First Shooting Session with new Whisper VH

[JimH]

Snow be damned. I finally cleaned the cellar - my wife thought I lost a screw. My ulterior motive was to build a range in my basement. I managed to get a comfortable 36 feet shooting right from my computer chair. I built a backstop of 3/4 plywood with a carpet pad cover to catch the lead - the carpet pad also provides a good surface to pin targets to. Speaking of targets, I downloaded a few from http://www.[b]airguns[/b]mith.com/target/freetargets4.htm  

This is my first time ever shooting at a target since my Air Force boot camp days where I received the marksmanship ribbon so I was not surprised that my drift was severe. I just couldn't hold my aim. The flaky Gamo trigger also caused many false pulls where I just didn't pull hard enough (I hope that will end soon when my golden nugget arrives.) Add to the trigger problems the fact that I hung my target too high and I have no real shooting rest. It was wobbly for sure. First shot was about 1.5 inches from center. But my next shot hit dead center - I nearly fainted. It must have been luck because I'm hobbled over this TV Tray with no support at all trying to aim up at my target. So I switched to a standing position and stuck with that. My shots were all in the 1.5 inch range from center - far enough to miss a bird or graze a tree rat. But I was fairly pleased with the set up.

1. Next step is to construct a better shooting rest - are there plans out there? or for $50 there's a couple options:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_229541&id=0027559226686a

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_226685&id=0040898228262a

and this Cabela's Elite Rifle Rest seems to be a good candidate on sale:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0005817227855a&navCount=17&podId=0005817&parentId=cat20793&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602007-cat20718-cat20793_TGP&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20793&hasJS=true

2. Is it normal for beginners not to have the ability to stay on target? I mean I was all over the place so I had to time my shots. (that's where the trigger really sucks) Should I expect the wobbles to improve with practice? Or is it age and fried nerves?

3. What is the proper height for a target - especially for sighting in a scope? My guess is even with the shooting platform?

Anyway, it was good to finally shoot this thing - and the best part is my wife never woke up to complain. So I guess the gun is quiet after I dumped the PBA ammo.

Thanks for the support!

Jim

[Tpatner412]

Jim,

I have a Whisper Deluxe and I've been using a couple pieces of wood stacked on one another with a cloth over that as my rest.  Then of course I place my hand on that and use the artillery hold from there and at the same distance you're shooting at I get 3/8" groups at the biggest with Gamo Hunter pellets.  For sighting it in I would tell you to try and maintain the straightest possible line for sighting your scope in.  So if you're resting the gun then set your target at that height or if your standing adjust it accordingly.  The trigger should get a little better but if its troubling you that much I'd definitely grab a GRT-III ASAP. (Assuming your Whisper VH has a metal trigger of course)

Glad to hear you're enjoying the rifle.  Good luck.

[snookman]

Hello Jim, I am glad you are getting in some trigger time. You will find out that the GRT-III trigger is the best!!!
 
 I am fairly new to air gunning myself, but I have put over 2000 pellets down range in the last 6 months so I am learning by trial and error.

 One of the first things I noticed is your choice of pellets make a big difference. Each gun will prefer a different pellet shape and weight. Second, all springers are somewhat hold sensitive. You are going to have to try different hold positions to find what your gun likes best. The GTA search engine , Pyramyd air's videos, and CharlieDaTuna's web site have been a great help to me.
 
It's great to have another air gun brother out there. You will have a lot of fun working out what is best for your first rifle,and the next one, and the next one, etc. LOL!!! Good shooting,snookman

[airiscool]

Jim,
Trigger, pellets, solid scope mounting, and hold.

The Gamo triggers are not good for getting consistant accuracy, if you have a stamped steel trigger, it can be swapped for one of Charley's wonderful triggers. Best thing that can happen to a Gamo !!!!!

Each gun is differant and therefore does better with certain pellets. You'll have to try differant ones to see which. Pellet sample packs are a good way to start.

The scope and it's mounts have got to be on rock solid !!!! De-grease and blue Locktite the mount screws and the mount to the reciever groove.

Try a relaxed, loose hold with the area of the stock that is just forward of the trigger guard  resting on your open hand, or the back of your hand. Don't grip  the stock firmly like you would with a powder burner. And like I hope they taught you in the AF, a good check weld. You may need a stock pad to get your eye lined up with the scope center every time.

The gun is going to take alot of pellets to wear in so don't get too frustrated in the begining.  

Enjoy.

Paul.

[Bogey]

Jim,  Welcome to the World of Airgunning.   And the GTA.  As for the problems or concerns that you stated, don't worry.   If you stay on the forum you will pick-up more information everyday.   Your accuracy is not that poor for a beginner in Airguns.   The trigger is most likely your main problem.  A replacement GRT 111 will make a big difference.  So much so that you should make sure the AG is pointed in a safe direction ( as always ) until you become acustomed to the lighter pull weight.

Also keep all the fasteners tight as suggested.    Also keep the scope fasteners tight.    Tight means firm,  not bone crushing.  Use Blue LOC- TITE,,it helps.

Have fun.  Be Safe.  Wear safety glasses.    Enjoy.

