Ruger air hawk

[jebbab]

Hi all. I'm a newbie to this whole adult air gun thing. Yes I own other rifles and shotguns, and a few CO2 guns. But this Ruger is my first springer. My budget keeps me from going into the better gun market. I've read about the Ruger and some of you all think it's an OK starter gun. Well, I've shot maybe a couple hundred rounds with it. now I know its still breaking in I guess? Every few pellets I get one that's off the mark from the others by about an inch. My question's are Does anyone think it would be worth the money to have it tuned? and up grade the trigger,scope and mount? The, scope and mount seem OK but from what I've read most people think the one piece mount is better for the spring guns? This is a learning curve for me and it looks as if I would have spent more up front? I wouldn't have to spend an other hundred and fifty buck's! Plus? For the tune job and other things.  Anyway your thoughts?  Thanks  Jim

[Bogey]

Welcome to the GTA forums Jim.   The RAH is as good a start as any in the springer field.   It and you  will get better with use and practice.   Will it be a smoother AG with a tune.... usually yes.  Can be much better.  Can a better scope help?   It did for me.  And better scope rings will sure help keep the scope ancored properly preventing the scope from shifting as you shoot.

As far as tuning goes,  if you are fairly handy... you might consider doing it yourself.    I've done many tunes in the last year and had never done any before.   Lots of help here.  Just read and ask.

I believe you can find info in the Library section of the GTA.

Others may chime in later on your questions.

Bogey.

[longislandhunter]

Welcome to GTA Jim, nice to have you with us.  I own a Ruger Blackhawk, same gun as yours but with synthetic stock and mine is a great shooter.   A tune would definitely improve the rifle if you're not happy with it the way it is now.  As for the scope and mount.... if your having problems with the ones you are using now then changing them would be a benefit.  If  the 2 piece mount is holding then you don't have to change it for a 1 piece mount.  If the scope is working fine then there's nothing wrong with keeping it on the rifle, although a higher quality scope would of course make the rifle nicer to shoot for you.  

Anyway, welcome to GTA and I"ll be looking forward to  your future posts......

Jeff

[Gene_SC]

A Big Welcome Jim. I have owned a couple of Ruger Air Hawks. Great guns after you tune them. I tuned mine and Timmy on the GTA refinished the stock for me. It was my second Ruger. May buy another one day.. Give us some pictures of what your Ruger looks like and what scope you mounted.

[atchman2]

I bought mine as a refurb.  It was tuned my Mike Melick.  When I got it back it was MUCH smoother, but the accuracy was and is still suspect.  My limited advice is to NOT get it tuned and just spend the money on a "real" RWS riflle.  If you have the money then get it tuned, but I think an original would be a better investmen even if you get it tuned.

[JimL911]

Welcome. If you have ANY mechanical ability you can do it yourself, it is an easy gun to work on. . The proper lubes a JM seal/spring or the new Vortek kit will do wonders. Lots of help available. I would suggest getting a 1 piece mount and a better scope with AO. Have fun.

[fnash]

Here is a post on another forum that makes good reading about air guns and the decision to tune:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/184474/thread/1272045430/last-1272129163/It%27s+wonderful%21+great%21+really+decent%21+etc.+-

[jebbab]

Thanks Guy's for the Welcome and your input. I'm still on the fence about this rifle? I have seen quite a few "Non copied" gun's if you will for sale. Like always I never get the whole picture until after I've pulled the trigger on something else. Like shooting a nice six pointer and before your barrel has cooled, a ten point, one thirty class comes walking in. G  wiz! I guess I'll get some pricing on a tune kit. Any suggestions? Like dealer or who to turn to for parts. I see many people are using Charlie or Mike. Do they just do the work or also sell kits for the DIY ers? Again thanks. I'm going reading now. Much to learn. Or try to!   :emoticon:   Jim

[cole5169]

Maybe your occasional fliers are just due to dented/damaged pellet skirts...
Does the crown look good (smooth, concentric, no burrs?)

There are a whole load of factors that affect springer accuracy, so don't feel bad, it really is a learning curve.
For instance: when you load a pellet, do you seat it in the bore the same way every time?  Same depth?  Believe me, it makes a big difference.  I use fat ballpoint "click" pens with plasticky "noses" to press my pellets in, the plastic doesn't mar the pellet skirts, and by pressing in until the pen is stopped by the bore it seats the pellets to the same depth reliably...

Lots of little tricks.  Keep asking questions, maybe you won't have to spend as much as you think

Oh, and get as many kinds of decent pellets as you can to find what works well in your gun!

[atchman2]

The only pellet that seems to work okay in my Air Hawk are cheap Daisy Wadcutters.  Everything else I've tried is just a waste of time.  I don't use my Hawk for hunting as it simply isn't accurate enough (or I'm not with it).  Besides I have a TF 89 and a RWS 350 I use for hunting, so it isn't like I'm missing anything.  

With the Daisy pellets it seems to do okay.  Doesn't group all that well but I mostly use it as my tin can plinking gun which it is just fine for.  My friends like it because it feels good and has a Mike Melick tune so it is smooth and cocks easily.  However, if I want to group pellets in the same hole it isn't the gun I reach for.....

[gamo2hammerli]

A big welcome to the GTA forum and family.  I don't own one but I've read the Air Hawk are pretty decent....it will take a few hundred shots to smooth her out.  As with the occasional flyer....could be the pellets.  Experiment with lots of different pellets to see which ones the rifle likes.

[jebbab]

Thanks Guys, as for the pellets, I have shot Daisy premiums,Crosman pointed premiums and Beeman silver jets. For now it likes the Crosmans. But in all fairness I didn't give the others much of a chance. I sighted the gun in on the Crosman's and I shot the other two later. They both shot low and right. From what I've learned so far. I need to keep chuckin lead. I made a few mistakes like I didn't clean the bore before shooting the rifle. I just had never done that in the past. But like I said before this is my first springer. The scope and mount seam to be holding OK. The screw behind the trigger guard was working loose, and caused the whole receiver to move. Once I caught that the gun was once again shooting decent. I did send a request for a tune up with Flying dragon, AKA Mike? I guess? Still trying to learn the players. But I have not receive a reply as of yet. Just a general amount guys what are we talking as far as a price for a tune?

[JimL911]

Mike will be away until next week so you might not hear from him right away. Generally tunes have varying degrees and price. Expect to pay about $150 give or take.

[redroush00]

I can put it thru the same hole shot after shot at 20 yards with Meisterchugens 8.2 all day!

[itsnotom]

jebbab - 4/28/2010  9:13 PM

Thanks Guys, as for the pellets, I have shot Daisy premiums,Crosman pointed premiums and Beeman silver jets. For now it likes the Crosmans. But in all fairness I didn't give the others much of a chance. I sighted the gun in on the Crosman's and I shot the other two later. They both shot low and right. From what I've learned so far. I need to keep chuckin lead. I made a few mistakes like I didn't clean the bore before shooting the rifle. I just had never done that in the past. But like I said before this is my first springer. The scope and mount seam to be holding OK. The screw behind the trigger guard was working loose, and caused the whole receiver to move. Once I caught that the gun was once again shooting decent. I did send a request for a tune up with Flying dragon, AKA Mike? I guess? Still trying to learn the players. But I have not receive a reply as of yet. Just a general amount guys what are we talking as far as a price for a tune?

daisy premium? now thats an oxymoron if i ever heard one.