30-Yard Challenge

[Nattboy]

This one is for the leader board. I think it is a 200 16X shot with my Stoeger Bullshark in 22 caliber using my Vector Sentinel 8-32 set at 32 X. I was shooting AEA 18.3 grain pellets about 820 fps. This is the third target I shot with exactly the same setup today, the first is above and the second one was a 197. In between I shot two with FX 18.1 grain, a 195 11X and a 193 11X. So the AEAs definitely shoot a little better. At least these tins of AEA and FX. I am quite pleased to finally get a 200 this year. The weather report says there was a 3 mph wind but it had shifted to coming almost straight east to west this evening. That is better for me because I am then shooting right into the wind. One of my wind flags was still moving around a bit but after a few shots going right were I was aiming I figured out I could ignore the small movements sideways. I never moved off the 10 ring so the shots were still OK.

This gun was a gift from another member. I think he got frustrated with it because he could not adjust the regulator from the gauge end of the gun. The locking nut would turn the adjustment screw because the threads were messed up. I spun the stem in the nut while I watched TV one night until the threads smoothed up. But I've been adjusting it from the other end because I can then measure the overall length which gives me an idea what the setting is. The regulator is set a bit low but it gives me easily two targets on a fill with extra shots for sighting in. At least 60 shots. Plus it is accurate and plenty powerful enough for squirrels. Nice gift. I shoot it in the cherry stock I used to use on the P35-22.

View attachment 585847

Great shooting Jim !

 

[EPG]

This one is for the leader board. I think it is a 200 16X shot with my Stoeger Bullshark in 22 caliber using my Vector Sentinel 8-32 set at 32 X. I was shooting AEA 18.3 grain pellets about 820 fps. This is the third target I shot with exactly the same setup today, the first is above and the second one was a 197. In between I shot two with FX 18.1 grain, a 195 11X and a 193 11X. So the AEAs definitely shoot a little better. At least these tins of AEA and FX. I am quite pleased to finally get a 200 this year. The weather report says there was a 3 mph wind but it had shifted to coming almost straight east to west this evening. That is better for me because I am then shooting right into the wind. One of my wind flags was still moving around a bit but after a few shots going right were I was aiming I figured out I could ignore the small movements sideways. I never moved off the 10 ring so the shots were still OK.

This gun was a gift from another member. I think he got frustrated with it because he could not adjust the regulator from the gauge end of the gun. The locking nut would turn the adjustment screw because the threads were messed up. I spun the stem in the nut while I watched TV one night until the threads smoothed up. But I've been adjusting it from the other end because I can then measure the overall length which gives me an idea what the setting is. The regulator is set a bit low but it gives me easily two targets on a fill with extra shots for sighting in. At least 60 shots. Plus it is accurate and plenty powerful enough for squirrels. Nice gift. I shoot it in the cherry stock I used to use on the P35-22.

View attachment 585847

Awesome shootin’ JimmyD - congrats on your first 200 of 2025 !

You’ve done an awesome job getting that gifted rifle to shoot well…

.., makes me want to tear into one of mine, lol - they can always be improved

 

[JimD]

Thanks for the kind comments.

For S_Gru, Tommy's comments should carry more weight than mine, he shoots better. But I do not have the patience to shoot totally off bags. Repositioning for each shot is just not something I want to do. With yesterday's target I have now shot a grand total of 3 200s, one each of the last three years. So I've done it but cannot consider myself at the upper level of this. Two of my 200s were with a front bipod and a rear monopod that adjusts for windage and elevation. I believe Ed uses a nicer version of this method of supporting his airguns. I'll include a picture of my home made version. The only a little bit complicated fabrication technique is to weld all threaded rod couplers together. My latest 200 was done with a Caldwell Rock BR front rest and a rear bag, I think the exact same one pictured by Tommy. That front rest was about $125 when I bought it. It adjusts for height and elevation nicely. It does not have the slop in the threads of my home made monopod. If you are patient bags alone clearly work. If you want to be able to mechanically realign the scope for the shots that can be done at either the front or the rear of the gun,

 

[EPG]

Leaderboard Submission:

Date: 8/13/25
Target: 40-Challenge: 197 12X
Rifle: RTI Prophet Performance V1 - .22 Long Range (1:32 twist LW) barrel
Scope: Sightron SIII 45X ED
Pellet: JSB 20.83 MRD Lights @ 930fps
Moderator: Neil Clague

This is the only card I shot with the .22 Prophet today. I was working on getting better with the Daystate Wolverine.

