Do you work on your own Airgun(s)?

[FL22]

The subject has been the source of contention among many of us. How do you feel about it?

Me,
It’s true that at first learning about Airguns (I still have a long way to go lol) and the opinions/views on what to do with a defect, It was swaying me towards the easy way out of just sending it off for repair, RMA or exchange. That has its own set of drawbacks and headaches I have come to realize.

My personal reason for repairing my own Airguns was my experience that I had with a semi automatic Marauder I had purchased new, it had several issues but not of accuracy, it’s very possible that I could’ve fixed it but instead I sent it back and received a refund.

I regret that decision still to this day. Almost like someone who regrets selling a a great gun only to kick themselves and say I should’ve never let that one go.

So I decided to go the other way from that point on.

= one or more repair that I made myself

Taipan (purchased new)
S510 (purchased new)
Super Meteor (purchased new) + 1 exchange
Contour (purchased used)
Sniper (new old stock)
Origin (purchased new) + 1 exchange
Airacuda (purchased used)
Wolverine (purchased used)

Only my HW95, I not had to repair in anyway yet .

I understand that working on an Airgun may not be in everyone’s wheelhouse maybe you’re not mechanically inclined or you can barely see .177 pellets but if you can do it, I think it’s worthwhile.

 

[pan60]

I think at least for me it depends on a few things
if its not something drastically wrong I say just fix it
but if you pull the tube on a new gun and theres a Hugh gouge in there somewhere on a sealing surface and a 0ring its going to seal it then?
so I think?
if a barrel isnt Brent or other defective issue then fix it.
if I get something used I am just going to fix it.

 

[Danman]

My list of Airguns and repairs/mods so far:
Slavia 630
-drilled in sling studs & mounted sling
-installed Vortek spring to get it to stock fpe (I have sub 500fps Cdn spec version) the trigger jammed up as spring was too long. Cut coils and heated em flat using what I learned on forums...surprised myself how nice it turned out. Still needs another coil cut, but mostly have lost interest in this airgun.
TX200
-Pulled stock and buttpad off, hit stock with 5 coats of Truoil and some real fine steel wool in between...turned out beautiful. Now i have a TBT full tune kit on its way and i will be working on the trigger this winter...gonna revamp the entire gun lol.
S510
-Drained tank and swapped out the AA fill port with a quick connect, insp for moisture.
- drilled out baffle holder in barrel so I could fit a bigger straw inside when pulling patches and prayed it wouldn't affect accuracy....it didn't, phew!
Brk Ghost
-Bought reg o-ring kit for when/if issues arise
-Pulled barrel out twice, pulled shroud apart and cleaned everything. Polished it, first with JB then months later with Flitz.
-Degassed and install new Huma gauges, got gauges straight. Tuned reg down.
-Swap grip out and got a magpul buttpad fitted.

For me i seem to have a "honeymoon" period where I won't take anything apart or mod it (admittedly, my 3 premium airguns were flawless outta the box) . Once that's over (and the C.C. has recovered ) all bets are off!

 

[Grunt64]

The subject has been the source of contention among many of us. How do you feel about it?

Me,
It’s true that at first learning about Airguns (I still have a long way to go lol) and the opinions/views on what to do with a defect, It was swaying me towards the easy way out of just sending it off for repair, RMA or exchange. That has its own set of drawbacks and headaches I have come to realize.

My personal reason for repairing my own Airguns was my experience that I had with a semi automatic Marauder I had purchased new, it had several issues but not of accuracy, it’s very possible that I could’ve fixed it but instead I sent it back and received a refund.

I regret that decision still to this day. Almost like someone who regrets selling a a great gun only to kick themselves and say I should’ve never let that one go.

So I decided to go the other way from that point on.

= one or more repair that I made myself

Taipan (purchased new)
S510 (purchased new)
Super Meteor (purchased new) + 1 exchange
Contour (purchased used)
Sniper (new old stock)
Origin (purchased new) + 1 exchange
Airacuda (purchased used)
Wolverine (purchased used)

Only my HW95, I not had to repair in anyway yet .

I understand that working on an Airgun may not be in everyone’s wheelhouse maybe you’re not mechanically inclined or you can barely see .177 pellets but if you can do it, I think it’s worthwhile.

“I think you’re absolutely right—being able to work on your own airguns has a lot of benefits. It saves money, cuts down on downtime, and sometimes you can even improve performance beyond factory specs. That said, safety has to come first. Knowing your limits, using the right tools, and double-checking everything before you pressurize or fire—those steps aren’t optional. It’s part of the discipline.”

 

[Pumacarl]

I just want to "spray and pray," so I just go to the fair and shoot out a red star to get my kicks!

Who wants to work on a BB gun?

 

[Grunt64]

I just want to "spray and pray," so I just go to the fair and shoot out a red star to get my kicks!

Who wants to work on a BB gun?

BB guns? who said they want to work on BB guns?

 

[jps2486]

If I feel confident enough about my mechanical abilities, I will fix or modify the gun myself. I have dived into several break barrel rifles, cleaned out the factory garbage, polished the rough edges and installed new spring kits myself with success. PCPs? Most have worked ok except two that leaked when new and were sent back to the factory under warranty. I have replaced various O rings on some, but I cringe thinking about diving into an FX Impact. These have too many O rings and teeny weeny parts inside. Luckily, I have a friend who lives nearby that can do that stuff. I hate shipping rifles to "tuners". I don't mind paying their prices, but the shipping costs is what spoils it for me. One exception-if I need a RAW tuned or repaired, I send it to Martin Rutterford at airguns-usa.com. I know when I get it back the rifle will perform to it's maximum capability.

