by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
The new Colt Peacemaker is also available with ivory grips.
This report covers:
- Loading the gun
- The test
- Air Venturi Steel BBs
- H&N Smart Shot lead BBs
- Plastic BBs
- JSB Exact RS
- Why accuracy before velocity?
- Evaluation so far
It’s been a month since we first looked at the Colt Peacemaker BB revolver with the 7.5-inch barrel. In that time I thought about how I should test it for you. I think today’s test will be different and even exciting, because I am doing accuracy before velocity. I’ll tell you why as we go.
Loading the gun
We know this revolver accepts a 12-gram CO2 cartridge in the oversized grip. The grip is that of a Colt 1860 Army cap and ball revolver instead of a Single Action Army cartridge revolver, and is about one half-inch longer. It looks right on the gun, though, and feels fine. The wrench for the CO2 piercing pin is permanently attached in the left grip panel so it’s always at hand and installing the first cartridge went quick and easy.
The BBs are loaded into the rear of the 6 cartridges that are then inserted into the cylinder. Since this is a single action revolver the cylinder does not swing out to the side. It stays in place and must be loaded one cartridge at a time through the loading gate on the right side of the receiver. The BBs went in easily into the plastic chambers at the base of each cartridge.
The test
I shot off a UTG Monopod rest at 5 meters. I was seated and the barrel was rested on the monopod. The sights on this gun are silver from the nickel plating. As such, they are a little hard to see — especially the front sight blade. But I squinted and sharpened the image as best I could. I used a 6 o’clock hold, and, just to let you know — I’m back to being anal about shooting again.
Air Venturi Steel BBs
First up were Air Venturi Steel BBs. Since there were many other things to test, I let them represent all steel BBs in this test. Six of them went into a 1.514-inch group at 5 meters. The group was centered on the bull and also centered on the aim point. I think soda cans at 25 feet will have no chance!
Six Air Venturi Steel BBs went into 1.514-inches at 5 meters.
H&N Smart Shot lead BBs
I tried H&N Smart Shot lead BBs next, because I knew you readers would want to know about them. They didn’t do as well as I hoped. Six went into a group that measures 2.506-inches between centers at 5 meters. It’s the largest group of the test. They did hit the target with authority, but I don’t think they are worth considering for this BB pistol.
Six H&N Smart Shot lead BBs went into 2.506-inches at 5 meters.
Plastic BBs
Remember these? They came packaged with the ASG X9 Classic BB pistol. They didn’t work at all in that gun, but given how this revolver feeds BBs from the cartridges, I thought I’d give them a try. When I fired the first shot I didn’t hear it hit the target, so I walked down to see where it went. To my complete surprise, it was in the black 9-ring, at 2:30!
Six plastic BBs went into 1.416 inches, which was the second-SMALLEST group of this test, and the smallest group of BBs! I thought these would be lucky to even hit the target at 5 meters, but as you can see, the group is well-centered. I only have a limited number of these, so let’s not go overboard with things to test, but I think it might be worth finding a supplier.
Six plastic BBs went into 1.416-inches at 5 meters.
JSB Exact RS
Okay, that’s a lot of testing. But there is always something else, isn’t there? With these SAA BB revolvers the question is — will they shoot pellets, too? So, the last test I conducted was with JSB Exact RS pellets. I chose them because they are lightweight and they are not too large. Also they are pure lead, which should allow their larger diameter to pass through the bore more easily.
Well, they gave me the best group of the test, and the one shot that went to the side seemed to be due to a slight flinch. Look at how tight 5 pf them are! Six are in 1.313-inches and 5 of them are in just 0.483-inches! This is something worth exploring if you own this BB gun!
Six JSB Exact RS pellets went into 1.313-inches at 5 meters, and 5 of them are in 0.483-inches.
Why accuracy before velocity?
Why did I depart from the regular test today? Well, there are two very good reasons. First, I thought if by chance the plastic BBs did group well — which they did — we would want to know how fast they shot in this revolver.
The other reason is very technical. I simply forgot that I hadn’t tested velocity until today’s accuracy test was already complete and the pictures were taken! What the heck. I then made up the first reason that sounds very practical when you think about it.
