"1BadDart" My RWS 34 would do the same thing as fishinwrench's rifle is doing. After purchasing it I shot the rifle with open sights for about a month and it wasn't particularly accurate. I thought it was a combination of my 56 yo eyes and the fact that the sights are better suited for a cannon and grape shot than a rifle. Once the scope arrived I only shot the rifle a few times as it was honking and making odd sounds while cocking.I removed the rifle from the stock and it was dry as a bone so I ordered RWS synthetic chamber lube and spring lube. I put two tiny drops in the chamber and let it sit standing up for two days. Then I three drops on each side of the spring and reassembled.
After I zeroed the scope I noticed that the next time I shot it the shots were low so I moved the zero and continued shooting. As I shot my shots started impacting higher so I reset the zero again. Another thing I noticed was that the air chamber was warm to the touch, the barrel was not. The next shooting session a few days later it did the same thing. I even posted a question here about "springers warming up". I decided to shoot it again a couple days later to see if the rifle repeated and it did. The poi started low and rose as the rifle warmed up. The rifle was not dieseling (synthetic oil), no smoke or smell what so ever.
I had ordered a Vortek kit and on disassembly I found the factory spring had two bends in it and the walls of the air chamber showing some galling. Everything was cleaned up, a couple drops of chamber oil to make it easier on the piston seal on assembly, moly grease on the piston and spring, then reassembled. The rifle shoots great now, no warming up, no more chasing zero and the shot cycle is so much better. Plus the rifle is very accurate after all.
Sorry for the long reply but this was my experience with a rifle that had the same symptoms as the op. BTW I believe the friction from the bent spring in the air chamber was causing heat I felt.
Might be one of the BEST posts I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Many thanx. Gary