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Having a Ball at the Shooting Range

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KnowNothing

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Jul 8, 2019
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California, United States
I'm not sure anyone has done a continuing topic, or if it is allowed, but I thought I would talk about my adventures at the local public shooting range (Hi-Desert Rod and Gun Club)..

Today I went without my Daisy Avanti 753 10 meter air rifle. Instead, I took along my new acquisition, a Hammerli 850 AirMagnum CO2 rifle. This had been recommended to me before I purchased my Daisy, but at the time I thought the Daisy would be able to handle things out to 50 yards.

I started out not hitting even the cardboard backing that the target is attached to. For about the first five shots, I hadn't a clue where the pellet was going, then I finally caught a glimpse of dust pluming above the target backing. It took me another 10 shots before I finally hit the target. I adjusted the adjustable rings, instead of the scope settings, as i wanted to make sure I had plenty of play to make adjustments once I did hit the target. Another five shots, and I was hitting near center of target.

Just based on what I saw, it is quite possible the Hammerli may be able to shoot out to 50 yards..I sure hope so.

One thing I discovered is that the Hammerli does not like wadcutter pellets under 8 grams. My eyes were functioning well enough to finally see the pellet in the air to target. I could actually see the pellet curving to the right, most of the times. It may have been the slight breeze we had.

I brought out my H&N Sport Barracuda Match 10.65 pellets. Results were a lot better, mostly going straight, though occasionally I could see the pellet moving right just a very tiny bit. My feelings are the Hammerli, in the environment I am shooting in would like heavier pellets. I am going to order something a couple grains heavier, but that is all the rotary magazine will be able to handle. Anything longer would stick out the front of the magazine.

I was using my UTG scope this morning. It's not a great scope, but good for 25 yards. Next week, if I can go shooting, I will have my new scope, the Mueller 8-32/44 Tactical. Again, I will have to set it up so it is consistently hitting the 25 yard bulls eye, but once that is accomplished, I hope to try 50 yards. Hopefully I can manage to get it set up fairly close at that distance. Then the next time I shoot, I can fine tune things. It will take me that much time because it was nearly 100F when I left today at 11 AM. It's just been too hot to shoot more than a couple of hours. BTW, I will be using 8X for the 25 yards. Anything more is overkill. Not sure what I need to use for 50 yards, but will play that by ear.

My overall feel about the Hammerli is that it is a very nice rifle. Apparently it is one of the best CO2 rifles on the market. When I do properly make a shot, the pellet hits true every time. I was able to, on occasion, hit the cross markings on the target perfectly. But my problem is most of my shots are still being pulled right because of poor trigger control.

I also need to figure out a way so that I can set my cheek on the rifle butt exactly the same each time. Not being able to do that causes me to shoot high or right also. I've got some foam, duct tape, and vet ankle wrap which I hope I can build up on the comb to the point where my eye is level with the scope, and with a significant depression I can stick my cheek bone into.

I also need to figure out a way to put a blinder on my left eye, but allow it to stay open without interfering with my right eye targeting.

So many little details to work out so I can stick pellet after pellet through a dime sized hole at 25 yards. I'm getting close, but not there yet.


 
I shoot mostly at a local range. The Range Masters know when I show up and usually assign me the same lane every time so we can talk and they can watch the pellet gun make no noise. The range now allows me on the 100 yard line, with different range masters. It's fun outshooting some of the more serious PB types. Fun to share knowledge and talk about how it works in general. I might even have a couple converts along the way.

I'm seeing more air rifle types at the range as well. I'm not alone any more. They are very helpful in providing advice on position and consistency too. Helps me a lot.

Enjoy the range time, it's an excellent place to shoot and share.
 
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Many inexpensive scopes have loose eye focus pieces my UTG among them It caused a more than a one inch poi change from shot to shot at 50 yards. Here is an easy way to fix them so you don't have to replace the scope.

http://thegreencrosmanforum.proboards.com/user/5/recent?q=utg

also the shooting in a different place when your cheek weld is not the same sounds like your scope is not the adjustable parallax type which means you will love your new scope.

