by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Air Venturi TR5 repeating pellet rifle.
This report covers:
- The test
- First up
- Stock
- H&N Baracuda Match with 4.50mm heads
- Heavier pellets were too long
- H&N Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads
- Baracuda with 4.52mm head
- Discussion
- Baracuda Match 4.50mm the second time
- Baracuda Match 4.53mm the second time
- Summary
Today we discover whether cleaning the barrel of the Air Venturi TR5 Multi-Shot Target Air Rifle makes any difference to the accuracy. I am going the extra mile on this airgun because it satisfies a large group of shooters who just want an accurate plinking rifle. No, it’s not a target rifle despite the name. But is it a handy and compact spring-piston plinker that sells for a reasonable price?
The test
I shot the rifle from 10 meters off a sandbag rest. I held the rifle in a non-artillery-hold way, with my off hand around the forearm. I had mounted the UTG Micro Reflex dot sight because I felt the rear sight notch might be a little too broad for the best accuracy. All groups will be 5-shot groups until I find a pellet that’s accurate.
First up
I sighted in with JSB Exact Heavy pellets yesterday, so they were the first pellet to be tried today. The first five went into an open group whose size I can’t report because one pellet went off the paper. Four pellets went into 1.064-inches at 10 meters. Since I can’t show the 5th shot I’m not showing this group. I fired a second group right away, after dropping the dot sight three clicks.
Group two is 5 shots in 1.353-inches at 10 meters. Not that good. So this pellet is out!
Five shots at 10 meters went into 1.353-inches when JSB Exact Heavy pellets were used.
Okay, now it was time to try the larger pellets I selected because of the large bore. Maybe these would do the job? But before I get to that — a word to reader GunFun1.
Stock
GF1 asked me how loose my adjustable stock was and, if it was loose, to try shooting with the stock fully collapsed. Well, the TR5 is supposed to be a target rifle, so that’s how I have been shooting it — with the stock collapsed. You shoot a target rifle with a very short pull, usually, to bring your eye close to the rear peep. I didn’t have to do that with either the factory open sights or the dot sight I installed, but I did it anyway.
However, GF1 asked me to extend the stock, which I did. To my surprise, the stock was no looser extended than when fully collapsed. I shot groups with it both ways and could not detect a difference. Okay — back to the test.
H&N Baracuda Match with 4.50mm heads
The next pellet I tried was the H&N Baracuda Match with a 4.50mm head. I tried it because I wanted to try the same pellet with larger head sizes to compare to this one. However, this pellet surprised me with 5 in 0.929-inches at 10 meters. While that isn’t a great group, it is the smallest one I have seen so far. Maybe cleaning the barrel did help?
Five H&N Baracuda Match pellets with 4.50mm heads went into 0.929-inches at 10 meters. It’s the smallest group so far.
I resolved to return to this pellet and shoot another group with it at the end of the test. Maybe this was a good one.
Heavier pellets were too long
I did attempt to load JSB Exact Beasts and H&N Baracuda Magnums into the TR5 clip, but both of them were too long to fit into the rifle. They stuck out both ends of the holes in the clip. That’s a problem with some repeaters — their clips can’t accept longer pellets.
H&N Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads
Next I tried the pellet I thought might do the best — the H&N Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads. Five went into 0.861-inches at 10 meters. That’s slightly better than what the same pellet with a 4.50mm head did, but not enough different to be conclusive. Are we onto something? I definitely have to try this pellet again at the end of the test!
The first group of Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads produced a nice group measuring 0.861-inches between centers.This is now the smallest group.
Baracuda with 4.52mm head
The last new pellet I tested (making 16 different pellets in all, between Parts 3 and 5) was the H&N Baracuda with the 4.52mm head. But they didn’t do well at all. Five made a 2.306-inch group at 10 meters. Yikes!
Five Baracuda Match pellets with 4.52mm heads made a 2.306-inch group at 10 meters.
