Cold Bore Shot

[dogmansam]

My morning routine consists of rising, taking some pain medicine, going to church, going to McD get a sandwich drink 3 cups regular coffee.  Come home take morning meds get my stuff go out to shoot.  Yes I know by now I have the coffee shakes.  I have to use a walker ( just like an old woman ) so I don’t fall out in the yard.  I do have to shoot sitting down, but I still get to shoot a few hours a day.

My target is 17 yds away.  I like to put 4 1in bulls eye orange dots on 8.5 x 11 paper landscape fashion.  Dot 1 center top, dot 2 middle on right side, dot 3 bottom below top dot, dot 4 left side parallel with dot 2.  First shooting session 4 shots round robin. Crosman 177 carbine, steel breech, UTG R/G dot site, 10in bbl, 7 pumps.  My first shot is almost invariable 2 in high 1 in left. 

This morning tried something different, started bottom 4 consecutive shots, shot 1.5in group 2in high 1in left, same old stuff.  Next 4 left side 2 shots 1.5in high, 1.5in left, next 2 shots into 1in dot.  Next 4 shots top middle dot all 4 into 1in dot.  Next 4 shots right dot, 4 shots into 1in circle. Will I ever learn to shoot.  At 17yds started 4  3in dots practiced till I was able to put all shots into those dots.  After a few weeks went to 2in dot, same routine till all shots into the 2in dot.  Several weeks later I am down to 1in dots.  This is the best I would ever hope to achieve.  If I get that good I will be 1 happy camper.  All my life I have been a PB shooter.  I do not exaggerate probably north of 400,000 shots from 12ga, shooting trap, and skeet.  All kinds of rifles, and I have diligently studied shooting techniques.

BUT my cold bore shots from my little carbine just confounds me.  If I ever tried to make a cold bore head shot on any squirrel (2in high 1in left) it would be safe from me.  I will probably never get to shoot another squirrel again (can’t get out to hunt), so it is a good thing they sell meat at Safeway.

Still having fun, and get to laugh at myself.

[uncle paulie]

Sam, If you're still able to laugh at yourself, it's all good. When you start to take this stuff too seriously is about the time you'll get totally frustrated and want to ditch it all. If you're laughing, you are relaxed, it's that simple. Tension goes away, and the groups tighten up. But I would ease up on the java just before trying to nail the "10" spot!

pv

[dogmansam]

What I am trying to convey with this post is that this stuff is fun, and a fun frustrating.  I figure that everyone that shoots can’t hit a five shot .25 group from 25yds with a blindfold on.  This sport can be very therapeutic if one approaches it with the correct frame of mind.  That is for each individual to decide for themselves.  Unless you are shooting for money the only competition you should have is yourself.  I get a big kick about what people are doing, and it is so interesting discussing guns, performance, and what  is going on. 

Just came in from a 16 shot session with the 1377.  Yep first shot dead center on target 2in high. 

Let me analyze this.  Forty years shooting trap, and 60 years of hunting I have developed habits that would take me 60 years to break.  It is my opinion that shooting an airgun takes more skill than shooting a PB.  These airguns are not necessarily consistent and the bullets (pellets) also throw in their little twist.

Personally I have a flinch from shooting a shotgun.  I always shot from a dismounted position, and would throw the gun up and slap the trigger.  The trigger pull somewhere around 7-8 pounds.  I replicated many thousands of shots.  No matter how much I try good technique on the airgun as I start to tire out from shooting  I find myself jerking that trigger on the 1377 like I am trying to squeeze it to death.  Shooting comes down to not only practice, but  if you are not using a good technique all you are doing is reinforcing some very bad habits. 

For myself I analyze every aspect of what I am doing in my mind, just hold that gun, practice the hold, mount sight alignment, and everything else.  Then I go out to the range get all setup, watch myself setup the shot, lose focus then jerk that trigger like I am trying to kill it.  I know what I am doing wrong, fixing it really is the trick isn’t it? 

[Dockey 454]

You have a great attitude Sam. 30 years ago I spent 1 year in a wheel chair due to an on the job accident. I would roll back and forth on my car port with my 760, and shoot all day. Keep pulling the trigger it's the best medicine.

[dogmansam]

Just shot another 16 shot session. 

Went out got setup pumped up 1377 put it down kicked back for a while.  Using the UGT R/G dot dialed around the horn finally found a green dot setting that presented the best POA.  I love the dot sights, but it takes a lot of effort to line everything up correctly.  I am not sure if the POA moves around slightly with different selections.  Also mounting the carbine getting the exact hold correctly takes constant practice.  I only shoot free hand and bring my elbows in and get best shooting position.  Also the dot needs to be centered in the view correctly, this is not like a laser can’t just throw it up there and shoot.  I have fun with my Cros. 357w with the laser at 10 meters down stairs.  I just love doing point and shoot with that combo, I have put over 30,000 shots down range with that pistol. 

I have a UTG 4x32, AO, milldot, etc. on my 1322, and I am actually better with the dot sight on the 1377.

Cold bore shot – 2in high 2in right.  Now I know when this happens it is the jerk shooting, jerking the trigger.  Other 15 shots nibbled around the edges.  I figure another 500 shots if I can get the mechanics right I can hit that 1in dot consistently.  That cold bore shot is just a matter of time.

Oh I do have a shooting stick, have a table etc. but I want to just to do it offhand.  Thanks guys for all of the kind words.

[Paul68]

I'm noticing something similar. I'm beginning to feel its the temp difference from inside the house to outside. Seems after 15 minutes outside, all of a sudden my groups start looking like they should.

[thekid]

You will get this beat in no time.
Having a good time is all that matters

[BlueSteel50]

Try cleaning the bore good ,if you have any lead biuild up and it's cold,it's hard as the bbl warms the leadding gets softer and  this may be the cause of your cold shot grps being larger .just a thought ~~BS50

[Kailua]

Dot sights are a little tricky to shoot accurately.  Don't really know if the the dot is exactly centered on target on every shot.  As for a heavy trigger that is another challenge for accuracy.  Main thing you are having fun. lol