I shoot at a local range most of the time and I am by myself roughly a third of the time. There are steel targets at 100, 150, 200 yards I can hit them all nearly every shot with my Impact. I can usually be found shooting paper targets at 100 yards constantly tuning while the others around me are shooting their powder burners at twenty-five and fifty yards. Have given many a chance to shoot the 3K gun. Nearly all of them come away with a grin on their face after hitting a steel turkey at 150yards or the bullseye of a paper target at 100. I set out paint cans at 150 and shotgun casings at 100 when no one else is around. Reactive targets are great to shoot!
 
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Bio, Actually the little UTG Bug scope works quite well for me. I really do not think it is the scope. This last session is only my fourth after some 30 years away from any kind of shooting. On top of all that, I am 69, with neurological deterioration. That means I have a difficult time keeping things perfectly still to take the shot, even using the bench rest Method. I also know that about half the time I am not squeezing the trigger. I am trying, but at the last moment I pull it a tad, and I know that is throwing my shots off to the right..

For the first three sessions I used my Daisy, trying to be as accurate as I could. But the rifle is basically designed for 10 meters, and I was shooting at 25 yards. A few of the people said that I was actually doing quite well considering the rifles limitations, and that I was just starting over shooting.

I'm very happy with how I am shooting after such a long time away from the sport.

Right now I am trying to get my documentation straightened out for getting a Federal Real ID card here in California. California seems to make it very difficult to do much of anything with all the rules, regulations and laws. I applied for a DMV appointment, and I have had to wait over a month just to do the interview for the ID

Once I get that card, I will be applying for a NICS background check, and once that is in, I can purchase a real firearm, a 22lr and the associated ammunition. I can then try shooting at 100 yards, but that will be the extent of how far out I want to try. i doubt I can hold the rifle steady enough at longer distances with my neurological problems


 
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I looked at your post. My rings are tight. I keep my rifle cleaned and oiled, as anyone should. I learned in Vietnam that if you didn't, your rifle could fail, and that is a bad thing if someone is shooting at you.

When I got my scope, like any equipment I get, I check to make sure everything is tight, and functioning as it is supposed to. I didn't feel anything loose. In fact, the parts that are supposed to rotate were actually difficult to turn in a couple instances.

When sighting through the scope, everything is quite clear. I was surprised such an inexpensive scope could work this well. Most of my experience with optics is in my astronomy hobby. I own several telescopes, and their associated spotting scopes, as well as a lot of eyepieces.
 
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I mentioned I need to build up a cheek rest so I could consistently place my cheek in pretty much the same place. Of course, nothing is guaranteed with what I do, but I hope it will clean up the wide pattern of shots to the right.

I've attached a couple of pictures. Sorry they are blurry. I thought things were in focus. Probably another reason I don't hit the target consistently like you Guys.
1567894782_2141385495d742cfea4ea38.21249960_cheek rest.jpg
1567894789_1417229585d742d05d74805.33906561_Rest in Relation to Scope.jpg

 
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When you start shooting the .22 I think you will find that the 20cent per round .22s shoot the best. 😥 That is if you want 1" or smaller groups consistently at 100yards. My impact will out shoot all of my .22s but one and it will match that one, with it's spendy ammo, shot for shot. The pellets and slugs are far less expensive to shoot, make less noise and less of a mess too. So several pluses for the airgun at 100 yards. Just a thought.
 
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Bio, When you talk about air rifles shooting out to 100 yards, you are talking about PCP types that cost over $1000. If not, what, under $1000 can do that. Any suggestions. If it isn't too expensive, I could probably manage something by the end of next year. Right now I have another expense, getting my wall furnace replaced.

PCP is really expensive when you consider the cost of the Rifle, the air canister to refill it, and the air generator to fill the tank. I doubt that is all that is required. I bet the whole setup is over $2000. Not doable for the foreseeable future.
 
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I haven't been here in the forum long. I only have 1 PCP (for now), but can regularly shoot 1.25 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards with a relatively inexpensive setup.

