16 replies to this topic

[Gully]

I fitted a Theoben Gas Ram on my BSA Lightning XL today. Bit of a nightmare - because of the obviously and understandably sensitive issues of taking air rifles apart there isn't much about it on any of these forums but as a competent engineer I didn't see why I couldn't do it myself.

Anyway, in my research as to whether this was a sensible £60 to spend on my air rifle rather than upgrading to a PCP (yes I accept they are better rifles but the whole charging thing leaves me cold) I found a lot of talk about noise, recoil etc so I thought I'd make it a bit scientific.

Noise:
pinched the Db meter from work and under controlled conditions:
2m from muzzle at 90 degrees shooting out of my kitchen door.
BSA Lightning XL Springer (factory): 84dB
BSA Lightning XL with Theoben Gas Ram - 81dB

I'lll post some groupings when its light.

[naddan28]

I fitted a Theoben Gas Ram on my BSA Lightning XL today. Bit of a nightmare - because of the obviously and understandably sensitive issues of taking air rifles apart there isn't much about it on any of these forums but as a competent engineer I didn't see why I couldn't do it myself.

Anyway, in my research as to whether this was a sensible £60 to spend on my air rifle rather than upgrading to a PCP (yes I accept they are better rifles but the whole charging thing leaves me cold) I found a lot of talk about noise, recoil etc so I thought I'd make it a bit scientific.

Noise:
pinched the Db meter from work and under controlled conditions:
2m from muzzle at 90 degrees shooting out of my kitchen door.
BSA Lightning XL Springer (factory): 84dB
BSA Lightning XL with Theoben Gas Ram - 81dB

I'lll post some groupings when its light.

Brilliant Gully, I am eagerly awaiting these posts as I am thinking of doing the same to my lightning as opposed to upgrading to a PCP.

[arnold]

Yes good one there, i will be theoben my hw80 soon as you know it cost around 120 for the strut for my rifle ive been using the hw80 more lately then my pcp

[njc110381]

I fitted one to my BSA Supersport. Amazing transformation, well worth the money

[naddan28]

Thanks guys, basically it needed respringing and has been a bit noisy etc. So i thought instead of paying £60-70 for a respring I might as well see whether I can get the gunsmith to fit a ram instead, shouldn't cost much more and are meant to be much better than springs.

[Gully]

Cost me £62 inc vat and delivery. Took about an hour to fit but most of that time was working out how to get it apart and making a tool to allow me to compress the spring and the gas ram to remove it. I made the tool from an old piece of tube that used to be a rail in a wardrobe. Drilled a 12mm hole through it and cut a slot, worked a treat using a normal vice to do the compression. Not really tested the accuracy yet as it was a bit blowy today but it feels and sounds much better.

[Gonna Shoot a Wabbit]

Hi Gully. look forward to your next post i also shoot a lightning and am considering the same upgrade. keep up the good work.

[12borejimbo]

me too, I have a bsa lightning and i thing the spring i knackered, so im going to get a gas ram fitted, i also want a thumb hole stock, any one know where i can get one from?

[bullet boy]

Well done.You'll find you can leave your rifle cocked much much longer with your Gas-Ram fitted, than a spring rifle, without doing any damage.

[bess]

me too, I have a bsa lightning and i thing the spring i knackered, so im going to get a gas ram fitted, i also want a thumb hole stock, any one know where i can get one from?

hi there
you can get a nice thumb hole from sheffield custom stocks just type it in to pc and it will come up

[chris64]

Hi gully fitting the gasram does it reduce the recoil or is it the same!.

[Gully]

I sold the rifle this post was about two years ago. If I remember the gasram made it more snappy rather than twangy.

[farmboy99]

i have a friends lightening with gas ram fitted and it is a very nice gun im going to fit a gas ram to my supersport at some stage ive got the ram just need to get round to the work! would be good if i could test the rams power now before installing it will be a right pain if its shooting well under and needs pumping up! also as far as im aware you can leave a gas ram cocked for as long as you like and it does no damage

[jackmanuk]

im looking to fir a gas ram to my supersport where can i get 1 from other than BAR ?

Thanks

[The Duncan]

I fitted one to my BSA Supersport. Amazing transformation, well worth the money

Funny - I did the exact same thing to my BSA Supersport and was completely underwhelmed.
I wouldn't have bothered if I had known the difference was going to be that slight
Much better off with the spring guide/top hat and tune treatment

Edited by The Duncan, 29 December 2010 - 09:11 PM.

[HoTsHoT-10]

im looking to fir a gas ram to my supersport where can i get 1 from other than BAR ?

Thanks

Try the Theoben site

[Alanl]

Hmm, most seem to say the gas-ram has improved the XL, I had the opposite. It absolutely ruined it. It made it kick like a mule when fired. Chrono'd was doing very slightly over 12ft/lbs, so disassembled again, and took out any washers/weights to get it legal, ended up at around 11 ft/lbs, but still awful to fire.

In the end I bought a spring kit from Venom, fitted that, reduced the spring length slightly, so it was doing 10 ft/lbs, and it was a lovely gun to fire. No twang, and not too much recoil. I dont think the Lightning XL is heavy enough to cope with the recoil at 12 ft/lbs, and a gas ram makes it far harsher than a spring.

Alan.