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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Guns And Related Accessories Review Gates => Air Gun Review Gate => Topic started by: Bicycleman on January 23, 2018, 03:59:07 PM
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For the past four seasons, I have hunted with pellet rifles - single shot .22 calibers. I long ago lost count of the squirrels I might have had a chance to kill except for the slow loading of the single shot rifles. I have been wanting a multi-shot for about 3.5 seasons. Well, yesterday my Stormrider .22 arrived from Pyramyd Air.
I did the usual barrel cleaning **, topping off the pressure to 3000 psi, and mounted the scope. Yes, the rifle came with some air in the tank - about 900 psi.
This morning, I went to the woods and sighted in the rifle/scope and then went hunting. While sighting in, I noticed the trigger is smoother than the one on the Maximus I have been hunting with. The magazines/clips are easy enough to load and fit and work nicely. With a little practice, I will become more comfortable with this rifle. And being so light, it is a joy to carry thro;ugh the woods.
I did take a couple shots at a squirrel - missed the first shot [but the squirrel didn't run]. Loaded a second pellet without taking my eyes off the squirrel. I hit with the second shot. Note to self: The scope needs some fine tuning.
**I used fishing line to drag a cleaning patch through the barrel. But this time, I had a length of line about three times as long as the barrel. I pushed one end down the barrel from the muzzle until it came out near the bolt. I pulled out enough line so that the middle was at the bolt. I made a loop at the center point of the line for the cleaning patch. I then added the Goo Gone to the patch and scrubbed it back and forth through the barrel while pulling each end of the fishing line alternately. Try it - it works really fine.
I would like to see chronograph numbers on this rifle - it seems to really have some pop!
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Congratulations on the Stormrider!
I too have used fishing line - 50 lb test monofilament for cleaning from the breech. I have final found a .17/.20 cleaning loop to use on a .17 caliber Gunslick one-piece cleaning rod (for use in .22 caliber air rifles).
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I was in the woods today again trying to sight in the Stormrider. I am going to have to dedicate some serious time to this rifle. It is giving me a bit of difficulty. More later.
I do like the trigger!
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I'm playing with my Stormrider as well. Found it doesn't like CPHP and shoots 16 grain AA much better. Think it will be a good hunter once it's broke in.
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Where I am living now, there is NO shooting in the back yard. So, any sighting-in means a short drive. But it is do-able. I can sit in the garage and shoot pellets into cardboard though. Probably, that would be something I will do to get more pellets down the barrel and get it seasoned. I have some bent JSBs and CPHP that would be ideal for that.
Thanks for the idea.
Also, the next time I go to sight-in, I plan to try some 18.13 gr JSBs. This rifle is shooting a little harder than the Maximus I was using; so the Stromrider might like the heavier pellets.
More later . . . .
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Mike my Varmint (PR900W same as yours) loves the JSB18.13's very accurate!
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Hi Wayne.
This the third PCP I bought new. The Discovery was first - very accurate out of the box. The second one was the Maximus - also very accurate out of the box but needed re-sighting occasionally [don't know why.] Now the Stormrider - and it is giving me a little ride on the rough road of accuracy. 18.13 gr next - and I hope my Stormrider is like your Varmint - accuracy wise.
I will let you know when I have done some shooting. Rainy today! :(
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I am surprised you are having accuracy problems all three of my SPA guns are very decent accuracy wise and the Varmint .177 is actually stacking pellets at ten yards and dime size groups at 25 yards in my backyard. Good luck with the sorting it out.
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Don, I think I am too much in a hurry to get to hunting instead of investing a few more minutes in some serious target shooting. I will just have to devote the time and bring the hand pump along so I can hunt afterwards.
It didn't make a difference yesterday, because I didn't see any squirrels. Two Deer, yes; but not squirrels.
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Don, I think I am too much in a hurry to get to hunting instead of investing a few more minutes in some serious target shooting. I will just have to devote the time and bring the hand pump along so I can hunt afterwards.
It didn't make a difference yesterday, because I didn't see any squirrels. Two Deer, yes; but not squirrels.
