AIRGUN SHOOTING TIPS
Here are some tips on breaking-in and shooting a spring powered air rifle:
Spring piston airguns, including break barrel, side lever, and under lever, typically require 500-1,000 shots to break in properly. Groups may be erratic for the first 100+ shots.
DO NOT bench rest on ANY solid objects! NO part of the gun should rest on a rigid surface or object.
Utilize sand bags, pillows, or folded quilts as a shooting surface.
A springer’s barrel is NEVER to rest on any surface when shooting.
Position the rifle so that it is resting and pointing at a specific target point without being held. You can then ease into the shooting position without changing sight picture. By taking out as much of the “Human Factor” of holding the rifle, your accuracy will most likely improve.
SQUEEZE the trigger – pulling the trigger and or jerking the trigger will result in terrible accuracy.
Follow Through is Very Important. Try not to blink when the rifle fires and continue to focus on the precise point of aim.
Always hold the rifle “loosely” at the forearm and in the shoulder. Spring guns usually become inaccurate when held tightly.
Changing your shooting position or grip can and will affect your point of impact.
Scopes are to be mounted with 2.75″ to 3″ of eye relief.
DO NOT pull the trigger when the barrel is broken over. The barrel will fly up causing a bent barrel and could result in serious injury to you or someone else. Also, a cracked and/or broken stock may occur.
Do not dry fire your spring air rifle as this can damage your rifle.
Tips on Using CO2 with Air Guns
To increase seal life and ensure a good seal, apply one drop of RWS Chamber Lube or other airgun lubricant on the tip of the CO2 capsule before inserting into the airgun.
88 gram CO2 capsules can be screwed in too tightly. Tighten only by hand. If CO2 does not fill the airgun, the capsule may be too tight. Loosen by 1/4 turn.
Do not leave a CO2 capsule inserted into your airgun when not in use. Doing this will decrease the life of the airgun’s valve seal.
Do not leave CO2 capsules in direct sunlight; the extreme heat may cause an explosion. Do not leave them in a vehicle where temperatures exceed that of the natural outdoors.
CO2 that is clean to prevent clogging Use good quality your airgun’s valve.
CHOOSING AN AIRGUN PELLET
There are several different airgun pellet styles available to use with your air gun and each rifle is unique in that everyone has an ideal pellet for accuracy and/or speed. Your desired result will dictate what kind of air gun pellet you want to use.
Airgun pellet weight is important because it can affect velocity, trajectory, terminal performance and flight stability. Heavier lead pellets tend to be more stable in breezy conditions and retain their energy better over longer distances. Heavy pellets also hit the target with more force. Heavier isn’t always better, it is important to match the weight of the pellet to your airgun’s unique characteristics and your desired result.
For specific shooting activities, some shapes may be better than others. Read further to help you determine which air gun pellet will be best for your shooting objectives.
For fun shooting or informal practice, an inexpensive, 7 grain basic pellet will do. However, choose a quality pellet that will leave minimal lead residue in your airgun’s barrel.
For accurate practice and general plinking, a lightweight 7 grain rifled sport pellet will provide you with an inexpensive and accurate pellet.
For an air gun hunting pellet, choose one with excellent knock down power and accuracy. A heavier rifled English bulldog design provides such performance. English bulldog pellets are great general use pellets as well. They have very aerodynamic heads and are good for shooting at longer distances. The shape causes these pellets to have more knockdown power at the target than other pellet shapes. Hollow point pellets are also good hunting pellets because they really expand on impact. Hollow points, like the Super-H-Point by RWS are popular for pest control; however, the hollow mouth can catch wind and cause the pellet to create open groups at longer distances.
If you are looking for a pellet with penetrating power, a pointed pellet is what you’re looking for. A quality pellet that has a uniform cone can also enhance performance and accuracy of medium powered air guns. They have good penetration capabilities for pest control, but may not work as well as a Superdome pellet in a high-powered air rifle.
For accuracy at longer distances, consider a heavyweight wadcutter style pellet that is perfectly balanced for accuracy. A pellet of this type, like the RWS Supermag, is ideal for modern ultra high power air rifles.
Extreme accuracy can be achieved with a match grade pellet. These professional wadcutter pellets are perfect for competition and training as well as accuracy and sighting in. The flat head design makes clean holes in paper targets. These pellets can also be used for pest control, but they are not specifically designed for longer distances. They generally perform best at about 20 yards.