Evaluation so far
This BB revolver has a lot going for it. It’s accurate, fun to shoot and it’s very tolerant of different ammo. It feels great in the hand, too. If you are a dime-store cowboy I recommend trying one of these out.
I will do velocity next, and I’ll try not to make you wait so long.
BB– You could have smoked the sights with a match, candle or used sight black spray . That is what I often do to iron sights to get a better sight picture. You might consider repeating this test with blackened sights to see if you would get tighter groups. I also use a carbide lamp to blacken sights.——–Ed
Ed,
Yes — or just used a Sharpie. But I was in a time crunch to finish the test.
B.B.
Maybe I’m just being fancy but I love the Birchwood Casey rattle can sight black. I find Sharpie ink to be just a bit reflective.
>and, just to let you know — I’m back to being anal about shooting again.
Glad to hear it (as if I had any doubt that you wouldn’t stay on your “plinking vacation” for long ;))! You are one of the few anal reviewers around, though it pains me sometimes (as follows, for example).
Ever since you reviewed the TalonP and shot five Benji domes into .352″ and .38″ and five JSB Kings into .524″ and .246″ from 50 yards, I’ve wanted a TalonP. I finally found enough spare time to do some serious “load development” on my TalonP. Sadly, its accuracy is more in line with your Escape series test results (more like 1″ groups, plus or minus a little) and nothing terribly special, as I’d hoped for my first PCP.
In my testing, I’m now manually “regulating” fill pressure from a tethered tank for each and every shot while shooting a long test series of 5-shot groups. I keep the power wheel setting fixed while I increase pressure by 125 psi for each successive 5-shot group (from 1500 to 3000 psi.). After shooting a series of groups with 125 psi. pressure steps and the power wheel fixed, I increase the power wheel by one and start over. Thus, the complete test requires 13 pressure settings and, coincidentally, 13 numbers in the power wheel or 13 x 13 x 5= 845 pellets! That’s not including pellets for sighters, post-adjustment settling, and “wakeup” shots!
Okay, sometimes the pressure range can be intelligently truncated, but you’ve found a few PCP surprises lurking “in the corners” sometimes. You’re not the only one who is anal about shooting, B.B.!
If I find only slightly sweet spots (bittersweet?) at constant pressure, they will not prove to be any sweeter when the gun is un-tethered and the tank pressure drops with each shot. The big factor that this method accommodates is the amount of POI shift BETWEEN groups (125 psi steps) is just as important as the group sizes themselves. I’m looking for small POI shifts (insensitivity to tank pressure changes) between the groups. This is the method I use in my powder burner load development. (I look for POI shift insensitivity with powder charge changes.)
I’m about halfway though the series with the 25.4 gr. Kings and each shot goes across my Chrony too. I’ve found some interesting trends (possibly even accuracy prediction methods), and identified a couple of sweet spots so far, but my TalonP’s accuracy is still only on a par with your Escape test results and not yet proving to be up to what you achieved with the 100-yard woodchuck killing TalonP (which I now suspect was of exceptional AirForce or possibly Lothar-Walther manufacture)! Or maybe my JSB King domes (and nearly identical Air Arms domes) and Benji domes are not a palatable to my TalonP. These factors are examples of the problem with being anal in an ever-changing universe that we can’t fully control!
I’ll write more about my methods, if others are interested. I’d also appreciate input from other anal AirForce PCP shooters about getting half-inch groups at 50 yards.
Cal,
Holy guest blog, Batman! You sure do give the detail when you decide to post! 😉
Sometimes I get the best ones to test. I guess this was one such time. I think that was a 5-shot group. Right?
B.B.
B.B.
Yeah–those were the numbers from your best 5-shot groups, which you reported in TalonP Parts 5 and 6. In Part 5, you also reported that “four tight shots represent the tightest group of shots I’ve ever made with an airgun at 50 yards.” That group of four was 0.159″. Now maybe you are a better shot than I, but I can shoot groups like that with my Savage Model 93 17 HMR rifle on a typical day so I figure I can do it with a PCP airgun too, if it “does its part!”
