Holding on Tight

[intenseaty22]

I was doing a little shooting this weekend with my two springers. I had just received a new batch of pellets in .177 and wanted to see how they faired. I noticed I was getting a few flyers here and there, not what I wanted, I was after almost perfection. I wanted to take the 0.10 challenge and put all to shame! But damn, just couldn’t group like I wanted.

Then I figured, what the hell, gonna grab them guns like I mean it, ain’t got nothing to loose. WOW! I really was surprised with my results! Both guns where grouping VERY consistently. Now, these groups where not going to put anyone to shame, but, there where NO flyers. Matter of fact, I think that if it wasn’t for my sorry ass shaking like a leaf in Autumn, I may have had single hole groups all the way around. 

So, I’m rethinking this Artillery hold thing. All shooting was one on the bench, resting gun on sand bag (artillery) or resting hand on sand bag, while gripping gun. 

More testing to come. Will see. 

 

[Gaberossi]

Awesome man! I have too figured out that pulling the springer in with more pressure or leaning into the gun and loading the front bag a bit have increased my springer accuracy quite a bit.

 

[cahil_2]

Both my R9 and RWS 38 shoot the best with a tight hold. Artillery hold is not effective with either of them.

 

[intenseaty22]

Here are my groups. For details see my previous post under “ Intenseaty22’s LGV” 

I actually shot like 3 more pellets into the Center group today, no change in POI. 

 

[DAVEFISHING]

MY DIANA LIKES A TIGHT HOLD AGAINST THE SHOULDER. 

 

[Hynzie]

likes it rough ,if thats what she likes to perform well glad u figured it out pat

 

[intenseaty22]

LOL Pat, I’m just happy to abridge! Hope all is good with you! 

 

[broachoski]

These boingers are a challenge. They all have their peculiarities in how they are held. They can even react differently to what clothes you are wearing. With that I am referring to the cushioning at the shoulder. 

 

[outdoorman]

Same here. Artillery hold does not work for me and my Diana 34 .22 I use a single shooting stick exclusively when shooting. In this video, the forefinger of my left hand is wrapped around the front of the stock and I am very firmly holding the stock against the silicone foam grips of my stick. The barrel of the gun does not move downward at all due to forward "recoil" as you can see at 0:38 in the video. I have a firm grip with my right hand and the butt of the stock is firmly planted into my shoulder. I get the best and most consistent groups shooting this way as opposed to using an artillery hold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2CTik7E3kM

 

[fishinwrench]

I have convinced myself that the "artillery hold" was what trashed my first 3 scopes.

Holding the gun more firmly takes alot of the whammy off of the guts of my scopes. They hold zero now and I haven't wrecked a scope since I stopped trying to shoot that way. Groups are tight enough out to 40yards so I quit that pansy-ass artillery hold crap.

 

[Cizur]

I have a HW30k. I shoot it off bags, with VERY light head and shoulder pressure. Despite all the people telling me springers dislike bags, I can shoot dime groups at 25 yards with ease.

I let the gun move freely during the shot cycle and it seems to love that approach. But I don't have the recoil of a high power springer like the Parrus.

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

Many springers will group well of bags/rest if your consistent but they will shoot to a toatlly different poi if held.



John

 

[Windmill01]

John I have found that occurs with my airrifles as well except for my HW77. I don’t know why but resting the front of the stock on a bag or on my open palm the poi is the same. Maybe it’s the soap I use that softens my hands lol.

Gary

 

[Cizur]

My POI has never changed with my powder burners. I sight in off a benchrest and shoot open palm when the deer is near. Never had accuracy inconsistencies ... that I noticed.

My parents are tried and true "HOLD TIGHT" shooters and incredibly accurate with burners or springers.



I get a good laugh from the YouTube "experts" who tell us we have to use Artillery holds on springers in order to see accuracy. As far as I'm concerned, it's all about consistency and personal preference. I don't like the "HOLD TIGHT" technique, as I've found I struggle to replicate the amount of pressure I apply shot after shot. The easiest way for me to replicate shots is to apply as little face and shoulder pressure as I can in order to sight in and execute a clean shot.