I recently sent a very tired .177 caliber R1 to Ed "Ekmeister" Kryznowek for some work... I've read a lot about tuning before so I decided to go that route this time and see what would happen.
I'm more than happy I decided to get it tuned... The rifle is...very smooth..and there is/are no mainspring buzz or other rattles. The preliminary accuracy work shows great promise and I'm getting groups that are much smaller than a quarter at 20 yards. So, I'm eager and hopeful to see what it will do at further distances once our nasty winter weather lets up.
The power is more than I expected, too! I mentioned to Ed that I once shot an R1 that would shoot light pellets at almost 1,000 fps...he said he actually exceeded that velocity 'some' with the light Silver Bear pellets, but said he wanted to save the final numbers as a surprise for me when I get my new chronograph.
I know a lot of people talk about how well their springer shoots at 12 FPE. But, this one came out at something more like 15 FPE, and the shot cycle is still pretty calm...shooting...H&N Barracuda Match pellets...at 800+ fps--a large part of which he attributes to the special Maccari piston seal he used...
...Ed was in contact with me with progress updates...His knowledge helped me locate the right high-quality parts he said we should use, and I think the results speak for themselves in that regard. My 'old' R1 is now an amazing performer. Ed was very thorough when it came to detail and personal performance. In short, he takes a lot of pride in his work.
I opted for his best tune..(and) I'm glad I did. When the rifle was delivered it came with small samples of the pellets he used in testing so I could duplicate his velocity and accuracy results. It also came with an actual test target he shot to show the results he obtained with the Barracuda Match pellets when the testing was complete.
My point with this post is to pass on a great experience I had with Ed and his tuning abilities. I'm very happy with what I received and will continue shooting this rifle for a long time, hopefully passing it on to my son in a few years. Never to be without a springer, I have an R9 I've mentioned that also needs some love, and Ed will be called on for that work, also.
I recently sent a very tired .177 caliber R1 to Ed "Ekmeister" Kryznowek for some work... I've read a lot about tuning before so I decided to go that route this time and see what would happen.
I'm more than happy I decided to get it tuned... The rifle is...very smooth..and there is/are no mainspring buzz or other rattles. The preliminary accuracy work shows great promise and I'm getting groups that are much smaller than a quarter at 20 yards. So, I'm eager and hopeful to see what it will do at further distances once our nasty winter weather lets up.
The power is more than I expected, too! I mentioned to Ed that I once shot an R1 that would shoot light pellets at almost 1,000 fps...he said he actually exceeded that velocity 'some' with the light Silver Bear pellets, but said he wanted to save the final numbers as a surprise for me when I get my new chronograph.
I know a lot of people talk about how well their springer shoots at 12 FPE. But, this one came out at something more like 15 FPE, and the shot cycle is still pretty calm...shooting...H&N Barracuda Match pellets...at 800+ fps--a large part of which he attributes to the special Maccari piston seal he used...
...Ed was in contact with me with progress updates...His knowledge helped me locate the right high-quality parts he said we should use, and I think the results speak for themselves in that regard. My 'old' R1 is now an amazing performer. Ed was very thorough when it came to detail and personal performance. In short, he takes a lot of pride in his work.
I opted for his best tune..(and) I'm glad I did. When the rifle was delivered it came with small samples of the pellets he used in testing so I could duplicate his velocity and accuracy results. It also came with an actual test target he shot to show the results he obtained with the Barracuda Match pellets when the testing was complete.
My point with this post is to pass on a great experience I had with Ed and his tuning abilities. I'm very happy with what I received and will continue shooting this rifle for a long time, hopefully passing it on to my son in a few years. Never to be without a springer, I have an R9 I've mentioned that also needs some love, and Ed will be called on for that work, also.
I know about 5 different ways to tune the R1/HW80 now, from modest power to large, and several options in-between. One of them even puts it in the velocity/FPE range of the RX-1/HW90, which is the tune you/hkshooter got. It's a little easier to cock than the RX-1 though, and the 'thud' at the end of the shot cycle doesn't give you or your scope as hard a knock. ALL of them do away with the annoying spring twang that some people despise (me too, pretty-much).
I can't wait to get my hands on the R9, because the Maccari Hornet Kit and seal do it up about as nice as it can be done. I'm already very-familiar with that rifle, kit, and seal. Still, like you said, I always make it a point to take the time to do it right. No long lead times like in some years past--I got that resolved and I won't put anyone--including myself--through that again. Never.
Thanks for the nice post, and I hope you enjoy your rifle!
