , it's the "medallion" model, bakerlite is in tip top condition & the blacking is very good, to Theoben standard even


It's doing 1.5 joules if I push the pellet in a bit, otherwise there's a popping sound followed by a couple of seconds of hissing from the breech, & the pellet hasn't budged


I think the piston & breech seals are at least Okish, it's so easy to cock I think the low power culprit is the aged spring.



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[CapitalBee]

Neil,
Just paid now. See everyone in July.