Stoeger Messing with my Bullshark

[OneAcreFarmer]

I was out in the shooting shed today trying out different pellets and nothing shot really well. I was shooting with the hammer spring 3 turns in from flush. I thought the 18.13 JSBs did okay so I tried those on a few different hammer spring settings.

Target 1 is 3 turns in, target 2 is 4 turns in, target 3 is 5 turns in, and target 4 is 6 turns in. The last target (5) I zeroed and the hammer spring is 5.5 turns in from flush. All are 5 shot groups @ 50 yards. 6 turns in showed the best group, but I might have got a little target panic after I zeroed it for the last group. 6.25 turns is the max adjustment.

I didn‘t show most of the other pellets because I don’t think they got a fair trial. They were probably moving too slow. I did however attach a photo of the CPHPs. I think they show potential. This was also 5 shots @ 50 yards with the hammer spring 3 turns in. Dime for reference.

I think it will turn out to be a sweet little squirrel gun.

 

[JimD]

My P35-25 has taken 18 squirrels, P35-22 10, and the P35-177 21. All work great. The 22 is the most accurate but overkill for backyard work. I had the 25 for a season more than the other two so it took a bunch before they got a chance.

You need a chronograph. I use inexpensive Chinese ones. To tune you need to know the hammer spring setting that gives the most velocity. Then normally you would decrease the hammer spring to reduce velocity 5%. I like to try hammer spring settings both a little higher but mostly lower than the peak. My Avenger likes it a little higher and my P35s sometimes shoots the first shot slow if I go all the way to 5% under. So they are more like 3% under. But it all starts with knowing the peak velocity hammer setting.

 

[OneAcreFarmer]

@JimD What style of chronograph do you use? A barrel mount one?

 

[Joedirt199]

I use a Shooting Chrony, optical shadow style, in my basement. It has the light attachment over the sensors so no worrying about outside light. I then do my target work outside. Yup you need a chrony so you can see what is consistent and what is not. Get some better pellets for long range. I know LLeon shoots crosmans at long range but he has his brokoks dialed in.

 

[JimD]

I have one and have used it but I prefer the little tripod mount because it doesn't impact my poi. The barrel mount does. I got the tripod mount from Aliexpress. Amazon at least used to have the barrel mount.

If you haven't tried H&N 21 grain I would. I use the Match because they are a little more consistent. I shot a 200 with them from my P35-22 and they were the most accurate in the 22 caliber bullshark I set up. They should be going 840 fps or so from your bullshark with the tune it came with. This is near the maximum it can do due to the hammer spring. But it's plenty for small game. I even took a small raccoon with these pellets in my P35-22.

 

[Contndr35BB]

I have one and have used it but I prefer the little tripod mount because it doesn't impact my poi. The barrel mount does. I got the tripod mount from Aliexpress. Amazon at least used to have the barrel mount.

If you haven't tried H&N 21 grain I would. I use the Match because they are a little more consistent. I shot a 200 with them from my P35-22 and they were the most accurate in the 22 caliber bullshark I set up. They should be going 840 fps or so from your bullshark with the tune it came with. This is near the maximum it can do due to the hammer spring. But it's plenty for small game. I even took a small raccoon with these pellets in my P35-22.

Jim D , You are spot on w/ the Bullshark factory tune & H&N Match 21gr. I have stuck w/ 18 gr JTS or JSB at 885-890 so far though as I'm loaded w/ them.
Come warmer weather & the G-hogs are out & about I'll switch to the H&N 21gr.s & turn the hammer up one turn. I've got my hammer marked for easy reference. BTW, my reg was set at 145 BAR, I'm not changing it. I am very pleased with both of my Stoegers.

 

[Lexingjim]

Hey Contndr35BB & JimD… what is the max Bar pressure the stock Stoeger Bullshark regulator allows? Is it more than Huma-Air’s 155 Bar?

