I have been inspired by AGN and the tinkering and experiments reported on by members here. In a dream over the weekend (no joke) I found myself wondering whether the walnut stock on my .177 Hastan Mod 95 springer could be swapped with the synthetic stock on my .22 Hatsan Mod 87 Vortex QE? The two stocks appear to have the same screws, bolts, and trigger guard assemblies so my fevered imagination wondered if the internals would permit a switch.
Sane readers will, at this point, ask, "Why?" I can only say that I love wood stocks, especially when they have a really nice grain pattern with some element of character showing through. Not being a hunter I don't have much concern about beating up my stock out in the brush so synthetic just isn't really my thing, I also highly value a quiet air gun since my primary use is in backyard shooting where good manners and a healthy fear of having Mr. Law called on me are important factors. Now, the Mod 95 is by no means a throaty beast and I've had no complaints while shooting pellets over the 7.8 gr limit I've imposed on myself; anything under that and I get the sharp supersonic CRACK! that neighbors detest. My .22 Vortex QE, on the other hand, is consistently quiet and has a smoother shot cycle. In short, I want the best of both in a single package.
Last night I gave in to my baser impulses and began this experiment. The two stocks can, indeed, be swapped. I have no idea what this has done to my accuracy (such as it is) since it had grown dark by the time I completed my infernal shenanigans and emerged from my laboratory. Having re-seated the complete barrel/piston/trigger assemblies in the respective stocks I have to believe that my next week of shooting will be spent in zeroing my guns again. As Steve over at AEAC says, that's all part of the process. I'll work up some photos and post 'em in the "Show 'Em Off" thread for anyone interested. More to the point, I'm excited to see how/if the switch has done anything surprising to the balance of the guns and the efficacy of my hold while shooting each. More to come.
Sane readers will, at this point, ask, "Why?" I can only say that I love wood stocks, especially when they have a really nice grain pattern with some element of character showing through. Not being a hunter I don't have much concern about beating up my stock out in the brush so synthetic just isn't really my thing, I also highly value a quiet air gun since my primary use is in backyard shooting where good manners and a healthy fear of having Mr. Law called on me are important factors. Now, the Mod 95 is by no means a throaty beast and I've had no complaints while shooting pellets over the 7.8 gr limit I've imposed on myself; anything under that and I get the sharp supersonic CRACK! that neighbors detest. My .22 Vortex QE, on the other hand, is consistently quiet and has a smoother shot cycle. In short, I want the best of both in a single package.
Last night I gave in to my baser impulses and began this experiment. The two stocks can, indeed, be swapped. I have no idea what this has done to my accuracy (such as it is) since it had grown dark by the time I completed my infernal shenanigans and emerged from my laboratory. Having re-seated the complete barrel/piston/trigger assemblies in the respective stocks I have to believe that my next week of shooting will be spent in zeroing my guns again. As Steve over at AEAC says, that's all part of the process. I'll work up some photos and post 'em in the "Show 'Em Off" thread for anyone interested. More to the point, I'm excited to see how/if the switch has done anything surprising to the balance of the guns and the efficacy of my hold while shooting each. More to come.
