Spring/Piston Pro Sport mk1 zero wanders all over the place, its going in the skip.

[conair]

Hi all just joined 1st post be gentle lol.
I just bought a pro sport 177 12ftlb (in the uk) its doing 711fps with QYS streamlined 9.56gr 10.73ftlb, i fitted a Falcon M18 4-18x44 i zero'd the scope standing using a tripod all well and good i laid down and its now shooting 6-8inch high ! i use my rifle bench rest same again its all over, seems every time i change position from stand kneel bench it shoots into a different place ! so i just bought a new Falcon Endura S10i 1-10x24 as i thought possibly a scope/mounts issue but its exactly the same, i stripped the rifle checked spring was all ok which it is so lost at this point, if im goinh to do HFT with this rifle i carnt be done with having to re zero depending on if im prone kneeling standing, or shall i just skip it lol
Thanks in advance...

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[hameditor]

@conair So sorry to hear about this. I'm sure that you will get a lot of thoughts and suggestions here!

(Translation note for US readers. "Skip" is the English English term for what's called a "dumpster" on the left side of The Pond.)

 

[Madeintheuk]

Silly question, but is the parallax adjusted properly?

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

I know that TX200 's aren't known for barrel droop, but are the scope and the barrel properly aligned? Is it possible that your eye is becoming misaligned with the scope as you change positions? The mechanics of shooting are very important in shooting accurately. I hope to be some of help here. I'm always having to work through my follow-through to keep my pellets going in the right direction as well. Orv.

 

[Roamin Greco 1]

It's strange that you were able to get the first scope zeroed, but then the pellets scattered when you went to the prone position and then still were scattered when you went back to prone. What kind of groups were you getting before all he'll broke loose.

When you first zeroed the first and second scopes, did you make drastic adjustments to the elevation? When you look though the scope, and then move your head slightly, does the crosshair stay on the target? For many airguns, the ideal location of the reticle is centered within the scopes adjustment range. Many airgunners get adjustable bases and rings to get the reticle zeroed and then use the scopes turrets for only fine adjustments or adjusting for range to target. Or it could be as simple as an inconsistent cheek weld.

 

[Danman]

Hi all just joined 1st post be gentle lol.
I just bought a pro sport 177 12ftlb (in the uk) its doing 711fps with QYS streamlined 9.56gr 10.73ftlb, i fitted a Falcon M18 4-18x44 i zero'd the scope standing using a tripod all well and good i laid down and its now shooting 6-8inch high ! i use my rifle bench rest same again its all over, seems every time i change position from stand kneel bench it shoots into a different place ! so i just bought a new Falcon Endura S10i 1-10x24 as i thought possibly a scope/mounts issue but its exactly the same, i stripped the rifle checked spring was all ok which it is so lost at this point, if im goinh to do HFT with this rifle i carnt be done with having to re zero depending on if im prone kneeling standing, or shall i just skip it lol
Thanks in advance...

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Welcome to Ham!
Hmmm, doesn't sound like fun, but I will say; me moving around with my TX, WILL change POI slightly ( slightly hold sensitive)....standing bracing vs bench for example. I would go after mounts first, are they decent quality? Have they shifted on the dovetail or scope in the rings? Did you torque them, etc? As already mentioned, is your scope parralax setting correct? I'd run a few patches and check for barrel leading too. Lastly do try some JSB 8.44 pellets, QYS may be fine, but I'd start with Jsb in a L.W. equipped British springer.
Being an MK1 it's obviously used....do you know the original owner, can you check with them how it was shooting?

 

[BeemanHW100]

I doubt this is it because it sounds like you haven’t shot it enough but something to also keep in mind for the future is the tightness of the stock screws. Including scope mounts and rings. Best way is to figure out what all the screws should be torqued to and use a torque wrench to check them on a regular basis. This is probably the first thing that anybody who has a springer should do before trying anything else.

