1322/2289-Modified (growing groups to shrinking groups)

[Gibsonvair]

I have been using Crosman Premier domed 14.3 grain pellets exclusively for about a year. I got two new Crossman 1322's. One is stock with a shoulder brace and the other is modified to be a backpacker 14.5" barrel with a modded valve and transfer port. I have been shooting them at 10 pumps each making 7fpe for the stock and 8.7 fpe for the modified. I took them out for sighting in and testing for accuracy at 25 yards. I was very disappointed with the groups as they seemed to have a lot of fliers. For reference, I compared to my HW 95 shooting the same Crosman Premier pellets. It also had fliers. I remembered I still had a tin of H&N Field Target Trophy's. Had to shoot indoors at 10-12 yards, but there was a real improvement with the H&Ns over the Crosmans, no obvious fliers, but not the tightest of groups. Maybe the Weihrauch was mostly me, but those groups weren't great either, maybe 3/4- 7/8" at 10 yards. Feeling disappointed, I remembered "Airgun Angie" did a video where she pumped twelve times instead of ten and tightened up her groups with a Backpacker 2289. I thought, I'll just go to the extreme and test at 25 pumps (my max tested power @14.6 FPE) on the 2289. I immediately shot pellet on pellet on the first three shots. The 10 shot group ended up being 3/8" ctc. So I went back and tried the Crosmans at 25 pumps. An acceptable 5/8" group with 10 shots. I never would have guessed the extra power would tighten up the groups so much.

[Gibsonvair]

I also noticed that the FTT's fit tighter into the breech. These are rated at 5.53 mm diameter and they landed higher on the target than the Crosmans. I can't check anything else for a week, so it will be bugging the snot out of me, but I bet the H&N's are getting a higher velocity. They are 14.66 grain vs the Crosman's 14.3 grain.

[Spacebus]

I get better groups with the FTT vs CPHP in my Stormrider, but they also zero the same which is nice.

I'm fairly certain those 13xx based guns don't like going over 10 pumps, it's hard on the pivot pin and other stuff. If you want to consistently pump that high you should probably upgrade some stuff.

[Gibsonvair]

Point of impact is nearly identical between both pellets. I modified my GravMag to accommodate the FTT's, but now they can get sideways sometimes. The Crosman has a bushed pivot with an aircraft bolt. It also has an adjustable aluminum piston, larger valve and ports. It seems to really like the extra pumps. A Buck-Rail "Plumper Pumper" pump arm and the large valve makes pumping easier than stock. I just bought 1000 FTT's in 5.53mm 14.66 grain. That will last the Summer.

[desertplinker]

If your shooting Crosman pellets out of the tins that may be part of the problem as they come from mixed die#s. Too bad they stopped selling to brown box Premiers as that is what my backpacker likes best, the older ones prior to 2007., but I am still trying out other pellets. Only one that it really hates are Hades. Each barrel is different. If you are trying for accuracy try fewer pumps. I shoot my Backpacker at 4-5 pumps exclusively.