 |
|
|
|
|
Protect Your Investment
You can pour as much money as you want into your marker, but without proper care it will not work at all. To keep your gun running at its' finest follow the tips below. Try to check what the other players are saying, experience is what sets the rookie apart from the professional.
Question:
Is there anything you should watch out for while cleaning your gun?"
Answer:
While cleaning watch out for foreign objects that interfere with your guns performance and be sure to clean away any foreign material like old dried paint or dirt and grit. Leaving the gun globbed with paint will destroy it and greatly decrease the markers life. Watch out for your pins and screws, losing one of those can put a damper on a good paintball day.
Question:
What do you think the most important thing is to remember while caring for your gun?
Answer:
Few rookies in paintball realize how important it is to keep the marker clean, don't make that mistake. The most important thing to remember while caring for your gun is to keep it clean and oiled. You should always oil it before each use and to clean both the bolt and the barrel afterwards.
Summary:
Oil your gun before you fire it, if you dry fire your gun you might end up breaking it permanently. To oil your gun you first need to purchase Marker oil like SLiP2000™ Marker Oil (some guns come with a small one time use packet). After you have chosen a marker and you have purchased it, take off your barrel and hopper. Then proceed to hold the gun with the barrel end facing downwards and put a few drops of oil into the Co2 threads (where your Co2 screws in). After this screw on your Co2 and fire a few shots. This will lubricate your gun and protect it from blowing o-rings constantly. If the gun leaks Co2, check the o-rings on the gun and most importantly, check the valve o-ring. This is the most common reason that a gun may leak Co2. This piece costs about 50 cents and can be replaced very easily. Also apply a very light coat of SLiP2000™ Marker Oil in the barrels of your markers. SLiP2000™ Marker Oil has a unique property about it that will penetrate the pores of the steel and help keep the paintball from sticking to the walls. This will help with cleanup also.
General Airgun Info: Maintenance
Airgun maintenance is a topic that many adult airgun users find
confusing. Do precision airguns require periodic upkeep? Sure the do,
but not in the same way as one would maintain a firearm. This is where
most folks often times get confused. While there are some obvious
similarities between the two, precision airguns are unrelated
mechanically to firearms from a general maintenance standpoint and bear
closer resemblance to automotive shock absorbers or pneumatic power
tools!
So precision airguns really do need regular care? Yes, like all fine
mechanical devises, precision airguns require routine maintenance to
perform at their very best. Fortunately, most modern airgun
manufacturers design their airgun lines to deliver top performance with
only minimal care. Just keep in mind that "moderation" is the key to
basic airgun maintenance, which includes everything from power plant and
pivot point lubrication to simple external surface care. Here are a few
tips on how you can keep your airgun in top shooting condition well into
the next century.
The Basic Approach:
As was previously noted, precision airguns are unrelated mechanically to
firearms. Therefore, most firearm lubricants are not recommended as they
can quickly ruin internal seals by promoting a violent diesel reaction
within the piston chamber. While spring-piston models do rely on a tiny
diesel effect to produce full power, sever dieseling must be avoided. To
ensure correct lubrication of your spring-piston airgun, SLIP 2000.com
conveniently offers products that are specifically formulated for this
purpose.
How, where and when to lubricate?
Well, first do a very thorough read of your gun's owners manual for
lubrication points such as the air transfer post. Once located, SLIP
2000™ Marker Oil and applicator needle are the other items you'll need
(most brands of non-petroleum based lubricants will work - however SLIP
2000™ Marker Oil is specifically designed for use with spring piston
airguns), Just one or two drops placed inside the chamber every few
hundred shots is usually all that is required. Alternatively, you can
apply SLiP2000™ Marker Oil directly on the main spring through the slot
on the underside of the compression chamber. (On some models the stock
must be removed first.) But with either method, fire a few dozen shots
afterwards to distribute lubricant evenly throughout the power plant And
always keep the gun unloaded and on safe whenever you do any form of
maintenance work.
Other important areas requiring periodic lubrication are pivot or hinge
points. Barrel break and side-cocking models are prime examples, needing
occasional applications of lubricant to prevent excessive wear and to
keep their joints moving freely. Apply SLiP2000™ Marker Oil in moderate
amounts to these areas. SLiP2000™ Marker Oil is also ideal for
preserving your precision airgun's exterior metal surfaces. It is
especially important when used in wet conditions or when stored for
extended periods. Regular applications will prevent the onset of
corrosion and keep your gun looking new. Rifle models should have their
actions and stocks separated at regular intervals so the metal beneath
can be treated as well.
