BSA Spitire .I

[Novagun]

I have been tinkering with my BSA/Gamo again . I t doesn't seem to like shooting from the bench or prone but pretty good offhand. I went for a walk this afternoon and missed two rabbits shooting rested on a post . Third rabbit I shot offhand at 30 to 35 meters. Bang dead . Is it a phenomenon that some rifles shoot better from some positions than others?

[Roadworthy]

I think shooting offhand you're more prone to get your aim point and pull the trigger.  Resting on a post you're probably spending more time aiming the rifle and thinking about the shot.  You may be spending too much time in that case getting your aim "just so".  You could try setting up a target and practice shooting both ways paying attention to the results and noting where you're hitting relative to where you aimed to get more information.

[Novagun]

PS. Just went for another walk and did it again. Another rabbit in the same place.

[Tater]

Moved to the Gamo and Spanish Airgun gate.

[Toxylon]

My sidelever Dianas are very accurate shooting offhand, but whenever I've tried shooting them off a (soft) rest, they've been shotguns. I've heard others say the same.

Now, I'm much more experienced with offhand shooting, and I fully accept that tweaking the rest just so could see a big improvement, but at the same time the jury is still out for me, as to whether there are springers that simply do not work off a rest.

[Novagun]

I treid the gun on a pasper target. I clamped a horizontal rest to a door jam at standing height and took three shots at a trget 27 metres away snd the shots all went high by 20 to 50 mms. Not a tight group. Then I took one shot off hand and smacked the bullseye. Next I sat at the bench and took three shots and had a tight group but again 50 mms high.
I will keep playing and see if I can deduce anything.
Just for the record the rifle has a spring cut by 40 mms and then packed with a 14 mm shim. A 12.5 inch barrel. It puts out 18.5 ft/lbs with JSB Jumbo pellet at 15.89 gns. 725 fps.

[RedFeather]

Sounds like harmonics. Tested on an open palm, one thing. On a more stable, less resilient rest, another. Springers are hold sensitive. Hand position for some is critical. Get some painter's tape and place it at your front/rear hand positions, then vary it to find the sweet spot. Of course, cold shots and a change of pellets will influence things.

[Novagun]

There is a bit of learning going on here   got another rabbit this eveningat 30 meters.    it took two shots . First shot off hand I was trying to hit the base of the skull    I tried too hard and missed  second shot was just up aim and bang   and bowled it over The harmonics Suggestion needs a bit of work   I am going to try the tape idea and seč if the poi changes 
Thank you for the suggestions 

[Novagun]

I think I have got this sorted. My hold with offhand is or was different to rested. I have tried the same forehand placement both offhand and supported and good results.
I should have known that but I overlooked it. Time will tell. More practice to come.

[RedFeather]

Good to hear it. Bad for the bunnies. 😉