Air rifle accuracy

Pro-Line · 09-03-2008, 05:55 PM

I am going to buy an air rifle. I've been squirrel hunting for 30 years...started with a 12ga...then 20ga...then 410...then 22...now a 22 pistol just to try new things.

Now I want an air rifle for chasing tree rats.

I had a buddy that bought an RWS and bragged at length at its accuracy. I went over to his place and we shot it off bags, and I was far from impressed. The best groups we could get were around 2" at 50'. The scope was tight and we actually tried another scope when I complained of the accuracy. Nothing changed.

Did he have a lemon?

What group size SHOULD I expect at 50'?

Who owns an accurate A.R. and what brand is it?

I don't care if I get a Beman, RWS, Gamo or whatever.

Thanks so much.

joker80p · 09-03-2008, 06:13 PM

rws air rifles are good air rifles but springers are tricky to shoot. Especially high powered ones. Not to say that it was you...im not aware of your experience with air rifles. I belong to an air rifle forum and many members can pull 1/2 groups at 30 yards and ragged one holers at 15 yards. Personally im not good with high powered springers so i went to a tuned chinese qb-78 co2 powered air rifle in .22 cal. Im an unstable shooter and i could get half inch groups at 25 yards with it. I also own a chinese b3 that is in .177 that is a slower shooting springer. Mine shoots around 600fps. That one is a toss up. It is a really cheap gun so its not going to be a tack driver but easier to shoot because of the lower power. I take squirrels with mine. I just got one today actually. i can shoot a 1 inch group with that gun at 20 yards

Pro-Line · 09-03-2008, 06:44 PM

Joker...my experience with air rifles is VERY limited. I shot a red rider when I was a kid...then went straight to gunpowder.

My experience with rifles/shotguns is extensive, but I wasn't aware that there was that big of a difference in shooting them.

Off sandbags, I'd like to believe it wasn't me, but it's very possible.

joker80p · 09-03-2008, 06:51 PM

actually shooting a springer from a rest is supposed to be even worse. I though shooting a rifle would be the same also but its quite different because of the reverse recoil. The hold is critical to accuracy. Most times you have to give it a very light hold. I could only shoot my one high powered springer with my front hand open, just resting on my palm and my other hand lightly gripping the gun. Very strange and uncomfortable and i still couldnt quite get it...so i gave up and went to co2 beside my low powered one.

Wlfdg · 09-03-2008, 10:38 PM

Card on right is from 30 yds. Card on left is from 50 yds. Shot these from my Gamo Big Cat 1200 with Beeman Wadcutter Coated Pellets.

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=P1140019.jpg.

A11en · 09-06-2008, 07:52 PM

2" at 50 yards is decent for an air rifle shooting 1000 FPS.

BUTCHER45 · 09-07-2008, 10:15 AM

My .454 SamYang 909 will put 4 shots under an inch center to centerat 50 yards off of my steady stix.The last50 yard group I shot with it was closer to.5 inch.

I'll be shooting some more groups with it next weekend, and will post some photos/video if possible.