What is the purpose of the upgrade?
Modernization or upgrade of weapons is carried out to increase the power of the shot. Air rifles operating on a spring-piston mechanism are reliable and easy to use. True, the power of such pneumatics is low. For example, the speed of a 4.5 mm caliber bullet leaving the barrel is only 100-150 m/s, and the muzzle energy rarely exceeds 7.5 J.
Of course, with such indicators it is foolish to count on great penetrating power. The bullet will be able to penetrate a sheet of cardboard, but will get stuck in a wooden board.
By upgrading some parts it will be possible to slightly increase the power of the shot. First you need to understand the structure of rifles that operate on a spring. The spring-piston mechanism is located inside the butt. At the moment of firing, the spring and piston compress the air, increasing its pressure, the air flow moves from the pneumatic chamber into the barrel and pushes the bullet out. In order to increase the firing power of pneumatic guns, it is necessary to replace or change parts that affect the speed of the projectile.
Important! Owners of spring-piston pneumatics should know that it will not be possible to significantly increase the power of a shot. The force pushing a bullet out of the barrel depends on the volume of the pneumatic chamber, the stiffness of the spring and the work of the piston. All these parts have standard factory dimensions. Any change will disrupt the coordinated operation of the design mechanisms.
Required Tools
To strengthen your air rifle, it is recommended to prepare everything properly in advance. For example, you need to acquire high-quality tools for fine work, which will allow you to make some changes in the barrel channel of the air gun. We strongly do not recommend using various “alternative” options. Otherwise, you risk damaging the weapon. Here are just the basic tools you will need to strengthen:
- high-quality blade for a hacksaw for metal (preferably new);
- electric drill with small carbon steel drill bits;
- a set of needle files - files necessary for processing the barrel.
Before you begin the strengthening process, be sure to make sure that you have all the necessary tools on hand. Otherwise, you will have to constantly be distracted from your work, looking for missing elements. Also, take care in advance about the place where the modification will be carried out. It must be clean, dry and protected from strong winds. The ideal option would be a workbench on which you can fix the weapon.
How to improve an air rifle
Low-power spring-piston pneumatics can be strengthened in several ways. To increase the power of the rifle, you need to modify several parts of the spring-piston mechanism. During the remodeling process, it is recommended to follow safety precautions.
Trunk trimming
Before you start remodeling, you need to understand the principle of operation of spring-piston pneumatics. In this model, the bullet is pushed out of the barrel by compressed air. The air flow is compressed under the action of a spring and a piston. The air pressure is so strong that the bullet overcomes friction and moves along the barrel towards the exit. The air flow moves it outward.
A barrel that is too long can slow down the bullet's movement. After all, the force of friction will not disappear anywhere. In order to increase the power of the shot, the barrel can be shortened slightly. It is better to cut a metal tube with a hacksaw.
Spring replacement
You can change the spring of a pneumatic spring-piston system. After all, the strength of the shot depends on its power. The new spring may be several turns longer than the original. The main thing is that it fits in the cylinder in a compressed state.
It is better to take a powerful spring from other rifles, for example, from MP-38, MP-145, MP-512, MP-137.
It is recommended to replace this part very carefully. There is a possibility that the cocking lever or rammer will break. However, the goal justifies the risk: a reinforced spring will increase the bullet's ejection speed to 180 m/s.
Weighted bullets
For shooting from air rifles, 4.5 mm or 5.5 mm caliber shells are mainly used. Such bullets have weak penetrating force and low weight. To increase the power of the shot, you can try making the projectiles heavier. The easiest way to do this is with silicone lubricant (for example, Mannol spray).
First, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the bullets from factory debris and grease (sprinkle them on gauze). Cleaned projectiles should be sprayed with silicone aerosol. It is advisable to place bullets weighted with silicone in a box and shake it well. Before use, it is recommended to dry the projectiles on a sheet of paper.
