Dang Striker is gonna drive me crazy...LOL

[texgunner]

After having the plastic stock break on this Striker .22 HatsanUSA was great about getting me a replacement walnut stock for it, got it installed and it feels great and the hollow bong and twang sound of the plastic stock is gone, very nice change for sure.

Then after shooting the rifle while trying to dial in the scope, I started having issue with the barrel pivot screw backing out and causing a very loose barrel, which of course caused accuracy to go out the window and made it impossible to dial in the optics.

I took rifle down and after cleaning all the threads good I applied Red Loctite to barrel pivot screw and blue to all the rest of the fasteners and for the barrel pivot screw I tightened the dog outta it, let it cure over night and then took it out and run a few pellets through it, so far it's holding perfectly.

Now to the other problem that this rifle has had since i received it from airgun depot back in January 2014, the barrel latch has never held the barrel good and tight against the receiver, just a good shake downward or by just applying a very small amount of pressure on the barrel, it will slightly move down and gap between breach and air chamber face, and unless I actually push back up on the barrel it will just stay in place there with a slight gap.

Since having this rifle I always shot it open sights, my son was needing a small scope for his 10/22 Ruger so I gave him the little Optimus scope that came with the rifle for his rifle and I just plinked around a little with the Striker open sights, I always wondered why the latch didn't hold the barrel in position as tight as I thought it should, but I would just close it tight and try to make sure the barrel didn't get bumped down before I shot the rifle, shooting with open sites it didn't really matter much since both sights are on the barrel, but now that I have installed the Center Point 4x16x40 AO scope on it, I got big troubles from it, since if the barrel doesn't latch exactly the same every time the shots are all over the map, windage isn't affected that much but elevation is affected big time, about a 6-8 inch variation at 25-30 yrds and I can tell just from time of impact that pellet velocities are changing between shots, just plinking around open sight shooting I didn't notice these things much, but shooting from a rest at paper has showed the problem in a very big way now.

Well, I have contacted HatsanUSA and told them about the problem with this rifle, I sent the message via the form on their website, the rifle is still under the 1 year warranty so I'm hoping they will make it good, if not I think I know how I can fix the problem possibly but I'd rather not have to mess with it which would be to use a big brass punch and a hammer to strike the latch pin just hard enough to bend it down slightly so the spring loaded latch on the barrel would be held a tad bit tighter when barrel was closed, it may actually be a simple fix but I'd rather not have to do it if I don't have to.

This rifle has been a pain in the back side to get right so far, I know its a cheap gun and so I didn't expect top notch quality, but I have some cheaper chinese guns that I have never had any of these kinds of issues with, sure hoping I can get this thing lined out with either a repair or maybe Hatsan will just replace it with one that has a barrel that will latch correctly.


Shan

[SpiralGroove]

Hey Texgunner,
I don't have a Striker now to look, but I think your gun uses the same system to lock the barrel in place as my Hatsan 95's and 135.  I've never had this problem, but know the mechanism that adds tension to barrel for locking is just a spring.  I think it's simply a matter of replacing the spring or easier yet, tightening/increasing its tension .

Let me look into this more, but this should be a simple fix.  The most important thing, which I'm very guilty of, is keeping your cool so you don't do something out of frustration which will be a time consuming or costly to fix

My Two Cents...............Kirk 

[texgunner]

Hey Texgunner,
I don't have a Striker now to look, but I think your gun uses the same system to lock the barrel in place as my Hatsan 95's and 135.  I've never had this problem, but know the mechanism that adds tension to barrel for locking is just a spring.  I think it's simply a matter of replacing the spring or easier yet, tightening/increasing its tension .

Let me look into this more, but this should be a simple fix.  The most important thing, which I'm very guilty of, is keeping your cool so you don't do something out of frustration which will be a time consuming or costly to fix

My Two Cents...............Kirk

Kirk,

There is just a cross pin running horizontally through what I will call the receiver, just behind and a little below the barrels pivot point.

In the barrels assembly itself there is a pin that has an angle ground on its end (top & bottom) where it contacts the cross pin when barrel is closed and yes it is tensioned to its farthest forward position by a spring.

you make a good point about the possibility that the spring tension may just be to low, might be possible to either find a stronger spring or to just shim the existing spring out to increase the pressure of the latch against the cross pin.

