Rookie Mistakes?
- Thread starter johnwoitalla
- Start date
Golf balls definitely a bad idea.
But empty shotgun hulls? I’ve shot at them some and never had an odd outcome. I’d pick up a few, toss them out about 10y and hit them offhand until they got too far away. The pellet and hull both seemed to always go downrange.
I’m thinking about them being made of light plastic and soft metal and I’m not seeing risk of a bounce back.
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Shotgun shells are my favorite targets. I'm not sure I've found a better airgun or rimfire target. I shoot them daily.
I've also shot live ones in the primer at 25. It will toss the hull back to the shooter sometimes. I think that is what he was referring to.
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As everyone mentioned, the pellet will often come directly back to the shooter, with more velocity than a regular ricochet from a board or target. Golf bals are a no no.
One target that can be shot at, if your feeling Darwin awardish, is a shotgun shell or just the primer. We drilled a hole in the 2x4 the size of a 12 gauge shell. We placed just the primer portion, not the powder or shot, in the hole as a target. At 50 yards you had to pretty much hit the shell dead center to get it to ignite/explode. But since we did not drill the hole completely through the 2x4, the primer launched back at us dangerously fast.
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We shoot live shotgun shells often...whenever we find one laying in the dirt. We just set them out there where we can see the primer at about 25 yards.
They just piff. The shot pours out right there. The wad flies a few feet one way and the hull flies the other. No energy in it unless you give it containment for pressure.
Yes, if you put them in a hole or against a board there is potential for an accident. Just sitting on the ground there is very little risk. I'm not saying it's safe. I'm just saying I've never had much of a reaction from one.
Drill a blind hole in a board and you have some containment/pressure to deal with. It creates a short "barrel" that's pointing right back at you. I see how that would create a problem. Even with just a primer.
They just piff. The shot pours out right there. The wad flies a few feet one way and the hull flies the other. No energy in it unless you give it containment for pressure.
Yes, if you put them in a hole or against a board there is potential for an accident. Just sitting on the ground there is very little risk. I'm not saying it's safe. I'm just saying I've never had much of a reaction from one.
Drill a blind hole in a board and you have some containment/pressure to deal with. It creates a short "barrel" that's pointing right back at you. I see how that would create a problem. Even with just a primer.
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Every mistake I do now is a rookie mistake as I am new to this 
I did forget to degas my M3 trying to change out the tungsten hammer and spring to replace it with OEM parts, I couldn't get the rod to release so I took it all the way apart because I saw how to do it on YT, let's just say I blew and Oring on the plenum when I pulled it out then while putting it back together I cross threaded the valve adjustment body and knob (m9x1 tap in case you were wondering ) Well it is all back together and I learned a lot about my M3 in that debacle.
I did forget to degas my M3 trying to change out the tungsten hammer and spring to replace it with OEM parts, I couldn't get the rod to release so I took it all the way apart because I saw how to do it on YT, let's just say I blew and Oring on the plenum when I pulled it out then while putting it back together I cross threaded the valve adjustment body and knob (m9x1 tap in case you were wondering ) Well it is all back together and I learned a lot about my M3 in that debacle.Upvote 0
Grapes make a fantastic reactive target and when hit in the middle they act like a chipmunk being shot with a 22 magnum hollow point at 20 yards. How's that for a word picture!
Rookie mistake - If there was a mistake to be made I've probably made it.
Rookie mistake - If there was a mistake to be made I've probably made it.
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Same...and I shoot my Gen 1 Gauntlet the least but it's got a Hajimoto kit in it... And darn it if everytime I pull it out to shoot, it is so accurate it's boring! Great bench shooter.
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Here's a few off the top.of my head...
Project gun's are a fun way to tinker and learn from.
Even with a bunch of other great features, scope's with a high minimum power are best for bench shooting only and not so good hunting/testing.
Dry firing to clear all the air from a cylinder can be detrimental to some components at really low air pressure due to hammer weight and no resistance on the poppet and stem.
You don't need to ham-fist small fasteners tight; a good gunsmith torque wrench is a must have tool.
There's a such thing as a pellet rifle barrel and not all are worthy of even trying to go down the "slug rabbit hole."
Project gun's are a fun way to tinker and learn from.
Even with a bunch of other great features, scope's with a high minimum power are best for bench shooting only and not so good hunting/testing.
Dry firing to clear all the air from a cylinder can be detrimental to some components at really low air pressure due to hammer weight and no resistance on the poppet and stem.
You don't need to ham-fist small fasteners tight; a good gunsmith torque wrench is a must have tool.
There's a such thing as a pellet rifle barrel and not all are worthy of even trying to go down the "slug rabbit hole."
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That synergistic does not sell a lot but it's one of the best kept secrets in terms of bargain rifles.
HK
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Use proper lubricant.
Never dry fire a PCPs with no air
Always filter your air.
Always point in a safe direction when fingering the trigger. ( sometimes we forget we loaded one )
Never dry fire a PCPs with no air
Always filter your air.
Always point in a safe direction when fingering the trigger. ( sometimes we forget we loaded one )
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Not knowing anything since hand pumping a Crossman 760 50 years ago, the Synergis was the live bait .
The catch was the Daystate Revere and the pcp’s to come.
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I’m very new to the airgun world and modified my 1st gun I would love some advice and feedback
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My rookie mistake 40 years ago, when I got my first springer airgun, was not knowing the artillery hold. Now internet has videos on it.
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Haha I just searched the artillery hold I guess that’s out the question for my rifle now it’s more of a sbr style or pistol style
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What ammo did you shoot?Total a scope from a gun with no built in moa on the rail and put it on another gun with a 20 mow rail. I normally zero for 45 or 50y (winter range/summer range) and know how many clicks I usually need in case I shoot in the basement at 15y. Was dark so wanted to get the gun somewhat zeroed at 15 in the basement and clicked up what I normally click And didn’t think about the 20 moa I already gained. Shot center at my target box, didn’t see impact. Went there to look. Shot went waaay above POA, over the target box, through the wall (unfinished basement so basically only the osb board, barrier and siding) and into the AC condenser outside of the house (walkout basement so concrete foundation lower than target box there). 3.5k mistake right there. Now have 2in thick and 18 in wide oak boards from a tree I cut some time ago all around the target box
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