[longislandhunter]

Glad to hear you're gettin in some target time Jim  

The others have already given you good shooting advice.... just keep shooting and you'll get "the feel" for the rifle....

As the others have told you,, springers can take some time to master and the correct pellet is of course a major factor....

Jeff

[gamo2hammerli]

It`s very normal for people to not stay on target....everybody moves.  The one`s that practice alot and in good health move less but they still move.  Just have to time the shot so that it goes off inbetween heartbeats!!!!!  That`s where a good trigger comes in....you know when it`s going to go off.

[palonej]

6 posts and I feel smarter already!!!! lol  Just goes to show how much great info is on this forum!!!! I've also found: LOSE THE TRIGGER, GO GRT!!!! Different pellets, different groups, rrrrreeeeeellllllllaaaaaaaaxxxxxxxxx and have patience!!!!
Good luck Jim, hope your trigger is steel!! Check SAP bro!!
Joe

[Evo|ve_S|66]

Good to see someone else has almost the same shooter I do (soon to have). You'll definitely want to use some low quality pellets like the Daisy flattops to get your shooter broken in to being achieving great accuracy as well as better performance. As posted above, the Crosman Hollow-Points from Wally World are inexpensive and get the job done. I think it's like under $5 for a tin of 500 pellets or something. But at any case, with all of this shooting you'll definitely want to practice on holding the rifle using that artillery hold. Each time you shoot, find a better position to hold and build from that -- soon enough you'll adapt a formidable shooting position that'll achieve you great accuracy. Everybody moves when he/she shoots, that's all about being "alive" so to speak. It's natural. Especially for break barrels; one must shoot, take off position, cock the barrel and hold it, reach in for a pellet, load it, bring the barrel up, get back into position, re-aim and then fire. That in itself leads to some challenges for accuracy as compared to like a PCP. For target shooting/zeroing your scope. You'd want at least 10 yards or more for proper scope adjustments. Also be sure to have the target straight from you; not to the side, not upwards or downwards, just dog on straight as you can make it. There are just so many shooting tips/techniques to use and to tell you that it'd be impossible for me to type it all in words. So I would check google videos or....youtube for techniques that you could use. And most importantly of all, shoot safe! I hope you enjoy your shooter for years to come

-Jarred

[JimH]

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback. I may not have made it clear in this post, but I did order my new trigger from Bob last Friday. Hopefully it will be in this week if the US mail is still working. Time to kill more paper... maybe I'll print out some pages from the draft health care bill.

Update: Just fired off 20 more rounds. Consistency is MUCH improved. All from a standing position. I concluded that my site is off as my marks are all closely grouped buy down and slightly to the right of center. Of course this is to be expected considering the fact that I have not sighted my scope. I think I'll order that shoot rest from Cabellas - I couldn't build one for that cheap if I count my labor and I don't see any other way to accurately fine tune my scope. This reminds me of a comment one of you guys left me about putting aside extra cash for this sport...lol... and I though my photography and video hobbies where all-consuming. This is a rush! Can't wait to get outside and thin the crow population.

I made a custom target which I like: http://www.jameshoughtaling.com/TEMP/target%20circles.jpg

[LongIslandArcher]

I got one of these.  I can fold it flat and hang it on my wall, out of the way: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/big-game-shooting-bench.aspx?a=334743

[LongIslandArcher]

The first two shooting rests from MTM aren't that good.  The rubber resting surfaces don't let the rifle "slide" naturally after the shot.  If there's more pressure on one side of the rifle vs. the other side, the rifle will pull to the higher pressure side upon firing.  I haven't done it with mine yet, but I'm going to wrap the rubber rest with teflon (not plumbers) tape, or something smooth, so it's not gripping on the rifle stock when you shoot.

[palonej]

I know everyone is different, but I find I'm most accurate, and comfy, in the sitting position, with my left elbow kind of resting on my right knee. When target shooting, I open up my rifle bag and lay it flat on the ground. Sit on it, dump some pellets out, assume the position and plink away. We have a very deep back yard and are able to set targets out to 125 yards. Nice and wide too. We have a bunch of Tuna Tuned Whispers with GRTs that are tack drivers!! On a nice calm day, with a lot of patience, we are able to get some pretty consistent groups out to 75 yards. Break bottles that are in large plastic protein jars, with glow sticky targets on them at, 125 Yards. These things are awesome!! My sons and a few of their friends come over and it doesn't get any better than that!!!!!
Joe

[Ekass13]

Now that sonds like fun

[JimH]

I think I got about 100 shots on paper and feel fairly comfortable with the gun. I'm getting good consistent patterns. I picked up my hunting license yesterday and plan on heading into the woods on Saturday. I've been watching some field dressing videos on Youtube and believe I can clean me a rabbit or squirrel if I'm lucky. Getting it in the house is another story...heh heh. My wife thinks I'm turning into a redneck... she should know I've been a redneck all along (the dip in my lip should have been a clue). Now I'm a redneck with a airgun! Even though I was born and raised in NY, I spend as much time as I can in the woods. I spent a couple years in South Georgia and a tour with the Air Force in Central Texas. So I feel qualified. I got a special kick out of this guy's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUR6lxnAME