I have had the Ruger Impact for about a month, and have fired 600-700 pellets through it. The last 150-200 pellets were various types, as I am searching for the "Right Pellet" for this gun (still haven't decided).The Ruger Impact is a .22 caliber spring-piston air rifle, with a rated velocity of 800 fps with lead pellets. I do not have access to a chronograph, so I don't know the actual velocities this rifle is capable of. About 2 weeks ago, I mounted a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 scope on this rifle. So far, I have been very pleased with the scope. It has not come loose, and seems to hold zero extremely well
Yesterday, I was shooting my Ruger Impact, when I experienced my first problem/concern with this rifle. I was shooting .22 caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, which I feel are a decent pellet for my rifle. I have been using these Crosman's since I bought the rifle, and have shot about 250 of these pellets with this rifle, primarily because I have an abundance of these pellets, and they are relatively inexpensive ($7.00 a tin of 500 at Walmart). I have shot over 2000 of these pellets through various air guns.
While taking a shot, my rifle made an unexpected "crack" sound, like a pellet when it goes supersonic, or the first shot in a new rifle that is filled with oil/lubricants. The sound certainly got my attention (an uneasy feeling). I was not able to see where the pellet hit. It appeared to have missed the target completely. Up to this point, I had fired 15-17 pellets at an 8.5" x 11" target, and all other shots were accounted for. This sound concerned me to the point where I performed an extensive visual inspection of the barrel (breech and muzzle), the compression chamber exit port, and the muzzle break/baffle assembly. Everything appears to be OK. My initial impression is that I shot the rifle without loading a pellet. However, I checked the container I use to hold my pellets, and I had the correct number, which means, I did load a pellet. The Crosman Premier Hollow Points have always had inconsistent head/skirt sizes. For this rifle, some fit very tight, some fit just right, and some fit extremely loose. As a matter of fact, I have had some of these pellets fall out the breech while closing the barrel. It is possible, that the pellet fell out of the breech, and I shot the rifle dry. I know this is not a good thing for spring piston air rifles, for a variety of reasons. I don't know what else could have caused the sound I heard.
After this occurred, the rifle started shooting very erratically. Before, I consistently shot 1/2 inch groups or better, from 10 yards. Now I am getting 3" groups, at the same distance. This event seems to have knocked my scope off zero. There is no consistency. The pellets are shooting high, low, left, right. So much so, I had to adjust my scope 30-40 clicks (up, and right), just to get close to my point of aim. Even after adjustments, I had to change pellet type to RWS Superdomes, in hopes to shoot a decent group. I put 3 superdomes in a dime sized hole, then, shot 4 went 2 inches to the left, and shot 5 went 1 inch high.At this point, I decided to quit for the day, as my concern and frustration mentally impacted my shooting.The help I seek from the forum members, is as follows:
1. What could have caused the rifle to make that supersonic sound (Crack)?
2. What damage could have been caused by shooting my rifle without a pellet?
3. How can I inspect my rifle for damage?
4. Could my scope have been damaged, and how can I check?
5. What are your recommended next steps?Any information will be helpful.
Lcheevers
Yesterday, I was shooting my Ruger Impact, when I experienced my first problem/concern with this rifle. I was shooting .22 caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, which I feel are a decent pellet for my rifle. I have been using these Crosman's since I bought the rifle, and have shot about 250 of these pellets with this rifle, primarily because I have an abundance of these pellets, and they are relatively inexpensive ($7.00 a tin of 500 at Walmart). I have shot over 2000 of these pellets through various air guns.
While taking a shot, my rifle made an unexpected "crack" sound, like a pellet when it goes supersonic, or the first shot in a new rifle that is filled with oil/lubricants. The sound certainly got my attention (an uneasy feeling). I was not able to see where the pellet hit. It appeared to have missed the target completely. Up to this point, I had fired 15-17 pellets at an 8.5" x 11" target, and all other shots were accounted for. This sound concerned me to the point where I performed an extensive visual inspection of the barrel (breech and muzzle), the compression chamber exit port, and the muzzle break/baffle assembly. Everything appears to be OK. My initial impression is that I shot the rifle without loading a pellet. However, I checked the container I use to hold my pellets, and I had the correct number, which means, I did load a pellet. The Crosman Premier Hollow Points have always had inconsistent head/skirt sizes. For this rifle, some fit very tight, some fit just right, and some fit extremely loose. As a matter of fact, I have had some of these pellets fall out the breech while closing the barrel. It is possible, that the pellet fell out of the breech, and I shot the rifle dry. I know this is not a good thing for spring piston air rifles, for a variety of reasons. I don't know what else could have caused the sound I heard.
After this occurred, the rifle started shooting very erratically. Before, I consistently shot 1/2 inch groups or better, from 10 yards. Now I am getting 3" groups, at the same distance. This event seems to have knocked my scope off zero. There is no consistency. The pellets are shooting high, low, left, right. So much so, I had to adjust my scope 30-40 clicks (up, and right), just to get close to my point of aim. Even after adjustments, I had to change pellet type to RWS Superdomes, in hopes to shoot a decent group. I put 3 superdomes in a dime sized hole, then, shot 4 went 2 inches to the left, and shot 5 went 1 inch high.At this point, I decided to quit for the day, as my concern and frustration mentally impacted my shooting.The help I seek from the forum members, is as follows:
1. What could have caused the rifle to make that supersonic sound (Crack)?
2. What damage could have been caused by shooting my rifle without a pellet?
3. How can I inspect my rifle for damage?
4. Could my scope have been damaged, and how can I check?
5. What are your recommended next steps?Any information will be helpful.
Lcheevers