Springer breech strike? What the hell is this?

[manbearpig]

Has been there since new on a Gamo Varmint spring-piston. Before anyone asks no - I didn't pinch a pellet in there or anything and have only been shooting quality 100% lead pellets.

I'm not familiar enough with springer function: is this some kind of damage at the factory/assembly or is something actually striking this on each firing?
If it's the former then I'll just gently clean up the edge of the chamber and ignore it.. I'm more worried if it's an ongoing thing since there seems to be some peening.

 

[manbearpig]

Looking at spring piston diagrams it doesn't seem like there is anything in there that could be hitting it... so it's probably some kind of damage from the factory/assembly.

I really don't want to deal with a warranty claim on a $180 air rifle if I don't have to. It seems to be shooting perfectly fine - should I just ignore it?
Or is this going to potentially affect the breech seal in the future?

Either way this is one perfect example of why you should buy and inspect in-store if you have the option, rather than order by mail.

 

[Threemorewishes]

That would clean right up with a brass pan head screw and some lapping compound. Chuck screw in a drill and go slowly till satisfied.

 

[manbearpig]

Yeah for the chamfer on the edge of the "chamber" I was planning on doing something like that (but with a ball bearing -- a brass pan/round head screw sounds like a better idea, thx).

I was more worried about the area that's actually dented, but if the two brown ring marks are where the breech O-ring contacts the barrel then 90% of it is undamaged. It seems to shoot fine so I guess I'll leave it and consider this a lesson learned in buying guns in person and not online.

 

[trevj]

The pattern that is there looks like someone closed the barrel on something, or tried to.

A pellet would have squashed out of the way, not causing that, based on several times I failed to seat a pellet properly.

Rather than lapping the area, I would suggest a small round needle file and a few minutes of careful work to clear away the displaced metal only where it is in the way, and leave it at that, as it only appears to affect the chamfer. Lapping the area would likely leave you with an off center chamfer, as the lap would cut equally on the opposite side from the damage.