Some testing with Insanity.

Insanity

What gun are shooting? Caliber? Scope? Rested on bag? Off hand?

Just some good info to add when you post groups. A lot of us don't know what you're shooting?

I've never had much luck with the Crosman and Gamo pellets. Get yourself some JSB's or Air Arms pellets and see if those groups don't tighten right up for ya!

Must be nice to shoot inside this time of year. I envy you!

Fuss

Shucks, you're starting out better than I did. I started the addiction in 2013 with a .177 Gamo Silent Cat. Then a .22 Umarex Octane. Both with the cheap scopes that came with the package.

But after I bought my first Benjamin Marauder the Dark Side just sucked me right in!

Yup that's the only way I could get decent groups with a piston gun. That micro fiber towel helps a lot. And I tend to close my left eye as well unless I'm trying to watch wind flags while I shoot.

I never could master a Springer or Gas Ram till I got my hands on an Air Arms TX200. It was like night and day shooting against my Umarex or Gamo.



I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you try some JSB's!

Sounds like a good plan man. I've heard a lot of good things about the NV Freedom.

I would have probably went that route if that gun had been available back in 2013 when I first began! Those groups will be one hole with that gun!

Yup hard to shoot a squirrel on the move. I've shot my share in my younger days. I've turned into an old softy in my old age. I enjoy feeding the squirrels and deer in my yard like most older folks enjoy bird watching!

The squirrels keep the cat entertained at least ;-)

https://youtu.be/lQ7aXUqgEPM

Did I hear my name?  

Insanity, it's nice to see that you got to fling some pellets down range, and nice tests!
This will really help you figure out what pellets your gun likes and dislikes..
I've been doing the same thing over the past few months with a few different rifles..

I'm not familiar with your exact model rifle, but I checked it out, reviewed the specs, 
and it reminds me of a Tech Force springer that I used to have [and really enjoy]
It was also a break barrel and shot around 1,000-ish fps.

Here's a tip.. higher speed is not always a good thing for accuracy and/or grouping..
Since these rifles are 'set to a specific power', a nice way to slow down the pellets 
is to use heavier grains/weights.

I noticed a HUGE difference when going with heavier pellets..

I had a high fps setup, and with the lighter 14, 16, grain pellets, 
after 10 shots at a single bullseye, the target would look like I hit it with a shotgun w/ bird-shot..
No consistency or predictability - pellets poi was where ever they ended up..

I was at my wits end.. Then tried pellets in the 18 and 21 grain range..
The patterns tightened right up! No more wild strays, more consistent / predictable, etc..

My Nova Freedom shoots well with JSP 18.13 grain pellets on High [900fps]
On the flip side, when it is on the Low power [700fps, it Loves Crosman 14g Hollow Points]

My Puncher Breaker - Same deal. It isn't pellet picky at all, but will just stack the Crosman HPs 
over and over and over again until' I end up with a giant globs of lead.. haha

Same with the Hatsan Gladius, etc..

I've been shooting Crossman Premiers and JSB for years..
Now, I'm trying to H&N pellets, and IMO, they are nicer and shoot much better for me..

So give that a whirl... Use some heavier pellets - 18 grain to say 21 grain like I'm doing, 
and see if your groups tighten up. I really think that they should, and you'll be surprised.

**The running squirrel shot** That was done with the Nova Freedom at just under full pressure 
so probably about 180 bar, it was set on High - 900 ish fps, and I was using JSB 18.13 grain 

Now that it's winter, and I'm stuck shooting in the house, 
I try to set all rifles to the lowest power settings and go with the Crosman Premiers..
500 count tins at WallyWorld for like $7.00, so I grab a tin or two every time I'm there..
Cheap and Extremely accurate 90% of the time..
The other 10% would be trying to use them in a rifle that just shoots too fast..
Same deal - it sprays the things all over the place, so I'm stuck using heavier/more expensive rounds.

I hope that helps a bit!

Keep at it, Have fun, And best of luck!



Sam -

CampFussell,

That video is Great!



Sam -

Thanks Sam

I love the way you explained slowing the pellets down by using the heavier grain. It's been so long ago since I had the Gamo and Octane I can't remember what weights I was using? But I remember the .22 TX200 liking the 13.43 gr JSB's the best, but it wasn't shooting anywhere near the foot pounds that Octane was shooting.