 

[conair]

Thanks for all the input to you all ;-) the rifle was bought new by the guy i bought it from and he used it for HFT competition but he has gone the full monty now and bought a styer pcp very trick very expensive,he laso has a mk3 prosport and 2 HW97.
Shooting wise im a military vet of 10 years '74-84 so shot a lotas you do, brought up on a farm old fella bought me my 1st 410 shotgun when i was 12 and since leaving the military iv had a uk firearms ticket (FAC) so have shot quite a lot over the years but lately got the urge for air rifles so lets see wheree that takes me.

mounts wise i use sportsmatch or tasco never had problems on my powder burners and used them for years.
Paralax is fine all good there
Iv bought umpteen tins of QYS JSB H&N the QYS seem to be winning atm.
I found something today, i zero'd rifle again at 25yards on a bench using my deben rifle sled/rest only shot 3 ffrom each position went to standing using a tripod as a support and 5 1/2inch drop,used a bean bad on the bench same 5 1/2 inch drop, prone same 5 1/2 inch drop, for these i put a big 2ft square card out so it caught all the shots and it stood out like a sore thumb this rifle does not like the rifle sled at all so i can skip that bag a spanners now and good riddence.
In the uk atm on HFT there is a new disiplin using sticks so us old farts (im 67 going on 21) dont need to get help from 3 people every time we want to get up from prone so im going to give that a go as every shot must be taken from sticks so lets see how that goes with my dodgy zero lol
Thanks again for all the help and input...

 

[BeemanHW100]

Just curious if this gun is your first springer that you will try to use in competitions. I myself have been competing in FT for many years but only using PCP’s, never spring guns. I bought a used HW 97 about 3 years ago just to play around with. Late in the season last year I decided to set it up for FT with the intention of shooting most of my matches this year with it. To make a long story short, It took me about 2-3 months of experimenting with different holds, sticks and pellets to finally get to where I was consistently shooting and hitting what I was aiming at. The hold part of it was the biggest factor, I found that my gun actually likes being held a little tighter than what I perceive to be a normal springer hold from talking to other competitors who have been shooting springers for years. Until I figured that out I would have groups but they were not consistent.

I think that’s the hardest part about springers, in order to troubleshoot as to why your gun is not working you must have your hold figured out to begin with, and once you’ve got your hold, it must be done the same every shot.

 

[hameditor]

Thanks for all the input to you all ;-) the rifle was bought new by the guy i bought it from and he used it for HFT competition but he has gone the full monty now and bought a styer pcp very trick very expensive,he laso has a mk3 prosport and 2 HW97.
Shooting wise im a military vet of 10 years '74-84 so shot a lotas you do, brought up on a farm old fella bought me my 1st 410 shotgun when i was 12 and since leaving the military iv had a uk firearms ticket (FAC) so have shot quite a lot over the years but lately got the urge for air rifles so lets see wheree that takes me.

mounts wise i use sportsmatch or tasco never had problems on my powder burners and used them for years.
Paralax is fine all good there
Iv bought umpteen tins of QYS JSB H&N the QYS seem to be winning atm.
I found something today, i zero'd rifle again at 25yards on a bench using my deben rifle sled/rest only shot 3 ffrom each position went to standing using a tripod as a support and 5 1/2inch drop,used a bean bad on the bench same 5 1/2 inch drop, prone same 5 1/2 inch drop, for these i put a big 2ft square card out so it caught all the shots and it stood out like a sore thumb this rifle does not like the rifle sled at all so i can skip that bag a spanners now and good riddence.
In the uk atm on HFT there is a new disiplin using sticks so us old farts (im 67 going on 21) dont need to get help from 3 people every time we want to get up from prone so im going to give that a go as every shot must be taken from sticks so lets see how that goes with my dodgy zero lol
Thanks again for all the help and input...

"Old farts". Hey I resemble that remark

 

[Danman]

found something today, i zero'd rifle again at 25yards on a bench using my deben rifle sled/rest only shot 3 ffrom each position went to standing using a tripod as a support and 5 1/2inch drop,used a bean bad on the bench same 5 1/2 inch drop, prone same 5 1/2 inch drop, for these i put a big 2ft square card out so it caught all the shots and it stood out like a sore thumb this rifle does not like the rifle sled at all so i can skip that bag a spanners now and good riddence.

Aha that is a problem! (as @BeemanHW100 just mentioned) You cannot shoot springers in sleds, clamps, etc. You might get decent results....but it will 100% change poi when it is shot off hand, off sticks, on a front rest (how I shoot my springers), bags, etc. Here's a picture of my TX on the table....I jack the back up with my fist on the foam and front on the rest. Let the gun recoil naturally, so to speak.