Some craftsmen insert a 4.5 mm caliber steel ball into the “skirt” of the JSB Diabolo Exact King 6.35 lead bullet. The weighted projectile can be inserted into the rifle magazine without any problems. True, the power of the shot after such modification, on the contrary, decreases. A heavy bullet does not always show good results.
It’s easier to immediately buy heavier shells and try shooting with them. There are special weighted (sub-caliber) bullets on sale (for example, from SherShen) with a rubber jacket and a brass tip. Such projectiles have a higher initial speed and pierce right through even a wooden board.
High-quality lubricant
You can achieve a stronger shot using regular lubricant. To do this, you need to insert the bullet into the chamber and lubricate its bottom with gun or machine oil. It is better to apply lubricant to the projectile using a syringe.
To increase the speed of the bullet, it is recommended to clean the barrel after every thousand shots. Over time, it becomes contaminated with lead residues that remain in the grooves of the threaded tube. Special cleaning products are sold to clean lead flakes. It is not recommended to use available substances (acetone, gasoline). An incorrectly selected cleaning agent can worsen the condition of the barrel.
Replacing fasteners
Before using the weapon, it is recommended to disassemble the structure, check the attachment points of the parts and tighten all the screws more firmly. Air rifle manufacturers are generally responsible for the quality of their models. If the weapon was disassembled and modernized to increase the power of the shot, then breakdowns are possible during operation. If any part of the structure is broken, then you need to replace it with a new one (factory one). It is unlikely that you will be able to make a broken mount yourself. For this you need a lathe.
Upgrade MP 512
The spring can be replaced with a version from IZH-38 (wire thickness 2.9 mm, 38-39 turns) with 9-10 turns cut off). Such a spring will improve control, equalize inertia, trajectory, shooting accuracy and reduce rebound.
The recoil spring is the heart of the operation of a semi-automatic pistol. It doesn't matter what operation is used; gas pistols, blowback pistols and short recoil pistols all depend on the recoil spring. The most primitive version of how a rifle (or any type of semi-automatic firearm) works is that when a bullet is fired, the firing creates a force that propels the action - be it a bolt or a bolt - by pushing out the expended housing and compressing the recoil spring.
Said spring decompresses, driving the bolt/bolt forward, loading the next round, and returning the firearm to battery or fully closed. At this point he is ready to shoot again. Of course, this is a gross over-generalization, but the point is that without the return spring, the second half of the operation cannot take place. As a result, the recoil spring is essentially the heart of how any gun works.
Besides these features, there are a few things you should know about recoil springs. Of course, they are an integral part of how a firearm operates, but what you should know about them is that they are actually designed to specific tolerances and, in particular, the spring rate. Spring rate is the amount of weight required to compress the spring one inch, measured in pounds per inch. For example, an automobile spring may have a spring rating of 200 psi. Why is it important? The higher the spring speed, the more force is required to compress the spring, meaning that the action is not repeated until completion. The spring rate is too low, the spring will compress too easily and the timing will be off - meaning the gun will take longer to return to battery after firing. Muzzle rise increases with a softer spring rate, meaning it takes longer to return to target and therefore subsequent shots take longer.
A stiffer spring is a good idea if you're going to be shooting heavier loads (like plus P ammo) at any frequency. If you'll be shooting low-recoil loads more often, a lighter spring may be better. Typical factory springs are jacks of all trades. Most rounds will cycle, but they may not work as well as low or high power rounds. If you frequently shoot reduced recoil or high-power loads, you may want to consider switching to a lower or higher spring depending on the situation.
How to calculate a spring:
N = (92+Lcm)*0.85/Dwire, where:
- N is the number of coils of the spring that should be left;
- 92 — depth of groove in the piston for the spring, mm (average, measured at the edges);
- Lкм - depth of the groove in the KSM for the spring, mm (initially 17-18mm);
- 0.85 - average coefficient for the interturn distance (the spring cannot be fully compressed);
- Dwire - the thickness of the wire of a particular spring.