I do remember when I first got the Gamo and Octane, the wife and I would sit on the picnic table and use it as a bench rest to shoot wine corks at 20 yds. We were both shooting front bagged and had just learned about the artillery hold and what not. Heck I had never even scoped a rifle until I got the Gamo?

Anyway we would get small dixie cups and fill them with some good cold Yuengling. If she missed the cork she had to drink a cup and vice versa. We would get toasted shooting wine corks and having a good old time. She usually whooped me too!

Here's our first fawn of the year.

https://youtu.be/mQ1PdAuHfI0

You're welcome, and I'm loving your fawn video too! That's so cool!
I'm in Central/Upstate NY, so we have a lot of countryside and state land around me..
Getting out and enjoying nature - and the furry woodland creatures is a hobby of mine.
Deer are a blast.. We have 'semi domesticated' deer at our 'Water Works' in Cortland, 
and I used to go there and feed them all the time.. Seeing them in nature is a real trip too though!

I like to shoot them..
Heck, I like to shoot all sorts of defenseless animals..

With My Cameras!! hahaha I'm also a photographer.
[Deer are on my other hard drive, but here's a baby raccoon and a chipmunk]




Sorry, I saw something shiny, and got all distracted and off topic.. lol

Thanks! I'm glad that you liked that explanation!
It took me wayyy too long to get that figured out, and I'm still testing / learning!
Sometimes, pellets and weights are all it is. But other times, our rifles can also just be 'fussy'..

Aww, that is so cool to hear about your setup, and going shooting with your wife! 
Love it! It sounds like you two had all sorts of fun, and that's what it's all about!  

*Shooting corks*

I used to do the same thing, but with my .22lr rifles.. But with a twist..
I'd throw a bunch of corks into my friend's pond.. Then shoot right in front of and under the corks...
The bullet impact in the water would fling the corks up into the air, and then I'd rattle off shots 
trying to hit them again in mid air.. That was all sorts of fun and ridiculously difficult, but, 
I managed to get a few. I need to come up with some new fun / funny things to shoot when it warms up again..

Also, thanks for the great idea..
I'll have to keep a bottle of tequila on my shooting table from now on..
If I miss my intended target . . . *Shot* hahaha

Sam -

Awesome Sam

I've raised many orphaned baby raccoons and other critters in my younger years!





We shoot grapes from the back porch now days. Got tired of having to pick up all the shot up corks! LOL



I'll drink a shot of Tequila with ya anytime brother!

Those baby raccoons are so cool!
As much of a pain as these critters can be, they're one of my favorite animals ever!
Kudos to you for doing what you did and do, man, that's just awesome!
Those shots are great, and the one with you and the squirrel is fantastic!

Here's another shot of some of the baby raccoons I spotted..
I was heading home from the shooting range, spotted '3' of them, so I pulled over, 
grabbed my cam, and slowly walked over to them..
I actually talk to them, and keep eye contact, and I think that it helps keep them calm..
These two were pretty photogenic..



Then the 3rd one joined in.., no 'great' shots.. just a few quickies..

 

After a minute or two, I figured I'd switch lenses..
I was in the process of getting my super-telephoto lens on, 
when I felt something bumping my foot and leg..

I looked down, and about had a heart attack.. haha
There was a 4th baby raccoon batting it's paw at me..
It was really friendly, and apparently just wanted to play..

I tried to grab a shot, but, it was just wayyy too close, so ended up a blur..

Now, back to shooting 'guns'...

*Grapes* Ah, that's great! Challenging, and what feels like an endless supply!

At my folk's place, I sort of do the same, but, with pine-cones..
From about 30-40 yards, I shoot them out of the pine trees,

Growing up, I shot all sorts of random things like that out in the woods, 
so joke about shooting 'Field Target' back before I even knew what that was..  

**Insanity** Sorry brutha, we inadvertently hijacked your thread..

Sam -

Sam, you are quite the photographer. Good to know there are folks like you who love raccoons as much as I do.

And yes, so sorry we hijacked your thread Insanity.

One more cool raccoon vid before I go! I miss my little Boston Emily, she passed in 2015. This was her with the raccoons in 2000.

https://youtu.be/W-PwpJ11jso

That is my thought too this is just my first air gun as I am planing on making my next a nova vista freedom. I want a pcp and it really fits the entire bill in one package.

Click to expand...

I have a nova vista freedom. It is a tack driver with the heavier pellets! It is also the quietest air rifle I own.