I'm gonna see what HatsanUSA suggest when I hear from them and I may even ask if it will void my warranty if I try to add tension to that spring, I'd love to get this thing fixed myself so I dont have to go through the hassle of shipping it off to them.

Thanks for the suggestion and idea on the possible fix for this issue.

Shan

 

[AudiS4]

How can your pivot screw, come loose, when there is a locking screw to secure it???

Also, there might be a no go on the warranty, since you´ve fiddled with i big time. Leave the rifle, to someone who knows what he´s doing, before you ruin it.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  AudiS4 Just a little input from a not so new to adult tinkerer with only one and a half years in this sport. Most of the springers out there are not that complicated to work on. Basic hand tools and some web surfing will give a fair amount  of information to work on your own rifle. The only exception is the trigger group most should leave trigger work to the experts unless they are willing to spend more money after they mess it up.

[62hotrod]

TEX, please post your repairs when you make them, my 125 Sniper has a little bit of vertical play also. I've got several ideas on fixing that but don't want to at the moment, it's hunting season. After hunting season I may tear it down for a tune up and make some other modifications(it's bone stock). I don't think the vertical play on mine is enough to seriously hurt accuracy, I get quarter sized groups at fifty yards. However, I constantly ask my self about it, wondering if it'd help the accuracy a little more.

I had to do the exact same as you for my pivot to stay tight also. I started to add a little shim between the lock screw and the pivot screw for added insurance.


sfttailrdr46, Thanks for your input! Super Cool!

[texgunner]

How can your pivot screw, come loose, when there is a locking screw to secure it???

Also, there might be a no go on the warranty, since you´ve fiddled with i big time. Leave the rifle, to someone who knows what he´s doing, before you ruin it.

Well Ill start by trying not to overreact to you comments here....

First of all I can easily fix the issue with this rifle and many other things, Im far from a newbie when it comes to mechanics, fabrication and repair to many things, so you comment are seen as laughable to me honestly.

I have not tinkered with this rifle a lot and all I have done is tey to fix issues with the poor quality of this el cheapo rifle, I do this for fun as one of my many hobbies, I haven't actually modified many guns in my life and Im a dang sharp fella on a few things as a matter of fact and nothing I have done or plan to do to this rifle is gonna "ruin it", its already got issues and if I really wanted I could order 10 more just like it tomorrow and never even think twice about the cost, that isn't an issue either.

so basically what Im saying is dont be concerned about what Im doing or not doing to this rifle, it wont get ruined, its just a cheap air rifle that Im trying to get working at least as good as it should for what it is.

peace, Shan

[texgunner]

TEX, please post your repairs when you make them, my 125 Sniper has a little bit of vertical play also. I've got several ideas on fixing that but don't want to at the moment, it's hunting season. After hunting season I may tear it down for a tune up and make some other modifications(it's bone stock). I don't think the vertical play on mine is enough to seriously hurt accuracy, I get quarter sized groups at fifty yards. However, I constantly ask my self about it, wondering if it'd help the accuracy a little more.

I had to do the exact same as you for my pivot to stay tight also. I started to add a little shim between the lock screw and the pivot screw for added insurance.


sfttailrdr46, Thanks for your input! Super Cool!

you got it brother, I got an email from Hatsan today and they just ask that I ship the rifle to them so They can look at it and determine if it needs fixing or just being replaced, Im gonna package it up and see what it will cost to ship before I do anything and if shippping to to expensive Im just gonna fux it myself. the money isnt an issue but I dont want to get to much tied up in this cheap rifle when I could invest that money in something better instead.

Ill be looking at increasing spring tension under latch if posible first most likely if I do some work myself on it.

personally Id say that based on the shot groups you're getting I wouldn't do a thing to your 125, thats good accuracy as far as Im concerned for a springer type rifle, none of the spring guns I have shoot that well at that distance so Id be plenty happy with those groups.

I will post all progress on this rifle here though for any who might find it helpful and thanks for asking.

