Air rifle noob..Zeroing?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Jim I do not doubt your credentials, please extend me the courtesy of believing my statement.

Of course I do. It's just that I'm amazed that air rifle technology has moved on so far as to apparently eclipse by a long way match smallbore rifle performance!

Jim

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Yes the hole did not remain .177 but as I recall it was not too much bigger
The shots were fired from a standard FT sitting position

SITTING?!

Again, I'm frankly amazed - and why wasn't she representing the U.K. in the Olympics?

I met and competed against many top-class smallbore rifle shots in the past at the NSRA English and Scottish open meetings, as well as various open County and club competitions, totaling thousands of competitors, including a number from overseas. I can safely say that none of them could replicate the above performance, in the _prone_ position, let alone sitting!

I still have in my loft a yellowing 100yd target I shot at the NSRA English Open, with a group of 10 shots around the 3/4 inch mark. This of course is nowhere near the performance of 'your' girl with the air rifle, yet Eley used it as an advert for their Tenex in the following year's programme (which I also still have).

Incidentally, the above target told me I'd never make the really big time in Small Bore rifle shooting, and win the Earl Roberts. The particular competition was for 200 points at 100yds - 20 rounds at two targets. The first 10 rounds were well within the 10 ring (most within the 'x' ring IIRC). I started on the next 10 rounds and as the realisation that I could win the competition dawned, the group started to open up - but at the ninth round were still within the 10 ring. I had great difficulty letting the last round go, but as time was running out just had to squeeze it off with my heart pounding. It was a 8, and I came second in the competition to the winner who had 199!

Jim

[Badllarma]

Jim "SITTING?!" in Field Target is not the same stance as you would use in the armed forces most old stile rifle shooting or "proper" rifle shooting uses stances that are based on military training, from what I can gather.

In field target you tend to wrap yourself around the rifle (or you did when I did it anyway) my stance would be sat down with your knees lifted up high your left arm would wrap over these the rifle resting in the bend by your elbow (left arm) then the right arm would be used in conventional fashion.

It forms a VERY staple platform but NOT one i'd want to be in if someone was shooting at me Basically it's slow to get yourself out of it

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Badllarma

It forms a VERY staple platform but NOT one i'd want to be in if someone was shooting at me Basically it's slow to get yourself out of it

So, are you suggesting it's more stable than with a heavy target rifle (my Russian Strella was 17lbs) in the prone position using a sling? I doubt it very much myself!

I've shot a military centre-fire rifle (a semi-auto CETME - it was allowed in those days!) sitting, mainly because of the long magazine. I can't imagine holding it low with the fore-end in the crook of my left arm though - to get my eye behind the rear sight my head would be lying sideways with my right ear on the top of the stock!

Jim

[nightshade]

The shooting positions are sitting, kneeling and standing to knock down hinged resettable targets from 5-50 yards and was intended to get people to join clubs and be taught how to handle and shoot their rifles accurately and safely British Field Target Association Home Page
__________________
I made an error here the FT distances are of course 5 to 55 yards

[Badllarma]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

So, are you suggesting it's more stable than with a heavy target rifle (my Russian Strella was 17lbs) in the prone position using a sling? I doubt it very much myself!
Jim

NO I would not shoot a large centre fire this way because of three things length of rifle, recoil plus weight. I have shoot and own several .22's a .223 and a .308.

Would I shoot my .308 with this method NO would or have I shot the others yes. It can be handy when prone is out of the question.

E.G I was foxing with a friend of mine out in a grass field the grass was long and we spotted a very lamp shy fox we were a fair way away when he wanted me to take the shot (he's a keeper and the farmer was having lambing problems so something had to be done).

In prone I could not take the shot because of the grass so I used the field target stance with the .223 took the shot killed the fox.
When measured out the shot was 197 yards at night with a slight breeze left to right. Was the shot taken better than it would have been in prone not sure the result was there on the ground though. But prone was not possible so the stance worked in this instance.

I'm not a target shooter I find paper punching of no interest but in the field it works and that's good enough for me. BTW I use the stance to zero all my .22's but not the .223 or .308 as there done prone with a bipod.

[nigel_b]

Back to the original question. There are two points on the pellet trajectory that cross your zero line. One at about 8m the other about 19m. This is highly variable rifle to rifle and totally dependant on power, pellet etc.

There is a utility available to calculate your optimum primary and secondary zero distances.

Zero at the closest first. Centre the reticule. Do this by counting clicks end to end, both up/down and left right. Now check that centre by rotating the scope in the bottom mount (before you clamp it up). With the rifle stable the reticule will precess around a little circle if it isnt centred. Centre it up and clamp it. Next you need to take some test shots.

Is anyone still interested in this thread!? If so I'll plod on.

[nightshade]

Test firing over a chronograph with your selection of pellets can help considerably with your accuracy, the most powerful is not necessarily the most accurate (but power needs to be around 11.5 ft/lbs) A consistent hold and head postion is also necessary if you are to be accurate

[Chrysophylax]

Also, if you are shooting a spring air rifle, do not hold it too tightly as this will make it very inaccurate, let the recoil happen by holding the rifle as gently as you can. Do not PULL the trigger, squeeze it until it releaseds the shot.
There is mention of Field target in a previous post. I shot Field Target for over 10 years, achieving many trophies in top flight competiton, coming joint 11th in the World Championships in Ireland this year. I have now sold all my rifles to take up Photography. But please, join a club as this will make you a far better shot than trying to do it on your own. ATB. Neil.