I am wondering about the accuracy of the springer I bought to replace my sheridan. It is a crossman optimus in 22 caliber. On my 20 yard range my sheridan would shoot 1/2 inch groups. The crossman is lucky to go 2 inches. I am useing Grossman priemere pellets. Both the gun and the pellets received good reviews and I am thinking the poor quality 4x scope is the problem. My sheridan has the 5dsh peep sight. I have a new scope on order. I would appreciate any advice you can send my way thanks mike
Practial accuracy
- Thread starter Dblought
- Start date
So first. Clean the barrel.
It’s good that you ordered a new scope. What scope did you order?
Try shooting it with just the open sights. That will at least tell you if the gun will “group “.
It can take a lot (I mean a lot ) of pellets to break in a break barrel gun. So expect to shoot 500 or more pellets before the groups start to shrink. Break barrel rifles are “hold sensitive”. Try shooting off a sand bag. With the gun resting as close to the trigger guard as possible. But you still may need to experiment with other hold styles . (Artillery Hold ) And lastly, try different pellets. Like Crosman Premiers. Or some of the Benjamin ones. Both can be found at your local sporting goods store.
It’s good that you ordered a new scope. What scope did you order?
Try shooting it with just the open sights. That will at least tell you if the gun will “group “.
It can take a lot (I mean a lot ) of pellets to break in a break barrel gun. So expect to shoot 500 or more pellets before the groups start to shrink. Break barrel rifles are “hold sensitive”. Try shooting off a sand bag. With the gun resting as close to the trigger guard as possible. But you still may need to experiment with other hold styles . (Artillery Hold ) And lastly, try different pellets. Like Crosman Premiers. Or some of the Benjamin ones. Both can be found at your local sporting goods store.
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You might try cleaning the barrel, especially on a new gun. As others have stated, you need to try many different pellets until you find one your gun likes. Big jump from a pneumatic to a springer, more practise will be needed.
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Thanks yes new barrel. Do I use the same cleaner that I use to remove lead from my revolvers? The scope will be a 1x6 ar scope for now. What I really want to know is my rifle capable of good accuracy of I do my part. The springer is to help me with old man sight. The scope mount for the sheridan never impressed me. On the plus side the penetration of the premier pellets is superior to my standard sheridan pellets by a good bit.
Atration
Atration
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The weed guy above hit a lot of it.
2 inches at 25 yards is ridiculous. I would definitely be trying some different pellets. I would try heavier pellets.
A good accurate springer can shoot inch groups at 50 yards.
They do tend to bounce around a bit so that hold is key. Some like to be held firmly, some like a light hold.
mike
2 inches at 25 yards is ridiculous. I would definitely be trying some different pellets. I would try heavier pellets.
A good accurate springer can shoot inch groups at 50 yards.
They do tend to bounce around a bit so that hold is key. Some like to be held firmly, some like a light hold.
mike
Try lots of pellets. Your gun will tell you what it likes. You will need to shoot a tin or two for your gun to settle in. Make sure everything is tight. Hold is crucial. Just cradle that gun lightly more like your just letting it rest in your hands. Let the gun do the work.
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Lots of good advice here. Just a couple of more things.
Those screws on the springer will loosen up much easier than on your Sheridan. Check them to make sure they are tight. If they are loose take them out and make sure their is no oil on them and then put them back in with a little bit of Blue Locktite.
It's great that you ordered a better quality scope but think about the scope mount as well. Make sure it is good. The best scope in the world is no good without a proper mount.
Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out.
Those screws on the springer will loosen up much easier than on your Sheridan. Check them to make sure they are tight. If they are loose take them out and make sure their is no oil on them and then put them back in with a little bit of Blue Locktite.
It's great that you ordered a better quality scope but think about the scope mount as well. Make sure it is good. The best scope in the world is no good without a proper mount.
Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out.
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At first springers (all) have additional effort to shoot accurately than a .22 rimfire of any sort.
I shoot only offhand and have always done it that way since 1969 with my first air rifle a BSF Springer Air Break Barrel made in West Germany.
It was .177 and dad had dry fired the thing on the rack in front of the salesman in Carson City and I remember smoke coming out without the pellet inside.
We took the rifle home and dad set up a target and me and my next youngest brother shot at it. From that time that pellet rifle worked clear through all of my own college days while my younger brother was using it and then taking it apart after many many thousands of crossman hourglass pellets made back then in red and black holding 500 per can.
Bottom line was me leaving that rifle and while away in post graduate school I bought an HW35 in San Rafael in .177.
That reignited my fever for the spring air rifle all over again even with the smell after firing it. I was a lost cause from then in post graduate school studying things more complicated that pellet rifles but also in the meantime never ever forgetting the break barrel springer.
I went through pneumatic pumps like Sheridan and Benjamin in rifle and pistol and felt they were short of the air spring rifle from Germany.
Then I added an air spring rifle after the HW35 in Feinwerkbau in 1988 with the rest that followed in PCP and break barrel and gas ram.
Today the simple HW30 or HW35 or HW50 or HW95 or HW98 are the best break barrel springers anyone can buy in the midst of saving money at a store to get a common air gun of mass production. What we sell here in USA in a box at a discount store for an air rifle is not expensive and many or most won't go above BB gun level and CO2 or something.
Start over and forget Benjamin and Sheridan and Crossman.
Just get a real spring air gun from German. I think England sold out air rifles in the Webley to Turkey but that is ancient history.
I have an ancient history gas ram from England that I liked when I got it and never let it leave the house despite .20, .22 competing rifles in my hands at the same time.
It's the .25 Theoben Eliminator still working to this day and actually getting smoother and faster after about 2000 rounds since 1999.
The other rifles are not gas rams. Many gas rams are out today called nitros or some powerful sound creating total inaccuracy compared to the old traditional England Theoben Eliminator.
Practical accuracy to me was achieved decades ago with a true accurate W. German Springer like the HW30 today and NOT from Crossman Benjamin Sheridan pumps or PCPS (had em all) to date.
To date.
Pick up an HW98 and end it forever.
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Well a 98 costs a lot for most.
Let's lower practical accuracy to field accuracy and choose the HW50S in .20? I have a whole book to write about .20s and where they especially shine and outdo .177 and .22.
Let's lower practical accuracy to field accuracy and choose the HW50S in .20? I have a whole book to write about .20s and where they especially shine and outdo .177 and .22.
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Thanks for all the responses. I bought the crossman to replace my sheridan due to eyesight getting worse and the pain of getting pellets for the sheridan. M sheridan can still get the job done but I need a scope. I am retired and now have time to shoot. The gun has less than 100 pellets through it so I will empty a tin. I will check the mounting screws and clean the rifle also the scope and mounts will be replaced with a quality item. It looks like a 1x6 ar scope. I am ordering some heavyer pellets to try. I am using sand bags and a rest. Please tell me what an artillery hold is. I am using this for pest removal and don't want to spend a lot of money until I get a feel for a springer. The noise and recoil and poor trigger make me wish the sheridan had a good scope mount but I don't miss the 6 pumps for each shot. Could you recommend a rifle in the 300.00 range with 1 good trigger 2 accuracy 3 less recoil 4 less noise thank you all for the help.
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"Start over and forget Benjamin and Sheridan and Crosman"
That's one opinion. Not particularly valid and a bit egocentric IMO but certainly an opinion.
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G
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I'd say Sheridan was my first "real" air rifle. Excellent platform and I really enjoyed the two I had. I bought them both after I got home from Korea, one for me, one for wifey. Good rifles and I think I paid something like $26 for each of them, IIRC...
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