Mike I did about the same thing with mine, basically I found that it like the JSB18.13's the best, then I just started using it for hunting, I did do a lot of chrony testing with it prior to this though and yes that can be a little pricey too but it was worth it, plus the fact it also helped for breakin.
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Chrony testing - If you don't mind, what is your rifle's FPS?
Mine feels like it has more UMPH than the Maximus I have.
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This was the last Chrony string that I did with mine
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4239/34968752364_bfcd8b3945_b.jpg)
I'm pretty sure this was a 200bar fill too.
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In your opinion, with the stock LDC, would this rifle be quieter in .177, or .22 ?
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In your opinion, with the stock LDC, would this rifle be quieter in .177, or .22 ?
I've now got a nice LDC on mine from rocker1(David) it really quieted it down great.
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Today, the skies were deep blue and the wind was almost calm. Hummm, good time to finish sighting in the Stormrider with 18.13 gr JSB pellets.
I started at about 12 paces from the target (a box.) Three shots gave me a pattern. Adjustment time!
A couple more shots, and another minor adjustment.
Two more shots told me I was on target. A final two shots confirmed that the Stormrider does NOT like 15.89 gr JSBs but really stacks the 18.13 gr JSBs.
;D ;D ;D <--- smiles of satisfactions.
Note: I still tap the top of the turret after each adjustment. It works for me!
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**I used fishing line to drag a cleaning patch through the barrel. But this time, I had a length of line about three times as long as the barrel. I pushed one end down the barrel from the muzzle until it came out near the bolt. I pulled out enough line so that the middle was at the bolt. I made a loop at the center point of the line for the cleaning patch. I then added the Goo Gone to the patch and scrubbed it back and forth through the barrel while pulling each end of the fishing line alternately. Try it - it works really fine.
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+1 on this cleaning technique. I use a piece of Spectra fishing line. It's especially useful on my CFX with the rotary breach like it is.
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David, when I got through with the cleaning, I was confident the barrel was clean.
On Pellets: I have had bad pellets that didn't shoot well in my rifles. There were Daisy pellets and some Gamos that were very inexpensive. So, I didn't mind giving them away to friends who used them to season new barrels. I even wrote a report on the Gamos; and the free tin I received from Gamo was just the same. But the JSB 15.89 gr that the Diana doesn't like is the pellet my Maximus shoot best and deadliest. Go figure?
EDIT: Just remembered: I tightened screws on the Stormrider before going out sight-in Monday. I don't have any idea if that was a factor in the shotgunning of the other pellets because all of the screws were snug to tight. None required more than 1/4 turn to become tight. I should have thought to check the screws before shooting the first pellet. My Bad!
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I am not a fan of the Crosman hollow points. One of my air rifles will shoot 1/4" and just under that with RWS Basics. Same gun with the Crosmans, like 2-3 inches, and spraying all over the place. These are .177's.
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Jon, I have shot the Crosman Premier Hollow Points in the Discovery .22 and the Maximus .22. They both liked those pellets. Those pellets are to be considered when selecting a favorite pellet. The usually shoot well out of Benjamin/Crosman guns and they are cheap and available at Walmart. They punch a nice hole in Squirrels too.
I have not tried that particular pellet in the Stormrider yet.
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One of the main reasons I bought my Varmint was because the price had dropped considerably and being an SPA gun the norm was a good gun for hunting. Right after I bought it I tested the sniper magnums in it mainly because someone had mentioned they'd like to know how they were in this gun and I happened to have some. At first they shot terrible but after a break in the gun now shoots them very well as it does other pellets. The use of my Varmint slowed way down after I bought my SPA M16 (love this gun) and now that's my go to gun these days. The first critter I ever shot with my Varmint was a ground hog at 45 yards so it definitely fit the bill in the hunting category !!!
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Hi Wayne.
I certainly appreciate the Sniper Magnums information. Old saying: Knowledge is power.
