The On-going Pellet Saga

[Mebits]

OK, background below, but the long and the short of it is this: I was questioning the BC 1200 or maybe the scope, but then I thought that the CPHP's were better in the first tin, less loud. So, after tightening everything down and putting a new trigger, I tested them again. All over the map. I thought maybe I had a serious hold problem.

Well, I have hold problems but they aren't serious. I tested some old cheap wadcutters (that actually looks pretty regular, though they light). They shoot about 1.5" higher than CPHP's at 20 yrds which when I liked my groups, shot 1/5" high with one or two flyers.

I tested this again and I'm putting all my shots under a quarter, or so with the Daisy's. I washed and tested the CPHP's again and they were again all over the map--maybe 4" from most distant pellets but grouped (two left 1" and up 3", two right 1" and 1 on the B/E). Same form.

So, I'm testing the Beeman Silver Bear Semi wadcutter/HP's and they seem light too, but they group about as well as the Daisy's. So, from here, are there any other recommendations for HP's? Cost and availability are a factor. I'm looking to keep knock-down power, in case pigeons and starlings show up.

Thanks

M

(here's the post from below)

"Regarding this post from earlier:


"Interesting...This is preliminary as I've just not had time to do a full test, but I pulled out an OLD box of Daisy wadcutters. "SuperMatch" "QuickSilver". They seem quite light.

I shot a few at 10 yards. 3 just about in the same hold (about 1.5" above b/e) and one 3/4" low clearly due to my rushing the shot. Interesting...

So, I just tried 6 more at 20 yards, and put 2 almost touching (again well above b/e), and three touching 3/8" to the left and the 6th was way high. I may have rushed htat one and been welding my cheek too hard, though. I'm going to run another 20 pellet test on a clean target, taking my time and letting the wind die down. I'll advise.

If my theory is correct (and we should know in a while when I have some time), I'm thinking that I need to wash my CPHP's in a bit of Dawn and maybe lube them with endust or similar(?) thereafter. Thoughts? "

I had a few minutes and shot 20 or so of those old (like 15 year old) Daisy pellets. Yanno, they shot pretty well. I may have had a flyer, every 5-6, but frankly, that could have been me. I also have to say that the gun is NOT as hold-sensitive as I'd been thinking.

The last group of 5 at 20 yards, I tried to be patient with and tried to remember not to hold the gun at all too tightly, just tight enough to hold steady. I was able to cover all my shots with a quarter, including my one "flyer" (the rest I could cover with a dime). That's not to bad for fighting a cold, shooting off a wobbly unnailed sill through a window. At least, for my purposes, it's good or good enough.

Something else I noticed. They aren't quite as loud as some of those CPHP's.

Should I experiment with washing the CPHP's or just start buying other pellets?

Other thoughts?"

[fisherdude]

Just keep trying and it will eventually come together.  I have a CFX that I have struggled with until one day when I figured out that if I held the rifle a certain way, it would drive tacks.  You might try some JSB Exacts as they shoot well in most of my rifles. I think they are made of softer lead than some others.
If your rifle hasn't been tuned, that often helps settle them down.

[tjk]

Try other pellets!!!! Air rifles all seem to be pellet picky. If you want to keep knock-down power with a hollow point type pellet, I'd deffinatelly try out the Beeman CroMagnums. You BC should have no problems with these 8.8 grainned pellets. As a matter of fact,...shooting those old Daisy's, CPHP's and Beeman SB's may just be too lite causing them to wobble in flight from excessive speed. The Cro's will slow it down some,....but keep enough energy to bust a Starling/Grackle/Sparrow/Crow or squirrel at 30 yards!!!! A tune would always help as well.
I like to compare pellets to an old 'wiffle-ball'. With a slow under handed toss,...the ball will stay on a  somewhat straight course. But if you try to hurl it like a major league pitcher,....the wiffle ball will fly every where except where you what it to go!!!!! Good Luck, tjk

[longislandhunter]

I agree with the others.... keep trying different pellets.  If I were you I'd order a pellet sampler from Straightshooters.com   ,,,, I'll be you'll be able to find a pellet or 2 in the assortment that works well for you.....

Jeff

[Mebits]

tjk,

You're validating my thinking.

I'm at least glad it's coming my way. Though I took a look at the SB's and their groups were not as tight as those Daisy's. Crow Mags may make all the difference with the extra weight. If not, I'll keep trying recommendations.

M

[Mebits]

Update: Using Crow Mags at 20 yrds, I supported my left hand (instead of my forearm) for a more comfortable, stable hold. I put 4 pellets in what was essentially one irregular hole and one pellet 1/4 away from that. If I can do this a few more times, I'm going to say we've got it down. Of course, I just missed a sparrow, so maybe I'm premature. LOL!

Will update.

[airiscool]

Mark,

Four out of five into one ragged hole at 20 yards? That's great ! Sounds like it's coming together for ya.


Paul.

[Mebits]

airis,

Let's see if I can repeat it! That'll be more than good enough for my purposes.

Mark

[Mebits]

OK, I shot a bunch more. 5 more 5 shot groups, in fact. I was shooting OK, but with a flyer or two. Then I noted that I'd rush my shots a bit and I was holding the gun too firmly. I loosened up again, and I took a little bit of time between shots. I visualized the pellets going into the same hole.

Guess what? The last group all touched. ONE HOLE. I've still got to really nail down my form, because that's a key element to success in my shooting and my biggest problem, but I think we've established that this gun is plenty accurate and the Crow Mags shoot through the Big Cat just fine.

[airiscool]

Excellent !!!!

Paul.