I rotate and shoot a stable of pumpers and springers. However, I don't track shot count. Is there an easy way to determine when lubrication and other maintenance are required? Should I track the shots taken on each, use a calendar, or do both, or is there another way? I have Daisy BB guns, several pumpers, and several break-barrel springers. Thanks in advance for any replies.
N/A Airgun maintenance
- Thread starter JDR
- Start date
If not by feel, I'm of the mindset of monthly inspection and service if deemed necessary on anything from a pump air rifle to pcp to your pressure vessels, compressors or even backup generator.
The machines usually give you signs they need attention too. As for barrel cleaning, I clean when groups degrade. This is just my preference and is in no way dogma.
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I am big on if it's not broke don't fix or. This is after 40+ years in the auto service business, I have seen all the problems caused by unnecessary repairs/ maintenance by pros and amateurs. I think since there is seals and lubes in our guns they need to be reguarly used and when accuracy degrades or velocity changes its time to investigate. If you shot good pellets you do yourself a favor. My TX 200 has close to 50,000 pellets out of it in 3 years. Gets cleaned at most once a month.I think a lot of dirt accumulates and is trapped by lubing pellets, but what do I know. Just my observations. I shot a lot of very small groups, this is what seems to be working for me. My shooting buddy cleans daily. I tell him your never shooting a barrel in it's best condition, but he shoots pretty well. Might be more than one way to skin the cat. However....in our lest 10 20meter bench matches I have one 8 and my wife once, her only attempt. The rest of our regular group are split, clean seldom, clean often. Figure out what works for you. I use Rimfire Blend when I do and totally dry the barrel when done. Keep solvents off your seals, they are not compatible,
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I can see keeping the gun clean and cleaning the barrel based on accuracy, but what about lubricating internals? How can you tell if your Daisy Red Ryder, Sheridan, and FWB 124 need internal lubrication if you don't go by shot count?
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Feel and sound. If something changes take a look. Otherwise, unless you like doing it, leave the internals alone. Especially the sealed areas.
Anyplace where you can get lead dust needs to be cleaned regularly which could entail lubricant too.
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I have an RWS 45 that I bought new in the 1980s. I have put a couple drops of chamber oil in it twice and cleaned the bore twice and other than wiping it down once in awhile that is literally all I’ve ever done to it. Still shoots the same as it ever did. Here’s 5 at 46’. I’m sure it could do better if I were capable of it
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For pumpers , I use Mac1 “secret sauce” on the pump linkage and piston head. Just make sure you can see or feel a light film of oil in this area. For break barrels, if they are lubricated properly from the start (correct grease/oil in the correct places) they should last for many years with minimal maintenance. A synthetic seal should be virtually maintenance free. Maybe a little oil on the detent once in a while.
Probably more damage is done by over oiling springers which can lead to dieseling. Then you have broken springs and or burnt piston seals to deal with.
Probably more damage is done by over oiling springers which can lead to dieseling. Then you have broken springs and or burnt piston seals to deal with.
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That's the inspection thing for me. Keeping my projectile toys properly lubed and rust free is my main peeve. Red Ryder used to get oil when I could hear it was dry.... Then I gave it to a kid.
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Springer I would silicone grease every so often to prevent dieseling.
That's a fantastic point about over oiling those. Dieseling kills springer parts so fast.
On rainy days or just relaxation do-nothing days I will start stripping wiping down and oiling all the guns, pbs get full breakdown and that's a whole day usually. It's kinda zen too. I want me to be the failure point, not my machine.
My fx guns get used so much and brought around with me that they're silicone oiled weekly and a couple cleaning pellets shot down the bore and I call it good.
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I don't keep track but just know when it's time for TLC for my guns. I only clean barrels when a change in accuracy occurs but general inspection, exterior cleaning, oiling & checking screw & parts tightness happens a few times a year. My guns in general are very low maintenance.
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This is kind of my experience too. Once setup properly, my spring guns shoot for years and tens of thousands of shots with essentially zero maintenance. Unless you shoot dirty pellets, there is no need to clean the barrel. And I have yet to see moly or ultimox 205 wear out or dry out.I have an RWS 45 that I bought new in the 1980s. I have put a couple drops of chamber oil in it twice and cleaned the bore twice and other than wiping it down once in awhile that is literally all I’ve ever done to it. Still shoots the same as it ever did. Here’s 5 at 46’. I’m sure it could do better if I were capable of it
There is an abundance of fastidiousness on this forum. Totally fine if that is what you enjoy, but it is not necessary IMHO.
R
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Gotta keep em overly clean to get 10% resale over retail on a 3 generation old gun
Fwiw my benjamin 392 has been cleaned and rebuilt 1 time since 1996. Still runs like it always has.
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I have a Benjamin 392G (Co2). Rebuilt one time to replace the seal. Still going strong and shooting well for a 30 year old gun.Gotta keep em overly clean to get 10% resale over retail on a 3 generation old gun
Fwiw my benjamin 392 has been cleaned and rebuilt 1 time since 1996. Still runs like it always has.
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Another thing I neglected to mention. My cleaning routine is purely boredom these days and external. The big change was washing and lubing my ammo for gun cleanliness. A little silicone lube on the action and fcg occasionally and a wipe down or blow down for dusting. I do inspect then for the usual suspect oring failures or leaks regularly tho
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I have been known to occasionally cock and uncock my springers and gas ram guns. To make sure they are still functioning smoothly and that the gas ram is still holding pressure. And pump up my Benjamin 347 a few times to keep the seals pliable.
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