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Kind of funny, but when I started thinking about how to answer you, I realized that I don't really think about my shooting much as I'm doing it. I guess I kind of go into auto-pilot. Your question is definitely a good one, and has made me think really hard about this answer.
If there is one thing I have learned in 17 yrs of air gunning, it is this: When you buy a gun, find out if it will REALLY, REALLY shoot. If it won't shoot to YOUR personal standards, but you like everything else about it, sell it and buy another of the same model. I do this until I DO get an exceptional one. I owned three Falcons and four AA 410Es until I got one that would REALLY shoot. The ones that I sold off, would still shoot well enough and almost any air gunner would be VERY pleased. Having said all that, here is how I find out if a gun will shoot, and then how I shoot it.
You brushed on the most important factors to me. Equipment and technique. First the scope ABSOLUTELY HAS to be mounted perfectly vertical with the action. If this is off, all bets are already off. I tend to use 4x16 power scopes the most. They have enough power for long range shots, and a large enough field of view for hunting. However a 20 or 24 power scope is even better if you are only bench resting for extreme accuracy. I like the B&L 4200 and Weaver V-16 the best, for 16 power scopes.
I tune ALL of my triggers to be VERY light and predictable. To me, triggers DO make a HUGE difference. I can guarantee you one thing. When I shoot any of my guns, I will never pull off target due to my trigger. Other things yes, but NOT my trigger
A solid rest is a must. After my gun is seated in the rest, and I'm about to line up my shot, I wiggle the gun around some to make sure it is seated fully and is not going to move when fired. Then I line up the target. I like shooting 1/4" dots at 50 yds. Aim small, miss small. I always hold in the same exact center of that dot if there is no wind. Doping wind is a whole nother' story.
I pull the rifle back into my shoulder firmly, then release the pressure and let it sit firm, but relaxed into my shoulder. I use a light grip on the pistol grip and NO grip on the gun with my left hand. I ALWAYS make sure my grip is the same, and that the pad of my finger is the same on the trigger every time.
When the shot is lined up, I close both eyes for about two seconds and then open them again. If the crosshairs have moved from dead center of the dot I'm aiming at, that means that when I settled into position fully, that I had some kind of unwelcome tension on the gun or in my body positioning. So I resettle and do it again until when I open my eyes, the crosshair is still where it was when I closed them.
Now it is time for me to slow my breathing and zone in only on where I want the pellet to go. When I am completely relaxed and breathing slow, I take up first stage on the trigger. I watch any movements of my crosshair, and notice how they rise and fall with my breathing. Next as I am ready to fire, and I'm just starting to exhale, I start a gentle, easy pull on the trigger's second stage. I increase pressure by miniscule amounts until about half of my breath is exhaled, and the trigger breaks. If I am not “surprised “ by the trigger breaking naturally, then it means I pulled the trigger too fast. The center of that exhale and the breaking of the trigger MUST be timed right, BUT without me really having to think about it. It comes natural and ONLY with a LOT of practice. Remember, my grandfather taught me all of this.
Lastly I watch the pellet strike the target. Follow through is of utmost importance.
I do not size my pellets, or sort them. I DO look at each one as I load it, to make sure it is not deformed. I shoot only 4 pellet brands, and 4 only. They are in order of preference:
JSB Exact 5.52
Kodiak
Premiers
FTS
Now it just hit me. This is how I shoot my PCPs bench rested. I'll follow this up with a post from the SS forum, where I answered someone's question about how I was shooting my SLR-98.
I hope something in this crazy long post helps someone, and that no-one takes this in the wrong spirit it was intended. I do NOT consider myself a guru. I've never lived a day of my life where my grandfather could not outshoot me.....with him blindfolded!!
Charlie
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