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Spring/Piston The story of Norma Jean, my Blonde TX200
- Thread starter Pesty3782
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HAM Sniper
Congrats Tony! Great job. Remember it can be lonely at the top
Hes got his wife up there too. Hes not lonely!Congrats Tony! Great job. Remember it can be lonely at the top
- Original poster
- #105
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Well the Spring Fling/ State Piston Cup is over....Lets start with our favorite item when shooting a springer.....The WIND 
yeah it was blowing!!!!!! 6-13 MPH with gusts up to 20 MPH on day 1. Day 2 was 10-14 MPH with gusts up to 22 MPH.
Even at the 10 yard target, you had to aim pretty much on the edge, or just outside of the KZ to have the pellet blown in...Not to mention just trying to stay steady on the bucket and sticks with the wind hitting you from all sides.
When you are holding off the face plate, to hit a target, it is a little unnerving looking through your scope's reticle, and seeing you are off the target you are shooting at.
Sometimes over 4 MOA!!!!!!
We had 11 brave piston shooters in the HFT class, and some more ground dwellers types also, but hey we all know HFT is where it is at!!!!!!!
Day 1 NJ got 33 out of 48 and we were 6 points in the lead!!!!!! Not sure how that happened, but it must have been the 4 out of 4 kneeling I got.....
Day 2 we fell apart and couldn't hit
24 out of 48 and I got 1 standing 
Carl was right on our heals, and if he hadn't gone 1 for 4 on his last lane he would have beat us for sure.
The top 4 scores in HFT where, 57, 56, 55, 54....Yeah it was anybody's game, but NJ pulled it off.
This makes 2 State Championships NJ has under her skirt......
Stay tuned for the next adventure of Norma Jean, coming to an air rifle forum near you
Tony P.
yeah it was blowing!!!!!! 6-13 MPH with gusts up to 20 MPH on day 1. Day 2 was 10-14 MPH with gusts up to 22 MPH. Even at the 10 yard target, you had to aim pretty much on the edge, or just outside of the KZ to have the pellet blown in...Not to mention just trying to stay steady on the bucket and sticks with the wind hitting you from all sides.
When you are holding off the face plate, to hit a target, it is a little unnerving looking through your scope's reticle, and seeing you are off the target you are shooting at.
Sometimes over 4 MOA!!!!!!We had 11 brave piston shooters in the HFT class, and some more ground dwellers types also, but hey we all know HFT is where it is at!!!!!!!
Day 1 NJ got 33 out of 48 and we were 6 points in the lead!!!!!! Not sure how that happened, but it must have been the 4 out of 4 kneeling I got.....
Day 2 we fell apart and couldn't hit
24 out of 48 and I got 1 standing Carl was right on our heals, and if he hadn't gone 1 for 4 on his last lane he would have beat us for sure.
The top 4 scores in HFT where, 57, 56, 55, 54....Yeah it was anybody's game, but NJ pulled it off.
This makes 2 State Championships NJ has under her skirt......
Stay tuned for the next adventure of Norma Jean, coming to an air rifle forum near you
Tony P.
duchunter007
HAM Ranger
Nice shooting, Tony!!
Hoppalong Doc
HAM Ranger
Well the Spring Fling/ State Piston Cup is over....Lets start with our favorite item when shooting a springer.....The WIND
Even at the 10 yard target, you had to aim pretty much on the edge, or just outside of the KZ to have the pellet blown in...Not to mention just trying to stay steady on the bucket and sticks with the wind hitting you from all sides.
When you are holding off the face plate, to hit a target, it is a little unnerving looking through your scope's reticle, and seeing you are off the target you are shooting at.
We had 11 brave piston shooters in the HFT class, and some more ground dwellers types also, but hey we all know HFT is where it is at!!!!!!!
Day 1 NJ got 33 out of 48 and we were 6 points in the lead!!!!!! Not sure how that happened, but it must have been the 4 out of 4 kneeling I got.....
Day 2 we fell apart and couldn't hit
Carl was right on our heals, and if he hadn't gone 1 for 4 on his last lane he would have beat us for sure.
The top 4 scores in HFT where, 57, 56, 55, 54....Yeah it was anybody's game, but NJ pulled it off.
This makes 2 State Championships NJ has under her skirt......
Stay tuned for the next adventure of Norma Jean, coming to an air rifle forum near you
Tony P.
Well the Spring Fling/ State Piston Cup is over....Lets start with our favorite item when shooting a springer.....The WIND
Even at the 10 yard target, you had to aim pretty much on the edge, or just outside of the KZ to have the pellet blown in...Not to mention just trying to stay steady on the bucket and sticks with the wind hitting you from all sides.
