Just to be clear, I have 3 R9/95 variants also so don’t be afraid to get one because I’m pretty confident that you will enjoy it and end up with at least one more HW gun. 
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Beeman Experience with the beeman r9 for hunting?
- Thread starter EmersonWaved
- Start date
I agree with Maxtrouble, I've had good luck with H&N Field Target Trophy, and JSB exacts. Field Supply often has good deals on the H&N and if you buy over 25 dollars, they ship for free. Buy a couple different head sizes (4.50, 4.51, 4.52 etc) to see what your particular gun groups with best.
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Head size does matter, it can make as much difference as changing to another pellet brand. The HN FTT seem to shoot best in most of my springers
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Yep, I miss ole' Shane. We used to ride together down to Pulaski TN. for Field Target at Roz Sumpters facility. Good times for sure.
CARRY ON
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I really enjoyed his hunting write ups on the old Yellow. I never met him but I had the sense that he was a good dude.
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Bought my .22 R-9 barely used, and as is my usual habit, installed a spring kit shortly after testing it in stock form. In this case a Vortek kit.
15.9 grain FX, as received used (barely), 5 shot string, Low= 651, Hi= 664, ES= 13, SD= 6, Avg= 658 FPS/15.3 FP
After Vortek kit install-
15.9 grain FX, with Vortek kit, 30 shot string= 695 / 719 / 24 / 7 / 709 / 17.7
16.08 grain JTS, 10 shot string= 686 / 704 / 18 / 6 / 695 / 17.2
Although it gets more power with the 15.9 grain pellets, VELOCITY CONSISTENCY with the 16.08 gran JTS pellets reflects not only their silver-slipper fit in the chamber, but (consequently) their superior accuracy. When I'm dialed in well, I get 3/4" to 1" five-shot groups at 50-55 yards from the field target position (shooting off a stool and bipod).
Although I haven't hunted with my R-9, in the distant past I did A LOT of squirrel and crow hunting with .22 caliber springers producing only 12-13 foot pounds; both those species considerably tougher than pigeons/collared dove. In fact my best, most memorable squirrel and crow hunts were with those rifles.
On one squirrel hunt I took 9 squirrels out of 11 shots taken to 50 yards, that included one miss and one low hit that required a follow-up shot. In EVERY CASE the pellets were found under the offside hide, having transversed through the vitals. All but one kill were brain shots. Yes, I AM that good.
Correction- I WAS that good... a half-century ago!
15.9 grain FX, as received used (barely), 5 shot string, Low= 651, Hi= 664, ES= 13, SD= 6, Avg= 658 FPS/15.3 FP
After Vortek kit install-
15.9 grain FX, with Vortek kit, 30 shot string= 695 / 719 / 24 / 7 / 709 / 17.7
16.08 grain JTS, 10 shot string= 686 / 704 / 18 / 6 / 695 / 17.2
Although it gets more power with the 15.9 grain pellets, VELOCITY CONSISTENCY with the 16.08 gran JTS pellets reflects not only their silver-slipper fit in the chamber, but (consequently) their superior accuracy. When I'm dialed in well, I get 3/4" to 1" five-shot groups at 50-55 yards from the field target position (shooting off a stool and bipod).
Although I haven't hunted with my R-9, in the distant past I did A LOT of squirrel and crow hunting with .22 caliber springers producing only 12-13 foot pounds; both those species considerably tougher than pigeons/collared dove. In fact my best, most memorable squirrel and crow hunts were with those rifles.
On one squirrel hunt I took 9 squirrels out of 11 shots taken to 50 yards, that included one miss and one low hit that required a follow-up shot. In EVERY CASE the pellets were found under the offside hide, having transversed through the vitals. All but one kill were brain shots. Yes, I AM that good.
Correction- I WAS that good... a half-century ago!
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Not sure what twang you mean. I dont notice too much, most springers feel similar of that vibration from the spring after Ive fired it, perhaps that and Im thinking of something different. Bit tough to cock but otherwise I love it! Especially the iron sights!
It works GREAT!! I love it and is definitely a tack driver!!
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Did you install the whole kit or just the spring and seal?
