Author Topic: Inaccurate Striker .25 (Read 4539 times))

jlp920 · « **on:** March 16, 2018, 08:21:38 PM »

Hey guys,
I have a beautiful Turkish walnut spring powered Striker 1000X in 25 Cal, and I’m lucky to hold 16” at 25 yards with about 300 pallets through it. I really wish I could take it squirrel hunting! It has all kinds of power, I can see no defects visible, I’ve cleaned it – you guys got any suggestions? It was a refurb I bought last fall from HatsanUSA
Thanks
JP
Vermont

Privateer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2018, 08:51:03 PM »

16 inches at 25 yards!
Is that off a bench rest?

jlp920 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2018, 08:56:37 PM »

It’s just all over the place.
I’ll get a good group with two or three shots, then the next one is 8” low and to the right. I’ll make a little adjustment and the next one misses the backstop entirely. This is resting on a window, with artillary hold, without artillary hold....doesn’t seem to matter (can you sense my frustration?). I really want to dial it in , it’s such a beauty, but I just feel like I’m wasting pellets.

I guess what I’m asking is-could this be a defective barrel or maybe the powerplant?
Maybe a tight or loose spot in the bore or inconsistent sealing with the piston-I have contacted Hatsan, waiting to hear back.

A.K.A. Tommy Boy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2018, 10:17:20 PM »

I would Check the front of your barrel bore for a dings and dents. ( All Screws Tight ? ) I have a 25 Cal Edge/Striker Vortex Gas ram that I pulled the front plastic sight off of. I re-chamfered ( re-crowned ) the front of the barrel. The accuracy improved GREATLY shooting H&N 19.91gr. domed pellets. It was shooting about a 3 inch group at 35 yards and now it will shoot a 1 inch group or less at 35 yards. Best Wishes - Tom

REACTOR - NIN · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2018, 10:54:42 PM »

Jesse , are you shooting with scope or open sight ?
Is your rifle dieselling on and off ?

jlp920 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2018, 12:05:07 AM »

I will check out the muzzle-I had started to remove the plastic sight then gave up. Tap it off with a piece of wood and a mallet? I assume it’s just pressed on. Thanks for that.

Re. Sights: I am shooting with open sights. I have not noticed any dieseling, though some shots are snappier than others, so that may be happening. I did some chronoing when I first got it and I think they were pretty consistent.

REACTOR - NIN · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2018, 12:58:35 AM »

Well, about a month ago, I had that same experience of inconsistant accuracy . I found out that it is due to the rear sight that have some side movement. Even though the screw on the rear side is tight, it still move a little. I took the rear sight out and inspected and realised that the hole with a small spring had become bigger to hold on to the Allen screw on the barrel. I used white tape ( for pvc tread use) to go round the Allen screw so that it fixed in the hole snugly. Make sure the spring in the rear sight is in line with the hole when you assembly it.
Try other brand of pellets too, before you do anything to the barrel. . If your rifle is still under warranty, sent it back.
Best of lucks!
Hope this help.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2018, 01:38:11 AM »

Loose stock screws ?

A.K.A. Tommy Boy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2018, 08:05:52 AM »

Quote from: jlp920 on March 17, 2018, 12:05:07 AM

I will check out the muzzle-I had started to remove the plastic sight then gave up. Tap it off with a piece of wood and a mallet? I assume it’s just pressed on. Thanks for that.

Re. Sights: I am shooting with open sights. I have not noticed any dieseling, though some shots are snappier than others, so that may be happening. I did some chronoing when I first got it and I think they were pretty consistent.

The Plastic front Sight Assemblyt is really pressed on Tight. Just taping it with a piece of wood won't get it off. I boiled a pot of water then soaked the front end in the hot water for 20 minutes or so. After the soaking, I then tapped it off with a 1/2 inch Hard Wood Dowel and a Shot Filled - Soft Faced - Dead Blow Hammer. Best Wishes - Tom

gendoc · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2018, 09:05:58 AM »

just for test purposes.....put a scope on it and test for groups.

longhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2018, 12:56:05 PM »

^^^ WHAT HE SAID ^^^

mentolio · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2018, 05:49:41 PM »

Try a scope, but assuming your technique/hold/everything else is right:

What pellets are you using? These guns can be somewhat pellet picky, although a 16 inch group is most likely NOT the gun not liking your pellets. If you want to test for a "bad" barrel: Push a pellet (gently, by hand) from breech to muzzle with a cleaning rod, and note how much resistance you feel between the rifling and the pellet. I would guess that the pellet starts out pretty darned tight, then gets looser as you go, and ends up "dropping" the last third or so of the barrel length before hanging up at the muzzle. Next, push a pellet from muzzle back to breech. Also note whether the pellet is tight, loose, etc. these barrels are often (anymore) extra tight in the bore from breech to an inch or two past the breech block (likely poor machining/assembly?). Then they usually loosen up a bit, while still having the occaisional tight spot along the way to the muzzle. Then the drop...the drop is where the pellet is no longer engaging the rifling, and is just bouncing down the barrel like a musket ball. Anyway, if you find these conditions to be present, send that gun back. Fixable? Maybe...I've had some success lapping and polishing these barrels, but I don't recommend banking on it.

