Hunting Accuracy

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JimD

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Mar 27, 2021
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I have missed 2 or 3 squirrels this fall with my P35-177. It was sighted in with H&N Baracuda FTs. I shot a 197 on the 30 yard challenge with these pellets in this gun so I thought I was good to go. But I decided to check my first shot accuracy after the gun had set 12 hours or so. I also included 4 other guns. The top row is the first through 4th shots with my P35-177. As you can see, it did not do great (or I did not). Target shooting with this gun and pellet I had to leave my body off the gun to get it's best performance. So maybe it isn't surprising. I switched to the pellet I used to use in it, the H&N Baracuda Match and got 4 shots including that first critical one within 1/4 inch of the center. I will test it some more but this may give me acceptable hunting accuracy. When even an occasional shot is more than 1/2 inch from the point of aim I would rather not hunt with it. By itself that should not cause a miss at short range but it sure doesn't help anything. Most are within 1/4 inch but I really want all there or certainly within 1/2 inch. These shots are at 30 yards.

The next row down is my P35-22, after that is my Caiman X, after that is my P35-25. And the red dots are my Prod. All these guns wear 6-24 scopes except the P35-25 which has a 4-16 and the Prod which has a 2-7. I had multiple issues with the Prod, it fell out of tune and I could not see the target at 7X so there is only one shot at each target for it. But even at 7X I got acceptable accuracy. The Caiman did the best and I may try it on squirrels. It is plenty powerful pushing 18 grain H&Ns over 900 fps. But I like the P35-22. I like the Prod for short range shots so I do not have to aim so high. The first series of shots with my P35-25 was with it off reg. I get close to 20 shots with this gun at essentially the same velocity (and accuracy) after it goes below the regulator setting (of about 150 bar). The other shots are after I aired it back up. It is pushing 34 grain JSBs (MKII) at just under 800 fps, overkill for squirrels with this pellet and tune. I took all 18 squirrels with it on a much milder tune using H&N FTT pellets but it is more accurate with these big JSBs.

All except the Caiman, the newest, have taken squirrels for me. The P35-25 has taken 18, the Prod 17, the P35-177 12, and the P35-22 10. They all work but I kind of want to use the 177 more. With the Match pellets maybe I can. But my only question mark is the 177. It is also very wind sensitive and that may also play a role.

If you haven't tested your guns after they've sat at least 12 hours and preferably overnight I suggest you should. Sometimes they don't shoot quite the same on the first shot.

View attachment hunting accuracy.pdf
 
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gendoc said:
i seen changes with my mk2 crown, huben k1, ataman m2r and others
its to be expected if you dont handle them daily.
i always check my zero before hunting game or pesting.
i'm talk'n hole in hole consistency, mine are within 1/4" drift....
who knows, could be me............. :unsure:
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I don't want to have to do that before I grab a gun to shoot a critter especially at night. That's way I grab my vudoo more and more because I dont have to worry about that. I honestly trust my piston guns more than most PCPs
 
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I've only ever had that problem when I put a tensioner on my Impact mk2, it would drift 6 inches to either side I laid the gun down on. Afterwards it would shoot like a lazer, but would always shift. Until I took it out. Was there a drastic change in temperature, or pressure? Nice and sunny in the morning, stormy 12 hours later? Did you rest the gun on something that was pushing against the barrel? I can't say I've experienced that with 99% of pcps I've owned or borrowed unless it was a me issue. Slightly canting the gun, thinking I'm level, but being off level, etc.
 
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JaceSpace1369 said:
I've only ever had that problem when I put a tensioner on my Impact mk2, it would drift 6 inches to either side I laid the gun down on. Afterwards it would shoot like a lazer, but would always shift. Until I took it out. Was there a drastic change in temperature, or pressure? Nice and sunny in the morning, stormy 12 hours later? Did you rest the gun on something that was pushing against the barrel? I can't say I've experienced that with 99% of pcps I've owned or borrowed unless it was a me issue. Slightly canting the gun, thinking I'm level, but being off level, etc.
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All good points but the more I get into this pcp game the more I realize unfortunately it might not be for me. I hate to think how much money I've spent on this game to still be wanting what I have with my 22s. I dont have to worry about any of the above. Like I said PCPs might not be my thing but live and learn.
 
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drsquall said:
All good points but the more I get into this pcp game the more I realize unfortunately it might not be for me. I hate to think how much money I've spent on this game to still be wanting what I have with my 22s. I dont have to worry about any of the above. Like I said PCPs might not be my thing but live and learn.
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True, honestly if it werent for the fact that this is my livelyhood idk that I would've been into this as much as I am. But I am glad I got into it. I really do wish I could use my 17rims for iguana though that would be a blast!
 
