Trying to make a precision squirrel getter...

[barcabarca]

I have an R9 in .177 that is frustrating me to no end.  I want it to be my urban yard squirrel gun.  It wears a 4-12x leapers mil dot  scope, and has installed one of the first year versions of the Vortek kit.  The shot cycle is very nice and smooth now. With the stock spring it's a very twangy and buzzy rifle.

I am having a hard time finding a pellet that works.  The rifle is very hold sensitive.  If i change my artillery hold just a smidge, my POI goes all astray. 

Below are two pellets that I tried today at 18 yards.  These are 10 shot groups from a seated field target position. No straps, or shooting jacket.

top is JSB Express 7.87gr.  They are moving relatively moderately at 775 fps around 10.58 FPE you can see that in these 10 shots, 4 of them are slight changes in hold, but in the center hole are 6 shots. The total group is a bit less than 1"

below that is the target for the JSB Exact 8.4gr.  They are rolling along at 750fps around 10.3 FPE.  These seem to wander a bit more although the group is slightly larger than 1"

My HW97 can put 10 into a 1/2" group from a seated FT position.... 

The rifle does a little bit better with heavy pellets, like JSB exact heavy, but then they are moving really slow.. 625fps or so for 10.5gr pellets.  barely 9.1FPE. 

What I want is to turn this into a 12-13 FPE smooth and accurate shooter..  Any insights and suggestions?

Thanks...

[Rob Hawkins]

Can I buy the piston sleeve you removed to put that Vortek kit in?
Rob

[Rico14]

My R9 .177 has a Vortek kit also. I'm using the artillery hold and Beeman FTS pellets. If I do my part, I get one ragged hole at 30 yards. H&N FTT pellets are accurate too, but not as accurate at the FTS. Try the FTS pellets

[goodland]

I have an R9 with the vortek kit. This is the best springer I have ever shot.
Try shooting off a bench with a sandbag or rolled towel to see if you get the same results.
I haven't chronied mine yet but at the range shot gun shells at 65 yds in 7mph full value wind were easy with jsb heavies.
I did find this gun likes you to follow through the shot on the trigger. Not touching any of the stock with your trigger finger.