New Member, New Gun

[tcgoetz]

Hi all, I’m a new member and recent air gun convert. I picked up a Crosman Storm XT 1.77 from Walmart this spring after my brother showed me his air gun. I’ve enjoyed that gun so far. I’m currently shooting targets with four targets per page at 30 yards and doing well. I’ve been doing a lot of reading here on GTA.

I’ve been looking into hunter education courses so I can get my hunting license and do some pest control in my yard, but that is more of a long term plan.

I bought my second air gun recently after doing some research. I bought it to address the following issues I had with the Storm XT:
- I wanted something quieter.
- I wanter something with more power without being supersonic.
- I wanted a scope with more magnification. A quarter page target is pretty small in the 4x at 30 yards.
- I wanted something with more killing power for if and when I get my hunting license, but didn’t want the length and weight of a Trail XL.

Based on this thinking and some research here, I got a Remington NPSS .22. I payed more and got the NPSS over the Benji Trail NP since it was made in the USA and is supposed to have higher quality.  I bought it from Pyramyd Air and paid for the 10 for $10. I’m not out of the break in period, but I’ve had the following issues so far:
- The crony tape form Pyramyd Air shows it shooting 11.9 gr Hobby pellets at about 780fps. Most people report shooting 14gr CPHPs at that velocity. Shouldn’t the 11.9gr pellets have been faster?
- One of the front stock screws wasn’t holding the stock tight. I could move the stock a quarter inch with my hand. I replaced it with a shorter screw and it’s holding it now.
- The trigger guard was really loose and needed 8 or 9 turns of the screw to get it tight.
- There is a little bit of grinding when cocking.
- It’s really loud right now. Louder than my Storm XT ever was.
- It shoots 6” groups at 50ft from a rest.

I had hoped that I would avoid any issues by buying the more expensive US made gun and paying the extra $10 for the 10 for $10. I’ve got my fingers crossed now that it will get better as it goes through the break in period. Is that a reasonable hope with this level or issues? Should I send it back?

Thanks for any feedback!

[Mack]

Welcome to GTA!
I'm sure some NPSS pros will pop in and give you the info you need. All I can say is get her good and clean and run a couple hundred rounds through and see if the groups start to tighten up, good luck!

[ezman604]

Welcome to GTA Forums. Glad you found us and joined up. Generally, the NPSS is a sweet gun. Sounds like you have issues for sure. An initial bore cleaning is a MUST with any new airgun. You just don't know what kind of junk is in there left over from manufacturing.
Use weedeater string, cotton patches and Goo Gone to do a thorough bore cleaning. No metal rods or metal brushes. And no pb type solvents, they damage seals.
The numbers are down a bit on power but MAY come on up after as the piston seal sets in. and a 6" group at 50 feet?
Do not shoot any springer from a rest, not with the foregrip resting on it completely. You should palm the gun and can use the gun rest to prop on.
What ammo have you tried? With the NPSS I'd recommend going with 13-18gr ammo. I'd suggest CPHP 14.3gr and possibly Predators 16gr rounds. Keep us informed on your progress.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[tcgoetz]

...
Use weedeater string, cotton patches and Goo Gone to do a thorough bore cleaning. No metal rods or metal brushes. And no pb type solvents, they damage seals.
The numbers are down a bit on power but MAY come on up after as the piston seal sets in. and a 6" group at 50 feet?
...
What ammo have you tried? With the NPSS I'd recommend going with 13-18gr ammo. I'd suggest CPHP 14.3gr and possibly Predators 16gr rounds. Keep us informed on your progress.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

Thanks for the welcome!

I have the weed eater line. I'll go out and get some patches and goo gone from Walmart at lunch.

I'm using CPHPs.

Also, despite being loud and erratic, there is no smoke in the barrel.

Thanks again for the welcome and the suggestions.

[tcgoetz]

One more thing. For about half about half of the rounds the holes in the target are not round, they look a bit like the sideways profile of the pellets. Does that mean the pellets are tumbling?

[Bullit]

One more thing. For about half about half of the rounds the holes in the target are not round, they look a bit like the sideways profile of the pellets. Does that mean the pellets are tumbling?

Yeah, most likely.  You might try using true Domed pellets, (ie. JSB, Crosman Premier, H&N, etc.), rather than the CPHPs.   Understand that your gun may not like those CPHP pellets.  You may wanna try a few different pellets to get your best performance. I'd say stay away from heavier pellets. Don''t get too hung up on speed.  You want it to be accurate first and foremost.  Practice the "artillery hold" and your groups will tighten up as you get more proficient.

Clean it like Dave posted.  Also, you want to tighten those screws, and if you wanna keep them tight, re-install them with a dot of blue "Loctite" on them.  
WELCOME to the GTA !!!!

[ezman604]

Yes it does. And you're using CPHP? Being loud and keyholeing sure sounds like the gun is generating over 1080fps and possibly detonation from oil migrating into the chamber.

[tcgoetz]

Yes it does. And you're using CPHP? Being loud and keyholeing sure sounds like the gun is generating over 1080fps and possibly detonation from oil migrating into the chamber.

Doesn't that conflict with Pyramyd having chronyed it at 774-790 with 11.9gr Hobby pellets? Or do they often get worse before they get better in the break in phase?

Is oil migrating into the chamber part of the break in phase or is that only for oil that was already in the chamber? Should I continue with the plan of cleaning it and shooting a bunch more pellets or is this obviously a lemon?

