Home Blog  
Education / Training 10-meter rifle – Part 1

10-meter rifle – Part 1

by B.B. Pelletier

01-24-08-shooter

She’s 10 and that’s an FWB P70 Junior rifle she’s shooting. This 10-meter competitor placed well at the 2007 NRA/Pyramyd AIR National Airgun Championships in Akron.

Several readers requested this report, and I’m glad to finally start it. Before we begin, allow me to define the sport as I will report it. Ten-meter air rifle competition is divided into men’s and women’s divisions. Men fire a course of 60 + 10 shots per event and women fire 40 + 10. Men have 105 minutes for the first 60 shots and women have 75 minutes for their first 40 shots. I will explain what “+ 10 shots” means in a later report.

The U.S. National Rifle Association (NRA) also has 10-meter competition, but their rules and equipment differ significantly from the formal rules of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF). The ISSF rules prevail in the World Cup and Olympic competition, and that’s what I’ll report.

Shooting position
The only shooting position in ISSF competition is standing. The NRA uses kneeling and prone as well as standing; but at the world level, the competitors stand.

Target
The ISSF target is also used by the NRA, but the hits are scored differently. The NRA credits a pellet hole that touches the highest scoring line, while the ISSF requires that the line be broken by the pellet hole to score. Actually, in ISSF competition, targets as we know them are not used. Instead, they use a paper roll in a target frame that is instrumented with three sound transducers. The transducers can detect where the pellet tore through the paper by triangulating the sound of the paper tearing. Then, they plot the hole on a standard target overlay, and it appears on a video monitor at the shooter’s position. This method has been demonstrated accurate to the thousandth of an inch, so arguments about scoring are a thing of the past.

01-24-08-tgt

This is the real deal – a German 10-meter rifle target sized pretty close to the actual size. The dot in the center is the “10-ring.” The paper is a stiff, tan non-reflective paper that doesn’t tear along any grain. Pellet holes are as clean as they can be.

The shooter sees a black spot that looks like a target and functions like one because of the electronic system in place. Not only is scoring easier, all tabulation of scores is entered into software, so what was once a laborious project is eliminated, plus the scoring and tabulation is faster and more accurate.

Caliber
The .177 caliber is mandatory. All scoring equipment (optical, mechanical and electronic) is built around .177 caliber and nothing else is permitted in ISSF competition. All guns and related equipment (pellet boxes, etc.) are available in .177 caliber only.

Wadcutter pellets
Wadcutter pellets are the only type of pellet used by 10-meter shooters. This follows the bullyeye pistol crowd that converted to wadcutter and semi-wadcutter bullets decades before world-class airgun competition commenced in the 1960s. When the scoring was done mechanically, a crisp hole left by a wadcutter was essential.

01-24-08-pellets

There are many variations on the theme, but all wadcutter pellets have a flat nose to cut a perfect circle in target paper.

01-24-08-holes

Hole on the left cut by a wadcutter, domed pellet cut the hole on the right. Which would you rather score?

Velocities
Although velocity isn’t regulated, per se, no 10-meter target rifle shoots a pellet faster than 600 f.p.s., with the average muzzle velocity being around 575 f.p.s. Velocity for rifles has declined since the 1960s, when the first true target air rifles were built. In the days of the FWB 300 and the Anschutz 250, the muzzle velocity was more on the order of 640 f.p.s., but a shift to CO2 and precharged pneumatics has brought about a reduction in speed, which also conserves the number of shots from a fill of gas or air. Having a lower velocity that match officials can rely on has made the construction of ranges and pellet traps easier, plus it’s made it easier for insurance companies to write policies for events.

Powerplants
Ten-meter guns no longer have spring-piston powerplants. The Chinese BS-4 is the last hanger-on, but you won’t see one in any national competition. In the 1960s, spring guns were very popular, but when CO2 rifles came on the scene, the springers vanished from the world scene. Clubs still have them, but top shooters prefer their own rifles and no longer choose springers.

