Tommy, this is my third year doing this. In 2022 when I started I was happy with high 180s. I didn't get any 200s and not many upper 190s. But I had fun and improved. I mostly used a bipod and monopod or rear bag. So I had to reposition the gun between shots. Last year, 2023 I built myself a windage adjustable monopod so I can adjust elevation and windage with thumb screws. I also bought a Rock BR front rest which is screw adjustable for windage and elevation. At one point I shot 199s with both using my P35-22. I like my home made monopod so I mostly use it now and used it for my one 200 last year.
My P35-22 really likes H&N Baracuda Match pellets, head size doesn't seem to matter much if at all. It liked them from the start. I put three into one hole the size of a single pellet at 25 yards twice with it testing different pellets. It does not like anything I've tested made by JSB nearly as well. So I haven't had to mess around much to find a good pellet for it. I've done much more testing for my other guns. It wasn't until 2024 that I found my P35-177 likes H&N Baracuda FT better than Baracuda Match. That raised my best score 3 points (so far). My P35-25 was more dramatic. I shot something like a 155 with it with the H&N FTT pellets it seemed to like. Killed 18 squirrels with them too. It seemed to like 34 grain JSBs but shot them so slow I didn't do a lot with them. But then I added a power plenum and got them up to about 800 fps and shot a 194. I bought a Air Maks Caiman earlier this year and had a heck of a time getting the moderator to work but it shot well even when the moderator was not working. 5 or 6 197s and counting. Likes H&N Baracuda 18s best.
I've tested multiple ways to support my rifles and for me a method that can be adjusted easily and quickly by a screw is important. I could shoot well with a system where the gun is repositioned except I am just not patient enough to do it. Finding the pellet your gun wants is a BIG key. Getting my body off the gun and bench as much as possible and squeezing the trigger are also BIG. I've tried sorting pellets and it didn't seem to do much. I do not find that there is any magic velocity either. I shot a 195 with my Caiman last week and changed the velocity 3 times during the target. I want velocity 800-900 when the gun will do it with a pellet it likes. But accuracy does not seem to be strongly influenced by velocity in my guns.
So my recommendation for those starting out is to find a way to support the gun that is not you and fits your shooting. Bags can work, I think, if you are patient enough. For me it is either a bipod with windage and elevation adjustable monopod or a front rest that adjusts for windage and elevation with a monopod or rear bag. Find a pellet your gun really likes. Don't skimp or just decide JSBs are best. After that, make sure you squeeze the trigger. I use a couple wind flags too but my best scores are not shot in any significant wind.
Jim
My P35-22 really likes H&N Baracuda Match pellets, head size doesn't seem to matter much if at all. It liked them from the start. I put three into one hole the size of a single pellet at 25 yards twice with it testing different pellets. It does not like anything I've tested made by JSB nearly as well. So I haven't had to mess around much to find a good pellet for it. I've done much more testing for my other guns. It wasn't until 2024 that I found my P35-177 likes H&N Baracuda FT better than Baracuda Match. That raised my best score 3 points (so far). My P35-25 was more dramatic. I shot something like a 155 with it with the H&N FTT pellets it seemed to like. Killed 18 squirrels with them too. It seemed to like 34 grain JSBs but shot them so slow I didn't do a lot with them. But then I added a power plenum and got them up to about 800 fps and shot a 194. I bought a Air Maks Caiman earlier this year and had a heck of a time getting the moderator to work but it shot well even when the moderator was not working. 5 or 6 197s and counting. Likes H&N Baracuda 18s best.
I've tested multiple ways to support my rifles and for me a method that can be adjusted easily and quickly by a screw is important. I could shoot well with a system where the gun is repositioned except I am just not patient enough to do it. Finding the pellet your gun wants is a BIG key. Getting my body off the gun and bench as much as possible and squeezing the trigger are also BIG. I've tried sorting pellets and it didn't seem to do much. I do not find that there is any magic velocity either. I shot a 195 with my Caiman last week and changed the velocity 3 times during the target. I want velocity 800-900 when the gun will do it with a pellet it likes. But accuracy does not seem to be strongly influenced by velocity in my guns.
So my recommendation for those starting out is to find a way to support the gun that is not you and fits your shooting. Bags can work, I think, if you are patient enough. For me it is either a bipod with windage and elevation adjustable monopod or a front rest that adjusts for windage and elevation with a monopod or rear bag. Find a pellet your gun really likes. Don't skimp or just decide JSBs are best. After that, make sure you squeeze the trigger. I use a couple wind flags too but my best scores are not shot in any significant wind.
Jim
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