PCP Tune problem or normal?

[Xler]

I’ve been experimenting with my .22 PCP and would appreciate some input from shooters with more experience tuning for wind performance.

Current setup

• .22 caliber PCP
• 18 grain pellets
• ~865 FPS
• ~30 FPE
• ES around 4 FPS SD 1.1

In calm conditions the rifle shoots very well. (See photos)

45m / 50 yards

• 5 shots
• 10.9mm end-to-end

50m / 55 yards

• 6 shots
• 12.7mm end-to-end

When the wind starts showing up, the groups open considerably:

50 yards

• 22.5mm end-to-end

55 yards

• 29mm end-to-end

What’s interesting is that the groups don’t simply spread horizontally. I often see vertical spread and sometimes what looks like multiple smaller clusters within the same group.

My question is:

Is this simply the kind of performance that should be expected from an 18 grain diabolo pellet at 50-55 yards in real-world wind conditions? Or do I have stability issues causing the pellet to go all over the place during wind?

Thanks!

 

[Solo1]

First welcome to the club! And as for wind 18 gr pellets don’t have the highest bc and yes wind will push them all over the place at 55 yds.

 

[Xler]

Thanks man

First welcome to the club! And as for wind 18 gr pellets don’t have the highest bc and yes wind will push them all over the place at 55 yds.
View attachment 21331

Thanks man! This makes total sense. Quick question, is my current tune and performance good and leave it as is or do you have any suggestions? Is this really what I can expect from an 18 grain pellet or can it perform better? Sorry if it's a newbie question, I'm only few months in to PCPs )

 

[Billm]

I’ve been experimenting with my .22 PCP and would appreciate some input from shooters with more experience tuning for wind performance.

Current setup

• .22 caliber PCP
• 18 grain pellets
• ~865 FPS
• ~30 FPE
• ES around 4 FPS SD 1.1

In calm conditions the rifle shoots very well. (See photos)

45m / 50 yards

• 5 shots
• 10.9mm end-to-end

50m / 55 yards

• 6 shots
• 12.7mm end-to-end

When the wind starts showing up, the groups open considerably:

50 yards

• 22.5mm end-to-end

55 yards

• 29mm end-to-end

What’s interesting is that the groups don’t simply spread horizontally. I often see vertical spread and sometimes what looks like multiple smaller clusters within the same group.

My question is:

Is this simply the kind of performance that should be expected from an 18 grain diabolo pellet at 50-55 yards in real-world wind conditions? Or do I have stability issues causing the pellet to go all over the place during wind?

Thanks!

I shot 4 .22 15.89gr pellets yesterday at 51 yards. The first shot was with no apparent wind and by the fourth shot the streamer was lifting. I ended up with a straight line that was perfectly equal to the aim point in elevation, but made a left to right line that was over 50mm long. Don’t let the wind discourage you. I’ve been shooting for over 50 years. Shooting airguns at 45 plus meters has been a new learning experience for me. It has taken me some time and a lot of advice from members of this forum to realize how much damage a changing wind at even a small speed does to a group. There are a lot of shooters on this forum that can shoot a 6mm group at 45m in no wind with their best rifle. Doing it in wind is what separates the best shooters from the good shooters. I can definitely say that in the past two years that I have learned how detrimental the wind is, Unfortunately, I’m still learning how to read it and account for it. You should expect the pellets to scatter even with a .30 45gr pellet in wind, it’s just a matter of how much drift.

 

[Pumacarl]

I think your shooting great. The challenge with airguns is mostly dealing with wind drift and how the spin of the pellet either climbs up or drops down depending on where it's coming from and your barrels twist rate. The above chart is a great visualization tool. If you have a slow 1 in 40" twist it will obviously deflect less than a 1 in 16" twist barrel and higher and lower speeds matter too. This is why, no matter the equipment, it still takes skill/knowledge/practice to shoot well.

 

[Xler]

I shot 4 .22 15.89gr pellets yesterday at 51 yards. The first shot was with no apparent wind and by the fourth shot the streamer was lifting. I ended up with a straight line that was perfectly equal to the aim point in elevation, but made a left to right line that was over 50mm long. Don’t let the wind discourage you. I’ve been shooting for over 50 years. Shooting airguns at 45 plus meters has been a new learning experience for me. It has taken me some time and a lot of advice from members of this forum to realize how much damage a changing wind at even a small speed does to a group. There are a lot of shooters on this forum that can shoot a 6mm group at 45m in no wind with their best rifle. Doing it in wind is what separates the best shooters from the good shooters. I can definitely say that in the past two years that I have learned how detrimental the wind is, Unfortunately, I’m still learning how to read it and account for it. You should expect the pellets to scatter even with a .30 45gr pellet in wind, it’s just a matter of how much drift.

This means a lot, I was starting to get discouraged. But now I guess it'll all just come down to practicing and becoming a better shooter.

 

[Xler]

I think your shooting great. The challenge with airguns is mostly dealing with wind drift and how the spin of the pellet either climbs up or drops down depending on where it's coming from and your barrels twist rate. The above chart is a great visualization tool. If you have a slow 1 in 40" twist it will obviously deflect less than a 1 in 16" twist barrel and higher and lower speeds matter too. This is why, no matter the equipment, it still takes skill/knowledge/practice to shoot well.

I completely understand it now, I just wish that shooting with wind is more predictable instead of going all over the place (without fancy equipments or wind vane). But what amazes me is majority of what I can watch Youtube typically only deals with horizontal wind, so maybe that's where I'm comparing my gun at.

 

[Billm]

I completely understand it now, I just wish that shooting with wind is more predictable instead of going all over the place (without fancy equipments or wind vane). But what amazes me is majority of what I can watch Youtube typically only deals with horizontal wind, so maybe that's where I'm comparing my gun at.

No fancy equipment. My wife had some cloth ribbon. I took a piece and attached to my target stand. Then eventually I attached one to a tree in my yard that I could see from my window. Eventually I made a couple of wind vanes. But, I learn more from the plastic tape that I attached to them. Probably the biggest mistake that you can compare your shooting to, is YouTube. I live YouTubers for learning stuff, but not for gauging my skills. They rarely show their bad days.

 

[Xler]

No fancy equipment. My wife had some cloth ribbon. I took a piece and attached to my target stand. Then eventually I attached one to a tree in my yard that I could see from my window. Eventually I made a couple of wind vanes. But, I learn more from the plastic tape that I attached to them. Probably the biggest mistake that you can compare your shooting to, is YouTube. I live YouTubers for learning stuff, but not for gauging my skills. They rarely show their bad days.

Great tips, and great point. Thanks a lot!