Refurbishing an IHP air-rifle

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There is an IHP air-rifle at my home in Pune, bought in 1992 or earlier. I don't know the model number or the calibre. As far as I know, it hasn't been used at all for the past 9 years. Not even oiled. Knowing the owner (a deceased family member), he probably oiled it, put it in it's canvass bag and stored it in a trunk and forgot about it. I do know the barrel has a few rough spots (which appear rusty instead of blue) and the stock is cracked (big crack, almost cleaves the stock where the trigger mechanism is). The piece wasn't used frequently, I shouldn't be surprised if less than 500 pellets have been though the barrel. It was once "fired" with the barrel broken over. The barrel must be bent.

I will be returning to Pune, and I would like to refurbish the air-rifle and start using it. I know the stock should be replaced. What else should I look for? Is it best to take it to a gunsmith? A google search came up with Aimpoint, Safari Arms, Gunmark / Gsmith, Patankar, Naraindas Deepchand, H B Jatap and Badruddin Abdultayeb. Any references / reviews about them? And finally, is this refurbishing exercise worth the money? If the piece has to be taken apart, can it be made "better"? At the begining of the IHP National thread there is talk of some experimenting, what came of it?

Thanks in advance.

[kb100]

It can be refurbished if the barrel is intact/not bent. If you have to replace the barrel then it may make more sense for you to buy a new gun. Please bear in mind that the refurbishing (with better parts) will cost you as much or more than a new gun will!

[snIPer]

The Barrel can be straightened and the stock can be fixed too.
If you are doing the refurbishing yourself then it will cost you more in terms of time than money.
/S/

[fantumfan2003]

Hi,

You can get a replacement stock from GSMITH in Pune or from Mumbai. Bent barrel, if gun was fired with the barrel not locked up can also be fixed easily. Here is how. After the gun is fixed in its new stock, cock the gun as usual. Make sure your finger is not on the trigger and apply pressure on the barrel FURTHER in cocked position. This will straighten the barrel to its original state.

You can open it up and clean individual parts or spots of rust by rubbing them with fine steel wool, dipped liberally in thich oil. If you want, you can even get it reblued.

M.

There is an IHP air-rifle at my home in Pune, bought in 1992 or earlier. I don't know the model number or the calibre. As far as I know, it hasn't been used at all for the past 9 years. Not even oiled. Knowing the owner (a deceased family member), he probably oiled it, put it in it's canvass bag and stored it in a trunk and forgot about it. I do know the barrel has a few rough spots (which appear rusty instead of blue) and the stock is cracked (big crack, almost cleaves the stock where the trigger mechanism is). The piece wasn't used frequently, I shouldn't be surprised if less than 500 pellets have been though the barrel. It was once "fired" with the barrel broken over. The barrel must be bent.

I will be returning to Pune, and I would like to refurbish the air-rifle and start using it. I know the stock should be replaced. What else should I look for? Is it best to take it to a gunsmith? A google search came up with Aimpoint, Safari Arms, Gunmark / Gsmith, Patankar, Naraindas Deepchand, H B Jatap and Badruddin Abdultayeb. Any references / reviews about them? And finally, is this refurbishing exercise worth the money? If the piece has to be taken apart, can it be made "better"? At the begining of the IHP National thread there is talk of some experimenting, what came of it?

Thanks in advance.

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Thank you kb100, snIPer, fantumfan2003 for your inputs, esp fantumfan2003. I am prepared to invest the time (and money) in the project. Once I reach Pune, I will post pictures of the air-rifle and the project too

I wanted to know if I can somehow increase or better the balance, feel, accuracy, and power of the air rifle? I know accuracy and power is a tradeoff, but I am sure the IHP construction has a lot of elbow room How about balance and feel?

[fantumfan2003]

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Balance : Its always individual preference so if you like the balance, be at peace with it.

Power : Now I am worried because I see signs of magnumitis. Springers shoot sweetest at around 820fps or lower. You IHP shoots at 650 which is more than enough for target shooting.

Accuracy : Your IHP will shoot better than you for a very long time

M.

Thank you kb100, snIPer, fantumfan2003 for your inputs, esp fantumfan2003. I am prepared to invest the time (and money) in the project. Once I reach Pune, I will post pictures of the air-rifle and the project too

I wanted to know if I can somehow increase or better the balance, feel, accuracy, and power of the air rifle? I know accuracy and power is a tradeoff, but I am sure the IHP construction has a lot of elbow room How about balance and feel?

[full_circle]

magnumitis no, I don't want the most powerful airgun (fingers crossed behind my back). Tuning (either DIY or by a gunsmith) as described by mundaire and others in the IHP "National" air rifles & pistols thread should make it a more powerful rifle, if only as a side-effect.

You are right about the accuracy part, the rifle can only be as accurate as the shooter... hopefully one day not too far away, I will be able to shoot good enough to justify importing a PCP