Crosman Challenger shoots a pattern not a group? Is it me?

[Peep]

Just picked up this rifle and have put about 300 rds. through it. I cleaned the barrel with felt pellets before shooting it for the first time. Cleaned it again when it didn't group. Tried Crosman Premier 10.5 and regular, H&N Terminator, RWS Meisterkugeln and H&N Barracuda. Same 1 3/4" pattern at 33' regardless of pellet. I really want to like this rifle, what can I do? Costs around $60 shipping to sent the rifle back to the dealer. Is there anything I can check with out taking the gun apart? Thanks for the replies.

 

[Bobr]

Mine loves the rws r10 match ,super accurate,yours sounds not to good if its not shooting hole in hole

 

[biohazardman]

Felt patches don't clean much of anything. They will take out only the stuff that comes out super easy. The stuff you really want to clean out gets left behind.

http://patchworm.com/small_cal.html

Then find the right pellets.

 

[Peep]

The rifle is fitted with a 3-9 Center Point scope.

 

[Peep]

Thanks biohazardman. Will order a kit.

 

[Peep]

Left the rifle at the store I bought it from. They will test it. I hope it's ok.

 

[Vetmx]

How fast is it shooting those pellets?

 

[boscoebrea]

yep 1/2" groups with any pellet at 33ft.Mine likes the RWS 8.2 gr. anything.

i hope your rifle will work for you,it is a good one and gets so many shoots per fill.

I shoot mine at 25yds.,because it is so accurate I put a better scope on it....got Nikon Target EFR on it for now.

 

[qball]

You should get 1 .22 hole at 20 yards with that gun. Clean with patch worm and put 30-40 rounds in to season it. Don’t clean it too often because it’s really not needed. Brown box domed pellet would be most accurate and then 7.4 grain pointed are really accurate out it too. Mine came with this card and it is that accurate. 

 

[bandg]

First thing I always check in a case like this is the scope. Try another one or if so equipped see how it groups with open sights. As suggested above, cleaning the barrel thoroughly and checking crown could follow.

 

[Peep]

Thank you for all the replies. Will chrono the rifle when I get it back. Have ordered a pull through cleaning kit. Will try another scope, now that I think of it, would not be surprised if the problem turned out to be a cheap scope.

 

[Dairyboy]

I'd definitely recommend trying JSBs also. In general find them being most accurate out of all my guns. The JSB Simply wadcutters are very accurate out of my 1701P at 10yds like same hole with red dot. And price wise there same price as Crosman pellets in the tins which my 1701P also likes. Haven't tried my 1720T yet but assuming it will likely do well with them also. They have the same LW barrels as the Challenger just shorter lengths so something seems off to me if yours cant do better than that at 33ft.

 

[Vetmx]

The reason I asked about how fast is because I have a couple .177’s that have definitive speed thresholds. The moment I go over 900fps the groups open up. If I have the gun set to shoot anything over 10 grains, I can’t even shoot anything lighter unless I turn the gun down.

 

[qball]

The reason I asked about how fast is because I have a couple .177’s that have definitive speed thresholds. The moment I go over 900fps the groups open up. If I have the gun set to shoot anything over 10 grains, I can’t even shoot anything lighter unless I turn the gun down.

the challenger factory tune is 550fps so portably not going too fast.

 

[Vetmx]

The reason I asked about how fast is because I have a couple .177’s that have definitive speed thresholds. The moment I go over 900fps the groups open up. If I have the gun set to shoot anything over 10 grains, I can’t even shoot anything lighter unless I turn the gun down.

the challenger factory tune is 550fps so portably not going too fast.

Oh ok. That name rang a bell now I think I know the gun. Aren’t they like a 10m training rifle or something? Should be very accurate as long as you don’t stretch it out too far. Sorry peep, should have thought more about your gun. I have Fortitude on the brain for some reason.

 

[qball]

It’s not a super popular gun because it’s really made for 10M competition only but with some minor modification and a scope it can shoot 650-700FPS and deadly accurate out pass 50 yards even. Crosman’s LW barrels are a something else, they are Uber accurate. Low power guns are definitely a little more challenging but fun. 

 

[Fullmag]

Mine is a laser at 25 yards it is the 2009 model and I’ve been shooting it with the included Diopter sites, not that a scope shouldn’t work. It’s not real finicky about pellets either. Good luck getting it sorted these are fun Backyard guns 

 

[scallen2112]

The rifle is fitted with a 3-9 Center Point scope.

And there, more than likely, lies your problem. Spend $100 and get yourself a Hawke Vantage 2-7x32 and tell us if it fixes the problem.

 

[Peep]

What would be a good place to purchase a Hawke Vantage?

 

[Stefanjan]

25 different pellets, 3 shots each through a LW barrel on my 1701P. Your gun should do the same or better.