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

[Danman]

Well Norma Jean was the Bride this weekend!!!!!! Tony T. had a bad day, but held onto the silver. I had a 26 the first day and a 24 the 2nd. Did I say the course was HARD!!!!! It was hard, and the wind on Sunday was even worse than Saturday.

Here is a photo of one of the lanes. The blue target is 55 yards out with a 1.5 inch KZ

View attachment 11814
View attachment 11815
That orange feather was dancing all day.....It never sat still.

View attachment 11816
Here's Norma Jean in all her glory.....

What a great time spent with family and friends...

My Bride of almost 35 years took first in PCP Hunter Field Target and match high score.

View attachment 11817
Tony P.

Well done and congrats!
I can usually hit a 2inch target with my TX @50Y without any wind...on my bench..with no pressure. I remember slinging lead last year @40Y with mine in the wind and I couldn't hit a thing... I'd send a few left or right of target and still nothing. Gave up and switched to the .22 pcps that day.

 

[Pesty3782]

It is very unnerving to be aiming off the face plate at times and still miss the KZ on the opposite side

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Well in Temecula there was only 1 other Hunter Springer shooting, but Norma Jean pulled off the win. With all the elevated shots and the wind it was much harder than the Sonoran the week before.

The elevated shots made me leave my bucket, sit on the ground, and try to find a stable position to shoot. I never found a position that was stable enough. What it did teach me is either I carry a taller set of sticks with me or find a position on the ground that I am stable in.

After a good cleaning she has been put in the cabinet for a well deserved rest for a few weeks. Time to pull out Tigger my 30 cal ghost to get it ready for competition.

Don't feel sorry for Norma Jean, she will be pulled out for the Crusty Critter shoot on Tuesdays when I go.

Tony P.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Well in Temecula there was only 1 other Hunter Springer shooting, but Norma Jean pulled off the win. With all the elevated shots and the wind it was much harder than the Sonoran the week before.

The elevated shots made me leave my bucket, sit on the ground, and try to find a stable position to shoot. I never found a position that was stable enough. What it did teach me is either I carry a taller set of sticks with me or find a position on the ground that I am stable in.

After a good cleaning she has been put in the cabinet for a well deserved rest for a few weeks. Time to pull out Tigger my 30 cal ghost to get it ready for competition.

Don't feel sorry for Norma Jean, she will be pulled out for the Crusty Critter shoot on Tuesdays when I go.

Tony P.

I live just 17 miles from Temecula in Aguanga. I knew nothing about an airgun competition here. Where was it and how was it advertised? I truly wish I'd have known about it. Wow! Sorry to have missed it. Orv.

 

[Pesty3782]

Southern California Airgun Club

socalfieldtarget.com

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

So the Arizona State Piston Cup is coming up next Saturday So Norma Jean and I went out to the Crusty Critter shoot on Tuesday. Near the end of the course I was missing targets low

So I get home and on Wednesday I pull Norma Jean out to verify my dope. Everything from 25 yards in was fine, but as soon as I started getting further out I was hitting low......The cocking felt a little different also.

So into the garage I go and take her apart and here is what I found
Well good thing I had a spare and put it in. I cocked Norma Jean and left her for about 8-9 hours to see if the spring would pick up a "set"

Today, out I go, and Norma Jean was shooting great. I only had 2 distances that changed on my dope card which I was surprised about. We have a local FT shoot this Saturday so I will see how she does before the State Match.

Keeping my fingers crossed.......

Tony P.

P.S. Yes I ordered up 3 spares

 

[Danman]

So the Arizona State Piston Cup is coming up next Saturday So Norma Jean and I went out to the Crusty Critter shoot on Tuesday. Near the end of the course I was missing targets low

So I get home and on Wednesday I pull Norma Jean out to verify my dope. Everything from 25 yards in was fine, but as soon as I started getting further out I was hitting low......The cocking felt a little different also.

So into the garage I go and take her apart and here is what I found View attachment 12663
Well good thing I had a spare and put it in. I cocked Norma Jean and left her for about 8-9 hours to see if the spring would pick up a "set"

Today, out I go, and Norma Jean was shooting great. I only had 2 distances that changed on my dope card which I was surprised about. We have a local FT shoot this Saturday so I will see how she does before the State Match.

Keeping my fingers crossed.......

Tony P.

P.S. Yes I ordered up 3 spares

All the best with it! Any idea how many pellets that spring went through?

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

So the Arizona State Piston Cup is coming up next Saturday So Norma Jean and I went out to the Crusty Critter shoot on Tuesday. Near the end of the course I was missing targets low

So I get home and on Wednesday I pull Norma Jean out to verify my dope. Everything from 25 yards in was fine, but as soon as I started getting further out I was hitting low......The cocking felt a little different also.