The weather here needs to cooperate if I am going to get any good hunting days. When it is warm enough, I go out and the leaves are like Corn Flakes. On the cold days, it is raining and the temperatures are near freezing - I don't need the Flu again this winter. So, I have to just hunt whenever the weather lets me. I am already looking forward to our Spring Squirrel Season here. :D Maybe my son will be able to squeeze in a few hunt too. I will let him use the Stormrider and I will shoot the Maximus.
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Here is a two part update:
First - the last hunt with the Stormrider - I did manage to knock a squirrel out of a tree but lost it. I was aiming for a shoulder shot and think I may have hit the squirrel a little high. It jumped out of the tree after the pellet hit it. >:(
Second - the Discovery .22 I had a couple years ago. My brother is shooting it now and still killing squirrels in Louisiana. We spoke on the phone today and he said he hunted this morning and got two Fox Squirrels.
Next hunt for me - whenever it stops raining. It has rained eight days straight here in Middle Tennessee and rain is predicted for the next seven days.
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I have the .22 Varmint and believe it or not, it shoots the 14.3 CPHP just as good if not better than the JSB 18.13gr. Really good accuracy within 20 yards. I can't speak for beyond 20 because I am limited at 18yds at home.
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Hello, Kim.
My concerns are two pronged: I need accuracy first and foremost because I am hunting animals. And the fact that I am hunting animals, brings up the second concern. I have a theory that a softer pellet dumps more of its energy upon impact than a harder pellet. And if a pellet does NOT exit the target, then all of its energy is spent. After hunting with the Corsman Premier Hollow Point pellets and the Crosman Premier Box Domes, I had very few recovered pellets from inside the animals I harvested. [Squirrels] When I started using the JSB pellets, I found them to be just as accurate from my rifles; plus, percentage wise, I recovered more pellets from the animals I cleaned.
I do understand where you are coming from. And believe me when I say I would use the CPHPs for shooting around the house because they are accurate and soooo inexpensive as compared to JSBs.
Thanks for the reply and good shooting.
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Mike,
The majority of my squirrel takes are with head shots. Some of the CPHP 14.3gr do pass through their little noggins but the end result is a dead squirrel. You just have to love what 25fpe of lead impact has on the head of a squirrel.
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Kim, I agree with you 100% about head shots. And that is what I usually do (and will be doing with this Stromrider.) The Stormrider should be right about 25 FPE with the 18.13 gr JSB pellets.
Now about the pellets passing through - If the pellets comes to a stop immediately upon exiting the squirrel's body, then there is no chance of down range damage. The pellet would simply drop to the ground. Problem is, we don't know this for a fact. So, if it does NOT exit, then we can be sure of no potential damage down range. That is what I was getting at. Also, I do believe a pellet that does not exit makes for a quicker, more ethical kill. JMHO
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Heart/lung shots do a good job putting them down too, many times a shot like that they barely move after you shoot them, you don't get the wild dance like you do with a head shot.
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I agree with the heart/lung shot comment. Even with just 13.5 fpe at the muzzle, inside 20 yards or so lung shots are very effective on squirrels. With 18.13 jsb they often stiffen up like they got shocked, and drop.
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It might have to wait until the next season [Spring Season in May]. I have several things next week and then there is the RAIN!
They are considering changing the spelling of this state's name to TennesSEA.
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I am thinking about removing the do nothing LDC that the Stormrider came with. Have any of you found a way to remove the LDC without destroying it?
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I heated mine with a heat gun until it started to "smoke" then removed set screw and used a strap wrench to pull off the "suppressor". Haven't tried to reinstall but appears OK .
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Thanks for the reply. I will give that a try.
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I just finished removing the LDS/end piece from my Stormrider.
The first problem was removing the set screw. It had something like Loctite that was not giving at all.
I didn't have a heat gun and didn't know where to borrow one. So, I sneaked into Ms. Judy kitchen and got the largest glass measuring cup (actually four cups) and filled it with water. It was deep enough to submerse the end piece completely. I then boiled the water and stood the rifle in the boiling water [barrel first]. I let it soak for about a minute.
The set screw gave way and I removed it relatively easily.
