“Cheap” project

[270windude]

Here is a question out of sheer boredom. I’m curious what cheap sub 250 dollar gun (springer, not CO2 or PCP) would be the most deserving of an all out rebuild and tune? You’d have to do all the work yourself but you can buy or source out fabrication of parts. No budget restraints on the mods within reason.

I suspect as long as the barrel is good you can build around it. All factors considered. For instance I’ve seen one top notch tune kit provider offer a kit for a Remington model springer (can’t remember the model or the kit but I want to say it was a UK outfit). That would put that gun up my list as it has aftermarket support. 

Would you put a WTB ad for a used and perhaps somehow broken R9 or 7 due to the tremendous aftermarket availability of parts? Would you start with a BSA Polaris and hope the barrel is good enough to compensate for less then perfect machined internals? Maybe you’d hunt for a machinist to make a new spring guide and or piston for your choice? Maybe there’s a gun you really love the shot cycle on and it only needs a LW barrel added on... 

 

[Yo]

Find the Flying Dragons RWS 34 clone. PROBABLY $100-$120 best guess. Call him by phone ask what his Chinese guns clones of and go from there. If you can find an HW95 Clone like a Chinese B26 that would be worth paying up to $150 for.

Garage sales often sell $100-$150 Wal-Mart guns for $10-$20. Sometimes FREE. Check Craigslist local to you too do a face to face 6 feet social distancing of course.

 

[goodoldbvc]

I have a BSA Comet .177 I got for 100 bucks, if anyone wants to take it off my hands for a project lmk. I'm not listing a 100 dollar rifle. Only in the lower 48 though, sorry Yo my man I'm all the way on the East Coast! You gotta move closer!

 

[Mossonarock]

Any $50 springer in a pawn shop. I picked up a Marksman0035 that needed a new piston seal. I replaced the front globe sight with a winged patridge sight for a M1 carbine. I replaced the rear open sight with a Williams peep sight. I shortened the LOP of the stock and am currently refinishing the stock. The gun is very accurate.

A Hatsan 95 is always worth cleaning up and tuning, refinishing the stock....

 

[xsarfc9x]

I'll 2nd a current production BSA Meteor or Comet. Basically a Gamo tube with a BSA barrel. I detuned mine and it's a tack driver. 



I need to spend some time with my Polaris, I had Shadow tune it. Shot it a couple times at 15m and it likes heavier pellets so far. Need to stretch its legs out though. Not alot of reviews on them but some ppl had issues with the barrels. Shame the BSAOG is down. 

There have been some R7s for cheap lately on used sites and the HW guns on Krale are pretty cheap as well 

 

[edenwildfood]

There's some old bsa meteors online for cheap that I've considering getting to mess about with. 

 

[270windude]

I think my favorite idea out of the ones suggested is going with a clone. I highly doubt I’ll find a R9 or what I really want, my old b21 side lever clone back(talking many years ago, not even sure it was called a b21). That way you’d have lots of aftermarket parts available: new pistons, spring guides, probably drop in barrels, seals, etc. 

i might at some point wind up with that HW30 clone and try building it up for fun. 

 

[Moog]

For an inexpensive project gun I've been working on my old Crosman Storm xt in .177. The Crosman Quest and Optimus are the same rifles and use the same parts so you can still order what you need from Crosman or other places. This is a very common design. These springers are usually priced a little over 100 bucks so they are in your price range.

On my Crosman I added the GRTIII trigger which has made a huge differance. I lowered the comb of the stock just a little so I can use the iron sights and I've also refinished the stock. Just recently I took the whole rifle apart for a clean and lube. I would really like to replace the rear plastic sight with a Williams peep.

Maybe when I see the Optimus back in stock I will pick up one of those to work on.

 

[xsarfc9x]

Krale has HW50 for $250 and HW 30 for $220.

I had okay luck with some of the Chinese clones, but the best barrel you'll get in this price range will be a BSA barrel on a Gamo tube. You might be able to find a Slavia but ppl seem pretty partial to them and they dont come up often.

There's some old bsa meteors online for cheap that I've considering getting to mess about with.

Id go with a MK6 or later. The earlier models tubes weren't always straight and they use a piston O ring and a synthetic buffer that usually breaks up after a while. I've got a mint Mk4 that I shot once and all the crude from the buffer came out. The best Meteors were the MK6s bc they had the Gamo tube and trigger but had the standard BSA spring barrel block. The MK7s have the pastic hybrid block. 

 

[Septicdeath]

Find the Flying Dragons RWS 34 clone. PROBABLY $100-$120 best guess. Call him by phone ask what his Chinese guns clones of and go from there. If you can find an HW95 Clone like a Chinese B26 that would be worth paying up to $150 for.

Garage sales often sell $100-$150 Wal-Mart guns for $10-$20. Sometimes FREE. Check Craigslist local to you too do a face to face 6 feet social distancing of course.

+1

The Xisico line of air rifles you cannot go wrong with own several and are all wonderful inexpensive guns.

Or get a B3 the ultimate tinkering gun.

 

[KWK]

 270windude

Maybe you’d hunt for a machinist to make a new spring guide and or piston for your choice?

Send the spring with necessary dimensions, and a piece of Delrin and I'll make a snug guide for you. Just send an extra piece of Delrin for in my stock rack.

Delrin is so easy to machine. It cuts like butter and it's too easy to get a good finish. Cool stuff. 

Sorry, I'm not going to make any experimental pistons. Top hat, yes. Delrin, steel, brass, NP. Give dimensions