A new model I Dragon Fly to test?

[Nvreloader]

Hey Guys

I got a New Dragon Fly I, 22 cal rifle, it's the 1st model of  this series,
and it is a beast to pump as compared to my Model II cal version.
 
I got a strong itch to see what makes it twitch and if I can make it
slightly easier to pump up.

There is a VAST DIFFERENCE between these two models.

I can tell you now, I WON'T be doing 3-5 shot groups per each pump level test,
for the average, not the way this thing pumps.
I compared it against my Sheridan's and the Sheridan is easy, next to this DF I.

Anyone else have this same model?
What are your thoughts and suggestions?
Tia,
Don

[Blowpipe Sam]

Subscribing.

I’ve been interested in the Dragonfly since it was introduced.  A wood and steel pumper with a magazine?  Sign me up!
But the response to the first model was not good.  High pumping effort seemed to be the most common issue.  Then the mark II came out.  Completely different pump arm geometry.  So obviously the pumping effort was a big enough problem that the manufacturer felt they had to fix it.   The mark II seems to be an improvement but the gun has never been as popular as I expected.  I’m interested in hearing your opinion of the mark I.  This gun is on my “List”.  I intend to own one eventually I just got temporarily distracted by PCP’s.  

[Nvreloader]

BPSam

I don't know if you have read my post on the DF II 22 cal tests I did,
go to here:
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=195725.0
And start at pg 17, post # 324 for all the info I found out about this DF II,
there is hidden power inside, you just have to find it....

I plan on doing the same with the DF I model, with less pumping...Lol

Tia,
Don

[Berserkeley Mike]

So the pump handle of the DFs end with a block of wood as a forestock that meets up neatly with the stock proper, the part that holds the receiver, trigger etc.  Grab this forestock and pump away.  But what if one made a replacement forestock that extended below the stock proper, like a hamster, so one could grab the hamster and pump, with added leverage?

[splitbeing]

Don's DF II thread is the most in depth I am aware of!

I don't shoot it much anymore, but I shot the DF I nearly everyday for a couple of years.

The transfer port on mine needed some cleaning up.  I made a barrel band of sorts between the muzzle cover and the bottom tube.  This eliminated the POI shift I had been seeing.

I prefer the heavier cocking.  Find the right posture for pumping and its enjoyable exercise.  Putting some cushioning material in the pump handle can help dampen the clack.  I wish the arm was longer, however, kind of like the 362 length.

A correctly and securely attached scope can serve as a pump handle for leverage.  I used a simmons at first, but since I shot it so often I put a hawke vantage 2-7 on it.

I often shot 1 or 2 pumps, chasing my curiosities about low velocity accuracy. The ftt greens and spitzkugels typically did well.

[Back_Roads]

 I made up an extension, have not installed it yet, I just pump to 4 or 5 or get the DF2 and pump to 12

[Nvreloader]

I can tell you this bit of info, from just handling the DF I model,
it will not be as accurate as the DF II model.

I can slip a .010" thick feeler gage between the bbl and the rear sight mount....
there is that much slop between the bbl/sight mount, all the way around the bbl,
and if you put any pressure on the bbl muzzle.
You can almost make the muzzle touch the end of the pressure tube, with very little pressure on the bbl..

I will see if the DF II front sight can be fitted to the DF I, to reduce/stop this sloppiness
of this bbl..

Back Roads,
Where did you find that add on pump handle, I LIKE it, a lot.
Bolt on, or replacement of the pump handle??  Dimensions??

I need some more info, Please.
Tia,

[splitbeing]

Great idea, James! 

x2 on "tell us more"


I just remembered that over a few years of heavy use, the trigger changed into a two stage trigger.

[Back_Roads]

 I just laid it out on cardboard then cut it out of some 3/4 ply. I am re thinking this now and may try a larger chunk of wood and make it a one piece. My original idea was just to bolt it to the wood pump handle as seen in the photo.

[splitbeing]

James, are you thinking of cutting the stock piece with the trigger back a bit.  For instance, the 362 (and maybe the mk II?) have the stock piece by the trigger shorter and the pump handle longer for better ergonomics. 

[Nvreloader]

SB
That won't help on the 1st model I of the DF.
 
The stock action screw for the rear sight is approximately .850" from the end of the stock and where the cut is for the handle pump'. so it can close down completely.

James design will work, I  think a whole new 1 pc pump handle with the longer rear section (like his photo shows), would be the Cat's meow...

By rough measurement, the front section would have to be around,
6.00" long x 3.00" deep, 1.500" thick, (stock width) and  the
long end would be about 12" x 1.500" wide..

I have got a pc of  Pine wood 2" x 4" x 15" long, I make a rough shape of it
to see the results.

It's going to have to be from a tough type of lumber, ie: Oak, Hickory, Locust
to be able to take the leverage of pumping.

Your thoughts and suggestions....

[Blowpipe Sam]

Hickory is hard to stain (blotchy) but a good choice for weight and toughness.  Locust takes a stain better than hickory and it is harder but more prone to cracking.  IMO I'd go with Locust.

[splitbeing]

Thanks for the reminder, Don. Memory is a funny thing.  Found myself wondering where that screw was.

[Nvreloader]

Guys
I am sorry to tell you this,
But, I can't find any "O" rings for the barrel in the US,
so until I can seal this bbl and stop the leaking, I'll hold off doing any testing.
 
