FINNALLY, I Got my 97K fixed

[snakebite4767]

After weeks of pulling my hair out over my 97K POI shifting around, I finally found that the Barre/Breech assembly was not tight in the receiver and would move around. I fixed that, and now it shoots well. I just have to do a bit more work getting my hold to be consistent.

Snakebite

[palonej]

Awesome Snake!! Not sure I understand what the prob was. Any pics?? Was it bought new??
So glad she's shooting well!!

[Roadworthy]

Please forgive my ignorance.  As I understand, this is a fixed barrel rifle.  I thought the only moving parts would be the pellet loading mechanism, and of course the cocking lever.  Was this a manufacturing defect or something to watch out for over time?

[palonej]

Same reason I ask Tom. I have one and would like to know also. Sounds pretty serious and I know I wouldn't have been able to fix it!!

[snakebite4767]

I'll get some pictures and try to explain it better.

Snakebite

[palonej]

Appreciate it Snake!! Now get out there and print some real purdy groups!! Had mine out yesterday and shot a couple of nice 75 yarders!! This beauty has broken in very nicely!! I gave Air Arms 7.3 a try......and she loved em!!
Here are the numbers with 8.4 and 7.3, both shoot great after break in, and a 10 shot group at 75 with 7.3.
Thrilled with this rifle!!

97 JSB 8.4.    7.3

Lo 894.8.        Lo 947.9
Hi 903.0.         Hi 952.9
Avg 899.4.       Avg 950.7
ES 8.21.           ES 4.93
SD 3.74.           SD 2.00

[snakebite4767]

OK... I'll do my best to explain. Look at photo #1. It is looking down at the top of the junction where the Breech is connected to the Receiver... the compression cylinder slides up against this.
You will notice that there is a "Gap" between the two parts (Breech and Receiver). The Breech is held in place by the two pins that are pressed in each side and heated. The Gap was about 6-7 thousands.
If pressure was applies to the barrel, the Breech would move left or right, if it were moved left, then the Gap on that side would close, and the Gap on the right side would get wider. Same thing if the barrel was moved to the right. This is why the gun would shoot great and group well as long as nothing was disturbed... but when a little pressure was applied for what ever reason, the POI would change drastically. You could then shoot another group as long as you did not move the barrel... thus changing the POI again. This new group would/could be several inches away from the last group, depending upon how much the barrel moved.

Repair. At first I was going to weld or Silver Solder the joint. I decided to "Drift" (in this case that means BEND) the flanges at the back of the breach to close the gap. Photo #2 shows used a Drift Punch and hammer to move the left side flange back. Photo #3 shows where I hit it on the right side. Photo #4 shows a side view of the right side Gap... you can see that it has closed up. Photo #5 shows the left side, and you can see that the gap has also been closed. This stopped the Barrel/Breech from moving side to side.

There has not been a problem "Yet" with the POI moving up and down... if that ever happens, then I would do the same at the top and bottom of each flange to get the same effect.

This gun was NOT new. I bought off the Yellow Sheet. The fellow told me he bought it and a TX 200 a couple of months earlier and had only shot the gun a few times. He decided to sell this one and keep the TX200. He supplied me with a very good target group, so I bought it. I do NOT believe that he was aware of any problem... at least I choose to think not. 

[palonej]

Jeeeeeez!!! Nice job bro!!! I think I would've tried duct tape!!!
 
Hope it holds up and the lady behaves from here on in!!

[snakebite4767]

I think that it will be good at this point, at least it looks like it will be .... however, I'm pretty much burned out on it. I'll make sure it works and stays put, then I'll make someone a deal that they can't refuse. Of course I will make sure they know the whole story, but the price will good.

Snakebite

[palonej]

Can't say I blame you bro.

[Hanabata808]

Wow, nice fix!  I imagine you had to really hammer the heck out it. That metal is pretty thick and solid.  Nice work!!

[snakebite4767]

Actually, it did not take much to move it at all. It does however seem to be squared away. I've been out tightening up the group... I had my bag too far forward... re-read one of Joe's post, and moved it back just in front of the Trigger guard and made a big difference.

Snakebite

[limbshaker]

Good job taking the initiative to fix it! I bet it should hold up just fine. That was a good idea on how to tighten up the joint. As long as the rest of the gun is good it should shoot fine. I had a similar experience recently....

I bought a HW77K "parts or project gun"  and it had the same problem. The spot welds visible from the outside didn't penetrate to the breech block for a proper weld. The welds came loose and it went to wobbling just as yours did. I machined out the old welds and rewelded it solid. Also added one on top for good measure:
 

After fixing that, the barrel turned out to be a piece of junk so I threw it in the trash. It was RIDICULOUSLY oversized on the bore. I'm talkin a JSB would free fall all the way to the choke with a slight push. Needless to say, I've had shotguns shoot a tighter group  That was my last Weihrauch in .22 to say the least...

[snakebite4767]

I'm sure sorry that yours turned out poorly due to the bad barrel... but I must admit that hearing you had the same problem really got my attention. I don't have a spot welder, but if I could use the MIG if I had to... fortunately it appears to be fixed.... it's shooting very well. I have a HW 95 that is by far the best AR I've every had.. I don't think this is a common thing at all.

Snakebite

[limbshaker]

Yeah I was pretty bummed especially after fixing the problem. I've got a couple of Weihrauchs in .177 and they are just great. But I made a post on another forum about the oversized  barrel and got several responses from guys that said their 22 cal HWs prefer the larger pellets too. But all theirs would shoot at least one pellet well. Mine was an extreme case.

If yours works loose again get your MIG welder on it. Drill you a little depression where the two pieces meet and weld a little puddle in. Its good steel and welds great.