Yeah–I think you probably tested a particularly good TalonP and typical Escape guns. From what you said, the TalonP was apparently the actual gun that famously made the 100 yard hedgehog shot. I have an unused older model FX bare L-W 22 cal. barrel that I picked up on a $20 surplus deal a while ago. I’ll turn some barrel bushings for it and install it on my TalonP, if I remain unsatisfied with my 25 cal. groups. It will be around 18″ long, installed. The number of quality 22 cal. pellet options should occupy me for the rest of my life in testing, given around 1000 shots per pellet candidate!
I found some of the best results for my gun at settings very close to the best ones you reported (as you say, every gun’s best settings and pressure gauge are different) but my groups are similar to the best of your Escape series groups (which aren’t exactly poor groups). Nonetheless, I went anal with my test methodology!
I read nearly every one of your blogs but usually don’t find the time to post a comment, B.B.. When I find the time, I usually make up for my lack of frequent participation!
When I’m done with my experiment, the effort and results may turn out to be worthy of a guest blog and perhaps I’ll find the time to write it up and submit it to you for consideration. Sadly I’ll need some good photos and I only have a smartphone camera at the moment, but I might also find the 2 hours it takes to tear down my much better Sanyo digital camera and get its shutter iris unstuck! I’ve painstakingly repaired it once (dozens of tiny, tiny parts) before and it’s a common problem with the Xacti line of HD cameras.
-Cal
A correction (I had to go back and review TalonP Part 2):
“The last pellet I tried is the one AirForce believes was used to kill a prairie dog at 100 yards with a TalonP pistol a couple weeks ago.” So it wasn’t a woodchuck or hedgehog. It was a tiny little prairie dog at 100 yards and apparently not the exact same gun you tested.
-Cal
Cal
I got a Savage 93 in .22 caliber and .17 hmr. synthetic stock and stainless action.
Great shooting guns. Just thought I would mention it.
I’m glad you did mention it, Gunfun1. I’ve been so happy with my 17 HMR that I’ve been considering the Savage 93 in 22 LR too. The only trouble I’ve had is I had to spent a fair amount of time tweaking the magazine feed lips on all four of my mags in order to get them to feed reliably. That, and picking that most unintelligent plastic vacuum wrap packaging out of the three extra magazines! After seeing how well the rifle shoots, I spent almost as much on an unfinished Richards Microfit AAA fancy walnut stock as I spent on the rifle! Richards had some extra deep discounted seconds, but I have to say the two small blems I’ve found on my stock will vanish soon after I start sanding. You’ll find mixed reviews on Richards stocks and this was my first purchase but I’m very impressed with both the figure and the level of fit of this unfinished stock. The “99% press fit” is as advertised, and I can even get the actions screws started. It will only require a few minutes to relieve the inletttng a little more under the rear tangs to close the small remaining gap with the action. Final shaping, sanding, finish coating, and hand rubbing time will of course be considerable. Just an FYI, in case you might ever consider a Richards stock.
Cal
I just have the factory clips that came with mine. No extras. I mostly just plink with both of mine. Some target shooting. I will note they are accurate.
And I got the synthetic stock and stainless action for the purpose of if I got stuck out in some wet weather. Probably doesn’t make much difference anyway though. I would still have to come home and take the stock off and clean the action and the stock up. So probably will keep the synthetic stock on them. Now there is some air guns though that I have been thinking about putting a different stock on them. Who knows. To much wants and not enough money. 🙂
But oh forget. What do you think about those accu-triggers? I really like them.
Love the Accutrigger, Gunfun1! I think it’s the best production rifle trigger in the firearms industry and I also think I’ve dry fired them all on the SHOT show floor. I didn’t even bother with the lighter “varmint” and “target” springs for my Savage 93 Accutrigger. I don’t think I mentioned that I also have a cheap Savage Axis II in 270 Win with an Accutrigger and even before I got the Boyd stock, it was a great shooter. I like stiff stocks, because I use a sling for all positions when hunting. The cheap combo scope (a Weaver Kaspa) had to go back under warranty though. They promptly sent me a replacement scope, but I’ll probably not mount it. (I don’t trust it for big game hunting.)
