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Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic70912.html
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Author:  BassmanSteve [ Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

My 953 (recently picked up from PA) hasn't been getting much attention, because of another project. I doubt I've put more than 30 pellets through it since I picked it up.

Now that I've got the scope and a butt extension sorted out, I'm starting to shoot it more.

It seems to be shooting a little slow.

Using 8.2 gr Meisterkugeln wadcutters, I'm only seeing an average of 408 FPS. Others have reported as much as 440 FPS from a stock 953, using heavier pellets.

Mine is very accurate, and the SD and spread are reasonable at 5.0 and 17 FPS respectively, so I don't think it's a leaker.

Do these rifles speed up as they wear in, or do I need to think about a tuneup?

Author:  Ace [ Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

408fps is quite low for a 953....you might have gotten a dud..
No it will not improve with time...only with a tune..

Author:  Edmonton<500 [ Fri Jan 15, 2016 12:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

I'm going to say YES and NO, but first I'm wondering what your concern may be about this rifle's performance. It's cheap. It's accurate, and any possible velocity variation between one 953 and another would not make it any more than what it is: a plinker. Hence, my seemingly meaningless answer. Here's what I mean.

No. these rifles will not gain much in speed as they wear in. The 953s are mass-produced, low-end, single-pump pneumatics, and tolerances will most certainly vary from one gun to the other. I have three of them (club loaners - looking for one or two more), and they all shot at different velocities out of the box (~420-450 IIRC). But at 10 metres they all shoot with the same relative accuracy, and even extending it to 15 metres, patterns were very similar.

Yes. These rifles will improve with use. As a single-pump pneumatic, the 953 should produce very consistent muzzle velocities. This consistency factor (leading to better accuracy) will improve with use. But the rifle will turn into nothing more than an accurate plinker. 410 or 450, it's still only a plinker.

As for tuning, I guess all rifles will show some improvement with a stripping, cleaning and re-lubing. Ace has likely worked on these rifles, but nonetheless, knows much more about that than I. He also has a thread on this forum about improving the trigger pull, but I'm not sure if we have consensus on the safety factor of same (Ace was challenged on its safety, but in later posts the uncertainty seemed to have diminished - chat with Ace about this). Obviously, the more you put into it, with limitations, the better the output. But the question is, how much time, effort, and dollars do you want to invest in a $70 plinker.

Author:  lleader [ Fri Jan 15, 2016 1:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

Seems a bit weak. Do the piston mod as described by Ace here: post402411.html?
Quick, easy, works. Then leave it alone.

Author:  Ace [ Fri Jan 15, 2016 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

Edmonton<500 wrote:
Ace was challenged on its safety, but in later posts the uncertainty seemed to have diminished - chat with Ace about this).

Murray the trigger job safety your talking about was the one I did on my Ben classic .22....and its still working and shooting fine thanks.... :D
but I did do a trigger job on the 953 as well...here it is topic61086.html no issues either and still working great.... :mrgreen:

Author:  BassmanSteve [ Fri Jan 15, 2016 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

Before pulling out the chronograph, I was stacking pellets most of the time.

Aside from accuracy, I have no reason to want more velocity:
- I shoot indoors at fairly short range, and quiet is of primary importance.
- I don't want to damage other things in the room while plinking at reactive targets.
- I'm not into hunting.
- I don't get many opportunities to travel to out-of-town club events.

I was only really concerned about the slowest shot of the string (397 fps). While tuning my 2240, I found that consistency dropped when I got below 400 fps.

My only pressing reason to take the Daisy apart at the moment, is to work on the trigger.

I had to take most of the hammer spring preload out of the 2240 to get it shooting in the mid-440's with a longer .177 barrel, and that really improved the trigger feel.

It still isn't match-grade, but the 953 feels like a tank in comparison. Even my unmodified $60 Crosman Vigilante feels better for that matter, at least in single action.

Still, I might take a look at the 953's piston and seals while I'm in there...

Author:  Ace [ Fri Jan 15, 2016 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

BassmanSteve wrote:
- I shoot indoors at fairly short range, and quiet is of primary importance.
...

there you go...well said...
do the trigger job and enjoy it ...
because the little rise in fps for indoor would make much deference... :wink:

Author:  Edmonton<500 [ Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

Ace wrote:
Edmonton<500 wrote:
Ace was challenged on its safety, but in later posts the uncertainty seemed to have diminished - chat with Ace about this).

Murray the trigger job safety your talking about was the one I did on my Ben classic .22....and its still working and shooting fine thanks.... :D
but I did do a trigger job on the 953 as well...here it is topic61086.html no issues either and still working great.... :mrgreen:


Apologies for the mix-up. My bad.

Author:  BassmanSteve [ Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

From what I've been reading, the 953 trigger job documented on the Pilkguns website probably originated from a tuning video that Daisy distributes to shooting coaches.

They are a reputable outfit, and it looks like a pretty simple job as long as you're careful about the angles when setting up to drill the trigger guard, and don't overdo undercutting the tip of the tang on the front of the trigger.

Hundreds of coaches and cadets can't be all wrong...

Author:  Ace [ Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

Edmonton<500 wrote:
Ace wrote:
Edmonton<500 wrote:
Ace was challenged on its safety, but in later posts the uncertainty seemed to have diminished - chat with Ace about this).

Murray the trigger job safety your talking about was the one I did on my Ben classic .22....and its still working and shooting fine thanks.... :D
but I did do a trigger job on the 953 as well...here it is topic61086.html no issues either and still working great.... :mrgreen:


Apologies for the mix-up. My bad.

don't sweat it bud...just wanted to make that correction... :wink: :wink:

Author:  Ace [ Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do Daisy 953's need time to come up to full velocity?

BassmanSteve wrote:
From what I've been reading, the 953 trigger job documented on the Pilkguns website probably originated from a tuning video that Daisy distributes to shooting coaches.

They are a reputable outfit, and it looks like a pretty simple job as long as you're careful about the angles when setting up to drill the trigger guard, and don't overdo undercutting the tip of the tang on the front of the trigger.

Hundreds of coaches and cadets can't be all wrong...


your correct Steve..the trigger job is not that difficult as long as you pay attention to the drill angle and the amount you cut off...
this mod will greatly improve the 953 much more then the piston mod...I think the trigger job is a must if you really want to squeeze as much accuracy out of it as possible... :wink:

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