Way to go Jimmy! Is it my imagination, or are you posting some really high scores in 2025!
Nice card!
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30-Yard Challenge
- Thread starter tcarlson777
- Start date
Nice card!
I am doing better but still not up to you and Ed and others. AEA pellets have helped a bunch but it's undoubtedly a combination of small things coming together. Now if I can shoot a good Masters target... Wouldn't be fun if there was not still a goal to aspire to.
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Yes,
If you’re not careful, you can become complacent if you have been doing this for a couple/three years. Speaking about me here.
The 40Y Challenge is very difficult for me at my outdoor range. The slightest wind currents and shifts have ruined many a card. My aspiration is to get a few 200’s with different rifles. It will take a lot of luck with some good technique and improvement.
So, to make myself feel better, I ordered these today.
Too many CF guys at benches close to me with earth shattering rifles. My old Bass Pro muffs getting replaced.
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To shoot further than 35 yards I have to go to a range too. Sometimes there are powder burners there and the noise doesn't help. Mostly my issue with going to the range is just the time to make the drive. But I don't think I would shoot as well either. I haven't done it enough to really know.
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It was a beautiful 75F day here - but too dang windy to shoot for precision high scores.
So I moved in to 30 yards with the RTI Prophet Performance .22LR. I think this is the 1st time I've shot it at 30 yards this year - I always shoot it at 40 - or more if I take it to my brother's 100-yard range.
It seemed too easy with a 45X Sightron at 30 yards - but I made a couple not so good trigger pulls and I wasn't really watching the wind closely - hoping to blast through it with 20.83g at 915fps, lol.
Leaderboard Submission: 30-Masters 196 13X
Anyways, it looks like I'll submit the 196 13X for the 30-Masters leaderboard. I know that I can get 198+ with this rifle at 30 yards just by shooting a few cards on a better wind day - its an "easy" rifle to shoot accurately. But if I get a good wind day, I'll likely be back out at 40 yards with it, lol.
I took a "beauty" picture of this rifle today. She may look very "basic" , but her beauty is in the way she operates and her easy adjustability and great accuracy. One of the rifles that I just love to shoot. Wide breech opening allows me to easily thumb the pellets into the barrel. Never use the magazines. The mags do work great however - as I used them during a speed shooting competition and they performed flawlessly.
-Ed
So I moved in to 30 yards with the RTI Prophet Performance .22LR. I think this is the 1st time I've shot it at 30 yards this year - I always shoot it at 40 - or more if I take it to my brother's 100-yard range.
It seemed too easy with a 45X Sightron at 30 yards - but I made a couple not so good trigger pulls and I wasn't really watching the wind closely - hoping to blast through it with 20.83g at 915fps, lol.
Leaderboard Submission: 30-Masters 196 13X
Anyways, it looks like I'll submit the 196 13X for the 30-Masters leaderboard. I know that I can get 198+ with this rifle at 30 yards just by shooting a few cards on a better wind day - its an "easy" rifle to shoot accurately. But if I get a good wind day, I'll likely be back out at 40 yards with it, lol.
I took a "beauty" picture of this rifle today. She may look very "basic" , but her beauty is in the way she operates and her easy adjustability and great accuracy. One of the rifles that I just love to shoot. Wide breech opening allows me to easily thumb the pellets into the barrel. Never use the magazines. The mags do work great however - as I used them during a speed shooting competition and they performed flawlessly.
-Ed
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I can't blame windy conditions but Ed's post still makes me feel a little better. Weather report says 5 mph wind here.
Leaderboard submission
195 11X 30 yard Masters
P35-22 with Vector 8-32 at 32X
AEA 21.9 grain at 830 fps.
Velocity is lower than yesterday only because the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. I measured the velocity of all 23 shots (including warm up on a different target) and ignoring the first shot the ES was 4 fps. The first shot was almost 10 fps low but the hammer spring is at maximum so I'll have to live with that. After a 198 then a 200 a 195 was a bit of a reality check. But the Masters target is harder and I was luckier yesterday. Still pretty good for me.
Leaderboard submission
195 11X 30 yard Masters
P35-22 with Vector 8-32 at 32X
AEA 21.9 grain at 830 fps.
Velocity is lower than yesterday only because the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. I measured the velocity of all 23 shots (including warm up on a different target) and ignoring the first shot the ES was 4 fps. The first shot was almost 10 fps low but the hammer spring is at maximum so I'll have to live with that. After a 198 then a 200 a 195 was a bit of a reality check. But the Masters target is harder and I was luckier yesterday. Still pretty good for me.
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This is not for the leader board. It's kind of windy here today and I will not be home near dusk when wind is low. So I decided to shoot a couple targets with my bullshark mostly for practice. I used FX 18.1 because that is what is sighted with. It has a Vector Veyron 6-24 on it. I shot a 196 and 198 30 yard challenge. Wind speed this morning was 5-10 mph. This afternoon it was 3 mph. These are good scores for me. I still think AEA pellets are a little better but FX shoot well in this gun.
