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25/10/2025 14:10:16
Something out of the norm for me but what turned out to be a pleasant suprise. The Haenel 302 had somehow passed me by until suggested by Chris who had stumbled upon a rather honest example. I always enjoy taking a look at something different so I jumped at the chance and I’m pleased that I did. These seem to be a really quite nicely put together rifle and of a decent quality. This is a short write up as to be honest it was really rather good to start with and required mechanically nothing more than a strip,clean,lubrication and reassembly. There was a fine speckling of rust as to be expected and this was dealt with in the usual manner with OOOO wire wool,oil and carefully applied elbow grease.
The stock was another matter and the varnished finish was not saveable sadly. Stripping it was easy as it was happily parting ways from the timber anyway. The stock was then prepped, stained and finished with Tru-oil but I didn’t go too far and make it overly glossy.
Although not a complicated construction I took plenty of photos for reference as it’s the first 302 I had stripped and I thought I would post a thread which might help someone in the future so this is a little photo heavy.
The result is a quality plinker and I’m very pleased to give it rack room 😎 A mate of mine fell in love with it but like so many potential love affairs it was not meant to be for him because I’m not parting with it 😬 I did agree to sort one out for him if he can find himself an example needing work.
Thankyou Chris as always 😎👍
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25/10/2025 14:11:06
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25/10/2025 14:11:44
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25/10/2025 14:12:24
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25/10/2025 14:13:35
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25/10/2025 14:14:13
26/10/2025 12:30:23
Great write up again PJ...these always were a well made air rifle...not a powerhouse but sweet for a break barrel plinker and built to last (no plastic)....another one rescued and sympathetically refurbed from the corner of someone's shed that's going on to lead a "new life"...what's it do over the chrono...?
PS. can't wait for the next write up....one Forums loss is our gain.... 😀
pjbingham reacted
Topic starter
26/10/2025 13:38:11
Great write up again PJ...these always were a well made air rifle...not a powerhouse but sweet for a break barrel plinker and built to last (no plastic)....another one rescued and sympathetically refurbed from the corner of someone's shed that's going on to lead a "new life"...what's it do over the chrono...?
PS. can't wait for the next write up....one Forums loss is our gain.... 😀
Thanks Chris 👍 this one was a very stress free project, one of those ones that doesn’t fight you at all and gives you the sense it’s eager to live again. I only put about x30 rounds through it and it was already very settled and consistent and as you say doesn’t give you them sense of being a powerhouse but just a good solid quality rifle. I tend to test batches of rifles over the chrono and this is one that is awaiting that, I will update this thread once I’ve done it.
Im trying to choose something a bit different each time for the threads to save it getting too monotonous and samey 👍
26/10/2025 14:00:40
I've never done one Phil----only that 284 action, that had a mainspring in 5 pieces with bits of wood taking up the slack 😱 From memory the spring was so tight I used an angle grinder to cut it and get it out. I think I spent hours making a barrel catch plunger too. I think the trigger might have been different to yours? I couldn't get a stock and let someone have the action for postage.
It did strike me as being a solidly made thing though.
I don't know how you find the time to do stuff.
But another write up done (with pictures) and it might inspire or help someone else with one at some point.
pjbingham reacted
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26/10/2025 14:32:43
I've never done one Phil----only that 284 action, that had a mainspring in 5 pieces with bits of wood taking up the slack 😱 From memory the spring was so tight I used an angle grinder to cut it and get it out. I think I spent hours making a barrel catch plunger too. I think the trigger might have been different to yours? I couldn't get a stock and let someone have the action for postage.
It did strike me as being a solidly made thing though.
I don't know how you find the time to do stuff.
But another write up done (with pictures) and it might inspire or help someone else with one at some point.
Id say if one comes along Guy I’d give it a go, I was pleasantly suprised and glad i did 👍
Time is not something I have very much of at all but I do things in dribs and drabs and that time all adds up I guess. Sometimes it’s the encouragement to get something on a project done that keeps me going, I will think to myself if I can get X Y & Z done before xxxx time then I’ll treat myself to half hour tinkering, that sorta thing.
26/10/2025 15:34:17
As with a few other things, I'm not after one, but I like to have a look and that 284 was good enough to satisfy my curiosity. It's a bit like I'd like a look at one of those Italian Diana 25 copies (Brema?) . They are supposed to be really awful. I'd like to find out! But if I did one, I probably wouldn't keep it but pass it on to someone like you, so you could see.
I say I wouldn't touch another Monkey Metal gun, but something might interest me at some point. I had a Webley Stinger, got it working ok and gave it to Lawrie years ago -------as it just wasn't for me.
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26/10/2025 15:58:13
There’s plenty of interesting stuff out there still to see I reckon 😎👍
