8 months ago, I posted that I could place 15 shots in a row into a dime (22 cal R9 @25 yards), but after that, my shooting fell off. Since then, I have been through the gun several times... new ARH springs, new vortex seal, polishing & lubing wedge port, multiple scopes (my apologies to Hawke), etc,,,etc. Now, 8 months later, I've fine tuned my analysis. My accuracy & groups (these are not the same thing) are very good for 20 shots, then the groups start spreading a bit, and the group "center" moves down over the next 10 to 20 shots. They seem to stabilize about 1/2 - 3/4 inch below the initial group. I usually wear myself out about then and stop shooting, so I'm not really sure how stable the new poi is. In 24 hrs, when I shoot again, the process repeats itself.This really had me baffled. But Jim of UK (in another posting) recently attributed this kind of behavior the heat buildup on the full face piston seal used by most springers, both break barrels and fixed barrels. So have I found the reason for my guns performance? If so, I would expect most of you guys and gals have the same issue. Well...?
the heat buildup on the full face piston seal used by most springers, both break barrels and fixed barrels.
Hi Tom I feel your frustrations. As a springer shooter, I've done my share of chasing POI shifts, fliers etc. This has forced me to develop a systemic approach to POI shifts and/or fliers.Isolate the cause or combination of causes1. you (position/rest used, breath, trigger control)2. environmental3. Gun4. scope3 and 4 are fairly easy to isolate. For #3, check all your screws, chrono the gun, look at the crown, test different pellets#4, try a differ scope on the gun, try anti-recoiling mounts, mount a laser in combination with your "suspect" scope to track POA vs POI shiftsFor #1, have someone who shoots springers shoot your gun and scope. This was my problem. My buddy shot my gun and scope and said there was no problem. I didn't believe him for the longest time. Till about 8 months ago, after changing scopes, tuning the gun...I started working on my trigger pull and positions. Big big improvement. Now I can "call" about 85% of my shots. For #2, Shoot indoors at the longest distance you can manage. Good luck.
I did a little testing of my 177 HW95 to see it has the same POI variation. Yesterday it was 85 degrees, sunny and humid. I had been shooting the gun for several hundred shots when I had this dismal attempt at the first seven targets on the ten dimes sheet. All targets shot left to right then top down. You can clearly see where the zero was. This morning I continued with five shot groups. It was 65 and shady. I started with the last three targets on the ten dimes sheet and moved to the other target.The POI did start about a 3/8" high and then finally settled to where it was yesterday by the last group. This may have been because of use or the ambient temps climbed while I was shooting. The targets set up at 30 yards so IMO a 3/8" variance of POI is doesn't wig me out.
I hate to say this, but I believe that after your 20 shoots, THAT IS YOUR POI!The first 20 shoots just warm up the gun to where it normally wants to shoot.-Y
Quote from: Yogi on June 21, 2023, 09:54:06 PMI hate to say this, but I believe that after your 20 shoots, THAT IS YOUR POI!The first 20 shoots just warm up the gun to where it normally wants to shoot.-YThat's fine if you only shoot paper. A hunting rifle has to predictably print the first shot on target. There's no warm up shots while hunting. I returned two Savage 17 hmr rifles that had unpredictable cold bore shots. The third one was no better I cut that rifle in half and threw it in a dumpster. No more Savage rifles for me.