My TX200 is quite accurate in it's present tune (13 fpe). It has a modest Maccari spring ($20) that I have lightly lubed with clear tar from Vortek. The piston and compression tube is also lubed with clear tar. I was wondering if Black tar would dampen the vibration more, although I am not noticing much vibration with the clear tar.I tried moly paste before, but it just didn't seem to dampen the vibration as well as clear tar.Also, would black tar be more sensitive to cold weather than clear tar? I will shoot my TX200 down to 40F, but no colder.Thanks!
To answer some of your questions regarding my TX200:1. I polished the spring ends to a mirror finish and burnished in some moly past on the spring ends.2. The Maccari spring that I am using did not come with tight-fitting spring guides. It was a $20 spring that really reduced the amount of recoil and vibration. So I am using the stock spring guide and tophat3. I replaced the original piston seal with a Vortek moly seal. This took the "thonk" (like the sound of a hammer hitting a board) out of the shot cycle, so I think it is doing the job well. I have noticed a 1/4" POI change at 20 yards when the temperature varies by more than 20 degrees. Maybe I should try removing the clear tar from my Maccari spring and replace it with some non-petroleum based moly paste. Ed: How much moly paste do you use on your springs? I tried a 12 fpe Vortek kit in my TX200. It worked well for about 2,000 shots, then the power dropped to 9.5 fpe, even with a spacer installed. I then tried a custom spring (13.5 fpe) from Vortek in the 12fpe spring guides, and the spring broke after 2,500 shots. At this point I was done with Vortek.Then I went out on the ARH website to see if they still carried a FAC or 12 fpe kit. Unfortunately they did not, but Jim did have a sale on a more docile spring with a 0.125 wire instead of a 0.128 that is found on the stock spring. I installed this spring (with clear tar), and after 1000 shots, magic happened. Now the rifle shoots almost as accurately as my PCP rifle (a modified Marauder).What I have noticed is the point of impact changing. I really noticed this at the National FT competition in NC, where the temperatures were a good 20F warmer than what I typically deal with in Wisconsin. I think going to Moly paste may correct for this. So Ed, your advice on how much to use would be greatly appreciated.
1. You don't want your spring ends to be mirror polished, it wipes away the lubricant when twisting during the cocking and releasing cycle. I only finish my spring ends with 220 grit and don't overly polish, smooth to touch but visibly some lines/ light scratches on the end.