A couple of weeks ago I received a like new 34 Panther 177 cal at a decent price. I decided to go buck wild with this gun and that's what I did. So far I'm pleased with my results. The gun was bone dry from the factory. I opened it up and removed the spring, deburred the cocking slot, and THEN removed the piston. The piston seal was gouged, but still sealing. I have one on the way from umarex, along with a reduced power spring. (I wish they'd hurry up and get here.) Anyway, I lubed sparingly with moly and put gun back together. It shot pretty good. Cocked rough. So, feeling adventurous, I disassembled again and used 400, 600, and 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper on every single surface. Made everything shine and feel like a mirror! Even the inside of the piston wall! Compression tube was smoothed to 600 grit with a little back and forth action to make it resemble the compression tube on my tx200. Amateurish attempt at crosshatching I guess. Radiused all sharp angles on cocking arm foot and polished smooth as silk. Spring ends AND outer diameter of spring got polished to mirror shine as well. (i was bored).
Looked over at the barrel while I was doing all that sanding and thought What the heck! So I chopped it to 14 inches....with a hacksaw....with no guide. Yes it was crooked. I then took a dremel tool with sanding drum thing and worked on it til it was eyeball square. Then polished it down by hand. No choke. Put the old seal back on until Umarex decides to mail me the one I bought last Monday. Used a light smear of moly. No tar. Put it all back together. It cocks as smooth as any springer I have ever owned. And shoots pretty durn good too. No twang. Just a thump. Averages 955 fps with Crosman hollow points from Wal Mart. The trigger T05 is amazingly light and smooth from the factory. I saw no need to tinker with it, except to polish the piston rod that catches the sear and smear a little moly on it. I slid a piece of 5/8 heater hose over muzzle to use as grip. 30 yard group in last pic Time to go huntin.
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and I mean professional assistance with the way you handle yourself around air rifles

but before you get treated for your disease, could I send you one of my M34's?? LOL

warren

PS: very nice shooting and that bottom one is a FLYER, it does not count

and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"

Nice work and great writeup man. Now all you need to do is getting some blocks to choke that barrel and research how to cut a nice crown on the end and i'll bet you'll be putting them through almost the same hole at 30 yards!