I normally dial in a hunting rifle in holding the fore end gently by the stock screws, regardless of how the gun likes to be held. I do it that way because it’s a versatile hold, I can always lean my arm or wrist on something for support, and as long as your hold is consistent it’s the most important thing.
This year I tried something a little different. I took the extra time to tweak the scope on my R9 using ten shot groups and intentionally switching holds every time, along the entire forearm. I already knew with a consistent hold and good follow through I could probably hit a squirrel in the eye ball with fair consistency, but what I learned is I can keep every pellet inside a 1” circle regardless of my hold (25 yards). I’m talking edge to edge groups a hair less than 1” so I guess that puts my CTC group of any number of shots even 20 or 30 shots about 3/4”-7/8” at 25 yards, with no regard to consistency of hold but otherwise good fundamentals. This is with good ammo. Each different hold might change center of POI by about 1/8”-1/4” at most but also different holds do not group as well as others, so that is why overall it opens up between 3/4” or 7/8”. This is not a tuned gun, it’s a factory gun with nothing other than a trigger adjustment. It has not been chronoed but when compared side by side to the RWS 34 with a Vortek sub-12 kit, my HW hits noticeably harder.
Now when I do my part my groups are about a third or even a quarter of that size. I just love my buzzy little R9 to death and I am thrilled to learn that I don’t need to worry about how the gun is held out to any reasonable range in the squirrel woods. But how much less hold sensitive is a fixed barrel gun? What can you reasonably expect from an HW97 or an TX200 with a different hold between shots?
This year I tried something a little different. I took the extra time to tweak the scope on my R9 using ten shot groups and intentionally switching holds every time, along the entire forearm. I already knew with a consistent hold and good follow through I could probably hit a squirrel in the eye ball with fair consistency, but what I learned is I can keep every pellet inside a 1” circle regardless of my hold (25 yards). I’m talking edge to edge groups a hair less than 1” so I guess that puts my CTC group of any number of shots even 20 or 30 shots about 3/4”-7/8” at 25 yards, with no regard to consistency of hold but otherwise good fundamentals. This is with good ammo. Each different hold might change center of POI by about 1/8”-1/4” at most but also different holds do not group as well as others, so that is why overall it opens up between 3/4” or 7/8”. This is not a tuned gun, it’s a factory gun with nothing other than a trigger adjustment. It has not been chronoed but when compared side by side to the RWS 34 with a Vortek sub-12 kit, my HW hits noticeably harder.
Now when I do my part my groups are about a third or even a quarter of that size. I just love my buzzy little R9 to death and I am thrilled to learn that I don’t need to worry about how the gun is held out to any reasonable range in the squirrel woods. But how much less hold sensitive is a fixed barrel gun? What can you reasonably expect from an HW97 or an TX200 with a different hold between shots?
Well said (unless someone limits their hobby to target shooting and light pesting).
Of course, not all PCP's come from Sweden.... — where the general business principle seems to be: "Our guns must win as many widely advertised competitions as possible — in order to sell as many guns as possible." = $$$