N/A How to store a “Gas Ram” Springer

[Bear-of-Grayling]

With all the new members I’m seeing here at AGN, I thought this old topic needs discussion again. I have several gas rams (Hatsan’s) and have just experienced some problems. It’s been discussed that a GR (GasRam) springer should be stored, muzzle down. I have always scored mine in the cabinet like all my other Springers, muzzle up. Done this for nearly 10 years now. However, just recently two of them were experiencing problems. One was totally dead and the other nearly 75% down. I can tell you that Hatsan does use oil in the Ram because when going through them and bleeding them down, some oil spews out. The o-rings on a ram are at the top (muzzle end) of the piston. So it makes sense to keep the oil against the rubber rings with the air pressure underneath. I filled both Rams back to normal and am now storing them, muzzle down. They both have been holding pressure just fine. What’s your experience?

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Pointing up , down or longways I found it don't matter . When one goes bad it just goes bad .. lol

Like my hatsans , I took the pointing down and they went flat just as easy as storing in any other way.. my gamos after years of setting them however still going ...

So the gas ram storing thing to me here is myth busted...

 

[Shuggoth]

I always stored mine either horizontal or standard butt down and they worked fine for over a decade until the ram just gave out. Mine have all been either theoben rams or it's replacement sold by Knibbs. The rams like springs do eventually die.

 

[stu69]

Myth busted...Bummer. I had a mod125 go flat and have been storing the ohers muzzle down since. I guess I will go back to normal storage , muzzle down doesn't work in a gun safe/cabinet.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Myth busted...Bummer. I had a mod125 go flat and have been storing the ohers muzzle down since. I guess I will go back to normal storage , muzzle down doesn't work in a gun safe/cabinet.

Busted? I’m not so certain. Yes, a ram like a spring has a life cycle. However, if oil is added to a ram to keep the o-rings from drying out, then why keep the oil away from them? If a determined lot of rifles were stored in both directions for years, it would be telling to see what lot gave out first. I do believe a ”life cycle” of a ram will do its best when stored muzzle down. Once the o-ring has been compromised, like mine have, I am sure it’s near the end. But, if I had stored these from new, muzzle down, ???

 

[A.G.R]

Busted? I’m not so certain. Yes, a ram like a spring has a life cycle. However, if oil is added to a ram to keep the o-rings from drying out, then why keep the oil away from them? If a determined lot of rifles were stored in both directions for years, it would be telling to see what lot gave out first. I do believe a ”life cycle” of a ram will do its best when stored muzzle down. Once the o-ring has been compromised, like mine have, I am sure it’s near the end. But, if I had stored these from new, muzzle down, ???

What good is oil in a air cylinder sealed by a o ring
oil or air if it’s going to leak ,it’s no better for oil to be on top or bottom

pressure seals the o ring
not oil.. it’s a poor designed ram by hatsan. An o ring can’t decide what it likes better oil or air..

if that’s the case then cocked is best.

 

[Septicdeath]

Best advice for any gas ram. Shoot them.

 

[stu69]

Truck topper struts and car struts rams arealmost always "cocked" and they last for decades. I know thats is not a direct comparisson but true none the less. I have decided to move away from gas rams.

 

[stu69]

Hey septic, I agree. I think. It would be cool if someone had 5 identical rifles (perferably Hatsan) that could be donated for long term study. 2 stored butt down 1 cocked/1 not...2 stored muzzle down 1 cocked/1 not and one shot once a week or more stored however.

 

[Oddhawk]

The oil in theory should help keep the o- rings from drying out. I have one I need to rebuild and thinking I might try to find some d- rings that will fit.

 

[GenXer]

Rams are not particularly expensive to replace. $40 will replace most of them. In my experience Hatsan rams are some of the worst made and you might as well expect to replace them. After much testing on my own gas vs. spring I have found springs to be more consistent anyway so the gas guns got sold and moved to all spring.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Rams are not particularly expensive to replace. $40 will replace most of them. In my experience Hatsan rams are some of the worst made and you might as well expect to replace them. After much testing on my own gas vs. spring I have found springs to be more consistent anyway so the gas guns got sold and moved to all spring.

I did get with Hatsan to see if they had the ram-to-spring conversion kit for the 135. They said that the kits are on order but they didn’t know when they would get them. My thing is, I really do prefer the guns overall behavior and power adjustability with the ram. However, I do not like the shortened life cycle compared to a spring.

 

[GenXer]

I did get with Hatsan to see if they had the ram-to-spring conversion kit for the 135. They said that the kits are on order but they didn’t know when they would get them. My thing is, I really do prefer the guns overall behavior and power adjustability with the ram. However, I do not like the shortened life cycle compared to a spring.

I have a 135 spring sniper in .25. The power is somewhat adjustable if you tinker, by replacing their threaded breech port orifice with one that has a smaller hole. It also smooths out the gun considerably. Really a tunable platform if you get deep into it. The only Hatsan I kept.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

I have a 135 spring sniper in .25. The power is somewhat adjustable if you tinker, by replacing their threaded breech port orifice with one that has a smaller hole. It also smooths out the gun considerably. Really a tunable platform if you get deep into it. The only Hatsan I kept.

I have gotten deep into both their springs and rams. Not at all with the newly added threaded transfer port. Interesting to know that it gives some power change without removing coils. The power adjustment on a ram (their older ones) is micro adjustable, either up or down. I love this feature. I guess the new rams are not adjustable however.

 

[beerthief]

I like the adjustability of the GR . are their different ram sizes similar to springs ? example HW 30 ,HW 35 ?

 

[SteveP-52]

6 or 7 sizes depending on configuration of the gun they're used in. Like Bear mentioned, the older ones depending on which model, had a bleed screw on the back end of the ram for adjusting pressure and a fill port if you wanted to tinker.
Usual fill pressure was somewhere between 125 and 135 Bar and the piston body was/is rated for 150 Bar max so more power could be gotten simply by adding a little more air, which is easy enough with a handpump, adapter and Hatty fill probe. Downside to them as already mentioned is the simple fact Hatsan didn't/doesn't use the best materials for the o-rings and why they fail.
Been quite awhile since I bought a new one, but from reading and also mentioned by Bear, it's a feature Hatsan no longer has on their Vortex gas pistons.

 

[beerthief]

i have heard their is going to be a few Theobens and other high end springers at the central PA show , I have already committed to be there .