Spring/Piston The story of Norma Jean, my Blonde TX200

[Pesty3782]

I picked up my used TX200 in September 2023, about 1 month before EBR. It was a basic TX200 in a factory stock. After testing a few pellets, the H&N 10.65 squeaked by the best group.

Had a few practice sessions on the bench at 50 yards. I then shot it at EBR at the 50 yard benchrest competition. The wind was howling and a lot of colorful words were heard up and down the shooting line…..Well, we did pretty good and got the Silver medal. Missed Gold by 3 points. Podium was Tony T, Tony P. Tony S. Yeah they had to call us up by last name



I put a Vortek kit in it and continued my journey with the TX. Tony T. was selling a LP Custom birch laminate stock unfinished that I couldn’t resist. I used 2 coats of Odie’s oil and 1 coat of Odie’s wax keeping the stock blonde. Team Centercut likes to name their rifles. It was Mike who said Norma Jean….Heck the stock even has a beauty mark on the cheek rest so Norma Jean she became.



Next competition was the Sonoran Classic Grand Prix and I competed with Norma Jean. After 2 days of shooting we won the Silver Medal again. Missed the Gold by 4 points. Who was on the podium you may ask ….Tony T. Tony P. and Tony S. We all were shooting TX200’s.



At the Sonoran Classic I spoke to Cameron K., a springer guru, and he shot Norma Jean. He said she was shooting a little hot and could use some internal smoothing out. He said he could have her done and back to me before the Arizona Piston/Springer State Championship. I pulled the workings out of the stock and handed them to Cameron. About 4 days later I received a package at my front door and Cameron had worked his magic on her.

Back into the stock and pellet testing. I had 4 days until the State Match to get her ready. Well a surprise to me was this time the H&N pellets came in 2nd. A beat up old tin of QYS 9 grainers took the top spot. They didn’t squeak by, they blew by. So I set up the ranging wheel and at a local practice match I whopped Tony T’s butt!!!! I also won my 5 dollars back I had lost at the Sonoran Classic from him.

The big day arrived, but my springer mentor, Tony T couldn’t make it. We had a 52 shot course and Norma Jean nailed it! We got 49 out of 52, the top score out of all shooters. Norma Jean took the Gold Medal and the Arizona State Springer Championship home. Terry and Scott had a shoot off with 44 each and Terry pulled off second place.



Well Norma Jean and I are signed up for the Cajuns in a few weeks. Barbara and I will be down that way so why not. But alas my mentor and good friend Tony T. won't be there.

 

[FL22]

Norma is definitely a fine looking piece of arm candy. Congratulations on all of your success together.

 

[Pesty3782]

A big thanks goes out to

Dale drpietrzak for helping me with all my questions on shooting a Springer off a bench. He got hammered with questions because it is my first springer....

Mark K. for teaching me how to take the rifle apart and where to lube it.

Tony T for working with me on how to shoot a springer and helping me get it all sighted in for HFT the first time. He is also great to shoot with. Not the best looking cheerleader, but always there with positive and supportive comments.

Cameron K. for the outstanding work he did tuning up Norma Jean.

Tony P.

 

[Danman]

I picked up my used TX200 in September 2023, about 1 month before EBR. It was a basic TX200 in a factory stock. After testing a few pellets, the H&N 10.65 squeaked by the best group.

Had a few practice sessions on the bench at 50 yards. I then shot it at EBR at the 50 yard benchrest competition. The wind was howling and a lot of colorful words were heard up and down the shooting line…..Well, we did pretty good and got the Silver medal. Missed Gold by 3 points. Podium was Tony T, Tony P. Tony S. Yeah they had to call us up by last name

View attachment 5366

I put a Vortek kit in it and continued my journey with the TX. Tony T. was selling a LP Custom birch laminate stock unfinished that I couldn’t resist. I used 2 coats of Odie’s oil and 1 coat of Odie’s wax keeping the stock blonde. Team Centercut likes to name their rifles. It was Mike who said Norma Jean….Heck the stock even has a beauty mark on the cheek rest so Norma Jean she became.

View attachment 5367

Next competition was the Sonoran Classic Grand Prix and I competed with Norma Jean. After 2 days of shooting we won the Silver Medal again. Missed the Gold by 4 points. Who was on the podium you may ask ….Tony T. Tony P. and Tony S. We all were shooting TX200’s.

View attachment 5368View attachment 5369

At the Sonoran Classic I spoke to Cameron K., a springer guru, and he shot Norma Jean. He said she was shooting a little hot and could use some internal smoothing out. He said he could have her done and back to me before the Arizona Piston/Springer State Championship. I pulled the workings out of the stock and handed them to Cameron. About 4 days later I received a package at my front door and Cameron had worked his magic on her.

