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 - 06 Oct 2024 at 7:35am

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. 

Looks deadly to me.
Have no dought that grouping will shrink with familiarity.
There's no comparison to a springer, pcp are way better and as you say has the mag.
Looking forward to seeing a few pics and review at some stage.

Thanks guys,
I have some Baracudas in 177 (10.65 gr), and yes, have only shot at low power in the back yard so far.  

Any idea at what pressure it's wise to fill the tank to keep accuracy? The rifle had in it and is down to about 150 bar now maybe 30 shots later. I got the Scuba fittings from Ron so no problem there but those who have had a Cyclone likely have some useful info...there does not seem to be a lot online re the Cyclones, but enough I was happy with Paul's recommendation to buy it. 

So far, it's absolutely living up to expectation and I'd expect to do a little better more relaxed but that trigger is set way way lighter than anything I've used before and I'll adjust it for sure because a stray finger would easily fire it at the moment and I've before never had a rifle I worry about accidentally firing due to what I'd call a hair trigger. But easily fixed...

Also the zero recoil is amazing; the first time I fired it when I got home in darkness only the wee "ping" let me know it had fired...I had to have another shot to make sure and I definitely killed one of my carport supports.

Pete,
My Chinese chrono gave me the following fps from the Cyclone with about 135 bar with the 8.44 Gr Diablos - fps is an average of 2 but I think down from that pressure power is dropping away quite quickly so fps likely to be very approximate:



Edited by JasonEdward - 14 Oct 2024 at 4:17pm