Barrel Band

After my embarsment on my last post I am going to try again. I have a Stormrider that has shot . 5 inch groups at thirty yards all day with AA 16s and Hades. While I know it is not that great sometimes the group is much smaller.

I have taken it out several times lately and it is not doing too good. Most groups around 1 inch. It like four in one hole and then a flyer that is way out.

I have cleaned it twice and checked all the scope screws. Even tried some pellets it almost likes.

So I talked with another Stormrider owner and he said his did the same thing. He fixed it by adding a barrel band. Now his groups are consistant. He really messed up his modarator to put the band on. I don't want to do this, Yes I know it is a 200 dollar gun but it is my 200 dollar gun.

The question , Is anyone make a two piece clamp that can be put on without butchering my gun.

Yes I have looked but my computer skills are on par with my spelling.

Thank You and God Bless

Bobby
 
I know nothing about this rifle, but I just pulled up a picture of it. If the existing support piece is clamped on the barrel, I don't see how an additional band will do any good. Depending on how well anchored the barrel is at the breech, I would look at either shimming that support for a firmer fit, or removing it. I recently bought a Daystate Revere, and its band design is a joke. The barrel shroud floats in it, so it rattles every time you move it, yet offers no support. I just took it off. The rifle shoots great, and no rattle.
 
IMHO...

If you intend on adding a barrel band that ties the barrel to the pressure tube thinking it will add accuracy... think again.

As the pressure changes in the pressure tube, so will the POI. This is due to the flexing that occurs as the pressure changes in the pressure tube. The Stormrider already has the rear sight tied to the pressure tube as far as I can tell from the pics I have seen.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/diana-stormrider-multi-shot-pcp-air-rifle?m=4449

So, it already has that problem. Adding another connection of the pressure tube and barrel will not help and will make the problem worse. IMHO

However, I don't own a Stormrider, so what do I know?
 
Bulletbob, 

Another vote for free floated barrels.

When you have a great group at 30 yards, and one flyer, that tells me ammo. It's consistent with the majority of shots, then an errant one goes out. Typical of ammo that needs to be scrutinized.

When you have a group that none of the pellets stack at all, that could be a quality (or lack thereof) issue with the projectile. It also could be a fouled barrel, bad barrel or crown, or too high of a velocity. All of these can contribute to poor groups.

Being that you once did get good groups, I would rule out a bad barrel or crown, unless they have been possibly damaged since it grouped well. I would look at the pellets more carefully, even try different brands and styles. Just because a pellet once worked very well, might not mean it will do so now. Different lot numbers and production dates could change a pellets performance, for better or worse. I've seen it dozens of times in my competition rigs.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Fieldtargettech.com 
 
IMO barrel bands, in general, are a bad idea. The rifles in which an added band helps are probably suffering from another barrel attachment problem, and the added support helps offset the underlying issue. The band on the Revere appears to be an especially egregious design feature. The barrel shroud floats in the band, but a good whack on the barrel or band, could rotate the band on the air cylinder, thus putting pressure on the barrel and changing POI, and preventing the barrel from returning to its floating position. Just my opinion, but I removed mine.
 
Why is it that top "target" guns have free floating barrels ? Both pellet and powder fire.

Something to think about.



Mike


Well said. Even my Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .177 has a free floating barrel... although it does have other problems to overcome...

My thoughts: Since the pressure is equal in all directions with the length having the least surface area influenced by the changing pressure, how is it that a barrel band impairs accuracy? Just asking

Keith
 
Why is it that top "target" guns have free floating barrels ? Both pellet and powder fire.

Something to think about.



Mike


Well said. Even my Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .177 has a free floating barrel... although it does have other problems to overcome...

My thoughts: Since the pressure is equal in all directions with the length having the least surface area influenced by the changing pressure, how is it that a barrel band impairs accuracy? Just asking

Keith

Because it's not a static environment. When pressure is placed on the barrel or band, the band can be left with pressure that is different than before the incident, thus preventing the barrel from returning to battery, and changing the POI.
 
Why is it that top "target" guns have free floating barrels ? Both pellet and powder fire.

Something to think about.



Mike


Well said. Even my Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .177 has a free floating barrel... although it does have other problems to overcome...

My thoughts: Since the pressure is equal in all directions with the length having the least surface area influenced by the changing pressure, how is it that a barrel band impairs accuracy? Just asking

Keith

Because it's not a static environment. When pressure is placed on the barrel or band, the band can be left with pressure that is different than before the incident, thus preventing the barrel from returning to battery, and changing the POI.

What if the barrel were to have a slip fit in the band?
 
Why is it that top "target" guns have free floating barrels ? Both pellet and powder fire.

Something to think about.



Mike


Well said. Even my Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .177 has a free floating barrel... although it does have other problems to overcome...

My thoughts: Since the pressure is equal in all directions with the length having the least surface area influenced by the changing pressure, how is it that a barrel band impairs accuracy? Just asking

Keith

Because it's not a static environment. When pressure is placed on the barrel or band, the band can be left with pressure that is different than before the incident, thus preventing the barrel from returning to battery, and changing the POI.

What if the barrel were to have a slip fit in the band?

How does that help if the band moves? It just inhibits the barrel from returning to its natural position as determined by its breech attachment.
 
Why is it that top "target" guns have free floating barrels ? Both pellet and powder fire.

Something to think about.



Mike


Well said. Even my Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .177 has a free floating barrel... although it does have other problems to overcome...

My thoughts: Since the pressure is equal in all directions with the length having the least surface area influenced by the changing pressure, how is it that a barrel band impairs accuracy? Just asking

Keith

Because it's not a static environment. When pressure is placed on the barrel or band, the band can be left with pressure that is different than before the incident, thus preventing the barrel from returning to battery, and changing the POI.

What if the barrel were to have a slip fit in the band?

How does that help if the band moves? It just inhibits the barrel from returning to its natural position as determined by its breech attachment.

Band does not move…….
 
To the guys saying barrel bands are not good. You could say that. My wildcat mk iii will shoot the tightest groups on the bench without one, but it is completely useless as a hunting gun without it's barrel band I made for it. The poi shifts if you just look at it funny, never mind walking for an hour with it slung over your back.

That's a problem with many FX rifles, and why I ditched one. The old Royale platform is simple and sturdy, and the only FX I now own.
 
What if the barrel were to have a slip fit in the band?

How does that help if the band moves? It just inhibits the barrel from returning to its natural position as determined by its breech attachment.

Band does not move…….

But, that's the problem, some of them do move. And if it is bumped out of alignment, it then holds the barrel out of place. Without it, and assuming a sturdy attachment at the shank, the barrel rebounds to its original position. It depends on how, and to what, the band is attached. If the barrel is supported by the kind of structure of a Taipan Veteran, it's not going to move if a truck runs over it. If the band is held by only tiny grub screws against the air cylinder, as with the Daystate Revere, it is fragile. Granted, it's not a great risk, especially for bench or target shooting. My underlying belief, if the rifle shoots better with a band, then there is a weak link in the design of the the barrel attaching system. 
 
“a weak link in the design of the the barrel attaching system. “

And that is why we modify them and have a GREAT TIME in so doing. There are a lot of ways to attain accuracy in an Air Gun, and you have to work with what you have to get there. As long as you get results, There is No Wrong Way. It is always good to gather thoughts from others, ( at least I believe so). Thanks for your valid responses. Keeps me thinking.