Back into the stock and pellet testing. I had 4 days until the State Match to get her ready. Well a surprise to me was this time the H&N pellets came in 2nd. A beat up old tin of QYS 9 grainers took the top spot. They didn’t squeak by, they blew by. So I set up the ranging wheel and at a local practice match I whopped Tony T’s butt!!!! I also won my 5 dollars back I had lost at the Sonoran Classic from him.

The big day arrived, but my springer mentor, Tony T couldn’t make it. We had a 52 shot course and Norma Jean nailed it! We got 49 out of 52, the top score out of all shooters. Norma Jean took the Gold Medal and the Arizona State Springer Championship home. Terry and Scott had a shoot off with 44 each and Terry pulled off second place.

View attachment 5370View attachment 5371

Well Norma Jean and I are signed up for the Cajuns in a few weeks. Barbara and I will be down that way so why not. But alas my mentor and good friend Tony T. won't be there.

Excellent write up sir, and nice pics, sure looks fun (and challenging!) You say you put the vortek kit in it and thought it was shooting a bit hot, do you have any numbers on the 8.44 or 10gr pellets you were shooting out of her? Mine has steadily been loosing fps lately!? It came shooting the 8.44gr about 860/870fps but just recently has dipped to 790/800 . Ultimately did not buy it for the FPE but the drop is concerning me a bit. Accuracy has not suffered and its just about 13fpe now. Gun is fairly new (maybe 250 pellets through it) sounds fine, barrel is clean, not sure what is up!? Thanks.

 

[Pesty3782]

If I recall correctly at the Sonoran I was shooting the 10.65's at 770 the first day. 14 FPE....Day 2 they were chrono'ed at 748 13.2 FPE so something had changed....I know 250 pellets is nothing for a springer and the spring might be just be taking set.

Now with the 9's I am shooting 780 so about 12.5 FPE....Very smooth in the shot cycle thanks to Cameron.

Tony P.

 

[Sydney Monk]

I picked up my used TX200 in September 2023, about 1 month before EBR. It was a basic TX200 in a factory stock. After testing a few pellets, the H&N 10.65 squeaked by the best group.

Had a few practice sessions on the bench at 50 yards. I then shot it at EBR at the 50 yard benchrest competition. The wind was howling and a lot of colorful words were heard up and down the shooting line…..Well, we did pretty good and got the Silver medal. Missed Gold by 3 points. Podium was Tony T, Tony P. Tony S. Yeah they had to call us up by last name

View attachment 5366

I put a Vortek kit in it and continued my journey with the TX. Tony T. was selling a LP Custom birch laminate stock unfinished that I couldn’t resist. I used 2 coats of Odie’s oil and 1 coat of Odie’s wax keeping the stock blonde. Team Centercut likes to name their rifles. It was Mike who said Norma Jean….Heck the stock even has a beauty mark on the cheek rest so Norma Jean she became.

View attachment 5367

Next competition was the Sonoran Classic Grand Prix and I competed with Norma Jean. After 2 days of shooting we won the Silver Medal again. Missed the Gold by 4 points. Who was on the podium you may ask ….Tony T. Tony P. and Tony S. We all were shooting TX200’s.

View attachment 5368View attachment 5369

At the Sonoran Classic I spoke to Cameron K., a springer guru, and he shot Norma Jean. He said she was shooting a little hot and could use some internal smoothing out. He said he could have her done and back to me before the Arizona Piston/Springer State Championship. I pulled the workings out of the stock and handed them to Cameron. About 4 days later I received a package at my front door and Cameron had worked his magic on her.

Back into the stock and pellet testing. I had 4 days until the State Match to get her ready. Well a surprise to me was this time the H&N pellets came in 2nd. A beat up old tin of QYS 9 grainers took the top spot. They didn’t squeak by, they blew by. So I set up the ranging wheel and at a local practice match I whopped Tony T’s butt!!!! I also won my 5 dollars back I had lost at the Sonoran Classic from him.

The big day arrived, but my springer mentor, Tony T couldn’t make it. We had a 52 shot course and Norma Jean nailed it! We got 49 out of 52, the top score out of all shooters. Norma Jean took the Gold Medal and the Arizona State Springer Championship home. Terry and Scott had a shoot off with 44 each and Terry pulled off second place.

View attachment 5370View attachment 5371

Well Norma Jean and I are signed up for the Cajuns in a few weeks. Barbara and I will be down that way so why not. But alas my mentor and good friend Tony T. won't be there.

