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Post by ozark on Jun 19, 2006 12:52:04 GMT -5
I am a master rifle shooter and aware of normal shooting fundamentals but I need help with the crossbow and the pellet rifles. These have a totally different recoil and I am not all that good at using them accurately. I think both have the same recoil characteristics generally. Should they be held firmly against the shoulder and gripped firmly with the forward hand? Or can one be accurate holding them loosly? Any tips on shooting these would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Jun 19, 2006 15:03:28 GMT -5
Can't help you with the crossbow. However, pellet guns are wacky little buggars to shoot well....even the ones that are very capable.
Pneumatics are easier. Spring pistons are tough...IMO. It's as if the recoil goes away from the shooter instead of into the shoulder. And recoil there is! It's enough to wreak havok on scopes not designed for this funny recoil.
Normal good techniques will work on these guns the same as "normal" guns. Good rest and consistent form will provide good consistent results. The best way is through lots of shooting like anything else.
The crossbow has eluded me my entire life and I have no experience on them at all.
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Post by Swede on Jun 21, 2006 6:47:55 GMT -5
For the crossbow I hold firmly against the shoulder, like a centerfire rifle.
No experience with pellets.
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Post by ourway77 on Jun 22, 2006 4:40:35 GMT -5
Swede, I have shot a cross bow for some yaers now. I sight mine in the same way a rifle off sand bags. Then when shooting from a tree stand You must remain constant, what I mean you must follow through as it takes longer for the arrow to leave its rest, so if you drop your line of sight the arrow will not hit its target, a good firm hold and keeping those sight on target till your sure the arrow is gone by then if you did the arrow will hit its target. Remember distance is still a factor the same as with a conventional bow. Lou
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Post by Swede on Jun 28, 2006 6:58:45 GMT -5
Totally agree, Lou.
Follow through is the most important item in being able to shoot any firearm or bow accurately. The same with any sport, baseball, golf, footaball. Follow through.
If you have a weapon only capable of shooting 5" groups, and you follow though the same with every shot with that weapon, you should be shooting the peak of accuratacy with that weapon.
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Post by jbmabrey on Nov 23, 2006 7:11:53 GMT -5
ozark, from my shooting a gamo 1000 and reading a lot on the internet-springers like to breath. ie don't hold the forearm tight-just rest it in your hand and let it do it's own thing. I shoot an old exomag and depending on position-I do the same thing. except if shooting from a tree stand i tend to hold the xbow a little tighter so I don't drop it. I often use a bench rest or stoney point pole cat while sitting on a stool to practice. It simulates hunting from a blind and seems to improve accuracy. when shooting offhand I pull the stock into my shoulder but hold the forearm lightly.
good luck
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Post by Blue-Dot-37.5 on Nov 27, 2006 10:28:15 GMT -5
Ozark: I can't help you with the crossbow, but I can with the pellet gun. Pellet guns are finickey about what they digest, just like .22 LR's. For a .177, a good place to start is the Crosman Premier in 7.9g or the 10.5 gr. pellets. On a new gun, it will usually take 250 shots or so to get all the oil out of the piston chamber (the chamber where the air is compressed). Before that, the slight oil that is in there will ignite with the heating of the air as it get compressed, and your velocities will be all over the board. You should NOT add any oil to lubricate the piston or seal at any time! As others have stated, recoil is an issue. Spring air guns will eat poor quality scopes as fast as you can get them mounted, and they'll eat some of the "better" scopes too. The only "cheap" scope that I've had luck with is the now discontinued Simmons 44Mag series of scopes. I had a Tasco Custom Shop scope on my TX200, and it was destroyed in less than 200 shots. Guys who are serious about their airguns will use Leupold & Nightforce scopes......... Spring airguns are very sensitive to hold, and where you hold them at that. They don't like to be shot off of a solid or semi-solid rest, and where the forearm is contacting the rest matters too. You can have the butt resting in a rabbit ear type bag, and the front resting on another range bag, but put a thick folded terry cloth type towel on top of the front rest. Until you get the gun figured out, take some masking tape and mark the forend every inch back to the trigger guard. Shoot a 3 to 5 shot group using each 1" mark to see where the gun likes to be held. The trigger hand will torque the gun if the trigger is too heavy, I prefer a 2-3# pull. Pellets have a rainbow trajectory, and are very sensitive to wind, so it's best to do you practice indoors if possible. If you can shoot 10 Yds or further, that will do just fine. A good scope with an adjustabe objective will help you range the target, and you can make up a chart to allow you to either hold over/under without adjusting the scope, or make a click chart to turn the elevation knob so you can hold right on the target. The Simmons 44Mag 6.2-20 with target turrets will allow you to do just that, although you might have to make a tape-on distance chart on the AO. I used to play the Field Target game, and we'd shoot out to 55-60 Yds. Every shot counted, so you had better have a scope that would range well, and you'd better know your drop/windage! With regards to the pellets, if you have a .177, I have a vast selection of pellets from my testing. If you pm me your address, I could send you a selection of different brands/weights for you to try. Just re-imburse me for postage. Here's a few places for you to look at. www.airgunexpress.comwww.aafta.org/index_frameset.html(go to resources, on the left side, click on field target, techniques and then on equipment. Lots of reading there.) I have 2 airguns, both .177. A FWB 124 Deluxe that I bought new (plastic trigger and all) from Beeman, and an Air Arms TX200. www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/10/fwb-124-classic-pellet-rifle.htmlwww.straightshooters.com/ourtake/ottx200.htmlwww.air-arms.com/air-arms/tx200.htmlLet me know how you progress! Blue-Dot-37.5 |
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Post by ozark on Dec 9, 2006 23:47:36 GMT -5
Haven't visited here in a good space of time. I discovered that I was not following through as I should have. My reflexes have always been fast and I needed to focus on staying with the shot until it reached the target. Improvement was great with just that one element fixed. As a long time master rifle shooter I am ashamed to be violating an important link to accuracy. But something about that crossbow caused me to quit on the shot early. Thank you all.
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Post by chuck41 on Aug 9, 2007 10:31:49 GMT -5
I understand your crossbow questions as I have the same problems. Have a cheap crossbow and have never used it. Guess I had best get me a target and try it before Oct 1st comes around.
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Post by ozark on Aug 9, 2007 14:00:35 GMT -5
Chuck I couldn't believe I was the problem. Something about the way it bounces when fired caused me to not follow through. It is a new game altogether than the rifle.
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