I Did Some Shooting At 90 yrds With My HW95

I did not consider this a realistic distance for a springer. This little experiment was done strictly for fun. I've never did any serious shooting with a spring gun beyond 50 yrds so I just wanted to see what would happen.

The rifle used is an HW 95 in .22 caliber. Pellets are JSB 15.89gr. These have always performed well in this rifle. Wind conditions were about 5-6 mph. All shooting was done off a rest at a distance of 90 yrds.
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 The first group dropped 13 1/2" from point of aim. It measured 9 1 /2" x 4" . I was aiming at the center of the paper plate.
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 The second group dropped 15" from point of aim and the group measured 1 0" x 6 1 /2" . Ten shots were fired for each group.
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When I started the shooting on the first couple of shots I thought I was going to miss because I didn't hear the pellet hit the plywood at first. Then I realized it was just taking longer for it to get down there. As I said this test was just for fun. I wished the group's were a little tighter yet the pellets did not drop off as far as I thought they would.
 
Moog I wonder why in the first group there were no pellets imbedded in the plywood compaired to the second group. Keep practicing I’m sure they will tighten up more in calm conditions.

Gary

Good question. I also noticed that and wondered why too. I was also a little surprised (and pleased)to see that a lot of the pellets were able to punch all the way through at that distance.
 
Moog,

Your gun is capable of minute-of-soda can at 100 yds. right out of the box. I don't know what you consider "tight little clusters" at 35 yds., but a good pellet from your gun should shoot into a 3/4 inch c.t.c circle at that distance.

You know all the regular accuracy stuff.....tight screws, proper CONSISTENT hold, soft rest.......and another thing that can help for long distance shooting is a bubble level. I like the cheap ones from B-Square (about $17) that go on the dovetails on the gun. Other folks like more expensive ones that fasten to the scope.

Level your gun, get the vertical of your scope's reticle to line up perfectly with a weighted string hanging freely from something or a carpenter's level hanging on a nail on the fence, alternate tightening the screws on your scope rings (i.e., right then left then right then left side), double and triple check to see that the scope hasn't rotated and get after it.

And don't automatically think your gun is most accurate resting on a towel cradled in a bench rest device. I have several spring guns that are not so try different holds.



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r1lover,

Thanks for the good advise. I can easily get under an inch at 35yrds with JSB 15.89gr pellets. These are the same pellets I used in the 90yrd test. I've always alternated the screws as I've tightened them down. That bubble level sounds like a really good idea. I need to give that a try.

As for different holds and types of rests I've not tried others at that distance. I did not do any serious experermentation. I just shot a couple of quick group's to see what would happen. Next time I will try a few more things.
 
Moog, have you tried any of the H&N 14.6 grain pellets in either a 5.53 or 5.54 head size in your gun yet? If you haven't, it may be worth a try. These pellets seem to do best in many of the 22 cal HW barrels. Just throwing that out there for you. You are on the right track. These springers are challenging beasts at times and keep things lively. Going long in pcp is a challenge not to mention a spring gun. Stick with it and those groups will shrink. Shoot straight!
 
Greenarrow,

I have not tried any H&N pellets yet but I've heard they are a good choice. This was just a quick test to see what would happen at that range since I've never shot a springer at that range before. I know the group's are nothing to brag about but I can see that if I adjust for elevation I probably would be able to keep most of my shots on a paper plate at that range. For me that would be very good. It was very interesting to see the capability of a quality springer. I actually wondered if I could even hit the plywood at all at that range.

I plan on trying it again and with the advice I've gotten here along with some more practice I'm sure I can shrink those groups down.
 
Moog, r1lover and Green arrow offer good advice. I put a link of me 95 at 90 yards with open sights at a soda bottle. I am sitting on the track of the railroad and using the artillery hold and shooting field Target trophies and the 5.53 mm. I also had awesome success with barracuda Hunter extremes out of that rifle. She is one of my life's regrets. I traded her... Like an idiot



https://youtu.be/MiI-YFzEXUo




 
josh3rd,

That's some fine shooting and with open sights!. You really got me motivated now. I already have another HW 95 on the way and I've been planning on it being used as a dedicated open sight rifle.

Another one! Ha ha! That's great. 22 cal or 177? Something else? That is exciting! I have 2 95s and a R9. I think they are great.