Congratulations! She’s beautiful.

 

[Pesty3782]

So the Cajun’s are done and anybody who has a chance to shoot there needs to! The venue is one of the most intriguing I have shot in. The lanes are all under the tree canopy, most are shaded which makes ranging very hard at 16X. There were a lot of targets in the trees and this is the first time I have ever shot like this.



I was teamed up with 2 of the locals. Those bayou boys can shoot!!!…..After day 1 Norma Jean and I were in 3rd place behind the “Bayou Boys”. I had a 36, Kenny 37 and Mike a 41. There were 2 35’s nipping on our tail.

Day 2 starts and who am I teamed up with again . The Bayou Boys . Well on day 2 Norma Jean and I were on fire the first 8 lanes, (We started on lane 8) but I let her down on the second half for sure. We ended up with high score on day 2 with a 44, Mike got a 43 and Kenny a 41. It wasn’t enough to knock Mike out of 1st place, but we squeaked by Kenny for 2nd.



Mike 84, Norma Jean 80, Kenny 78 and 4th was a 72.

I want to thank the Bayou Boys, Mike and Kenny, for making me feel welcome….Really everybody working at the Cajuns made you feel welcome. There was good food, lots of laughing, joking and an all round good time…So if you get a chance to shoot there you really really need to.

Tony P

 

[hameditor]

So the Cajun’s are done and anybody who has a chance to shoot there needs to! The venue is one of the most intriguing I have shot in. The lanes are all under the tree canopy, most are shaded which makes ranging very hard at 16X. There were a lot of targets in the trees and this is the first time I have ever shot like this.

I was teamed up with 2 of the locals. Those bayou boys can shoot!!!…..After day 1 Norma Jean and I were in 3rd place behind the “Bayou Boys”. I had a 36, Kenny 37 and Mike a 41. There were 2 35’s nipping on our tail.

Day 2 starts and who am I teamed up with again . The Bayou Boys . Well on day 2 Norma Jean and I were on fire the first 8 lanes, but I let her down on the second half for sure. We ended up with high score on day 2 with a 44, Mike got a 43 and Kenny a 41. It wasn’t enough to knock Mike out of 1st place, but we squeaked by Kenny for 2nd.

Mike 84, Norma Jean 80, Kenny 78 and 4th was a 72.

I want to thank the Bayou Boys, Mike and Kenny, for making me feel welcome….Really everybody working at the Cajuns made you feel welcome. There was good food, lots of laughing, joking and an all round good time…So if you get a chance to shoot there you really really need to.

Tony P

Glad you had a great time. I have heard before that this is a terrific shoot!

 

[Pesty3782]

Haven't touch Norma Jean since we got back from Cajuns. Today is the "Crusty Critter" fun shoot so Norma Jean and I will be heading out in 30 minutes....We shall see how Norma Jean shoots after all the traveling back and forth to the Cajuns.

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

So a lesson learned with my springer. This morning I checked the stock screws and scope mount screws, 2 out of 4 scope mount screws were loose and all 3 stock screws were loose. I haven’t checked any of them before….Lesson learned check screws before sight in!! At least for me.

We shot a 42 out of 48 today. Not bad, but not great….My weak point is wind calls past 40 yards. I keep 2nd guessing myself

Super fun though.

Tony P

 

[Pesty3782]

Heading off to Rio for probably the last FT competition of the summer. Should be a fun shoot, it's been awhile since pulling Norma Jean out to shoot her. And yes the stock screws are tight

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Welllll, the stock screws were tight, put the guy behind the trigger wasn't....Not a good day at all, 30 out of 48....Mostly bad wind calls and about 1/4 way I started shooting high....Taking it out from the 74 degree car and it heating up in low 90's caused a shift.....I need to figure out when/why the shift happens.

Tony P.

 

[Danman]

Welllll, the stock screws were tight, put the guy behind the trigger wasn't....Not a good day at all, 30 out of 48....Mostly bad wind calls and about 1/4 way I started shooting high....Taking it out from the 74 degree car and it heating up in low 90's caused a shift.....I need to figure out when/why the shift happens.

Tony P.

Lol well you tried! My TX is still too new to have experienced anything above 70deg! Well have to see how see does as far as poi shift....back to the bench!