Discussion
I’m not seeing much improvement from the cleaning I did. Maybe a couple groups are smaller, but overall we are almost at the same place we were in Part 3. However, I still have those two Baracuda Match pellets that did the best to try again. Let’s see what they can do on the second time.
Baracuda Match 4.50mm the second time
By this point in the test I was dialed-in. The dot sight was working perfectly and I knew just how to hold it on the target. On this second go-round, five H&N Baracuda Match pellets with 4.50mm heads went into 1.121-inches at 10 meters. That’s about two-tenths of an inch larger than the first group with the same pellet.
The second time I shot them, five H&N Baracuda Match with 4.5mm heads went into 1.121-inches at 10 meters.
Baracuda Match 4.53mm the second time
I tried 5 Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads next. They made a 1.466-inch group at 10 meters. That’s 6 tenths of an inch larger than the first group.
Five Baracuda Match with 4.53mm heads went into 1.466-inches at 10 meters the second time around.
Summary
The Air Venturi TR5 pellet rifle is a recreation of the now-banned IZH61 pellet rifle. It’s lightweight, small and handy and has a nice trigger. But, despite everything I did and all the pellets I tried, I could not get the one I tested to shoot very well.
Reader Michael uses his to shoot at soda cans at 10 meters and he says it works well for that. If that’s what you want, the TR5 may be just right for you.
It doesn’t seem like it’s worth wasting any more time or effort testing this one. Air Venturi needs to go back to the drawing board, fix the accuracy issues and re-release the gun as a Gen 2. While they are at it, release a single shot version as well.
Cmz,
I think you summed it up.
Don
BB,
The TR5 might look like an IZH61 and function like an IZH61, but it sure doesn’t shoot like one. I guess it doesn’t have the hammer forged barrel of the IZH61 which is the main reason for the excellent accuracy of that gun (and its stable mates the MP-46M pistol and 513M break barrel).
By the way, I don’t know if BSA pellets are available on your side of the pond, but I have gotten excellent results with the BSA Elite and BSA Storm in my IZH61. Both pellets keyhole at 10m, giving indistinguishable results from JSB Exacts or H&N FTT. 5 shot ctc groups remain under an inch out to 25 yards.
The BSA pellets are among the cheapest in Europe and didn‘t give good results with any of my high powered air rifles. I was thus pleasantly surprised to find that my IZH61 loves them. They have very thin skirts which probably suits the low powered IZH61 and explains the poor accuracy with magnum air rifles. The fact that they are so cheap is a real bonus, as with a repeating fun gun like the IZH61 you can burn through a tin of pellets in no time.
Bob
That is a good idea about the thin skirts. The JSB 10.34’s have a thinner skirt. That’s what is working in my TR5 now. But that’s with the Crosman 1377 barrel. I didn’t have any good luck with the factory TR5 barrel though.
GF1,
Do the JSB 10.34’s load okay? I figured they would be too long for the IZH61/TR5 mags.
Bob
The JSB 10.34’s load just fine. I don’t deep seat any of the pellets I have used either. I just drop them in the clip and load them in the gun with it facing down. So maybe deep seating they might stick out the front.
Bob,
Thanks for this input. I will look for both of those pellets over here.
B.B.
BB
On 7/18 I was able to buy BSA Storm,Elite and Interceptor pellets from a company online called Field Supply. You might start there.
Half
Half,
Thanks,
B.B.
BB,
I hope you have good luck with them too.
BB
That’s good the butt stock on your TR5 is tight when extended. Mine sure ain’t.
And I was hoping you would have better luck after cleaning.
And a reminder. One of the last things I did to mine that helped was put some wheel bearing grease on the spring. Are you going to try some Tune in a tube on your TR5 before you call it quits?
GF1,
I don’t think so. I think this is my last report.
B.B.
BB
Maybe you should still consider trying Tune in a Tube.
If I remember right there was a spring gun Pyramyd Air sold at one time and they was lubing each gun before it went out the door. Don’t remember what one it was though right now.
Maybe that’s what the TR5 needs to help it sale.
