GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => German AirGun Gate => Topic started by: Kragman1 on January 20, 2023, 07:45:05 PM
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Not long ago I "rescued" an '86 RWS model 36 from a local store.
Dusty and a little rusty, seems to have been abandoned to a closet or garage at some point.
Bore was loaded with dust and lead, and the metal had some evenly developing rust. Flat chamber seal. No sights either, which makes me a little nuts. Don't tell my shrink.... 😁
But the real killer - when I had broken the barrel to see the bore I found that the gun had been left on the rack cocked. Could have been for hours, days or years. Kiss that spring goodbye.
I saw the price tag and carefully put it right back where I had found it. Much too high, even with the T01 trigger which I like.
But I was able to work out a price with the store, and I then had my first true project. Spring, seals and sights to follow!
I gave it a quick cleaning and passed some pellets over the chrony, and found it to be a soft but consistent shooter at 11fpe. Smooth cocking and shooting, with zero spring noise either cocking or firing. Hmmmmmm......
I know that many shooters (likely all wiser than I am) tune down their rifles into that range, so my question to the forum is....
1. Leave it is as and enjoy the mild rifle for what it is, as long as it lasts.
2. Make it "better than new" with an ARH kit.
What say you?
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Breech seal for sure ... But due to being a 30+ year old, some fresh lubrication all around would be the more prudent 1st thing in doing.
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I could see it, either way. Just depends on how you want to use it. Do you want to just enjoy it for the vintage springer it is or do you want to turn into the best shooter it can be? Best of luck
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Scott - breech seal for sure, and lube.
But the vote is, if you would leave the spring as-is or replace it. Your personal preference.
To clarify, I'm not hunting with it, etc. Just enjoying it as a fun gun. I suppose the only "power" requirement would be to keep pellets stable out to 50 yards. Seems like it would do that now.
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If you like it as is, shoot it as is. If you tear it down to clean and lube the internals you might consider a new spring but it's not really necessary. My 1969 Diana 35 is still shooting fine - leather piston seal, original spring, and all. The gun only has to pleas you.
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In your exact situation, I would just shoot the gun, and only do further work if an issue develops, or you (me?) start to find the unchanged performance not to your liking.
The T01 trigger is such a delight to use I find a gravitational pull to my T01 guns for that reason alone.
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Many of us, including myself, just like to tinker. I like finding cheap guns and doing things to them I wouldn't do to a gun I bought brand new... we're talking irreversible things.
For example, the FireCat. A $50 pawnshop find.
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My assumption would be thar the gun has been cocked a long time and the spring is as settled as it will ever be and not likely to change.
So you have a quiet, smooth, consistent shooting rifle, probably not underpowered for what you want to do with it.
With a fresh breech seal and a relube you may pick up a bit of fps/energy and consistency may even improve a bit.
I would not change that spring unless it proves to be insufficient.
Good luck and enjoy your new find.
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Well put Ray, and that's pretty much how I see it as well.
Gonna order some breech seals, and figure out a cradle (I need to anyway).
Thanks all!
ps - sights! Still need sights!
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I have used these to get old guns back on service:
Rear Aperture sight, good for DIANA guns with raised scope rail:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/williams-diopter-sight?a=2003 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/williams-diopter-sight?a=2003)
Front sight with TWO dovetails, it is VERY forgiving of all the small nuances between front dovetail dimensions:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-953-front-sight-globe?a=1213 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-953-front-sight-globe?a=1213)
If you do NOT have a dovetail at the front, you can consider this set:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-globe-front-sight-insert-3-8-dovetail?a=2785 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-globe-front-sight-insert-3-8-dovetail?a=2785)
You may have to do a bit of fitting the barrel to the Muzzlepiece, but they are well made parts.
BTW, the Daisy "korntunnel" above accepts the clear inserts made for the older Anschutz sights
HTH
HM
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Thank you Hector.
I've taken the position of "good things come to those who wait", and since the rifle is actually cleaning up nicely I'll keep trying to find originals.
But if I run out of patience I could do a lot worse than a peep and tunnel setup.
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Following this thread. I have my Dad's old Model 36 that I am contemplating the attempt to tune it!
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I have used these to get old guns back on service:
Rear Aperture sight, good for DIANA guns with raised scope rail:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/williams-diopter-sight?a=2003 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/williams-diopter-sight?a=2003)
Front sight with TWO dovetails, it is VERY forgiving of all the small nuances between front dovetail dimensions:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-953-front-sight-globe?a=1213 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-953-front-sight-globe?a=1213)
If you do NOT have a dovetail at the front, you can consider this set:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-globe-front-sight-insert-3-8-dovetail?a=2785 (https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-globe-front-sight-insert-3-8-dovetail?a=2785)
You may have to do a bit of fitting the barrel to the Muzzlepiece, but they are well made parts.
BTW, the Daisy "korntunnel" above accepts the clear inserts made for the older Anschutz sights
HTH
Thanks for the info on the Daisy front sight. I just now ordered one for my Diana 48 front sight as I have a peep sight on it now. Again thanks! Charles
HM
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In the end, I found the right rear sight, and nearly bought the Daisy front sight which Hector provided the link for. Thanks again Hector!
Instead of that, I bought the Truglo tunnel sight along with some FTT's, which fit my D36 dovetail fine.
I'll try it out as soon as I get the rear mounted (screws) but it seems like it could be pretty handy, as it glows even in some fairly dim light.
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Thanks for the info on the Daisy front sight. I just now ordered one for my Diana 48 front sight as I have a peep sight on it now. Again thanks! Charles
HM
Charles,
I am not sure it will help you because the 48 USUALLY has a ramped dovetail that needs an adapter block.
SOME 48's came out with a flat muzzle piece, but those are few and far between.
Apologies for the confusion!
Keep us posted.
HM
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Instead of that, I bought the Truglo tunnel sight along with some FTT's, which fit my D36 dovetail fine.
HERESY!!!!
Me likey! LOL!
HM
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Ha!
Well, I have a purist streak, so to me it really should have an original, correct sight.
Barring that, a different blued steel Diana.
Then, at least blued steel of the same general type.
Then, at least a globe sight, hopefully aluminum.
Lastly, some plastic universal type.
OK, very lastly, a muzzle weight in place of a sight.
That said, I don't think the Truglo was a bad choice, even for someone like me. If I do find an original, I may not be in a hurry to swap it.
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Well put Ray, and that's pretty much how I see it as well.
Gonna order some breech seals, and figure out a cradle (I need to anyway).
Thanks all!
ps - sights! Still need sights!
I would like to see the results of a tissue test before/after the breech seal replacement if that is possible. Thanks
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I'd open it up to check seals and see if spring is just tired or broken.
If spring was broken I'd replace it. If NOT broken but just "tired" I keep it in the rifle and shoot it as a sub-12fpe rifle. I'd also order a new spring so I could bring it back to "like new" if needed sometime in the future.
Did that about 2 years ago on a used acquisition. Rifle still has old spring but a new full power spring is ready for the day I want/need to install it
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Hi Mikey
I think it's just a little tired, but a tissue test is easy. Might even try it tonight after shoveling.
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Passed the tissue test.
BUT - I just took a look at the holes for the rear sight and they were never tapped.
I'm quite surprised. I can't see how it could have left the factory that way accidentally.
It's an '88 version. Does anyone know if some rifles came with a muzzle weight instead of sights in those days? It's also odd that the slightly raised "bed" formed when they made the front sight dovetail has very thin finish and the surrounding barrel surface does not, if that means anything to anybody...
The barrel isn't short either.