First semi-serious target shooting the oldHW80K...

OK, new Timu/Alliexpress (i just can't remember which ha ha) slug catcher, light chip board back board and S/S self-draining fire pit base (AKA a shower tray) behind just in case as I haven't shot like this before at home. I even wore eye protection because I know I should and last time shooting with my son off the deck we had riccochet slugs whistling over our heads and seeming fast enough that eye protection was sensible so I ordered some cheap shooting glasses.

HW80 I think about 6 years ago Ron Young mounted the scope after checking my slightly rusty old newly bought old hand rifle was shooting as it should and I don't think I've adjusted the scope since.

I'm pretty happy with a few quick shots cut short when the rains came. My first attempt at slightly longer range, a measured 18.5 m prone, no rests, hand held open palm, target at ground level so not a very comfy shoot angle. Usually I'm shooting about 12-14 m from the deck hand held but resting on a BBQ table.

Very pleased with first three shots, but also sure I can hold steadier than that with fore-stock rest/bench/whatever. Second three were rushed with rain starting - Anyway, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. :-)  But frankly I'm not too unhappy with those rushed shots and I prefer 10 shoot groups ideally if I'm really wanting to properly see if I can shoot because consistent repeatable accuracy is the only accuracy worth having. 

It's little more than a good start but I'm glad on a whim I decided to shoot some lead and test the pellet trap, which does a great job flattening those .22s - you can see some of them on the target. And at least I now know I can hit the target and don't need the shower tray but I will sort a bigger back board that can't riccochet. I think I'll experiment with a solid heavy cardboard box lined at the back with 3 or 4 layers camp bed foam and filled with God knows what at this stage...

With a bench rest I can stretch the back yard range to 22 or 23 m but that's maximum requiring a lot more setup.

I'm stoked, had a good time, and while I need much more practice there's potential and I had a great time during the ten minute sesh. Thanks to you lot on this forum for getting me off my arse and a little more serious about pitching lead around the back yard.

Now it's time to tidy up the house for an esteemed guest visiting tonight.e for a revered guest tonight.

Edited by JasonEdward - 05 Oct 2024 at 1:35pm

I see you got the inevitable flyer in there. One of the great joys of pellets, one always turns up per group.
Thats all good grouping (flyer discounted) you'll tighten up if that's the start. Just remember if your accuracy starts to go out window, check the tightness of everything on gun, springers jolt screws loose.

Nunga, I saw that too...
I know how hard it is to find good crew these days, so if you need some fishing crew....

Maybe I need to find some bunnies and you good bastards come to Waihi for a shoot and a fish.

I have some drawings for making a shooting bench. It can be made from one sheet of 18 mm ply and can be collapsed for storage. So maybe a bench and I find it good having a small bean back supporting my front hand holding the gun.