What to tune it to

[pianoman 3,587]

Hi Shepp.

Good answer from Andy . I accurately measured out the field distances with stones at 5-metre intervals with a 5-metre steel tape measure. I'm also long-used to estimating variable changes in range accuracy with zoom mag scopes, regardless of reticle type.

 

Basically, the lower down you zoom down mag, say. from 14X to 4X the less holdover you need to exert. The higher the mag you shoot on, the more the range and trajectory becomes distorted and exaggerated. I never use rangefinders or lazers.

 

I do however, have the measured ranges marked on my scope's focus ring so that I eliminate parallax error pretty near fully. And if the light's good, I can whack up to full mag, wind up the focus and a pin sharp sightpicture reads out accurately as a range figure on the focus ring. Back down to 14.5 and it's good to go!

 

I always use a 25 metre zero as a base datum for hunting with my .22 rifles. I know where my shot will hit at 50 metres or over from there on my reticle. I love the Hawke 6-18x44 scope I have on my HW77 with it's SR12 reticle. But I never have it set higher than 14.5 to 15xmag. This is the mag setting that calibrates my dots precisely to 5-metre increments from my 25-metre centre-to-centre zero. I know that when I reduce mag to 6x as dusk darkens, I will add 10 metres to range estimates. IE. My 35-meter dot has now become 45 meters,and so on. Experience and regular practice sessions tells me where in between I need to be to get a precise point of impact.

 

I was like Andy, at first, I wasn't wild about having a ladderscale and tiebar dots cluttering the sightpicture. I've only just recently started using it this year after decades of using 30-30 duplex reticles very happily. Now though, I've grown to love it. It makes the job of long range precision a whole lot easier and quicker to effect a pin-point accurate shot; but a long time's experience of accurate range estimating with the 30-30 reticle has helped me get the very best out of this Hawke jobby. It isn't just down to using Chairgun software with blind trust and hope!

 

I still use one of two Simmons Whitetail Classic 4.5-14X40 scopes I own for my FAC HW80 .22 and bagged 6 rabbits with it a few nights ago. All at varying ranges out to 60 metres and just using experience and knowledge of pellet trajectory with this rifle, plus what the holdover needed is going to be after zeroing it at 25 metres on 14x mag. and shooting at the lowest 4.5 mag setting for low light and clarity. It really doesn't take much working out to get a clean, accurate long range hit. These scopes are brilliant at holding zero and don't get knocked off with the heavy thwack of recoil the rifle dishes out.

 

It's all years of trial, error, failure and successes becoming experience to work on, really!

 

Simon

Edited June 6, 2011 by pianoman

[shepp 2,285]

Great reply as always Simon, you really have put some hours into your sport.

Sub 12lb rifles really make an art out of long distance shooting, especially when it's a springer.

I plan to take a look at one of those HW77 when I get a chance, I fancy an under leaver to complete my Weihrauch collection.

I would go for one that has had the full works done to it, when one comes up second hand at the right price that is.

No rush.

Edited June 6, 2011 by shepp

[andyfr1968 772]

Never mind these gay HW under levers

 

Get yourself a proper fixed barrel gun, Diana 52 all the way!!

[pianoman 3,587]

Aye Andy..... TILL YOUR SIDELEVER SNAPS IN HALF!!!!

 

I'm sorry Andy but, you walked into that one me darlin man!

 

Hi Shepp.

Thanks mate. I've loved everything about the spring air rifle since I was a kid of 8. All of shooting's arts and ballistic sciences are all there, in a microcosm, with an air rifle as good as the German and British guns we have nowadays.

 

It's astonishing what you can discover and experience for accuracy and long range precision with a seriously accurate sub 12-ft/lb spring rifle. And the HW77 is the finest; it's just the very finest spring piston air rifle in the world.

 

I've shot with some beautiful rifles, some bloody amazing rifles in my time but the HW77 I'm lucky to own is the unconquered champion of them all.

 

Gay underlevers? This is the QUEEN of them ducky!

 

Get yourself one for your Weihrauch collection Shepp and you'll see for yourself. Your collection's not complete without one.

 

Pop up to Yorkshire sometime and come shoot really MENTAL long range targets with us mate. We've turned Paul (theflashingblade) from an occasional back garden plinker into an -metre tin killer with his .177 HW90 already! We'd love to have you and Markha and a few of the other lads joins us from time to time.

 

Simon

[andyfr1968 772]

 

I did walk into that, didn't I!!??

 

I've got to give credit to the 77 though. As gay underlevers go, it's first class!!