Newbie Questions - Big Cat

[JaxPilot]

All,
Just joined the forum after shooting a dozen rounds through my new Big Cat and thinking I needed to find a trigger mod. So, after a Google search and then ordering the GRT-III, I jumped over here, and have been reading a ton of great information. I am an avid shooter, and have been for the last 40 years (since I was 10), but have never tried airguns until last week.

So, after trying to research info here at GTA, here is what I have gleaned, and I just wanted to see if I picked up the correct information. I am comfortable disassembling and "tweaking" my rifles, although I would classify myself as an advanced beginner from a skills perspective. Total Novice when it comes to airguns.

So, with my new Big Cat 1200 here is a question, and some items on which I would like to receive verification and/or opinions.
 
First, when I first opened the box, I cocked and shot without a pellet installed, just to see how loud it was. It was very loud in the house, and a burst of mist came out of the barrel. Much to my dismay, I have since learned that is a CARDINAL SIN. :0

Will a single shot like that necessarily ruin the gun?

Since that event, I have fired about a dozen shots trying to sight it in, and the hits are all over the map, although some single shots did hit within a 1" circle at which I was aiming from ~30 yds. There is a loud "twang" with every shot, and significant vibration through the stock.

Here are the "Mods" and steps I am planning to take. Did I miss anything?

1. Ordered CharlieDaTuna's GRT-III trigger to install

2. Ordered the "GAMODEAL" from Maccari (http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/251488/7718385.htm)
     a. Do I need to order any of the Spring Guide Power Spacers from Maccari? (http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/251488/6357238.htm)

3. I have decided that while the RAM conversion has valid pros and cons, I am going to try a DIY tune based on instructions from CdT and Tom Gaylord at PA. I would rather spend $40 and learn my gun, than $140 when I don't know that I need a change to a RAM at this experience level.

4. Build a spring compressor from one of the several interesting plans available on GTA.

5. Plug hole at front of stock, and then fill with dampening material, either memory foam, expanding foam+shot, clay+shot, shredded paper - haven't chosen a method yet!

6. Shoot the gamo supplied scope until it breaks, and/or until I get a medium recoil approved scope such as the Center Point or Hawke (or higher grade)  3-9 x 40mm scope. What type of mount/ rings should i get?

7. Order the Pellet Sampler from Straight Shooters to see which one(s) my particular rifle prefers.

8. Go have some fun shooting!

Thanks,
Paul

[djmyers]

Sounds bout like what I did to mine and love it! Shoots great and very accurate. The red seal is the apex seal and the spring will get rid of the twang. I have the 3-9x40 scope that came with my gamo hunter on it and it's a solid combo. Shoots low 900's with 8.4 gr jsb pellets. Was shooting  mid 800's prior to all the work. Spring compressor is easy and there are lots of examples here. For the gas ram, I'd wait till you shoot your tuned up cat. I have a gamo hunter with gas ram and it's has about 50 fps on the spring big cat. The wooden stock, gas ram and better scope make it my primary shooter. But no by much. They are very close. So if 50 fps is worth 100 bucks go for it but other than that I think you'll be plenty happy with the stuff you have planned. And that trigger will change the world when it comes to accuracy. Unbeleivable.

On the pellets I have shot about 20 different kinds. Gamos get shot at or given to the kids I won't shoot them anymore just don't group past 15 yards. Cphp are ok. My favorite are jsb 7.33 or 8.4 gr and H&N crow mag 8.9 gr.  I have the rws sampler and superdome did the best but 1-2 in groups at 25 yds is not good enough so they are out. The rest of the sampler went down hill. All guns are different though. Hope this helps out.


 Welcome aboard. I'm sure anything you might run into can be fixed by somebody here. Good luck and good shooting.

[gamo2hammerli]

Paul, a big welcome to the GTA forum and family. I can't answer or comment on all your questions. The first and only dry-fire shot probably didn't hurt your Big Cat.

The Gamo supplied scope can last you from 20 to 2000 shots depending how lucky you get....I've read some airgunners breaking them in just a few shots and my Big Cat, Viper and Whisper scopes lasted between 1200 to 2200 shots each.

DO NOT USE THE PBA RAPTOR pellets that came with the BC and/or other Gamos....they're too light and will damage the innards of your/any powerful spring piston airguns. Because of their lightness...they'll shoot badly also.

Generally the Crosman Premier Hollow Point work well in many brands of airguns. RWS Superdomes, Beemans, JSBs, H&Ns work well too.....the dome pellets works best usually. Try out different brands/types to see which ones work best with your Big Cat.

You have to check if your "New" Big Cat have a plastic trigger or not (The old one have a metal trigger). If it's a plastic trigger maybe Charlie Da Tuna's GRT III trigger might not fit. Email Charlie.....