CO2 is still used, but fewer and fewer shooters choose it as time goes by. It’s one of those things where a shooter has a rifle that shoots and it happens to be CO2. They aren’t about to change because the rifle does so well. There’s still a small contingent of single-stroke pneumatic users, which keeps rifles like the FWB 603 on the market. But, PCPs have really taken over as the powerplant of choice.

I plan to cover the rifles in some detail. I’ll also address sights, shooting equipment such as jackets and gloves, and shooting positions. Please tell me what else you’d like me to address.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

71 thoughts on “10-meter rifle – Part 1”

  1. B.B.

    I was a bit worried when the blog did not come up earlier. Looks like I’m getting addicted.

    I love this topic! Thanks. I will be particularly interested in the rifles. I hear enough about the FWB P70 that I get the sense it is something of a staple of junior competitive shooters. Is it the entry level gun at the Olympic level?

    On the subject of pellet type, I can see that wadcutters make a cleaner hole, but the domed makes my groups look smaller 🙂

    I can’t think of anything to add to your list of topics, but you might consider doing something comparable for match pistol shooting. I’m finding this to be a very challenging and unforgiving event that approaches purity in shooting skill.

    Matt61

    P.S. I would be interested in hearing about the Air Arms S200 if you can work it in. It would be nice to hear about Czech worksmanship and see if they can preserve accuracy for their repeating version.

  2. Matt61,

    Be careful of your model names. You’ll never SEE an FWB P70 JUNIOR at the Olympics. But the FWB P70 is one of the number one guns to compete there. At $3,000, it;s certainly not entry-level!

    Big difference between the P70 and the P70 Junior. Though it is all in the size, the Junior doesn’t make it above the national competition.

    I may get around to test the S200.

    B.B.

  3. What’s a good entry level target rifle that’s under the $600 mark? I know of the daisy 753-853 rifles and Crosman Challenger. Is there anything else out there? I recall that IZH used to list a single pump pneumatic rifle for target, but I can’t find it anywhere.

  4. Knowing you’re a better shot than most of us but probably not world 10-meter class, it would be interesting to see you report on your same-day, same-range offhand results using, say, a Daisy 853 (modern, cheap & pretty accurate), a Diana 75 or FWB 300 (state of the art from the spring era) and a full-on modern FWB 70.

    I ask for selfish reasons, since I don’t or have access to the high-$$ hardware … but bet I wouldn’t do any better with it than I would with my 853 🙂

    Thanks for keeping this blog a must-read.

  5. I’d love to know more about 10 meter in general. I haven’t found anything on the Internet that explains (or even better, illustrates) shooting positions.

    I’ve been having a blast with my 953 (Crosman Diopter sights) and just discovered how much difference there is in pellet choice.

    Now I want to know how to shoot more accurately.

  6. I have 2 questions I would like to see addressed:

    1) What are the mechanics of aiming below the bullseye (on the edge of black and white circle)? I understand it is to distinguish the sights on the target, but is it not more difficult to set the sights so they hit the 10? Does it make any sence to do it this way? Would it not be better if only the bullseye where black so you could actually aim at what you were trying to hit?

    2) advise on entry-level guns

  7. Better entry-level rifle,

    Okay, certainly the Air Arms S200T qualifies as what you want. I think the S400 MPR is priced too high to call it an entry-level gun.

    Yes IZH does/did make a 10-meter target single-stroke rifle, but EAA, the exclusive importer, doesn’t bring it in.

    Another possibility, and perhaps the best one of all, is to buy a second or third generation older target rifle that was once considered world class. An FWB 600, for example, or even a Walther LGR. Both are single-strokes that could win at the Olympic level, if anyone shot them there.

    For $500-700 you get a really nice target rifle.

    Another option is to wait a few months for the AirForce Edge to hit the market. It’s coming out before mid 2008 and the price should be good. It is made for NRA Sporter-class competition, but it will hold its own with the S200.