Umarex Gauntlet $236 shipped

Hajimoto air stripper & barrel band $67.00

Vortex Crossfire II 4x12 scope $150

Used SCBA tank & fill hose $145

Total $598

Nothing beats go to the range and watching PB's struggle trying to obtain the same results.
 
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JDH, Thanks for the lineup of items. One reason why I do not bother with scuba tanks in my wish list, is that I do not have a dive shop nearby, or actually, any place that will fill up an air tank. I live in the Mojave Desert. There isn't any industry here either. So I definitely need to purchase an air generator to fill a tank, or buy those nice air generators that are used to fill the air bottle on the rifle

I looked at the Gauntlet also, and did like it, but for now, I am having fun with my Daisy 10 Meter air rifle, and my Hammerli 850 CO2 rifle. See entry below this one for my latest on the Hammerli adventures.

I have three scopes now, and will not be purchasing another, so I will have to purchase a PCP rifle that doesn't come packaged with other stuff, with the exception of possibly a refill air tank.

Thanks again.
 
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I was out again shooting at the local firing range with my Hammerli. The new cheek rest has made it easier for me to repeat proper cheek placement behind the rifle scope. Still not perfect, but much better than before.

I managed to get about 120 shots in this morning. But I knew my session was limited by the remaining gas in the CO2 cartridge. Between last week and today, I got in about 240 shots on one canister. I had to pack it in when the final three shots told me that the canister was finished, and needed changing. Pellets were starting to fall short.

Today I after zeroing in my Mueller 8-32/44 Tactical scope using a splatter burst target, I set out a 10 meter air rifle target at 25 yards. I wanted to challenge myself. I cranked up the scope magnification from 8 to 16 power so I could actually see the bulls eye in the 12 little targets on the sheet.

Out of the 62 shots on this target, I had four flyers. What I mean is the pellet just arced away from target several inches. I managed to pull five shots which impacted just outside the outer target ring. 20 shots hit the white area of the rings, and 33 managed to get into the black area. I didn't manage a perfect bulls eye, but five shots were halfway into the center ring.

For having trouble trying to keep still while squeezing the trigger, I am pretty happy with the results. One of the range safety officers said that my rifle muzzle doing tiny circles was normal, just caused by the way the body moves. I guess it might be accentuated because I am older too.

Another reason why I might not have done well is I moved from one target to the next. I did not concentrate five shots one after another like some people do. I wanted to see how difficult it was to align on the target when changing to the next target circle. Apparently it does make a difference, with my patterns changing when I moved from the left column to center and then right. What is very strange is that my right and left columns have the tightest groups, with the center being all over the place. Might just be I didn't concentrate enough when on the center. I think it has to do with the fact that these twelve little target circles require I make adjustments to how I support the rifle, and how I have to adjust my neck/head in order to sight the target. Target in the left column and second row was a wow, as I nearly put three pellets through the same hole, and these weren't shot consecutive, but in rotation from target to target, as mentioned earlier. I'm wondering if this is what would be called the sweet sport for my setup. If so, I sure hope I can remember it for future shooting.

One thing I need to figure out is how to compensate for that circular motion when sighting the target center. I wonder how you Guys manage to get around what is apparently a normal body motion caused by the heart. I am wondering it I might not be relaxed enough. Or maybe, even with a bench rest I am using, I am not holding the rifle properly. Guess I need to have someone watch me squeeze off a few rounds to evaluate if I am doing something wrong.

Enough of this. Overall, I had a nice day out shooting. And I am starting to understand how to sight in scopes a lot faster than before. I am slowly learning.
 
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One trick I learned for sighting in scopes, and this depends on your range - most ranges don't have this, bot for those that have a berm right behind the targets -

If the range has a berm behind the targets, pick a dirt clod and use that for initial sighters. Once you get close, use your targets to get on the paper. Not perfect, but if I'm not even on the paper, seeing the hit in the dirt gives me an idea where to move the cross hairs
 
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SaltLake58, Yes we have berms, but they are basically compacted sand. Haven't seen a dirt clod.

What I do to get an initial sighting is to shoot over the target, and watch the impact point in relation to that target. I then adjust the ring tilt, and then do it again, until I know the next shot will be on the target.