[ezman604]

Yes it does. And you're using CPHP? Being loud and keyholeing sure sounds like the gun is generating over 1080fps and possibly detonation from oil migrating into the chamber.

Doesn't that conflict with Pyramyd having chronyed it at 774-790 with 11.9gr Hobby pellets? Or do they often get worse before they get better in the break in phase?

Yep, it does. The numbers they report is about par for the NPSS. 6" grouping and being very loud is not.

Is oil migrating into the chamber part of the break in phase or is that only for oil that was already in the chamber? Should I continue with the plan of cleaning it and shooting a bunch more pellets or is this obviously a lemon?

Oil can be residual from manufacture. It should clear within 20-30 shots. If not, you could have a damaged piston seal allowing oil to migrate into chamber. After a good bore cleaning, if it still keyholes and gives 6" group at 50 feet, I'd advise calling PA to get the gun swapped.

[LeadHead]

I have a NPSS in .22 and love it. Accurate out to 30 yards which is what I shoot at(max length of my back yard). When I first got it I weed whacked my bore and just feed it 14.3g CPHP and she loves it so I don't feed her anything other than that. She was loud for about 100 shots and then she quieted down quite a bit. She shoots the 14.3's at 725fps which I read is the norm for the rifle. As I said she is so quiet it is almost scary. 11 grain pellets are a liitle too light for this rifle. Crosman Ppremiers are the lightest I would shoot through her and I plan to shoot the heavier ones later on. Should you ever have problems and are beyond the return point with Pyramid don't hesitate to call Crosman with any problems. I had to call them regarding a scope issue and they were ever so helpful with me. Their customer service is outstanding and I would recommend you call them for whatever issue you have questions on. Welcome aboard and hope you get your beast working right very soon. Enjoy her because I enjoy mine alot.

[Jay]

Welcome Tom to the GTA!!!

[Smaug]

Welcome. I don't know about your issues, but generally, these high powered spring airguns prefer heavier pellets. Experiment a bit.

ezman: Why the advice not to clean with a metal rod? Brass cleaning rods are not hard enough to hurt the rifling.

Regarding the weedeater string cleaning method, how does one attach the patches to the string?

tcgoetz: Springers don't seem to break in that quickly. After the cleaning, I'd shoot a full tin of pellets and expect poor accuracy. After that, it should jolly well be tightening up.

It is disappointing that these airguns require so much attention just to shoot the way they should shoot out of the box. If it takes 300 rounds to break in the gun, the manufacturer should supply those rounds so it doesn't have to cost extra just to make it shoot properly.

I was glad to read this, as I'm picking up my first springer tonight or tomorrow. I have a box of Crosman Premier (cheapo) pellets to break the gun in with, but no weedeater string. I was thinking of a 17 cal. brass cleaning rod, but it sounds like that's a bad idea for some reason I'm not aware of.

[ezman604]

Airguns are not powder burners. So they are not subject to the same pressures generated in pb guns. Therefore, the manufacturers do not use hardened or tempered steel. Even though they ARE steel, it's a mild steel. and if you look at the rifling close, you will see it's not near as defined and deep as pb bores. With all this mentioned, it is much easier to damage the rifling of an airgun. Brass or metal brushes or metal rods can damage the bore.
Weedeater line is the cheapest and easiest cleaning rod to use. Cut one end to a point. On the other end, heat it with a lighter or something and press it against a hard surface to form a flat on the end. I use a map pushpin to prepunch my cleaning patches then thread them onto the weedeater string.
It IS unfortunate airgun manufacturers don't do as some European companies and go through their guns by hand to prepare them for the customer. But MANY consumers are happy with what they get out of the box. All of us airgun nutz and addicts know better. We recognize the flaws and tinker with them or pay someone else to clean up what the manufacturer should have. But that too is part of the lure of this sport/hobby for many of us.

[Bullit]

Smaug,
Find someone with a heavy duty weedeater.  You only need 3 feet of it.  The heavier line is a bit easier to feed if you got a long break on the end of the barrel...but standard line will work.

[thekid]

 Ezman604 gives good advice!


I bought a brass brush mothers metal polish and went to town, i guess I wasn't as careful as I thought.  Accuracy was gone with all pellets I have in stock.
Removed front sight and you could clearly see marks on the crown, so I was lucky I fixed that and she is back and shooting RWS super domes with great accuracy again.

I should have just stuck to the patches and goo-gone, it was a bunch BS trying to figure out what I did.  Thought the scope was gone and darn near through the leapers out glad I didn't.

[longislandhunter]

Just wanted to say "Welcome" 

Jeff

[tcgoetz]

Thanks for all the welcomes and advice. Got time enough to clean it and shoot 20 rounds tonight. Here's a 8.5" x 11" target at 60ft. So getting better, but still needs some work.

[Korak-again]

"It IS unfortunate airgun manufacturers don't do as some European companies and go through their guns by hand to prepare them for the customer"

  My RWS 34p and my HW 30s apparently did not come from one of those companies.

[VINNY]

Welcome!!

[uncle paulie]

Just a note about the key-holing... try backing the target up with some cardboard. I find that the standard weight paper I use for the computer tends to do that a lot but it disappears with the backer. Welcome, glad to have ya! And do get to the library, lots of great reading there.

pv