 

[Pumacarl]

BB guns? who said they want to work on BB guns?

Me. I did. Numerous times. I want to work on everything. I have spent more time excoriating fellow airgunners to learn to change their own orings and get on with their hobby, than I care to admit. Unless their hobby also includes interactions with shipping companies, then 'way-to-go' people. I won't buy a gun that I can't work on, or just don't want to work on. I'm not saying that just my way is right, but I am saying that I'm never waiting for my gun to come back either. Been there, done that, never again.

TL,DR: ...just kidding

 

[Grunt64]

Me. I did. Numerous times. I want to work on everything. I have spent more time excoriating fellow airgunners to learn to change their own orings and get on with their hobby, than I care to admit. Unless their hobby also includes interactions with shipping companies, than 'way-to-go' people. I won't buy a gun that I can't work on, or just don't want to work on. I'm not saying that just my way is right, but I am saying that I'm never waiting for my gun to come back either. Been there, done that, never again.

TL,DR: ...just kidding

I understand I have been lucky. No one has ever asked me how I have done any of the modifications on the 2 PCPS I currently own and If I knew 100% I couldn't be sued because of there negligence would share them with the world for free, but back to working on your own is like having a car and owning the repair shop, stay simple in design and its not that difficult. Something that can never be overenvisized is SAFETY ABOVE ALL.

 

[kcender]

You are truly an inspiration. Courage said the Lion!!!

 

[jps2486]

Me. I did. Numerous times. I want to work on everything. I have spent more time excoriating fellow airgunners to learn to change their own orings and get on with their hobby, than I care to admit. Unless their hobby also includes interactions with shipping companies, than 'way-to-go' people. I won't buy a gun that I can't work on, or just don't want to work on. I'm not saying that just my way is right, but I am saying that I'm never waiting for my gun to come back either. Been there, done that, never again.

TL,DR: ...just kidding

What if it's a warranty issue requiring new parts?

 

[Pumacarl]

What if it's a warranty issue requiring new parts?

I'm not stupid about it. If the gun shows up, and it isn't what I paid for, then of course it will go back. After the first week though, the companies are scott free, because I will most likely be voiding the warranty on my terms. So far, the only pcp that I have not felt the need to modify beyond company parts, is my Paradigm. I think that a lot of the tier one guns can be left alone, besides having to replace orings, and that's one of the reasons that I don't have many. The fun for me is taking a cheaper gun and making it shoot as good as anything and look better doing it. I can always just buy accuracy when I get tired of working on them, if I need it. I really don't, I'm just playing around.

 

[FL22]

What if it's a warranty issue requiring new parts?

With my Wolverine (used 30 day warranty) AoA was willing to send me the parts. I made the repair and sent the defective part back to them.

 

[Danman]

What if it's a warranty issue requiring new parts?

If its the first month or so after receiving an expensive airgun I'd send it back, after that, step back while I void the warranty!
Case in point: @Corvid_Hunter just recieved a new (broken) Delta Wolf...DOA, he sent it back for warranty, I'd be sending that back too!
The thing about warranty repair vs you doing it (assuming competence) is the service center will fix it....that's it. What if there is a sharp edge that keeps cutting that o-ring? You file it down and BOOM you just improved the gun! Next o-ring that gets installed might just outlast you.
Thats often the difference between you/a good tuner vs a dealer warranty 'repair' on your gun.
A big part of forums I believe is fellow enthusiasts (many experts, not me, lol) helping each other out with info, pics & procedures...a gentle push to open it up themselves...learn and maybe save some coin

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

I have to openly admit; I have spent more for PCP Rifles than I have spent on any others. And for the Life of Me, I don't know why? LOL

 

[FL22]

I have to openly admit; I have spent more for PCP Rifles than I have spent on any others. And for the Life of Me, I don't know why? LOL

That’s what happens after the ninth beer you make Chief and fall down the rabbit hole .

 

[wolfmangreg]

Resealing, barrel polishing, simple in-kind part replacement (worn poppet, valve, busted guage)- absolutely.

 

[Pumacarl]

I have to openly admit; I have spent more for PCP Rifles than I have spent on any others. And for the Life of Me, I don't know why? LOL

I have spent so very much more for firearms than pcps, and for the life of me, I wonder why? I barely shot any of them, outside of a slew of .22's. I have shot more aimed shots with my airguns in just the past seven years (I'm not even counting the decades with a pair of FWB124D's) than I have shot in the previous 40 with firearms, and I have had a lot more fun doing it. Just as accurate, no recoil, no noise, no brass pickup, no constant cleaning, no complaints from neighbors. To be fair, I did have a lot of fun building custom 10/22s. I don't regret that at all, still after the ammo shortage a few years back and starting with pcp, no contest.

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

That’s what happens after the ninth beer you make Chief and fall down the rabbit hole .

Wrong. But you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[FL22]

Wrong. But you are entitled to your opinion.

It’s not an opinion,I was just kidding around.