So I've been trying to get my .22 Cricket mini Carbine tuned and ready to go for RMAC in June. About three weeks ago, I only wanted to change out the stock gauge with a Wika gauge on the end of the pressure tube. So I change it out, and next morning pressure had dropped from 240 bar to 180-ish bar...
Hmmm, so maybe oring? Replace oring under gauge, fill to 240 bar, next morning back at 180-ish bar...
Damn, another leak, maybe leaky gauge? Reinstall old gauge, fill to 240 bar, next morning at 180-ish bar... ;(
OK, now I'm frustrated. Disassemble everything, replace all orings, fill valve, regulator, firing valve... Fill to 240 bar, next morning 180-ish bar. ARRRGHHH!!!!
Disassemble again, polish and clean firing valve, seat, brass piece, etc, clean valve spring and retainer, reset valve spring tension... Fill to 240 bar, next morning at 240 bar. Finally!!! Oh, and if you ever want to know exactly what pressure your reg is set to, put the pressure tube back together without the spacer and fill. It will bleed down the small pinhole vent to whatever the reg pressure is set to. Just FYI, and yes, I did this by mistake...
The story isn't over yet...
So now to the chrony. Screw in HST all the way, back out two turns, about where it was before I started working on the gun. 810, 845, 860, 865, 835, 815, 795, 790... WTF, over??? Is my reg messed up? It worked perfectly before, Firing valve good? I just rebuilt it. So then a little bell dings in my head, and I remember an older Ernest video where he says NO LUBE or GREASE on the hammer or hammer spring. NONE. Hmmm, did I lube that with a little Krytox a while back? Maybe... Just a little. But after disassembly, I noticed that the grease had attracted dirt and dust, and was slightly obstructing the hammer and not allowing the hammer to move freely... Clean everything out, polish the internals and hammer, clean hammer spring, reassemble. Shoot over chrony, 860, 865, 864, 864, 863, 865, 862, 863, 861, 865 with JSB 18.1 grain pellets... For two 14 shot magazines. YES!
Finally, back in business and ready for RMAC. Take it to the killing fields of Descanso on Sunday. Ground squirrel pups not out yet, but I get 5 big fatties. First at 40 yards. Next four at 117, 104, 107, and 102 yards - N.U.A.H.!. Yep, its BAAAAACK!!! Now to practice off hand, sitting and kneeling until Utah. Going to be fun!
Hmmm, so maybe oring? Replace oring under gauge, fill to 240 bar, next morning back at 180-ish bar...
Damn, another leak, maybe leaky gauge? Reinstall old gauge, fill to 240 bar, next morning at 180-ish bar... ;(
OK, now I'm frustrated. Disassemble everything, replace all orings, fill valve, regulator, firing valve... Fill to 240 bar, next morning 180-ish bar. ARRRGHHH!!!!
Disassemble again, polish and clean firing valve, seat, brass piece, etc, clean valve spring and retainer, reset valve spring tension... Fill to 240 bar, next morning at 240 bar. Finally!!! Oh, and if you ever want to know exactly what pressure your reg is set to, put the pressure tube back together without the spacer and fill. It will bleed down the small pinhole vent to whatever the reg pressure is set to. Just FYI, and yes, I did this by mistake...
The story isn't over yet...So now to the chrony. Screw in HST all the way, back out two turns, about where it was before I started working on the gun. 810, 845, 860, 865, 835, 815, 795, 790... WTF, over??? Is my reg messed up? It worked perfectly before, Firing valve good? I just rebuilt it. So then a little bell dings in my head, and I remember an older Ernest video where he says NO LUBE or GREASE on the hammer or hammer spring. NONE. Hmmm, did I lube that with a little Krytox a while back? Maybe... Just a little. But after disassembly, I noticed that the grease had attracted dirt and dust, and was slightly obstructing the hammer and not allowing the hammer to move freely... Clean everything out, polish the internals and hammer, clean hammer spring, reassemble. Shoot over chrony, 860, 865, 864, 864, 863, 865, 862, 863, 861, 865 with JSB 18.1 grain pellets... For two 14 shot magazines. YES!
Finally, back in business and ready for RMAC. Take it to the killing fields of Descanso on Sunday. Ground squirrel pups not out yet, but I get 5 big fatties. First at 40 yards. Next four at 117, 104, 107, and 102 yards - N.U.A.H.!. Yep, its BAAAAACK!!! Now to practice off hand, sitting and kneeling until Utah. Going to be fun!
