Crosman Optimus: Spring or Gas Ram?

[SteveP-52]

Still working out bugs with project #1, but figured I'd at least start getting opinions on project #2.
A friend handed me a Crosman Optimus .177 about 2 weeks ago and said it shot lousy and since he didn't pay much for it, it was mine to do whatever I wanted with, he just wanted to get rid of it.
I have since found out it was shooting lousy for him (kinda surprised he even could) considering it has a broken mainspring. Since I've been trying to learn how to tune a rifle anyway, I never bothered trying to shoot it, just took it to the workbench and took everything apart. Also gave me a little experience for when I decided to try doing my Edge.
So the current debate is whether to replace the spring and try tuning it up some (does anyone make an aftermarket kit vs. the Crosman spring?) or get a gas ram from Crosman and convert it? 
Soooo.... I'm looking for opinions especially as this happens to be the first Crosman rifle I've ever owned, so fire away everyone, any and all opinions are very much appreciated!

[Roadworthy]

You can get a spring from Air Rifle Headquarters or from Vortek.  Converting to a gas spring, even from Crosman, may not be straightforward.  You may need some parts other than just the Nitro Piston.  The B19 family all use the same base but there are variations in parts depending on configuration.

[Skillet]

Steve,
I bought a replacement spring from Crosman for me Quest, which is probably the same as your Optimus and the spring (a replacement for OEM) was too narrow to use.  My spring guides averaged .506" diameter and the Crosman spring was .493" ID.  I also bought a new piston seal and breach seal from Crosman with the new spring, cause mine was damaged, probably from original assembly.

Please check the diameter of your spring guides before buying.

I finally bought a Maccari spring that was about .504" ID.  It went on tightly. but it is functional.  Not as accurate as it was before my original spring broke. 

Best wishes!  These are lightweight, fun little springers, I like 'em!

Good luck!

[happymecanic]

Some food for thoughts:

http://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic69513.html

[uglymike]

Put a CharlieDaTuna trigger blade in it, a zillion times better than the infamous Chinese trigger.   

[SteveP-52]

Some food for thoughts:

http://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic69513.html

Between what Tom (Roadworthy) said and reading that long post that had me pretty well lost before I even got halfway, I'm sorta mechanically inclined but between a fairly simple respring and tune and trying to do that conversion, I'm thinking the aftermarket spring kit would just be way simpler...provided I don't have trigger issues like I currently do with the Hatsan Edge I'm still working on but that's another Gate...lol

[LAalex]

Pretty sure one of the Welsh Willy kits would work but very pricey.  ARH spring and milk bottle tune & GRTIII would be the most economical way to go.  I've found that Crosman's guns are like their pellets:  one shoots good and the next one doesn't, then the next one shoots good and the one after that doesn't...Good luck with yours.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 http://woodfield-gcp.co.uk/?product=welsh-willy-crosman-spring-service-kit

Scotty

[mentolio]

I say just toss a Crosman spring in it (like 12 bucks, and you can get a few new seals etc too) and see how it shoots. If it's accurate(ish), shoot it for awhile and if you like it, then "spring" for the fancy upgrade kit. As mentioned by LAalex: sometimes you get a bad one. If this gun has a bad barrel etc., I don't think you want to have a bunch of dollars tied up in it when you find out. I've only worked with one Crosman steel spring powered gun, and it was a bit rough. When I was done with it, I think it shot splendidly: had plenty of power, not a lot of "twang", and was surprisingly accurate (had what looked like an obvious flaw in the rifling a few inches from the crown, but ended up stacking CP 7.9 brown box pellets). Nice and light when cocking, and sent those 7.9s at just over 900FPS.
   That said, my guns are first gen NPs, and I love them. They're powerful (just a bit more so than the spring powered one), smoother, and quieter.