Beeman Talk about pellet fussy.

[Mycapt65]

I'm still struggling to understand what's going on with the accuracy of this early Beeman 77. The wind was very light to non existent this afternoon so I went back at this rifle with five shot groups at 25 yards. It shoots ok with FTTs 4.51 (targets 1-5)or 4.52 (targets 6-10). After dialing right 8 clicks and up 6 I tried grouping 5 FX 10.3s on 11 and it was horrible. Tried two shots of 8.44 JSB at 12 but they shot so far left I moved to 13 where they shot so poorly I gave up after four.
Bottom row is AA branded 8.4 made by JSB. Target 23 is more what I expect from this rifle at 25 yards the rest are about the same as FTTs..

This gun shoots ok with its best pellets but its terrible with most everything else. The last rifle I seen shoot different pellets to such wildly different POI had a loose barrel and no choke. The barrel on this one slugs great so I had such hi hopes.

It might turn out to only be a conversation piece on the wall.

 

[EquivalentDelta]

You probably already have but just in case:

Check your stock screws are still tight

Check the scope base and rings.

Crack it open and inspect the mainspring.

 

[Nitrocrushr]

I'm still struggling to understand what's going on with the accuracy of this early Beeman 77. The wind was very light to non existent this afternoon so I went back at this rifle with five shot groups at 25 yards. It shoots ok with FTTs 4.51 (targets 1-5)or 4.52 (targets 6-10). After dialing right 8 clicks and up 6 I tried grouping 5 FX 10.3s on 11 and it was horrible. Tried two shots of 8.44 JSB at 12 but they shot so far left I moved to 13 where they shot so poorly I gave up after four.
Bottom row is AA branded 8.4 made by JSB. Target 23 is more what I expect from this rifle at 25 yards the rest are about the same as FTTs..

This gun shoots ok with its best pellets but its terrible with most everything else. The last rifle I seen shoot different pellets to such wildly different POI had a loose barrel and no choke. The barrel on this one slugs great so I had such hi hopes.

It might turn out to only be a conversation piece on the wall.

View attachment 556579

Make sure you are putting at least 10-15 shots through the bore for each pellet change before evaluating accuracy. You could even pull a couple plain dry patches through the bore between each pellet change, then maybe 20-30 shots to settle things in, then test on target.

Steve

 

[Mycapt65]

Make sure you are putting at least 10-15 shots through the bore for each pellet change before evaluating accuracy. You could even pull a couple plain dry patches through the bore between each pellet change, then maybe 20-30 shots to settle things in, then test on target.

Steve

Thanks Steve,
that's a very appropriate response. I certainly didn't give it enough shots in this example to properly season or lead the barrel between brands. Normally I don't assess accuracy until I have. These groups and POI shifts are so wild they're beyond the reasonable expectations of improvement. If shooting another 25 or 30 pellets cut the groups and POI shift in half, they'd still be giant. I ran out of patience and room between targets and simply quit early. Come to think of it reZeroing the scope after the H&Ns did take 10 or so shots of JSB made lead before shooting those for groups.

In the past I have shot strings of foulers through this rifle and the groups of most pellets couldn't be called groups at two to three inches at 25 yards. My worst Weihrauchs will do that at 50 yards in a breeze.

This rifle has never shot great since I've had it. I took it apart, brushed out the barrel and slugged it twice. I polished the bore with JB paste the last time around. I was hoping it'd come around after a couple hundred seasoning shots, but it ain't.

The crown looks good. And if the crown were bad, I'd think nothing would group. I think I'll have to stay with the FTTs until the next time it's apart. I'll slug it again keeping in mind that only tighter fitting pellets print well. Maybe I'll pick up something I missed before.

Thanks for taking the time to respond with good advice. Most people aren't aware of the importance of leading a barrel.

Be well
Ron

 

[MDriskill]

OK this is an insult prolly six levels below your HW expertise! But something I always do with new-to-me guns, is give the stock inletting a look and a light sanding...the smallest unevenness of raised grain, etc., can cause some weird behavior.

