Stoeger X20 sub-par...

[jimmie lee]

My question is for you owners of the X20...is there anything that can be done to make this a consistent shooter? I gotta tell ya, this is the biggest POS in my arsenal at the moment. It is a good looking gun but has the performance of an orangutang; probably not a fair comparison to the simeans but this thing in it's present tune just plain not worthy! It is a hard hitting rifle but you never know where it will place a pellet once the trigger is pulled. It has a GRTIII trigger from Charlie Da Tuna but the rest garbage. Maybe it's me or the rifle or I'm spoiled with my quality rifles and just expect too much from this stepchild. If you have any suggestions other than firewood or a jack lever, bring em on otherwise the pig has to go.

This is an addendum to this post; I was tired when I last shot the Stoeger and was in a generally foul mood...that was no help in the concentration this gun needs and not necessarily it's fault but mine. I extend my apologies to not only my gun but to those who have and enjoy their own X20's.

[stevemag]

its hard to tell from your post but i'm thinking you don't like the x20?

[GarthThomas]

Have you redressed the crown, are the pivot pins tight, have you ever chronied to check if the velocity is constant. Those are what I would think are the usual suspects.

[thekid]

HERE WE GO!!!

I have one........ spring guide and top hat (made by me), brass barrel bushings, Professionally crowned and shortened, New E3650 spring and seal, GRT111 trigger and trigger tuned up. The best tune "I" could give her, filled the stock for a little more weight.
It turned out to be quite the little shooter.....That being said, it collects alot of dust.
It takes to much work to be accurate, I blame it on the trigger internals.

[jimmie lee]

Steve, I've become an airgun snob I reckon...it just takes too much work to be enjoyable. It was the first air rifle I purchased on a whim before becoming knowledgeable about them. Don't think I want to invest any time or money to this one; somebody make me a ridiculous offer by PM.

[stevemag]

i have one. for a while i just thought it was me. i had a lemon , sent it back , got a new one, the sights are worthless . my rear sight is off center so much i can't compensate for it. MM tuned it for me. its ultra smooth  and quiet. still, the best i can do is 2'' at 25 yards from a bench. for what i have put into it i could have bought a much better gun from the start . plus at 700 fps with 14 grain pellets it hits nowhere near what i would like. but still , i keep trying. i am determind to master this POS.
its the only springer i have so i have nothing to compare it too.

[thekid]

i have one. for a while i just thought it was me. i had a lemon , sent it back , got a new one, the sights are worthless . my rear sight is off center so much i can't compensate for it. MM tuned it for me. its ultra smooth  and quiet. still, the best i can do is 2'' at 25 yards from a bench. for what i have put into it i could have bought a much better gun from the start . plus at 700 fps with 14 grain pellets it hits nowhere near what i would like. but still , i keep trying. i am determind to master this POS.
its the only springer i have so i have nothing to compare it too.

Mine is accurate, but as stated by jimmie lee, not enjoyable to shoot.
Too much trigger control, breathing, everything to make it accurate.
I'd sooner grab one of my rws guns or the FX.
You will notice I removed the POS from my list of guns in my signature. This gun I regret buying, it took so much work to get it where it is, and It still takes so much work to shoot.

[stevemag]

i'll have a MM b28 soon it will be nice to compare. sometimes my x20 goes right where i point it, sometimes not. can't wait to try a new gun.

[Lambchops]

I have the X20s .22 and she shoots great. Stock trigger and stock scope.

[jimmie lee]

It may be I have no patience to learn how to shoot this gun; if that's the case then so be it. Too bad really, it's a nice looking gun and not heavy comparatively to other guns out there.

[topwaterjim]

Sorry ro hear about your gun Jimmie. I got an x10 same rifle with plain wood stock. At 25 yards i get about 3/4 inch groups with cphp and open sights. I don't know if I am lucky or you got a bad barrel. Hard to tell without more info.

[thekid]

This topic made me bring the stoeger back out, for some target shots.
I let the front stock rest on folded towel and gripped the but and wrist firmly (this is what it likes). I tried calling it a POS, but it was printing smaller then dime size groups at 24 yards.
While it is not as easy to shoot accurately, this thing is still accurate.
It likes H&N ftt 14.6gr, shoots smooth and has some power 15fpe.
Mind you I did a lot of work to it.

[jimmie lee]

If I concentrate and keep it at 26yards, I can get some good groups in the under 1" range which isn't bad for a stock china airgun. Honestly, I've become lazy and spoiled with my PCP's and D54 springer. To it's credit, it has taken 6 squirrel and is a hard hitting rifle but needs full concentration. It will make you a better shooter if it's the only gun you have.

[topwaterjim]

Every springer is different, but from tour first post to this one I don't know if you hate your springer or your just not shooting it enough.

[jimmie lee]

Definitely not shooting it enough; maybe 300 rounds and not broken in, I bought other guns immediately after that and it languished under the bed in it's box. I love springers but don't care to have to "work at it" as that is how I de-stress. I don't have to work hard to shoot my D54 or my two PCP's. I still have to do my part but shooting should not be a "job".

[thekid]

I still have to do my part but shooting should not be a "job".

Well said!
The stoeger makes you work for it.

[z28rod]

Id send it to shadow for a good hunting tune .