Cal, amen on using slings. Transforms my kneeling shot from practically worse than offhand to pretty danged steady. And amen on stiff stocks, I guess: I was shocked to learn at a CMP service rifle clinic that a really good, solid (and a little painful!) sling hold is enough to shift the Garand’s POI. And shift it differently in different positions. I had always thought that was “me.”
-Jan
PS, I also use a sling for airguns, especially on my Marauder, in both FT matches and in some practical situations (though I’m much more likely outside of FT to use the bipod or a tree/fencepost when something needs to die).
-Jan
Cal and Jan
Yep the accu-trigger is nice.
And yes slings do tighten up your hold. But I have to admit that when I do go out in the woods hunting it’s mostly bird and rabbit and sqerrials. Mostly shot gun. But if I have my air gun or a rimfire gun I mostly support the gun off a tree or rock and such.
And if I’m standing plinking I do not use any support. Matter of fact I like to practice like that. Then when I’m supported on a bench rest or bipod or shooting stick it makes it seem much more easy to make my hits. For me anyway.
Gunfun1, GenghisJan,
I really became a rifleman at CMP J.C. Garand fun matches and earning my patch at Appleseed (www.appleseedinfo.com). Well…I’d have to say that a few seasons of Wyoming antelope hunting, which tends to be windy and long-range hunting, also helped my development!
The off-hand standing portion of a CMP match is sans sling, but Appleseed stresses slings 100% of the time. I keep a bipod folded up on my antelope rifle but it always reatures a sling ready to go too. A sling is much faster to deploy than a bipod and works over tall grass or rough terrain. I use a “Ching sling” or a “Rhodesian” variant of the Ching. A Rhodesian sling (which I call a “cheater” Ching”) requires only a single forend sling stud. A true Ching sling requires a second forend stud. I like Andy’s slings (andysleather.com).
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0PB9t3S0e5Z2HJqSEY49jQ
I also reconfigure 1907 style slings into a cheater Ching configuration. Finally the popular “hasty” sling style is quick to deploy, but not secure enough for me, or suited to carry. Hence I developed my own unique style of Ching / cheater Ching sling configuration that is very fast to deploy from carry and just as secure as a 1907 / “match” style sling. My setup uses and adaptation of the European style of carry (rifle carry is in front of shoulder with muzzle up) but my support arm is already slung-up within the carry position. I can drop to my knee from carry and get off a well-supported shot on a speedgoat over tall Wyoming rangeland grass in about two seconds. I could actually write a guest blog on my Ching / cheater Ching carry style. It works great for PCPs but I need to figure out how to use a cheater Ching on my Benji 392 and 397 too. 😉 Nonetheless, I agree with you; for small game and varmints, I often don’t bother with a sling. I just stalk closer and, if I’m busted, I don’t care. Big game tags are too precious not to bother with a good sling setup though!
Here are some very good Gunsite videos, if you’ve not seen them:
https://www.youtube.com/user/RugerFirearms/search?query=ching
Well maybe the above will be of use to some sling users. I have some other sling ideas and hardware that I’m inventing for airgun use or for use as an adaptation of B.B.’s UTG monopod technique.
-Cal
Cal
Don’t know why but have not really used slings much. Mostly just adapted to what was available to rest on at the time.
One thing we did use to though was carry a small diameter rope in our pocket. We would tie that between branches on a tree and rest the gun stock on it or behind the front scope bell on the main tube in front of the front scope ring. It actually makes for a pretty stable support. Try it once if you think about if you go out shooting. I was going to rig something up on a bipod shooting stick but never got around to trying it. I really probably should just so I know how it works out.
Oh and how much does those big game tag’s cost anyway?
I can see how that rope trick would would, Gunfun1. I’m not opposed to using tree limbs when they are around–even without a rope. I’ve used fence posts in Wyoming but there aren’t many trees where the antelope roam!
Wyoming out of state tags are a relative bargain. Antelope doe tags are about $40 but buck tags are close to $300. On a good year, you can get up to four doe (two in “leftovers”) and four buck (also two in leftovers). Wyoming ranchers consider them to be pests and the state of Wyoming has intelligently recognized the benefits of hunter tourism and not gouged out of staters severely, like many other states have done. On the other hand, one must also factor in the cost of the trip (and 3000 mi. drive to E. Wyoming for me). Don’t bring that part up with my wife! 😉 She thinks a $40 doe tag compares very favorably to a $40 bag of dog food (and honestly, if it’s done right, antelope can be better eating than elk).
