If you were able to design your own springer/gas air rifle…what would it have?

My design…I’m thinking of an underlever similar to the HW97 in design internally and externally but stopping at the internals that functions the rifle. Internals that propel the pellet would be similar to the TX200 but with a Tony Leach kit instead. Piston seal will cover the v-nub. Sleeved compression tube. Compression tube will be made from a lighter metal and thickened only in the front where the piston slams. The shroud WILL NOT BE GLUED (cough cough Air Arms)…instead it will be shroud-less with a thread for a Donny. The under lever will click into place like the HW97. Wood stock would have a laminate finish from the RX2 and the stock will have a thumb rest plus a thumb hole like in the Theoben Evolution. 

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What about you?
 
I'd make a brand new HW77K from 1986. 

A slim stock like they originally came with, but with less drop and a higher comb. 

The barrel would be threaded in to eliminate the tight spot in the bore at the breech from being pressed in. This would also make caliber changes easy. The underlever catch would secure with a setscrew and located by a dovetail. 

Don't think it could get better than that. They got damn close to perfect the first time. 

Close enough for Air Arms to copy it and run with it........
 
I'd make a brand new HW77K from 1986. 

A slim stock like they originally came with, but with less drop and a higher comb. 

The barrel would be threaded in to eliminate the tight spot in the bore at the breech from being pressed in. This would also make caliber changes easy. The underlever catch would secure with a setscrew and located by a dovetail. 

Don't think it could get better than that. They got damn close to perfect the first time. 

Close enough for Air Arms to copy it and run with it........

Respectable.
 
I’d build something akin to a Diana 54 Air King except with a hair more swept volume than the Hatsan 135. “Oversprung” to the max with a Theoben ram built to handle this volume of air and make the most of it, and the sledge system perfectly tuned. Probably going to have the same trigger as the HW90, unless we can make the Record trigger work. The barrel length would be nearly optimized for power according to the caliber. A McMillan fiberglass stock with steel pillars at every point of attachment. We will make this a 40 fpe recoilless gas ram gun that is not hold sensitive. We’re gonna have sling swivels and bipod. It will probably weigh 12-15 pounds lol, and that’s okay because I already have an R9. Let’s build a monster!
 
Great suggestions. I like thumb up thumbholes. No spring compressor required like TX200. Eliminate the cocking lever and catch, instead do like Air Arms Pro Sport only with a comfortable to the human hand nicely blued lever instead of the present painful ugly lever. Threaded barrel at muzzle for LDC. Trigger block machined from a block with trigger stop set screw like TX, not folded metal trigger box like HW77,97. Walnut or Shedua stock with epoxy finish like Theoben used to do. It's the only finish resistant to DEET in insect repellents. Sling attachments points. Adjustable butt pad and adjustable cheekpiece.

I would buy any reliable recoilless action Giss or sledge. Like a fool I sold my TX200Sr. It had fussy maintenance, but when it worked it was nice. I also had a Park 93 Giss recoilless and sold it too. It was way too hard to work on and no parts. Bicycle chain was used to separate the pistons..Pain in the a$$. .My Whiscomb uses rack and pinion but too many stokes to cock it. Also it can't handle dry fires and it's no longer made. I guess the Diana 54 is reliable from what I read. I have the Model 52 and like it.
 
I’d build something akin to a Diana 54 Air King except with a hair more swept volume than the Hatsan 135. “Oversprung” to the max with a Theoben ram built to handle this volume of air and make the most of it, and the sledge system perfectly tuned. Probably going to have the same trigger as the HW90, unless we can make the Record trigger work. The barrel length would be nearly optimized for power according to the caliber. A McMillan fiberglass stock with steel pillars at every point of attachment. We will make this a 40 fpe recoilless gas ram gun that is not hold sensitive. We’re gonna have sling swivels and bipod. It will probably weigh 12-15 pounds lol, and that’s okay because I already have an R9. Let’s build a monster!

That’s going to be one long rifle.
 
Lots of great ideas! I would like a trim side lever that makes 12 ft lbs in .177. Ambidextrous, walnut stock with hand cut checkering. Blued steel, with no plastic. Threaded barrel. Anschutz accessory rail and rear sling stud. The accessory rail is to mount a benchrest plate for light varmint class, or a thigh rest for wftf, or anschutz sling swivel for tramping around the woods. 
 
My TX 200 MK1 was about as perfect as they can be. Oruginal 12 fpe but tuned to 850/860 fps with the old CP 7.9 pellets!! Cut my stock to make the cheek piece adjustable, used my dremel to make a thumbs up cutout in the stock. Filled all the excellent checkering in black...this rifle was an absolute gem to shoot, have numerous trophies to show how well it shot. Excellent balance and craftsmanship. Unfortunately they no longer make them like they used to!!!
 
HW57 but done a bit more traditionally. No pop up breech, just a compression tube and small piston. It doesn't need to put out much power. I'd be very happy with 10-11ftlbs in that gun. Irons, meh... I could go either way but I would prefer fiber optics over the traditional HW irons.

I guess basically what I want is a 97K trimmed down to HW50S size. Honestly, I'm suprised Weihrauch hasn't made it already. 
 
Being a total airgun Luddite, I'd want something like one of these fantastic customized Webley Mk 3's I spied on FB last week. A well-made tap-loader with modern powerplant, Rekord trigger, and Parker-Hale sights.

I'm sure this would be HUGE sales hit...for me, and maybe three other guys, LOL. 

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I think you're on to something there. I've been looking for something like a Webley Eclipse myself. If someone came out with a modernized version with a Rekord in it, I think they would sell like hot cakes.