Proving out a rifle for nighttime pest control - DAR .25 cal

[nervoustrig]

Hey guys, I've had this DAR in .25 cal for about a year and a half, and it has been a good shooter but I figured it would be sooner rather than later that one of the cheap OEM O-rings would give way and call for a rebuild. Well, turns out that was 2 weeks ago. It started leaking out the atmospheric vent so I broke it down and fully resealed the regulator and tube assembly.

After it was back together, I dialed the hammer spring for the velocity knee (JSB 33.9gr @ 840fps for 53fpe) and zeroed it on the 50 yard target.

I don't do much casual shooting with a .25 cal so I figured it might be useful as an eviction tool for trash pandas. But first I have to make sure it's up to the task of delivering a precise brain shot on the first trigger pull after being put away for some time.

And oh boy, is it happy to put a JSB on an aspirin-sized bull at 50 yards.

That's a big confidence booster. So when the ding-donger sang its song on consecutive nights, this was the result.

 

[Vetmx]

Yes the 33.95 is indeed a skull crusher. I did up a DAR .22 for a buddy a couple years ago. I built a SSG for it and tuned it for 18.1’s at a conservative speed and 14.3‘s at the edge of warp speed. It was quite a shooter. And very comfortable to shoot.

 

[EdinGa]

I don't own anything air related that makes that kind of power, but it would be nice to have it with that kind of precision.

 

[Stubbers]

Lets see a balanced valve do THAT. Nice work dispatching the critter and having a healthy stable tune.

-Matt

 

[Ranchibi]

Jason, excellent rebuild, tune and shooting on those 2 bandits! Nice pics!

 

[markhooper]

I'm not familiar with the DAR.. but it looks a lot like my American tactical Nova liberty 22.. mine is a very good shooter and I don't tune just use as it came from the factory..
I got it from AOA and it's no longer available.. I really like that it has open sights.. but I have a small problem.. it's started to leak down.. 2 weeks goes from 4000 psi to 2000 psi.. I have my own machine shop and do mechanic work.. so I am wondering if someone can tell me where to start looking for the leak.. and do you use a soap/water spray bottle to check for leaks like I used to do putting in new underground gas lines?
for now it's tolerable but I like to have full air in case a critter makes trouble, can't spend time on the compressor and hope he just freezes and waits for me
I suppose I could call AOA and see if they can rebuild it, but that requires shipping and waiting and hopefully it returns in good shape and not damaged by UPS.. I guess a really big hesitation is that it's extremely hard to find air guns that come with the availability of open sights..
thanks for any help
Mark

 

[SilentSquirrel]

FOR @markhooper

Mark

Here is a link to get you started
A very good video

And attached is a pdf of the manufacturer's Assembly Instructions

Also
Captain O Ring sells a set for the Liberty

Hope this helps
Edward

View attachment AssemblyInstructionsForHP-P1000W_HP-P900W.pdf

 

[markhooper]

FOR @markhooper

Mark

Here is a link to get you started
A very good video

And attached is a pdf of the manufacturer's Assembly Instructions

Also
Captain O Ring sells a set for the Liberty

Hope this helps
Edward

View attachment 398967

hey thanks.. you are really nice trying to help me learn more.. thanks for the link on assembly, I've pretty much always done mechanic work using the parts diagram and specs sheet for measurements and torque..
I'm not good with getting around on the Internet.. so I assume that I can just Google Captain o ring?
needing some o rings for a extra custom build I'm doing on my notos too..
but can you tell me how to see the video.. said something about age restrictions and well I am way past that with grandkids but it won't show the video.. I'm going to try to see if someone in my family can help me with how to get it.. I tried several times and each time I got a Buddy Brown video he's great to watch being a mountain man I always get a good laugh out of his song .. I think called looters well he has quite a few good things.. hopefully it is ok to mention him here, because I am looking to learn more about the airguns, not get into trouble.. but one never knows what upsets someone else.. I already did that tonight just volunteering a fix for a port adjuster like on my American tactical Nova liberty.. but it's all good.. he can sort it out himself..
I just always welcome knowledge and sharing and helping each other.. life is short to not try to get along.. and we never know when our time is up..
I'm very worried about a friend on here, probably most have seen a post or more of his.. always the cheerful one and brings light to a dark spot in life.. he goes by iamtoasty.. and he just seems like dropped off the earth.. talked about every day and now it's been a long time.. praying that he is ok.. I think he is the only friend I've made here except for Mike vv..
great people..
thanks
Mark

 

[nervoustrig]

Hey guys, thank you for your thoughtful comments.