[texgunner]

AudiS4 Just a little input from a not so new to adult tinkerer with only one and a half years in this sport. Most of the springers out there are not that complicated to work on. Basic hand tools and some web surfing will give a fair amount  of information to work on your own rifle. The only exception is the trigger group most should leave trigger work to the experts unless they are willing to spend more money after they mess it up.

Very well said and I agree 100%

[SpiralGroove]

texgunner,
There is a pin in the (bottom/front) breach block that holds the locking latch in place.  If your problem is truly a defective spring behind the latch, replacement shouldn't be hard.  You'd have to find a stiffer spring though.

I'd send it to Hatsan and have them fix it.  If they can't, then you get a whole new gun w/wooden stock!!! 

Don't worry about AudiS4, while being very well intentioned, he comes off a little harsh at times

[texgunner]

texgunner,
There is a pin in the (bottom/front) breach block that holds the locking latch in place.  If your problem is truly a defective spring behind the latch, replacement shouldn't be hard.  You'd have to find a stiffer spring though.

I'd send it to Hatsan and have them fix it.  If they can't, then you get a whole new gun w/wooden stock!!! 

Don't worry about AudiS4, while being very well intentioned, he comes off a little harsh at times

Yeah I'm gonna look it over good when I take the scope and stock off in a day or two, I haven't at this point paid much attention to the area on the barrel and breach, I'll give it a better look to see where the retainer pin is that holds the latch in place.

In other spring loaded things I've repaired in the past there have been times when simply stretching the spring a bit to create more tension.

I have brass punches and anything I might need to remove the pin, i imagine a simple small c-clamp to relieve tension before striking the pin will be all thats probably needed to remove it, should be a simple process actually and if I can repair it this way and get the barrel to hold tight in place without sending it off I'd actually rather do that.

As for the comments of AudiS4, I'm fine with it all now, i realize some people come across a bit abrasive, but I'm also not an easy pushover and I'll push back when I feel I'm being insulted or if I think someone else is being treated unfairly, my comments/response earlier may have been a bit harsh also, I didn't mean for it to be offensive, but i did get a bit of a bur under my saddle over that post..LOL!

Thanks for the help and for the advice SpiralGroove and all other who have offered helpful advice, I'm not a jerk and I do appreciate it very much, I try to pose my questions in a humble and newbie tone hoping to get simple but thorough advice and I guess maybe sometimes the way I put things makes me sound as though I'm someone who has little experience with airguns or much else for that matter, I just don't wont to ever come across as arrogant or know it all because I'm not an arrogant fella and I know that I always have much to learn from people who have more experience than I.

Thanks again everyone.

Shan

[texgunner]

just a quick update on this striker,

I just got the rifle apart and barrel assembly off a few minutes ago, immediately I notice that the spring behind the latch shaft seems to be to weak, I can put my finger on it and push back and the pin will travel back 1/8" will just a little push, I'm thinking either the spring is broke, it was to short from the factory or the hole was drilled to deep and this is why the tension isn't enough to hold barrel in position good and tight when it is closed.

I'm going to see if I can drive the retaining pin out and possibly shim under spring, or maybe stretch it a little to increase spring rate so it will hole more pressure on the latch shaft, all else looks good.

I'll post my results when I get pin out and mod done.

[texgunner]

just a quick update on this striker,

I just got the rifle apart and barrel assembly off a few minutes ago, immediately I notice that the spring behind the latch shaft seems to be to weak, I can put my finger on it and push back and the pin will travel back 1/8" will just a little push, I'm thinking either the spring is broke, it was to short from the factory or the hole was drilled to deep and this is why the tension isn't enough to hold barrel in position good and tight when it is closed.

I'm going to see if I can drive the retaining pin out and possibly shim under spring, or maybe stretch it a little to increase spring rate so it will hole more pressure on the latch shaft, all else looks good.

I'll post my results when I get pin out and mod done.

As a reply to me own post I just wanted to say that it looks as if the final fix may have been to stretch the spring from it's beginning length of 0.630 to it's current length now of 0.720.