Heard about it being hell to install the vortek kit specifically
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I bought the kit on the assumption it was as described on the website; meaning a simple, no-nonsense drop-in. And although I don't consider myself a sproinger gunsmith, I've re-sproing 8 or 10 (successfully).
Unfortunately I almost destroyed my R-9 attempting to install the Vortek kit
, before aborting the effort and sending it to Dave Slade at Airgunwerks; my go-to bail-out guy when I find myself in over my head.Dave said I wasn't hallucinatng that the kit was definitely not a simple drop-in.
Apparently there is/was some part (spacer?) that must be removed from the kit in order for it fit. 
A few thousand rounds later the Vortek-kitted R-9 is going strong, smooth, accurate and consistent. And thankfully the damage I did attempting to install the NOT a drop-in kit is just cosmetic, and only "put where the sun don't shine".
Which is also kinda how I feel about my Vortek R-9 installing experience.
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One update Ive had is the accuracy kinda seems all over the place somewhat
Used some gamo red fire with some decent results, And Some crosman hps. Kinda all over the place. What ive noticed is the breech hole is loose depending on the pellet? Maybe larger pellets in terms of size/grain
Always seems like theres a crazy flyer
These are done at about 25 yards on a bag, trying my best at artillery holding. Pretty good moa!
Used some gamo red fire with some decent results, And Some crosman hps. Kinda all over the place. What ive noticed is the breech hole is loose depending on the pellet? Maybe larger pellets in terms of size/grain
Always seems like theres a crazy flyer
These are done at about 25 yards on a bag, trying my best at artillery holding. Pretty good moa!
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H&N Field Target Trophy, and JSB exacts. Field Supply often has good deals on the H&N and if you buy over 25 dollars, they ship for free. Buy a couple different head sizes (4.50, 4.51, 4.52 etc) to see what your particular gun groups with best" looking at these groups i would follow the above advise.
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Actually has about 150 lol
Just these were the only serious shots
Also, not sure I wanna buy another one just yet in a different caliber lol
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Got some more pellets to experiment with
Crosman Hps: 14.3 gr
H&N Baracuda Extreme: 18.52
Jsb Jumbo Heavy diablo: 18.13
Gamo Redfire: 15.4gr
I shot these on a bag at about 25 yards, adjusting the open sights as best as I can, it seems the rear sight can be moved about but I can’t figure out how without bending/breaking it.
The groupings indeed paint a very different image
Crosman Hps: 14.3 gr
H&N Baracuda Extreme: 18.52
Jsb Jumbo Heavy diablo: 18.13
Gamo Redfire: 15.4gr
I shot these on a bag at about 25 yards, adjusting the open sights as best as I can, it seems the rear sight can be moved about but I can’t figure out how without bending/breaking it.
The groupings indeed paint a very different image
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That should tighten up with time and practice.. if a new gun is just rome was not built in a day .. a hw is a gun you finesse in as you go .. my last r9 was terrible new our of the box .. lol
Stopped raining long enough to run out and pop this
10shots , 20y, r9 , irons , cphp.177
I was shooting to 75 yards ( on a nicer day..lol)
First 5
Next 5
Cphp.177
Stopped raining long enough to run out and pop this
10shots , 20y, r9 , irons , cphp.177
I was shooting to 75 yards ( on a nicer day..lol)
First 5
Next 5
Cphp.177
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I just not understanding this part
"shot these on a bag at about 25 yards, adjusting the open sights as best as I can, it seems the rear sight can be moved about but I can’t figure out how without bending/breaking it."
You got a knob on top for elevation and on the side for windage . At just 25y you should have way plenty of adjustment up or down ..
Elevation know turs right /clockwise for up. Left / counterclockwise for down.
Windage is clockwise for left counterclockwise for right
That should be in the guns manual in the box
Should not be needing to bend nothing ..
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Your groups will tighten up as you learn to shoot it. I have an exercise I go through when I haven't shot a springer in a while. I shoot at cans offhanded. Start at twenty yards and work out to 50. It will take a few shooting sessions but offhand shooting is the key. When you shoot off a rest the springer can shoot all over the place. learning to hold it correctly is the key. They are a very accurate rifle but I have found I shoot springers better with open sights than I do scoped.
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