by B.B. Pelletier
I had a great day at the range. Shot two rifles for record and tested two other products – one of which you’ll read about tomorrow!
What looks like the next day to you was actually a separation of nearly a week since I last shot the Hammerli Storm Elite, so a lot of things had to be remembered. One was the lousy too-heavy trigger on this beast. It feels like it may lighten up but I don’t have the thousand shots to invest. However, I think some of you may want to do it, based on what I saw.
When we last talked…
The short-range sight-in you read about yesterday saved me bundles of time at the big range. The rifle was already on target and I knew one good pellet, the Crosman Premier 7.9-grain, as well as five that weren’t worth trying again. Also, the barrel was clean, so I was ready to shoot in no time.
At the range
The day was perfect. No wind and clear skies. I had an additional “helper” I will tell you about tomorrow that really aided me in getting the groups I got. I set the target out at 30 yards, and you will remember that the gun is scoped with a Leapers Bug Buster 2 6×32 scope.
First shots
The scope was right on for elevation but shooting a bit to the left, so I dialed it in and proceeded to shoot some nice groups under an inch. My heartbeat was moving the reticle about a quarter to half an inch. I tell you that because a spring gun has to be floated on the palm of your hand to limit the biological input from your body. The recoil and vibration of the gun at firing is attenuated by your body, which alters the direction of recoil. This is what makes spring guns so difficult to shoot, compared to pneumatics and gas guns.
Coupled with that, the Storm Elite is a breakbarrel which is also sensitive about WHERE it is held. I had determined that a point just ahead of the balance point worked for this rifle, so no time was lost looking for another sweet spot.
Then, I discovered a fantastic device that tightened the groups by about 40 percent more than I was holding! You’ll hear about it tomorrow. But the bottom line is this – the Storm Elite can shoot 3/4″ groups at 30 yards all day long with good pellets. Yes, the Premiers are good, but so are Gamo Match wadcutters! I shot a group of four into 0.631″. The fifth shot was a called flier (the rifle slipped as the shot went off) and opened the group to more than two inches, but I feel confident telling you it was a bad shot and not the rifle’s fault. I would have shot more of these but time was heavy because I had lots of guns to test.
Five Premiers at 30 yards went into this 0.755″ group. The Euro is for scale for our European readers.
Four Gamo Match wadcutters made this 0.631″ group. The fifth shot was a called flier and opened the group to over 2″.
The rifle does kick some and vibrates briefly, but on the whole it is a well-behaved spring gun. If they could just do something about that horrible, heavy trigger!
Bottom line
The Storm Elite is a keeper. Bfore you ask, that makes the regular Storm a keeper, as well, because finish is all that separates the two.
B.B. I’m trying to learn everything I can about my air rifle (Beeman imported RX-1) made by weihrauch, model- HW90. I bought this in .177 cal. and want to order a .25 cal. barrel. I am told the power plant is the same for all calibers (?) is this true? I know this isn’t the right place to post a question but couldn’t find where to do it. Thanks.
As far as I know the powerplant is the same for all calibers. That’s the way it is with Theoben gas spring rifles.
B.B.
BB, this whole trigger issue is driving me nuts. So many solid guns have lousy triggers. What I’m wondering is, why does a gun like the IZH-61 have such a nice, light trigger, but an otherwise good gun like the Sheridan Silver Streak has such a heavy pull? Is it the difference in power, the difference in powerplant, or just a business decision?
Airdog,
Business decision. The IZH is made in Russia, where the product liability laws are not as stringent as here.
B.B.
B.B.,
Im planning on puying an RWS 48, i saw at http://www.dianaairguns.com a catalogue that showed a RWS M-48A, which has an adjustable cheekpiece and some other diferent features. Do you know if they still make them?, if yes, where in the internet can I find one?
Secondly, I have heard that the RWS 48 comes with a plastic trigger and i dont like the idea at all, specially because it is a high quality rifle and it couldnt have cost much. Is there any way to change the plastic trigger for a steel one?
Finally, How usefull would a peep sight be in this rifle for shooting from 30 – 80 feet or even up to 50 yards?, would I need to change the front sight post for a hooded target-style or would it work well with the standard one, what peep sight do you recomend?
Thank You
Alex
peep sight + 50 yards? NO NO NO!
I saw a groundhog at 50 yards and did not even take aim. Thats a long way. If i had my condor with its 32x scope or my theoben with a 6x scope. I could have leveled it without thinking about it. You need some mag.
-sumo
the 52 and 54 have steel triggers.
-sumo
I was surprised to see in this review that you were using wadcutters at such a long distance. About how far out do you generally recomend shooting a wadcutter before you begin to lose accuracy?
Sumo, Thanks for the advice, could you tell me what is the longest distance a peep sight would work well?
alex
B.B.,
I certainly want to hear about this device that tightens groups by 40% !
Pestbgone
how many pumps can you put in a benjamin 342?
bb,
How do you take the rear sight of the 392 off? Thanks.
B.B.
You sure have me wondering about that device also. I hope you say its a tackdrive shooting bag. I ordered one the other day and it showed up at my door yesterday morning. I read somewhere on the internet that a person was having good luck with it. I didn’t have great luck with my mtm predator shooting rest , but then its on a tote thats not big enough.
I had a vision last night that it would be great to have a shooting rest that didn’t change your your point of impact when shooting with out the rest. It could have different density of interchangeable foam. lol It sounds like a pipe dream.
Back to reality I have a Gamo trigger I need to take out and put Richards insert in.
Alex,
Pleas ask a question in only one place. I answered you on the other post.
B.B.
Dylan,
Treat a 342 like a 392 and put no more than 8 pumps in.
B.B.
392 rear sight,
The feet must be pried away from the barrel – just like it looks.
This isn’t a job for a hobby gunsmith. It can leave stratches and dents on the barrel.
B.B.
Alex,
i dont like peep sights in general because they are not as effective as a scope. A gun is =ly as acurate with a peep sight, scope, red dot, laser on it. Its just as acurate with a unsighted scope as it is with a sighted scope. Its just a hell of a lot easier to shoot a gun accuratly with a sighted in scope. If you have to have a peep sight thats ok but it wont be much good past 20 yards.
What type of shooting will you be doing? Hunting, i hope not with a peep sight. the 48 is a great gun far past 20 yards. Its not a match.
sorry, that was sumo
-sumo
BB – they DID do something about the trigger – it’s called the “Razor”.
It seems that Norica has 2 triggers, the cheap one they use on
the Storm (and the Beeman GH1050) and a better one that’s used on the Razor and GS1000.
The AR1000 you liked so much is a cloned Norica with the better trigger.
The Beeman SS1000’s come in 2 flavors – the cheaper ones clone the Hammerli Storm/GH1050 action and trigger, the better ones are essentially the same as the AR1000.
I also believe that the basic powerplants are the same in all the above rifles (bore, stroke, spring).
Vince,
If that’s true, Umarex made a stupid mistake putting the cheaper (I assume) trigger on the Storm Elite. They would have had a world-beater instead of a flawed air rifle.
B.B.
Yup. No doubt about it.
What kills me is the fact that the better trigger can’t be THAT much more expensive to make – heck, the entire AR1000 (with the nice trigger) can be had for under $90… and its trigger is absolutely no worse than the original Spanish version (as on my Beeman S1). So why not have the Chinese make the trigger groups – and stick ’em on ALL the rifles, even the Spansish made ones?
Then the “upscale” versions of this rifle wouldn’t really be much different (except for the gingerbread stuff) – and they might have a harder time commanding stiffer prices for ’em.
Just my guess, anyway…