    B.B.

  8. Paper-puncher,

    I have actually done what you suggest, believe it or not. When I wrote The Airgun Letter I tested the Diana 75, FWB 300S and Daisy 853 – not on the same day, but within the same short span of time. The 853 produced groups of about 0.30″. The FWB produced groups around 0.20, and so did the 75 until I got used to it. Then it started shooting smaller groups for me. Those group sizes equate to scores around 8.5, on average.

    The 853 is too light for an adult to do well with. It can shoot wonderfully, but most adults need about 3-5 more pounds of weight to hold them steady. Also, the trigger flat SUCKS for offhand 10-meter shooting. It goes off at 3-4 pounds, while the others trip at 20-30 grams.

    That trigger weight is intentional because the gun is intended for younger, less experienced shooter who might occasionally let their minds wander.

    B.B.

  9. Boris,

    I did a report on front post sight pictures already. It’s here:

    /blog/2006/8/teach-a-person-to-shoot-part-3/

    and here:

    /blog/2006/7/teach-a-person-to-shoot-part-2/

    But nobody uses a post front sight for shooting 10-meter rifle these days. That went the way of the dodo about 20 years ago. Now it’s a floating ring front sight.

    So are you maybe trying to learn how to do something that people don’t do anymore?

    As for advice on entry-level 10-meter guns, what do you want to know?

    B.B.

  10. BB,

    After trying with non-magnifying sights, I feel like I know why you can’t aim for the “white”(.5mm) 10 “spot”, but a segment on the sigthting systems used at the upper levels and the various methods of employment (i.e., the sight pictures) would be great. When I get to my 400/600 target (in a while), I’m hoping to find a used FWB300 or the like.

    For me, there is no interest in non-offhand positions (i.e., prone and kneeling), but realistically, there may be some interest if it opens more local opportunities and stimulates interests for shooters. Even 3-P is better than benchrest, anyway:).

    Shooting offhand with non-optical sights is the way to enjoy the sport and challenge yourself, not the equipment. Unfortunately, its embarassing for novices (and those who should know better) to post “lousy” groups, so all you see on the internet usually is benchrested, scoped groups. What once was a technique for load development has become a sport in itself, which is fine, but not interesting to those of us who were taught to shoot on our “hind legs”.

    Thanks for a great start to a good series — amazingly, there is very little information available elsewhere on what must be one of the most challenging and “pure” shooting sports since the 1800’s. It should have originated in the US, but at least it came from somewhere.

  11. B.B.: LOL on the 853 trigger comment. My habit is to pull-out about 3 lbs. of that slack before final target acquisition, then pull that last lb at Go Time. Works like a charm at my skill level, and I don’t seem to do any better with a 747 (500g trigger) or R7 (trigger set somewhere south of a pound).

    For some reason I find it as easy to hold the 853 as steady (using all the buttstock spacers) as my 9 lb. TX200.

    Some day I’ll have to find a good FWB 300 or Diana 75. Do you have a preference between the two from a maintenance/longevity standpoint?

    Thanks.

  12. B.B.,

    Thanks for the first installment and I’ll be looking for the others!

    BTW, I made it out to the range again last weekend and tried out the Crosman Premier and JSB Exacts in my R7. I was shooting from the standing position, 33 feet, open sights but after trying them against the Bearcubs and Lasers I came to the conclusion that I could come to no conclusion as to which pellet worked best! The biggest factor was obviously my shooting skill, not the pellet. To really get down to the nitty-gritty of which pellet works best in my gun I’m going to need to scope it and shoot it from resting. A little birdy told me I just might be getting a scope for my birthday in mid-February so that will help. 🙂

    But the day at the range was not a total waste. I started focusing on my standing technique and was able to get 10 pellets in the target area of an official 10-meter target for all pellet types so I was pretty happy with that for the first standing attempt. Of course there was also the occasional shot that was way off too LOL.

