Will a hw100 get damaged if i leave it unused for a long time

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gtom.rm

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I shoot rarely, I leave the hw100 unused for long periods of time. The last time I shot mine was in July and It's been inside the case since then.

Is there a risk of it getting damaged ? Or anything leaking?. How should I store it if I use it that less. Should I keep it filled up with air at all times
 
The perceived wisdom is to not leave them fully charged (200bar) for any length of time as it tends to put a strain on the seals.

Also, it is recommended that a couple of dry shots are done every week just to keep the regulator, etc, happy.

However.... I took an (unregged) Air Arms S400 out to play recently.
It hadn't been touched for about 10 months and had been stored with 170 bar in it.
It still had 170 bar, and it was still spot-on accurate from the first shot. (y)
 
It should be fine. Keep 100 bar or so in it. This will help the seals. Do not empty it as this will not help the seals. Make sure it's completely dry if keeping it cased or moisture will do it's worst.
 
Left mine for almost 6 months while I was away, somewhere just under 200 bar. Absolutely fine, first shot was right on the money, no issues at all.

I think the bigger issue with long term storage is humidity and temperature changes. Kept mine in a gun cabinet in the house with a corrosion inhibitor. Normal maintenance will keep the seals good.
 
gtom.rm said:
I shoot rarely, I leave the hw100 unused for long periods of time. The last time I shot mine was in July and It's been inside the case since then.

Is there a risk of it getting damaged ? Or anything leaking?. How should I store it if I use it that less. Should I keep it filled up with air at all times
Click to expand...
Don't leave it unused it could potentially blow up as the pressure fluctuates from the temperature

I'll do you a favour and look after it
 
Mine's always been fine after long periods of not being used. If it's in good condition when you last used it, there's very little likelihood of any problems arising.
 
tinkererer said:
Don't leave it unused it could potentially blow up as the pressure fluctuates from the temperature

I'll do you a favour and look after it
Click to expand...
Hi, sorry but I have to call you out on this one.

I’ve never heard of a pcp rifle or divers bottle exploding while stored from room temperature fluctuations.

I think this is bad and unfounded advice. Unless you can provide strong evidence to the contrary?
 
I know of guns been left under the bed for years and still worked.

With a pcp, regular use is best. It shouldn't do any harm leaving for long periods unused.

As with all things rubber, seals deteriorate over time. Using the rifle regularly seems to delay this.

Storing at lower pressures may help also.

A wipe over with an oily rag before storage will help keep rust at bay.
 
I put mine away 14 months ago, fully charged, and took it out of the cabinet recently and it still has 200bar in it. It might be down to 'luck of the draw', but I can't see a problem as long as it has some pressure in it to keep the seals honest.
 
As already stated, I've left my HW100 In storage for many months before, and when I finally did shoot It again everything was still fine with no issues whatsoever.
 
I left mine under the bed for about two years and afterwards it would hold 100bar fine but no more. It was just the cylinder seals - cheap & easy, fixed in no time.
 
While a tank like the HW100 is sturdy, it's wise to keep the pressure near the regulated set point. O-rings generally last 3-5 years and can deteriorate more quickly at full pressure. For metal components, Ballistol is ideal for maintenance.
 
Mine split an o ring in the reg after sitting for 18 month but that's more bad luck I reckon that anything else. I will say it was less than 3 years old when that happened.
 
Now I’ve only got a wood burner to heat my house, through choice, get all my wood free so keeps life simple n cheap, through the spring,summer, autumn the fairer weather all my rifles are kept in an oak and glass locked cabinet, come the cold winter because my house is only heated when I’m home from work I take all the rifles and leave them in their snug fleecy gun bags.. obviously they get used over winter but I just don’t want them sitting all day in a cold cabinet all day then to be hit with the heat of a wood burner..

Hot cold creating condensation and aghhhh rust perhaps, even though there always well oiled..

Hate hiding them for 3 or 4 winter months but just think they’ll maintain a more steady temperature in their bags!

What say chaps..? Am I being a fanny 😀 the house is very cold for the majority then waffing hot..

Opinions welcome..👊
 
Sharpsman said:
I just use mine , hot - cold - dry - wet just get them used they aren't made from china cups .
Click to expand...
I use them too in varied weathers only hunting, but they didn’t grow on trees! (Well bits of them did) and I worked long and hard to pay for them too, I do wanna look after them to the best I can, they’re a lot of moneys worth, I had to buy 2nd hand all those years ago as a teen, now at 52 my rifles are 1 owner and very proud of them.. I can dig the just use them, I do..
But I’ll still be using these same rifles in 20 years from now, only half the pleasure comes from using them, the other half from keeping them nice..✔️
👊
We’re all different though bro..
 
wookienookie.wakeford said:
Now I’ve only got a wood burner to heat my house, through choice, get all my wood free so keeps life simple n cheap, through the spring,summer, autumn the fairer weather all my rifles are kept in an oak and glass locked cabinet, come the cold winter because my house is only heated when I’m home from work I take all the rifles and leave them in their snug fleecy gun bags.. obviously they get used over winter but I just don’t want them sitting all day in a cold cabinet all day then to be hit with the heat of a wood burner..

Hot cold creating condensation and aghhhh rust perhaps, even though there always well oiled..

Hate hiding them for 3 or 4 winter months but just think they’ll maintain a more steady temperature in their bags!

What say chaps..? Am I being a fanny 😀 the house is very cold for the majority then waffing hot..

Opinions welcome..👊
Click to expand...
The risk is in the changing temperature.
When the house is cold so are the rifles. As you heat the house the rifles take much longer to warm up.
The warm air in the house will now carry more moisture, which will condense on any cold surface that it touches, eg window panes, steel rifle barrels etc.
As you repeat the cycle you are exposing the rifles to more moisture. I like to store my rifles and even my motorcycle in plastic bags that I seal after using a vacuum cleaner to remove as much air as possible: with the air goes the water vapour.
You can add some desiccant to the bags to improve it further.
As the rifles go through the same temperature cycles, condensation still forms as it contacts the cold surface but there is now a plastic bag acting as a barrier between the water and the barrel.
 
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Scubashot said:
The risk is in the changing temperature.
When the house is cold so are the rifles. As you heat the house the rifles take much longer to warm up.
The warm air in the house will now carry more moisture, which will condense on any cold surface that it touches, eg window panes, steel rifle barrels etc.
As you repeat the cycle you are exposing the rifles to more moisture. I like to store my rifles and even my motorcycle in plastic bags that I seal after using a vacuum cleaner to remove as much air as possible: with the air goes the water vapour.
You can add some desiccant to the bags to improve it further.
As the rifles go through the same temperature cycles, condensation still forms as it contacts the cold surface but there is now a plastic bad acting as a barrier between the water and the barrel.
Click to expand...
Yaay! Another who absolutely loves his rifles..👍 I’ll keep on keeping mine in their fleecy gun bags over the cold winter months then..🤪
👊
 
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