I once (rather unethically actually ) got a great deal on a Beeman C1 Carbine whose owner swore it wouldn't group. The stock screws were loose, so on a hunch I paid his much-too-low price and subsequently found a varnish drip across the fore end inletting. With that gone, the wee beast shot like a champ.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Barrels like bullets/ pellets for who knows what reason. But I do know they like what they like and don't like what they don't like. Looks as though its fine with the AA8.4. If your shooting outdoors with out flags its a total crap shoot. A very light breeze you can hardly feel becomes deadly when in reverses. You did not even feel it. Even a couple strips of flagging tape can be a big help.

 

[Mycapt65]

Thanks guys.

OK this is an insult prolly six levels below your HW expertise! But something I always do with new-to-me guns, is give the stock inletting a look and a light sanding...the smallest unevenness of raised grain, etc., can cause some weird behavior.

I once (rather unethically actually ) got a great deal on a Beeman C1 Carbine whose owner swore it wouldn't group. The stock screws were loose, so on a hunch I paid his much-too-low price and subsequently found a varnish drip across the fore end inletting. With that gone, the wee beast shot like a champ.

Thanks I'll take a closer look inside the stock next time I have it apart.

 

[Vana2]

Seems you've explored the most common springer grouping concerns.

Are you shooting from a rest? Consistently?

I ask because I've had springers that were very fussy about being rested exactly the same way and some refused to play nice unless shot off hand.

Good luck!

Cheers!

 

[Mycapt65]

Barrels like bullets/ pellets for who knows what reason. But I do know they like what they like and don't like what they don't like. Looks as though its fine with the AA8.4. If your shooting outdoors with out flags its a total crap shoot. A very light breeze you can hardly feel becomes deadly when in reverses. You did not even feel it. Even a couple strips of flagging tape can be a big help.

You're right. About pellet/bullet preferences. I just don't usually see such drastic differences.

It was ok with the AA 8.4s. It had one good group. The AA are stamped out by JSB these happen to fit tighter than the sister JSB 8.44 and also JSB made FX 8.4.

All of these usually shoot reasonably well in my Weihrauchs. They vary tin to tin. Jsb 8.44s vary the most. The worst tins usually shoot better than this. This is my last tin of AA 8.44s and there's no guarantee the next sleeve of them will print this well in this gun. I should order more of them anyways along with 4.53 Exacts. I find the latter fit and work better than regular Exacts.

As to the wind. I agree but the conditions were pretty consistently and would have applied to all groups.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Mycapt65]

Seems you've explored the most common springer grouping concerns.

Are you shooting from a rest? Consistently?

I ask because I've had springers that were very fussy about being rested exactly the same way and some refused to play nice unless shot off hand.

Good luck!

Cheers!

Thanks I'm not shooting rested. I don't have any luck shooting springers rested. I hold them. I lean my left wrist on the sandbaged ammo box in the photo. I tried six ways from Sunday holding this gun differently in the past and didn't do any better. Somedays its just me having a bad day. I check that with by shooting a known good gun. If I mess up that one, I don't take any of the days results seriously.

 

[Croxton63]

Barrels like bullets/ pellets for who knows what reason. But I do know they like what they like and don't like what they don't like. Looks as though its fine with the AA8.4. If your shooting outdoors with out flags its a total crap shoot. A very light breeze you can hardly feel becomes deadly when in reverses. You did not even feel it. Even a couple strips of flagging tape can be a big help.

It’s tips like this on the forum that make it worth my while. Thanks fellas.

 

[bustachip]

The H&N Baracuda 8's fit snug in my barrels, it's worth a try to test these they're not expensive compared to others. The JSB's are all over the place in size, I have the 4.52 and 4.53 exacts but they just don't perform as of late.

 

[Vana2]

Thanks I'm not shooting rested. I don't have any luck shooting springers rested. I hold them. I lean my left wrist on the sandbaged ammo box in the photo. I tried six ways from Sunday holding this gun differently in the past and didn't do any better. Somedays its just me having a bad day. I check that with by shooting a known good gun. If I mess up that one, I don't take any of the days results seriously.

Yeah, calibrating the shooter is an important step. That's the first thing I suspect when groups are poor. LOL! Maybe have someone else try the rifle?

Figured that you had the rest problem covered, but mentioned it just in case. That makes (springer) sense

Having one pellet that shot well kinda eliminates the other pellets as "not suitable". I'd focus on that pellet to see if the good groups continue. If yes, then I'd just go with that pellet.

