Beeman R1 conversion

[tjk]

After reading another post on the venerable Beeman R1, I decided to install a new HW80 .22k barrel to this old girl. Some years ago I picked this rifle up on the GTA classifieds, the only real reason I bought it was because of the left hand stock. It is an old Santa Rosa model with one particular trait I have not seen in any of my other Weihrauch made springers  except another San Raphael R1,.....I think,.....instead of a nut in the rear side of the trigger unit, there is an extrusion that is threaded. This is for the rear trigger guard screw to those not familiar with the Record trigger group.
But back to the barrel swap. I bought this barrel from TWChambers two years ago this September, but never got around to installing it until today. This lefty seemed to be the right choice for the conversion. When I bought the barrel, I also purchased a new cocking arm, cocking arm breech pivot stud, and a cocking shoe. Putting the cocking arm to the barrel block was simple, but for some reason I couldn't get the cocking shoe to work with the new cocking arm. It would work in the action n problem, but the shoe was a no go without some modification. So I tried the new arm with the original cocking shoe and everything fit right as ream!!! I did a full break down of the rifle and installed a new JM piston seal. Got the gun back together and we were golden. But there was some undesirable spring buzz so I tore the R1 back down and installed a different mainspring,.....a titan spring I think, and a better fitting spring guide from a newer Weihrauch model I had kitted,.....it think it was from the HW77,.....but back together again and WOW!!!!!! This R1 was back to its original glory,...in 22 caliber. Today was a heavy overcast day so I didn't bother to get the old F1 chrony out, but I can assure you that she is shooting rather quickly from the ear test!!!.
One last thing I noticed was that the new barrel had a date stamping/lazering of 2021. This one must have been hot off the assembly line when I got it. I feel fortunate to have had the forethought to buy this barrel, and now I have three models of the classic Beeman R1 in .177, .20, and .22 caliber. Im gonna save the .25 caliber for the RX2!

[Frank in Fairfield]

“instead of a nut in the rear side of the trigger unit, there is an extrusion that is threaded. This is for the rear trigger guard screw to those not familiar with the Record trigger group.”

My 1984 R1 does not have the nut either.
The early R1 Rekord triggers did not have the nut.
Another reason you do not over tighten the rear screw!

[tjk]

Here are some pictures if I can get them to post.

[tjk]

Date stamp.

[tjk]

Over all length. Compared to my other vintage Beemans, this rifle feels so much different with the shorter barrel. My late model HB R1 is a carbine too but she has the factory muzzle weight and a big ole scope on top. This gun feels totally differs though. In a good way too!!!😎
I did add a spare rear sight and a Tru-glow front sight. Love open sights. Need lasics eye surgery🤦‍♂️

[Mark 611]

Good job Tom!

[Frank in Fairfield]

That looks like one of the Weihrauch stocks before Doc Beeman had Gowdy do them:

[Frank in Fairfield]

“Need lasics eye surgery“

I had Cadillac surgery four years ago.
Colonel (Dr.) just back from the desert…
20/20..

[tjk]

I don’t know Frank. It’s a beeman stock. Here is a picture of the better side.
This with the rear sight and TruGlo front appeture.

[Jeff Marshall]

Over all length. Compared to my other vintage Beemans, this rifle feels so much different with the shorter barrel. My late model HB R1 is a carbine too but she has the factory muzzle weight and a big ole scope on top. This gun feels totally differs though. In a good way too!!!😎
I did add a spare rear sight and a Tru-glow front sight. Love open sights. Need lasics eye surgery🤦‍♂️

What does HB stand for?

[Toxylon]

Yeah, looking into tearing my 80 down, I learned you need to watch for the small nut at the back of the trigger housing, which might fall out (the nut, that is). Well, my 1987 HW80 didn't have any such arrangement, but the same threaded extrusion as tjk's gun.

[tjk]

Over all length. Compared to my other vintage Beemans, this rifle feels so much different with the shorter barrel. My late model HB R1 is a carbine too but she has the factory muzzle weight and a big ole scope on top. This gun feels totally differs though. In a good way too!!!😎
I did add a spare rear sight and a Tru-glow front sight. Love open sights. Need lasics eye surgery🤦‍♂️

What does HB stand for?

Huntington Beach Cal.

[Bayman]

The earlier rekord triggers have the rear trigger gaurd screw threaded into a hole that was punched through the trigger body and then threaded. It's nice that you can't lose the nut but if it stripped you were kinda screwed. Of course you could fix it by putting a nut behind it. I think Weihrauch went with the nut because the fix was sturdier than threaded sheet metal.

These earlier triggers often had a stamped steel Intermediate sear. I've seen these stampings with rough and chipped edges that ate at the mating points. The newer triggers have cast metal Intermediate sears that are typically smoother and less problematic. Weihrauch does make improvements occasionally.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I don’t know Frank. It’s a beeman stock. Here is a picture of the better side.
This with the rear sight and TruGlo front appeture.

Oops.
I forgot it was a lefty.
My bad.

[tjk]

I just realized I made a mistake in my opening post, so I want to set the record straight. I did not totally rebuild the R1 conversion as I stated earlier. I did not replace the piston seal with a JM seal.  I did pull the piston down just enough to check it out through the cocking slot and it looked healthy enough to leave as is. Everything else I did with the R1 is in fact true. And here is why,.......earlier Sunday morning, I did a complete rebuild of my new .177 HW35. I had previously did a lube tune and deburring of the rifle, but felt I had to go back in and check a few spots I may have missed,...and there was a spot that didn't pass the q-tip test. Took care of that and in the process, I did in fact replace the 35 piston seal with a JM seal. I simply got my tune work confused a bit. My apologies the the German enthusiasts out there.
Today it was overcast and working late, by the time I got home the sun broke through but not enough time to set up the chrony. I am anxious to see how the R1 shoots with this OEM seal with the new spring and guide. Love the smack down on the aluminum targets. Hate to see what it would do to the fusebox of wayward bushy tail!!!!!