Co2 Airgun Maintenance
Sophisticated Co2 powered replicas pistols are the latest additions to
the adult precision airgun lines. Designed to look, function and feel
like the real firearms, the new Co2 powered replica series copies the
famed Sig Sauer P225, Beretta 92FS, Colt 1911, Walther C-99, C-88 and
PPK as well as many other semiautomatic and revolver pistols. Most Co2
powered replica guns are powered by a single 12-gram Co2 cylinder
concealed in the grip frame. Their operation is also similar to domestic
models and consequently, require simple basic maintenance to ensure top
performance. Once again, carefully scrutinize your gun's owners manual
for the location of its seal and pivot points. Of particular importance
to a Co2 guns operation is regular lubrication of the cartridge piercing
assembly. (Usually located within the top half of the grip frame.) Apply
two drops of SLiP2000™ Marker Oil or non petroleum based lubricant every
250-500 shots on the small seal that surrounds the piercing needle. At
the same time, also lubricate the trigger, hammer, slide, safety lever
and piercing screw assemblies with SLiP2000™ Marker Oil. Given the
nonferrous outer construction of most new Co2 pistols, exterior
maintenance entails minimal surface cleaning with a mild degreaser,
while barrel cleaning can be efficiently accomplished by firing a
magazine of RWS or Beeman .177 caliber felt pellets (it can also be a
lot of fun). As always, lubricate your Co2 pistol in a manner consistent
with our spring-piston models and strictly follow all safe gun handling
protocols.
General Cleaning And Adjustments:
Given the degree of handling, a true "working" airgun will receive over
the years, any exposed steel surface is fair game for the onset of
corrosion, after every use, it's always a good idea to wipe-down the
action with a silicon-treated gun cloth or mild degreaser SLIP 2000
Marker Cleaner. Then follow-up with the aforementioned SLiP2000™ Marker
Oil as a finish preservative. The same goes for your valued precision
airgun's hardwood stock, as it too is subject to the stresses of regular
handling and outside elements. Similar to preserving fine wood
furniture, a rifle stock or pistol grip can be treated with like
products including, wood cleaners, conditioning oils, and polishes. Just
remember that the key to maintaining any wood surface is to keep the
timber well sealed against elements. The inlaid portion of hardwood
rifle stocks should also be treated at regular intervals.
Another frequently often overlooked airgun maintenance chore is barrel
cleaning. With respect to spring-piston models, each time the gun is
fired, a small amount of internal lubricant is also expelled from the
power plant. Over the course of several hundreds of shots, there can be
excess oil buildup in your airgun's barrel, along with lead, dust and
other materials that are present at the time. The net result is loss of
accuracy, which may be subtle in some cases or quite severe in others.
In such instances, a thorough cleaning of the bore with SLiP2000™ Marker
Cleaner will completely restore lost accuracy. Of course, there is a
wrong and right way of cleaning a precision airgun barrel. First and
foremost, always make absolutely certain that the gun in question is
unloaded. This may be done by using a small flashlight to inspect for
any possible obstructions in the loading system, breech and barrel. Once
cleared, begin the process by cleaning in the direction of projectile
travel (i.e. from breech to muzzle), to prevent any chance of damaging
the muzzle crown. With break-barrel models, the standard RWS Three Piece
177 and .22 caliber Cleaning Kit or the RWS Shooters Kit does the job
in minutes. Start with the included nylon brush dipped in SLIP 2000
Marker Cleaner which is a mild degreaser to loosen built-up fouling,
then finish with several cloth patches or Felt Cleaning Pellets. For
more awkward to clean guns such as side and under lever models, it's
recommended that you use the flexible Breechway cleaning system in
combination with cloth patches or felt pellets. Like all airgun-related
maintenance work, never use any harsh firearm solvents as they can
seriously damage precision airgun seals. A final pass with a cloth patch
lightly treated with SLiP2000™ Marker Oil completes the bore cleaning
process.
A phenomenon unique to many high power spring piston airguns is the
loosening of stock bolts due to vibration. When this happens, the gun
will typically exhibit a loss of accuracy as well as additional
harshness in its firing cycle. Regular inspection of all mounting
fixtures, including action, accessory, sight and scope mount screws will
usually prevent such problems before they start. Check screws for
tightness every thousand shots or after using up two 500-count tins of
pellets. Should a loose screw be discovered, thoroughly clean both the
male and female threads of dirt and oil, then apply a small drop of mild
locking compound and retighten. For best results, use appropriate size
gun smithing tools to tighten all mounting screws to an equal level of
tension.
Other basic maintenance checks that can be performed by the owner
include regular inspection of external seals such as those in
spring-piston and Co2 guns. Initial visual inspection involves looking
for outward signs of obvious damage, nicks, deformation and so on. To
verify actual seal integrity in spring-piston models; cock, load and
fire the gun in a safe direction, while cupping your free hand over the
breech area. Any felt air on the palm will usually mean that your gun is
now due for a replacement seal. On the other hand, Co2 pistols can be
checked by simply charging the unloaded gun (according to manufactures
instructions) and carefully listening for any telltale leakage. Often
times, oiling the piercing assembly seal will stop minor gas leaks.
However, in most all cases, replacement of spring-piston or Co2 gun
seals is a simple, "owner-friendly" operation!
A final work on basic precision airgun maintenance involves inspection
and adjustment of trigger assemblies. Especially important with respect
to safety, periodic inspection of trigger function is time well spent.
If your gun fails to cock or fires prematurely (i.e. without
deliberately pulling the trigger), then is should not be used again
until the problem has been corrected. In most instances, the trigger may
only require a simple adjustment which means following the
manufacturer's adjustment instructions to the letter! Conversely, should
the trigger fail even once after the maximum adjustment level is
reached, it is time to turn the gun over to a professional. Normal
adjustments can usually be done safely by the owner. Follow any and all
manufacturer instructions precisely.
|
|
|
|