Oh, btw, the Big Cat is loud....mine have over 6000+ shots through her and she still is loud!!!!! Don't know why....it's just the way it's built I guess. Have fun with your BC.

[djmyers]

Agreed on the pba. Don't shoot any lead free. They are too light and accuracy is horrible!

[longislandhunter]

Welcome to GTA Paul,,, nice to have you with us

Jeff

[Shaky]

Welcome Paul. I'm still a newb her too but everyone seems incredible!! great info and no evil shenanigans. Have fun and straight shooting..

[ezman604]

Hey Paul, a big welcome to GTA Forums!!! Sounds like you're done your homework very well and have a good start into the fun world of airgunning. The kit from Maccari should do the trick. I wouldn't think you need the power spacers but I always take a stainless washer and buff it out, add moly and install it at both ends of my spings when I can. Also grind and polish the ends of the spring. With the polished ends, polished washers and moly, it will take a lot of torque out of the firing cycle and make it easier and smoother to cock. Adding a light coat of heavy tar to the entire spring will reduce the twang.

As suggested already, I too had great results from Crosman Premiere Hollow Points in ALL of my AGs. I've recently picked up someJSB and Beeman rounds that shoot really well also. But a sampler pack from SS or PA would be the way to go. Every gun likes a different diet. One last point, do a very good initial cleaning of the bore to remove any manufacturing residue. A piece of weed wacker string melted on one end to form a ball and push a cleaning patch onto it works great. Use Goo Gone as the slovent. Run treated patches through till they come out clean. Then run a couple of dry ones through to get the Goo Gone residue.

Again welcome and Happy Shooting!!!!

We're looking forward to your post about your AG adventures. And we require photos. They help feed our addiction. LOL

Dave

[JaxPilot]

Thanks everyone, for the advice, suggestions, and warm welcome.

How are folks handling their scope mounts? Is the preference for one piece rings mounted directly to the BC, or 2 piece rings directly mounted, or to use something like this rail to weaver adapter? (http://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/UTG_Scope_Mount_Base_Fits_RWS_Diana_Rifles_Gamo_Whisper_Others/2639).

Also, is there a preference between low, mid, and hight mount rings?

Thanks,
Paul

And while I would have to pull out my 12 GA if I found something like this, we do live right on the Intracoastal waterway and the marsh, so critters abound in the neighborhood.

This was found not too far from where I live.

[shadow]

Welcome to the GTA family Paul happy to have you aboard. That's a extra large snake there and I like mine lightly seasoned and rolled in a batter for cooking hehe. I prefer the one piece mount's that mount right to the rail. If I don't have to use high mount's to rise above any open sight's or for a large scope I'll use a medium or low mount's. The closer you keep the scope to the action the less adjustment you should have to mess with to zero the scope. Ed

[djmyers]

I switched from the rings that came with the bc to the one price mount that came with my hunter. It works great also. I have had no problems from either one.

[shady816]

i hope your not going after anything like that snake with your big cat      what the heck type of snake was that and i think i would move if they were a common critter.

[JaxPilot]

So then the $20 Gamo one piece mount is satisfactory?

Paul

[JaxPilot]

Well, it is an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. I would definitely bring the Remington 1100 home defense shotgun loaded with 8 rounds of Winchester PDX1-12 (3 pellets of Grex® buffered 00 plated buckshot nested on top of a 1 oz rifled slug.)

Here is some info that has been published about the snake, but I have not personally verified the claims herein, other than it was in reality just under 8 foot long, not 15' as originally reported.

One bite from a snake this large contains enough venom to kill over 40 full grown men. The head alone is larger than the hand of a normal sized man. This snake was probably alive when George H. W. Bush was President. A bite from those fangs would equal being penetrated by two  1/4 inch screwdrivers. A snake this size has an approximately 5 and 1/2 foot accurate striking distance. (The distance for an average size Rattlesnake is about 2 feet)

However, there are more than a few of the 'normal' size eastern DB rattlesnakes around the marsh, which are up to 5-6 feet in length. They are usually pretty skittish, and usually only strike in self defense, and their rattle can be easily heard most times. The Pygmy Rattlesnakes, however, while being smaller are much more deadly and harder to find - until you step on them hidden in leaves or ground litter. You can't hear their small rattles.


Paul

[Bogey]

Now thats what I call a SNAKE.    Welcome to the GTA.
I spend quite abit of time in St. John's county and have seen many rattlers there but nothing that size.

[JaxPilot]

Got my GRT-3 from CdT last night, so headed out to install it and fire a few more rounds while waiting for the tune kit to arrive!