Gunfun1,
What pellets did you decide were most accurate in your TR5? And was that with the stock barrel or the 1377 barrel?
Michael
Michael
Daisy wadcutters both barrels.
But after I put the butt stock at the shortest legnth of pull and lubed the spring. The JSB 10.34 is the winner now and that’s with the 1377 barrel.
Interesting. I think I have some of the Daisys at the back of my shelf.
Michael
Daisy Precision Max or Daisy Match Grade Avanti?
Michael
Michael
The cheapy Precision Max.
Michael,
If those Daisy pellets don’t work for you, I suggest you try the Crosman Wadcutters and Hunting Pointeds. They both perform better than Daisy from anything that I have shot them from and the Pointeds have even proven to be the best or near best from a couple of my guns. They are really cheap in the 1250 count milk cartons, if you shop around or buy 4 for 3 online. I don’t have one of these guns and I know now that I never will, so I can’t actually tell you if the Crosmans will shoot well or not, but I always try them ’cause they’re so cheap.
Half
Half
I tryed the pointed Crosman pellets and they were junk in my TR5 with both barrels.
I know you haven’t had good luck with the Daisy wadcutters but my TR5 worked the best with those in both barrels.
Actually so good that the Daisy wadcutters acted like me grabbing some JSB pellets and shooting them in a gun that doesn’t want to group good. Actually really surprising.
Of course you need to get you a TR5 for yourself to see.
Glad you show interest in the TR5. But get one darn anyway. Let’s see what you find. And I think it’s a little more than pellet choice going on. I can name some things off. But it’s always better for one to see for theirselfs.
GF1,
I may wait ’til Gen 2 comes out on this one. I have a very solid “hint” in place for a .22 Aspen for Father’s Day !! 😉
Since you have the factory barrel out of your TR5, do you think you could push some pellets down it and give your impression on whether the bore is loose or tight or whether you feel that tight..loose..tight..loose thing that BB found?
I don’t know if I ever told you or not, but awhile back I bought some of the Daisy WC in the round tins, like you recommended, but they didn’t work any better than the the ones in the plastic box. Of the three types Daisy sells, I have had the best luck with the Hollow Points. The two Crosmans that I recommended to Michael has always beat them, though.
Back before Umarex took over RWS and reduced the count to 300 per tin, I always found their BASIC WC to be the best cheap pellet, but they aren’t cheap anymore.
Half
Half
I pushed a couple of the Daisy wadcutters down the barrel as well as some JSB 10.34’s.
My barrel is smooth all the way down it. But what I did notice is the Daisy wadcutters have more drag than the JSB’s. And the rifling marks are deeper in the Daisy wadcutters than the JSB pellets.
And both pellet types I see pretty equal rifling marks in the head and skirt of the pellet.
So I’m not sure what is going on with the barrel. The crown and lead look good too. ???
Half
You got me curious.
I have never pushed a pellet down a 1377 barrel because I had no need to.
But I did push some JSB 10.34’s and the Daisy wadcutters down another 1377 barrel I have.
Guess what. Both types of pellets definitely push down the barrel with more resistance than the factory TR5 barrel.
So now I’m thinking the TR5 barrel might be on the big side. Maybe some pellets with a bigger head diameter might be the ticket to get the factory TR5 to start grouping better.
B.B.,
Thank you for this series of reports on the TR5. I started out having problems with mine, but with the help of folks here, those evaporated (and were probably mostly my fault). I now like it very much. It is small, lightweight, and cocks with amazing ease.
You / we now know what TIAT (Tune in a Tube) will do to almost any spring air gun. It will greatly reduce vibration, twang, and make it shoot much more smoothly. I will eventually get around to applying it to my TR5.
Reviewers of the TR5 who say it vibrates a lot might not take into account that it is a bullpup. The powerplant is right beside the shooter’s face. Therefore, what vibration there is is amplified through the bones of the shooter’s skull. I barely notice it, but a thin neoprene sleeve would eliminate it entirely.
