by B.B. Pelletier
Apparently, I really screwed up yesterday’s report. First, I didn’t tell you that the distance I shot was 21 yards. Second, I didn’t give group sizes. That was intentional, because after three years of using the NRA official 50-foot smallbore target in my tests, I thought everyone knew what size it is. But they don’t. The two groups I showed measured 0.4″ and 0.606″ c-t-c. The black bull measures 1.573″ across.
I use that target because there are 11 bulls on a target sheet and I go through them fast. So it’s a matter of economy. The target paper is large enough to record a pellet strike at longer range during sight-in, which I’m constantly doing. The bull is a little larger than a 10-meter air rifle bull, so I can see it clearly at 50 yards through a 9x scope or better.
Today, I’ll continue the test of the Gamo Compact 10-meter target pistol. This will be the velocity test. I learned some interesting things about velocity in this session. Also, a warning from the Pyramyd AIR techs: don’t use Raptors or any other non-lead metallic pellets in this pistol. If you have synthetic (plastic) target pellets, they’ll be okay, but PBAs get stuck in the bore, and I’m assuming other potmetal pellets will, too. Apparently, that’s how I came to get this pistol, which wasn’t brand-new.
RWS Hobbys
I started with RWS Hobby pellets because they’re the lightest lead pellet commonly available. They’re also wadcutters, which I recommend exclusively in a target pistol like the Compact. The only point of this gun is to punch round holes in paper targets, so all other pellet shapes are less desirable. You can use them, of course. They won’t hurt the gun. But only the wadcutter will do what the gun was designed to do–make crisp holes in paper.
The first string of Hobbys averaged 358 f.p.s., with a spread from 357 to 362. That’s a little slower than the 400 f.p.s. Gamo advertises for the gun, but hold off on those critiques. All guns vary a little, so you must allow for that. And something VERY interesting happened during this test. As I shot other heavier wadcutters, they were going as fast or faster than the Hobbys. So fast, in fact, that I retested the Hobbys at the end of the session. That’s about 50 shots later. Lo and behold, they now averaged 370 f.p.s., with a spread from 363 to 376. So, in 50 shots the average velocity moved up 12 f.p.s.
Do you remember what I told you about exercising that pump piston seal with the IZH 46? Well, it seems to work with the Compact, as well. No reason it shouldn’t, as the design and technology is identical for both guns. I just never experienced it with a Compact before. And, there’s something else. I learned that if you close the pump lever rapidly the gun will shoot faster than if you close it slowly. How you close the pump lever affects the velocity of the gun by 5-10 f.p.s. That’s worth knowing if you shoot a single-stroke.
Gamo Match
The first string I shot with 7.5-grain Gamo Match averaged 356 f.p.s., with a spread from 346 to 363. When I came back and reran the string, the average climbed to 364, with a spread from 363 to 365. Not only did the pellets go faster, the velocity was also much more consistent when the powerplant was warmed up.
Crosman Supermatch
You can’t buy Crosman Supermatch anymore but you can buy Crosman Premier Super Match, which are the same pellets. They just changed the name and packaging a few years ago. These 7.9-grain wadcutters averaged 353 f.p.s., with an extremely tight spread from 351 to 355. Second time around, the average climbed to 357 with a spread from 357 to 358. That’s right! A 1 f.p.s. spread. I’ve encountered that tight a spread before with good single-strokes, so it isn’t as much of a surprise as it is a confirmation that the Compact is made well.
H&N Finale Match
The H&N Finale Match pellets alerted me to the fact that the pistol was speeding up as I shot. They weigh 7.6 grains, which is 0.6 grains heavier than the RWS Hobbys, yet they averaged 366 f.p.s., with a spread from 363 to 369. I knew if they were going that fast, the Hobbys would have sped up, too, so I went back and retested them. I didn’t retest the H&Ns because they came at the point of the testing where the gun seemed to be going as fast as it could.
All this shooting has given the trigger a chance to lighten up with the lubrication I did in Part 1. Depending on where the pull gauge is put, the trigger pull ranges from 32 ozs. to 46 ozs. At the bottom of the trigger blade, it’s the lightest, so when I shoot the gun, I position my finger there. There’s a groove across the center of the trigger blade, which is where the official will locate the pull weights (they don’t use gauges in a match) to test for compliance with the 500-gram minimum-pull regulation. You don’t have to locate your trigger finger there when you shoot the match.
B.B. I use Beeman Laser pellets with my Compact and got 410 fps (ave). These are a 6.5 gr pellet. And yes, the Raptors don’t work in the Compact or the Izzy. Don
Don,
Thanks for that report. Lasers are lighter, so they would go faster.
B.B.
Hmmm… pot metal pellets. Any clue as to why they’re so expensive? It appears that the primary base metal (zinc, I believe) is actually cheaper than lead. Is it an extra “premium” to enjoy the dubious benefits of extremely light pellets?