It was about to thunderstorm - and usually right before the storm starts it gets very calm here. So I ran out with the Prophet and shot this 197 - beats my previous 196 40-Challenge with the Prophet this year. I have shot two 198s and a 197 40-Masters with the Prophet, so this 197 Challenge card is not in my top three Prophet cards this year, lol.

This card could have been great. The rifle came out of a cold (air conditioned) house. I took about 5 practice shots to let the rifle get acclimated to the 87F outside temp. But, it must have still been warming up as velocity seemed to increase on #2 and #3 (shot consecutively) - and I stubbornly didn't adjust my PoA lower. I was rushing a bit because the rain was coming. Definitely had a great lower half of the card - 6b was almost a 10. I think you need a little bit of luck when you are trying to surpass 195+ scores at 40 yards... every tiny thing matters.

 

[mreynolds]

Due to the extreme heat I haven't been shooting very many cards other than one or two just before sunset occasionally. Today, it was 97F so, I decided to defrost the freezer in the garage and in the process I realized that it was quite uncomfortable as there was only a light breeze blowing. While waiting for the ice to melt I put out my wind flags and both 30 yd and 40 yd Challenge cards and then shot three 30 yd cards with my Chip Smith Sumo with my best score being 198-15X. Got the freezer going again and refilled and decided to switch to my Thomas for the 40yd card. Shot a 199-13X and decided to shoot a 30 yd Challenge with the Thomas since I hadn't shot anything other than 30 yd Masters cards with it this year. I picked a proven tin of pellets as conditions were extremely good with a very light almost steady left to right breeze and ended up with a 23X card. Forgot about the heat while shooting the last card.

Leader board submissions:

 

[JimD]

Leaderboard submission
30 yard Masters
Stoeger Bullshark 22 with Vector Sentinel 8-32X at 32X
AEA 18.3 grain at about 820 fps
195 10X

Did not shoot as much or as well today. First target was a 194 12X so I was pretty consistent, at least. Yesterday it was 196, 197, and 200 on the Challenge target. Pretty much ideal conditions tonight with low wind. Yesterday I had a lot of border line 10s. Today I shot a bunch of 9s. The 194 is the worst I've shot with these AEA pellets. I don't think it was the gun or pellets, I just didn't shoot as well - but not so bad either. Leaves plenty of space for me to improve I guess.

 

[tommyb]

Windy today at the range. Had the wrong air rifle for 40Y Challenge cards, or so I thought.

8/15

RAW TM1000X .177
FX 13.4 g Trash Cans
Sightron ED 45X Fixed
Wind: 3-7 mph, mostly head winds and some cross winds
Randolph front mechanical rest
Rear Protektor bag
Velocity: 812-818 fps range

190-10X
192-9X
197-13X ( LEADERBOARD )

8/14

FX Royale .22
JSB 20.83g
Athlon 10x 40x 50mm
Wind: Light
Accu-Tac front Bipod
Rear Protektor rest
Velocity: 865-875 FPS range

190-10X (LEADERBOARD)

For years I have been wrestling with an ongoing very annoying issue. The Royale has a recessed foster male QD located in the bottom of the stock, just north of trigger.

I have always had issues making the connection secure with a female foster QC or even the extended version. For whatever reason, yesterday I thought I had leaks, etc. Air was hissing every time I tried to fill. I was changing out female fosters, EZ Fill on/ off, etc.

I always wondered about the alignment of the hole in the bottom of the stock. I finally realized the wood stock round hole was preventing my adapters from fully connecting securely to the foster male QD. I put up with it for years and although it would eventually make a solid connection, I realized I needed to bore out the hole in the stock that housed the foster.

Went home, got my Dremmel and with a 1/2” round sander, I bored out approximately 1/16th “ and enlarged the hole.

Problem Solved. I now can use my 90 degree elbow female Foster QC to secure a connection ( good solid click ) every time.

 

[JimD]

Great shooting Tommy. One of the issues I had with my Caiman when it was new was the cover over the pressure gauge kept falling off. Finally I looked at it closely and it was obvious the laminated wood stock was pushing the cover off the gauge. A little sanding like you describe for your fill issue and that issue was permanently resolved. My more long standing hobby is woodworking so that sort of issue is much more minor for me than things like figuring out why a regulator doesn't work properly. But it's fun to learn new things too.