And B.B., mentions the nice trigger. It is VERY nice in my opinion, and I have two Feinwerkbau target rifles. I can’t remember what I paid for my then-new Air Venturi Bronco, but I believe my TR5 has by far the lightest trigger pull of any air gun I have that was under $150 new. (And it was under $130!) That goes a long way towards making it the fierce, efficient soda can killer it is.
Michael
Gunfun1,
Last night I checked the buttstock on my TR5, and it was tight; however, I haven’t shot mine nearly as much as you have shot yours. Might these start out tight but then get looser in the extended position with use?
Michael
Michael
Mine has been loose from the get go.
But maybe this is the problem. I’m comparing them to AR adjustable butt stocks I have shot. They were much tighter than my TR5 butt stock.
Either way I don’t like the movement. And to repeat my hold it makes me pull the gun into my shoulder tight. And my TR5 doesn’t like being held tight. I don’t use a loose hold. But to take the slop out of the stock I find myself pulling the gun in tighter to my shoulder than need be.
And to say. I can shoot my TR5 good enough with the stock adjusted in or out. That is feral can pop’n. But trying to get some groups to find out my pellets the butt stock bothered me with it adjusted all the way out.
Well, it is what it is. On the plus side, it is low cost. Repeater. Side lever, which is a bit odd for a budget gun, Adj. LOP and butt pad and vertical grip. All stuff that you would normally be paying up for. The looks might appeal to some. One could do worse.
Good Day to all,……. Chris
BB
I mentioned earlier that the barrel was probably bored out too much and your statement about the wire brush passing through too easily only reinforced that idea. Now I’m thinking that soft pellets with thin skirts may expand enough to compensate for it ? Not sure about the pellet head diameter engaging the rifling. Although you could probably feel it right from the start of insertion into the barrel.
Pretty sure my Hellboy had the same problem especially when bb’s were easily rolling out the end of the barrel into my chrony and dust devils were flying all over the place. Verified that by installing a Crosman 2100 barrel. Day and night difference in accuracy…. especially with a pellet engaging the rifling in that one.
Bob M
BB,
Well, one of two things is going to happen now. Either we will see a goodly number of IZH 60’s and 61’s suddenly available at rather high prices or we will not see any available for quite some time.
RR
Has there been any for sale in the first place?
GF1,
Every once in a great while you will see one, but not for long.
RR
What have they been going for?
GF1,
The few I have seen? I do not recall, but the metal actions were more than new cost and the polymer actions for less.
RR
I think I might look for one.
GF1,
You and a few hundred others. I wish you well.
RR
Actually not that important to me right now.
But if it happened cool.
If not life goes on. I got plenty of accurate guns to keep me occupied. 😉
GF1,
That is how it happens. When the opportunity arises, you take it.
RR
You got it.
This is pure speculation on my part, but I am sure this scenario plays out with many manufacturers, not just airguns.
Baikal was manufacturing a very nice little air rifle for a very reasonable price, the IZH 60. It came to the U.S. market and word started to get out about how nice it really was. There was an increase in demand and also a demand for a multishot version. Baikal was having trouble meeting the demand, so shortcuts had to be taken. One of these was less stringent quality control so that more units would pass. Another could have been that barrel mandrels were used beyond normal life expectancies. To further cut costs and speed manufacturing, the metal action was replaced with a polymer one. These and other “little” changes combined to take an exceptional air rifle into mediocrity.
Today, many manufacturers use a different approach. They will rush a product to market and see how it does. We the public will test their product and if the manufacturers have too much invested to drop the product, they will fix the issues and reintroduce the next “generation”. The Benjamin Fortitude is a prime example of this.
Being so tight fisted, I manage to avoid such pitfalls. I do however miss out on some of the early gems. Ah well, such is life.
RR,
Like you said, it’s pure speculation, but that’s how I see it, too. IZH is a huge arsenal that makes many weapons of war of all kinds. I’m sure the airgun lines are a very small sideline for them. And, when the American market opened up, they were taken by surprise. Sometimes success can destroy a product or a whole company if they aren’t prepared for it.
