M35 stubby

[oldnamvet]

Sometimes you get lucky.  I cut about 4 inches off the end of my M35 pink camo Daisy just to see how it balanced afterward (also to cover up an experiment that didn't work and ruined part of the barrel).  After recrowning the barrel I sanded down a piece of 1/2" dowel and bored a hole through it to hold the barrel.  Then I tapped it in very snug and decided to try it out.  I really like how it balances now and holds pretty well.  After shooting a few BBs I thought I would see just how it grouped.  Prior to all my modifications, it would hold 5 BBs in a 3/4" group at 30 feet.  Not too bad for a smoothbore.
After all the hacksaw action, I fired 6 BBs at 30 feet from a leaning rest against a wall.  Looks pretty good for a non gunsmith.  The dowel bushing actually sticks out the end of the shroud about an inch so I can pull it out if I want something nicer and more polished looking.  But with a group like this, I may just leave it there for now. 5 BBs in the lower group and one flier 3/4 inch higher.

[oldnamvet]

After a couple more groups, they were expanding in size.  When they got to nearly 2 inches, I started checking everything to see what was loose. Scope OK, barrel tight, could it be just me? I decided to try cleaning the barrel.  I pulled a tight dry patch through the barrel.  Not exceptionally dirty, just a bit of grey tinge to the patch.  Tried shooting again.  Group came down to 1/2" for 10 shots.  I guess that barrel cleanliness is critical for shooting BBs. Just would squirt some 3 in 1 oil down the barrel when I was a kid. That would probably also be a bad thing for accuracy.

[cobalt327]

You have discovered for yourself something I also found out about BB gun accuracy- a clean, oil-free shot tube is a must. And I did the exact same thing as a kid- 3 in 1 oil squirted right down the ol' tube. No wonder the shots were all over the place!

Your 35 is shooting very well, by the way! I just shot a few groups with my Red Ryder (420 fps, uses a 499 shot tube modified to fit the 1938B abutment and my HP spring). The groups are my first I've shot using a scope, and it's a 3/4" tube Weaver from the '60s so there's room for improvement in the scope department but I like how it looks, plus it's light, so I'll keep it and put in some practice and hopefully my groups will get better.

[oldnamvet]

I also have a scope on my Red Ryder as well as the extended buttstock. Groups at 20 feet are around an inch to a bit more.  A lot of my problem I think is the movement of the spring affecting things before the BB even exits the barrel.  I have to try to use more of an "artillery" hold to try for better groups.  I need to give that shot tube a more rigorous cleaning as well.
  Of course mine does not look nearly as nice as yours and the velocity is about 270 fps.  Certainly not in the same league with yours.

[cobalt327]

I haven't tried different holds with mine yet but it stands to reason the hold will be important to accuracy. Hopefully I can find what mine likes the best. I'm sure I can get it under an inch at 10 yards, and I'd really like to see the same inch at 20 yards, but that might be asking a lot.

[a1rgunz]

Great shooting! How many pumps were you using for each shot?

[oldnamvet]

5 pumps which gives a mv of about 510 fps.  Real test will be outdoors when I can set up at 20 or 30 yds. Snow almost gone for now so hope to get out in the woods soon.