Matt, yes sir a conventional valve works very nicely at this modest power level...very predictable and repeatable.

Mark, you'll need to sign up / sign in to Youtube to see age-restricted videos. Doubtful there's anything in an airgun repair and tuning video that needs to be shielded from young eyes and ears but my guess is the author marked it as such because the platform is capriciously hostile toward anything dealing with guns.

 

[WorriedMan]

Hey guys, thank you for your thoughtful comments.

Matt, yes sir a conventional valve works very nicely at this modest power level...very predictable and repeatable.

Mark, you'll need to sign up / sign in to Youtube to see age-restricted videos. Doubtful there's anything in an airgun repair and tuning video that needs to be shielded from young eyes and ears but my guess is the author marked it as such because the platform is capriciously hostile toward anything dealing with guns.

Had to sign up one time for YouTube age-restricted video (Topa Manufacturing) because female presenter mentioned "round bottom" when describing aluminum PCP bottle.

 

[HogKiller]

hey thanks.. you are really nice trying to help me learn more.. thanks for the link on assembly, I've pretty much always done mechanic work using the parts diagram and specs sheet for measurements and torque..
I'm not good with getting around on the Internet.. so I assume that I can just Google Captain o ring?
needing some o rings for a extra custom build I'm doing on my notos too..
but can you tell me how to see the video.. said something about age restrictions and well I am way past that with grandkids but it won't show the video.. I'm going to try to see if someone in my family can help me with how to get it.. I tried several times and each time I got a Buddy Brown video he's great to watch being a mountain man I always get a good laugh out of his song .. I think called looters well he has quite a few good things.. hopefully it is ok to mention him here, because I am looking to learn more about the airguns, not get into trouble.. but one never knows what upsets someone else.. I already did that tonight just volunteering a fix for a port adjuster like on my American tactical Nova liberty.. but it's all good.. he can sort it out himself..
I just always welcome knowledge and sharing and helping each other.. life is short to not try to get along.. and we never know when our time is up..
I'm very worried about a friend on here, probably most have seen a post or more of his.. always the cheerful one and brings light to a dark spot in life.. he goes by iamtoasty.. and he just seems like dropped off the earth.. talked about every day and now it's been a long time.. praying that he is ok.. I think he is the only friend I've made here except for Mike vv..
great people..
thanks
Mark

mark, another option but probably majorly overkill for you is McMaster-Carr or Global O-ring or O-rings and more, I'm doubting you'll need 100 or even 50 of each, unless you have a FX then you need to double up....hey FX peeps I'm KIDDING, I've got two Mavericks.

 

[markhooper]

mark, another option but probably majorly overkill for you is McMaster-Carr or Global O-ring or O-rings and more, I'm doubting you'll need 100 or even 50 of each, unless you have a FX then you need to double up....hey FX peeps I'm KIDDING, I've got two Mavericks.

I have the McMaster Carr catalog, bought from them over the years.. probably could get them from msc.. so I am wondering if I can just get a rebuilt kit with everything and anything needed so I don't have to mike every o ring and order.. I'm also suspecting there's probably other type seals used in the valve and regulator..
I'm tempted to try a hatsan at44.. now regulator and you don't have to fight with spring loaded magazine..
I don't have a lot to spend.. so just thinking ahead.. plus I only shoot open sights and there's not much in airguns with open sights.. it's a shame it's not optional or come with open sights and places for scopes.. they do it on firearms.. wouldn't think that would be so difficult for airguns.. plus all this thin barrel liners and then spacers and shroud and tensioner and stuff.. seems like we'd be ahead of airgun manufacturer just used octagon barrel from like Henry golden boy.. or whatever brand.. I hear that you can take rifling off a airgun barrel with just a brass brush.. why not make solid good quality barrels?? I just don't get it..
Mark

 

[HogKiller]

I have the McMaster Carr catalog, bought from them over the years.. probably could get them from msc.. so I am wondering if I can just get a rebuilt kit with everything and anything needed so I don't have to mike every o ring and order.. I'm also suspecting there's probably other type seals used in the valve and regulator..
I'm tempted to try a hatsan at44.. now regulator and you don't have to fight with spring loaded magazine..
I don't have a lot to spend.. so just thinking ahead.. plus I only shoot open sights and there's not much in airguns with open sights.. it's a shame it's not optional or come with open sights and places for scopes.. they do it on firearms.. wouldn't think that would be so difficult for airguns.. plus all this thin barrel liners and then spacers and shroud and tensioner and stuff.. seems like we'd be ahead of airgun manufacturer just used octagon barrel from like Henry golden boy.. or whatever brand.. I hear that you can take rifling off a airgun barrel with just a brass brush.. why not make solid good quality barrels?? I just don't get it..
Mark

