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NEW UPDATE SOON
(Updated 9/7/07)
(Rifle has gone back to random inaccuracy)
Below is the original posting of the diagnosis and repair of my Daisy 22SG. Since then, i've run several target shots through and found that accuracy has degraded again at random. I will attempt repairs and testing and document all steps taken.

How to fix a 22SG.
Posted July '07

To begin with, I opted to fix my rifle myself rather than send in for repairs. Disregarding any warranty there may or may not have been, I couldn't see spending 40 bucks on a $100 rifle for repairs. I myself would rather apply the cash to another rifle or more ammunition.

This is how I fixed my 22SG. Since I don't want to disassemble my rifle again (now that it's accurate), I am going to use parts from a rusted out Daisy 880, which are pretty well the same design in the parts I am going to describe. I still have a couple repairs I may tinker with later down the road, and I may describe them here too.

Section 1: The Main Problem

As you can see in Figure 1, the rifle is now without front sight and fore arm grips. The barrel on the 22SG is about 3/8 inch outer diameter, with about 7/8 inch section at the front carved down to about 5/16 inch outer diameter. Originally, the barrel resides in an outer sleeve (outer sleeve from 880 shown above rifle: same design). The muzzle tip fits into the funnel shaped front sight, and 4 fins (gray) hold the tip secure (Figure 2). A button on the bottom of the sight clips into a hole on the bottom of the outer sleeve to hold the it in the sleeve. The problem I had was the fins became worn out and allowed the tip to (literally) rattle around. I first cured this by wrapping 1 or 2 layers of duct tape around the tip and reinstalling the sight.

Figure 1

Figure 2

This worked for awhile, but over time, the side grips became loose, and after tightening the screws, they wore their way through the wood, drove deeper, and began striking the pump handle. You can see the damage in Figure 3. As the pump handle struck the screws, they would "click" and cause the sleeve to move around, thus pointing the actual barrel around and around, which drove me crazy as the pellets went around and around the target. I couldn't even hit a pop can at 40 feet. The outer sleeve is mounted to the pump guide frame with 4 screws: 2 in front (held with the front hand grips), and two screws on the receiver housing. I removed the side grips and tightened all screws tight.

Figure 3

How to fix YOUR 22SG

I suggest as little as possible. Remember, you could void a warranty, or worse (like me), screw it up where you HAVE to take the extensive steps that led to my Franken-rifle. If you shake your rifle, and you hear the barrel rattle around, then I would start with the front sight. With a small screwdriver, GENTLY pry around the front sight's lower button to get it to slide out of the sleeve (try not to bend the sleeve so it will go back in place good and snug). Get some duct tape and tear off a piece roughly 1/2" by 3/4". Fish it down into the sleeve and wrap it around the muzzle tip, then re-insert the front sight. That should eliminate the rattle. If you suspect your wooden grips to be loose, tighten them VERY gently. The wood grips are relatively soft, and the screws will work their way down in it. If they have already worked their way in too deep, you will have to remove the grips for repairs (of which, I will cover later). If you plan to use the rifle sans grips, then the screws will have to be cut down so they don't chew into the pump handle like mine did. These basic steps should cure most problems of inaccuracy, and tests should be done with good, secure sighting and firing methods.

Section 2: Other Mods

Hindsight being perfect, I can see that it was not necessary that I cut down the barrel as is shown in Figure 1. Not fully understanding the sleeve movement caused by the loose handgrips, I began to think the muzzle had a poor crown. Although the crown was not the problem, it was poor. It looked as though the factory just reamed it out with sandpaper attached to a drill, to 3/8" depth. I cut that section of the barrel off with a pipe cutter and gently re-crowned it with a ball rasp on low speed. It looks and works good. Having cut the barrel, I did away with the front sight (all of this I did with the outer sleeve removed). I obtained a couple of tube shaped foam Nerf darts, cut the ends off, and slid them down the barrel at even intervals to minimize mid-barrel vibration, then wrapped the barrel end (fat section) in Duct Tape (temporary). I reinstalled the sleeve and put a spring-clamp on the front to hold it.

What I plan to do in the near future is drill out the hand grip screw holes, ream out a place for a washer on the inside of each, and JB Weld the washer to the hand grips and reinstall them to the rifle (after trimming the edges away from the pump handle). I'll probably add a dab of RTV silicone sealant on the rear screws to keep them from backing out, and the front I may try to Pop-rivet them in (preferably with an aircraft grade pop rivet that has a locking ring) to keep them and the sleeve secure. The muzzle I'll probably re-work to make more permanent, though no actual plans on materials yet.

Overall, I may purchase another air rifle, but I may also continue to use my rifle to tinker and test on, or perhaps just leave it as is. At the beginning of my mod-work, I was prepared to write-off the weapon, but now I see that it's better quality than I imagined. The 22SG is still a good rifle, and it's VERY good for the price. One can just hope that they might correct the problems that I've found. It seems a lot of good companies go from, "How can we make it work..." to "How can we manufacture it cheaper...". I hope they'll fix this in the future. I'll keep posts on any future mods I do with it or the old beater .177 caliber 880. I also have a 24 inch STEEL barrel from an old (unidentified) .22 air rifle I may tinker with as well. Perhaps with some work, maybe I can work it to fire actual bullets at a super-sonic velocity.

Questions? Email me at tarsch AT hotmail.com