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Many shooters using a
spring gun for the first time complain they cannot get good groups with
their guns. Rarely is this a problem with the gun. There have been many
discussions amongst airgunners about Hold Sensitivity. What is hold
sensitivity? What guns are hold sensitive? How do I deal with a hold
sensitive rifle? What can be done to reduce hold sensitivity? Let’s look
at a couple generalities, then get down to specifics.
Generally, guns that use pre-compressed gasses to develop power are not
what we’d call hold sensitive. These include CO2,pump pneumatics and
pre-charged pneumatics (PCP). Spring guns are nearly always more hold
sensitive than the above mentioned types because of their recoiling
nature. The moving mechanical mass jolts the gun when fired. Keeping the
gun pointed at the desired target, while the pellet moves down the
barrel is of utmost importance.
With a spring powered gun, the shooter must develop a VERY consistent
method of shooting. This method has been called the “Artillery Hold” by
Tom Gaylord, and the “Howitzer Hold” by Larry Durham. No matter which
name you choose, it amounts to pretty much the same style of shooting.
Another term used in conjunction with these is “follow through”, which
really has nothing to do with the way the gun is held prior to the
trigger being pulled. Follow Through is what you do after the sear is
released, and is only part of the Howitzer Hold technique.
The technique itself involves having minimal contact with your gun while
aiming and shooting. This means you don’t GRIP the forestock, but rather
you let it just lay on top of your hand. The finger grooves and fancy
checkering on spring airguns is more of a styling carryover from
firearms, and doesn’t serve much purpose when firing a springer. This
also means you rest your gun on your hand at the same point on the
forestock every time. Champion airgunner Nick Jenkinson wrote an article
on choosing the best contact point for your gun, finding that it’s
usually located at some point ranging from 2 to 5 inches in front of
your trigger guard. Wherever your “sweetspot” is, use it consistently.
Changing from one contact point to another, can alter your point of
impact.
The next thing to watch is your grip on the rifles pistol grip. I rarely
wrap my thumb around the grip, but instead- just barely touch the back
of the pistol grip. Some shooters like to point their thumb up the back
of the grip, thumbtip aiming at the end cap of the receiver tube. The
fingers wrapping around the grip should just have very light contact
with the gun. I generally only allow the two centermost fingers to
control the grip- more to keep the gun from leaning off the vertical
plane than anything else.
Another important point is to just use the pad of your fingertip on the
trigger. Don’t wrap the first finger joint around the trigger blade.
When squeezing off the shot, apply no side pressure to the trigger blade
- just ease it straight back towards the heel of your thumb. Don’t rush
the shot either! If you move off target, stop pulling the trigger.
Regain the bullseye and start over with the firing sequence.
Next is cheek contact with the stock. It should be very light. Don’t lay
your face down on the comb of the stock. Touch your cheek to the same
spot with each shot.
Pull the gun up to your shoulder, then relax the ‘pull-in’ pressure to
the point where the butt is merely touching your shoulder. After you’ve
learned all this, you still have to ‘follow through’ with your aim, once
the gun is fired. Proper follow through involves keeping your eyes on
the target, as best you can, while allowing the gun to float straight
back in its’ recoil. If you cannot master this follow through,
everything else you’ve done, no matter how perfect, will place your
pellets where you DON’T want them.
Other techniques to help master a hold sensitive gun are breathing and
adjusting your trigger properly—when possible. Just because a gun is
hold sensitive doesn’t make it inaccurate! Many extremely accurate
springers can be hold sensitive, but to be precise, a shooter MUST be
CONSISTENT. Without mastering consistency, the most expensive spring gun
is only as mediocre as it shooter.
Another way to reduce hold sensitivity is to get the gun professionally
tuned. A good tune removes excessive recoil and vibration, and improves
the guns shot to shot consistency. Improved groups are almost always the
result. The gun is also less fatiguing to shoot.
Even when the shooter is doing everything just right, they have the
feeling the gun should be shooting smaller groups. This is usually an
indication of the guns preference for a certain style or weight of
pellet. Many airguns are pellet sensitive, not just spring guns. The
quickest way to find your guns pellet reference is to ask other owners
who have the same gun and caliber what works well for them. Because each
gun is an individual, you may still need to experiment with pellets of
various weights and skirt sizes to determine what is truly the best for
your own gun.
Springers require a certain amount finesse and experience before you can
appreciate them. A shooter who is very good with a spring gun is usually
an excellent firearms shot, but not necessarily vice versa.
Good Shooting,
Russ
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