Well if there is a pic rail, you can put on some sights, but be a rather short radius, other option is a cheap red/green dot, I put one on my Tequila pistol and works fine, I've been spoiled by Arken glass. I think it takes a touch more than a brass brush to remove the rifling in a air gun barrel, but after cleaning up/slugging the barrel and polishing I don't touch them, it's not a PB. When it's smooth the lead fills in the few cavities and off you go. I bought a cheap ass USB bore scope to make sure of minimal defects. I did watch half of that video, that gun ia s breeze to work on.

 

[nervoustrig]

FWIW, the last competition barrel I lapped, I worked it vigorously for 2 hours with 180 grit followed by 300 grit.

By comparison, a bronze brush might as well be a Q-tip.

No meaningful difference if it’s the barrel from a $100 Chinese airgun like a QB or Snowpeak.

 

[markhooper]

Well if there is a pic rail, you can put on some sights, but be a rather short radius, other option is a cheap red/green dot, I put one on my Tequila pistol and works fine, I've been spoiled by Arken glass. I think it takes a touch more than a brass brush to remove the rifling in a air gun barrel, but after cleaning up/slugging the barrel and polishing I don't touch them, it's not a PB. When it's smooth the lead fills in the few cavities and off you go. I bought a cheap ass USB bore scope to make sure of minimal defects. I did watch half of that video, that gun ia s breeze to work on.

here's a link Mike vv sent me.. I think I'd go with it if no sights are available.. he said that they were great

SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights

SeeAll Sights

www.seeallopensight.com

 

[HogKiller]

here's a link Mike vv sent me.. I think I'd go with it if no sights are available.. he said that they were great

SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights

SeeAll Sights

www.seeallopensight.com

Nice, that would buy 6 of the cheap arse sights. Do you have a plate mounting system or the adapter? This is what I bought, yeah, it's cheap, if it was going on a PB I'd spend a few more bucks on a good one but it works...so far. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BQ5G2N9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[markhooper]

Nice, that would buy 6 of the cheap arse sights. Do you have a plate mounting system or the adapter? This is what I bought, yeah, it's cheap, if it was going on a PB I'd spend a few more bucks on a good one but it works...so far. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BQ5G2N9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't have one yet but I'm planning on getting the rail mount sight for a rifle.
Mark

 

[markhooper]

hey just wondering if you are all still watching this thread.. yes I am Not good about getting around the internet.. still can't figure out how to watch the video..
anyway I have found out something that makes me think my American tactical Nova liberty is leaking from somewhere in the regulator.. air it up to 4200 psi and it drops 1000 psi a week but stopped dropping at around 2000 psi and has stayed there for 2 weeks..
so does that mean it's like a vent on the regulator.. because of it was anywhere else I'd think it would just keep dropping.. like fill port, o-ring or valve leak id think it would just keep leaking air..
thank you for the help and if you have any ideas on a specific area I should check..
tempted to buy a seal kit from Captain o ring and just change them all but I'd really like to know what the leak is..
Mark

 

[BackStop]

The Nova Liberty is rated for 3600psi, not 4200psi. That might be your problem.

ATI Nova Liberty PCP Air Rifle First Look - Hard Air Magazine

The most-read HAM test review of 2018 was for the American Tactical Nova Freedom. Now we’re taking a first look at its cousin the Nova Liberty air rifle.

hardairmagazine.com

All my best!

Kerry

 

[markhooper]

here's a picture right off the air tube.. and I fill to just below the red so I am still in the green.. and yellow is 2000 psi and that's where it seems to fall off the regulator..
I've got a feeling that it has to be like a atmosphere vent leak in the regulator because it seems anywhere else it would go to 0 .. hope someone has a idea of what I need to look for, not sure where the regulator is but it seems like it has a adjustment in between the shroud and receiver between the shroud and air tube..
never adjusted it or tuned it just shot out of the box and only thing that's been apart is the magazine.. not great quality magazines but the gun has been good..
Mark