220 Hunter accuracy

I've shot about 1200 pellets through this gun and I can't seem to get a grouping less than 3 to 4 inches at 25 yards. I tried different pellets and I can't seem to find one that really stands out.
 If I shoot in my basement at 6 yards ( max I can go) I get groups the size of a dime. Im shooting with gun rested on a pad in both cases. Is this about right for this gun? I'm using a 3-9-32 tasco scope, CDT trigger. Funny thing is I bought this gun to play around with, now I want one that will hit dime groups at 30 yards!!! Hummm HW 97 in my future :p

Have you tried putting your hand between the forestock and the rest? It might be just a simple case of your rifle not liking the way it shoots off of the pad your using. If you have the open sights you may want to try them to eliminate pivot lock up or scope/mount issues. And last but not least, have a look at the crown. If all else fails stick with plan HW, Hehe. By the way, I have an HW77k and it does not shoot off of a rest well, it needs my hand under it in order to get good rested groups. HTH,

Mulby

[CharlieDaTuna]

Most  springer airguns really don't like being shot off a rest, especially a hard one and even moreso when not tuned. They do have quite a bit of torque as well as the double recoil and vibration. They should be allowed to float in your hands and not drarwn into your shoulder. Most are pretty hold sensitive. There are a couple of articles on my website on the "Airgun Info" page that may help you and also in the library I believe.

 http://charliedatuna.com/AirgunInfo.htm

I have tried resting it on my hand ontop of the pad and get about the same results. I will try again without the scope and see what happens. Mulby im not sure what pivot lock up is.

[vinceb]

Definitely try the open sights before getting too worked up over it.

Pivot-lockup is the latch mechanism that keeps the breach closed. It has a spring-loaded wedge, and this is what you are overcoming when you break the barrel open to get to the breach to load a pellet and start cocking the gun.

If the breach lock-up isn't tight, there's one of 2 things that can happen.

First, the breach might lock-up in a slightly different position (either up and down or side to side) each time you close the barrel. Obviously, with a scope, this kills any accuracy. It is less an issue with the open sights which sit on the barrel, and therefore always point where the barrel is pointed.

Second, the breach might move when the gun is fired. This'll screw up shooting with either a scope or with opens.

Does the barrel seem to have any easy "free play" when it is closed? After you cock the gun but before you close the breach, is the barrel free to swing back and forth, or does the joint still feel snug?

Generally speaking, Gamo lock-up mechanisms are pretty solid. I'd be surprised if that was the problem (it's more believable on a Quest).  But again, shoot it with the opens and see what it does.

The breach doesn't have any play in it Vince.I was going to try sighting in today with sights but the wind is blowing pretty hard today.
 I think I will try to optically centering the scope.I never did this before mounting it. I have the turrets centered, now I just need to make a box.

Ok
 I just optically centered the scope at 25 yards. I got it pretty close, when I turn it i get about 1 inch of play. Is that ok or should it be dead on? Still to windy to shoot.Hopefully by the end of the day the wind will let up.

[vinceb]

Didn't think the Gamo lock-up would be a problem. That's something they tend to do well.

I'm not an expert with scopes, but I believe that optical centering is more of a fine-tuning issue, especially at moderate ranges.

In any case, if you test it with open sights even in your short, 6 yard indoor range you should be able to tell if its better without the scope. You were getting dime-sized (.7") groups before, with open sights you oughta be able to get virtually single-hole groups if the rifle is a decent shooter.

Don't forget - it is entirely possible that you have a bum scope that's hoppin' around on you...

I was getting tight groups with the scope in the 6 yard range too, same as the sights.Just having a problem at long range with the scope. I really didn't think it was that bad with a 3 to 4 inch spread until I read other posts.
 You guys are hitting 5 shot groups pretty tight. I hope it was the scope. It was way out before I did the spin in the box trick. I didn't spend much time sighting in the irons long range as of yet. Maybe tomorow If the wind lets up.

 One more thing I did , after I centered the scope, I mounted it and took  two shots at a piece of printer paper. It shot about 8 inches low so I put two pieces of film, for a shim, in the rear mount. That brought POI were it should be without turning my turrets. I didn't bother with the windage because of the wind.

I'd go with what Charlie has to say about that issue. He has the experience to give a pretty dependable opinion.

Well I think my neighbor solved my problem. We seldom see each other and I didn't know he shot air rifles.He took a walk over when he heard
me shooting. He brought a *_*_*_*_*_*load of different pellets and his Beeman R10 20 cal. I shot his gun with great groups at 15 yards. Then I  shot my gun
with the pellets he brought over and Wala!! Beeman Kodiaks shot great groups at 15 yards in my 220. I put 15 in the center of the Airgun Zeroing Target. Im a happy camper now!!