 

[Pesty3782]

Well at the crusty critter shoot today I got a 39 out of 48….First half of the course I,missed 1 shot, then the wheels fell off the 2nd half. Maybe my concentration isn’t the same 2nd half. Still had a great time with a lot of laughing going on. I had 2 damn birds playing right in front of the targets on lane 3….It took a lot of determination not to just “pop” them and take the missed shot

Tony P

 

[Pesty3782]

Today was the crusty critter Tuesday shoot. It was PCP day, but Norma Jean wanted/needed to play. We shot a 40-48 today. Missed my 1st 2 shots and I think I scratched a bald spot on top of my head trying to figure out what I did wrong....OK I already have a bald spot up there, but you get the picture

It was like the wild kingdom out at Ben Avery today. There were birds, ground squirrels, and even a Coyote walked by at about 75 yards out, just looking at us saying "Dumb A$$'s it's hot out"

We had a few grandkids shooting and I think we had 15 or so shooters in total. It was a FUN day for sure.

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Tomorrow is a local benchrest competition and I normally would shoot my 30 Cal , but this dumb guy signed up Norma Jean for 50 yard bench rest. What was I thinking?!

So in other words, just the competition will take 75 pulls of the cocking lever, then I have sight in before and sighters during.....

I think I might have to preflight with Advil

Tony P.

 

[Danman]

Tomorrow is a local benchrest competition and I normally would shoot my 30 Cal , but this dumb guy signed up Norma Jean for 50 yard bench rest. What was I thinking?!

So in other words, just the competition will take 75 pulls of the cocking lever, then I have sight in before and sighters during.....

I think I might have to preflight with Advil

Tony P.

Thats funny actually, last weekend I shot my TX ALOT! Put at least 80 .177 pellets downrange in probably an hr and a half, but it sure didn't seem like it at the time, the ol tennis elbow was feeling it near the end.....let us know how it goes

 

[Pesty3782]

When I walked up to my bench today and pulled Norma Jean out of her case the four Thomas shooters I would be shooting against starting shaking in their boots. These guys have never seen such a beautiful rifle before. Blonde, sexy curves, and a beauty mark on her.

You all know the Thomas types, the folks who have their ugly rifles locked into a 1 piece rest, never touch the rifle and use a plunger cable for a trigger press....and have more flags down range then the wife and I own together .

After my first card I walked down the line telling those guys I was "gunning" for them. After the 2nd card I knew I had them....And by the 3rd card I knew Norma Jean and I were DNL (Dead Nuts Last)

Chris a Thomas shooter, he and I give each other when we compete at Silhouette and tie and have to have a shoot off. He walked up to me and started chuckling saying he thought I was serious when I came by him after the first card.

Since there were no other springers there I had them clump me into the same category as any other 50 yard shooter. It was a fun day and I learned a lot...Like on the first card I had maybe 5 sighters down range then looked at the clock and I had 15 minutes to shoot 25 targets.....

Next time I hope to do better. 178 3X's....196 2 X's...and a horrible 150 0X's

Tony P.

 

[Florida_Man]

When I walked up to my bench today and pulled Norma Jean out of her case the four Thomas shooters I would be shooting against starting shaking in their boots. These guys have never seen such a beautiful rifle before. Blonde, sexy curves, and a beauty mark on her.

You all know the Thomas types, the folks who have their ugly rifles locked into a 1 piece rest, never touch the rifle and use a plugger cable for a trigger press....and have more flags down range then the wife and I own together .

After my first card I walked down the line telling those guys I was "gunning" for them. After the 2nd card I knew I had them....And by the 3rd card I knew Norma Jean and I were DNL (Dead Nuts Last)

Chris a Thomas shooter, he and I give each other when we compete at Silhouette and tie and have to have a shoot off. He walked up to me and started chuckling saying he thought I was serious when I came by him after the first card.

Since there were no other springers there I had them clump me into the same category as any other 50 yard shooter. It was a fun day and I learned a lot...Like on the first card I had maybe 5 sighters down range then looked at the clock and I had 15 minutes to shoot 25 targets.....

Next time I hope to do better. 178 3X's....196 2 X's...and a horrible 150 0X's

Tony P.

That’s great. It’s always great to enjoy the rifle and challenge yourself. I find it more rewarding than competing against others. That’s how I always felt about golf also.

 

[Pesty3782]

Today at the crusty critter shoot I got my A$$ handed to me. My springer mentor Tony T. set up a course with a 36 troyer.....How does he do that to a springer shooter?! He did .....The winds were all over the place, but I did not come in DNL (Dead Nuts Last) with a 28 out of the 48....A PCP had a 27!!!!!!......

It was a very hard course, but I was shooting with a great guy . Of course the wife beat me by a long shot shooting her ghost....She shot the first half of the course kneeling then went to bucket and sticks....Damn she can shoot her

Overall a great morning for sure. Lots of laughing, a few colorful words, and when I finally cleared a lane I screamed for joy.....

Tony P.