When you are holding off the face plate, to hit a target, it is a little unnerving looking through your scope's reticle, and seeing you are off the target you are shooting at.
We had 11 brave piston shooters in the HFT class, and some more ground dwellers types also, but hey we all know HFT is where it is at!!!!!!!
Day 1 NJ got 33 out of 48 and we were 6 points in the lead!!!!!! Not sure how that happened, but it must have been the 4 out of 4 kneeling I got.....
Day 2 we fell apart and couldn't hit
Carl was right on our heals, and if he hadn't gone 1 for 4 on his last lane he would have beat us for sure.
The top 4 scores in HFT where, 57, 56, 55, 54....Yeah it was anybody's game, but NJ pulled it off.
This makes 2 State Championships NJ has under her skirt......
Stay tuned for the next adventure of Norma Jean, coming to an air rifle forum near you
Tony P.
I'll have to come and take school from the master. I remerber a couple of years ago when Norma Jean was brand new, now look at the two of you. Orv.
Hoppalong Doc
HAM Ranger
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It's not the boys with the biggest toys who win, but those who know how to use the toys he's got. Orv.
- Original poster
- #110
Well I forgot to update about Duncan.....Carl beat us by 1 point so NJ and I got 2nd place. When we got back home NJ went into the cabinet and hasn't been seen since.
With PAC just around the corner I guess I better pull ole NJ out and start shooting her again. I have been shooting EFT and 100 yard lately. Looks like we will have about 2 weeks to try and get ready for PAC after I get back from Williams.
Tony P.
With PAC just around the corner I guess I better pull ole NJ out and start shooting her again. I have been shooting EFT and 100 yard lately. Looks like we will have about 2 weeks to try and get ready for PAC after I get back from Williams.
Tony P.
- Original poster
- #111
Pull NJ out of the cabinet yesterday and attempted to shoot her. The ranging is all off, with and without shooting glasses. Everything else is working great....Guess today will be spent redoing the ranging and holdovers. She is putting the pellets in a small nice group, but she is ranging 55 at 50, 50 at 45, 45 at 43, 40 at 38 and so on. The close ranging looks good, but I will start at 10 and work my way up
Tony P.
Tony P.
- Original poster
- #112
So a few days before leaving for Pyramid Cup, NJ turned into a moody female dog!!!!! 725 FPS for 3 days and then in one shot 697.....Next shot 696.....So to the work bench she goes and is taken all apart. Now my extra spring/parts were already heading to Ohio.
Once all apart, the compression seemed good, but I replaced the compression tube Oring and relubed....696FPS.....Back apart she goes......I had a new piston seal.....700 FPS......At this point I was scratching my head....I had 1 day until we flew out to Ohio.
I ran down to ACE hardware and grabbed a couple of shims that would work. It took 2 shims and I was back up to 725 FPS.....Mind you it was 110-115 degrees when I was doing this, so maybe that had something to do with it
So after about 20-30 shots, all was good, right at 720-730 FPS NJ got packaged up for her flight.......
Once at Ohio, NJ was shooting darn good at the sight in range. I even had a couple of world champions shoot her and and give me feedback. I got the thumbs up....I ran her over my Chrono numerous times 725, 728, all was right in the world!!!!
Day 1
Best part is the chrono station was right at lane one, and guess what lane we got.....Yup lane 1.....Chrono 725...Yeah baby I am golden....missed a few shots I shouldn't have, but I got 40 out of 60 on day 1. I had only cleared 1 lane, way too many 3's for sure. But I was only 3 points behind that Greg guy, who shoots really really well with his springer.....
Day 2
Practice range 725 and she is hitting all the distances perfectly......Of course I am Shooting with that Greg guy
and Carl who was in 3rd, on day 2 ...... I was 7 points ahead of Carl. Greg asked what our goal was for today and I said to clear 4 lanes....Carl I think said something like beat Tony Now Carl and I shoot all the time together and we usually beat each other by 1 point....
Now we started on standing....yup a goose egg, next lane 2, next lane 2, then a 1 then a goose egg.....I was scratching my head hard, making my bald spot even bigger.....Greg was not on fire and left a few openings, but I just couldn't get the targets to fall. Carl wasn't shooting great either and I think I lost 2 or 3 points those first few lanes.
Hit the chrono station and this moody female dog was shooting at 690 Shot her again 692 and again 689.....So now at least I know why I was missing all those targets in the beginning.
