GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => The Shop => : Gene_SC October 11, 2008, 07:31:24 AM
-
Below you will see my interpretation of a well made air rifle..:) It has taken me a while but I finally got er done today. I saved myself over $200.00. I originally bought an RWS 34 in mint condition from James Hutchinson $125.00. With a little of this and a little of that out of the hat comes a Brand New Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact .177.
Actually I have owned a couple of the RWS 34 air rifles and even and older RWS 36 which I am still kicking myself in the back side for selling them.....:( They were not my go to guns at all. The reason was they were do dog gone barrel heavy. I like a shorter lighter air rifle and have found that I shoot and handle them the best. So a few months ago I saw the new Diana RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact .177 at Midsouth and just fell in love with the looks. And at the same time being a few inches shorter in the barrel it made sense they would be less barrel heavy. So I took my new used RWS 34 completly apart and the first thing I did was chuck up the barrel in the lathe and shorten the barrel down to 15.5 inches overall length from the back of breach block to the crown. I trimmed and re crowned the end and use some touch up blue pen to cover up the shiny tip..:). I calculated the length of muzzle brake and made it from mostly .065 wall tubing with a tip and rear piece of solid aluminum..
Next I had been working on stripping down the stock. It was a darker finish than I wanted so I stripped her down and refinished her in Min Wax Special light walnut. The stock was in very pristine condition and not much sanding was needed.Let the stock sit for a month and then put on a coat of wax sealer.
Next was the tune. CDT has shown me so much about these RWS air rifles that I decided to try something different..:) "Only on my own air rifles"..:) I not only made and changed the design of the delrin spring guide but also used a fat delrin washer instead of a steel washer. At this point I can only say that this is just another one of my experiments..:) CDT did not approve it.. hehe
Next to put her all together. Everything slid together perfectly, and now I could not hardly wait to cock her and see if pellets would fly..:) I could not chrony her because one of my bulbs burnt out in my light I use for my chrony, but by the way she felt when I started shooting her, she is doing in the 800 fps range for sure and maybe more. I hope she stays in the 800 fps range cause that is best for me and the pellets I like to use. She was smooth as glass to cock and no action noise to speak of when I shot her. I put around 100 pellets through her and got her all sighted in with a new Hawk Scope. It is a 4-12X40 AO MilDot. The glass is super clear and it was very cloudy here today. Time will tell if that Hawk will hold up to a medium springer recoil.
Well anyway I probably missed a few details but if you are curious then ask and I will reply..:)
Oh! the most important part.. The balance is great now and at least a pound lighter than before. I am right handed and when I pick up the RWS with my right hand and then lift the forestock up with me left hand there is not that apparent barrel weight that was there before.
Gene
-
Wow. I really like what you did refinishing that stock Gene. She could become your 'go-to' springer. Nice work.
-
Actually Fix, I made a new piston out of titanium with expanding teflon rings in the front. I won't say what I used in the rear but it slides in the action slick as snott..:)
Gene
-
She's FANTASTIC LOOKING BUDDY!:) I really like the shorter barrel which would make for a nice hunter in dense woods and I'm positive that she shoots like a dream with the tune you gave her, Great work buddy.:) Ed
-
Turned out looking sweet Gene and I bet she shoots nice as well. I've got a few special project's lined up, for when I get up and running, more to come later.
Now Paul, you can't be given out all the secrets,hehe.
-
What a beauty Gene !!!
Looks super too !
When you need a baby sitter, keep me in mind ! :)
Bill
-
LOL Mike, you are exactly right...:) I can hardly wait to see what you are gonna come up with Mike. Guess our imaginations just go wild thinking about different improvements we can do to a particular springer..:) And Ed is sittin back waitin also to see what you is comin up with as well...:) Ain't these air rifles a bunch of fun..:)
Yes Mike, that RWS 34 Meisterschutze Pro Compact .177 shoots teriffic. I would still be out back shooting if it was not for my sore shoulder..:) Absolutly no action noise to speak of.
Gene
-
Darn near as nice as my Panther Ya gave me!!LOL!! I just came in from shootin "Ole Chopper",, been hitin a little stick across the lake pretty regular!! (Over 100 yrds.,,, Honest) Hey wait a second,, your muzzle break is bigger than the one Ya made for me!!?? My Panther you & Bob did up for me is just getting better all the time,, spitin CPHP,s @ 900 fps. very consistant, & dead on accurate!! Well,,, just cruise back thru huntin gate to see the game it has taken!!He He!! Gonna be here at Moms in Alabama another week looks like. Her & I were just lookin at the atlas,,, seems we found a route home for me that goes right thru your "back yard"!! Dont be too suprised ifin Ya see a big red Dodge truck in yer driveway,,(Enter Smily Face!!) Promise to only bug Ya for a few hours,, & not keep Ya up all night again!!LOL!! (You messed up Gene,,,,,, I know where Ya live!! He He !!) Ya found any new Mexican restraunts??? Lunch/Dinner is on me this time Buddy!! Shure would love ta see Ya again Buddy,, let me know if its ok if I stop by on my way home?? (Gots some new BB Guns ta show Ya!!) Your Buddy,,Tim.
-
Ed's got a special hot rodded lady that will be headed his way, as soon as I can get this other project finished. There's no tellin what may come out of Splash's mad house,hehe. Just sittin back enjoying life, what could be better.