  13. BB,

    There’s a fragmentary comment from you below my post…don’t know why you would think I would object to a history of 10-meter, so I’m assuming it is directed elsewhere, but I can’t figure out where. Feel free to delete this post.

  14. BG_Farmer,

    That fragment was cut off of this.

    You want to know where 10-meter target rifle shooting came from? It so happens that it came from a class of rifles that are among my favorites. I have written a lot about them and I have owned two, so I will be glad to mincorporate this into the report.

    You are going to get the history of the 10-meter shooting sports.

    B.B.

  15. B.B.

    Perhaps you could do something on the “dynamic sight picture” by which I mean the following. I know what a correct sight picture is supposed to look like with the various sights; the problem is getting there. After letting the sights come in from different directions, I discovered that, for me, it works best to put scope crosshairs just above the target then drop them down at the right moment. If the sights have to move, they may as well move in a predictable way is my thinking here. I’ve also noticed that things never get better for me as I wait. So, I’ve started reducing the time before firing until now there’s almost no time at all. Once I have the reticle poised, I pretty much drop it and shoot. This is for sitting and standing–not a prone rest.

    So, I’m wondering if this is headed in the right direction or whether it is the vice of “sniping” or some other kind of wrong turn. The group sizes are good, but at 20 feet I can’t really tell much. Thanks.

    Matt61

  16. trc

    If you’re going to scope your R7, I recommend considering the Leapers 6x mini Bug Buster. It is sturdy, light, well-made, and very compact. The cross-hairs are just a little thick but should be fine for sporting purposes. It enabled a huge improvement with my IZH 61–which is saying something considering how accurate the rifle is anyway.

    Needless to say, you should defer to B.B. especially since I don’t own an R7. But I think the scope is good for a small rifle.

    Matt61

  17. BB,

    Well, that makes sense and will be interesting.

    I seem to have a gift for mis-communicating with people (a few of whom I even like; this is why I spend most of my time with machines), so I wanted to re-iterate, that I like the first installment and am enjoying the prospect of any future 10M blogs; the skill level and consistency of the top competitors is mind-blowing. Also, I meant no offense to the bench-rest crowd (and do it myself occasionally to find out what a rifle and ammunition can do), its just nice to see something like this, too. Thanks again.

  18. dear bb

    i am a squirell hunter and have a daisy 880 which is accurate a 100 feet which is pretty good for a bb gun for me i am geting a leapers 4-16*50 scope tomorow and i am also geting b square 10101 adjustable rings i have been freting about if these rings will work on my gun or not please give me your thoughts on this. thanks!

  19. Matt61,

    I use a circular approach. That is (and this is from a bench, only) I sight, then relax. The crosshairs move, so I start “shimming” my hold until, when I relax, the crosshairs remain on target. Then I release the shot.

    For an offhand shot, coming down seems best, but again I resort to shimming for the final adjustments.

    B.B.

  20. 880,

    Wow! Don’t you think a 4-16 scope is a bit of overkill for a BB gun?

    If you have a plastic receiver, the scope mounts may not fit. I know nothing about your 880 (plastic or metal receiver) but I think this scope is a bit much for the gun.

    B.B.

  21. BB,

    One more request: one thing that probably makes these target rifles shoot so well is the stock adjustments. I think we would all benefit from seeing what adjustments are furnished on the top-end rifles and how they affect the shooter. It would also carry over to “practical” shooting: e.g., many people like the looks of a “Monte Carlo” or Tyrolean stock, but there are more considerations than looks alone. Also weighting and balance. Sorry if you implied these topics in coverage of the rifles, just wanted to make an explicit request.

  22. B.B.

    I’ve wondered about this word “shim” which I’ve seen often in the context of airgun parts. There it seems to mean something like “trim down.” And I’m guessing that your sense is related as in “trace corrections.” If so, that makes sense to me. I’ve found that if I’m too rigid with my vertical drop, the shot gets less accurate.

