Zeroing

[hairy biker 14]

If I zero indoors at 14 yards and get virtually pellet on pellet will I still be able to get this at 35 yards or will the group open up considerably

[pianoman 3,587]

Not likely Hairy Biker.

 

It's generally considered that a .22 pellet from an 11.5 ft/lb air rifle will hit 35 yards from a zero of 10 yards because of the trajectory arc rising and falling over that disitance. But because there are variations in power, pellet calbre and wind effect to counter for, to get a true zero pattern the only true picture is to see what happens for real when you take the rifle outside.

 

I'm guessing that you have a .177 rifle by using the base zero of 14 yards? The lighter pellet is more affected by winds than a heavier .22.

 

If you zero indoors at 14 yards you do not have a wind factor-effect to counteract when you open the range to 35 in outdoor weather.. So, unless you are going out in perfectly still air, windless conditions your left/right wind vatriation is not included.

 

Also your riflle's pellet calibre, its power output and your scope's mag setting all play a vital part in your zero/trajectory building on your scope reticle, from the actual trajectory of your pellet.

 

You can only get a true measure by taking your rifle outdoors and setting it up from 14 yards over to 35 yards and see exactly how much variation you actually have to correct on the turrets of your scope for your true zero.

[hairy biker 14]

What I actually mean't to ask was,if I can get a pellet on pellet or thereabouts grouping with a certain pellet at 14 yards is it still possible that at say 35-50 the grouping with be all over the place meaning the pellets will be of no use and to try another brand

[pianoman 3,587]

Your question can only be answered by you alone, from taking your rifle outside onto your practice area, set up 14 to 35 yards target distance from your point of aim and making your own test shots. No one can estimate that for you with any useful accuracy.

 

If your shot scatters at 35 yards, you need another brand of pellet.

[neil82 1,080]

welcome to the world of pellet testing, only slightly cheaper than a pcp rifle in the first place, stick to the major brands and if you want to be really anal, weigh a batch of pellets, clean the barrel after every brand, pump through about 20 pellets before going for the group, fill to the same pressure before each test and to make sure YOU don`t come into it clamp your gun in a workmate (only works with pcp`s), been there, done that, still got 25k pellets that I wont use except for plinking, have fun

[Dr B 186]

Ahhhhh yes, pellet testing. I recently spent a month doing this for the first time in years. Firstly, all it did was tell me what I already knew for my gun, AA field diablo's were the best at all distances covered, and, pound for pound (i.e., against pellets of similar weights) data on the net also suggested they have the highest BC. Secondly, what i did learn was which lighter and heavier pellet to go for should i want to go down that road. For me, Falcon accuracy plus for lighter (about 14.3gr) and AA heavies for umph(18gr). Its worth knowing this stuff for each gun you have. Luckily for me, none of my current guns are that fussy, but they really like the combinations outlined above.

 

PS - when pellet testing with a PCP, make sure you're in the sweet spot.

[hairy biker 14]

would you recommend I try 4.51.4.52 and 4.53 0r just go for the inbetween 4.52

[pianoman 3,587]

Try all three in turn till you find a headsize thar suits.

[neil82 1,080]

Try all three in turn till you find a headsize thar suits.

unfortunately, and expensively, very true

[random 659]

How far do you lads go into testing pellets? When I get a tin that I can group all shots touching at around 30 yards I think that'll do and stick with them until I use a different gun or can't get the ones I want for some reason so try something else,do you get to this point then carry on til you get,say,a one pellet size hole? Or the smallest hole out to a maximum range? And do you find,as I think I have,that after a point of accuracy you have reached your limit and are happy with that?

[pianoman 3,587]

Pellet on pellet, one-hole accuracy at 35 metres and over. I call that as good as it gets. and that's the pellet I stick with for a particular rifle. I have 6 air rifles here and not one of them uses the same brand and headsize of pellet.

Edited February 24, 2015 by pianoman

[Durham John 693]

And after finding that holey grail... the batch changes on your perfect pellet and throws you side ways with a looser than expected group and you start to think your doing something wrong.

[villaman 9,983]

When I do pellet testing I test at my zero range , then every five yards out to 65 yards , spending 2-3 hours at a time on each gun ( with coffee breaks of course )

 

Doing it this way you can map out your drop as well and calculate your own BC.

 

Head size can make a big difference .its time consuming and can be expensive but a well worth it at the end of the day, not only that but great fun as well , you all so get to know your gun , scope and pellet in side out .

[Dr B 186]

Good point.

 

I think there are certain steps that, if you're serious about airgunning, you simply have to do.

 

I would say, checking your gun is full power (11.0 - 11.8ft-lbs will do it), correctly fitting and mounting the scope (eye-relief) as if you dont do that properly, you will be compensating in some way when shouldering the gun. Go through your tins of pellets, and throw away the mashed ones. Dont be shy on this. Find the sweet spot (if PCP), and only zero and hunt within that range. Explore pellets, tight groups rule. Explore pellets at different ranges, isolate a good all rounder, and if needed a good heavy / light alternative for different scenarios (though this is often not needed). Explore the trajectory of said chosen pellets in your gun. Explore mill-dot (or equivalent) compensation for said pellet at your more typical magnifications (i.e., between say 4 and 7 for me) for accurate hold-over and under at typical distances.

 

Then some testing in the field itself. You've got to get to know your set up, it takes time.

[GaryC 9]

What I actually mean't to ask was,if I can get a pellet on pellet or thereabouts grouping with a certain pellet at 14 yards is it still possible that at say 35-50 the grouping with be all over the place meaning the pellets will be of no use and to try another brand

 

 

Yes is the simple answer!

Pellet grouping is simply an angular measurement, if you achieve (for example) a 10mm group at 10 yards it will be 20mm at 20 yards, 30mm at 30 and so on. Therefore look at the group you want at 35 yards - say 1/2" - and if you are not getting pellet on pellet at 14 you won't get this. If you DO get pellet on pellet then as Pianoman says you have a contender. It doesn't mean that pellet will work, for instance it could be 28 grains and flying like a mortar, but you have established that it is good in your barrel. Equally they could become unstable with distance, for instance a lot of FAC guns will shoot 16gr pellets at 40ft /lbs but they start to become unstable at 45 yards +

You then need to go out on a windless day and try it at 35 yards, it SHOULD be OK. Come back to 25 yards and see how much it is shooting high, less is better as your trajectory is flatter.

You may get a couple of contenders, in my case I had accupels, AA field, Daystate FT and JSB exact (4.52). Accupels were dirty and quality looked a bit off tin to tin, AA field were always battered to hell and I tossed a load away, so I bought 50, 000 JSB exact. (I was shooting 2000 pellets a week when I was competing)

That was my process, but to specifically answer your question, yes you can check potential grouping at 14 yards and DISCARD if no good.