Springers First Shot Always Off

[Zimpara 99]

Is this consistant where it takes a springer a shot or two to start grouping. I always drop the first one. Every single time. I normally shoot a few off before I go out now

[barrywhite 282]

I think mabe some spring guns sometimes diesel on the first shot . If you are saying your fisrt shot is low this could be what is happening , if your gun diesels a little the pellet leaves the gun quicker .So when the gun bounces up with the action of the piston moving the pellet goes up . So if the pellet is moving faster it shoots lower because the pellet leaves the gun before the barrel goes up .

[pianoman 3,587]

It may be your scope has shifted zero from the previous session and needs a click or two to bring it back on.

Or, the usual case, it may be the oils and lubes in the rifle need to warm up with a number of shots to get the air pressures working more efficiently and thus consitently for your accuracy.

Or, you are starting off with a less than refined hold and trigger technique that improves as you shoot onward into your session.

Or your barrel is in the process of leading with its preferred pellet and is improving with further shots...

Or, it is a matter that I have never heard of or experienced!

Edited to add.
Barrywhite makes a good point about dieselling on the first shot or two. It's usually the case with spring rifles, that they need about 10-20 shots from cold to get them warmed up before thay are shooting at their best. A dieselling first shot or two is not uncommon while the gun warms up.

Simon

Edited November 28, 2015 by pianoman

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

You should all ways zero any rifle before you go shooting as the little,st knock can knock your zero off

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[mark williams 7,550]

Is the gun new, - brand new ?

 

 

atb

[VWman 232]

My first couple seem good and then I have a flyer and the tighten up.

There is a special term to describe it and it's called ( crap Redcar shooter syndrome ) LOL.

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

My first couple seem good and then I have a flyer and the tighten up.

There is a special term to describe it and it's called ( crap Redcar shooter syndrome ) LOL.

 

:rofl:

 

 

:thumbs:

[Rez 4,957]

The first few shots are always a bit weary man.

 

You can expect an athlete to turn up and perform their best without warming up the technique.

 

Its the same with any 'technique' related sport.

[davyt63 1,845]

Generally they will need a bit warming up first,in the way of a quick zero check.

That's what I do,and 9 /10 there is adjustment needed,so I my eyes a good habit to get into.

 

Even if it's still on from the first shot,I will still put about 10 pellets down it,always good to warm em up.

[VWman 232]

Generally they will need a bit warming up first,in the way of a quick zero check.

That's what I do,and 9 /10 there is adjustment needed,so I my eyes a good habit to get into.

 

Even if it's still on from the first shot,I will still put about 10 pellets down it,always good to warm em up.

 

I think it's more me that needs warming up, it was cold in the long shed on the farm. The rifle is a SFS hw98 in 177 and it hits the bull area straight away although it makes total sense that it will work better when it's warm. Mind I am only at 26 mtrs or I am stood in a wet patch on the floor at the 30 mtr mark lol.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Is this consistant where it takes a springer a shot or two to start grouping. I always drop the first one. Every single time. I normally shoot a few off before I go out now

I agree with the others, dieseling is the most likely cause, due to lube getting in front of the piston seal,if you are competent, strip your rifle (tx200 I believe? Dead easy) de grease the cylinder with some dowel and kitchen towel, with some de-greaser sprayed on it,make sure the piston seal is totally free of lube, and de-grease the spring,put a light smear of pure silicon oil on the sides of the piston seal, and spray the piston and bearing rings with some ptfe dri-slide,the lightly lube the spring with lube of your choice, molly,red rubber grease,quantum hot sauce,ultimox 226 etc, only put enough on the spring to stop it rusting, it needs no more, put a dab on the spring ends, and reassemble, this should end the problem, check the power of your rifle, as the dri-slide can increase the velocity.

[defector65 27]

_{My fith is usually the flyer}

Edited December 22, 2015 by defector65

[defector65 27]

I get the odd flyer now and then,think its me just being complacent with my technique and the flyer just reminds me to check my technique,grip,trigger,breathing ect!

[magnummike 39]

Also chaps it needs a coating of fresh lead down the barrel to get it shooting right if left for a while

[Coypu Hunter 486]

POI shift is quite common with springers. On the first shot, it could be a combination of factors -- pulling the shot before muscle memory kicks in and you remember how the trigger breaks, for example. Or holding the rifle too tight, before muscle memory takes over with that.

 

The tighter you shoulder the rifle, the more the rifle will surge forward after the recoil phase of the shot, and this will dip the muzzle -- your shoulder acts like a shock absorber, and bounces the rifle forward on recoil. Similarly, a thumb-up hold will increase surge marginally, compared to a thumb-across hold.

 

Read an interesting article in Airgun World about the effect of heat on the piston seal, which is much more rapidly affected by temperature than the steel of the compression chamber. As the seal expands due to the high temperatures created by a shot, more friction creates a tighter seal in the chamber, slowing down the piston and reducing muzzle velocity by around 15 fps, which can in turn affect POI. This occurs during rapid-fire, like when you're shooting at your static target.

 

The other element to consider is that the pellet will exit the muzzle very slightly later in the shot cycle, i.e. during the surge phase of recoil. This is the accuracy killer, because during the surge (forward motion) when the piston comes to a stop behind the transfer port, the muzzle dips and the stock rises, amplifying the effect of the slightly slower muzzle velocity.

 

In short, if you give the piston seal time to cool down between shots, you should experience less zero shift.

 

Clear as mud? I'll be asking questions later...

 

Flyers are a different matter. If you hit eight bulls and have two flyers, then it's likely that the pellet is just slightly the wrong size for your barrel, in my experience.

Edited January 3, 2016 by Coypu Hunter