    I’ll give your benchrest method a try. In the prone rest, there’s no need to drop the sights down, but I’m a bit lost, and the grouping is not as good as it should be.

    Matt61

  23. 880,
    I have an older Daisy 881 with a metal receiver and rifled barrel. I shoot pellets only from it. I mounted a Tasco 3x9x32 AO scope in standard height 3/8″ dovetail rings. Its a wonderfull combo at 10 yards or less.

    Joe G from Jersey

  24. BG_Farmer,

    Yes, ergonomics are all the rage today. I remember 20 years ago when we thought we had seen the last development that was possible, and now those guns look like dinosaurs.

    And top-quality sights. I got that from an earlier comment.

    B.B.

  25. Matt61,

    Try my method. It works. And try resting the rifle on the backs of your fingers.

    Now when you shoot a PCP, you can use a double bag setup in which the rifle is rested in two bags – front and rear. You can get a firearm rested so it never touches the shooter except at the trigger and pistol grip.

    B.B.

  26. The gun club that I belong to holds several shooting competitions and leagues each year, and 10-meter air rifle is one of them. I’m currently getting ready for my first beginners level three gun comp, but I do want to try out the air gun and rim fire competitions as well. I was thinking of getting a Crosman Challenger and participating in the beginners or novice brackets. I do believe that the shooting leagues which end with compositions, held by my gun club use NRA rules though, and all but a handful of “big” matches are unofficial and unranked outside the local league.

    mech

  27. B.B.

    That backs of fingers method looks like it could be painful for a gun with a big recoil, but for my guns it should be fine.

    I had heard of the two bag rest, but I thought that the butt still touched the shoulder. This sounds as a good as a machine rest.

    Matt61

  28. Hi BB,

    This is an interesting subject. Especially since I have about 10 yards in my basement. Maybe with some rearranging it could be stretched to 10 meters. Is that measured from the muzzle or the toes? Seems I remember you measured from the muzzle, but I couldn’t remember which blog I read it in.

    OT: I wonder if there should be a(nother useless) study funded by Uncle Sam to see whether airgun blogs are psychologically addictive. I seem to get really bummed when I don’t have enough time to read my “rounds” after work.

    Thanks,
    /Shooter

  29. BB,
    Shooting events never get enough press or blog time. So post away.

    It is great that so many girls and women are finding this sport. We need every one of them and are happy to have them.

    All information is welcome.
    DB

  30. I shoot ten meter for fun, have two rifles that I use, one is a AR2078A that has had a few modifications done to it and the other is a EM-612 both are made in China. The AR2078A will shoot almost as good as the $1000 dollar EM-612, I can’t shoot as well as either of them……….

  31. /Shooter,

    I will blog how to set up a range, but this article will get you headed in the right direction:

    Where is the 10 meters measured from? On a formal range, it’s a
    line in front of all shooters that is 10 meters from the targets.

    The shooters all stand in a straight line,
    but because people come in different sizes, the actual muzzles of both rifles and pistols are never exactly
    10 meters from the target. The line I referred to is an imaginary line that attempts to position all muzzles at 10 meters.

    B.B.

  32. Derrick,

    Ah! Running Target, the politically incorrect sport of airguns.

    Running stag became running bore when Europeans were offended at the thought of shooting a Red Deer. They still do it, of course, but they don’t name their sports after it any more.

    So running boar took its place, until the Olympic Committee (I believe) got too many complaints about shooting at boars. Never mind that the sport has always shot at PAPER friggin’ targets for the entire 20th century! God forbid that we should even THINK of shooting animals! (Osama Bin Laden sight-in targets excepted, of course.

    So it transformed again, into running target. And it lost a lot of momentum at that time. However, it isn’t completely dead (excuse me – expired) yet, and I might just give you guys a look at it.