Vince
Hey BB, Been ‘in country’ for a while, so thought I’d buzz in. I’ve noticed, that my Sierra will shoot some pellets straight through both sides of an empty V8 juice can, and some pellets won’t. But my Benji will shoot through both sides regardless of pellet type. What vexes me is that the benjis’ rated at 800 fps, and the Sierra is rated at 1000 fps. I know the Sierra is close to what the specks indicate (shooting crosman silver eagles always puts out a SS crack!!!), so I’m satisfied that the performance is up to snuff. Can barrel length and/or longer time in the barrels cause pellets to vary in speed or impact strength? I’ve really grown fond of the Sierras’ performance, and considering the plastic sights left me with a small case of “buyers remorse”, I consider it money well spent. Thomas
PS I did forget to mention that I usually fill the cans with water first, so I’m not sure it that may cause the difference in pellet behavior. tjk
Hi BB,
Still waiting for you to show us How to pellgun oil the pump head of the 46. Thanks,
Thomas,
You really need a chronograph. I can’t comment of cracks and can penetrations.
Filling can with water makes a difference, of course.
B.B.
46,
Next installment.
B.B.
B.B.–Scott298–last week I sighted in my scope and at the end of the shooting session I had put 5 shots dead center-I locked the adjustment nobs in place so they wouldn,t move around. Today I went to shoot and the pellets were striking the next target up. I use the gamo paper targets with shoot-n-c stickers. These are arranged 3 across and 3 down making for 9 targets just waiting for pettets. It took some time to get the pellets back on target then after several shots they were going all over the place. I must of adjusted that leapers scope over a dozen times- ran approx200 cph thru the gun and when I go back next time to shoot I know I’ll still be off target because they still were not grouping well. The scope is a leapers3x12mounted on my rws350 with a b square adjustable mount. I grabbed the gun and scope everywhere and everything was solid so I know it wasn’t due to a loose screw-any Ideas? Scott298
Scott298,
Is the vertical elevation close to the top or to the center of the range?
Are you using the artillery hold?
B.B.
B.B.–Scott298-vertical elevation is on center and I am using tha artillary hold on a shooting bench with a 50lb bag of sand under my hand-and I am making sure that none of the rifle is touching anything other than my hand-Scott298 flinging them all over the place
Scott298,
Have you installed a muzzle brake recently, by any chance?
B.B.
BB,
I was wondering if you have tried the RWS Basic Diabolos lately. My Hammerli 490 actually shoots them better than Hobby pellets, though I have no idea why that should be. I bought a load of Basics to practice, then thought I would be trading up to Hobby (plus some others), but I think I’ll stick with the Basics for less precise shooting. Just thought it might be a good one to try in lower-powered guns like the one you’re testing today.
B.B.–Scott298-no muzzle break yet-thinking of a custom-know anyone? The rwd 350 brake is on another blog initialed SS. No idea onn what’s going wacky on my rifle besides me?
BG_Farmer,
Isn’t that ironic! That was the niche Hobbys used to occupy.
B.B.
Scott298,
Nothing comes to mind yet. I’ll cogitate on it.
B.B.
Hi BB,
Thanks for answering my scope question yesterday. The one you linked me too was a little out of my price range. I looked over the scopes and i think i can deal with the mil-dots. Im thinking the basic leapers 4-16×50
/product/leapers-5th-gen-4-16x50ao-rifle-scope-illuminated-red-green-mil-dot?a=1808
With this mount
/product/leapers-accushot-1-pc-mount-w-1-rings-high-11mm-dovetail?a=636
This will be mounted on my CF-X so obviosly i have to worry about the length. Do you think it will work?
I know you hate scope questions but i promise this will be my last for a while. As always, thanks
Nate in Mass
Hello Mr. B.B.
Great Blog. This is a bit off topic.
I just noticed the price of the TX200 Left Handed Walnut at Pyramyd AIR has gone up considerably. I hope this does not reflect a high demand perpetrated by your super positive reviews of this air gun. Especially when you start talking about the $3000 of quality it has. I’m hoping to get one sometime this year but the cost is going up fast. Could you please refrain from praising this great rifle for a while? I need a break. Thank you again for all the great advice you give here and all the patience you have with silly requests….
TXwantbe
Scott298, I had the same problem with my 350. B.B. suggested a good cleaning with J&B Bore Paste which I didn’t have at the time. Ran a new Hoppe’s Bore Snake w/o any chemicals through the barrel and she’s now doing her normal wedding ring groups. Let me know if it works for you–thanks.
Hi BB,
Raptors get stuck in the barrel of my Beeman P17 too. I have to re-pump and fire the gun again to get it to spit the stuck one out. Then the velocity is only around 275 fps instead of the 370 I usually get (mile high+ altitude performance degradation).
I believe that you’re getting a few more fps from your fast pump on the gamo compact, and any other single pump gun, because of the extra heat built up from the faster air compression. If I remember the permutations of Boyle’s law correctly, that will give it a little extra pressure.
/Dave
Nate,
I think those two items should work well together for you.
B.B.
TXwannabe,
I wish I had that much influence! But I’ll try to cool it for a while.
I notice that left-hand beech stocks don’t seem to be listed. Perhaps the problem is the cost of wood, because it shouldn’t cost more to make a left-hand stock.
B.B.
BB,
Thanks so much. Ill be sure to let you know how it works out.
Nate in Mass