What is so special in B26

[nmmike]

John:
No reason to apologize, I'm sorry if my post came off sounding abrupt. I have a poor history with Chinese guns so I'm really stoked when I get a couple good ones . And I'm certainly glad that we like different guns, otherwise they would only make one :0 .
Good luck, Mike

[shawn67]

No reason to apologize, I was only telling my reasons for buying th B26 instead of something else. Originally I was leaning toward the Mendoza RM600 before I read about the B26 on here and talked with Mike and a few others, and its great that you can work on your air rifles yourself, I would like to learn myself, I have worked on several of my firearms and recently did a trigger job on a Beretta Neos .22 that turned out really sweet but I don't have a spring compressor and I haven't ever worked on a air rifles internals so I thought I better leave it to someone who knows how. I'm glad you like your gun and its cool that you got .177 and .22 in a package

[iconoclast]

On one hand I read the reviews that say what a great rifle this is.
But when someone asks about getting a tune-up kit, forget about it, because the tolerances are so bad.
What's the point of getting a rifle that James Maccari has decided not to support anymore.
For me, availability of parts is a big factor in determining whether an air rifle is worth buying or not.

[mikeiniowa]

It's not that the tolerance is bad it's that they changed some of the dims, JM does have some springs left but you will have to ask for them, if you get one with the smaller id on the piston the spring from him will fit but you have to remove the liner. The factory springs seem to be holding up in the rifles I have sold, at least no one has told me they have broken, I do replace broken parts for free so it's not a big deal just have to send it in and have the parts replaced if it's something that the owner can't do......

[Gene_SC]

Like Mike says they have changed the spring size. When I do a tune, I never worry about that because I always make a guide for the new spring and send the old parts back to the customer, including the old spring.

[iconoclast]

So it seems like what Gene_SC and mikeiniowa are saying is that the expert tuners don't have a problems with tuning the B26 because they can custom fit and custom make parts if necessary.
However, for the average person it's not easy to get standard parts to perform a DIY tune.
Am I understanding this correctly?

[mikeiniowa]

It's not a job that requires a pro, if you have the know how and tools it's quite easy, to get a really good tune does take some know how and more advanced tools..........plus some time in grade

[TCups]

I tuned my own B-26 first time around, just to learn what was inside an figure out what all the tuning lingo meant.  Good learning experience, but Mike and Gene understate the level of their skill.  And yes, you can do it with hand tools and ordered parts, but a full shop with the right tools is another thing that separates most of us from the real pros.   It took me three different seals and 4 times into the rifle to get my first tune done, without much real improvement in performance.  I learned a lot, but most importantly, learned I was no pro and not apt to become one, and I learned to appreciate just how good Gene Curtis, Mike Melick, Bob Werner, Paul Watts, and a select handful of others are.  The certainly earn what they charge, IMHO.

[Jerrycup]

The B-26 trigger is more than adequate, and would require only polishing of the sear and and adjustment in almost any case.

Mike seems to be a prime source for these, for about $30 or $40 more than the cheapest source, he will examine, lube, and deliver the gun to ensure that the gun you get is ready to go.

After considering all the "hype" (and there seems to be some about this gun) most who really do know air rifles agree that it is a pretty faithful copy of a solid German design, has a very good trigger, with relatively few quality issues in the later BAM versions, and it shoots great. IMHO, it's a better rifle than the TF-89 regardless of tune, and it's plenty heavy.

Mine cost $140 last year (Mike has been known to offer bargains at times) and it outshoots a much more expensive Gamo with a replacement trigger, tuned by a real expert.

To each his own, good luck with your Walmart special, but I think at under $200 it's a true bargain, and hardly a cash cow to Mike.

[TCups]

I could also add that, IMHO, the B-26 is better balanced vs. the nose-heavy Di 34, and that the B-26 is much easier to shoot accurately.

Hey Mike, you ol' Iowa Cash Cow, you!  Thanks for you valuable service.  Love those B-26's.

[iconoclast]

I realize that the expert tuners on these forums do a first rate job.
All of the reviews that I've read about Gene_SC, mikeiniowa, and CharlieDaTuna give credit to their outstanding work.
However, I'm a DIY kinda guy.
Whether it's fixing my cars, remodeling the house, repairing my computer, etc. I always do it myself.
I just finished the QB78 tune and I had a lot of fun with it.
I was amazed at how much improvement the tune made.
Now I'm looking for a good springer to get and tune myself.
I'm sure the experts would do a much better job than myself.
But DIY is half the fun isn't it?
The B26 sounds like a good air rifle, but the parts availability seem questionable.
That's what worrys me.
Perhaps I should just go ahead and get a Crosman Quest.
I least there I know I can get parts.

[Gene_SC]

Icono, many people that own there own air guns do work on them. Like Mike said anyone with the tools and a bit of mechanical knowledge can probably do what I call a home tune. And you are right that most of the home tuners do not have the equipment to professionally tune an air gun. My tuning business works because there are just as many people out there that do not want to get there hands greasy, cut up, etc and would rather have a pro tuner tune there air guns for maximum performance and shooting. Pro tuning is really an art that takes years to learn. There are so many variables between the different models. Machined parts and tolerances are one of the keys to a pro tune.

[Gene_SC]

Jerry your exactly right about comparing it to the Beeman R-9. IMO a well tuned B-26 is just as nice a shooter as the Beeman R-9 with the exception of the R-9 .20 cal.. It would be fantastic if they come out with a .20 in the B-26. Then you would have the best of both worlds wrapped up in one air rifle..

I did not know you had a TF-89 Jerry. There is a big difference in the two. The TF-89 is a magnum which the B-26 cannot touch. Two totally different air rifles for sure. You can compare a TF-89 with the Chinese B-28 or the RWS 350, and still come out ahead after a good tune. A good tune eliminates the hold sensitiveness and is dang accurate to boot.. I have not sit down with an RWS 350 and TF-89 at the same time,but I do have the numbers from all the tunes I have done on both and the TF-89 is spot on after it is tuned.

[mikeiniowa]

what parts can't you find? I can get everything needed to build one from parts, the Merlin spring from Maccarri fits great and is adjustable with spacers....?

[shawn67]

Just out of curiousity, what benefits does the Merlin spring have over the stock one? I assume it make the firing cycle smoother, does it do anything else. Sorry not trying to hijack your thread, just wondering what advantages it being adjustable provides, thanks