GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: Mossonarock on May 16, 2019, 11:10:28 AM
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I have both break barrels and underlevers. I've always preferred my underlevers even if they are heavier. Now I have more reason to.
Earlier this week, I got some new muzzle attachment adapters and went about putting them on to check for fit and how centered they were.
I'd break open the break barrels just enough so I can see through the barrel but not enough to compress the spring or cock it or anything.
When closing the breakbarrel one time after checking, I caught the flap of skin between my thumb and forefinger in the breech gap. It bit a chunk of skin off. Now I have three staples holding the hole shut while I heal. Ouch... I thought my hand was in a safe place because I've always been very aware of the possibility of such harm but clearly was wrong about where my hand was.
Two of my underlevers have bear trap mechanisms which requires both hands to be very far away from the breech while closing the breech. I have a new appreciation for the amount of safety that afford.
Honestly, I wish someone would make a manual latch, like a lock on a window, on break barrels to latch the breach shut instead of relying on some kind of spring loaded detente. Sure, its one more step in the cocking and loading sequence but it would afford some extra safety as well as a positive enclosure or whatever that would reduce barrel movement from barrel pivot screw issues. Am I making sense here?
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Some vintage & antique break barrels had those.
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LOL.... I hope you're ok and I don't mean to make light of your injury but... I have a Chinese underlever that I appropriately named.. FooManChew.
I take extra precaution while loading a pellet.... by the same token... I never cover the end of the barrel with my finger when I pull the trigger... ;)
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Ouch, three staples is a quite a little nip!
I love the rotary breech on my Gamos. Fingers, have no fear!
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Check out the Shanghai B2-x break barrels. They have exactly the type latch you are talking about.
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Ouch My mom got bit by her break barrel the same way, not as big of a bite, I think she didn't try to get it fully closed.
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I have both break barrels and underlevers. I've always preferred my underlevers even if they are heavier. Now I have more reason to.
Earlier this week, I got some new muzzle attachment adapters and went about putting them on to check for fit and how centered they were.
I'd break open the break barrels just enough so I can see through the barrel but not enough to compress the spring or cock it or anything.
When closing the breakbarrel one time after checking, I caught the flap of skin between my thumb and forefinger in the breech gap. It bit a chunk of skin off. Now I have three staples holding the hole shut while I heal. Ouch... I thought my hand was in a safe place because I've always been very aware of the possibility of such harm but clearly was wrong about where my hand was.
Two of my underlevers have bear trap mechanisms which requires both hands to be very far away from the breech while closing the breech. I have a new appreciation for the amount of safety that afford.
Honestly, I wish someone would make a manual latch, like a lock on a window, on break barrels to latch the breach shut instead of relying on some kind of spring loaded detente. Sure, its one more step in the cocking and loading sequence but it would afford some extra safety as well as a positive enclosure or whatever that would reduce barrel movement from barrel pivot screw issues. Am I making sense here?
Having both I prefer the single barrel without the extra weight and complication. Either type is dangerous on fingers. At least a single break barrel can be viewed from the bore chamber for checking; while the underlever won't let you get near that area without a dental mirror.
Most accidents occur while cleaning. Cleaning from the breech v cleaning from the muzzle has been proven to be safer.
Which do I think is safer? The one that gives me access to the joint between barrel and piston hole--with view and with fingers and tools.
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I like the under levers because I can shoot them accurately.
I cannot shoot any of my 8 break barrels accurately.
I have 2 Browning Leverages and like both of them.
One shoots 8.44 grain pellets at 840 fps and the Canadian model shoots them at 500 fps.
Both are very accurate and heavy.
Sometimes ... I can shoot 1 ragged hole with 10 pellets at 54 feet inside on sand bags.
More times ... I shoot 8 or 9 of the 10 into one ragged hole.
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Two more breakers with a barrel latch.
Weihrauch HW35
(https://i.postimg.cc/y8Kd2j26/HW35-barrel-latch.jpg)
Ijevsk IJ22
(https://i.postimg.cc/QtzZsNtk/IJ-22-2.jpg)
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Those are interesting latch mechanisms. Something that securely latches the barrel to the action and offers no opportunity for wiggling during the shooting sequence would be very interesting. I wouldn't mind the extra step in cocking/loading.
BTW: its ok to laugh at my misfortune. I'm not so petty. And I'm not angry about it. I'd have to be angry at myself first. I knew the danger and thought I was being careful but it got me anyway ~ story of my life. There's no such thing as being too careful.
