Working Operation of a Spring Action Gun
The Air Gun piston is the most complicated part of the pistol.
The External Cylinder, The internal Leather Pump, The spring shaft, The cylinder around the spring. All this makes the setup very complicated.
Typical Air gun uses a single spring setup inside the piston or should I say behind the piston. But some air guns use a double spring setup. This double spring setup makes it possible to put a lot of power in a small area.
All this is made possible with the help of a complex piston mechanism. The mechanism not just allows the first thick spring to be pulled into loading position but also makes sure that the internal small diameter spring is also compressed later to multiply the force.
Though this system contains many parts the entire setup as a whole is pretty solid and concealed in a brass or steel tubing. Brass is a soft material so it can be easily set up in any shape. Usually, any metal can be molded into any shape but that overall strength, the cost to manufacture and the life of the end product have to be considered while making a cylinder. Very hard material has a good life but tends to eat away the ring seal when rubbed against the wall of the cylinder.
The Leather Seal
The leather sealing or tip of the piston is dipped in oil to make an amazing seal to the wall. The original setup used rubber sealings. But rubber was not good enough compared to the kind of force that leather can go through and the typical life span that it can provide. The leather provides a better life to the entire piston. Some cheaper variants use rubber or plastic seal to compress air. Though it works, the life drops drastically.
Casting and Spring
Some parts of the piston have to be cast to make them compatible with different air gun designs. This specific casting is made from a material that can withstand a lot of force as this locks the entire spring pressure on the trigger.
The spring used in the piston is a specific shape and size to make sure that it is a perfect fit. The size is always in perfect match to the brass cylinder that encloses the piston. The lubrication around the leather cylinder is a must to keep the gun running efficiently. The better the oiling the more powerful is the weapon.
Lubrication
WD40 has been a global player in lubrication and I would personally recommend the same. A simple spray will last a while, extending the life of the piston.
Corking a gun is very simple — just need to pull it. But the setup of locking and unlocking in a specific pattern makes it a marvel in itself. The best way to know about your gun is by taking it apart. And the best way to take care of your gun is by using a suitable lubricant.