Would This "De-tune" Method work or

[floydlong]

would the results be damaging to the spring?
I'm thinking of getting a refurbished Ruger Air Hawk from Midway for $50 for a fun gun. I've always hated springers after owning two of them and said I'd never own another. Oh well, Never say Never!!! I would like to detune it and read where someone recommended leaving it cocked for a week, saying that would lower the power as well as cutting some coils off the spring. But, if it will damage something else, I don't wanna go there. Advice???

[avator]

Talk to Mike Mellick at Flying Dragon. He detuned a XS-25 in .22 (basically the same gun other than cal.) for Betty Lou and the thing is as smooth and consistent as butter. I don't know if he cut the spring or put in a new softer one. You might also look into his two screw trigger mod. I snipped a few coils off of mine and flatened it. Then I polished it smooth and it nice as well. But, Betty Lou's feels like halfways between the XS-12 and the stock Airhawk.

[gloob]

I have done this to a gun, and it worked. (In my particular case, it make the gun shoot worse. But that was a unique case.)

I think there is an obvious benefit of setting the spring before going on to cut coils. I no longer worry about leaving this gun cocked for extended periods.

[paddyfritz]

They cut some coils off for the Canadian detuned version.

[bReTt]

Floyd,
I have cut coils off of 2 HW95s and an HW77K with no problems at all. 

Cut the desired coils off with a cutoff wheel in a Dremel tool, heat the end with a torch until it's glowing orange and press it closed on the concrete.  Grind the end flat with a bench grinder, polish the spring ends and then your done! 

I have been shooting a spring cut like that in the 77 for about 2.5 years now with no problems.  These were factory springs supplied with the rifles when new.  Just take your time and you may have to make a few cuts to get the tune where you like it but it will be worth it.  I bring my .177 springers down to the 12-13.5 fpe level and they settle down nicely into pleasurable shooters. 

[lefteyeshot]

I left a TF 89 .177 I bought at a pawn shop cocked in a closet for four months. Didn't lose one fps and still kicked like a mule. With a couple more years of springer experience I can shoot it now. Pyramyd sales a SMK T. H. 208 for $150 that's built for the UK market. It's the same gun as a AH or XS25 shoots 810fps and about 12fpe. I suppose they use smaller a spring. It's got a nice T.H. stock like a Airhawk Elite.

[floydlong]

Tim, are you the guy that bought the QB57 from me? If so, how's it shooting? Was a very nice .22 cal. squirrel dispatcher out to 25 yards. I don't regret selling it and swore I'd never buy another SpRiNgEr! uuuugghhh...I could hardly type the name! . And now I'm wanting another? Crazy stuff!

[hoffy43]

I'd cut coils and tar it. I personally would not leave it cocked, assuming it may stress or cant the spring. I'd follow Bretts instructions above regarding the spring.

[Scotchmo]

Before cutting coils, try pre-setting the spring. A piece of all-thread, two washers, and two nuts will work. Measure the overall spring length before starting. Compress it until coil bind. Hold for a  minutes (or hour just to be sure). Release the pressure and remeasure the spring. If the length was reduced, it now has a new set. That will reduce the preload and power. If done when nearly new (before fatigue), it will also make the spring last quite a bit longer.

If pre-setting does not reduce the length, then cutting coils is an option.

Cutting coils will reduce the preload, so it will cut power, but it also increases the spring rate which may not be what you want.

[Bullit]

Presetting a spring is common prior to installation. You get the most accurate output from the spring, once it is used in the rifle.  Cutting a couple coils is also common.  As long as the end is flattened and smoothed, you will reduce it's power.  This is also a Very good time to add a washer to the assembly, (it works as a bearing surface),  to ensure that the spring rotates quite freely during coiling and uncoiling...

[Bryan Heimann]

Also, keep in mind that cutting off a couple coils will make your spring last longer.  I don't believe just leaving it cocked is a great idea

[hoffy43]

X2 on the washer

[D14Jeff]

http://vortekproducts.com/ourstore/airgun%20Springs/PG2-Springs/airgun-spring

get their seal and some ULTIMOX 226 . do a debur and clean up while you're in there

[lefteyeshot]

No floyd, I'm not the guy who bought your 57. I had one with both barrels. I lock-tight the .177 barrel and built another gun for the .22 barrel from part I bought from a vender who use to carry all the parts.

To answer your question more accurately, leaving it cocked want work. The 89 I tried it with was a pawn shop buy. I wouldn't try it with a gun I paid a lot for. But now I can shoot the 89 just fine.

I bought one of those refurbed Air hawks. Shoots good. I don't believe it needs de-tuning. Shoot it awhile and you'll get use to the kick. Artillery hold. If you could kill tree rats with a 57 you can hit'em with the AH. All my guns are springers. The bigger and harder to shoot the better I like'em.

[anuthabubba]

First time you cock it, the spring is set. On most springers the spring is coilbound or very nearly so when cocked. Look in the slot while it is cocked. Setting it is useful before initial installation to reduce preload length during reassembly.

[temchik]

Cut 2-3 coils off and then heat it with a torch to flatten the end. Sand it off to make a flat end or just use a heavier than stock washer.

Here's a very elaborate video on how to do it, I wouldn't even go into that much detail with an Air Hawk