-Cal
I forgot to mention that the winters have been mostly harsh on speedgoat herds of late and we have not hand many “good years” for leftover tags. I also don’t hunt the most popular trophy areas of south central Wyoming, because tags can take a year or two to “draw” and I’m not that much into trophy hunting. I hunt for the meat and find it to be just as sporting as trophy hunting in search of a record book entries–actually, more sporting, because I have more opportunities to enjoy the sport with no record book expectations.
Cal
We’re going to run out of a reply button here soon.
But yep when I hunted deer through out time. It was strictly for the meat. Not the trophy.
I’ll bet that’s some interesting hunting all in the open like that.
B.B. Pelletier,
There is no other way to go but to be anal on paper, especially when you’re shooting by yourself. Fun is for reactive targets and paper when in a group.
Nice save as to why accuracy test first.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I thought that was a pretty good save, too. I was surprised to think of it! 😉
B.B.
B.B.,
It’s great save. Nice to know you are still flexible and able to think on your feet, so to speak.
~ken
B.B.,
Way to go!,.. on testing the plastic bb’s and the pellets in a bb revolver. It is nice to discover and try new things. Despite their light weight,.. it appears that the plastic bb’s are still carrying enough FPE to still get the job done. As we know, without that, the projectile has no chance of hitting an aim point. I suppose if there was any other test to do with them, it would be just how far will the plastic bb’s accuracy hold up.
Chris
BB
Sounds like the plastic bb’s could be promising. Make sure you save some for other guns. Interested in seeing more of what they will do.
BB
When you do the velocity tests with this old west six shooter will you be playing the part of a regular Dueling Gunfighter, the Deputy Sheriff or Sundowner, the bad guy ?
I mean come on … obviously if you were the Deputy Sheriff we would have to deduct the speed of a horse at full gallop leading a posse to catch Sundowner and if you were Sundowner we would have to add the speed because you would be shooting at the Deputy chasing you. But I figure you already know all this stuff ! 🙂
Too bad they don’t have the slightly heavier bio-degradable BB in .177 Might be more practical than a yard full of white plastic BBs. And then you need to worry about their velocity as they come flying out of the lawn mower !!
Another topic perhaps? 😉
Bob,
HEY! I was Sundown — not Sundowner! Was that a sharp barb at my age and growing fuddy-duddyness? 😉
Remember, when Sundown drew, they timed it with a calendar, not a stopwatch.
As for biodegradable BBs, I don’t think they have been perfected yet. They aren’t as round as regular BBs, and get hung up in the barrel sometimes.
B.B.
BB
I think it was more fuddy-duddyness on my end trying to remember. But now that you mentioned it, there is that reason for another blog on the velocity….ha…ha…ha ! 🙂 Life’s been good ! Get a neck strap for that camera !!
They probably were never intended to be fired at Airgun velocities anyway. Lets wait for the ones that explode on impact with a little red flash .
I got one of these in ‘refurbished’ condition only to find out it leaked bad, so I took it apart to find the problem. It had no warrantee. Turned out to be a rather long ‘preformed’ o ring that seals off a passage way from the valve to the opening behind the shell holding the BB. Evidently it popped out of place when it was reassembled and got crushed by its retaining part. That part was missing a screw and may have actually contributed. Umarex was extremely helpful with parts and assembly info, a parts list picture.
Now you don’t want to disassemble one under warrantee but there are six small screws, in three lengths on the left frame, two under the grip, that require a Philips tip jewelers screw driver to remove. DO NOT try to remove the two straight slot screws, they are just part of the casting, not screws at all. Excellent workmanship makes it hard to tell.
The left side of the receiver can lift up and off without any surprises but unless you know what your doing you might want to start taking pictures before you proceed any further. You can sit and stare at it for a while to figure it out eventually, but will you remember how it goes back together? There are steps to follow. Everything is accessible from there. Take care with those small screws and where each one goes.
I think the caption at the top should read, “also available with imitation wood grips.”