    Derrick, I appoint you as the official person to badger me until I deliver on this promise. Give me several weeks head start, please.

    B.B.

  33. Note to paper puncher,

    I have a couple 10-meter spring piston match guns, a Diana 75 T01 and an Anschutz LG 380. While I haven’t had a bit of problem with either rifle, I can forsee that the double(opposing)piston arrangement in the Diana will complicate future repairs. When the Diana 75 rifle fires, there are two springs and two pistons that more in opposite directions (remember equal and opposite reactions cancel each other)so the rifle remains motionless. The Anschutz LG 380 and Feinwerkbau 300 rifles both have sliding actions that move rearward slightly when they fire, cancelling any recoil. It’s simple–and very effective. The Feinwerkbau 300 rifle should also have better parts availability as there are more of these guns out there.

    Derrick

  34. Thanks for the home range link, BB. I’ll look forward to that blog.

    All right, Derrick! Way to go! Bug away, because I’m still planning on that Izh 46M purchase, and I’ll be needing that info!

    /Shooter

  35. I think this 10 meter introduction you are doing is fantastic! I would like to see everything covered to take a first time air gunner through their first competition, including all the gear and preparation. A follow up to this series could be something not quite as detailed explaining the NRA version that includes the other shooting positions.

    My question for the moment is until I can purchase an Air Force Edge, which looks to be an excellent entry level rifle, what can I purchase in the meantime to start training. Something cheap that I can let my 9 year old shoot. I am thinking a Daisy 953 target pro with a peep sight, or the izh-61. Which would you recommend and why.

    kenFZ6

  36. kenFZ6 ,

    I would pick the Daisy 953 over the IZH 61 because of its more conventional style. It holds more like a target rifle and accepts aperture sights more readily.

    Also, it is a single shot, as all 10-meter target guns must be, so there is a training factor to consider.

    B.B.

  37. Ok the 953 it is, now which aperture site do you recommend? The Daisy 5899 Receiver Sight, or the Daisy Avanti Precision Rear Diopter Sight, or something totally different? And what about the front site?

    kenFZ6

  38. A better choice might be the Crosman Diopter Sights ($59) — they fit the 953 perfectly, you get the front hooded sight (which you don’t get with the equal-price Daisy), and the Crosman sight is the Spanish-made El Gamo sight, which a lot of the youth coaches feel is superior to the Chinese copy.

    Good luck!

  39. BB,

    I am new to the sport. In 10 meter rifle and pistol competition, the distance of 10 meters is measured from the muzzle to the target or from the shooter’s body to the target?

  40. Dmitri,

    It’s from the muzzle to the target, but it isn’t always exact. The shooting line is set up so competitors can’t get any closer that where their muzzles are 10 meters from the targets. Actually, there is no advantage to being a foot closer, but rules are rules.

    B.B.

  41. I am interested in 10 meter air rifle Competitions. I live in the Bronx, NY and would like to find a match to watch at first. Do you have a list of matches in my area. How can I find it on the internet?

  42. Bronx,

    Are you the same person who asked this question on the Green Laser posting? If so I can help you.

    First of all, the Daisy 853 is not well-suited to adult competition. I recommend you get a used 10-meter rifle. Plan on spending $500-600, but you might get lucky and get it for a little less.

    I want to put you in touch with a 10-meter pistol shooter who lives in Brooklyn, so I need your email address. You don’t have to post it here. Just send it to me at blogger@pyramydair.com and I will respond.

    As you probably know, New York’s Sullivan Law makes airgun ownership in the city a problem. But this contact manages to do it and he has a nertwork of other shooters who do, as well.

    So contact me.

    B.B.