Next I took a glove style pot holder and firmly grasped the end piece and twisted. It also gave way and I removed it with moderate effort. After cleaning the glue substance off, everything looks like NEW. I am pleased with the end result.
Okay, David (Rocker1), I am ready for that new LDS.
EDIT: Pictures added.
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Pictures added above!
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This is what a Rocker1 Suppressor looks like. Yes, it arrived today and was promptly installed. Tomorrow morning, I plan to do a little target shooting with the Stormrider and the Maximus. They should still be shooting accurately - but it never hurts to check the out.
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The one on the bottom of this pic is like mine.
(https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=138432.0;attach=227054;image)
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This morning, I will going out to the woods to shoot some targets. That bottom suppressor is such a pretty piece of work - actually both are very pretty. The top one is for a threaded barrel.
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Last Monday [May 14], I hunted with the Stormrider for the first time this Spring Season. I killed one Gray Squirrel and hit another [but it scampered up the tree and disappeared.] The Gray Squirrel was my first confirmed kill with the Stormrider.
The one that escaped was hit on the third shot. It simply could not figure out what was happening or where the pellets were coming from. That Rocker1 suppressor is doing the job. Thank you again, David.
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Mike....Congratulations on first blood with your Stormrider ! May There be Many More Squirrels to Come !
( Many years ago, I used to Rifle Deer Hunt using an old 5 speed bicycle. I had it rigged for silent coasting and it was great on game trails. )
Best Wishes - Tom
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Thanks, Tom; that first kill is a great confidence builder.
Where I am hunting now, the bicycle is not an option - wood too close and way to rugged. I leave the parking lot and walk through the farm yard/pasture and start hunting about 60 yards from my truck. It is like a dream come true.
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Update time:
On my last three squirrel hunts, the Stormrider has scored one shot kills to the head. It took me longer to adjust to this rifle than when I started hunting with the Maximus. But that is my fault and not any fault of the rifle. It is doing its job just fine. I am satisfied with the way it is performing. At this time, I am not planning any modifications. ;)
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Mike...your Diana Stormrider sounds like it is... a truly excellent.. hunting rifle ! I follow All your posts..Very Carefully.
My Best Wishes - Tom
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Yes, Tom, you are a very loyal reader of my threads - as I am with your post too.
The Stormrider is a cool rifle for the price - I would definitely get another.
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Yes, this thread is over a year old - but the information I am adding is specific to this rifle.
(I did buy a second Stormrider .22; but it is a Gen II.)
During last hunting season, I realized I had a very slow leak. It did not hamper my day-to-day hunting; so I ignored it until now. I am not going to double post. So if you would like to catch up on what I did to the Stormrider Gen I, check this ---> https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=159224.0;topicseen
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I just got my Gen 2 Stormrider .177. It was backordered since June, and then the recall... Added the Altaros regulator @ 120 bar and the additional gauge at the end of the tank. The new adjustable trigger is very nice. I put a handful of pellets through it and she shots very nicely.
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Fran, it has been a while since you did the upgrades to your Stormrider. How are those upgrades performing?
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Mike,
It's winter up here so the shooting slows. And I keep telling myself that mama doesn't know about this purchase yet, so I keep it on the down low. But I've kept busy on the maintenance front.
I had a slow leak that required a couple of degas cycles to find using your thread(ended up being in the fitting the manometer screws into), but she now holds air just fine. I also decided that cleaning up the barrel was a good idea, so I did some metal work on the barrel port, lede and recrowned. Then I mopped her out good with some J&B bore paste. Interesting to note that to my inexperienced eye, my rifling shows no signs of the poor machining that other owners have mentioned. Now she sparkles like a newlywed's diamond ring.
Finally, I'm putting an extended post together that should be a resource for new Stormrider owners, centralizing all of the stuff I've been hunting around to find. I'll be pm'ing you and others with an invite to contribute if you are so inclined!
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Fran, I will appreciate the PM and look forward to your thread.
Good shooting when the weather . . . .
For the time being, stay warm.