Volvo’s Tech Force TF2079 CO2 Rifle Part 1

World-renowned and all-around good guy, Volvo, kindly gave me an air rifle recently.  A CO2 rifle he'd tried but apparently never really bonded with.  It had developed a leak and he figured I was the guy to fix it give it a new home.    

It's a Tech Force branded rifle.  Volvo purchased it several years ago from (now retired) "Rich from Mich".  Rich tuned and sold airguns as well as made custom machined accessories.  

This particular rifle is difficult for me to find a specific model name.  The rifle has been sold in a dizzying array of possible stock, sight and CO2 source configurations under at least three brand names--QB, Tech Force (Industry Brand), and now Beeman-- and in both .177 and .22 caliber.  With five or six different stock options, sporting or diopter target sights and a couple different triggers, there have been a multitude of model numbers.  The base gun is an almost identical copy of the Crosman 160/167 that was made from 1962 until 1971.  The base gun utilizes two 12g CO2 cartridges.  Options to pressurize include dual 12g CO2 cartridges,  bulk-fill CO2, CO2 paintball tanks and now high-pressure air.

Volvo's rifle is an interesting combination of features:   a match style target stock, .22 caliber, paintball tank compatible and a custom Rich from Mich shroud/suppressor.   As I attempt to navigate the various model names, I THINK that makes this gun similar to the current Beeman AR2079-- but with the suppressor instead of the target sights.   However, the gas tube is laser marked TF78, so maybe it was a custom assembly to meet Volvo's spec.   

Regardless of the model, he had this set up as a quiet pesting rifle that would get hundreds of shots from a paintball tank.

The base model gun is used as a modular platform to build whatever you want.   I've got a couple several set up at different ends of the spectrum that have all been covered here in the blog. One as a 10-meter style, bulk fill, match gun in .22 caliber.  The second, as a bulk-fill .25 cal scoped precision-rifle style build.

Ok, yes, there's a third--also have an old Crosman 160.   Anyway, there's a reason some shooters flock to this rifle platform and often build half a dozen different iterations.   

Some additional pics and some likely modifications:

The stock nut takes a special wrench that I can never find.  A hex head fastener would be so much easier for me.

Probably want to change the bolt to something not gold.

Swap the phillips to hex heads and make some screw cups.

Volvo's version of the rifle has a drop block with a CGA320 female thread.  The drop block offsets and allows a paintball tank to clear the barrel.  The CGA320 is a standardized gas connection designation that includes the thread size (1/2-14 British Pipe Straight), the counterbore dimension for the tank's o-ring seal and the pin to depress and open the tank valve.   I really like this feature.   Hundreds of shots with a paintball tank.  Hundreds.

Wondered if the moderator was permanently bonded to the barrel?

Closer examination.  The black finish of the moderator looks like a vinyl wrap decal.

The two small holes conceal set screws underneath that secure the moderator to the barrel.

Volvo's set up is pretty close to my vision for the rifle.  Handy with lots-o-shots.  

I'm at the fun part of the project. Going through boxes of squirreled away airgun widgets and gizmos trying to see which combination stands apart.   We'll see what shakes out.  

More in a few days.

Vacation Airguns Part 2

Nothing much, just a few additional airgun pics from the Pennsylvania trip.

Still wanted to shoot the B26-2 a bit more.   I've mentioned that it fits me like it's been tailored?  

Of course, I brought the Crosman 2260AR project gun for my wife.  She loves the light weight and easy accuracy.  Yeah, I probably shot it 2X as much as she did.  

MFT stock on a modified mil-spec buffer tube.

P-Rod forearm modified to fit.

Vaguely recall making this stainless steel safety.  There's a two stage Crosman trigger in there.

The bead blasted grips and forearm.

Love/Hate relationship with the scope?  It's an older model NCSTAR fixed 4X.  It's their copy of the Colt carry handle scope.  Removed and threw that mount away and got these 35mm(?) rings.  

Love that the scope hold zero and the bullet drop compensator is actually useful.   Hate that there's no quick adjustable objective--though it will focus on the rear eyepiece with some fiddling.

Guess it's more of a Love/Meh 

And the Marksman 56 got some additional pellets down the bore.  

 

Hope to tear down a bulk-fill rifle very kindly given to me by Volvo a couple months ago.  I've been thinking about how I'd like to set it up and what kind of rolls it can fulfill.   Spent the last few evenings getting all the various accessories together and thinking about all the options and possibilities.  

More in a couple days.   

Vacation Airguns and Impressions From the Crosman 1322

Probably a pneumatic first--at least for me.  I brought the 1322 on our trip to the Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania.   I can't remember bringing a multi-pump pneumatic along on one of our vacations before this.  Our trips usually have a similar theme; cabin in the middle of nowhere, hiking, lunch out on the trail then back to the cabin for some airguns and a good meal.  Hiking plans, weather forecasts, and proximity to other properties always factor into which and how many airguns make the trip.  This time around, we'd stayed at this cabin several years ago and knew it was ideal for shooting. 