-
Timmy you know you are always welcome at my home buddy..:) Except I moved to another house.. LOL I will send you my new phone number if you promise not to write it in any bathroom stalls..:)
Gene
-
Yeah,,, I knew Ya moved,, Ya sent me your new addy,,,I think?? I saved that PM from Ya. Pretty shure its the new one. "Shoot" me a PM,,, I have not been able to get my E-Mail here at Moms?? I did find out my cell phone works if Im down on the dock by the lake,,,,,, trouble is,, while I was building the new dock addition,, my phone fell in the lake!! Will get a new one Mon. I really like the new "Compact" Ya built,,, cant wait to shoot it!! Really want you to shoot your "Old" Panther also,,, after my "Compact" mods.,,,, I think you will really like it!! About your Ph. #,,, you & Bob know I can be trusted with secrets,,besides,, not too many people pay attention to phone #,s on the walls of Interstate rest stop bathrooms!! He He!! Really cant wait to see Ya again Buddy!! Thanks for the invite,,,, I plan on takin Ya up on it!! Your "Lil Buddy",, Tim. P.S. Can we shoot a "Kinda Loud" PCP at yer new house???????
-
Hey Timmy, not a problem here with loud air rifles..:) And Paul remember the old saying. "Loose Lips Sink Ships"....... :)
Gene
-
Now Paul, ya just can't tell everything...:) Then everyone would call me a blabber mouth.. hehe
Gene
-
One thing is for sure.... pro tuners, if they have any smarts at all, won't/don't give away their trade secrets to their success. If they did/do, they wouldn't be successful at all and sure won't be in business long and/or will starve to death.
-
surely if you were all to just tell one person, like, say, me, it wouldn't hurt...;-)
Dave
-
Have almost a tin of Exacts through her now. My groups were a bit rough at the start but with practice I closed them in within 1" after almost a whole tin of pellets.. Today I finally put her up on the chrony. She has been shooting from the beginnning very hard. A bit harder than I liked. But after a 12 shot test through the chrony this is what I come up with. Actually I am a bit disapointed in the fact that the nubers are so high. I would of been pleased as punch if they had read in the mid to high 800 FPS. She shoots very smoothly with quite a loud report but she is steady to aim and squeeze off every shot. I am very pleased with the accuracy, non hold sensitivity and ballance. I was shooting from a bipod and not my normal bench rest. I know she is capable of doing 9 out of 10 ragged holes..:) Just need to get rid of some of my rust..:) Here are the stats:
Oh! I did want to mention that I may possibly remove my mod from the spring guide and piston and go with CDT's mod. I was not trying to increase the FPS but smooth the action out as much as I could.
Gene
Pellet weight was 8.30gn
-
Gene_SC - 10/11/2008 1:31 PM
Below you will see my interpretation of a well made air rifle..:) QUOTE]
I missed this post earlier for some reason. I now see your post was dated the day we left for vacation, that explains missing it. I really like what you did with her Gene. I am glad the rifle worked out for you.
-
WOW Gene,
She's sure a Beauty !!! I think you out did yourself a bit. hehe Timmy will want that Air Cannon to shoot that Bear down home, WOW !!
And just think, it,s a Springer....not a PCP air rifle :)
Great work buddy,
Bill
-
hey gene, do you think it shoots as smooth as a turbo tuned 34? if say, someone wanted the mods you did, would you do em for em?
also, isn't 800 fps a little slow for that gun?? what numbers are you gettin now?
-
Well Dave, yes it does shoot great after I tuned it. Used a Maccari spring and seal. I like them to shoot in the 800 fps range David but with what I did on the tune gave me a much higher velocity. Remember this is one of my air rifles. I was tuning this RWS to shoot accurate and smooth. Accurate and smooth it is but I had to use a heavier pellet to get my groups within an inch at 40 yards. Beaman Kodiaks 10.60gr. That slowed her down some. But also the barrel has not been seasoned yet either. Since I refinished the stock I have bought a new stock with butt pad which looks very nice as well. When I tune air rifles I tune them as though they were my own. You will notice that the forstock extends further on the new Meister Stock. Gene
-
that really is a beautiful gun gene...so, i'm guessing you didn't take out the mods you did?
-
Lots of hoopla,,,,,,, Mine (34 Panther) is still better than Gene,s. Mine shoots CPHP,s @ 900 all day long in the same hole,,, SMOOOOOOTH as silk!! Ya just cant compete with mine Gene!! HEY WAIT a second,,,,,,,,,, you are the one that tuned mine:?? Well,,, it was your gun,,,, then you for some reason GAVE it to me????????? You AINT gettin it back Buddy,,, I know you & Bob did a special job on my Panther,, I love it more than I can put into words. Again I will say,,, NO ONE has a 34/177 Panther as nice as mine,,,, not even Gene!!LOL!! Tim. P.S.,,,,, course,, I shure would LOVE a nice shroud for her!!LOL!!
-
hey tim, how would you describe the plastic stock?
i've been thinking about getting a panther for a while, but not sure if i want another synthetic stock...some of em really sound like toys...can't stand that...but a nice synthetic stock, i absolutely love.
-
Dave, I left her alone. She will make one heck of a hunting gun. Now she is very well balanced with less weight not to mention the fpe she puts out..:) For now I am keeping her but not sure if I would ever sell her either. Those German guns are well made.
Gene
-
Timmy, you come on up here and I will show you who has the better shooter..:) hehe. Yes I have to admit that your Panther took to the tune and mods like a fish to water. She is a great accurate shooter Timmy. But you better keep her hidden and locked up or somebody might take her home with them..:)
Gene
-
Gene, the new stock looks great. Ah what you got planned for the other one,hehe.
-
uh-oh...time for a shootout between 34's!