Dear Mehavey:
You are correct! It is almost impossible to shoot MOA with a "springer"...It is a real challange!...but if you sometimes can do it...it is fun! I shoot alot of bench rest, with heavy barrel rifles, and high power scopes. I have shot several one hole groups with my 22-250, 222, and 22PPC. But the "spring gun is the most sensitive of all. And you are so correct when you sey it is dependent on the shooter. Any hold difference...well you'l miss by inches! In fact I have never been able to shoot a group less than 10 inches off the bench with the forearm resting on the front rest. I have shot my best groups with my left hand resting on the front rest...and the stock sitting on my open hand. Grip with the right hand must be loose, and the air rifle must be loose in the sholder...maybe then you might just be able to put 3 shots together! And weigh your pellets...they have to be exact! Maybe thats why RWS R-10 pellets in the plastic box (each pellet packed different from the others) seen to work the best. I have only shot my RWS 48 bench rest at 100 yards. And only have shot good groups with the scope set at 9X (max power). With my 22-250 I have a 40X scope. I find if I can not see the bullet hole at 100 yards...I mess up the group. With the RWS 48, a few times I shot 1 1/2 groups...but not that often...but it can be done. Maybe luck? I don't know. but I can hardly wait to try my Beeman R-1 177, my RSW 54, 350, 46 all 177, and my RWS 460 22 at 100 yards. When the weather warms up I will try. Believe it or not, I have caused some air gun intrest at my local out door range, and at the 25 yard range I shoot at. I shoot several times a week. Stress relief...there is so much stress in shoot air guns that, I am ready to face work again...in fact after messing with scopes, pelets, holds, shooting different guns (each with its own ideas on how it should be shot)...it is a relief to go back to work!
The only weird thing about these guns...my best 25 yard groups have been with my RWS 350 Magnum and Supermag, and Kodiak pellets! Even my RWS 48, and 54 have trouble keeping up with that 350 of mine! And I only have a 6X scope on her! The only long range shooting I have done with my 460 is 65 yards. That was shooting at work (after work) out side the shop. And the 460 kept up with my CZ 22 rifle I was shooting. But I was only shooting off hand. All of my 25 yard shooting is also off hand. This air gun shooting has vastly improved my big bore hand gun shooting...ask any one in my league. My friends at the range are getting used to me and my air guns...once I had them All laid out for them to look at. and the gunshop that has the range is now carrying air rifles! GAMO, RWS, Beman, and Rugar air rifles! And they are selling! When I bring a "high end" air rifle to the range...most guys seem curious...and a few have now bought an air rifle for themselves!
Wait tell the guys at the outdoor range see the Big Bore PCP! .452, 900fps! And you should hear what a big bore PCP sounds like at the indoor range...a very loud "twang! when a 45 call pellet? hits the back stop at 900 fps. The discharge sounds like a 22 rifle. The range owner even once checked the back stop for damage after shooting one shot from a big bore PCP...and we shoot 44 mags at it all day! If you want to see how big bore PCP air guns do at long range...check out bigboreairguns.com
I will try to get some photos posted of 100 yard shooting with spring powered air guns...and as soon as I make a disk, I will try to post some photos of Big Bore air gun shooting.
How does one post a photo on this forum?
Douglas George
P. S. Now after writing this post...I'll shoot my RWS 54 for a while...before going into work! Radiation Safty Officer Century Istrruments, Chem teacher at Butler Collage, McConnell AFB...and yes, I have snuck air rifles on base! I often shoot them after teaching. I guess it a Love-Hate relation with the spring gun...but that's the challange, If I was lasy about shooting...well thats what 22's (long rifle) are for! But I find shooting, and shooting well, getting the best, and better than the norm accuracy out of a "springer" is real work! But what a satifaction! Better than Bench Rest centerfire shooting! What really got me going with air rifles, was a German Made (Finwerkbou..( SP) Olympic recoil less air rifle I owned back in 1984. I also had a BSA 22 spring gun, several Sharidans, and the Barnett Spitfire back then. Today I have fun with the RWS guns, the Beeman R-1, RWS and Beeman air pistols.. and Big Bore PCP...maybe thats why I have sold off most of my Military rifle collection, to pay for Air rifles! But I have owned military rifles since the 70's and have made a good return off them. example: 03-A4 sniper...$350 in 1985...sold for $2000 last year! Johnson 30-06, $850 in 1988...sold for $2500 lastr year!, Ross 1905...$250 in 1998...sold for $1200 in 2000, and a Mint unfired Sharps New Model 1863 bought in 1986 for $650, sold for $3500 last year...that paid for lots of air guns!! Guns are the best investment there is...even fine air rifles hold there value. I bought a RWS 46 used at a gun show for $200...was offered $300 for it a month later...did not sell!
