Gully Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnold Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I fitted one to my BSA Supersport. Amazing transformation, well worth the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Hi Gully. look forward to your next post i also shoot a lightning and am considering the same upgrade. keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted March 23, 2010 Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted March 23, 2010 Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bess Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris64 Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Hi gully fitting the gasram does it reduce the recoil or is it the same!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 I sold the rifle this post was about two years ago. If I remember the gasram made it more snappy rather than twangy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmboy99 Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackmanuk Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 im looking to fir a gas ram to my supersport where can i get 1 from other than BAR ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 (edited) 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 :yp: Edited December 29, 2010 by The Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoTsHoT-10 Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 im looking to fir a gas ram to my supersport where can i get 1 from other than BAR ? Thanks Try the Theoben site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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