As soon as I get the bbl sealed, I start the tests, like I did on the DF II 22 cal model.

I am thinking real hard on re cutting the OEM Grooves to a more common size,
as there is a little bit of room to work with.
Sorry,
Tia

[Nvreloader]

Well Guys,
It's Off to work I go, hi ho, hi ho...
A very nice lady sent me 4 "o" rings to fit the dragon Fly I - 22 cal rifle bbl.

I plan on doing the same type of test as I did on the DF II -22 cal, 
I can tell you it won't be a 5 shot test per pump number like the DF II,
as this thing is a bear to pump once you get above 5 pumps, and per the instructions
the max pump number is 8 pumps per shot, I may go to 10 pumps max.

I'll detail and take photo's, when I check internal pump rod depth,
along with all the other spec's and diameters etc,
so here is your chance to add any info to check/test be for I start the test,
I just wish I had a 177 bbl to go along with this test.

Your Thoughts and suggestions...
Tia,
Don

[splitbeing]

I'm curious about the 1 and 2 pump data, Don.  The manual says 3 pump minimum but Ihave done a ton of shooting at 1 and 2 pumps in .177.  In.22, 2 pumps might be closer to 1 pump results from the .q77 accuracywise, but we won't know til you try.

Excited for your tests,  the df2 tests were incredible and thorough.

[Back_Roads]

 I did mount and test the pump handle extension over the weekend, it makes 8 pumps doable, make sure to leave maybe 1/4" more gap than I did as at 7-8 pumps my 3/4" plywood flexes.
 I mounted it by pre drilling the OE handle for grywall screws, then pre drilled the ply to take the threads without splitting. Holding solid. Six pumps is doable easily, one thing though is one has to reach their arm out fully to get a full pump cycle similar to the DF2.

[Nvreloader]

OK Guys
Here is some information from the Dragon Fly I 22 caliber rifle.

I started tearing apart at the muzzle end of the DF I.

Remove the 2 tiny Allen head screws on the sides,
then slide the cover cap off the end of the pressure tube,
then remove the pump arm pivot pin, Remove the pump arm.
Push the pump rod out the top of the pressure tube, and remove the pump rod.

The center pump rod is a round steel rod .470" in dia, with the top end
that is threaded with a lock nut, into the part that the top pivot pin area that attaches
to the pump handle.

This pump rod is approximately 7.125" long  which includes the pump head that is inserted
inside the pump rod via a 250" dia rod
and has a .300" slot that allows the pump head to move and held in place via a .125" split pin when pumping and there is O ring at the end of  the pump head for sealing while pumping...

There is a hard rubber ball that is .620" in dia, .455" thick which is sandwiched between 2 steel washers,
a .248" hole that fits over the pump head shaft. This rubber ball expands under pumping pressure, which creates the hard pumping etc.
I have an Idea on how to reduce the rubber ball swelling and pressure, more later...

I marked and measured the depth of this pump rod head, which was 6.880" long,
the depth of the valve head was 6.910" deep measured from the lowest point of the "U"
notch in the pressure tube.

Bbl hole is .134" Dia,
Action/breech TP Hole is .124" Dia,
Brass TP has a hole Dia of .136" x .295" tall x .356" dia,
w/a step on each end that fits into a rubber "O" ring on the action and the valve,

Hammer spring is 22.5#'s at max compression, (coil bound), 3.150" long,
.390" dia  O/S dim, x  .300" I/S dim, wire thickness = .036" with 15 coils.

Hammer weight is 882 grains x .760" dia x 1.790" long x with a 1.572"
spring tunnel x .400" in dia, and .960" hammer stroke.

Main valve is 2.520" long x .765" dia, and has a TP hole of .136" with an inside spring
with a plastic pointed cones and a 2 piece shaft, metal shaft fits inside the poppet seal
and has .185" of valve protrusion past the of the valve body end.

The valve spring is 1.550" long with .022 " thick wire, poundage rating of 5.5#s
when fully compressed, there is the same 2 white plastic tapered valve seals,
as the DF II Valve has.

More later...
your thoughts or suggestions....
Tia

[Nvreloader]

Well, it's done and here is the first test for the Dragon Fly I - 22 caliber rifle,
this was a 2 test per pumps number and averaged out.

This is a completely OEM stock rifle,
I did replace the barrel "O" Rings as they were leaking air during any shots fired.
Crosman 14.3gr pellets used for all tests:

1. 293.9 fps/89.6 mps
2. 396.8 fps/121 mps
3. 446.1 fps/136 mps
4. 475.7 fps/145 mps
5. 511.8 fps/156 mps
6. 531.4 fps/162 mps
7. 541.3 fps/165 mps
8. 561.0 fps/171 mps
9. 567.5 fps/173 mps
10. 561.0fps/171 mps

Check the post above for the OEM spec's and dimensions.

IMHO, there is more under the hood, (I would LOVE 700+ fps at 10 pumps),
like the transport air holes, that run .124" breech/action, and .136" everywhere else,
hammer weight, hammer spring weights, (I'll be using Flat wire springs), and testing
some Ideas I have about that hard rubber ball on the pump rod.
I want to go back thru the DF II Tests and review the tests, if I can find that post...

Your thoughts or suggestions....
Tia

[Back_Roads]

 I will pump mine up over the crony a few times, and see IIR I was faster with a 17.9 gr pellet, no mods except pump rod adjustment way back when.