It is important to calculate the formula correctly so that everything works as it should. Even a small mistake will cause a mixed center of gravity and violate the principles of operation and modification of the rifle. Any mechanism is improved to make it as convenient to work with as possible, and not just for show and boasting. There is nothing worse for a weapon (especially a hunting weapon) than an incorrectly calibrated center of gravity.
Precautionary measures
According to the law, any modification of a spring-loaded airgun is considered illegal. After all, in the process of modernization you can significantly increase the power of the rifle. If the muzzle energy exceeds 7.5 J, the weapon will become a licensed pneumatic model. It is impossible to buy such pneumatics without special permission.
If law enforcement officials find an unlicensed weapon during a search, you may receive an administrative penalty and a large fine. If you cause an injury from a pneumatic gun, you may be punished with imprisonment for up to 2 years.
There are rules for using modernized pneumatics. When shooting from a more powerful spring-loaded air rifle, it is recommended that you follow safety precautions. You cannot aim at a person’s eyes or temple. Shooting is only allowed at cardboard targets, boards or cans.
The modification of air guns in itself is a dangerous procedure. If you install a spring that is too powerful, you can break the spring-piston mechanism. If you use the wrong cartridge, the barrel may break. It is advisable not to change anything in the factory design of the air rifle.
Reactivate your weapon
Before strengthening the air with your own hands, it is necessary to re-preserve the weapon. This procedure involves removing the factory grease, which can be found in large quantities on a newly purchased rifle. To be fair, it is worth noting that re-preservation should also be carried out for used air vehicles. Before sawing the trunk, be sure to make sure that there is no oil left in it.
To remove grease, it is best to use a cleaning rod and a rag soaked in a solvent or a special compound, which can be purchased at a gun store (quite expensive, but the most preferable option). However, watch the intensity of your movements. Careless actions can scratch the barrel, causing the weapon to fire inaccurately. That is why it is highly not recommended to use folding cleaning rods.
Method #3: Weighted Bullets
To increase air, some gunsmiths recommend using weighted bullets. Such ammunition increases not only the flight range, but also the penetrating ability of the weapon. Bullets with a flat surface are suitable for the MP-512. Their weight is approximately 15% more than that of standard herringbones, so the penetration power will also be higher. But do not forget that the cost of such cartridges leaves much to be desired.
We also draw the attention of readers to the fact that such ammunition is not suitable for hunting, since it does not pierce the flesh of game, but only leaves bruises on it. Flat bullets are often used for zeroing optical sights, as they help determine the area of impact of a ballistic projectile with maximum accuracy. Although if the shooter’s goal is to shoot at cans or bottles, then there is not much difference in the tip of the ammunition.
Method number 5: replacing fasteners
Have you ever felt the air escaping when firing an air rifle? Typically, a light breeze can be felt on the shooter's right cheek or neck. This is due to poor attachment of the breech to the body. Due to the bolt not being long enough, some of the air is not sent into the barrel channel in order to push the bullet out at a higher speed, but simply flies out through the holes in the body.
Therefore, to strengthen the air, it will be enough to unscrew the old breech bolts, and then use a drill to make a new hole (slightly deeper). Then you need to use a needle file to cut new grooves for the fasteners. The finished hole should be approximately 2 millimeters deeper than the old one. Carefully tighten the new bolt, using special rubber washers to seal it.
Types of rifles for reinforcement
Have you decided to install a reinforced spring on the air intake? Then you should understand that not all types of pneumatics can be easily reinforced. Therefore, before making any modification, be sure to read this information:
- rifles with a gas mechanism - as a rule, cannot be strengthened;
- rifles with a spring mechanism - can be easily modified.
Although such statements are relevant only if the strengthening involves replacing the shock-spring mechanism. If you decide to use weighted ammo, then that's a completely different story.