Lucky I had her in Strelok, so I put in the numbers and started with different holdovers. It took a few lanes, but we got dialed in, 4, then another 4, then another 4, then a 2 and on my last lane, my last chance to get a 4, to make my goal I got a goose egg
As I was walking out I hit the Chrono again 660 FPS what the HELL....Well NJ and I were able to hold onto 2nd place, but that Greg guy gained a few more points on me.....So once again NJ is a bridesmaid and not a bride
Now before all this ever happened, Greg comes up to me with a package and says it is from Ted....I open it up and it is a Marylin Monroe thermometer in her famous pose....So of course after the match a few photos were taken.
These Springer guys do have a sense of humor......And of course she will be put up in the garage near my work bench
Tony P.
Once all apart, the compression seemed good, but I replaced the compression tube Oring and relubed....696FPS.....Back apart she goes......I had a new piston seal.....700 FPS......At this point I was scratching my head....I had 1 day until we flew out to Ohio.
I ran down to ACE hardware and grabbed a couple of shims that would work. It took 2 shims and I was back up to 725 FPS.....Mind you it was 110-115 degrees when I was doing this, so maybe that had something to do with it
So after about 20-30 shots, all was good, right at 720-730 FPS NJ got packaged up for her flight.......
Once at Ohio, NJ was shooting darn good at the sight in range. I even had a couple of world champions shoot her and and give me feedback. I got the thumbs up....I ran her over my Chrono numerous times 725, 728, all was right in the world!!!!
Day 1
Best part is the chrono station was right at lane one, and guess what lane we got.....Yup lane 1.....Chrono 725...Yeah baby I am golden....missed a few shots I shouldn't have, but I got 40 out of 60 on day 1. I had only cleared 1 lane, way too many 3's for sure.
But I was only 3 points behind that Greg guy, who shoots really really well with his springer.....Day 2
Practice range 725 and she is hitting all the distances perfectly......Of course I am Shooting with that Greg guy
and Carl who was in 3rd, on day 2 ...... I was 7 points ahead of Carl. Greg asked what our goal was for today and I said to clear 4 lanes....Carl I think said something like beat Tony Now Carl and I shoot all the time together and we usually beat each other by 1 point....Now we started on standing....yup a goose egg, next lane 2, next lane 2, then a 1 then a goose egg.....I was scratching my head hard, making my bald spot even bigger.....Greg was not on fire and left a few openings, but I just couldn't get the targets to fall. Carl wasn't shooting great either and I think I lost 2 or 3 points those first few lanes.
Hit the chrono station and this moody female dog was shooting at 690
Shot her again 692 and again 689.....So now at least I know why I was missing all those targets in the beginning.Lucky I had her in Strelok, so I put in the numbers and started with different holdovers. It took a few lanes, but we got dialed in, 4, then another 4, then another 4, then a 2 and on my last lane, my last chance to get a 4, to make my goal I got a goose egg
As I was walking out I hit the Chrono again 660 FPS what the HELL....Well NJ and I were able to hold onto 2nd place, but that Greg guy gained a few more points on me.....So once again NJ is a bridesmaid and not a bride
Now before all this ever happened, Greg comes up to me with a package and says it is from Ted....I open it up and it is a Marylin Monroe thermometer in her famous pose....So of course after the match a few photos were taken.
These Springer guys do have a sense of humor......And of course she will be put up in the garage near my work bench
Tony P.
- Original poster
- #113
Boy oh Boy I am glad I sent NJ to Cameron K. I learned the compression tube was shot, there was no groove for the oring. It was completely gone So he ordered a new compression tube.
Also I was going through breech seals almost as fast as I change my skivies......OK, not everyday like I do with my skivies, but a lot!!!!!!!
Cameron measured the end of the barrel going into the chamber where the compression tube locks up when cocked. It wasn't making the correct contact, so he was able to put a shim under the breech Orings to take up the space.....
He did a few other things here and there and sent NJ back to me. It took awhile to break in the new spring set up he made, but after about 150-200 pellets we are at a constant speed.
Now to see how she shoots off of a bench for EBR in a couple of weeks....I know I know why hurry things right At least I have our son's gun ready for him, the wife's rifles are all done, so I guess it is my turn.....
Still have to re-sight her in for HFT Nationals, but that is another story all together.
Tony P.
PS THANKS CAM!!!!!!!
So he ordered a new compression tube.Also I was going through breech seals almost as fast as I change my skivies......OK, not everyday like I do with my skivies, but a lot!!!!!!!
