Beaman S1 trouble -- did I break something?

[AKElroy]

I have a beaman S1, scoped in a solid mount with a BSA 3x9x40 ao, rated for magnum springers. The mount is a 3/4 to weaver conversion, with quality rings. It is rock solid.

Today, my son and I were plinking in the backyard, and after 50-75 rounds, the barrel got away from me on the cocking stroke. It did not slam all the way closed, and I did not hear any metal to metal nastiness, but it did flip away pretty snappily.

Next shot was easily 10" off the mark at 30'. I re-zeroed the scope, it worked for a round or two, and now the zero is again shifting. The mounts are tight as a vault.

Did I break some action mounting point or something? Everything feels tight. Won't hold a7" circle at 30' now.

 

[rcmodel]

No, you broke the BSA scope.

They ain't made to take a hit going sideways like that.

rc

 

[Chevota]

It should not have affected the scope at all, but you could've bent your barrel. It's very common to bend the barrel on break-barrel guns by doing just what you did. I'm not saying it did bend since you described the event as minimal, but letting the barrel fly is how they're bent. So was the pellet 10" higher than normal? I ask because that's the direction they go when you bend them...
Bending back is easy, at least for me. While holding the stock/receiver horizontal and the barrel cocked with the barrel fully down and back, put the muzzle on the carpet and press down on the stock/receiver while keeping the gun somewhat horizontal. Push a down a bit and check the barrel etc until it's straight. Sometimes they also bend slightly to one side, if so just angle the gun accordingly to bend it back. It doesn't need to be perfect btw, as long as it looks straight it's good enough. In most break-barrel guns the barrel is pointing downward, but you don't want that, it's better to have it parallel with the receiver. Or if was angled down originally but now parallel then I'd just leave it there.
As for the groups opening up I can't say. It could be the breech seal no longer seals right thanks to some metal forming. Could be the gun shifted somehow and the stock bolts are loose now. Could be the barrel is loose in the breech block. Could be the barrel pivot bolt was bent or loosened, or the hole it rides in was upset. Or it might have actually damaged the scope, but I seriously doubt it. If the scope is broke then I'd bet it was ready to break and did so after you did your thing. Who knows, but those are what I'd look at first.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree the barrel may be bent.

Just cock it open and look down the barrel. If you can see light through it you are good to go. If it is eclipsed or none at all. time to start counter bending.

Good luck.

 

[AKElroy]

I took a straight edge to the barrel, and if it was bent it was maybe 1-2/1000ths. I messed with it until I could see no daylight on the straight edge, re-torqued all the bolts to spec, and was able to get a few 1/2" groups at 10 meters, but every 4th shot or so will be 2" up or 2" down. I am resting on my forearm, same light hold both fore and aft, keeping my feet in the same position. Still getting the variable stringing, in both directions.

If it was the scope, I assume it would be far worse than this.

 

[rcmodel]

Hold it hard, not "light resting".

The spring piston recoil will move the gun while the pellet is still in the barrel when held lightly.

rc

 

[AKElroy]

Hold it hard, not "light resting".

The spring piston recoil will move the gun while the pellet is still in the barrel when held lightly.

rc

It sure seems like this would be correct, but in actuality I believe the gun is going to move regardless. Allowing it too with a light hold, same hold-points, at least makes the movement more predictable / repeatable. A firm hold can vary pretty wildly I would think. When I've tried both, loose seems to work a little better. Of course, I'm the one that can't seem to get a decent group...

 

[Chevota]

A firm hold works for me too, but as you mentioned it's harder to duplicate shot to shot. Whatever the case I doubt it's you since you understand what to do. The very minor barrel bend you mentioned is not a big deal, I would not have even bothered fixing that small amount. So next I'd check for good barrel lock-up, look at the crown, and try other pellets. What you describe is very normal for pellets that don't agree with the gun, and sometimes it can quite a bit of trying to find the right pellet. My advice is try quality ones of mid to heavier weights, like in 177 I'd start with JSB 8.4 and 10.3gr. H&N Barracuda are excellent too, and many have luck with the Crosman Premier 10.5.