FINALLY! 100 yard accuracy

[Khornet]

101 yards, actually, cause that's where my berm is. Once I got good 70 yard accuracy (cause that's where I most often see squirrels) I began months ago to try for good 100 yard shooting. I learned that technique is orders of magnitude more important at longer ranges. I mean I though it would matter more but I had no idea how much. Getting a consistent hold was everything. Had to get an adjustable buttstock to get good cheek placement without straining. Struggled to get reproducible shoulder pressure: too much lowers POI, too little raises it. Finally noticed that, if the rifle and my body are always in the same place (marked with tape), if the aiming dot is at 12:00 on the periphery of the circle, I can lean into the stock enough to put it in the center and get the same pressure every time.

Then I noticed that although the target was in sharp focus, I could still get a little parallax. So I fiddled about until I had none, though the target was a little blurry, and went with that. All shot at 0600 or after 1800 when there was no wind.

 

[Khornet]

FDR added for proportion

 

[Saltlake58]

Congratulations on finding the combination that works for you! I'm still seeking mine . . . . . .

 

[Drdtmd]

That's really nice consistent shooting I wish I could get results like that. I Will keep trying and yes hold is super important just trying to figure out the best hold for my rifle.whats the specs for your setup? 

 

[Khornet]

H&N 23 grain .218 slugs. Weight sorted, most are 23.2 or 23.4. These were fired with 23.4. Impact 700 mm Superior standard liner. Velocity 920 average with ES 10. My final dialing in was a matter of infinitesimal changes of the valve adjuster, watching the groups shrink and grow as I adjusted. Reg at 95, wheel on Max, valve adjuster at 0.350 or so, hammer preload screw at 0.726. Measurements are in inches. Your results may vary of course.

See Airgunner Bob's video about how he got 100 yd accuracy. It was a turning point for me.

 

[Marley5]

That dime puts things into perspective.....nicely done. 

 

[Khornet]

My liner is indexed.

 

[zx10wall]

Excellent shooting!

 

[8thman]

Nice shooting! I have noticed that sometimes I look like a pro and other times not so much. Keep it up 

 

[biohazardman]

It's nice when things finally come together and you can shoot good consistent 100 yard groups. Congrats on sticking with it until you got there!

 

[Ezana4CE]

That dime puts things into perspective.....nicely done.

My thoughts exactly. Nice grouping there. Congratulations!! What type of scope are you using? On which magnification?

 

[L.Leon]

Good shooting, and great accuracy. Doing it consecutively like you have is truly impressive.

 

[bubblerboy64]

It’s a learning process. I too found that Bob’s video was a turning point. The OTHER THING I learned is just how significant the least little change can be and how a mouse fart of air can change both your POI and your group size. The most difficult part of all of this was accepting the fact that none of this can be reliably reproduced because conditions can rarely be duplicated ( predictably ) . What it amounts to at least for me is that each shooting session requires some adjustment. A good group on Tuesday evening centered in the bull might on Wednesday morning be shifted 2 or 3 inches right with no obvious cause . You other guys find the same? It doesn’t seem to be a gun related issue for me. More conditions and maybe rifle hold. It can get frustrating. 

 

[Vetmx]

Your gun must feel sweet with the reg at 95b. What I’ve learned long bombing with an airgun is the higher you go with the reg setting and having to accompany it with a higher HS setting, the gun gets more active. Then everything you listed about your shot process becomes even more critical and harder. Not impossible but every gun has a threshold where it starts getting active. Sometimes I think because most of us grew up shooting real guns that we are numb to recoil. Even a crazy jacked up PCP feels like nothing compared to even a little .223. But it’s bad when your tune doesn’t let those crosshairs remain on target after the trigger breaks with a slow firing PCP. Some guys will fight it and work harder when trying to push heavier stuff fast but I got tired of everything having to be perfect to shoot humane groups. When I get a new gun that I’m going to shoot far, the first thing I do is find the reg and HS setting where the gun gets jumpy, then I know all my tuning will be below that. If it’s too slow, then it’s a longer barrel or new gun.

 

[Khornet]

Vetmx, thanks for that insight. I was indeed looking for a gentle tune instead of screaming power, but I hadn't realized the advantage of gentler firing behavior until you pointed it out. This gun is nearly as heavy as my M1, but it definitely moves on firing. I may get a pic rail extension to get my bipod further forward.

Humane groups is the word, for sure. Picked off a chipmunk at 100 yd yesterday, first time I dared try that.

Scope is Element Helix. Used to use 24x all the time, but this week found it's actually easier at 18-20X.

ALSO don't forget mirage, which will make your target appear higher and, if there's a breeze, to one side. I've had a dead on zero at 0600, grouping high at noon, back to dead on at 1900.

 

[qball]

Very nice!!! Since it is an airgun forum we often tend to focus on the gun a little too much and not enough on the shooter’s skills. What you shared is great information and something took me a while to learn and realize my guns are lasers and it’s me that’s inconsistent and inaccurate LOL!!!



There is sooooo much more to accuracy than the gun or tuning. With so many great guns on the market majority of the accuracy problems are behind the guns. 

 

[bubblerboy64]

vetmx. Interesting post Gun getting active? I never really heard an explanation in those terms but I have noticed that many of these guns can be pushed to shoot hard some really hard and that accuracy seems to suffer at some point. I have found if you listen to the gun and it’s report and even the twang from the hammer spring you can often find the sweet spot. I remember as a kid and that old Sheridan 20 I always went with the 10 pumps. With the PCP’s more is usually NOT better. 850 to 900 FPS is often where you want to be. AND follow thru is critical 

 

[Brent]

Yeah your right about that, we should all strive for better form in our techniques. I use to work on computer problems and it was astounding how many times it was a picnic error. Problem in chair not computer.

 

[Brent]

I grew up shooting powder burners and the first thing my old man told me was if I didn't see the muzzle flash in the scope I did something wrong. It doesn't matter how good your gun is if your form and function are wrong. 

 

[Brent]

I grew up shooting powder burners and the first thing my old man told me was if I didn't see the muzzle flash in the scope I did something wrong. It doesn't matter how good your gun is if your form and function are wrong.