Sheridan C9A shoots high

[furstheimer]

Bought a 1998 Sheridan C9A at a flea market last weekend. It looked neglected but was all there except for the three screws in the rear sight. Pump linkage was tight and no barrel separation. No pump pressure at all, so I got it for $40.00. I got it home, cleaned out the paint overspray in the barrel, and lubed the pump cup with power steering fluid w/stop leak. After several pump and shoot cycles over 10 minutes, it held two pumps and then 5 pumps overnight! I got some sight screws at the hardware store, cleaned up the wood and metal and now it looks only slightly used.
I fired several rounds at 15 yards and found the rifle shooting high even with the rear sight adjusted to the lowest position. I searched the forum but found no solution to the problem I was comfortable with. My solution was to put a "speed nut"( a spring steel, sheet metal clip that acts like a nut used to connect sheet metal panels. Used extensively on automobiles, cloths dryers etc.) over the front sight to raise it about 1/8". I had to grind some off to make it fit and then epoxied it in place. Works well and looks good. It can be removed with a heat gun if I ever come up with a more elegant arrangement.

[Blunderbuss]

I think you did well for $40 even if you were going to use it for parts ..the fact that you got it up and running is just icing on the cake. Yeah nothing's perfect but as long as you get it to shoot straight.. I just had a similar problem with a brand new gun that's shooting low I have my backsight adjusted all the way up just to get it to shoot straight.....

[avator]

You can also adjust POI with more or less pumps. That's the beauty of pumpers, adjustable power.
For example:
3 pumps for 10 meters is plenty.

[DanD]

Hi, David. Good job on that C9A. I like your creative fix to raise the front sight.
What kind of epoxy can be defeated with a heat gun?

[Mr. Panther]

You can change where the rear sight sits on the barrel to change the elevation also. I have done it on my old 397 and 392.

[Habanero69er]

David, what pellets are you using? Maybe try different ammo? It's an easy thing to try to see if there's any change of POI.

[furstheimer]

I used JB Weld but only a thin layer between the clip and the sight. The pellets used were 14.3 grain CPHP's and JSB Exact Jumbo Heavies 18.13 grains. Same result. I will do more testing when the weather improves. I will also try a light re-crown. Can't be too aggressive with brass. I usually use a pencil in a slow cordless drill with the eraser end sticking out and put some 600 grit sandpaper between the eraser and the crown to smooth things out.

[Habanero69er]

Wait, isn't a Sheridan C9A a .20 rifle?   

[avator]

Something ain't right here.

[furstheimer]

Ok, my bad, I did a Mr. Stupid and read the .22 caliber tins instead of the .20 tins. The actual pellets I used were JSB Exact .20 Diablo at 13.73 grains and the Benjamin/ Sheridan Cylindricals at 14.3 grains.

[avator]

LOL.... you had me scratching my head.