let me start by saying that gamo is full of shxt and their airrifles are crap.i recently returned 3 i had purchased at CHRISTmas.we had the same problem.i can shoot ,i dare say as well as anyone at gamo and you can hold one of these "hunter" air rifles anyway you want,you are not going to get it to shoot any better than you did.i think the best way to hold one is barrel first right up gamo's ass.i am not a kid,or a novice shooter.take my advice get rid of the gamo and stay away from them.i will admit i have no experience with their more expensive rifles.the two models we had were two-440 hunters and a youth hunter.all three garbage.just needed to vent a little,imagine telling your son's christmas day that the air rifles you just gave them have to be returned because you bought them crap.ok kids here's your crap inaccurate,poorly made,plastic component air rifles,,,now give them back so i can return them,merry friggin christmas.good luck,adker