To seat or not to seat ( airgun pellets )

[Peter C]

Being a newbie to airgunning, I’ve received some great advice lately on selecting the best pellet to use in my RWS Diana Model 34 . 177
I am only using it to shoot sparrows at about 20 yards, so need to focus on accuracy, not firepower.
My question is whether with this particular gun , is it better to seat the pellets into the bore, or just to load them flush with the end…. i.e. is there a difference in accuracy either way.
Opinions very welcome, thank you for any advice on this. Peter

[Mitch Booth]

Peter,

I'm not going to be much help here. I bought the exact same gun and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. No matter how tight I tightened my scope rings they always ended up loose due to the guns recoil. I constantly had fliers and I used the artillery hold and had the gun tuned..... I got so frustrated with it and ended up buying a PCP and I now can shoot pellet after pellet in a dime sized group at 30 yards. I can choose where to hit my sparrows as to miss my aluminum, plastic and wooden housing. Rarely do I have a miss unless shooting over 50 yards with wind.

Try downloading Chairgun Pro for pellet ballistics and coefficients for nearly every pellet available.

Mitch

[mike2656]

Try Beeman Kodiaks.

A quality pellet at a fair price. The Kodiaks have a rounded top for accuracy.

I would seat the pellets in the bore, that gives them a better spiral to improve stability.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[Curtis Reil]

Hi Peter. I think what you're asking about is "run up" vs "run out". With a centre fire cartridge you can see very obvious gains or degradation in accuracy depending on where the bullet is positioned in relation to the lands(this is the starting point of the rifling in the barrel). Most firearms will shoot best with the ogive of the projectile positioned just off the lands(bullet will run up to lands). However others will shoot best if the ogive of the bullet runs out past the lands and into the rifling a bit. These distances are measured in thousands of an inch. To be able to find a position such as your describing much less replicate consistently would be next to impossible in my opinion. Well, at the very least I shudder thinking about how tedious the testing of such would be. Running the pellet out a bit would also lower velocity too as you'd be making the chamber a little larger volume into which your air is delivered. Consistency is everything in achieving accuracy.

I don't shoot a Springer anymore but from my own experience, mark your rings, bases and scope. Having reference points set when you start shooting so if something in your rig is giving you grief it's the most common area where you'll receive feedback on what's happening. Blue loctite and torquing screws properly will also be your friends. Long story short, I'd stick with just keeping the pellet flush.

[Archer]

Mitch, what is a PCP?

[Mitch Booth]

Archer,

It stands for pre charged pneumatic. It is the type of air rifle where you either use an auxiliary pump or scuba tank to put air in the rifle. Typically around 3,000 psi and this will give 30-60 shots before you need to recharge or supply new air to the gun's reservoir. There is no spring, no piston, no break barrel. You simply pull back the bolt and it loads. My gun holds 10 pellets per magazine or clip. Best move I've ever made!! These are the types of air rifles used in the Olympics.

Mitch

[John & Linda - KY]

Was the scope that repeatedly got loose designed for a spring loader? If not, that was the problem. -- John

[Peter C]

Thank you to all who responded , the information is very helpful. And I'm finding out how important the "artillery hold" is, just to let the gun recoil. makes a big difference in getting a tight pattern.

[Mitch Booth]

Yes John according to the manufacture. I bought it as a combination unit from pyramid air which is a fairly reputable dealer. The explained to me that is somewhat common with springers. My consistency with PCP is night and day!

Mitch

[saltair]

Being a newbie to airgunning, I’ve received some great advice lately on selecting the best pellet to use in my RWS Diana Model 34 . 177
I am only using it to shoot sparrows at about 20 yards, so need to focus on accuracy, not firepower.
My question is whether with this particular gun , is it better to seat the pellets into the bore, or just to load them flush with the end…. i.e. is there a difference in accuracy either way.
Opinions very welcome, thank you for any advice on this. Peter

Test...I submitted a reply but it did not post. just checking.

[saltair]

I push the pellet into the barrel with my thumb or I use a Pellet Pen Loader that holds about 15 pellets. I have not noticed any difference in accuracy in any way.

Question about the PCP pellet rifle...when the rifle is loaded with pellets and pumped full of air, can the rifle stay fully charged overnight without damaging the seals? Or do you have to fire the rifle within a certain amount of time to relieve the pressure in the rifle?

[Mitch Booth]

PCP's are designed to have pressure at all at times especially during long periods of storage in order to protect the seals. To answer your question the answer is Yes you can leave it charged over night.

Mitch

[Peter C]

Mitch,
Do you have a recommendation as to which PCP air rifle and scope would be the best for my situation, shooting sparrows at about 20 yards.
thanks ! Peter

[Mitch Booth]

Peter,

I bought mine about 4 or 5 years ago and I bought the Benjamin Marauder .22 caliber. This was the least expensive at the time and I think it ran around 490 for gun and scope and then another hundred or so for the hand pump to fill the gun. Benjamin now offers a Discovery model for 420.00 which includes a hand pump at pyramid air. Give them a call as they are extremely knowledgable and helpful.

Mitch

[Peter C]

Thanks Mitch, helpful advice....

[Mitch Booth]

Peter these guns can run several thousand dollars. The marauder also has a shrouded barrel which is like a silencer. You can shoot and your next door neighbor will never hear it.

Mitch

[BobbyG]

Maurder 22 calibar is the way to go very quiet under the speed of sound 820 fps the pellet hitting the target is what makes the most noise ( target = sparrow/starling )

[LarryMelcher/KY]

I have the exact gun and yes, I had to learn it. The best thing I did was find out what pellet it preferred. Straight shooters dot calm sold a pellet sampler. Set up a target and always line up the cross hairs on your scope with "cross hairs" drawn on your paper target. I draw exactly what I see in my scope, a "cross".
Your goal is to shoot 5 or 10 of the same pellet, looking for which pellet your gun prefers.
Never try to correct, always line up exactly on the cross hairs with your target. The goal is to find pellets that group in the same spot.
When I did this, just when I thought it was a waste of time, (none of the different brand pellets were in a tight spot) suddenly, I found a pellet that DID group. Then I adjusted the scope so the group, would be bullseye.
I'm not home, or I would tell the exact pellet I use. This information is great for all pellet gun owners. Don't give up on your gun. It could simply be the type/brand pellet you are using.
I gave up long ago on trying to hold my gun steady workout props. I never take aim on a bad bird without a 2 stick barrel prop, and steady to take all of the "human factor" shake out of it.

[Peter C]

Larry, thanks for the helpful information.... regards, Peter

[LarryMelcher/KY]

Pellets I found to shoot well with tight groupings is Crossman Premier 1250 domed 7.9 GR. And .177 CALL (4.5 mm)