Ed knows his stuff. I never had the pleasure of trying many tuned rifles. Ive had a few though. If you wish to try a John Thomas tuned R1 in .22, all I ask is you pay shipping both ways & baby her like I do. I'm all about helping each other in this great sport. I also have tuned 48 in .177 & a tuned El Gamo 300 in .177. That only has a 10" barrel, makes between 7-8ftlbs and is amazingly accurate at 30 yards. It also is getting old & tired though. The breech block needs to be tightened up with spacers as I detect the slightest bit of play.
Got the JM Hornet kit and seal on the way and am excited to get this one done. A fitting treatment for my late father's first and only air rifle.
You may think I'm kidding, but I'm probably more excited to work on it then you are to get it done. That kit and that seal really transform the R9 in a way some people might not believe is possible. Of course you need to do the other things to remove the torque from inside the piston to make it shoot accurately not just powerfully. And I'll be sure to take care of that too like I have on the many other ones I have tuned before.
Will post a write up once it's done.
Yeah, do your worst, I can take it LOL.
Where would we be without the fine weihrauch air rifles they literally Ooze with refinement, shear pleasure to look at, hold and shoot & work on / Its nice when people have pride when they work on them, or any rifle for that matter no matter what it is.
They are pretty big and heavy and seem to have fallen out of favor in when compared to the R9/HW95, which is lighter, trimmer and, when tuned up, can shoot just as hard as a factory R1. But an R1 (preferably .22 IMHO) can easily be tuned to 19+ FPE and still have a very nice shot cycle.
Personally, I don't care for the current R1/HW80. This was the flagship magnum air rifle for many years and now it sports a plain stock that doesn't even cover the breech block. Why would I be tempted to spend more money for a heavier, less attractive gun that shoots only a little harder than an HW95 (especially if looking at .177)? But the old Beeman guns with the Gary Goudy designed stock - to me, that's the epitome of a magnum springer.
I love low and mid powered springers and own several. Those are the guns I reach for the most. But when magnumits hits, there is only one gun for me. (ok, ok, so I have three of them, but who's counting...)
They are pretty big and heavy and seem to have fallen out of favor in when compared to the R9/HW95, which is lighter, trimmer and, when tuned up, can shoot just as hard as a factory R1. But an R1 (preferably .22 IMHO) can easily be tuned to 19+ FPE and still have a very nice shot cycle...But the old Beeman guns with the Gary Goudy designed stock - to me, that's the epitome of a magnum springer...
You'll understand that we feel the same way when I say, "I love the R9, but I REALLY love the R1".
Some people don't like the idea of tuning a springer for more power. But, like you said, the R1 can still be good at levels above what the R9 can achieve, even if the latter is also tuned for power. I do agree with them and you on this one point, and maybe it's what they're really trying to say: high power and a lousy shot cycle aren't worth a plugged nickel--give me a calm R9 any day! I tuned the R1 for it's very-maximum power a couple of times, and I didn't like it either. I had one guy ship his R1 back to me to get the slightly-lower powered kit installed, instead. He said HE liked it better that way too.
Spring piston air guns that are tuned above the practical-use side of their power range may impress a chronograph, but not me. That's just taking a good gun and ruining it. What a waste of money. Leave that gun alone, and buy the next one up the ladder. If that's still not enough, buy a PCP (did I really just say that?).
(Note to self: Do a Google search to find out what a plugged nickel is). (Oh. Found it, got it).
On Springer power. I've had tuned smooth non hold sensitive 25ftlb .22's. It was a 54 though. The new Sign ASP20 in .22 is over the listed 23ftlbs. Hatsans would most definitely need a tune to please me but by God, they got a .30 to spit 44grain JSB's @33ftlbs and fairly flat to 20-30 yards. I'd opt for the .22 or .25 though if getting a 135QE. Much flatter shooting.
On Springer power. I've had tuned smooth non hold sensitive 25ftlb .22's. It was a 54 though. he new Sign ASP20 in .22 is over the listed 23ftlbs. Hatsans would most definitely need a tune to please me but by God, they got a .30 to spit 44grain JSB's @33ftlbs and fairly flat to 20-30 yards. I'd opt for the .22 or .25 though if getting a 135QE. Much flatter shooting.
I think we're on the same page. When I wrote, "the next one up the ladder", I was thinking of the RWS 48 and its side-lever brothers, or a caliber larger than .22. My .25 caliber Beeman Kodiak that I tuned with an 'extinct' Maccari kit delivered well over 30 FPE. That kit/spring is no longer made.
