Today was a fine day to shoot. No wind...and in Kansas! 75 degrees, spring break from teaching, have the day off from my other job...So I shoot a 22 rifle, and three air rifles bench rest at 100 yards.
1. 22: CZ 452 with RWS 30mm 4-12X50 air gun scope. Fired one 3 shot 3/4 inch group with Federal long rifle.
2. RWS 350 Magnum 177 air rifle I shot this air rifle bench rest, using JSB 8.2 gr Exact, JSB 10.2 gr Exact Heavy. and Beeman Kodiak. The air rifle has a RWS 30mm 6X42 scope and is zeroed at 25 yards with Beeman Kodiaks. With two people watching I hit a sliver of wood at 100 yards 3 out of four times. First shot missed...finding aiming point. On target: with JSB Exact 8.2 gr the air rifle shoots about 2 1/2 high at 100 yards. I shot a 2 1/2 inch 5 shot group off the bench. With Beeman Kodiak I shot a 2 inch group about 1 inch high, and 1 inch to the left. I shot another 1 inch group with the JSB 8.2gr next 8 and 9 ring below the 10. I held a little low for this. With the JSB heavy the rifle shoots about 4 inches low...I shot a couple of 2 1/2 groups
3. RWS 54 177, RWS 300 4X32 scope, same pellets With Beeman Kodiaks I shot a 2 inch group about 3 inches low, and to the left. With JSB Exact 8.2 gr the 54 shot a two inch group in the black, anout 1 inch high and 1 inch to the left. Next group was a 3 shot 1 1/2 group with JSB 8.2 gr 2 inch low and left. With JSB heavy 10.2gr the 54 shot a 2 inch group about 6 inches low and a 1nch to the left. I also shot at the same sliver of wood, and Chuck was surprised that I could hit it 3 out of 3 times! I knew where to hold...so no problem
4. RWS 48/52 with a RWS 450 3X9 42mm scope 177 With the JSB 8.2 gr pellets I shot a 1 1/2 group 1 1/2 low and left. Next group with same pellet was a 4 shot 2 inch group 4 inches high 1 inch left...I held high for this one. Third group was a 3 inch 4 shot group with Beeman Kodiaks center, with center hold Last group was a 1 1/4 inch group with JSB heavys 5 inches low.
I cleaned the bores on these air rifles before shooting and got lead out of all of them. I also fired about 10 shots at the wood sliver to warm up the guns and ready the barrel.
Note: In order to shoot these groups I had to hold exactly the same from shot to shot...including locking through the scope. Best results were I held the rifles very loose, just touching my shoulder. Any change in hold would throw a shot several inches! Not so with the RWS 54 recoil less air gun. This one likes to be held firm...like a 22 rifle bench rest...but must hold exaxtly the same.
Note: Allthe rifles were zeroed at 25 yards. I did not change the scope's settings. If you know balistics you know that a pellet is climbing and will cross the line of sight on the way up...25 yards where gun is zeroed. This is the first "point-blank" range. The second "point blank" range where the pellet crosses the line of sight again on the way back down...seems to be near 100 yards. Thats why I did not have to hold way high. The pellet may climb 20 to 30 inches above line of sight...somewhere in between 25 and 100 yards, with a 25 yard zero...I don't know. David with his "Chair-Gun" said the pellet will drop 30 inches or so...true, but barrel is aimed up above the line of sight and pellet is climbing, then falling back through the line of sight neetr 100 yards. I will photograph the targets and post them if I can.
Spring guns can be shot at long range...you need a magnum gun, and a very good hold, a good machine rest, and no wind. Once I shot in a light breeze and it was a cross wind, the pellets were blown about 10 inches to the side. 22 long rifle out of my CZ was blown less than an inch. I was shooting the AR-50 50 BMG that day, and the 650 gr 50's were not moved at all! But I only shot a 3 inch group with the thing. Several people at the range (Outback Park in Kansas) wanted to fire the RWS air rifles, they were impressed with the air rifles more than the 50 BMG...only one person and his girl friend wanted to fire the firty...they both did!
Before you say 100 yards is too far for a spring gun...try it! But use a good Magnum gun, and a good hold. I fired several off hand rounds with the 350 and 54 using the different pellets, and hit several bowling pins, and slivers of wood at 100 yards. The pellets could not move the pins at all. At 25 yards I could knock down a bowling pin...if I hit it near the top. (Shooting on the 25 yard pistol range) This was a very fun and relaxing day of 22 and air rifle shooting. The chalange to everyone is: "Best group with a spring gun" at 100 yards. Any sights, any holds, any pellets. I shoot center fire bench rest and was shooting from my front rest and sand bag, and rear bag rest...but hold and trigger control is very important...or you'll throw a shot off the target. Good pellets are a must.
Douglas George