 

[pan60]

"Old farts". Hey I resemble that remark

me two : )

 

[Roamin Greco 1]

"Old farts". Hey I resemble that remark

You're in good company!

 

[Roamin Greco 1]

Thanks for all the input to you all ;-) the rifle was bought new by the guy i bought it from and he used it for HFT competition but he has gone the full monty now and bought a styer pcp very trick very expensive,he laso has a mk3 prosport and 2 HW97.
Shooting wise im a military vet of 10 years '74-84 so shot a lotas you do, brought up on a farm old fella bought me my 1st 410 shotgun when i was 12 and since leaving the military iv had a uk firearms ticket (FAC) so have shot quite a lot over the years but lately got the urge for air rifles so lets see wheree that takes me.

mounts wise i use sportsmatch or tasco never had problems on my powder burners and used them for years.
Paralax is fine all good there
Iv bought umpteen tins of QYS JSB H&N the QYS seem to be winning atm.
I found something today, i zero'd rifle again at 25yards on a bench using my deben rifle sled/rest only shot 3 ffrom each position went to standing using a tripod as a support and 5 1/2inch drop,used a bean bad on the bench same 5 1/2 inch drop, prone same 5 1/2 inch drop, for these i put a big 2ft square card out so it caught all the shots and it stood out like a sore thumb this rifle does not like the rifle sled at all so i can skip that bag a spanners now and good riddence.
In the uk atm on HFT there is a new disiplin using sticks so us old farts (im 67 going on 21) dont need to get help from 3 people every time we want to get up from prone so im going to give that a go as every shot must be taken from sticks so lets see how that goes with my dodgy zero lol
Thanks again for all the help and input...

All good tips in this thread.

So when you were on the sled and when you were off, were the group sizes consistent, just in different places? I have a springer, Diana 350, that will change Point Of Impact if I simply curl my thumb around the wrist of the stock vs. laying it alongside my trigger finger. I have another springer that shot very inconsistently until, out of sheer frustration, I used the "deer rifle hold" on it (firmly snuggled into my shoulder and a firm grip far out on the forestock near the stock screws). Now it shoots one-hole groups. Springers are each unique. That's their charm.

 

[hameditor]

Hello @conair Having now had some time to think about your issue, can I ask a couple of "base level" questions? More information should help us help you...

1. I understand that you have a lot of experience shooting firearms, but is this your first airgun? (Sorry, this wasn't clear to me from your posts).

2. If not, what other airguns have you shot?

3. Have you been able to shoot another "known good" springer side-by-side with someone (at a club?) who has success with it? And for that person to shoot your gun also?

4. Have you shot a PCP? If so, how well did you do with that?

The ProSport is a lovely airgun. We all would love to help you love it too!

 

[conair]

I think my 1st air rifle was in school days used around the farm for vermin so not a clue what that was or the pellets used, and way way before i knew that barrels choose the pellet not the other way round.
Recently 20 odd years ago bought a new underlever smk just for plinking out the back but that was a bag of spanners really and i still have it in a shed somewhere, 10 years ago bought a new FAC Hatsan 44 in .25 oh how i love the .25 and that thing after a lot of pellet testing and changing power settings up/down that was probaly 1 of the most accurate rifles i owned out to 100yards the extreme hunter pellets were just magic in that pcp, also have a Hatsan 44-10 in .22 12ftlb not as accurate as the .25 tho and i have a Hatsan striker break barrel .25 12ftlb, 5 years ago i bought a new HW97K the stainless 1 with plastic stock that was not bad but had a really bad boingie spring when fired, i put a drop in tuning kit which helped, problem i had with air rifles was my hatsan 44 .25 was so accurate i kept going back to it all the time and the springers were left in a cupboard as they were just no where near as good, and then a few months ago i thought i want to get into Target/HFT so what do i buy ! a PCP (nah) a spinger mmmm yer thats more of a challenge so then a bit/lot of reseach later i decided on the Air Arms pro sport and here we are today but saying that im aways to local gun shop today to look at a used HW97 in stainless again so might be bringing 1 of those home lol