Low velocity question

Hey all.  I just got into this adult airgun thing and even though I've been a bit on the frustrated end of it, I'm really enjoying it.  Here's the background and the current questions that I'm hoping you more knowledgeable shooters can help me with.

During a recent trip to Cabela's they had a Crosman RM577 made by Mendoza in the bargain cave for $50.00.  It was missing the rear sight but came with a scope (a cheapie RWS) so I thought "What the heck."  I got it home and started some backyard plinking at about ten yards.  It seemed like it would be fairly accurate with the occassional flier sent two or three inches off.  I figured it was either me or the cheap scope.  I bought a decent red dot, mounted it, and had about the same results.

This last week I got a Leepers 6x Bugbuster and good mounts, eliminating the possibility that it was the cheap scope.  This morning I finally had a chance to get to the range and sight it in.  Ten yards: OK but not great.  Moved it out to 20 yards and was pretty far off.  About the time I started to get it adjusted closer another shooter showed up and wanted to use the space.  I was getting a bit frustrated so I packed up my goodies to make room for his cannon (an old timey style .45 with a barrell about three feet long and a bullet that looks like an ICBM.  Seems he does long range target competition, out to 909 yards!).

Part of his rig was a chronograph.  I asked if I could shoot a few thru it  while he finished setting up and he let me.  Here are the average readings with three shots on each pellet:
9.3gr RWS Supermagnum wadcutter style: 170fps
8.2gr RWS Meisterwhatever wadcutter: 373fps

Questions:
1.  I realize that the manufacturers use the lightest pellets they can get to publish their specs as a marketing gimmick but aren't these readings ridiculously low for a gun with a published spec. of 1000fps?
2.  Is this what could be destroying any hopes of accuracy I have for this gun?

BTW, the fellow shot his .45 and got the reading he expected for the load he was shooting so we're pretty sure the chrony was fine.  Also, there is no "broke spring twang" or dieseling from my gun.  

The Mendoza is really comfortable and feels fairly solid so I like the feel of it.  The tag from Cabela's says "No Returns" so I may be stuck with it.  Being new to this I'm not sure what to do besides hide the purchase of a Diana 52 from my wife!

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

wow that is really low...you should be getting around high 600 to low 700,i would take it back

If I were in your position, and a return was out of the question, I would talk to CDT and see if he could work on it.

[Black Mamba]

yotehunter and Youkils are right.  Either take it back or if you want to invest a little bit more money into it, see if Charlie can tune it for ya.

Right now it sounds like someone replaced your spring with a rubber band!

I'm swinging by Cabela's today to plead my case which is as follows:
1. The salesman in the bargain cave was asked whether the gun worked and his response was "Yes, its been checked out."  Granted, it fires, but not at all like it should.
2. Cabela's has this model new on their shelf, leading me to believe that it is a current model and as such I should be able to get it serviced by Crosman.  It is a discontinued model, Crosman does not offer parts or service for it.
3. The "No Returns" was not boldly stated or verbally re-inforced prior to my purchase.  It's little, teeny, tiny print on the UPC tag.
4. All I want is store credit so I can walk accross the store and pick up a Diana 34 (The 52 is out of the budget for the time being.)

I'll let you know how it goes.  Cabela's is notorious for their liberal return policy.  I'll hope that is true even with this one.  Given the bit of misrepresentation on their part if they don't take it back it will have been the last $59.99 I will ever spend with them.

[rabbit]

josjor,

      I agree with you 100 %. I'm thinking Cabela's will make it good. Let us know. Best of luck...

                                       Rabbit    

[CharlieDaTuna]

I don't know what will happen in this case but I can tell you that the people at Cabellas are a great bunch of people to work with.

[daved]

What I want to know is, how do you hide the purchase of the 52 from the wife?  :-)  Must be nice to live somewhere that has a Cabela's, for me, it's strictly an on-line experience.  Come to think of it, just about everything airgun related is an on-line experience for me.  But it beats the hell out of living in the city.  How many city shooters can set up a 75 yard range in their back yard?  Good luck with the Mandoza and Cabela's.  Can't imagine they wouldn't at least give you store credit.

Dave

[-=ed]

daved - 8/26/2006 9:45 AM What I want to know is, how do you hide the purchase of the 52 from the wife? :-)

pay cash and make all your guns camo

It went well at Cabela's.  I explained to the lady that I had asked the person in the bargain area whether it worked and he said "Yes, it's been tested."   I pointed to the label on the box that says "Up to 1000fps!" and told her the best I got out of it was 373fps.  She looked at me a little blankly until I explained to her that we can almost jump that fast.  "OK" she said.

I used the in store credit to buy an RWS Diana 34.  I just got back from the first small session and all I can say is "WOW."  In the short session I had between rain showers I was able to get 1" groups at 18 yards with open sights and NO bench rest, sitting position.  Quiet, smooth, and easier to cock.  I can't wait to get the Bugbuster 6x mounted and sighted in.

I would have to give reluctant thanks to Crosman/Mendoza/Cabelas as the broken-bargain-bin RM577 introduced me to the sport.....even if it was a poor introduction.  Now that I have a quality rifle I think the introduction is at risk of becoming an addiction!

[Gene_SC]

I second that Dave........ Would rather live in the boonies than in da city... Love dat online experience...

Oh! I rathole some of my allowance in tin cans burried in da back yard. The wify never knows....... he he he

Gene