How to properly store a break barrel?

[Jd10ac]

I was wondering what the proper way is to store a break barrel air rifle to prevent the breech seal from becoming flat? Also any other long term storage procedures for air rifles?

[Booger]

I was wondering what the proper way is to store a break barrel air rifle to prevent the breech seal from becoming flat? Also any other long term storage procedures for air rifles?

I store min on a gun rack & in a gun case. I am no expert, so I am watching.

[Smoketown]

Jd10ac,


Some shooters across the pond store theirs un-cocked but with the barrel broken/not in battery.

Those with under levers (think TX 200's) just pop the cocking arm out of the detent.

I just put new factory breech seals in my not too old TX and can't believe how much tighter the lock-up is.

Just for the heck of it, I think that I'll also start storing mine 'out of battery'.


Cheers,
Smoketown

[Dennis Bilevich]

X2

[josixpack]

What does "out of battery" mean??

[rwt]

What does "out of battery" mean??

Not cocked, but with the barrel barely broken so the breech seal isn't compressed while in storage.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I stored my 1984 R1 with the breech closed for 30 years.
When I replaced the breech seal, piston seal, spring last year, (they didn't need to be changed) the old breech seal looked better than the new one.
For the most part breech seals are synthetic.
On my IZZY, I do leave the breech unlatched as the seals are (There are two on the IZZY) rubber.
I wouldn't worry about it unless the seals are rubber.
Next order from PA, order a few and switch them out every year.
Save the old ones and put them into a rotation.
IMHO

[Mr Sasquatch]

Not cocked, but with the barrel barely broken so the breech seal isn't compressed while in storage.

That's how I store mine.

[Tater]

Side note question that may help the OP too. Are breech seals typically easy to replace? I'll run a search  for details when I need to do them, just wondering for now.

[Smoketown]

Tater,

Replacing breech seals on break barrel air guns is usually one of the easiest maintenance tasks one can do.

Cheers,
Smoketown

[Tater]

Thanks Jim.

[shootist]

To break the barrel is the way I've done it for years. You will notice if you do this, your seal will be rounded. If you don't, it's flat. To me that says you must get a better seal by allowing the seal to relax when not in use. It's a trick I advise to all breakbarrel owner customers of mine. Lee

[Booger]

To break the barrel is the way I've done it for years. You will notice if you do this, your seal will be rounded. If you don't, it's flat. To me that says you must get a better seal by allowing the seal to relax when not in use. It's a trick I advise to all breakbarrel owner customers of mine. Lee

Why are shipped closed if it is that big of a deal?

[Mr Sasquatch]

Tater,

Replacing breech seals on break barrel air guns is usually one of the easiest maintenance tasks one can do.

Cheers,
Smoketown

That's very true. But diagnosing the problem (why are my groups getting bigger and bigger?) may be a protracted and frustrating process.

[Mr Sasquatch]

Why are shipped closed if it is that big of a deal?

Probably for the very same reason why they ship them: over or under lubed, with dirty barrels, full of metal shavings, with burrs on machined surfaces, with damaged piston seals...

[cnjl3]

Sounds like it depends on the air gun. With my FWB124 I have always just stored it just uncocked for 30+ years and it has always worked just fine. Maybe some ag's have a really thin gap between the breech and compression tube which just compresses them too much or maybe the gap is too abrasive or could it just be a wrong size o-ring? The "uncocked and broken/not in battery" sounds like a great solution if your o-ring keeps leaking.