I made a shim that was roughly 0.080 thick from a machine screw head, It looked as though it would work good but was to much and caused the spring to bottom out on itself and bind before the barrel would completely unlatch, I removed a few 0.001 and tried it again, still same issue, so I decided to remove spacer and use my side cutter pliers to wedge between spring coils and stretch the coils out to add more tension, it closes good and latches good now, the tension on the latch has increased noticeably but not a lot, it does seem to hold the barrel more secure against the combustion tube face, but still not as good as the Crosman TR77, Crosman Optimus or my old B-18, I'll give this a chance to prove whether or not its a good fix once weather gets a little better and I can get out and do some shooting at 25 yds or so.

if this doesn't do the trick I'm gonna be looking to find a stronger spring or I may try stretching the current spring a bit more and see if that will do the trick.

[texgunner]

Just shot the Striker over the Chrono and here are the results of 10 consecutive shots with Crosman 14.3gr HP Pellets

1. 738
2. 732
3. 722
4. 726
5. 742
6. 724
7. 717 this pellet fit very tight in breach and had a pump on the skirt which I didn't notice until it was pushed into barrel.
8. 740
9. 725
10. 747

Average: 731.3 fps

Std Dev. 9.97 fps

Spread 30 fps

Min 717 fps

Max 747 fps

Min ft-lbs energy= 16.3 ft-lbs

Max ft-lbs energy= 17.7 ft-lbs

Average ft-lbs =16.9 ft-lbs

Yet to know what the accuracy will be like, but if not for that one shot of only 717 fps the average Ft-lbs would be much better, average between 9 shots minus the one slow one is 17.06 ft-lbs and average fps is 732.88.

The numbers this gun produces isn't nearly as close as I wish it were to the 800 fps that Hatsan claims it will do, it does shoot hard enough to take out game at ranges out to 40 or so yards but I would like for it to do a bit better.

The Crosman Optimus has good chrono results, it's much better than the Striker for consistency and overall better power as well.

10 shots

Max 739 fps
Min 731 fps

Average  733.8

Min ft-lbs 16.9
Max ft-lbs 17.3
Average energy 17.1 ft-lbs

fps spread between all 10 shots 6 fps

Well, anyway these are some result of my work on the striker and test comparison with the Crosman Optimus, the Optimus doesn't look as good but it seems by the results so far that it will likely be the best overall shooter between the two rifles.



 

[SpiralGroove]

Texgunner,
I'm assuming you changed out the spring on the cocking pin. Is the barrel still loose as it was before?   

As far as the power outage, you may have a slight air leak at your breach seal.  To improve, remove breach seal and put some dental floss or pipe tape under it.  Put the breach seal back in, it should be prouder than before.  Now check velocity with crony; you should get about 775 fps. 

I think I get around 775 fps on my Hatsan 95's in .22 cal. using CPHP (pretty much the same compression chamber).  I will double check it on the crony.

 

[texgunner]

Hello, Kirk

If you look in my next to last post I described what I have ended up doing "I decided to remove spacer and use my side cutter pliers to wedge between spring coils and stretch the coils out to add more tension"

I bolded it to show the quote of my post, not a yell or anything like that like some people take bold print sometimes...LOL

Again, what I did was stretch the spring and I have since shot rifle 25-30 times and got the scope dialed in pretty good at about 25 yds, it's shooting great so far, shooting off hand with only my back rested solid I was able to shoot several 3-4 shot groups within an inch or less, I figure if this is an indication of how it's gonna shoot once I can get it rested more securely, it's gonna shoot very good for what it is, I do wish the fps was a bit better but it will do pretty good out to about 25-30 yds I think.

I don't have a 95 but I was under the impression that the 95 was suppose to shoot a little harder than the Striker but after looking on Hatsan web site you're right, they are both listed as 800fps rifles in .22

Hmmmm... well an air leak could be an issue for sure, I'm a little leary to dig current seal out without having a replacement, I may go ahead and give it a try though and if I break it it I'll just contact Hatsan or maybe airgundepot or Pyramidair and get another one.

thanks for the suggestion Kirk

[SpiralGroove]

Hey Tex,
Just remove breach seal with a fat pin or very small screwdriver.  This should not hurt the breach seal if you are careful.  I have done the breach seal mod as standard procedure on all my break barrels.  So far only one seal has been damaged.

Good luck..............