B.B.
You have to wonder where the manufacturers are coming from releasing a product like this. You would think that the minimum accuracy requirements would be better that what the TR5 shows.
The rifle has all kinds of good features and a “modern” styling but it doesn’t shoot worth a darn – even in expert hands! Heck, I can shoot better groups than that with a homemade SLINGSHOT!!!
I rate a gun by its maximum effective range (for being to group all shots within a 1″ circle) and think this one would be limited to 20-25 feet …which puts it into a “BB-gun” accuracy category. Guess that if you were used to shooting BB-guns then this would be ok.
Like CMZ said, fix and release as Gen2.
Hank
There is one big thing and one little thing I see that is making the factory out of the box gun perform like it is.
The big thing is the barrel.
The little thing with mine anyway, came dry. Not really even a stain of oil on the spring and inside of the gun.
Right now I think the factory gun could be better with just a a Tune in a Tube lube job. My gun was abrubt when I shot it. Even after tuning the spring preload down. But after lubing it the gun got way smooth. Really like a night and day difference.
Now the barrel. Well with my gun anyway. It just isn’t up to par. Or I need to buy a a lot more pellets to try with the factory barrel. I mean that’s what we tend to do with our air guns anyway.
But what I see is if they can get a good barrel some way in the TR5 and lube the gun up I believe it will be a better gun.
Right now that should be happening. They are this far into producing it. And seriously if they charged $20.00 more for the gun and it groups like mine I would but it. Whatever they have to do to it.
A second run of guns with the up dates would be good. But this time around they need to make sure the gun gives results. And they need to be smart marketing it again.
Hank,
Two things.
First, As I stated previously, this is a Chinese copy of a Russian airgun that was not that great to begin with. What is everybody expecting? It is not even a true copy. The fore stock on this has the potential to come in contact with the barrel and cause issues there. At least the Russians had a free floating barrel.
Second, what is wrong with getting it right the first time rather than upsetting everyone with a rushed to market product with all kinds of issues and then fixing them? You burned me before. Why should I trust you now?
RR,
There is a dynamic going on that I don’t believe many people understand. I may have to write a blog next week to explain what’s going on. It isn’t as straightforward as everyone is talking about today.
B.B.
BB
Write it.
B.B.,
Nice “tease”. I am all ears.
Chris
Oh great wizard, we anxiously await your words of wisdom! Please enlighten us!
RR,
If someone has made something and I am going to copy it you can be sure that I will study the original closely and (if it is worthwhile proceeding) I will see about fixing any deficiencies and employing any (justified) improvements …but then I will admit I am one of those weird guys who reads the manual before starting LOL!
Yeah, do it right the first time!
H
Hank,
You are not Chinese and you are not mass producing something as cheaply as you can to insure a large profit margin.
RR,
True, but I think there is a minimum acceptance threshold – if the produce is way sub-par then it ceases to be viable and low sales relative to tooling costs will result in a small profit margin.
In these days of internet, product reviews, and buyer comments, product performance (or the lack thereof) quickly comes to light. Sales will quickly diminish down to those people who didn’t do their homework and believe the flashy graphics on the box.
As you say: Burn me once. The manufactures that are going for a quick sale and maximum profit are shooting themselves in the foot (or possibly higher) as disappointed customers will be cautious or won’t be back at all. Guess the thing that bothers me most is that the people that were suckered into buying a poor product may leave the airgunning scene entirely and that affects us all.
If you look at a fishing rod, the recommended lure weight range, line weight range and description of action are printed right above the handle to help the customer select the right one for their application. If the FPE, expected accuracy (and shot count if applicable) were printed on the box then people could make an informed decision.
Hey, but what do I know eh? I am engineering orientated and know diddly about marketing.
Was thinking about this last night, feel better writing it down – thanks for listening! Have a good one RR!!
Hank
Hank,
I understand. From an engineering and a consumer point of view, this is how it should be.