Cameron measured the end of the barrel going into the chamber where the compression tube locks up when cocked. It wasn't making the correct contact, so he was able to put a shim under the breech Orings to take up the space.....
He did a few other things here and there and sent NJ back to me. It took awhile to break in the new spring set up he made, but after about 150-200 pellets we are at a constant speed.
Now to see how she shoots off of a bench for EBR in a couple of weeks....I know I know why hurry things right
At least I have our son's gun ready for him, the wife's rifles are all done, so I guess it is my turn.....Still have to re-sight her in for HFT Nationals, but that is another story all together.
Tony P.
PS THANKS CAM!!!!!!!
What an adventure !!!!
Never was much on springers - bought a Diana 350 magnum back in the 80s - yep one of those advertisements 1200 FPS - very well built gun but its like shooting a 30-06 and a scope destroyer. So that's pretty much all I knew about Springers. Then I won a TX200 a coupe of years ago - it sit around for a while wasn't sure what I would do with it, finally put an optic on it AND holy crap Batman the thing is just awesome, I can just imagine what it would be like tuned down a bit, but shoots really good right out of the box.
I use every now and then and knocking a target down at 55 yrds really its a smile on your face.
Makes me want to put a kit in that 350 that been in the closet for 30 yrs.
T.P.
You know there is a certain guy (JC) that makes a stick adapter that you can just pop a Chronograph on in about 30 sec. - Sorry just had to do it HAHAHAHA.
And ya before you gouge me - I did take my own ammo to Az - First thing Lauren did was to check that I did.
Never was much on springers - bought a Diana 350 magnum back in the 80s - yep one of those advertisements 1200 FPS - very well built gun but its like shooting a 30-06 and a scope destroyer. So that's pretty much all I knew about Springers. Then I won a TX200 a coupe of years ago - it sit around for a while wasn't sure what I would do with it, finally put an optic on it AND holy crap Batman the thing is just awesome, I can just imagine what it would be like tuned down a bit, but shoots really good right out of the box.
I use every now and then and knocking a target down at 55 yrds really its a smile on your face.
Makes me want to put a kit in that 350 that been in the closet for 30 yrs.
T.P.
You know there is a certain guy (JC) that makes a stick adapter that you can just pop a Chronograph on in about 30 sec. - Sorry just had to do it HAHAHAHA.
And ya before you gouge me - I did take my own ammo to Az - First thing Lauren did was to check that I did.
Danman
Grand HAMster
Oh yikes, you talking about the o-ring hiding under the hard-to-remove nut on the end of the comp tube?Boy oh Boy I am glad I sent NJ to Cameron K. I learned the compression tube was shot, there was no groove for the oring. It was completely gone
Ive replaced every o-ring on my TX except that one as its been shooting real well lately. You are having no luck with this TX!
I shoot a tuned TX200 vs my brother who has a tuned 350, dont waste your time he has never come close to beating me
....and hes a pretty good shot. Tough springer to master consistently!
- Original poster
- #116
That is the seal….NJ shot pretty good today, but it started pouring on us…..So a good wipe down and maybe tomorrow I can try again.Oh yikes, you talking about the o-ring hiding under the hard-to-remove nut on the end of the comp tube?
Ive replaced every o-ring on my TX except that one as its been shooting real well lately. You are having no luck with this TX!
I shoot a tuned TX200 vs my brother who has a tuned 350, dont waste your time he has never come close to beating me
Tough springer to master consistently!
Tony P.
Hoppalong Doc
HAM Ranger
Oh oh . . . I hope that no moisture got into NJ's internals. Orv.
- Original poster
- #118
Well after EBR NJ and I had about 4 days to get ready for Field Target Nationals....She was throwing pellets right and left....I tried a different scope, nope that didn't help. Cleaned the barrel real good, nope, tried different pellets in her....Nope
I was so ticked off I was ready to just shoot my PCP at Nationals. I contacted a friend and asked him if he had a stock I could use. Thinking maybe NJ had a crack from all the traveling we have done.
Yup, the Great Tony T had the best looking walnut stock I had ever seen. We put that stock onto NJ's metal and sighted her in. I was hitting everything after a few clicks on the scope!!!!!!!!! .....Then I noticed something.......What you may ask
My cheek never touched the rear of that stock.....Once I realized this, I held up NJ's original stock and noticed my cheek was buried in the cheek riser. I mean buried.....NJ has a very high cheek rest. I mean hey, who doesn't want to bury their cheek in Norma Jean
I went home and put NJ back together. The original scope, original pellets, all back to her original self and guess what....With me lightly touching the stock with my cheek, my shots were back on......Yup 100% this DUMB A$$
Packed her up in a hard case and off to the airport we go. I watch her go into the belly of the plane then a few minutes later back out of the belly.....Then the dreaded words from the loud speaker above....They needed to change our plane because of a mechanical issue. 2 hours later NJ is back on the belt into the belly of the next plane.