The red dot was a useful addition.  The silhouette targets we bring get hard to find in the evening light, making iron sights practically useless.  

The Adco red dot is nice and round with no flares.   The short, almost stubby steel bolt handle seems just right to cock the hammer.

If you squint, or if I took better pics, there's an adjustable trigger stop at the rear of the trigger guard.

Two hex screws to remove the red dot.  I'm tempted now to remove it then see if it returns to zero.   My gut says it will.

For me, the conversion to .22 made this a lot more fun to shoot.  Bigger pellets are easier to manipulate and load into the trough.   

This 1322 has one other interesting feature to reveal.  

There's no trigger spring.  

Instead, I installed two small rare earth magnets.  One on the base for the conventional spring and the other was bonded to the bottom of the sear.  The magnetic poles face and repel each other.  In practice, it feels  frictionless. 

Tried this sorcery several years ago and I'd all but forgotten to show it.

Hope to show a couple of the other guns I got to spend some time with.  

While I don't expect to take any deep dives into multi-stroke Crosman 1377/22 madness with flat-top pistons, swept volume, dead space, etc...this pistol is very satisfying to shoot.

More soon.

Making a Set-Back Trigger and Trigger Guard for the Belgian Hy-Score 801 Part 2 Final

Been working away on the Hy-Score 801 trigger and guard since that last blog post.  The blogs make this stuff look like it happens in an evening.  The reality is a bit more mundane, especially when I'm working on something out of my element.  I had mentioned to co-blogger, Nick, that I had no idea how to form the guard--aside from clamping it in the vise and smacking it with a hammer.  After my experience over the past week, nothing has really changed.

So, why again am I doing this to a 70+ year-old air rifle?  Because the trigger is difficult to reach and seriously detracts from an otherwise wonderful air rifle.  

Cut two of these strips of from 0.125" thick cold rolled steel.  

Compared to the original stamped steel trigger guard, it's substantially thicker.

Didn't like the surface finish and didn't want to sand it for an hour, so I dusted the faces on a surface grinder at work.

At least it'll be shiny. 

Clamped with some aluminum in the vise jaws to protect the finish.

Assumed this might help.   I was wrong.  

Nice. Now the steel was both sharp AND hot. 

Nevertheless...

Version 1 was dead simple and provided me with the basic clearances for the set-back trigger to function.

Couple evenings later, I tried bending a second trigger guard--minus the heat.  

Tried for a bit more curve. 

More abrupt at the front than I wanted, but I think it better fits the svelte lines of the stock. 

Both guards went to the milling machine to drill the mounting holes.

Not shown--chamfered the holes on the outer side.

Roughed the curves into the ends on the bench grinder then filed and sanded.

Versions 1 and 2

I suppose that either guard would actually be fine for a 70+ year old rifle.  

Ver. 1 test fit:

Hmmmm...  it's actually not that bad.  

Test fitting Ver. 2

Think the lines of #2 are a better match to the rifle.

Going to finish both guards.  More filing, sanding and polishing.    Most of the time was spent rounding off the bottom edge.

Then it was time for some cold blue.

Not quite dark enough and a bit too blue with the Oxpho.  Some G96 will do the trick.   By itself, G96 will turn the steel black with virtually no blue.  On top of the Oxpho, it'll darken but leave the hint of gun blue and gloss.

With guards done,  went back to the trigger for final clean up and polish

Decided to make a new trigger pivot bushing and cross pin.  In for a penny...

New trigger bushing is on the right.

The old bushing was showing its age.

This is the old cross pin.  Anchors the end cap in place on the spring tube.    

The new cross pin from tool steel.

Blued the ends where it'll be visible.

Some color for Mister Set-Back 

Assembled the trigger to the end cap with the new bushing.

Sized a new trigger return spring.  Moly grease on all the moving surfaces and put it all back together with the new cross pin.

Let's back up for a second.  This is the original trigger and trigger guard.

Functional if you wear XXXL gloves.

And finally, the replacement(s) for normal fingers.

Cleaned up and refinished the old stock mounting hardware.  

About 100 shots later, the set-back trigger is a home run.  Trigger is now comfortable to reach and slightly smoother in pull than the original trigger blade.  And I'm very pleased with the way the trigger and guard fit with the aesthetic of the little Belgian rifle.  

I should probably also mention that all this work can be completely undone and swapped back to the original parts in about 10 minutes if so required.

I've no idea what's up next.  That new-to-me rifle from Volvo is close to the top of the pile, but I'm not quite there yet.  I came up with a quick list of airgun projects and it was pretty long.  A walnut Dennis Quackenbush stock to fit and finish for my Crosman 160, Wood grips (and new trigger?) for a Gamo Center underlever pistol, a .25 Crosman barrel/breech,  maybe an update on the Remington Summit in the NP2 stock, an air stripper...

Appreciate everyone checking in.