So into the garage I go and take her apart and here is what I found View attachment 12663
Well good thing I had a spare and put it in. I cocked Norma Jean and left her for about 8-9 hours to see if the spring would pick up a "set"

Today, out I go, and Norma Jean was shooting great. I only had 2 distances that changed on my dope card which I was surprised about. We have a local FT shoot this Saturday so I will see how she does before the State Match.

Keeping my fingers crossed.......

Tony P.

P.S. Yes I ordered up 3 spares

Pesty . . . Who's springs do you use? I've always used Vortek, mostly because Tom is so great to work with. The way your spring sheared off the way it did I've not experienced before. Well get that new spring polished and put in so that you and Norma Jean will dominate on the range. Sometime I'll tell you some stories about how I grew up living next door to her mother back in the '50s. Orv.

 

[Pesty3782]

Pesty . . . Who's springs do you use? I've always used Vortek, mostly because Tom is so great to work with. The way your spring sheared off the way it did I've not experienced before. Well get that new spring polished and put in so that you and Norma Jean will dominate on the range. Sometime I'll tell you some stories about how I grew up living next door to her mother back in the '50s. Orv.

Vortek it was. Talked to Tom today confirming the 3 new springs…..

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

All the best with it! Any idea how many pellets that spring went through?

Well that’s hard to say…1500 or more.

Tony P.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Well that’s hard to say…1500 or more.

Tony P.

Wow! I'd of thoughts that either an AA oem or Vortek springs would be good for 150,000 pellets or more. No, I don't believe I've actually shot that many over my TX200 or HW97, but then I follow the tuning pide piper, and just can't leave my rifles alone. Orv.

 

[Pesty3782]

Well she shot pretty good yesterday at the monthly match. Next week, Arizona State Piston cup, should be a great time.

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Well Tuesday we shot like .....So what do you do a couple of days before a big match? Why you take your springer apart, check everything, clean the barrel, and re-lube......Worked with her yesterday getting all the yardages set up in the morning.

Went out in the afternoon and I was shooting 2 MOA high compared to sight in a few hours earlier....

I have a saying "F'N Springers"

Will try her later today when we get back home and the match starts tomorrow....No matter what happens Norma Jean and I will give it our all.

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Very bad first day....Top Hunter Springer is my mentor Tony T with a 32....I am next to the bottom with a 23....Not sure if my ranging was off or my holdovers. I will get there early and spend more time at the sight in range this morning.

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Today's winds were even worse, but I did have a better day at 26. I took my time ranging and using the strings to watch the wind changes......They changed A LOT!!!!!

All others had a bad day also, which made it so I tied for 3rd place. (49) Jessie and I had a shoot off. Jessie missed his shot and I made mine. 2nd place was my mentor at 50 and first was at 57. Stan at 80 years old won!!!!!

I guess old guys do rule

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

I pulled Norma Jean out of the gun cabinet today and took her all apart. I re-lubed her and shot about 5 pellets down range just confirming I didn't “F” anything up. Tomorrow I will get her sighted in, if I can hide long enough from the wife to get it done,

Tony P.

 

[Pesty3782]

Ok I am a true tweaker....Today I changed Norma Jean's glasses from an Athlon Midas Tac to an Athlon Heras...Talking about starting from ground zero. I needed to find a new wheel for the Heras because the 6-24X56 doesn't come with one.....A phone call/text to a Tony T, my springer mentor, and off I went over to his house to look through a HUGE box of wheels....I found one that works so, Tomorrow I will work the 10-55 ranges and see if it will work for me.

Don't worry about the wife, she will probably be dong the same thing after I am done...She gets up later than I do, so I will be done before she wakes up

Tony P.

P.S. I also pulled out JFK....Damn that guy looks good

 

[Danman]

Ok I am a true tweaker....Today I changed Norma Jean's glasses from an Athlon Midas Tac to an Athlon Heras...Talking about starting from ground zero. I needed to find a new wheel for the Heras because the 6-24X56 doesn't come with one.....A phone call/text to a Tony T, my springer mentor, and off I went over to his house to look through a HUGE box of wheels....I found one that works so, Tomorrow I will work the 10-55 ranges and see if it will work for me.

Don't worry about the wife, she will probably be dong the same thing after I am done...She gets up later than I do, so I will be done before she wakes up

Tony P.

P.S. I also pulled out JFK....Damn that guy looks good

How's he shooting? Compared to N.J.? Are they both.177?

 

[Pesty3782]

Both are 177’s…. Working on JFK to shoot 10.3’s for bench rest…Once N.J. Is dialed in. JFK will be on the bench.

Tony P.

 

[Gerry52]

How progressive of Barb to tolerate a blonde "on the side". You guys make a formidable team!