Weird little shootdown situations

[xwiredx]

**I had this posted at PBN for a little while, but wanted to bring it here to see what kind of responses I get**

What's up guys.
Okay I have this weird shootdown situations that I experienced a couple times last weekend that I was hoping to get some help with. I'll try to describe it the best I can, and include as much info as possible.

As far as what happened, I think about three times I experienced shootdown out of nowhere. Balls would go about a few feet out of the barrel. This happened both when shooting single shots and strings.

-On one occasion, I got the shootdown, looked around at my gun a little lost, made sure the Dye Airport was on, and gun on/off was in the correct spot and after the couple seconds it took to do that, I tried firing again and all was fine.

-Next one, I got the shootdown, waited a second or so after looking around dumbfounded, messed with the on/off then waited a couple seconds more because I was being shot at, fired again, and all was good.

-Last one, I can't remember exactly, but I did turn the on/off to off then on again. Other than that, the gun was shooting awesome. I've only experience this type of thing one other time a few months ago but did'nt think anything of it. Although today I did notice that my Hyper2 was unscrewed a little, but only about a quarter turn or so.

I can't think if there was actually anything going on with the gun, or if I was accidentally hitting the on/off on either the gun or ASA. Or maybe even turned the Airport knob a little too much in, causing the tank pin to be depressed a little too much? When I turn it on, I go til it gasses up, then maybe a half turn more. Paint was pretty small though. Small enough to roll through a .692 back easily.

As far as gun settings. My LPR is still factory stock, Dwell at 18, Chronoed at 285. Tank is a Crossfire LP 68/45 in great condition. Bolt is lubed with Dow33, and not overlubed as best as I can tell when comparing to other DM owners I was able to see. Gun is pretty well broken in. Brand new UltraLife Lithium 9volt was put in that day.

I think that's it. If you guys need any more info just let me know. Please give me some ideas or suggestions on what to look for as the culprit, or if you think it was just weird luck with different causes on each separate situation. Is it possible that the paint was so small that it was maybe rolling past the detent enough that the blast of air would'nt propel the ball correctly? Only thing is, it was happening in strings too, and no paint was broken in the breach or barrel.

Thanks a lot!!

[Toxic Dave]

how fresh was the battery. I've had the same thing happen, change the battery...biggity bam it works!

[Buckeye Matrix]

That airport design has a funny way of working itself into both directions during sliding or rubbing a bunker. I have a dm7 and I had to turn the air back on twice the other day during play. You might be right in that point. You might want to double check your dwell also after the battery. Outside conditions could be causing you to ride a thin line between normal performance and shootdown. Make sure your lpr is 4-5 turns out and your dwell is at least 18 ms.

[Hawk]

I had anomalous shoot down back when I got my DM5, and I played with Dwell, battery, and LPR.
turns out that the tank Pin was getting depressed TOOO much, so I backed my tank out about a half a turn and I was good.

[xwiredx]

I had anomalous shoot down back when I got my DM5, and I played with Dwell, battery, and LPR.
turns out that the tank Pin was getting depressed TOOO much, so I backed my tank out about a half a turn and I was good.

Hmm, I think that could be what's happening to me too. I have a habit of turning the airport knob til the gun gasses up, which is a really short turn, then usually turn it in about a half or quarter turn more. You think that much turning in could cause the pin to be too depressed, or would it have to be way more than that?

Hawk, Buckeye, Dave,
Thanks a lot for the input! I will keep going over your suggestions and check out everything. Weird thing is, when I left the field that day she was shooting beautifully!

[xwiredx]

Hey guys,
Little update on this.

So, I played last weekend and everything was perfect as could be considering the weather. I think the problem may have been that I was under-lubing. :) I changed all bolt O-rings and then applied what I thought to be the 'wet' amount of lube like I usually do. I then tried running the bolt through the can, and noticed a lot of resistance, and changed the 017 and it was still there, so I added more lube a little by little until it was really smooth. Before this, even the inside of the can did'nt feel really slick even though it did look 'wet' as far as I could tell. I could hold on to the plunger area, give the thing a pretty good jerk towards the ground and the can would slide back on the bolt. The extra lube was applied mainly to the sail o-ring, and 017's in the beer can and top hat.

Fast forward to that last weekend and everything was cool. No shootdown or anything. Consistency was pretty good considering the weather was crap. About +/-5 or so on average with some closer groupings at times. That day I lubed/cleaned my bolt, I also took the time to service my LPR and Hyper ll, made sure Dwell was at 18 (which it was), checked battery, LPR at about 4 1/2 turns out.

Now, here is another thing that my have caused the problem for me earlier. When I originally pulled my bolt out, there was what seemed to be lint gummed up with grease all on my bolt tip o-ring, and some real small specs here and there throughout the rest of the bolt kit. Mainly wedged into the crack between the o-ring and the metal of the piece it's in. (the little channel the o-ring sits in) This time I lubed my bolt, I used a paper towel and sure there was nothing left behind.

And as far as the amount of lube, I dunno but I really think I may have been under-lubing or maybe right on the border line, and the lint stuff just put it over the edge and made it stick. I've been trying to use the 'wet' method ever since I got this gun and read about lubing here at MO, but I may have just been trying too hard. :) When I applied the normal amount I 'thought' was enough to be wet, the o-ring really was'nt that slick at all. Also, the white color of the Dow33 was visible in the cracks between the o-ring and it's place it sits in the metal, but I guess that can't be avoided. Seeing that, I was thinking that I was lubing too much and tried to use less and less each time, possibly leading up to this shootdown situation day. I was trying to make it look 'wet' as in what the Slick Honey picture looks like. Like how there's barely anything there. But I guess that's not possible with Dow33 being that it's not that clear.

Well that's what I'm thinking atleast, or hoping. :) Gun shot money all day in crap weather though. :D Hopefully this info is enough, and clear enough that you can provide your awesome input like you guys always do! Oh, and if someone happens to have pictures of what their bolt and o-rings look like when lubed with Dow33, please please please post them up for me to compare! :)

Thanks again guys!