Lawdog...a couple questions for ya

[Mac11700]

Lawdog:
 
With the Tech Force 99 rifles...what can be done beside shooting in the rifle to tune the triggers on them.? Is this a do-it-yourself project...or best left to the folks who can do a tune-up on them.?
 
In my search for a good rifle to start out with...I've heard mention all these different triggers that are adjustable and all...and I'm wondering how good a person can make the Chinese triggers in comparison to the ones they are copying.
 
I was wondering if you could fill me in on this...since having a good trigger is eccential to shooting tight groups.
 
One other question for ya...these diopter type sites interest me as well...I haven't seen too many of them while doing a search on air rifles...and I would like to do some off hand shooting with which ever rifle I get...are they available for all the different makes...or just on the match type rifles...
 
Thanks for you help
 
Mac

[victorcharlie]

Those are very good questions Mac......I've been thinking of sending my TF99 to Charlie, but that would double the price of the gun........I'm not sure this makes sense to me........I usually work most of my own triggers, but haven't tried anything with the TF99.  I'd love some input on this as well.

Have a look at the third or forth sight from the bottom.....is this the Diapoter sight your talking about?

http://www.compasseco.com/shop/products.html?maingroup=Optics&secondgroup=Tech%20Force

[Lawdog]

Mac,

That is an excellent question.  I know of some that have worked over the trigger in their 99M’s & M97’s(honing sears and replacing springs, etc. but they won't show me exactly what it is they did) but I sent mine to Charlie’s Springer Works for one of his Suoer Tunes.  They came back with a pull of 2 - 2 1/2 lbs. with no creep.  Now Charlie won’t tell you what magic he performs to get them to that point(don’t blame him, it’s what keeps him in business).  I keep looking around for an adjustable trigger that will fit the 99m & M97 but so far my search has been fruitless.  If you find someone that can do the trigger work for you and can get him/her to tell what they do in detail PLEASE post it here so the rest of us can benefit from their expertise.  The Tech Force Model 25 from Compasseco, Inc. is already adjustable.  The one I bought I set to a nice 2 3/4 lbs..  There was still a little adjustment left but I was in a hurry and it felt so good I quit there.  As for the Diopter Peep Sight I don't remember ever seeing one on a sporting air rifle.  Usually found only on target/match rifles as far as I know.  Lawdog
 

[Mac11700]

Victorcharlie:

Yes...that is the site...same one that comes on the 97T

Lawdog...I don't know of anyone working on airrifles...I have never had the need to inquire otherwise...all of my time has been spent dealing with centerfires...but if I do find one...I will definatly post it...so far...the only thing I have found on trigger jobs( in my short time researching all of this ) is this site on tuning a RWS 54's trigger...and I don't know if it pertains to any of the other RWS or not...http://www.eddiecolwell.tzo.com/RWS-54.htm.... I'm sure you guys have  probably already seen this one...but if you haven't...maybe it will help someone who has one...who knows...


Lawdog...since the TF99 is a underlever...how does it compare to the other underlevers out on the market.....is it as smooth,is it easy to open and close?I haven't ruled these out just yet...they still look like a good buy...

I really appreciate everyones help on this...it is kind of mind boggling...

I have another question...well...several before I finnally pick one...Let's say...we rule out groundhogs and critters that size...and stick with bunnies and smaller...that being the case...is 50 yards doable with the right pellets from a .177...I know that's probably stretching it on rabbits...but there shouldn't be any problem with crows on down correct....Which leads me to my next question...if going to a .177 caliber....would staying below the 1000fps mark...say around 950 with the heavier pellets a better idea than trying for max speed with the lighter pellets?I mean since your getting close to sonic speeds...wouldn't the disturbance become a real factor for accuracy....or would they stabilize fast and retain good accuracy out at 40 yards+???

Last question for tonite...I promise :wink:

Which type of  spring action gives the best accuracy...side lever...bottom lever...break barrel.........

Again...I thank everyone who is helping here...

Mac

[victorcharlie]

My Tech Force 99 is a smooth cocking gun.  It's fairly easy to cock, and my 5'4" 110lb wife cocks it easily.  My neighbor's 11 year old boy cocks the gun, but had a little trouble at first.....he's got if figured out now and shoots it better than I do.  I was impressed by how "hard" the gun shoots.....several of my shooting buddies have shot the rifle......they all go "wooow, now that's an air rifle"!  I really send the pellet out there!
 