I had two Strikers in .25, both of which had "bad barrels," and grouped like shotguns regardless of pellet or hold. The first one showed some potential after lapping and polishing the bore, and a recrown, but went back for other manufacturing issues I couldn't fix. The second gun also started out not being able to hold a group on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper at 15 yards. That barrel was still loose in the last three inches of the bore even after lapping and polishing (I was considering just cutting the last three inches off). That one also went back (bad dove tail on top of bad accuracy). Hatsan replaced it with a 95 after much complaining (them and me). That gun (after cleaning and polishing the ____out of the bore, and a rebuild) shoots hot and accurate. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

jlp920 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2018, 08:58:01 PM »

That gives me a lot to work with, thanks again.
I have had the gun since last October-I purchased a couple tins of pellets when I bought it and recently bought three more tins-that’s four different types total (I forget the brands, I’m away at the moment).
I got it shooting OK for awhile, but never great. I need to invest in a decent scope at some point, but I thought the open sights looked pretty good. I think they do wander though. I will run the jobs you suggest and see what I see. Thank you!

jlp920 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2018, 10:19:27 PM »

Well, I ordered up a scope for starters.
I’ll let you know how she groups with that.

mentolio · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2018, 08:34:35 AM »

I hope it works for you! I might also suggest shooting and grouping at 10 yards. See how tight you can get it, and take photos. Should you send it back, Hatsan is going to test at ten yards ONLY, and will likely claim "1/4 inch groups" as acceptable (by the way, shooting 1/4" groups while shooting what is effectively 1/4" slugs would probably be acceptable and likely doable, if they only shoot one-shot groups 😂). I would bet that 16" at 25 yards translates to 8-ish inches at ten. Those photos could be good ammo for a return.

While I'm thinking about it: check your barrel "lock-up" as well. There should be no wiggle or slop in the barrel when it's closed (up-down, side to side). Any significant wiggle could also cause accuracy problems. lastly, if you can access a Chrony, I suggest testing velocity. You may (likely) find it's shooting slow/erratic and has a bad seal. Any local paintball operation should have one. Best of luck!

jlp920 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2018, 09:50:38 AM »

Thanks, will do. With the price I paid for it (I think it was $80 + $3 shipping !!?),
It almost doesn't matter to me–I could invest quite a bit of tweaking into it and still be ahead.
I'm working on an old break barrel pistol for a friend and will be ordering the lube pack from ARH soon.
I can see from the spring slot that this thing was well lubed on assembly, however. Plenty of moly or something on that spring.
-jp

jlp920 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2018, 11:51:45 AM »

I just pushed two different pellets down the bore. Both measured .255 before slugging.
Both went down the barrel with no effort. Found my culprit.
I wonder if they'll just do a barrel swap with me? I'm happy to remove the barrel and send it down the road...

mentolio · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2018, 08:28:22 PM »

Sorry, highly unlikely they'll send you a barrel. They'll want to see the gun and "fix it." You'll likely get another in the mail a week or two after you send them this one. Won't hurt to ask, but...

jlp920 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2018, 08:31:52 PM »

Uh-huh. It’s also passed the 90 day window for refurb returns.
May be stuck with it. Anyone have experience with oversized bores in .25?

jlp920 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2018, 09:17:54 AM »

Little update for you guys.
I contacted HatsanUSA and they were responsive, offered to send an RMA if it should be necessary. However I have a couple questions. I am still a bit of a newbie, so I don’t actually know – should the bore of a break barrel be oversized like that? I assume the skirt obdurates in the bore under pressure.
Also, it seems like this gun is probably limited to lighter pellets, like the 19.19 grainers.
I’m not sure the heavies ( 27-30 gr.) are stabilizing. I actually shot a respectable group yesterday with the vortex 19.19 gr. pellets. Then the Benjamin pointed 28 grainers were all over the place.
I paid $95 for this gun (found the slip), and if that’s just how the .25 bores are, I would probably just get the same thing in exchange. So...a bit more shooting, a bit more patience.
Feedback still welcome!
-Jess

PS: I welcome any suggestions as to known oversized pellets, and/or ones that have worked for others that have this gun.

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Inaccurate Striker .25

Author Topic: Inaccurate Striker .25 (Read 4539 times))