Springer accuracy - first shots?
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: Technical
Forum Name: Pauly's Technical Area
Forum Description: Technical information, Modifications and DIY projects are all in here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=625
Printed Date: 05 Apr 2025 at 12:27pm
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Topic: Springer accuracy - first shots?
Posted By: Myson
Subject: Springer accuracy - first shots?
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2022 at 3:46am
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Hi All, Each day the first 5 shots of both of my lovely springers are inaccurate. The group produced is 2-3 times larger than subsequent groups. After the first 5 shots things settle down and tight groups reappear.  This consistently happens and now I usually "waste" the first five pellets (into the grass) before getting serious with my day's shooting. I'd like your opinions on the key causes of this phenomena please. Is it because:
Would welcome your thoughts please.... ------------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177 |
Replies:
Posted By: mercs
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2022 at 4:14pm
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I have been advised 3 shots to warm up the chamber lubricants if using for competition targets. Mine are stored in a relatively warm space and i do not really experience the issue. Generally my rifles are like yours with modern seal materials and lubricants. I use 1 drop of silicone oil for each 250 pellets, applied carefully into the chamber and then i fire off 2 or 3 pellets to clear any excess. This supposedly helps keep good contact between seal face and chamber. This instruction was from a 2018 Crosman gas piston rifle manual. I use the same routine on all springer brands. The Silicone oil is very different to Pelgun oil both are supplied by Crosman. A lot of conflicting views on internal lubrication of air rifles including some that reckon modern rifles should be left alone. |
Posted By: Myson
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2022 at 3:04am
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Thanks Mercs. Interesting! Good to hear about the lubricants and that other competitors have the "3 shot" rule.... I'm not alone in this!  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177 |
Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2022 at 2:00am
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could be the barrels need cleaning,thats likely cause when normally accurate guns start shooting off cheers mike
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Posted By: Myson
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2022 at 10:37am
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Thanks Mike. But no - all my barrels were cleaned recently (with Napier kit and oils) to eliminate that potential cause. Cleaning the barrels about once every 5,000 shots certainly does improve groups on my PCP's and Springers. But it doesn't remedy the first 5 shots problem at all.... I think Mercs was on the right track? ------------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177 |
Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2022 at 4:33am
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am not really a spring gun shooter,do use them at times but only for pest shooting and mine proberly not as hi quality or as accurate as yours,but have noticed the first few shots dont allways go where expected,Mercs explaination makes sense to me as my springers can sit in safe for quite long periods of time between uses,so any oil in cylanders would either dry out or end up dribbling down towards the spring leaving cylander dry when next used causing velocitys to be inconsistant from increased friction between piston and bore causing velocity to be inconsistant and causing the unexpected flyers etc. cheers mike
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Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2022 at 5:57pm
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I have found it pays to waste a few shots before getting serious with springers. I have always put it down to the lube and cylinder warming. |
Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2022 at 2:03am
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i hadnt used springers for 20 years again til recently,its been bit of a learning curve for me after using pcps for so long,had to learn how to shoot them again,getting hold right and dealing with recoil took me a while,allso having been spoilt by pcp match grade triggers,learning how to master springer triggers again got me back working on improving my springer triggers again,Paul and Mercs are right about the lube/temp things etc,particually in my case because my guns can sit unused for long periods of time,been wondering if i should strip the guns and completly delube them,and try spraying the cylander bores with some the metal penertrating industial silicon lubes available rather than using silcon oils,these amazing lubes last long time and are very slippery and prevent wear on steel parts interacting etc because they penertrate into the metal and remain in place,has anyone tryed these lubes?? cheers mike
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Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2022 at 10:37am
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as I primarily hunt with mine and usually have to take a shot with a barrel that has had time to cool (for lack of a better description) I sighted in with my barrel cold. took a shot,adjusted mucked around for 10 minutes took next shot adjusted etc.once sighted I found my first and 2nd shots targetshooting were good then maybe a flyer or two then accurate again. pellet sizing and weighing helps. out of a pkt of ftt 5.53 I find that a weight of.95gm 14.66gr and head size of 5.45mm to 5.49mm load better than 5.50mm to 5.53mm. and that .95gm shoot a tad different to .96gm though the difference in weight is minor in effect. anything out side this range is not used. when I find a pkt ftt in 5.52mm I'll sort thru those to see if they are a better all round pellet. i imagine that a target shooter would do the opposite sighting in as they shoot rounds in faster succession. |