Air rifle is the hardest one to shoot well due to extremely long barrel time , that is why you learn on air , move on to Rimfire and then to centerfire , and as you become older you get uncompetitive at air first, rimfire second , while you can run centerfire as long as eyes allow
Airguns Beating Rimfires
- Thread starter jps2486
- Start date
I started with my M1A, then I moved to the dark side (AR 15) and increased my score just because it was easier to shoot and less recoil breaking up my position. I picked up the air rifle to improve aftter a half a year of doing 300 meter international match and NRA highpower OTC, Long Range, and Palma with a bolt rifle in 308
When I won the centerfire AZPRC long range steel series the 2nd year in a row one of the competitors I didn't know all that well came up to me and asked what my secret was, so I told him - that I had been shooting Field Target air rifle competitions for years. He looked at me in unbelief thinking I was kidding with him and said so. I said back, I'm serious, that's much of the reason why I did well. He still almost didn't believe me, you know how people give you that funny look, like c'mon man quit messing with me, lol!
FT comps and pcp airguns;
I learned about how to shoot in the wind.
I learned about building a steady position.
I learned about form and follow through.
And this was all without noise or recoil which can be somewhat of a distraction so you really learn what, when, and how, your faults are causing the misses and what needs working on.
Past that it's just getting your dope down, managing recoil, and practicing long range with your precision rifle. There's differences but much of shooting airguns, or 22rf's, translates right over directly to shooting centerfire.
FT comps and pcp airguns;
I learned about how to shoot in the wind.
I learned about building a steady position.
I learned about form and follow through.
And this was all without noise or recoil which can be somewhat of a distraction so you really learn what, when, and how, your faults are causing the misses and what needs working on.
Past that it's just getting your dope down, managing recoil, and practicing long range with your precision rifle. There's differences but much of shooting airguns, or 22rf's, translates right over directly to shooting centerfire.
My old eyes, meaning not seeing exactly where I was missing, was a main reason I quit shooting precision rifle comps, that and my physicality. I aged out as far as winning goes.
Fortunately I can still see good enough to score high or sometimes win my division with airgun in UFT or FT. That would suck to age out in those sports!
I started doing the NRA highpower stuff when I had already "aged out". I did it to IMPROVE my own shooting and didn't care if someone else was going to win. I figured out a long time ago that there is "always somebody better then you" whether it is racing, weight lifting, shooting etc.
I got my "ego stroked" years ago, when I was working as range helper right before deer season opened. We were there to help people get zeroed in.
A guy with 2 teenagers came along and it was obvious his scope wasn't mounted properly. So, a quick lesson in boresighting and he got on paper and was happy. One of the teenagers had a .243 bolt gun, and his groups were like 8 inches at 25 yards (zeroing). They were shooting from a bench with sandbags etc.
I asked if I could shoot his rifle (scoped) and he said okay after looking for his dad's approval. I fired one round and it was right on. If I would have triangulated his group which I did in my mind, he would have been close to right on. I told him, take this little cloth bullet holder off of your stock and then your cheek weld will be more consistent because I believe it is moving on you and you are not getting the same sight alignment (scope paralax). He took it off and bingo, his groups were 1-2 inches at 100 yards.
The ego trip came when he said to his buddy "listen to that old guy, he knows his stuff" ha ha.
Fun times.
NOW, after having heart surgeries, valve replacement, ablation, pacemaker, cataract surgery and getting of a medicine that induced TREMBLES (heart palpitation) I am going to get on with my air rifle and see if I can get back into the 90's. I've been going down hill . Hopefully getting off this last pill and the trembles will help.
I got my "ego stroked" years ago, when I was working as range helper right before deer season opened. We were there to help people get zeroed in.
A guy with 2 teenagers came along and it was obvious his scope wasn't mounted properly. So, a quick lesson in boresighting and he got on paper and was happy. One of the teenagers had a .243 bolt gun, and his groups were like 8 inches at 25 yards (zeroing). They were shooting from a bench with sandbags etc.
I asked if I could shoot his rifle (scoped) and he said okay after looking for his dad's approval. I fired one round and it was right on. If I would have triangulated his group which I did in my mind, he would have been close to right on. I told him, take this little cloth bullet holder off of your stock and then your cheek weld will be more consistent because I believe it is moving on you and you are not getting the same sight alignment (scope paralax). He took it off and bingo, his groups were 1-2 inches at 100 yards.
The ego trip came when he said to his buddy "listen to that old guy, he knows his stuff" ha ha.
Fun times.
NOW, after having heart surgeries, valve replacement, ablation, pacemaker, cataract surgery and getting of a medicine that induced TREMBLES (heart palpitation) I am going to get on with my air rifle and see if I can get back into the 90's. I've been going down hill . Hopefully getting off this last pill and the trembles will help.
ALWAYS remember FOLLOW through (like golf). You CAN move fast enough to throw your shot off target before it clears the end of the barrel. Remember, the bullet is STILL accelerating it doesn't start off at 2760 FPS.
That is the hard part of shooting an co2 target grade air rifle. It takes a relatively LONG time for that pellet to clear the end of the barrel.
AND, if you drop a bullet (or pellet) do NOT shoot it as a piece of sand can ruin your barrel.
That is the hard part of shooting an co2 target grade air rifle. It takes a relatively LONG time for that pellet to clear the end of the barrel.
AND, if you drop a bullet (or pellet) do NOT shoot it as a piece of sand can ruin your barrel.
Field target is another side of the airgun hobby that people don't realize how hard things are. To get into different positions and making some of the shots can be quite challenging. Have set up some targets I have at the local range and have had people come over to shoot with their rimfires. When I tell them now they are for airguns they just chuckle. Hand them the rifle and let them see if they can knock the targets down. Once they get pissed enough I hand the rifle to my 13 year old son and he knocks the targets down with no issues.
Then grab my HM1000x and shoot the gongs out at 200 yards. Then they ask to shoot that and are amazed at the shot cycle and the accuracy. Then once the inevitable question about price comes up.... typically they shudder at the price.
Then grab my HM1000x and shoot the gongs out at 200 yards. Then they ask to shoot that and are amazed at the shot cycle and the accuracy. Then once the inevitable question about price comes up.... typically they shudder at the price.
First comment ever but I gotta chime in. 100000% compressor. Best 1600 I've ever spent. Refills a 300ml bottle from 200 to 300 bar in 1.25minutes. 0-300 in 2.5. with my power kit my slash tactical 550 is shooting 52g .2523 boat tail hollows 920 fps at 120+ fpe all day and I get a full 2 mags of slugs with those crazy numbers before another minute top off. Costs me about .06/slug + power and consumables. Throw a big 2kw inverter in the back of your truck and you're shooting anywhere you want. Talk about stopping power. I use it predominately as a ratter. Made a ny city subway sized rat backflip last night.Yep. I need to do some testing of my own, but I’m debating if I should buy another case of low-grade match ammo (Wolf MT/ME, SK+, etc.) or throw that money into a compressor. I’ve got enough match .22LR to last me ~two years at a brick a month (WAY more than I currently shoot, I’m afraid), but enough pellets to last me well over a decade. So do I stock up on more .22 because it’s only going to go up in price, or make my life easier by becoming self sufficient with air? I’m kinda leaning towards the compressor, honestly. Quality pellets are still about half as expensive as low-grade .22LR, and about a quarter the cost of higher-grade stuff. If I focus mostly on airguns, I should be good for a long, long time. Decisions, decisions…
Edit: should probably mention it's a gx-e-5k2. If anybody's interested I'll share some photos
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