Airgun Maintenance
Reprinted from
Crosman.com
Airguns are mechanical objects
that have numerous parts. Any object of this type requires some
maintenance, but airguns are not necessarily “high maintenance”
devices. Moreover, most airguns are remarkably durable. Over
the years I have witnessed the abuse of airguns by some
shooters, but they just kept on functioning.
Like other mechanical devices,
airguns will last longer and perform better if they are
regularly and properly cared for. Fortunately, the procedures
are neither complex nor expensive so there is little excuse for
not taking care of an airgun appropriately.
The first step in caring for
your airgun is to read and follow the directions given in the
owner’s manual. There are two important reasons for this.
First, the owner’s manual applies to that specific model so the
information is exact. It is not simply about putting a couple
of drops of oil on some part that your airgun doesn’t even
have. Second, the information has been prepared by experts who
are extremely knowledgeable about your airgun and how it
functions. If I have heard one “secret” about how to care for
an airgun, I have heard a dozen. Such “advice” may be sound,
but often it comes from someone who knows very little about
airguns and never had the instruction manual.
If you have a particular
airgun, follow the instructions in the owner’s manual for that
airgun. If it says to apply two drops of oil to the pump wiper,
do not apply five drops. I have a beautiful air rifle that
looked almost new when I bought it. When I got it home, I found
that it didn’t work properly. The note that came back with the
rifle after it was fixed said, “Too much oil.” The excess oil
had clogged the valve assembly. I am sure that some exuberant
owner had thought that he should oil the gun after every few
shots, but generally a couple of drops of oil after 200-500
shots is more realistic.
Many airguns that I have
examined have been damaged by dropping or careless handling.
Treat you airgun as the precision instrument that it is.
Allowing it to fall or bounce around in a vehicle may knock
things out of alignment. Some airgun parts are made of
plastic. They are perfectly suitable for their intended job
under normal use, but they may not last long if the gun is
abused. I see many older airguns that would be still
functioning if they had not been abused. Do not force any
button or lever that doesn’t move as it should. Try to find out
what is preventing the control from operating properly
When pumping up a multi-pump,
make sure that you do not twist the pump handle as you operate
it. If you do, it is possible to twist the linkage so that it
does not operate smoothly without rubbing on the sides of the
channel. Also, use a steady, even pumping motion rather than
spasmodic jerks. Never exceed the number of pumps specified for
your airgun (usually eight or ten). If the owner’s manual lists
eight pumps as the maximum number, follow that advice. If you
do not, you may damage the seals and shorten the life of your
airgun.
Break action (break barrel)
air rifles operate by pulling the barrel downward to cock the
rifle. After a pellet is inserted, the barrel is pushed back to
its original position. Do not slam the barrel upward with a
great force. The barrel is held in place by a locking mechanism
that can be damaged if the barrel is slammed upward. Accurate
shooting requires the barrel to be indexed in the same position
for each shot, and this may not be possible if the locking
mechanism is damaged.
The valves of air and CO2 guns
need a small amount of lubricant. Crosman Pellgun Oil® is the
proper lubricant for the job. A drop of Pellgun Oil on the end
of a CO2 cylinder is sufficient to lubricate the seals that
engage the neck of the cylinder. A drop of the oil on pivot
points and O-ring seals will keep things working smoothly. When
a CO2 gun is fired rapidly, the expanding gas cools the
surrounding metal parts and the inside of the barrel. In humid
conditions, this can even cause moisture to condense on these
parts. I have examined far more CO2 guns with barrels rusted on
the inside than I have pneumatic guns. I make it a practice to
run a dry patch down the bore of my CO2 guns after they reach
ambient temperature just in case moisture may be present.
Many airgun parts are made of
some sort of durable composite material that is virtually
impervious to moisture. However, certain airguns have barrel
sleeves and pump mechanisms that are made of metal that will
rust. I once removed an airgun from the case in which it had
been transported for several days to find that the entire barrel
had a reddish appearance due to rust. Coating external metal
surfaces with a thin film of oil will prevent most rusting, at
least for a short time. Just place a few drops of oil on a
small piece of cloth and rub the metal surfaces thoroughly.
There are several commercial rust preventatives, and I have
found Birchwood Casey’s Sheath® to work very well. Always wipe
external metal surfaces with oil or Sheath before putting your
gun away. Even when the gun is in a case it is possible for
moisture to condense on it which will lead to rusting. However,
every airgun deserves a good case to protect it from bumps and
the elements.
Because airguns operate with a
blast of air, most small particles of residue are blown out of
the barrel as the airgun is fired. Occasionally, the bore
should be swabbed out with a clean, dry patch. I use no
solvents on airgun bores because of the danger of the solvent
getting into the valves. The valve seats are usually made of
some sort of plastic or rubbery material that can be damaged by
cleaning solvents. Just push a dry patch through the bore a
couple of times to remove any small particles of lead or other
material. Do not allow any gun cleaning solvent to enter the
pump mechanism or cylinder compartment of an air or CO2 gun.
If the airgun has a stock made
of plastic, use a damp cloth to wipe away dirt and salts from
sweaty hands. If the stock is made of wood, wiping it with a
piece of cloth that has one or two drops of oil applied will
help keep the wood looking good. With a little maintenance,
most airguns will last for a long time. If you are like me, you
may actually enjoy the extra time spent maintaining such a loyal
friend.
2/6/2012 11:30:07 PM
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