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JaceSpace1369 said:
True, honestly if it werent for the fact that this is my livelyhood idk that I would've been into this as much as I am. But I am glad I got into it. I really do wish I could use my 17rims for iguana though that would be a blast!
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Can't blame using them for what you do. A 17hmr would be fun to use on them. I'm fortunate that my surroundings are great for PBs
 
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I've always wondered about the crazy thin barrels on the PCP. They are bound to wander with temperature and handling pressure. Also those long cantilevered aluminum scope rails. I can get them to flex with light hand pressure.

I visualize myself sliding down a hill or bouncing a jeep over rocks. You would have to be ultra careful with one. 14 degrees at sunup and 80 degrees at noon. So much differential expansion. I'm really skeptical of them.

Those bottles screwed in under the barrel and used as a forend are a bit flaky too. I'd fall and break it off at the fitting for sure. Some of the levers on the side are fragile and at the perfect forward angle to catch on everything. The entire design seems iffy for hunting to me.

In certain circumstances they would be great. In mine I just don't think they would last long. I couldn't imagine taking one on a hunt in New Mexico and not bending or breaking something when pushing through thick brush or sliding down a mountain.
 
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I tested my P35-177 shooting the H&N Baracuda Match pellets again this evening, about 24 hours after the previous test. First shot was less than 3/16ths from the aim point. Second and third were similar or slightly better. 4th was about 3/8ths off, still OK but I shot another and it was 1/8th from the aim point. I think the gun is fine with this pellet. After I did the test my little doggie spotted a squirrel but I did not get a shot. I grabbed the 177.

The only PCPs I wonder about the barrels being thin are FX. I've never owned one so maybe it is not an issue but reports seem to support reason for concern. My P35s are a bit like the FX wildcat or the Taipan Veteran with a barrel clamped to the airtube in a couple places to form the structure of the gun. The barrels are not thin and they are firmly supported. I know some like free floated barrels but that is not what they have. I have hunted with them and will continue to. They do not seem fragile to me. If I was worried about banging them up I would switch the action back to the plastic stock they came with. Right now they are all in hardwood stocks I made for them. But I could likely fix stock damage too (if it happened).

So now I have all 5 of the PCPs I was testing putting the first shot within 1/2 inch of the point of aim and more typically 1/4 in or less. To me that makes them OK for hunting. The first round of shooting all the guns had set for a minimum of several days. Some were weeks. But still the first shot was OK. Except for the P35-177 with the H&N Baracuda FTs it loves for target shooting.

I'd rather use my PCPs for hunting than my powder burners. Just more fun to me. Very capable within reasonable range. My ability to put the projectile in the right place is more of the issue than my PCPs.
 
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JimD said:
I tested my P35-177 shooting the H&N Baracuda Match pellets again this evening, about 24 hours after the previous test. First shot was less than 3/16ths from the aim point. Second and third were similar or slightly better. 4th was about 3/8ths off, still OK but I shot another and it was 1/8th from the aim point. I think the gun is fine with this pellet. After I did the test my little doggie spotted a squirrel but I did not get a shot. I grabbed the 177.

The only PCPs I wonder about the barrels being thin are FX. I've never owned one so maybe it is not an issue but reports seem to support reason for concern. My P35s are a bit like the FX wildcat or the Taipan Veteran with a barrel clamped to the airtube in a couple places to form the structure of the gun. The barrels are not thin and they are firmly supported. I know some like free floated barrels but that is not what they have. I have hunted with them and will continue to. They do not seem fragile to me. If I was worried about banging them up I would switch the action back to the plastic stock they came with. Right now they are all in hardwood stocks I made for them. But I could likely fix stock damage too (if it happened).

So now I have all 5 of the PCPs I was testing putting the first shot within 1/2 inch of the point of aim and more typically 1/4 in or less. To me that makes them OK for hunting. The first round of shooting all the guns had set for a minimum of several days. Some were weeks. But still the first shot was OK. Except for the P35-177 with the H&N Baracuda FTs it loves for target shooting.

I'd rather use my PCPs for hunting than my powder burners. Just more fun to me. Very capable within reasonable range. My ability to put the projectile in the right place is more of the issue than my PCPs.
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I have a Maverick and a Taipan vet1 . While they both use clamps for the airtube and barrel the Taipan clamps are far more robust and uses larger bolts also . The Taipan barrel screws into the block while the FX gets a set screw like most airguns. The fx shroud is held in place with orings that center the barrel in the frame . My Maverick has been great . No poi wandering or reg creep and very accurate. It's 6lbs 11oz and shooting. 22 , 25.4gr at 47fpe . The Taipan is over built in comparison, has excellent accuracy and fits me like a glove off-hand. At 7lbs 4oz it's not too heavy and putting out 34fpe in .22 . I really like them both and if my FX didn't preform well it would be gone .
 
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