Air pistols and revolvers are like any other firearm, they have to be
regularly maintained and correctly operated. Cleaning and oiling them is
a given and should be done as per the manufacturer's instructions.
Always use the correct oils for metal, plastic, composite materials and
silicone seals as per the manufacturer's instructions and failing any
instruction, contact the dealer who supplied the weapon for advice.
Please read my articles on my air weapons which should provide you with
a better understanding of my cleaning and oiling routines.
This article is relative to my own findings of common faults with CO2
gas air weapons BUT may not pertain to faults with your own
weapons.
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Air Pistols & Revolvers - Pellets Jamming
the Firing Mechanism
A pellet jam in a revolver is a very rare event but it can happen. The
most common causes of a jam of a pellet in a firing mechanism invariable
applies to semi-automatic pistols, especially those with a blowback
slide action during rapid fire.
Causes: Setting aside fair wear and tear in the magazine and the
loading mechanics, the
most common cause is that the user tends to attempt to glean as much gas
out of the CO2 capsule whereby there is a sharp power and velocity loss
and the pellet is jammed against the loading section of the barrel. If a
Umarex CO2 capsule, especially when used with a Umarex blowback slide action pistol, can deliver
an expected 60 shots with a certain weight of pellet, then seriously consider replacing the CO2 capsule with a new
one at around 50 shots and try and avoid mixing non branded CO2 capsules. It may seem a waste but a pellet jam could mean
the gun has to go back to the dealer or manufacturer to be disassembled
or is too expensive to repair.
Pellet jams can also be caused by failing to maintain the gun properly
by cleaning and oiling it. Revolvers are relatively easy to maintain as
well as fixed slide pistols. Blowback slide pistols (some) can be field
stripped to achieve cleaning and oiling of the slide and slide rail. The correct oils must be used as CO2 air weapons have silicone
seals, metal to metal moving parts and in some cases, some plastic and
composite bodies.
If
in doubt request assistance from a reputable dealer, who supplied the
weapon.
Alloy pellets, especially 5.6gr pointed ones are prone to jamming in
semi-automatic pistols, especially those with a blowback slide action.
They never pose a problem in revolvers (Umarex Colts Tested) and are
extremely accurate in Umarex Colts with tremendous velocity. I now only
use RWS Match 10 Premium Line Kal 4.50mm 7.0gr .177 pellets in my
blowback slide action pistols.
Oiled magazine mechanisms, especially oil on the rotation loading
mechanism can jump or jam pellets, especially during rapid fire. Walther advise that if you are using a Walther OIL
Maintenance CO2 Gas Capsule, you remove the magazine first. Once you
have cleaned and oiled your air weapon and then when inserting a magazine, especially a plastic one, remove it again
and make sure that any trace of oil from the internals of the gun are
wiped down, especially the rotating section of the magazine where the pellets are
housed. You may have to do this a few times to dispel any excess oil
before firing the gun.
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Air Weapon - Main CO2 Seal Failing
The
most common fault is when this seal fails to seal 100% when the CO2
capsule is inserted and tightened up against it. It
can cause the escape of CO2 gas at the seal and/or a lack of velocity
when the weapon is fired. This pertains to pistols and revolvers.
Causes: Setting aside fair wear and tear, the most common cause
is that CO2 capsules have been screwed up too tightly against the seal,
whereby it has become weakened.
Another cause, is that the CO2 capsules used have repeatedly
been fitted and screwed up into the seal without any lubrication on the
CO2 capsule nozzle, which lubricates any friction and keeps the seal
wet and preventing it from drying out. Ideally, you should pop a small
drop of Crosman Pellgun Oil on the nozzle of the CO2 capsule before
inserting it vertically in the butt of the gun and screwing it home
until you hear the hiss stop (do not overtighten).
Another cause, is that the gun has been stored for a long period of time without any lubrication being applied to the gun's
CO2 seal in the butt. Best to store with the magazine and CO2 capsule
removed and Crosman Pellgun Oil is the ideal lubricant for oiling the
seal when storing the weapon.
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Air Weapons - Internal Seals in the Firing Mechanism Failing
The most common sign of a fault is when the weapon begins to lose its
power and velocity; it is often first noticed when pellets
show a marked sign in
drop off pertaining to accuracy and target penetration.
Causes: Setting aside fair wear and tear, no lubrication has been fired through the firing
mechanism. Crosman Pellgun Oil is ideal for preventing this problem by
adding it to the nozzle of a CO2 gas capsule.
The air weapon
manufacturer Umarex, takes lubrication of the internal seals a stage further by advising that a Walther
OIL Maintenance CO2 Gas Capsule is regularly used to lubricate their air
pistols and revolvers - usually after 10 x CO2 capsules are used to fire
the gun. Walther advise that if you are using a Walther OIL Maintenance
CO2 Gas Capsule, you remove the magazine first, which I do with my
semi-automatic air pistols. In the case of my Umarex Colt Peacemaker
Revolver, I leave my empty Umarex shell cases in the gun as each has a seal in
its rear. I rotate my 30 x shells as I fire the Walther OIL CO2 Capsule.
When firing a Walther CO2 Maintenance OIL Capsule, turn the gun upside
down to allow the oil in the CO2 capsule to fall towards the nozzle end
and then fire the gun in that position with the barrel pointing at a
slight angle downwards.
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