From a marketing point of view it is totally different. Take TCFKAC for example. Sometime back they introduced the NP air rifle. After a bit they had different variations of it, different stocks, scope rails, silencers, etc. Well it really wasn’t that good of a sproinger so they did a little redesign on it and introduced to the world the NP2. In some respects it was better, well except for issues with the silencer, etc. They corrected those issues and then introduced bunches of variants again. How many different NP2s do they make? Every year they change the looks around a bit, but it is still the same thing. Also, all of them still have one major flaw that they seem to refuse to attempt to fix. The trigger. The last review I saw on one of these things stated it had a pull of over seven pounds and was not a crisp break either. Put fresh lipstick on the pig and ship it.
The only Crosman I own is over seventy years old.
RR,
Yeah, me to – mine is about the same vintage.
The barrel on my 101 has seen so much use that even the larger H&N pellets push through with little or no resistance (and no rifling marks on the pellet). Groups were too big to be called groups! I got a .22 maximus that I will be fitting to the rifle once the honey-do list is caught up.
Hank
Hank,
I do not think mine is that bad. It is one of the all steel ones. I do need to find that round tuit and get it going though.
RR
At least Crosman has higher end guns that perform as well as or better than higher dollar other brands.
Anymore I don’t even care about the lower end guns from all the different manufacturers. It wouldn’t bother me if they didn’t exist anymore. But you know how that goes.
As it goes exsperiance helps. As more is gained you learn what direction to go and what to expect if you do go down the low road. All in time. 🙂
GF1,
LOL! Yes, experience is indeed the best teacher. With TCFKAC, their high end airguns are in many ways competitive from a shooting point of view as the high end airguns of other manufacturers. Now as far as being eye candy, they have a long way to go. There is nothing they make that compares with a TX200, most especially the walnut stock.
RR
Stop it. Really why would you even compare them to a TX 200.
There are a lot of high dollar guns that can’t compare to the craftsmanship of a TX.
Pookey!
I had typed out a long, involved reply and it went off to never-never-land.
Oh well, never mind.
Hank,
I totally agree with you. I’m from a quality background and pretty much think like the engineers. When I was working, we had a manager who’s quality philosophy was “if we can assemble it, and ship it, and it doesn’t come back, then it was good quality”. I told him that he must add one more thing to that statement. Maybe the product doesn’t come back, but then, neither does the customer. If I go buy a cheap watch at a big box store, and then a short time later it stops working, I don’t take it back to the store for a refund. I go to another store and buy a better watch and chalk it up to a lesson learned. I don’t back and buy another cheap watch from the same store.
Then too, if someone gets a product, say a new airgun, and if it works great, they may tell a few people about it. But, if the product doesn’t perform well and is of inferior quality, they will tell everyone they know and even those they don’t know. That’s pretty much how reviews go too. You mostly hear from people who have had problems, not the people who have not.
Geo
Geo
Yep true.
Do you want to hear about the Rocket shot launcher I got the other day and finally got to try today.
Here’s what I see about production now days.
For the most part it’s all rushed to make the bucks.
You will never get quality like we are thinking unless it is a small guy trying to make a name for himself. He knows he’s got to do it right or he will be shut down quick.
Everything from start to finnish seems to be rushed nowdays. And it’s like nobody is there to put any effort in. And if there is a person that wants things to go somewhere they look at them like they are making problems.
And as you know it goes deeper then that. I bet it don’t get better. If it does it will surprise me.
Hank,
A self imposed “minimum accuracy requirement” sounds good to me. It would be interesting to see the requirements for each category. What would be the categories? I suppose that price point,… (combined) with power level,…. AND compare that to other past guns would be a start. Power plant would have to factor in too as PCP and pneumatics are much easier to shoot well. At least that would be my approach.
A bit of “a can of worms” I think.
Chris
Chris,
I see an accuracy standard for hunters and plinkers as being real simple: it’s the distance the gun will keep all shots within a specified diameter circle.
