How to improve accuracy?

[schunter1128]

I have a Beeman .177 cal with a 4x Weaver scope on weaver style rings. I am currently shooting crossman pointed pellets and can not get it to group better than 5 inches at 30 yds. Rings are tight. Scope is not the problem as I had it on a .22 and was capable of 2 inch groups at 60 yds. Your feedback is appreciated.

[steg]

It's probably the scope, not familliar with the rifle you are using, but if it's a springer they are capable of destroying a scope in a few shots, trust me I've been there, your best bet is to get an air-gun rated scope.

BTW how well does the rifle group with iron sights? How are you resting the rifle when testing for groups, and I've gotten the worst results with pointed pellets, I'd go with flat nosed or domed pellets and give it a try with the iron sights to gheck out the rifle, although I doubt the rifle is the problem..............steg

[Ron 1]

i have a daisey/winchester 1000 it will shoot pointed or round the flat dont seem to group.
i did trash a bushnell 3-9 by 40mm scope the recoil is different than a .22 .
                    rw

[steg]

I have to agree with you Ron, some guns just like certain pellets, but I think on average most of them like the flat or domed type. My Win 350 spreads pointed pellets all over the place, but the others are right on..................steg

[Dand]

Like others say, pointed pellets are not known for accuracy. Most of you serious field and target shooters use flat or domed pellets.  The Crosman Premiers and JSB domed pellets are well known for accuracy in many guns. Some shooters go so far as to seek pellets made from certain dies.

If you are using Wally World pellet packs you may not be getting the best pellets. Try some Beeman, JSB, H&N pellets from a serious pellet rifle place. The pellets seem to be more uniform and often fit much tighter in the breach than Daisy or off brand pellets from volume discount places. Google Straight Shooters or Pyramid Airguns, Arizona Airguns for the more dedicated equipment etc.

Also, spring guns can be real hold sensitive. Where and how the gun is held. Don't hold too tight and don't use hard rests. I have read where using a pillow or the like is better.  That has been my experience with a Beeman R7 and BSA rifle.

That double bounce of the spring and relatively slow pellet travel makes follow through after the trigger release critical as well.

If your gun is new and is dieseling that can be an issue too. Some guys don't figure a gun is broke in until over 500 rounds or more are fired for the spring and all to "settle".

[-bp]

hi - pointed pellets are not too accurate. round nose are the best. generally i find that jsb exacts or jsb exact heavys are the most accurate, however every gun likes different pellets

nothing from walmart will be very accurate

springer guns have a two way recoil.

if you're a good searcher, look around for a video clip of a howitzer or other military canon being fired. note that the barrel is mounted on bearings and is allowed to ride backwards then forward again

springer airguns must be held in such a way too. don't grip the forearm, but lay it on your palm

don't squeeze the grip (right hand) but press the fingertip on the trigger and the thumb on the back of the grip, and when the gun goes off. it will move.

try this, adjust your sights to this kind of hold, and you'll soon find yourself with pretty good groups

google things like 'springer hold' and 'howitzer hold'

stay well,


-bp

[North Pack]

For anything over 10M - I use a domed pellet, or occasionally a hollow point. Like others have suggested, - try a few different style pellets. - Of course you could just use a closer target - LOL.

[dwalk]

some very sound advice given above.

i have found that if you clean and inspect your pellets, it helps to upgrade performance.

i have had good luck with some pointed pellets at 50 yard+- ranges after cleaning, inspecting and cleaning off any 'swarf' left from the casting process.

you might also consider weighing and sorting pellets...they do vary some in weight. (especially the lesser expensive ones...)

it's truly odd, but i've found that most pellets will perform to a high degree of accuracy when YOU do your part with all other factors being equal. but overall, yes, domed pellets seems to offer the best, most consistant, accuracy/performance.

i happen to have really, really, good luck with JSB exact king match domes and Beeman Silver Ace from my .25 Mrod and the same with Beeman Silver Jet/Arrows and RWS Superdomes from my RWS 52. my AF Talon will digest nearly any thing very accurately...

you've probably found by now you cannot use a non-springer rated scope on a springer...the open sights idea is a good one. i personally prefer open sights whenever it's practical. in fact, i have upgraded open sights on several of my air rifles.(rifles like the Benjamin Marauder are not designed for open sights, as an example.)

open sights are not as accurate at longer ranges but the critters i hammer with them don't complain...they just die.  

it's all subject to your likes and dislikes...experiment and have fun with it...

[S.S.]

Practice a lot!
not saying you need practice but the gun does!
Most springers need several hundred shots to start
smoothing up. I put close to 500 shots through my
Beman before I got what I would consider hunting
accuracy. By hunting accuracy I mean a Squirrel head at 30 yards.
In all honesty though, I took the scope off of it. Got tired of tearing them up.
My Squirrel hunting gun is a modified QB78 now though.
I am one to fall for Gimmicks when it comes to pellets.
I try everything! Beman Ram-jet is the best I have found
and the Gold PBA Gamo's are the worst in .22.
The Crosman Premier hollowpoints are also very good
hunting pellets.

[tuck2]

What modle do you have ?  My B1 shot good groups out of the box while the 1000 need to be shot a number of time befor I could get acceptable groups. I try various brands and grain pellets to find out what my air rifles like.

[Larry Gibson]

As mentioned it might very well be the scope.  Your springer, assuming that's what it is, will probably rattle it apart in short order. a scope made for air rifles is a must.  I really like the Simmons 4X air rifle scope on my .20 cal R9.

Additionally, as also mentioned, pointy pellets are not know for accuracy at any distance like the 30 yards you mention.  Suggest a quality domed pellet like Crosman CPs for best accuracy.

I also suggest, again assuming a springer, that you use what is referred to as the "artillery hold" when shooting it and rest the fore hand over a soft rest when testing and zeroing the rifle.  If you're not using that hold and don't know what it is I and others can explain.

Springers are great air rifles to have, just have to get used to their quirks is all.

Larry Gibson