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The HW 55 had the lock switch as well.
I had an HW 55 and let it go for the sole reason it was not a good hunting rifle. However, it was a pleasure to shoot repeatedly with the same results.
The HW57 is easiest to cock and very smooth--the best thing about most underlevers. I prefer my HW97 more because of the pistol grip ( K-T) but I have had a couple accidents with grease on the lever slipping my hand where it gets hurt in a crunch--this doesn't happen in the break barrels.
Keeping up with each style is a double and not single task. To shoot both accurately means readjusting hold!
About the latch on the HW55, I felt as I got older it was an unnecessary fix to a non-existent problem. None of my break barrels string vertically.
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My CZ Slavia 631 has a barrel latch and chisel detent (as do the 634's). It's very accurate, but I have other break-barrels that are, also. I can't swear that the latch is the reason. As far as being an extra step (i.e., nuisance), the procedure becomes automatic and you don't even think about it. Latch or no, my cocking hand stays on the barrel until the breech is clear and can be closed.
My only complaint is that the knob on the barrel latch was plastic, and cracked after a couple of years. (Same for the plastic trigger guard.) They're both metal now.
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My CZ Slavia 631 has a barrel latch and chisel detent (as do the 634's). It's very accurate, but I have other break-barrels that are, also. I can't swear that the latch is the reason. As far as being an extra step (i.e., nuisance), the procedure becomes automatic and you don't even think about it. Latch or no, my cocking hand stays on the barrel until the breech is clear and can be closed.
My only complaint is that the knob on the barrel latch was plastic, and cracked after a couple of years. (Same for the plastic trigger guard.) They're both metal now.
Yep, forgot about the CZ634 (and I own one!!). You say the latch knob and trigger guard are now metal. Are those aftermarket parts? I bought one of the last available 634's in the US early last year and mine are plastic.
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Yea, it scares me to see people let go of the lever or barrel and do a one handed load. I really don’t want to be a witness to mangled fingers.
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My CZ Slavia 631 has a barrel latch and chisel detent (as do the 634's). It's very accurate, but I have other break-barrels that are, also. I can't swear that the latch is the reason. As far as being an extra step (i.e., nuisance), the procedure becomes automatic and you don't even think about it. Latch or no, my cocking hand stays on the barrel until the breech is clear and can be closed.
My only complaint is that the knob on the barrel latch was plastic, and cracked after a couple of years. (Same for the plastic trigger guard.) They're both metal now.
I was going to cite the 631/634 rifles with their latch, but you two beat me to it. Incidentally, I have one of the other "last 634s sold in the USA". I love mine, and when I'm shooting it well, I can hit whatever I want with surgical precision inside 40 yards. It makes an excellent pesting rifle- especially considering the fact mine only shoots at ~ 10 FPE.
Yep, forgot about the CZ634 (and I own one!!). You say the latch knob and trigger guard are now metal. Are those aftermarket parts? I bought one of the last available 634's in the US early last year and mine are plastic.
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My CZ Slavia 631 has a barrel latch and chisel detent (as do the 634's). It's very accurate, but I have other break-barrels that are, also. I can't swear that the latch is the reason. As far as being an extra step (i.e., nuisance), the procedure becomes automatic and you don't even think about it. Latch or no, my cocking hand stays on the barrel until the breech is clear and can be closed.
My only complaint is that the knob on the barrel latch was plastic, and cracked after a couple of years. (Same for the plastic trigger guard.) They're both metal now.
Yep, forgot about the CZ634 (and I own one!!). You say the latch knob and trigger guard are now metal. Are those aftermarket parts? I bought one of the last available 634's in the US early last year and mine are plastic.
I was going to cite the 631/634 rifles with their latch, but you two beat me to it. Incidentally, I have one of the other "last 634s sold in the USA". I love mine, and when I'm shooting it well, I can hit whatever I want with surgical precision inside 40 yards. It makes an excellent pesting rifle- especially considering the fact mine only shoots at ~ 10 FPE.
I got my blue Lux from Bud's for around $109 IIRC. It was the last one they had in stock in very late December '17. There were some red ones after that time from different sources (Gunbroker for one). I'm glad I got the blue. Still searching for a wood stock though.
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As ugly and cheap as it is, the QB57 has a great safety latch on the breech.