Shooting in grass follow up, excellent day shooting, classifieds etiquette, and some people just shouldnt work on airguns....

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Tl;Dr - It wasnt grass that threw my shots off, I had a great day shooting this morning (see pics), some people really need to be more upfront about what they are selling, some people really shouldn't bring a tool to their hand let alone that tool to an airgun after its in their hand......

So I posted Friday that I was having some crazy fliers and I didn't have my chrono with me.... see thread below

Anyone notice shooting over tall grass/barely above ground will play with lighter pellets?

Yesterday I had my taipan compact out and was shooting prone, shooting from my 55 yard mark prone means that I have to shoot over a high spot ("hill") and the grass has had about 5 to 6 weeks to grow and weve had a lot of rain this past week. About 13 feet out of the muzzle the round would skim...

www.airgunnation.com

Anyways ...
Yesterday I brought the rifle to the table and it was doing the same thing, this time I had a chrono and this time I was paying a lot more attention to the sound of the rifle when I saw the FPS difference (stay true to your senses!) , I would get a nice solid string at 935, then one super high, one super low, we are talking 50-60 fps up or down. During these dips or spikes I heard an audible PING that I wasn't getting during the other shots. I said ok, time to stop shooting, lets take this bad boy apart.

Now I have not had this rifle apart since I acquired it. It did not have the original MTNGhost HST adjuster brass set screw when I got it but a black donnyfl one that did absolutely nothing as the rifle was sent to me with the HST adjuster was just all over the place and not locked in place, I removed the Donnyfl as it would not thread in enough which I found weird, and replaced it with a factory grub screw, problem solved! so I thought....

Back to yesterday, I take the rifle inside and disassemble it, MY GOD, the lint, hair, mucky oily mess I found within the trigger assembly and the hammer spring/ hammer bore... terrible ... I really think a lot of airgunners are very harsh on their stuff and do only care about how the rifle looks to everyone elses eye before how the internals are fairing .... I clean all this up and while Im cleaning I catch the swap on something sharp and it pulls it off the q tip.... (see pic of remaining tarnished brass HST adjuster set screw in my hand). I get in there and dislodge it with a pick, it had been lodged into the side of the bore causing the hammer spring to be pushed slightly to one side causing wear on the other side of the bore (MTNghost hammer is in perfect shape). I am fuming at this point because this is just neglegence and who knows from who, previous owner? owner before him? Who cares lets just remedy it.

I get the dremel out and my extended bits and get to polishing and massaging ( I removed only a couple high spots, surprised there wasn't more damage) , it looked far worse originally and I am really impressed with how my work came out, so I polished the inside of the hammer spring bore, the spring itself, the hammer, the HST adjuster and kept cleaning.

This has me wanting to just buy new from now on, its not the first instance but probably going to be the last. I got another rifle a month ago that was sold in working condition and when it arrived the trigger was so out of adjustment the safety and trigger were bound up, easy enough, sure.... remedied? yes.... however why wasn't the rifle gone over with a fine tooth comb before shipped? I have a friend who received multiple rifles with issues in one batch, cracked stocks, boogered up hardware from misuse of tools, terrible tunes... however they were not sold this way.

I posted this rifle for sale yesterday because I said I am just going to doubt it from now on knowing what I found even though I tested it, shot it, and it actually was performing better than when it had FIRST shown up.... however I am confident in my work and feel that the rifle is in an improved state compared to when I originally got it a month ago and I now know more about it as well, so I pulled it down.

I shot 65 shots tethered, chrono attached, 6 groups, meaning they were all getting about a magazine or more (10+ shots per group), and this was done shooting on a crooked table, 55 yards, using a single shot tray no mags and shooting quickly more focused on any malfunctions.

Anyways happy weekend guys and hope you all got a little something out of this thread.

Glamour shot

 

[madeintheuk]

Sorry to hear, but glad you’ve got it shooting good again. its Tough buying used, because the guns you’re Buying sometimes have multiple previous owners, and the guy you bought it from may have had no idea what was going on inside. I remember getting an impact that had similar velocity issues based on improper care ano maintenance. Glad I had someone like Augie go through it for me before getting it. Otherwise, I would have been just as frustrated as you. At least You can take something from this, and you’re more experienced on the inner workings of your favorite platform!

 

[Feinwerk]

Good job on the repairs, those kinds of repairs are very satisfying - finding a smoking gun fault so to speak and fixing it. Cleaning and polishing those surfaces will help it be more consistent and as you said, you feel so much better about the rifle knowing that it's right inside. And just look at those groups. That's a beautiful compact shooter!

 

[beerthief]

nice write up , thankyou . this is one reason i generally do not buy used plus these days the prices are at least 2/3 of new and at that point might as well buy new .

