Brithunter
Well-Known Member
Rifle restoration project...Haenel Model 303 ... 5.6mm.. Photos addedAir Rifle
Well I have something to play with a .22 (5.6mm British No2 Bore) Haenel Model 303 air rifle. This one is the sporting version and the air cylinder is cut with dove tails for a scope. Although it appears to be of 13mm width:-
If I reduce the length of the dovetails on a Sports Match one piece mount it might fit but no hurry on that. Edit:- Tried that and although it does fit it's not vry good as it must be one of the 9-13mm mounts so the angles in incorrect. Proper 13mm mounts will be sort.
First I have to give it a good going over as there is some rust on it not in the bore though by the look of it. Right now the leather piston washer is soaking oil up as it's a bit dry as is the grease on the main spring. Have no idea how old it is but this one has :-
"Made in GDR":-
On the rear of the air cylinder. Further up towards the breech is the Suhl Marking. The sights are based on the Mauser style:-
And give a surprsingly good sight picture even for my tired ole eyes. The stock is of Beech wood and has rather nice grain for beech:-
There is some restoration work to be done here like removing that offending putty repair and fill it with some thing better. Perhaps a wood plug?
Sadly it has been allowed to rust:-
The steel butt plate was the worst effected.
This is after I cleaned off a lot of live rust. Now must decide how far to take the restoration. The screws will have to have their heads peened to close up the damaged slots and then trued up.
So perhaps it's time I finally got a chronograph have been putting it off for years but one would be most useful on this project .
Suppose I had better take some photos of it. Can't do the before photos as I spent some time today removing live rust spots. The butt plate will probably have to be re-blacked as it was bad where it's been resting on the heel.
Be interesting to see how it shoots once all cleaned and lubed up. Meanwhile a little research will be helpful. The bit already done today tells me that they made several versions of the Model 303. Mine has the basic trigger and not the match one along with a sporting stock make from quite nicely figured Beech. The iron sights are surprisingly good to my eyes. They are a simpler version of the Mauser K98 style and the foresight blade is a typical Mauser Barlycorn although this one is missing it's hood.
Hopefully it will useful in bagging a few Wabbits in the garden and our field.
Well I have something to play with a .22 (5.6mm British No2 Bore) Haenel Model 303 air rifle. This one is the sporting version and the air cylinder is cut with dove tails for a scope. Although it appears to be of 13mm width:-
If I reduce the length of the dovetails on a Sports Match one piece mount it might fit but no hurry on that. Edit:- Tried that and although it does fit it's not vry good as it must be one of the 9-13mm mounts so the angles in incorrect. Proper 13mm mounts will be sort.
First I have to give it a good going over as there is some rust on it not in the bore though by the look of it. Right now the leather piston washer is soaking oil up as it's a bit dry as is the grease on the main spring. Have no idea how old it is but this one has :-
"Made in GDR":-
On the rear of the air cylinder. Further up towards the breech is the Suhl Marking. The sights are based on the Mauser style:-
And give a surprsingly good sight picture even for my tired ole eyes. The stock is of Beech wood and has rather nice grain for beech:-
There is some restoration work to be done here like removing that offending putty repair and fill it with some thing better. Perhaps a wood plug?
Sadly it has been allowed to rust:-
The steel butt plate was the worst effected.
This is after I cleaned off a lot of live rust. Now must decide how far to take the restoration. The screws will have to have their heads peened to close up the damaged slots and then trued up.
So perhaps it's time I finally got a chronograph have been putting it off for years but one would be most useful on this project .
Suppose I had better take some photos of it. Can't do the before photos as I spent some time today removing live rust spots. The butt plate will probably have to be re-blacked as it was bad where it's been resting on the heel.
Be interesting to see how it shoots once all cleaned and lubed up. Meanwhile a little research will be helpful. The bit already done today tells me that they made several versions of the Model 303. Mine has the basic trigger and not the match one along with a sporting stock make from quite nicely figured Beech. The iron sights are surprisingly good to my eyes. They are a simpler version of the Mauser K98 style and the foresight blade is a typical Mauser Barlycorn although this one is missing it's hood.
Hopefully it will useful in bagging a few Wabbits in the garden and our field.
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