what about using sorbothane instead of neoprene? last I heard it was one of the best vibration dampeners...I think Ill have to try that, but first, a question: what thickness do you think the neoprene is eventually compressed to?I don't think sorbothane would compress as much as neoprene...Last question:how would you recommend attaching the dampening material to the metal? (unfortunately sorbo doesn't come with adhesive)*********************************************************************************Mike Hancock here:RE: What thickness dose the "1/8th inch" neoprene compress to? I'd say the thickness of a normal cardboard business card. Some of the newer harder plastic laminated cards are a bit thinner. RE: Sorbothane -- It may be "THE" ticket! TRY IT!!! I tried cutting strips off of a Sims Vibration Lab slip on recoil pad. They were about 3/8th inch thick and hardly crushed at all. NO GOOD. TOO THICK! TOO MUCH schooching around when shot. RE: How to get sorbethane to stick to wood stock so it stays in place. I'd say cut your strips and fit them so your all ready to install, then spray the underside that goes against the wood very lightly with 3M spray glue. You just need the soft bed to stay in place while you re-install the metal back into the stock. The crush effect of tightening the stock screws holds it on place after that.GOOD LUCK. Let us know how sorbethane works for you.
Was the gun I shot at the Youth FT day the ram .22? That gun was as good as any Chinese gun I've ever shot. It was so good it made me laugh. You sir have a way with China trigs. CDT no doubt but tuned to a really nice level. Did that have the bedding done when I shot it?I think you should try the casting rubber. Let us know how it works.TimmyMac1
How to Soft Bed Spring Piston / Gas Ram Pellet guns. (by Mike Hancock) Purpose: Floats spring tube metal on a thin, mushy layer of Neoprene up off of the stock wood. Result: Reduces felt vibration, allows BENCH RESTING on firm sandbags which aids accuracy!Get 1/8th-inch thick Neoprene from E-Bay- $4.95 includes shipping. Adhesive backed material.It's the principal of floating metal off the wood. Use a box cutter and straight edge to cut 3/8th wide strips.Peel paper off sticky back of neoprene strips. Single edge safety razor really helps get paper started off sticky back.Place strips in bedding channel about 1/16 up from drop-off edge. It will mush down and fill the gap. Put Two full length strips in channel (one on each side) leaving a gap back at the trigger from half way between trigger pins to the back of inletting. Small pieces fill back end of inletting leaving gap for cross pin and cut out to allow room for trigger group.Full SOFT BEDDING COMPLETE Now you need to install the action into the wood.Use "C" clamp to get front stock screws down far enough to start since they are now sitting on 1/8" of neoprene. Make sure you don't strip the screws. This is especially tricky when you have cups fitted. Start front stock screw holes first. Then do trigger guard screws. INSTRUCTIONS AFTER BEDDING 1. Tighten all screws tight2. Let sit overnight3. Day 2 -- Morning -- Tighten Again4. Day 2 -- afternoon -- Tighten Again -- shoot 205. Day three -- Tighten again -- DONE! 6. Periodically test screw tightness.YOU HAVE A SOFT BEDDED PELLET GUN THAT WILL SHOOT SOFTER, QUIETER, AND MORE ACCURATELY.YOU CAN HARD BENCH-REST YOUR SPRING PISTON AND GAS RAM GUNS NOW! Principal Works for any GUN. All guns have different stock inletting and cut-outs. Just put Neoprene on all wood surfaces where spring tube metal contacts the stock wood.YOU WANT TO FLOAT THE METAL ON VERY THIN LAYER OF NEOPRENE SO IT'S NOT TOUCHING WOOD ANY LONGER. Mike has done this to the following models with equal success on all. TX 200 / HW 97K / HW 77 / R-9 / R-7 / HW 50Webley / Benjamin NP's / etc. He supplied Mac1 with this information so we could share it with everyone. If you would like a 7250KB Word file with Pictures I can send you what Mike sent me. Just send an email to mac1airgun@gmail.com and Put "Soft Bed" in the subject. Large file no dial ups. I would be glad to forward you the 97 word document complete with pictures Mike took when doing the process to an R1 Beeman. He illustrates specific things he did to other models as well.I've shot Mikes guns and it is a very nice discharge characheristic. Dead calm without tuning and majic with a good tune.I'm not convinced it will eliminate the need for a soft hold to achieve the ultimate spring gun accuracy but Mike is Convinced he can now rest any springer and shoot good groups. I'd say he is onto something. It'll cost you only $5 to find out. Chump change.TimmyMac1