  43. I didnt read all of the comments, but maybe i can help with questions. I use to shoot for a High school team and we made it to nationals. The rifles we would use were Air arms t200, t2000, Avanti air rifles, and Daisy 753 and 853. (all of which i had to fix) Please keep in mind though what we shot was Sporter. What you are talking about here is precision shooting. And there is a big difference. (usually the main difference is about 2 to 3 thousand dollars in equipment difference)Also what positions they shoot are a little different. As for the automatic scoring targets, I dont know exactly how they work. However, if you google it online you can find some you can buy. And from there you could use the product number to get a manual to look at how it works.
    Tom

  44. JGC,

    It's supposed to be 10 meters from the muzzle of the gun, but that's not how it is set up. A firing line is drawn on the floor, and shooters may not step forward of that line. Pistole shooters stand behind a table. They do this for safety, more than anything else.

    Nobody benefits because they are actually 9.825 meters from the target, any more than they get penalized for standing 10.211 meters back. The sighting shots fix the small imperfections.

    Ten meters means a nominal 10-meter distance from the muzzle to the target.

    B.B.

  45. I need to make a correction on the range/distance answer.

    ISSF rules
    – section 6.3.8.1
    Shooting distances must be measured from the firing line to the target face. …

    – section 6.3.8.4
    The firing line must be clearly marked. The range distance must be measured from the target line to the edge of the firing line nearest to the shooter. …

    The above defines the firing line.

    What is not clear in the rules, but is clear in matches is. The line is on the floor. It is the FEET that must be behind the line. The gun WILL stick out past the line.

    This pix and other on the Pilkington web site (www.pilkguns.com) are good reference pix for those of you who are interested in 10m AR and AR competition.
    http://www.pilk-uns.com/picsW/be14mar/14mar-0009.htm
    It is the shooters FEET that is behind the firing line.

  46. Indeed, GaryN, the muzzle does not come into it, not even "nominally". (In events with no weapon size constraints, such as 50 m pistol, the shooter is entirely free to have his muzzle two inches from the target, although such a gun might be a little difficult to handle.)

    Another thing I noted in the original post is the alleged difference in scoring between the NRA and ISSF rules. I have no experience with the NRA rules, never having visited the US, but from the description here ("credits a pellet hole that touches the highest scoring line") it sounds like they are exactly identical to the ISSF rules (6.8.14.1 which begins "All bullet holes are scored according to the highest value of the target scoring zone or ring that is touched by that bullet hole. If any
    part of a scoring ring […] is touched by the bullet, the shot must be scored the higher value of the two scoring zones.") So either the NRA rule is misquoted or there is no difference.

    Apart from that, great introduction! I just found this blog and I have a feeling I'll spend some time reading more of these articles.

  47. Joakim,

    Welcome. There a thousands of articles written by B.B. and many more comments by himself and the readers of this blog.

    The search engine feature is a toll that I've found very useful and so will you. There is a mind numbing amount of info at your finger tips–enjoy.

    B.B. writes a blog Mon-Fri. You can find it here at/blog//. That is where you want to ask questions and share your ideas with the rest of this air gun community. The blog you posted to was written almost a year ago.

    See you there,
    Mr B.

  48. Joakim,

    I'd also like to welcome you! Great blog and enormous amount of archived information as Mr B has said.

    The search box on the right not only can take a toll but it can be a good tool.

    kevin

  49. I have just started practicing the 10 meter air rifle and my problem is that I cant keep my arm steady. Because of that the target keeps vibrating before my eyes and that effects my aim. My instructor says this is because my left arm is not supported by my body which in turn does not support the gun that I hold. The correct way to do it would be to insert my left elbow somewhere next to my torso . The problem is I CANT find that somewhere where that elbow would fit without moving?
    can you please give me any tips how to steady my aim.
    P;S;- I use a Diana ( panther series 21 , I think) it is .177 caliber. Is it a gun that I can use in competitions

  50. Capricorn,

    if we could all hold our arms steady and not have the target pass back and forth in front of our sights, we'd all be Olympic level shooters! What you are experiencing is normal – forget about those Hollywood movies where a scope reticle unwaveringly sights on the target while the shooter's posture is off-hand, like you are trying to do. It doesn't happen.