Rambler
No doubt about it, “and at a lower price” Then there are the gold enhanced ….and engraved versions out there, not to mention the weathered blue NRA Commemorative.
Bob M
B.B.,
I am more excited by the performance of the plastic BBs than I am by the Colt! Could you see them in flight, a la tracers? If so, that might have been a factor in those being accurate.
Also, your reports have convinced me that light weight lead pellets are usually accurate in BB revolvers.
Michael
Michael,
I could not see them in flight. They went fast and I was very close to the target.
B.B.
BB,
These plastic BBs might work in my 1959 Daisy Model 99. I hope they come to market soon. I would really like to try them out.
BB
You know that just made me think about something with those plastic bb’s and the fast velocity.
Maybe that would help with more hits if your doing fast action shooting. Like we talked about a while back when me and my daughter was throwing the milk jug up and seeing how many hits we could get before it hit the ground.
Wouldn’t the faster velocity help make the hit happen more true to the aim point for that kind of shooting?
GF1,
You can explain anything favorably, but I simply do not know.
B.B.
BB
That question was kind of open for a broad range of answers now that I think about it.
Makes me more anxious though to see how they do in other guns. Can’t wait to hear more about them.
I have the 7.5″ NRA version and a 5 .5″ nickle ( polished) BB version. I use pellets in both. Usually Crosman pointed.
For plinking purposes accuracy is the same. I’m interested to see the velocity readings. Then I can compare with mine.
I have the 5.5″ Peacemaker pellet gun nickel version. It’s a good plinker and looks great beside my Ruger single six 22 mag convertible.
Ken
I think we may see more plastic BBs . Look at the interest this has already created. For regular, close range BB plinking they should do fine. Wonder if they break apart or ricochet when hitting hard surface. Just recently got the
the nickle plated 5 1/2 ” version of this revolver and enjoy shooting pellets in it . Looking forward to the velocity test.
Harvey
Now if we can just get Pyramyd AIR to start stocking the plastic bb’s. Would make me happy.
I calculate 30 MOA. Heh, heh. Just kidding. I think the soda can measure is very appropriate. As a matter of fact, one of the most satisfying shots of my life was hitting an empty soda can at 30 ft with my Walther Nighthawk. And that was basically luck with the extreme holdover I was using. I’ve also heard about the fine ergonomics of the single action army design. Elmer Keith considered it superior to the 1911. I’m not sure if that is because the curved grip facilitated rotating the gun out of the holster or if it just felt good in a static hold. I haven’t noticed anything magical with my Ruger Single Six, but I have no complaints.
Mike, that’s good to know that you’ve had success with Tune in a Tube with firearms.
ChrisUSA, the different variables you mention such as wind and power loss are the specifics of range probable error and why those long shots are so difficult. Compensating for them is a high skill. Ultimate long range shot, Nancy Topkins described “safe-siding” her shots as holding off to compensate for wind. But getting all these things to work from luck is highly unlikely. That’s why lucky groups are way out there on the long tail of the normal distribution. I am impressed with your log which is something that the pros advise for all sporting endeavors which I have had trouble getting around to. I keep some of my more memorable firearms targets but that’s about it. My assessment of my airgun shooting is wholly subjective. I get up and see if the groups I shot the previous evening look good in the morning light, and thanks to the short distance, they usually do.
My paratrooper jump boots have arrived and I was walking around my place the other night with them. They made me think of the purpose of re-enactment. I don’t believe it is really for the audience. It is more for the re-enactors themselves. For example, there is a group of extremely hard-core Civil War re-enactors who try to live their role. They seem to be mostly Confederates and even get to the point of losing 25 to 30 pounds to reproduce the emaciated condition of the Army of Northern Virginia. They also spoon at night to keep warm… Even without going to those lengths, the gear can put you in the mindframe of the historical originals. For instance, my K98 makes me feel like the Forgotten Soldier on the Eastern Front whose real conditions I hope never to experience.
So, what do the boots for me? They are modern day armor. You are completely shielded from any abuse the ground might throw at you with walls of thick leather. How the WW2 paratroopers ran in them I have no idea. Their training involved running everywhere and jumping in and out of windows to access buildings rather than using the doors. Presumably this was to accustom them to jumping out of airplanes. And then there was the daily 5 miles conditioning runs. Most impressive. Anyway, the boots give one a sense of confidence almost like carrying a concealed weapon, and they probably could serve as weapons if you wanted.
