grouping high and right?

[thewarriorhunter]

i didn't see a 'classroom' section so i think this post belongs here...

my groups are high and right, help! i have my sight elevation bottomed out and that helped bring them down, but i'm still high. also it doesn't seem to matter how much i adjust my windage i'm still going right... i know with pistols (centerfire, maybe air as well?) most people tend to shoot low and left, is this something similar?

i'm shooting an xs25 from bench using my hand. i don't like bags since i can't reproduce them if i'm out walking around. are there any techniques or exercises that will help with this? is it common? lastly, what should my point of aim be? should the front sight be just below where i want my POI to be or right on?

[drewciferpike]

found the pic, below, on another thread, here (don't remember which).

I forget if you're new to this, like me, or not. If not, please excuse this, and assume I didn't reply. Haha:
I've found that each time I shoot the XS25, I get just a little bit better. With irons, I was putting the POA right off the tip of the front fiber, but I know some folks go with a 6 o'clock position, and others don't. Once you get used to the gun, you'll find what works best for you and the gun. Personally, I felt that the factory sights didn't give me enough precision past 10 yards, and groups were changing on me. If you throw a scope on, the body mechanics will be the same. Really remember to stay loose, keep the same grip/contact type/strength/etc., keep breathing the same shot-to-shot, and really watch that follow-through. The latter was a big issue with me, as my PB instincts told me the shot cycle was finished, but the slower-firing air gun  was unhappy with me rushing things.

I say keep using your hand, too. Even if I have access to a bag, I place my hand on it. You want as much as possible to stay exactly the same, shot-to-shot.

[thewarriorhunter]

thank you for this! i have one of these for pistols and it helps. after seeing this i am pretty sure that is exactly what i'm doing. too bad i have to wait a couple days before i can shoot again.

[drewciferpike]

I found I was death-gripping the poor gun, so I concentrate on making sure that my thumb barely adds enough pressure for me to squeeze the trigger, and the rest of my fingers hardly press at all. I still catch myself going to bad habits every few shots, though... haha

[Bullit]

Trigger technique is something all shooters have to go thru.
The only thing that should move is your trigger finger.  Squeezing the grip when pulling the trigger is a common.  Try putting your thumb up on top, to eliminate squeezing, and just use your trigger fingertip. Stay into and Follow thru with your shot. Stay down.  You can always come up later...
...  Hope you get the idea.

[rapidray]

Very nice! Copyed it myself! Thanks for sharing.

[DobsOnly]

Another member "breakfastchef" provided this link to some information on hold and shooting spring airguns in another thread.  Might be something helpful in there for you.  I got my first spring gun and it is a little different than the powder burners I'm more familiar with. Good Luck.

http://www.airrifle.co.za/library/AdrianV's%20Art%20of%20Springer%20Shooting.pdf

[thewarriorhunter]

Another member "breakfastchef" provided this link to some information on hold and shooting spring airguns in another thread.  Might be something helpful in there for you.  I got my first spring gun and it is a little different than the powder burners I'm more familiar with. Good Luck.

http://www.airrifle.co.za/library/AdrianV's%20Art%20of%20Springer%20Shooting.pdf

thanks for the link. and yeah, i think having a history with center fire is going to be an issue i have to learn to work around with springers.

[drewciferpike]

Yes... THANK you for that link! Haha... Us PB converts are trying to tame old habits. As a hunter, I realized that I can't rely on the gun to cover my butt if I decide to take a sloppy shot (used to do it all the time with 22lr when pesting, "Yeah... it's lethal"), so now my mechanics have to be honed as much as I can manage. It's very humbling, and I love it.