So we get to Nationals and at sight in, we were doing pretty good, not great, but good. So day 1 comes and boy did I SUCK!!!!!! I mean I SUCKED, so bad I was DNL, Dead Nuts Last 26 out of 60 I think top shooter, Brian W. had a 35. For Brian to just get a 35 you know Jeff and his crew put on a very hard course.
Grabbed a few wrenches from Brian W. and checked the stock screws all tight. Get back to the house where we were staying at, cleaned the barrel and checked all the screws on her. 6 of her 8 scope ring screws were loose. In my hurry to get her all back together before we left, I did a rookie mistake and did not locktite the scope ring screws....DUMB A$$ #2 for me. What a rookie mistake......Got everything tightened up and off to the sight in range the next day. Man were we off, but got her all sighted in for day 2.
How did day 2 go you may ask Well I am glad you ask.....We kicked A$$!!!!!!!! I got a 35 and Brian W. had a 36. If you can be within 1-2 points of Brian you know you are doing good. And we did so well and the others did not, we jumped for DNL to 2nd place!!!!!!!!!
So NJ took 2nd at Nationals, and we got 3rd overall for Springer shooters in the 2026 year. Not too bad....
The moral of this long winded story is.......I am a DUMB A$$, not wait that's not it, well kind of
Technique Technique Technique.....I lost mine, but found it again....Until next time..... shoot straight, have fun, don't do DUMB A$$ things like I do, but most off all have fun!!!!
Tony P.
I was so ticked off I was ready to just shoot my PCP at Nationals. I contacted a friend and asked him if he had a stock I could use. Thinking maybe NJ had a crack from all the traveling we have done.
Yup, the Great Tony T had the best looking walnut stock I had ever seen. We put that stock onto NJ's metal and sighted her in. I was hitting everything after a few clicks on the scope!!!!!!!!! .....Then I noticed something.......What you may ask
My cheek never touched the rear of that stock.....Once I realized this, I held up NJ's original stock and noticed my cheek was buried in the cheek riser. I mean buried.....NJ has a very high cheek rest. I mean hey, who doesn't want to bury their cheek in Norma Jean
I went home and put NJ back together. The original scope, original pellets, all back to her original self and guess what....With me lightly touching the stock with my cheek, my shots were back on......Yup 100% this DUMB A$$
Packed her up in a hard case and off to the airport we go. I watch her go into the belly of the plane then a few minutes later back out of the belly.....Then the dreaded words from the loud speaker above....They needed to change our plane because of a mechanical issue. 2 hours later NJ is back on the belt into the belly of the next plane.
So we get to Nationals and at sight in, we were doing pretty good, not great, but good. So day 1 comes and boy did I SUCK!!!!!! I mean I SUCKED, so bad I was DNL, Dead Nuts Last
26 out of 60 I think top shooter, Brian W. had a 35. For Brian to just get a 35 you know Jeff and his crew put on a very hard course.Grabbed a few wrenches from Brian W. and checked the stock screws all tight. Get back to the house where we were staying at, cleaned the barrel and checked all the screws on her. 6 of her 8 scope ring screws were loose. In my hurry to get her all back together before we left, I did a rookie mistake and did not locktite the scope ring screws....DUMB A$$ #2 for me. What a rookie mistake......Got everything tightened up and off to the sight in range the next day. Man were we off, but got her all sighted in for day 2.
How did day 2 go you may ask
Well I am glad you ask.....We kicked A$$!!!!!!!! I got a 35 and Brian W. had a 36. If you can be within 1-2 points of Brian you know you are doing good. And we did so well and the others did not, we jumped for DNL to 2nd place!!!!!!!!!So NJ took 2nd at Nationals, and we got 3rd overall for Springer shooters in the 2026 year. Not too bad....
The moral of this long winded story is.......I am a DUMB A$$, not wait that's not it, well kind of
Technique Technique Technique.....I lost mine, but found it again....Until next time..... shoot straight, have fun, don't do DUMB A$$ things like I do, but most off all have fun!!!!
Tony P.
- Original poster
- #120
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