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

nice write up , thankyou . this is one reason i generally do not buy used plus these days the prices are at least 2/3 of new and at that point might as well buy new .

I am starting to think the same way now as I said, plus it is a piece of mind , especially if you stick with one of the more reputable dealers.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Sorry to hear, but glad you’ve got it shooting good again. its Tough buying used, because the guns you’re Buying sometimes have multiple previous owners, and the guy you bought it from may have had no idea what was going on inside. I remember getting an impact that had similar velocity issues based on improper care ano maintenance. Glad I had someone like Augie go through it for me before getting it. Otherwise, I would have been just as frustrated as you. At least You can take something from this, and you’re more experienced on the inner workings of your favorite platform!

It was a big bummer, I often get into my own head a lot and am an over thinker, I need to start just taking action because I am more capable than I give myself credit for at times. The airgun community does have a ton of great people willing to help if you ever need knowledge too, text inbox on my phone has more people from this forum in it than people I have met or see regularly, whats that tell you?! an overall great community.

Good job on the repairs, those kinds of repairs are very satisfying - finding a smoking gun fault so to speak and fixing it. Cleaning and polishing those surfaces will help it be more consistent and as you said, you feel so much better about the rifle knowing that it's right inside. And just look at those groups. That's a beautiful compact shooter!

Thank you very much for the kind words. It really is a shooter and today was blissful, the remedy worked and it made it that much more satisfying like you said! I did notice that the rifle over all just sounds healthier after, maybe it is a placebo? maybe not? either way it made me smile.

 

[douger]

great write up iv had very same thing happen and its nice to fix yourself

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

That is NOT a blade of grass, nor is it a stray air current or optical aberration.....

That explains it.

Happy to see that you sorted it, and are back on a level keel!!

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Thanks guys!

 

[Ranchibi]

Very nice handiwork on the issues, you have wonderful skills to be able to fix and remedy said problems!

 

[wolfmangreg]

Great job of problem identification & elimination!

 

[LMNOP]

If you suffer from OCD or are a perfectionist; do not use the classifieds. You're likely to get used equipment sourced from fellow members who, like most humans, have differing views on self-imposed standards by other members. Not only that but if you completely disassemble something you're bound to find lack of proper fit and finish by scientific engineering standards -- things like burrs -- or chatter.

While I applaud your efforts you've simply exacerbated the very problem you've lamented by sending the problem "on down the line" -- "I posted this rifle for sale yesterday because I said I am just going to doubt it from now on knowing what I found even though I tested it, shot it, and it actually was performing better than when it had FIRST shown up" so effectively it seems to be a net sum zero game. I'm not questioning your repairs but each change of hand introduces more "golden screwdriver" potential.

If you are fundamentally not trusting of this airgun why are you passing it down the line to another member contributing to the very problem you are lamenting?

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

If you suffer from OCD or are a perfectionist; do not use the classifieds. You're likely to get used equipment sourced from fellow members who, like most humans, have differing views on self-imposed standards by other members. Not only that but if you completely disassemble something you're bound to find lack of proper fit and finish by scientific engineering standards -- things like burrs -- or chatter.

While I applaud your efforts you've simply exacerbated the very problem you've lamented by sending the problem "on down the line" -- "I posted this rifle for sale yesterday because I said I am just going to doubt it from now on knowing what I found even though I tested it, shot it, and it actually was performing better than when it had FIRST shown up, however I am confident in my work and feel that the rifle is in an improved state compared to when I originally got it a month ago and I now know more about it as well, so I pulled it down" so effectively it seems to be a net sum zero game. I'm not questioning your repairs but each change of hand introduces more "golden screwdriver" potential.

If you are fundamentally not trusting of this airgun why are you passing it down the line to another member contributing to the very problem you are lamenting?

So I added in the portion you specifically left out. My feedback speaks for itself, thats why there is no exacerbating going on. I disclose EVERYTHING, I do not buy let alone SELL without a phone conversation to discuss each rifle in depth, shall I tag everyone whos bought rifles from me? I recently sold an MK2 impact that had a leak, I rebuilt it, I shot slugs with it out to 265 yards accurately, SUB MOA at 115 yards. Should I not have sold it considering the repairs were done at all? Each one of my rifles gets gone through fine tooth comb, then shot with shot string and grouping, shown to the buyer.

It would have been perfectly ok for me to sell this rifle if everything from start to finish with my ownership of it would have been discussed.... clearly it functions flawlessly.

My issue in this post states that both experiences recently the rifles were sold to me in different condition than they arrived, IE the salesman making the sale.

