Just curious - How much work do you do on an airgun while at the range?

[ctshooter]

I've seen a bunch of threads in the past couple of months talking about what you bring in your range bag and I saw a lot of people listing big toolsets. This makes me curious - how far do you go working on your gun while on the bench at a range?

I know I can do some basic reg and hammer spring settings, if external. But there's been times where I popped a seal and lost air or thought about maybe doing a caliber change. I don't think that would go over well at my public range - pulling a barrel would probably raise some eyes and get a conversation with the range officer going. Generally if a gun goes down at the range I just case it up to figure out later at home.

So where do you draw the line when it comes to range bench work?

 

[JP806TX]

This is regarding WFTF Piston competitions
With the recent rule change in Field Target about repairing your gun during a match, some of us are bringing high wear items to the range and practicing how to swap out those parts (spring, breech seals, etc).

Here's the AAFTA rule change dated Nov 1, 2021
--
Airgun Malfunctions

1. If a malfunction occurs during the match, the shooter may retire from the firing line to try to repair the airgun. The match will continue without them and the shooter will receive misses for subsequent targets until they return to their designated squad.
2. If repairs cannot be made by the beginning of the second day of a match, a replacement gun may be used that is compliant with the rules of his or her class with match director approval.
3. If a malfunction cannot be resolved or a replacement gun is not available, the shooter will be forced to forfeit the rest of the match with all remaining shots counted as misses.

--
Because I shoot a TX 200 I also bring other items to a major shoot (spare trigger/trigger block, extra scope etc inside my shooting bag to the line). Major shoot = Grand Prix or States or Nationals = a two day competition (usually out of town/State). That was one reason why I choose to shoot a TX200. They are very easy to disassemble and only require basic tools (no spring compressor required). I had to train myself to field strip and replace almost every major components on the TX out in the field (no barrel swap ...yet ...it requires a blow torch/heat source).

 

[Solo1]

I go with a fix-it-styx kit thats all if i need more than that i go home

 

[dgeesaman]

I go with a fix-it-styx kit thats all if i need more than that i go home

Unfortunately my fix-it-styx kit only has torx and hex bits. Flat and Phillips screwdriver bits are often quite practical. Same for very fine Allen keys. That reminds me to order some of those for my range bag.

As for me, if I’m confident I can get it done in the range, I’ll do it. I’ve swapped barrel liners, reset zero stops on scopes, dismounted and remounted scopes, etc. more detailed stuff doesn’t make sense since my range is 15 minutes from home. Thankfully I’m a member at ranges where he range officers are not difficult (in fact, I’ve never seen any at any of those clubs)

If I was competing I suppose I’d explore common repairs. My last malfunction was my competition FT PCP and it had to go back to the tuner to change an oring inside the reg.

David

 

[c_m_shooter]

Folding Allen wrenches and screwdrivers for stock screws are inmy pockets or the car. I shoot springers though..

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

I only zero scope.or straight remove them at the range
Everything else gets taken care of at home; don't want to risk losing any pieces in the sandy area I shoot in lol

 

[JimNM]

At my first bench rest competition, I had a hammer and sear get a divorce in the middle of a 20 min card. My boy jumped into the truck, drove to the cabin a mile away and returned with the Allen wrench set I needed to reset the trigger parts. Stock back on and card finished with a few minutes to spare.

I try not to do open surgery on the guns, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Now I carry the Allen wrench and a crescent and hammer, just in case.

 

[Moog]

When I'm at the shooting range I normally just do only minor adjustments like setting the windage and elevation knobs on a scope. But you never know. Sometimes things happen. In my range kit I have a gun smithing screw driver set and Allen wrench set to deal with loose screws.

I don't understand why removing a barrel would "raise some eyes". If someone next to me at the range was removing a barrel or taking the gun apart it would not bother me at all. On the other hand if I saw someone chamber a round as we were heading down range to check targets then I would be concerned.

 

[Solo1]

Unfortunately my fix-it-styx kit only has torx and hex bits. Flat and Phillips screwdriver bits are often quite practical. Same for very fine Allen keys. That reminds me to order some of those for my range bag.

Yea i got rid of the bits I don’t need and filled in with what i did need i shoot 2 ghosts presently so it was easy-to fit what was needed

 

[ctshooter]

I did re-read all the FAQs and range rules for the place near me. They don't say anything about working on guns, but considering I'm basically the only airgunner at that range and I've never seen anyone do anything else but shoot, I'd still feel weird about a barrel change.

 

[Chukar60]

I keep a small pair of channel locks, metric Allen key set, a 10mm open end box end wrench, a can of Ballistol and a a cleaning kit. If I need any more than that it needs to be done at home.

 

[RickH]

At the range very minimal. If I have to do a lot of work it’s time to go home and do it right in a clean and at times, organized place.

Rick H.

 

[elh0102]

Things are usually informal at my club, and there is not a range officer unless it is a formal event. I've had firearms completely disassembled on the bench, and there has never been a comment or problem. Given the nature of most air rifle construction, I would be hesitant to go too far with disassembly at the range. And if you are dealing with an RSO who is more interested in exercising his/her power than performing the designated duty, well, that can be a problem and it might limit your activity, even if unreasonable.