 

[Contndr35BB]

Lexingjim, I'm not the man to answer that . I would get in touch w/ Rich at AR . I have talked w/ him a few times, good guy. I'm expecting my .25 Ranger sometime today , another purchase from Airgun Revisions. AS I've stated previously , I get 4-5 mags out before hitting reg pressure when running 18+ gr
pellets at 880~ fps w/ no poi to 30~ yrd.s, the farthest field test for shot count. Other than that I normally top of ALL my guns after 3-4 mags ( just me).
I'm just not one to try & squeeze out maximum of anything anymore after screwing up a gun & sending it out for repair. I'll just go w/ what gives me acceptable
accuracy and power & be content( keeps the accountant happy). This is why hammer spring adjustments are as far as I should go with any guns!

 

[Neu]

The one I had was decent out of the box. I pulled the barrel lapped and polished the barrel touched up the crown and after that it would pretty much 1 hole jts 18 grains at 50 yards. I also switched out the spring to a little stiffer one and had the reg set at 125 bar. It seemed to like the lower reg setting and heavier spring combo.

 

[JimD]

Where did you find a heavier spring Neu? I have a 8mm×60x1.2 in my P35-177. I got it from Aliexpress. The stock spring is 8.5x55x1.2. The wire in the stock spring may be a little less than 1.2mm. The 60mmx8mm binds a little on the post of the adjustment screw. It works. I also tried a 50mm long 8mm spring but it is too short to work well. I have one with 1.4mm wire that is 9mm OD. I'll have to drill out the hammer to use it.

The limitation on power is not the regulator, it is the hammer spring. My 22 and 25 came set about as high as the hammer spring can open. When I turned it up the velocity decreased because the hammer wasn't fully opening the valve. Shimming the spring gave me a little more but only a little. That's why I'd like to find a little stronger spring. The 8.5mm OD is uncommon as is the 55mm length.

 

[Neu]

Where did you find a heavier spring Neu? I have a 8mm×60x1.2 in my P35-177. I got it from Aliexpress. The stock spring is 8.5x55x1.2. The wire in the stock spring may be a little less than 1.2mm. The 60mmx8mm binds a little on the post of the adjustment screw. It works. I also tried a 50mm long 8mm spring but it is too short to work well. I have one with 1.4mm wire that is 9mm OD. I'll have to drill out the hammer to use it.

The limitation on power is not the regulator, it is the hammer spring. My 22 and 25 came set about as high as the hammer spring can open. When I turned it up the velocity decreased because the hammer wasn't fully opening the valve. Shimming the spring gave me a little more but only a little. That's why I'd like to find a little stronger spring. The 8.5mm OD is uncommon as is the 55mm length.

It was off AliExpress if I remember correctly it was a 8.5 x 70 mm that I trimmed a little I'll check to see if I can find the one on AliExpress. The stock one is an oddball size and to weak to get the most out of that platform.

 

[Perle]

The one I had was decent out of the box. I pulled the barrel lapped and polished the barrel touched up the crown and after that it would pretty much 1 hole jts 18 grains at 50 yards. I also switched out the spring to a little stiffer one and had the reg set at 125 bar. It seemed to like the lower reg setting and heavier spring combo.

I can attest to this … I have Neu s old BullShark and it smokes aces

 

[Airgun-Revisions]

Hey Contndr35BB & JimD… what is the max Bar pressure the stock Stoeger Bullshark regulator allows? Is it more than Huma-Air’s 155 Bar?

All Stoeger pcp’s are internally regulated and set at 150bar no matter the model. Even the standard XM1’s are regulated.
Personally the only one I’d like to see different would be the .25 Shark at 165bar. It’s a better tune over a larger plenum for power because of the reduced dwell.

 

[Perle]

Oneacer let’s see some pics of that custom stock. Beautiful

 

[Airgun-Revisions]

Hey Contndr35BB & JimD… what is the max Bar pressure the stock Stoeger Bullshark regulator allows? Is it more than Huma-Air’s 155 Bar?

Sorry I just read your post again and don’t think I answered your exact question.
The Bullshark reg is definitely adjustable much like any standard internal adjustable Huma reg would be. So 170-175 isn’t an issue to obtain. Buuuuut don’t go adjusting it without building or buying a test gauge. The Shark obviously does not have an on board reg gauge like the Scout or Ranger.