 

[ChRiSiS]

So I added in the portion you specifically left out. My feedback speaks for itself, thats why there is no exacerbating going on. I disclose EVERYTHING, I do not buy let alone SELL without a phone conversation to discuss each rifle in depth, shall I tag everyone whos bought rifles from me? I recently sold an MK2 impact that had a leak, I rebuilt it, I shot slugs with it out to 265 yards accurately, SUB MOA at 115 yards. Should I not have sold it considering the repairs were done at all? Each one of my rifles gets gone through fine tooth comb, then shot with shot string and grouping, shown to the buyer.

It would have been perfectly ok for me to sell this rifle if everything from start to finish with my ownership of it would have been discussed.... clearly it functions flawlessly.

My issue in this post states that both experiences recently the rifles were sold to me in different condition than they arrived, IE the salesman making the sale.

I think it is quite OK for you to sell the air rifle, as you disclosed the stuff you outlined above. That’s where the feedback system comes in and, as you said, yours is pretty dam good.

I have no problem buying a used rifle from people that I have some faith in, usually built up through interacting with them on the forums, previous transactions, and their good reputation. I always discuss any rifle I am buying or selling with the respective seller or purchase. That way there is open communication and transparency about the rifles condition.

Problems are still possible with any purchase, but frankly, this is true of new guns as well. I would much rather buy from someone who I feel confident (a) is not going to risk their reputation by selling me a thrashed rifle, (b) seems to have the skill to repair the rifle and perhaps even improve it from the state in which they received it, and (c) is open and transparent. Maybe I have been just lucky, but my record with purchases has been outstanding. Similarly I have had really good outcomes with the people who purchased from me.

Chris

 

[LMNOP]

What I hear/read: Hear ye, hear ye! Buy my used gun, that I wasn't happy with, that I fixed! People sure are sloppy messy morons! I know what I"m doing when it comes to fixing things, but, I still do not trust this airgun even after my repairs which I fully trust. Have faith though, future purchaser, that it's most excellent for I have disclosed it in full!

What I think: I'd rather just buy a new one, less risk, less folks involved.

What I wonder: What have you accomplished here? Is this a public service announcement, a clandestine advertisement for your classified ad, a drama/discussion generator, or generally an advertisement in your repair skills?

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

What I hear/read: Hear ye, hear ye! Buy my used gun, that I wasn't happy with, that I fixed! People sure are sloppy messy morons! I know what I"m doing when it comes to fixing things, but, I still do not trust this airgun even after my repairs which I fully trust. Have faith though, future purchaser, that it's most excellent for I have disclosed it in full!

What I think: I'd rather just buy a new one, less risk, less folks involved.

What I wonder: What have you accomplished here? Is this a public service announcement, a clandestine advertisement for your classified ad, a drama/discussion generator, or generally an advertisement in your repair skills?

Actually this came as a follow up to the thread that I cited in the original post. Regardless of whether it was faulty equipment, shooting related, etc doesn't matter, a follow up was asked for. I gave it, here, while amassing thoughts I had throughout the whole ordeal last weekend.

My question to you is the same? what have you accomplished by mocking me? as well as , why do you avoid certain points made in reply to you? I did state this , which you did not address "My issue in this post states that both experiences recently the rifles were sold to me in different condition than they arrived, IE the salesman making the sale."

My brain works in a sense where I like perfection, it takes me a little time to overcome lack of "perfection" so even though I ran the rifle through its paces, personally, I was conflicted at the time. Again my feedback speaks for itself and I do not pull fast ones over others eyes. All this coming from someone whos feedback has nothing to do with sales or purchases at that...

 

[LMNOP]

...snip... coming from someone whos feedback has nothing to do with sales or purchases at that...

Ad hominem; I've sold and purchased from many members here. Your integrity was never called into question no need to focus on mine.

Have a nice day, I wish you the best, and may you profit well from your honest sale and fruits of your labour.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Ad hominem; I've sold and purchased from many members here. Your integrity was never called into question no need to focus on mine.

Have a nice day, I wish you the best, and may you profit well from your honest sale and fruits of your labour.

Not directly you didn't , but you most certainly did.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

I enjoyed reading the follow up, which if I am not mistaken, I specifically asked for in the original 'my pellets are flying funny and I see grass' thread.

I suspect that we all need a dose of back lot target therapy and reflection on how fortunate we actually are. We have the luxury of being able to obsess over the minutiae of Taipan inner workings VS actually hunting for our food, fighting off a rival militia, or dodging the state security apparatus.

 

[LMNOP]

I suspect that we all need a dose of back lot target therapy and reflection on how fortunate we actually are.

Sage advice from the point of wisdom; thanks! Now I'm off to heed that wisdom shared and send a few CPHPs down range