    If your coach is experienced and knowledgeable and a good teacher, he will show you the best position – that is – what has given competitors the most success.

    While I'm far from being a top grade shooter, we do have a number of blog members who are or were superb competitors and they will be glad to help you. However, you have posted your question on a two year old blog and not many of them, other than a small core of volunteers, monitor these blogs. My suggestion is to go to the current blog and repost this. The Blog is published Monday to Friday and is always at the top but older ones will appear right after that one, for the month so take your time in finding the end of the current blog.

    As for position, it seems most of us will put our supporting arm (left if you're a righty) up against our rib cage for off-hand shooting. I'm not familiar with the Diana 21 and will have to do some research but again, your coach should be of assistance here.

    Good Luck and remember, the secret to top scores is practice, practice, practice!!!

    Fred PRoNJ

  51. Capricorn,

    Fred is correct in what he said. You can see a good picture of what you're asking about here /blog/2008/03/10-meter-rifles-part-3-the-olympic-rifles-continued/ and find some links to other parts of B.B.'s posts on 10 meter shooting.

    Mr B.

  52. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction . I will definitely re post this question at the current blog so I can get more input from more experienced shooters.
    I agree about the practice part. One of my fellow shooters told me that shooting is all about patience so I am going to be patient and hopefully my arm and my aim will improve with time.
    I have also looked at the picture at /blog/2008/03/10-meter-rifles-part-3-the-olympic-rifles-continued/ and it has given me a pretty good idea of what I should do. I am going to try and reproduce the stance next time I go shoot.
    Thanks guys

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Buy With Confidence

  • Free Shipping

    Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

    Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

    View Shipping Info

  • Shipping Time Frame

    We work hard to get all orders placed by 12 pm EST out the door within 24 hours on weekdays because we know how excited you are to receive your order. Weekends and holiday shipping times will vary.

    During busy holidays, we step our efforts to ship all orders as fast as possible, but you may experience an additional 1-2 day delay before your order ships. This may also happen if you change your order during processing.

    View Shipping Times

  • Shipping Restrictions

    It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. It's up to you to research and comply with the laws in your state, county, and city. If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

    U.S. federal law requires that all airsoft guns are sold with a 1/4-inch blaze orange muzzle or an orange flash hider to avoid the guns being mistaken for firearms.

    View Shipping Restrictions

  • Expert Service and Repair

    Get the most out of your equipment when you work with the expert technicians at Pyramyd AIR. With over 25 years of combined experience, we offer a range of comprehensive in-house services tailored to kickstart your next adventure.

    If you're picking up a new air gun, our team can test and tune the equipment before it leaves the warehouse. We can even set up an optic or other equipment so you can get out shooting without the hassle. For bowhunters, our certified master bow technicians provide services such as assembly, optics zeroing, and full equipment setup, which can maximize the potential of your purchase.

    By leveraging our expertise and precision, we ensure that your equipment is finely tuned to meet your specific needs and get you ready for your outdoor pursuits. So look out for our services when shopping for something new, and let our experts help you get the most from your outdoor adventures.

    View Service Info

  • Warranty Info

    Shop and purchase with confidence knowing that all of our air guns (except airsoft) are protected by a minimum 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted on the product page.

    A warranty is provided by each manufacturer to ensure that your product is free of defect in both materials and workmanship.

    View Warranty Details

  • Exchanges / Refunds

    Didn't get what you wanted or have a problem? We understand that sometimes things aren't right and our team is serious about resolving these issues quickly. We can often help you fix small to medium issues over the phone or email.

    If you need to return an item please read our return policy.

    Learn About Returns

Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

View Shipping Info

Text JOIN to 91256 and get $10 OFF Your Next $50+ Order!

* By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Pyramyd AIR on 91256. Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 18+ in order to receive texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.