The 99 is a big rifle........full size, and 8lbs.......the bore on mine was packed with grease, so even if a store did let you shoot one, without a good cleaning I don't know that you could tell much about the accuracy.  I'm up close to 1000 pellets through mine and it's really starting to shoot.....I have read it takes several hundred shots before the gun "comes in".  This appears to be the case with mine.  I don't think the trigger is that bad on mine.......most of the creep is gone....I don't have a trigger pull gauge, but I'd guess it's in the 5 to 6 lb range......not great, but not real bad either........
 
I have a pond between the house and the barn.......the darn starlings and crackles that crap all over everything seem to stay 60 to 70 yards away on the edge of the pond........at that range, with the iron sights, shooting off sand bags at a coffee can, I can hit it about 2 out of 5 times.........at 40 yards, it's pretty much a sure thing.........long range shooter, the .177 isn't.....I've thought about a scope......I don't think at the ranges the guns accurate at a scope would help much........a starling is a lot smaller target than a coffee can..........
 
I had a .177 benjamin as a kid........bought the same gun in a .22 for my son.  The 22 is a much better killer.
 
I

[Lawdog]

Mac,

Lawdog...since the TF99 is a underlever...how does it compare to the other underlevers out on the market.....is it as smooth,is it easy to open and close?

Comparing my 99M to either my SLR 98 or Dual Magnum(both from Theoben) or my HW 97K(from Weihrauch) it cocks easier and is about as accurate as they are.  In fact the HW 97K is the rifle that the Tech Force is cloned from.  The 99M is more powerful and just as accurate although the trigger on the HW 97 is better.  These are the only underlevers I have to compare to the 99M.

I really appreciate everyones help on this...it is kind of mind boggling.

With all the different makes/models of air rifles on the market you just better believe it gets mind boggling.  Also makes it tough to choose.

Let's say...we rule out groundhogs and critters that size...and stick with bunnies and smaller...that being the case...is 50 yards doable with the right pellets from a .177...I know that's probably stretching it on rabbits...but there shouldn't be any problem with crows on down correct.

Although the .177 caliber starts out faster it looses it velocity much faster than the larger caliber pellets.  It is for this reason the .177 caliber rifles are not really suited for hunting.  Now 50 yards is doable but take into account that Crows can/are tough birds.  I would try very hard to get closer than 50 yards to kill Crows cleanly.  With the West Nile Virus running g rampant now a days I wouldn’t want to have birds flying off wounded to die in someone else’s yard.  Authorities are being called on all suspicious dead birds now.  Jack Rabbits are actually easier to kill in my opinion.  I have taken them at 50 plus yards(longest was at a measured 83 yards) with body shots.

Which leads me to my next question...if going to a .177 caliber....would staying below the 1000fps mark...say around 950 with the heavier pellets a better idea than trying for max speed with the lighter pellets?I mean since your getting close to sonic speeds...wouldn't the disturbance become a real factor for accuracy....or would they stabilize fast and retain good accuracy out at 40 yards+???

One thing to keep in mind, many manufactures do not recommend the use of lighter weight pellets in their higher velocity springer rifles no matter what the caliber.  It has to with damaging the rifle because of insufficient pellet resistant thus allowing the compression piston to slam into the breech which will damage the rifle.  Also the heavier weight pellets retain more energy than lighter weight pellets.  It is for these reasons most experienced air gun shooters/hunters recommend the use of heavier weight pellets

Which type of spring action gives the best accuracy...side lever...bottom lever...break barrel...

In my opinion the side or underlever rifles give the best accuracy.  Reason is the ridged, one piece barrel/compression chamber unit.  Break barrels allow the barrel to become loose at that critical point.  The only advantage I see with a break barrel cocker is the ease and speed of loading.  Just take a look at the springer match rifles that are used.  Side levers and underlevers are the norm.  The most accurate and the most powerful are of course the most expensive, PCP(PreCharged Pneumatic).

Ask all the questions you want.  Only way to learn as my Grandfather always told me.  Lawdog