Like to introduce myself

[cnsjones]

All us Ol farts gotta stick togedder doncha know! Airguns pretty appropriate; Lotsa hot air!!!

 My Whisper to arrive Weds, so keep us posted on the ammo.  

[chortdraw]

All I could find today was Gamo Rocket and Crossmen pointed hunting pellets 8.3 gr. The rocket were all over the place. The Hunting pellets from Crossmen were the most accurate so far...25 yds  had some 1/2" groups and some fliers? The Whisper seems to be real touchy on how you hold it. If I hold firm to shoulder it is not very good at grouping. If I use a loose grip it seems to group better? So far I still am not impressed with this gun. Have to try some super domes if I can find them locally. Maybe have to mail order them? The GRT 111 trigger sure makes it easier to control!!! Hope you get your gun soon and let me know it works for you

[johnA]

Hi Dale, My whisper likes the RWS Superdomes and the the POLYMAG predators even more at 7.9 grain.   I'm using iron sights for now at 12 -20 yards.

[cnsjones]

I have been trying to get the old gray cells active and have been studying  various sources re proper techniques for springers.  My only air gun (rifle)experience is with a match Feinwerkbau RECOILESS gun my daughter shot in competition 30 odd years ago.  

The firm to the shoulder worked with it, but apparently does not with the recoil generated by most springers without the recoil elimination mechanism.  The forearm support that works with the FWB WAS similar in that using either  a flat palm without gripping the forearm, OR supporting the stock on a fist using a shooting glove works best (NOT gripping the forearm stock).

 This led me to the so-called "Artillery Hold" for the springers.

I Googled until I found this:  http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2007/07/artillery-hold.html

This I hope will get me off to the right start.  I plan on initially doing some bench experiments, and will report on AirgunGate.

One other thing is that the gun I am getting had a tuning done on it by CharlieDaTuna (CDT) so we may not be quite comparing apples to apples. But we will work on this together I hope!  Maybe start a OFC -- I bet you can figure out what that stands for!  

[cnsjones]

Hi Chortdraw, (Can I cal you Dale?)

One of the true experts in this is Tom Gaylord.  He is the "B. B. Pelletier" found on Pyramyd Air.  Google him for some of his fascinating articles.

Here is a video I just found, that says a bit more.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=59882597

BTW I am not really a hunter, although I have killed a few squirrels and cottontails back in the day, and that is why I am back into this game, the dang squirrels!  Did some low-level small bore competitive shooting, but nothing like to the level my daughter reached.  Hard to admit that the ladies can usually outshoot us when they put their mind to it.

Fuller

[chortdraw]

Thank you Fuller,and you can call me Dale or anything you want. Sometimes my wife has a few choice names for me..LOL   At 70 years of age it doesn't matter what they say as long as they smile in case I don't here them. The video on the artillery hold explains why I shot better when I quit holding the gun like my 1022. There is no end to learning!!!!  The same went for my pistols after some schooling through my teacher at Insight. When I got my CCW permit I realized I better learn to shoot better than what I was doing. Love my Springer Loaded 45 and my Bersa's,9mm and 380. I think this is going to be a real challenge and a lot of fun. Would like to learn how to tune one of these myself someday!!......Dale

[cnsjones]

You are welcome, and as I said maybe we can learn together. Please keep us posted on your experience with any new techniques that work, as well as ammo.

I also would like to learn disasembly and tuning, and have been checking out CDT's Simplified Spring Compressor.  When I do start experimenting with this it will be a rifle that I don't mind messing up!  I have been watching for an old inexpensive one.

Wonder how many over 70s there are here?? True members of the OFC need to be 70 or above, and I have you beat, just turned 76.  Like I said, Oldern Dirt!!  
Hoping my eyesight holds up long enough to enjoy my new found hobby.

[chortdraw]

76... Now that is down right scary. Hope I can still do these things at your age. The more I read about these things the more I realize how much I have to learn. I am sure glad I found this site as it has kept me from getting discouraged so fast. Let me know how good your Whisper shoots with the tune job. I may have to send mine in and have it done.   ........ Dale