I then shoot at the target, and it usually only takes me another 10 or less to get my sights adjusted on the bulls eye.

This method is getting refined each time I try out the rifle with another scope. Right now it is taking me about five minutes to zero in, which to me is extremely fast as compared to what used to take me about 20 minutes, and that was only because the range officer watched where the pellet impacted in the sand.
 
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Good to hear you are enjoying shooting. To get centered on target you need to verify your natural point of aim (NPA from now on). You need to find a way to build your position so you are not holding the gun on target with muscles. Bones are better, fixed rests are best. Close your eyes, take breath and let it all out. When you open your eyes look where the reticle is aimed, this is the NPA. You need to move from the base of support to put the crosshairs on target and breath in and out again to verify. When you open your eyes and find it on target, take the shot. Remember to follow through so you can call the shot, watch the impact if possible. Usually where your reticle settles after the shot is where it went. You are shooting non- recoiling guns now, these are more forgiving of mistakes. When you move on to recoiling guns like springers or powderburners, the shot will always go towards where the NPA is, even if you are trying to hold it somewhere else.
 
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I've had a change in my life since last post. It came when I was waiting for another vehicle to cross the highway, so I could make a left turn onto the highway. Ended up that car coming straight across was the victim of a person who ran a red light. I got my car smacked because that car that got hit, was shoved into my car by the force of the impact.

What does this all have to do with shooting and having fun. Well, I no longer can go to the local shooting range, but I still have my little 15 yard back yard range I can use. And so far I have found shooting on the small range therapeutic, taking my mind off the fact that I now, no longer have a vehicle for the next six to 12 months until I save enough money to buy a mew one.

So my "Having a ball at the shooting range" is now "Having a ball at the back yard shooting range.

I shot 48 pellets yesterday near dusk with my Hammerli 850 AirMagnum .177 air rifle I used RWS "Supermag" 9.3 grain pellets.. I had to wait for the wind to finally die, as it had been blowing pretty hard for the past three days. I shot six groups of eight onto what is normally a 10 meter target (CHL Targets & Shooters Supply, LLC" NRA AR-5/10 (2003) target.

My first target grouping was pretty bad. I find it takes me one 8 round clip to settle in before my groups start getting more accurate. So the first group was all in the black, or about one inch CTC. After that, my next six target groupings were basically 3/4 inch or smaller groupings, with the occasional stray that went off by a 1/4 inch from the main group. That is simply because I still pull the trigger occasionally, instead of squeezing the trigger. I am still learning, and get better every session.

Again, I found the session very relaxing, and was very happy with my last five groupings. And I was thrilled when I could not see where the next pellet went. Of course, I had sent it through a previous hole, and did that quite a bit during this session.

Next session I will have to switch to different pellets, as I have run out of the "Supermags". I cannot find them anywhere except a few places, and those sellers are charging an arm and a leg for them. I will switch to the cheaper and lighter Crosman Premier Match .177 cal, 7.9 grain which I have found to be pretty good with my Daisy Avanti 753. Hopefully my 850 will like them.
 
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1572224018_19659826085db63c12ec4cd2.90860480_Shooting Bench Picnic Table.jpg


Since I am without vehicle to get to the local firing range, I am making do with my 15 yard back yard firing range. I just completed my shooting bench, which will double as a sort of picnic table.

I tried out the table today, by shooting me Daisy Avanti 753 10 meter rifle. I was curious as to how the H&N Sport 10.65 grain Baracuda Match pellets would do in this rifle. I shot just one, and was totally floored, as I saw it drop over eight inches, as compared to my Crosman Premier Match .177 cal, 7.9 grain pellets. Of course, it is probbly two factors, those being the weight difference, and the fact that this rifle is really designed for Wadcutter pellets in the 7 grain weight range.

The table works very well, and is perfect for my height, so that I don't have to scrunch over to get down to the spotting scope.

The wind was a problem, as when I was just going out, there wasn't any, but once I was set up, it came on strong from my left. Pellets were getting pushed about an inch to the right over the 15 yard distance.
 
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