Vantage NP to spring

[mac]

I converted my Vantage NP to a springer so I thought I would post a few pics.Jeff A.K.A.Privateer was kind enough to send me a spring,piston and seal out of a crosman quest along with a nice fitting guide from a Hatsan.

I had to put a brass bushing in the tube end cap for the guide to sit against and shorten the guide just a little. I also heated and compressed two and a half coils because my goal was to make it a little easier to cock for a nice back yard shooter.I got it together tonight and it is easier to cock,but the last bit still gets a bit stiff so maybe it,s a cocking lever leverage thing? I still need to learn more about a proper lube job because it is dieseling,although I only fired about ten pellets.

I have a picture of the two pistons so if anyone was interested they could see the differences.The original piston is on the left.

[SagaciousKJB]

Interesting, hadn't thought about converting it to a springer.  Mine is a Remington branded one but same basic gun.  I use molly paste to lube mine.  I've heard Krytox is real nice because it doesn't combust so it won't diesel.

Was your gas ram broken or did you just want a lighter cocking effort?

[19Sheridan57]

I own a Vantage Springer [ TWANGER ] , & don't really care for it. It is a rough, harsh shooter.

[mac]

The gas ram was working fine,I just wanted to make it easier to cock.The Vantage was harder to cock than my other NP gun and a lot harder than my NP2 so it gave me a reason to experiment.I wanted to try and build an easy shooting backyard gun kinda like a budget minded HW30.
It does shoot a bit easier and is twang free,but I might compress or take off a few more coils to see if I can get it a little softer.I think in the end what I really need to do is get a XS12 from MM or the HW30.I would like to have one German rifle so the Hw will probably win out.

[Roadworthy]

If you're into experimenting and want an easier cocking gun try for a spring wound with thinner wire.  Thicker wire generally makes for a stronger spring.

Note that with thinner wire it takes more coils to make up the same length spring.  Beware of getting a too long spring, it can become coil bound when cocked.

There's some good info in the GTA Library under "Springs and Seals".  https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/library/Spring%20Dimensions.htm

[Privateer]

If you just collapsed a couple coils you may be approaching coil bind when cocking.
I'd remove the steel top hat in the piston and try it. If it cocks a little easier? Clip off part of the coils you collapsed.
Take it slow and remove a little at a time or you'll go under power and need to shim.

[Hoosier Daddy]

This is interesting me as I have been looking for a step up for the grand daughter.
 I have a Quest 1000X that I got off Craiglist a while back. It was cheap enough maybe I should take it apart and trim a coil or two off the spring, cut the stock down an inch and maybe hack the barrel to make her a "1000XC" (Carbine) 

[Rob112o]

Never worked on the vantage. Have worked on several B1 to B3's I hack first. Put it back together then cock it and see how it feels. If I need to take more, I take more. If not I compress and flatten the end. Had good results in smoothing them out and slight increase in FPS. I'll usually get smoke for the first 10-20 shots then it will start dissipating. Then again these guns are never shooting hard enough to diesel.

[mac]

Thanks for the help Thomas.

Jeff,I will try that tomorrow and report back.Thanks for everything.

Scott,take a look at this thread as it might give you some more ideas.You might get away with just removing the rear spring guide.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=141461.0

[mac]

I was typing when you posted Rob,thanks for the help.

[Rob112o]

Just don't take too many coils at a time. When I start I cut the compressed rings right off the bat as a starting point.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Scott,take a look at this thread as it might give you some more ideas.You might get away with just removing the rear spring guide.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=141461.0

Thanks for that Scott!

[mac]

I did a little more experimenting with the Vantage today.I tried it without the top hat and was not totally satisfied so I then tries cutting some coils and put it back together with the top hat and I,m now pretty happy with the cocking effort.

It is much easier and still shoots pretty hard.I do not have a chrono,but it will sink a 7.9 pellet into a solid piece of pine with the skirt in about 1/8" or better at 20 yards.I was hitting a fence post pretty easy at 35 yards so the horizontal accuracy is at least pretty good still.Pretty windy here so I didn,t try any paper targets.

Scott,just for reference here is a pic of how many coils I cut off.I think I would do that and cut the stock before shortening the barrel to try and keep it easy to cock,but I also think you could get buy with more coils off.Although my NP end cap and Hatsan guide might give a different(more) pre-load than your stock set up.

[Privateer]

Nice work.
 
Glad the parts worked out for you.

[avator]

I've de tuned a few that I chopped the barrels on. I have had good results with just clipping the springs to the point of zero preload. If the power ends up too low you can shim with pennies or brass washers. The main thing is to finish off the cut end of the spring so it spins free.

[mac]

Thank you Jeff!

Might have to try that Bill,I bet that makes for a really smooth shooter.Thanks!

[avator]

The thing is... if you stick with spring mods only you can reverse it and put the gas ram back in it.