What about the scope? All good? Maybe the internal scope tube is "floating" or there's some other mechanical issues.

Cheers!

 

[Mycapt65]

The JSB's are all over the place in size, I have the 4.52 and 4.53 exacts but they just don't perform as of late.

I have noticed a decline in accuracy on the JSB around the time they went to screw top tins. I try to buy the FX and AA rebrands as they seem to be more consistently sized. Contrary to popular belief it's not because AA or FX owns special dies. Its because they make the rebrands in big lots from a single JSB die. Where as the JSB brand will have pellets from multiple dies. Thus less consistent.

The single die AA and FX are great as long as your gun likes that size. If not you're SOL. Seldom happens though as these tend to sized better than most other JSBs that often run small.

H&Ns FTTs always fit snug to annoyingly tight. I think whoever does their sizing is on crack. 4.51s almost always fit tighter than 4.52. That's been the case for the last 20+ tins of them. At least they're consistent

 

[Mycapt65]

Yeah, calibrating the shooter is an important step. That's the first thing I suspect when groups are poor. LOL! Maybe have someone else try the rifle?

Figured that you had the rest problem covered, but mentioned it just in case. That makes (springer) sense

Having one pellet that shot well kinda eliminates the other pellets as "not suitable". I'd focus on that pellet to see if the good groups continue. If yes, then I'd just go with that pellet.

What about the scope? All good? Maybe the internal scope tube is "floating" or there's some other mechanical issues.

Cheers!

Thanks I've tried different scopes. The gun requires alot of right adjustment so I thought it might be too much adjustment to maintain zero. I tried a known good scope from my 97 and let it land 7" left of my POA. The groups didn't improve at all. Then I put the 77 scope on the 97 with all its right adjustment in it and the 97 grouped great. Just
far right as would be expected.

I'm truly puzzled, the gun shoots far to the left but there's not alot of visible barrel drift. Its there, but not alot. Usually I can see one this far out of alignment. I'm hesitant to align the barrel until I got the thing worked out. It's not an easy to come by rifle.

 

[EquivalentDelta]

Barrels like bullets/ pellets for who knows what reason. But I do know they like what they like and don't like what they don't like. Looks as though it’s fine with the AA8.4. If your shooting outdoors with out flags its a total crap shoot. A very light breeze you can hardly feel becomes deadly when in reverses. You did not even feel it. Even a couple strips of flagging tape can be a big help.

This is why I shoot 18gr JSBs.

The wind has a harder time moving those dump trucks.

 

[KyPop]

This is why I shoot 18gr JSBs.

The wind has a harder time moving those dump trucks.

My advice was going to be similar to yours. When I first starting shooting airguns about 15 years ago, I bought every different brands size, shape, weight, etc. Finally I decided to just buy JSB for every airgun in the standard weights for .177, .22 and .25 then tailor the airgun to the pellet as best as possible. I currently have 7 airguns and shoot JSB in all of them. This simplification may not work for everyone or every airgun but it has saved me tons of grief.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

One thing you could try. Probably already have. Some stock to receiver configurations just do not yield a good cheek weld. I have had giver-uppers that when removing the scope and going to irons (peep) I found them very accurate. Could be be eye to scope issues. But for you Ron, don’t get sand paper anywhere near that stock. lol
oh ya, Happy Easter everyone!

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

One other thing to try. It’s cheap and very effective. Fun to. FleaBay. Free shipping.

 

[JEFFPPC]

The H&N Baracuda 8's fit snug in my barrels, it's worth a try to test these they're not expensive compared to others. The JSB's are all over the place in size, I have the 4.52 and 4.53 exacts but they just don't perform as of late.

For whatever it's worth I have a Tx200, 300s, LGU, 2-D75s and the best pellet shooting 20m and 25yd groups indoors is the JSB 4.52.Close second in several of these is the Air Arms 8.4. The crazy thing to me about head size preference is the total lack of quality control or consistency on head size of any and all the pellets I have checked. If I sort aby weight and head size at time groups may be marginally tighter but its a tiny bit and not always. I gave up. l shoot out of the tin.My time is worth more than sorting out the really crazy occasional pellet.