Hey everybody, new member here. I just wanted to say hi and ask about a new air rifle I bought today. I got a Gamo Swarm 10x in .22 caliber. It came with a 4x scope. I got it sighted in with Benjamin Destroyer 14.3 grain pellets. I shot it 60-80 times today, but it doesn’t seem to be very accurate for what I paid for it. About 2 inch groups at 50 feet. Some a little better, some a little worse. Occasionally a flyer would open a group up to 4-5 inches. Just wondering if this thing will settle down and shoot better as it gets broken in or if I need to try better pellets or what. Thanks in advance for your help.
New member-new gun
- Thread starter jmadisonbiii
- Start date
Welcome to a great sport/hobby. Please disclose what type of shooting you are doing. Bench? If so, how are you supporting the gun? Offhand? Is this your first foray into shooting? Thanks for joining.
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Hello there welcome! The Destroyers wouldn't be my first choice to use for target shooting. I would try the 14.3gr Crosman Premier Hollowpoints From Wal-Mart first. If that still doesn't fare well in your gun then there's the H&N Field Target Trophy 5.52mm and 5.53mm specifically that I would suggest the next pellet to try in a 22 Gamo. I think the Wal-Mart Crosman Premier Hollowpoints will show a definite improvement in your gun and if you're happy with the 1 inch groups you get shooting those then you know you're lucky to shoot cheap ammo accurately. Yo!
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Thanks for the reply. I’ve been around guns and shooting all my life. Started with a Red Ryder, and I’ve probably shot tens of thousands of BB’s, pellets, .22, and centerfire ammo. I’m in my 50’s and have built some centerfire rifles. It was late in the day, so I just taped some targets on a box and shot off the back porch. I supported the gun with my off hand across a heavy porch chair. Not ideal, but better than offhand. I will be using the gun to shoot pests and targets around the house. I did notice that a few of the holes on the paper were not 100% round but maybe yawing just a tiny bit.
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Thanks. I’ll pick some up tomorrow. Would I see much of an improvement over the Crosmans by ordering some of the expensive stuff online? I know even hunting rifles will show an improvement with match ammo.
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Look up artillery hold for air rifles on YouTube, and watch a few different channels do it, and then mentally and actively work on it for 20 minutes and you will see your group get tighter. I was a Powder burner, a 1000 yard guy, and thought Airguns would be a walk in the park but those springers will Buck your know how.
PS: buy an HW95 and thank me later.
PS: buy an HW95 and thank me later.
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Don't get ahead of yourself. First things first. Buy the H&N FTT 5.53mm only if the Wal-Mart Crosman Premier Hollowpoints can't do 1 inch at 25 yards. I already knew the Destroyer was the limiting factor for your gun off the bat to begin with. Yo!
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When you cradle the rifle hold it like a baby and let it recoil into your shoulder keeping in mind you're holding and not squeezing a baby then you're fine. Let the baby kick your shoulder the same way each and every time. Yo!
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Welcome!
Different Gamo gun (from mine), but sounds like the same issue--pellet picky. I spent about $100 trying every pellet grain possible; and, eventually, I found the grain range (for my .177) finally worked. My groups went from 2-3" due to outlyers (usually 6/10 in a 3/4 bull) to all 10 in the bull. However, my Gamo doesn't perform as tightly my Weihrauch.
Best of luck in finding the right grain pellet (and shape, too).
Arch_E
Different Gamo gun (from mine), but sounds like the same issue--pellet picky. I spent about $100 trying every pellet grain possible; and, eventually, I found the grain range (for my .177) finally worked. My groups went from 2-3" due to outlyers (usually 6/10 in a 3/4 bull) to all 10 in the bull. However, my Gamo doesn't perform as tightly my Weihrauch.
Best of luck in finding the right grain pellet (and shape, too).
Arch_E
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First and foremost WELCOME! Ok I have a Gamo Mach 1 which has the same barrel. Here is what I found after over 25000 shots. Mine loves 14.35 grain JSB's. It will tolerate 14.35 crosman and shoots Hand N FTT 5.53 dia. head well but fouls quickly. I beat myself to death till I found my magic combination and it may or may not work for you but here it is. I shoot only the 14.35 JSB's now and lube them with White Lightning bicycle chain lube. I use the stuff for dry chains and get it at Walmart. I lube 30 to 40 pellets in a tin with 1 drop and when that tin is empty I pull a very tight dry patch down the barrel and lube 30 to 40 more. I know it sounds like a pain but this thing is first shot accurate and shoots a ragged hole at 30 yards with an artillery hold. If I try to stretch it out by the time I get to 60 shots the groups are opening up and I lose first shot accuracy.
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Interesting thread. Those Gamos get a lot of defense, verbal defense, even when not criticized. Almost as though one has to be defensive for them because they are always being talked about in a _____tive way (you guys can fill that in as you please.
You will have a ton of fun OP. I wouldn’t spend the value of the gun on ammo, but rather get a multi test pack or combo pack of H&Ns and done HP Crosmans and some JSB. $100 though? You’d be better served on the artillery hold lessons and a reactive target to inspire you to get trigger time.
You will have a ton of fun OP. I wouldn’t spend the value of the gun on ammo, but rather get a multi test pack or combo pack of H&Ns and done HP Crosmans and some JSB. $100 though? You’d be better served on the artillery hold lessons and a reactive target to inspire you to get trigger time.
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It also takes time for a new gun to "set in".....it can take several hundred shots, without a chrono it is hard to tell really.
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