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Great shooting Jimmy !!
You inspired me to shoot my "inexpensive" rifles - today I brought out my 1st PCP air rifle - a .177 Umarex Gauntlet Gen 1 that I bought new from Airgun Depot for $195 bucks a few years ago.
This Gauntlet is the reason I have sunk a ridiculous amount of money into this hobby/addiction. I must have got lucky and got a great barrel - at least a barrel that shoots Crosman 10.5g domes really well. I still recall that the 1st 5 shots I ever took with it were using Crosman 10.5g at 28 yards. All 5 shots hit inside my dime sized target. I was a bit shocked - from that point on I was hooked.
Modifications... this Gauntlet is almost completely stock !! I bought a shorter shroud from Donny FL to replace the longer stock shroud that had baffles and a spring inside. I got rid of the baffles and spring and put a thick carbon shroud over the barrel - but it really wasn't necessary. I bought the inexpensive moderator off eBay from a guy who made them. The only real modification is I replace the stock trigger with a Hajimoto fake 2-stage trigger - and polished up the trigger internals. It feels like a two stage now and is nice and light. I'm using a CARM single shot loader rather than the stock magazines - I also have Umarex single shot loaders that are simple trays - they don't flip out like the CARM SSL.
I have never had the barrel off this rifle. I've never taken it apart. It's never leaked !! I have a Hajimoto "Supertune" kit for it that will allow me to adjust hammer spring tension (the kit includes a lighter hammer spring and poppet) - I'll install the kit someday when it finally leaks and I have to disassemble it. Right now nothing is adjustable - neither hammer spring or reg pressure - it shoots what it shoots - period.
The 1st 5 shots with the Gauntlet today using Wal*Mart Crosman pellets were the 1st 5 shots I've taken with the rifle in about a year. It shot a 5-shot group well under 1/4" in the wind at 30 yards !! I said "holy smokes" and put up a 30-Challenge card. I adjusted scope 1 click up and took one sighter - it was an "X" (see white dot to left of top row of card). My FX Chrono captured 21 of the 25 shots I took - this rifle showed a 7 fps extreme spread, lol.
The Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP scope I'm using at 22X has a reticle too thick at that magnification for precise holderovers... it was very breezy... and this Gauntlet shot an immediate 197 with just one 8 with Crosman pellets !!
You guys know me. You know I'm not pulling your leg. This Gauntlet makes it embarrassing what I've spent on other rifles. It wasn't even clamped that well in my shooting tripod because the rifles plastic flexes in my clamp, lol.
I put up a 30-Masters card after the 197 and shot a 191 - and it was really breezy.
Leaderboard Submissions:
Date: 8/27/25
30-Challenge: 197 12X
Rifle: Umarex Gauntlet .177
Pellet: Crosman Premier Ultra Dome 10.5g at 882fps
Scope: Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP Gen 2 @ 22X
Date: 8/27/25
30-Masters: 191 7X (zero "8s")
Rifle: Umarex Gauntlet .177
Pellet: Crosman Premier Ultra Dome 10.5g at 882fps
Scope: Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP Gen 2 @ 22X
I shot 196 198 199 with this Gauntlet a couple years ago with Crosman pellets when I mounted a Sightron SII 36x target scope on it.... I may do that again - and try to get this rifle up on the 40 YARD leaderboard !!
I'm havin' fun getting "cheap lead" downrange !!
-Ed
You inspired me to shoot my "inexpensive" rifles - today I brought out my 1st PCP air rifle - a .177 Umarex Gauntlet Gen 1 that I bought new from Airgun Depot for $195 bucks a few years ago.
This Gauntlet is the reason I have sunk a ridiculous amount of money into this hobby/addiction. I must have got lucky and got a great barrel - at least a barrel that shoots Crosman 10.5g domes really well. I still recall that the 1st 5 shots I ever took with it were using Crosman 10.5g at 28 yards. All 5 shots hit inside my dime sized target. I was a bit shocked - from that point on I was hooked.
Modifications... this Gauntlet is almost completely stock !! I bought a shorter shroud from Donny FL to replace the longer stock shroud that had baffles and a spring inside. I got rid of the baffles and spring and put a thick carbon shroud over the barrel - but it really wasn't necessary. I bought the inexpensive moderator off eBay from a guy who made them. The only real modification is I replace the stock trigger with a Hajimoto fake 2-stage trigger - and polished up the trigger internals. It feels like a two stage now and is nice and light. I'm using a CARM single shot loader rather than the stock magazines - I also have Umarex single shot loaders that are simple trays - they don't flip out like the CARM SSL.
I have never had the barrel off this rifle. I've never taken it apart. It's never leaked !! I have a Hajimoto "Supertune" kit for it that will allow me to adjust hammer spring tension (the kit includes a lighter hammer spring and poppet) - I'll install the kit someday when it finally leaks and I have to disassemble it. Right now nothing is adjustable - neither hammer spring or reg pressure - it shoots what it shoots - period.