I also got to thinking of blog reader Buldawg76 who I haven’t seen in awhile. One of his recreations was hunting wild pigs on foot in swamps. That seems really crazy, especially in view of a documentary I watched about water moccasins. I wonder what kind of shoes he was wearing, and I think they must have been like jump boots. The snake fangs would stand no chance against the steel toe and would have a hard time even against the leather. Anyway, I’m taking the boots as the modern echo of medieval armor.
Matt61
Matt61,
I consider my method to be the most basic in determining accuracy. You know that I am not afraid to get inside an airgun,… so those tweaks must be “quantified” in some manner. No different than your hand loads for your powder burners I suppose. Tweaks aside,… even a different hold, or rest, or a trigger adjustment is reason to keep data. Do I shoot better with a 7X or 10X scope magnification level?,… all else being the same. I do not get into wind, barometric pressure, temperature,.. and all of that. If it is a bad shooting day, weather-wise,.. I cut myself some slack. If it is ideal and I am feeling sharp,… then I expect good results. (What is a “good” day?,… your data will tell you)
I do not do it so much anymore as I have run all of my guns through the proverbial ringer and pretty much know what they, (and me), can do.
Then we have Calinb up top there that takes things to a whole other level,… which I (highly respect) by the way. What I do works fine for me. If I get a new airgun though,… all bets are off,….. back to anal shooting.
🙂 , Chris
Accuracy should always be tested before velocity.
Who cares about max range or impact power if you can’t hit anything !
John
🙂
I like that.
John and Gunfun1,
I agree that accuracy is above all, but this blog always makes clear what is being tested and what that particular air gun is intended for. Different air guns exist for different purposes. Therefore, different standards apply accordingly.
Accuracy is context-dependent, no? What I mean is that “minute-of-pop-can” acceptable for a smooth bore BB pistol is different than 1/8 of an inch difference between one pellet rifle and another. “Good accuracy” for a CO2 BB revolver is different than “good accuracy” is for a single-shot PCP or springer air rifle.
Just my 2 cents,
Michael
Michael
Yep agree with you.
But John’s comment makes you think.
As I said I like his comment.
BB,
Have you had any more time to work on that Bugelspanner? I made one from a Daisy 880 with brass tubing from a hobby store for thr barrel and use arrow field points with strips of cloth for a tail. It’s surprisingly accurate at 9 yards.
Brent
Brent,
You MADE one? Good Gosh, man, do a guest blog on it!
I love Bugelspanners and all other so-called parlor air guns. B.B. reports on these as much as the highest ups will allow (I just know in my heart he loves the historical blogs), but any extra input . . .
I am an old man who loves old air guns. Whatever you do, do not go away! Stay right here!
Michael
Michael,
You need to understand that it is not like the one in BB’s blog. It’s a plastic 880 that I cut the barrel off and put a brass tube for the barrel. The darts are 11/32 arrow field tips with a cloth tail. I muzzleload the darts. This is not hard to make at all.
Brent
Brent,
O.K. Still, pretty cool, especially with an 880 platform so you can vary the velocity.
Michael
Brent,
No. Time is one thing I don’t have. I wish I did, because that Bugle has sat for years waiting for me to resume.
B.B.
Hi, B.B.. I just noticed that the product link still points to the pellet version of the long barrel Peacemaker. (Click on the photo at the top of the column.)
From the comments section in Part 1:
Chris> The pistol featured (pulls up) as pellet gun and rifled on your link, yet your article has it as bb shooter and smooth bore. 4188-7991. ???
You> That is a Pyramyd AIR problem I will try to resolve.
Can we buy this B.B. Peacemaker version yet? I see the PY-4188-7991 faux wood grip version and the PY-4188-8163 faux ivory grip version (after clicking on the product’s webpage option bullet) but they are both pellet guns, I think.
Thanks,
-Cal
Nooo! Not a longer barrel! I want the gunfighter model with the 4 and 3/4″ barrel.
And could I have mine in .25 caliber?
:^>