Boot here; ballistic data neeeded for Raptor PBA w/new Whisper

[rr_72]

Hey Guys,

New to the forum and to springer shooting in particular; not new to shooting however, being a USMC veteran.

Here's a quick sitrep:

* got a new Gamo Whisper in .177; currently utilizing the scope and mounts that came with it (worst damned trigger-pull I ever experienced, btw).

* backyard is only 60 feet, so I set the zero with the Gamo-supplied PBA Raptors at 60ft (20 yrds).

* trying to engage my annoying, feathered (but thankfully  generally stationary) target at approximately 150-165 feet (50 to 55 yrds), which is two yards/properties down.

* downloaded a free program called Hawke Chairgun Pro, which looks promising, but there is no included ballistic and/or relevant rifle data to successfully plot a path with the Gammo PBA  Raptor mit Whisper combination.

If anyone has the aforementioned data at (relative) arm's length, would they mind posting it here in this thread?

Thanks for any and all input - it's greatly appreciated - and glad to be here.

Regards,



Rick
San Diego, CA, USA

[TCups]

Welcom to the GTA, Rick!

Yikes!!  Take the Raptor pellets and flush the down the crapper, buddy.  They are a gimmick -- very light to post very high velocity numbers  -- but they will damage your rifle if you shoot them very much.  You new Whisper will be much happier with a diet of Crosman Premier Lights, Beeman FTS or JSB Exact pellets. Try to say in the 7gr to 8.5 gr range for a .177.  Check out the data posted in the library on pellet weights, energy, etc.

[chortdraw]

I am also new to this game and before I found this site I looked up these raptor pellets...found the same thing that Tcup just said. I have enjoyed the input from the guys on this forum and also found the trigger from Charlie da tuna is the answer to your trigger problem. I have been enjoying the chance to learn as much as possible about these air guns and find the help here very rewarding. Hope you get as much as I have from these air gunners.

[AKJC1977]

Hello, Welcome to the best airgun site. What these guys are telling ya is fact, I think we have all fell in love with those shiny gold PBA pellets at the beginning.  Promising to give a 25% increase in velocity. And that they do, no doubt. Good penetration and clean, no lead build up. But what ya dont know until your spring fatigues is that they destroy your gun. Why would Gamo sale a pellet that tears their guns up? Because they do just that,they sale,and well too. You would not cock your gun and dry_fire it. But thats basically what your doing when ya shoot ultra light ammo.I really wish some company would make ammo that is alloy (non lead) and is heavier, at least 8 grains. The raptors only weigh like 5.6 grains. Im not as interested in the velocity as the cleaner barrel. As a matter of fact if ya really want accuracy you dont want to use ammo light enuff to go supersonic because of the turbulence created during the sonic crack,there is unpredictable grouping. Most competitors try to stay below 1,100 FPS (feet per second) to avoid this. Now if Your like Me and like blowing stuff up,shooting Varmint and so on You know more power equals more fun. I would suggest having a Nitrogen gas piston in your whisper,I dont think they are as volnurable to the weight issue. Also You can leave them cocked as long as you want (supposedly) and temperature has no effect on them. I am considering installing one on My Gamo,Viper(.177) if it checks out as a good upgrade with the experts on this Forum. As for your bad trigger get a GRT 111 trigger by Charliedatuna. He is an Admimistrator on this site. It is a true two stage adjustable and is the best upgrade you can make to a Gamo period.Well I hope this has been helpful as I hate to see anyone tear up their gun. By the way same goes in the other end of the spectrum, Very heavy pellets are potentienally bad for your gun too. You will be alright, You found one of the most knowledgeable sites on airguns I know of. Go to Charliedatuna.com and spend the best $30.00 on Your gun that can be spent,on the GRT111. Install time is like 5 minutes and two tools. Enjoy your airgun. AKJC1977

[Big_Bill]

Welcome to the GTA Forums Rick !

The BEST AirGun Forum on the Internet ! ! ! ! And, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE ! ! ! ! !

First, the best modification that you can make is a GRT-III trigger, I get no commission ! but you won't believe the difference ! So watch it after you put it in, night and day difference ! :http://www.charliedatuna.com

Next keep the Raptors for a pumper or CO2, it won't hurt them. But I have heard that they can burn the compression seal on the gas ram piston rifles, so I wouldn't use them in any springer !

Now that your a member of our air gun addicted family, I hope to see you here often !

Bill

[rr_72]

Thanks for all the welcome-aboards, guys.

I did a little more research from my first post and think I've narrowed down what I really need in order to plot a trajectory with that Hawke Chairgun Pro: Caliber, BC (ballistic coefficient), MV (muzzle velocity), Weight (in grains), and your Zero.

So, as follows:

Caliber = .177

BC =

MV = 1200fps

Weight = (I've read 5 to 5.6 grains)

Zero = 20 yards


Does anyone know of a list of BCs for commercially available pellets or is this something that's strictly for rimfire and centerfire rounds?  I've already looked at the Gamo website but they only provide the caliber and FPS.

I've also read a lot of good reports on the JSB Predator pellets, which is something I'll definitely try...perhaps this weekend, if I can find them locally. However, the immediate problem at hand is the aforementioned bird that happens to  sing all day and night. My family and I have been averaging only 3 to 4 hours per night of sleep over the past 5 nights or so due to this newly-arrived, feathery SOB and if I don't put him down soon, we're all going to go crazy from a lack of REM sleep.

Thanks,

Ricky

[North Pack]

Welcome aboard rr - can't really add anything to what's already been said, - just want to say - GET that GRT-III trigger!!! Speaking from experience, you won't believe the difference in that Whisper. ... I've found those Raptors to "want" for accuracy, to put it mildly.

[JimL911]

Check Straightshooters. BC is right hand column.http://www.straightshooters.com/ourtake/ottest34.html
MV is true, not what it is rated. You need to check it with a chrony. When you get a new scope get one with Mil-Dot or look at the Hawke Air Max. The multiple aim points will help with different distances. Hawke even has its own program for use with it's scopes. Can't help you with the PBA ammo but the BC would be extremely low. Listen to the guys and dump it. They are too light and unstable for any kind of accuracy.

[airgunandy]

Aside from the possibility of hitting a bird at 55 yards with an untuned Gamo with the factory trigger, hopefully you have permission from the neighbors to shoot across their property and to hunt on their property. It might be better to just shoot the annoying critter from the neighbor's yard.

[rr_72]

Got fed-up with the whole thing so I resorted to a very KISS solution: I quietly walked down our deserted street at 05:30 Monday morning and plugged the little bastard while he sang and hopped up and down atop "his" utility pole; muzzle to bird was probably 50 feet. I then turned around, and walked home. Problem solved. Should've done this to begin with! Thanks for all the input, fellas.