The 1st 5 shots with the Gauntlet today using Wal*Mart Crosman pellets were the 1st 5 shots I've taken with the rifle in about a year. It shot a 5-shot group well under 1/4" in the wind at 30 yards !! I said "holy smokes" and put up a 30-Challenge card. I adjusted scope 1 click up and took one sighter - it was an "X" (see white dot to left of top row of card). My FX Chrono captured 21 of the 25 shots I took - this rifle showed a 7 fps extreme spread, lol.
The Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP scope I'm using at 22X has a reticle too thick at that magnification for precise holderovers... it was very breezy... and this Gauntlet shot an immediate 197 with just one 8 with Crosman pellets !!
You guys know me. You know I'm not pulling your leg. This Gauntlet makes it embarrassing what I've spent on other rifles. It wasn't even clamped that well in my shooting tripod because the rifles plastic flexes in my clamp, lol.
I put up a 30-Masters card after the 197 and shot a 191 - and it was really breezy.
Leaderboard Submissions:
Date: 8/27/25
30-Challenge: 197 12X
Rifle: Umarex Gauntlet .177
Pellet: Crosman Premier Ultra Dome 10.5g at 882fps
Scope: Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP Gen 2 @ 22X
Date: 8/27/25
30-Masters: 191 7X (zero "8s")
Rifle: Umarex Gauntlet .177
Pellet: Crosman Premier Ultra Dome 10.5g at 882fps
Scope: Athlon Argos 6x24 FFP Gen 2 @ 22X
I shot 196 198 199 with this Gauntlet a couple years ago with Crosman pellets when I mounted a Sightron SII 36x target scope on it.... I may do that again - and try to get this rifle up on the 40 YARD leaderboard !!
I'm havin' fun getting "cheap lead" downrange !!
-Ed
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Whoops - just realized the 30-Masters can't count - because I reshot one target. The Gauntlet accidentally went off on target 6a when I was closing the bolt. Its incredibly stiff loading with the Crosman pellets - I basically have to jam the bolt forward to get the pellet loaded into the breech, lol.
Gives me an excuse to go shoot another 30-Masters... maybe the wind died down a bit.
-Ed
Gives me an excuse to go shoot another 30-Masters... maybe the wind died down a bit.
-Ed
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Great post Ed on the Gauntlet. I hope you shoot a 200 with it. My Bullshark would probably shoot Crosmans a bit better if I slowed them down under 900 or at least closer to 900. But it's shooting so well I won't mess with it any time soon. I did use a single shot loader with it today, plan to use it on the next more serious target.
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Those scores are good for me too! I do like both AEA and JTS pellets. AEA loads a lil’ smoother.
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Ed
You’re making me feel guilty for buying/having some more expensive air rifles than the Gauntlet. Again and again we see some really good inexpensive air gun prodigies do well here.
You’re making me feel guilty for buying/having some more expensive air rifles than the Gauntlet. Again and again we see some really good inexpensive air gun prodigies do well here.
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This one is for the leader board
198 14X 30 yard Masters
P35-22 with Vector Sentinel 8-32 @32X
AEA 21.9 at 825 fps
The weather is great here today so I had to try and better my 195 Masters. I cleaned the barrel after the 195 and that made for a prolonged warmup and a 194 first target. 5 of the dropped points were in the first 10 targets, however so I shot another, slowly. The sun is behind the target at mid morning making seeing it difficult. So I took a break after 5 and the again after 6. I went and got some new glasses. Then I finished right before lunch. This is more like I think the gun can shoot. I'll need some luck to get 200 on the Masters target but I'm happy with a 198 for now.
198 14X 30 yard Masters
P35-22 with Vector Sentinel 8-32 @32X
AEA 21.9 at 825 fps
The weather is great here today so I had to try and better my 195 Masters. I cleaned the barrel after the 195 and that made for a prolonged warmup and a 194 first target. 5 of the dropped points were in the first 10 targets, however so I shot another, slowly. The sun is behind the target at mid morning making seeing it difficult. So I took a break after 5 and the again after 6. I went and got some new glasses. Then I finished right before lunch. This is more like I think the gun can shoot. I'll need some luck to get 200 on the Masters target but I'm happy with a 198 for now.
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"Buy once cry once" versus "why waste money" is a debate that appears often here. I think it's obvious I tend more towards the latter. But my Caiman is noticably better machined than my cheaper guns and also has a better and more consistent trigger pull. It is also capable of considerably higher fpe. My guess is these characteristics are not unusual for more expensive airguns. I enjoy my BMW convertible and my Caiman but I also like my Ram Tradesman truck and my P35s. I don't think anybody should feel bad about liking nicer things but I do get a little riled up when I sense somebody wanting to say or imply that if you don't spend $1000+ on an airgun you are buying junk. I just don't think the verifyable results justify that conclusion. I am glad you guys don't do that.
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