Air gun repair shops?

[Norton1]

I bought a used FX Black Widow here a few years ago and have loved this rifle. Accurate and easy to use. But it developed some issues yesterday. The bold handle screws stripped out and it started shooting erratically. Is it worth fixing or should I look for another one? Thanks. I must say I have shot 1000s of rounds out of this rifle. Filled my freezer with banded dove breasts meat, Starlings avoid my place, and it's a great dirt rat getter.

[Skinard88]

Most things can be fixed, Its hard to tell you how to fix it without seeing it, BUT!  it sounds like you could tap it and use a size larger screw. Or if you are not tool friendly, find someone who is.  More will chime in soon with even better advice.  Good Luck.

[Tater]

I'm sure some FX owner here will have an answer for you.

[Motorhead]

Pictures of issue at hand would help us help you 

[Norton1]

I am a machinist. And I have torn this rifle apart and made several modifications to it. The wildly inaccurate nature is what is baffling me. Yesterday 9 straight banded doves at 70 yards. Today couldn't hold a 6 inch group at 30 feet.

Pictures won't help that. It's a Hawkeye scope but it could be bad. But overnight?

[Motorhead]

Brass brush SCRUB the bore ... may have fouled

[wilsonj1018]

Yep, Scott is likely spot on the money. The lw barrels in old fxs tend to be rather snug fitting on pellets and typically shoot best when clean. Try that and report back.

[Norton1]

K. Thx. Sure weird that after 1000s of pellets and overnight took a kaput.

[David Mccann]

hmm .... peculiar

[Norton1]

I took the sound modifier off as I noticed a bit of lead had been shaved off in the end of it. Chucked it up in the lathe and it seemed to be centered. Pulled the brass adapter off and it had a bit of lead on it. Looked at the barrel and it has shifted from center to the right side a bit.It's not centered so it somehow moved a 1/16 of an inch from center and from that point all of the pellets have been bouncing out of the end like an 1828 musket. I have no idea how, or why, the barrel is not centered. Since my Marine unit reunion is this weekend I will take the rifle apart next week and see if I can figure out why it moved.

Weirdness inc.

[Norton1]

I had some time this afternoon so took the rifle apart. Here's what I found, with a big Thank You to Jim Gaska. I found the the shroud to be a bit loose, the barrel had moved forward just a touch, and a couple of screws that were under torque specs. So I made a piece, a .500 inch long ring that sets the barrel and shroud as one unit. Slips over the barrel, .0005 interference fit on the barrel, and a 0 tolerance fit on the shroud. Makes the barrel and shroud once piece. Jim mentioned that the floating barrels were not that good a deal in the FX as he didn't believe there was enough material to make it solid. I agree with this.

Since the sound modifier screws on to the shroud it only makes sense that if the shroud moves the whole means of egress for the pellet is compromised. Why mine chose to come apart at the time it did is a mystery. Probably was just close to making its movement change and then one shot and it moved.

While I had it apart I set the barrel back about .015 to better tighten up the seal when in battery. Took a bit of hand filing to get the magazine to fit after I did that but it works very well. We'll see if it gives me more shots per fill as I go along. On chrony this rifle is a constant 960 fps with the 18.6 grn pellets. Just from raw penetration after the setup I'd say I may have more than that now. I'm not going to chrony it yet but will know as soon as the first starling lands in my favorite tree if it is moving faster or not. One of the side benefits is that with all the tightening up it is quieter than before. Much quieter.

All in all it gave me a chance to fix a few other little things while I had it apart and it works better than ever. And it shoots holes in holes at 50 yards just like before. I think I will give it a camo paint job and call it ready for next years whistle pig season.

Be well,
Steve