For general hunting and plinking which is usually done at random ranges, a 1″ circle represents the kill-zone on most small game and sodapop cans and that would seem a good choice to me 🙂
Guess that I am saying that I consider a group that is larger than 1″ more a “pattern” than a group and a hit is more determined by luck than skill.
For special weapons like 10 meter target rifles it makes sense to list the expected accuracy at the intended range.
IMHO, cost, powerplant, caliber etc. are not really relevant. A Co2 replica BB pistol may meet the accuracy requirement up to 10 feet; a high-end large caliber PCP might be good for 1″ at 100 yards. Whatever – you buy what you need/want.
Seems like the TR5 is good for plinking up to 20-25 feet – if that suits the needs then that is fine, it’s a good gun. I am just disappointed that modern manufacturing methods and materials didn’t produce a better rifle.
If the manufacturer prints the FPE and the expected accuracy information on the box the purchaser can make an informed decision.
Beeman printed the “expected accuracy” right in their catalog with the rest of the specs for the gun, wish that PA did the same.
Cheers!
Hank
Hank
I agree with all of your comment about accuracy and how the gun is going to be used.
Hank,
I was referring to an air gun maker to make a (serious) look into what has been done before with a similar power plant in the past and the related accuracy results,…. and then striving to meet/better that. Before,… launching something new.
Your “1 inch at X range” is truly the golden rule,…. (whatever gun) that one happens to be shooting. Of course, that is a factor of inherent gun accuracy and also the skill of the shooter,.. as you well know.
Chris
Chris
And distance.
GF1,
That would be the “X” in equation,…. which is determined by the 2 factors I mentioned.
Hank does not predetermine “X”, but lets the gun and his skills determine what the (X, or distance) will be.
Chris
Chris
Be we know what we mean don’t we.
Why and the heck would I brng that you with us exsperianced air gunners anyway. 😉
Hank,
I’m with you on the minimum required accuracy of my airguns. My requirement has always been to be capable of shooting 1″ 5-shot groups at 25 yards. My Urban shoots 1/2″ groups at 30 yards, so that more than meets my standard for accuracy. The best I could do with my Crosman Nitro Venom .22, or my Diana 34P .22 is 1.5″ to 2.0″ at 25 yards. Thus the Urban was purchased. Accuracy is now a non-issue.
Geo
Geo,
Really, 1″ groups at 25 yards is great for most shooting and 1/2″ at 30 yards is super!
On a good day I can shoot nice tight groups from a bench but, to me real shooting is done off-hand. If I could consistently shoot 1 inchers at 25 yards I’d be a happy camper.
Hank
Hank
“On a good day I can shoot nice tight groups from a bench but, to me real shooting is done off-hand. If I could consistently shoot 1 inchers at 25 yards I’d be a happy camper.”
Amen
BB,
If you have some time try shooting it somehow so you can recover the pellet intact. When I did I found bent skirts with no rifling marks….
Edw
Have you done any more testing?
Here is something to try if you feel like it.
Purposely bend some skirts on the known good pellets for your TR5. See what they group like.
Now do the same experiment with a different known good shooting gun and see what the bent skirts do.
I’m thinking that it might not matter if skirts are bent in higher powered guns. But it might in the lower powered TR5.
At least it’s something to test. And you know we will be waiting to hear the results.
Many folks have been criticizing this gun for a lack of accuracy. Hank summed up many peoples sentiments when he said, “You have to wonder where the manufacturers are coming from releasing a product like this. You would think that the minimum accuracy requirements would be better that what the TR5 shows.”
No question the readers of this blog are among a small percentage of airgunners that bring a lot of experience with a lot of guns and have high expectations for accuracy. From my perspective, when manufacturers design and build an airgun to a price point (read, entry level pricing) the accuracy suffers. The higher the price climbs usually the accuracy potential climbs as well. When low price and accuracy intersect we talk about that airgun forever. The IZH61 is a good example of this.
Kevin,
The BSA produced Gamo Urban would be another example of a low cost gun that is accurate. And adjustable. And quiet. And obviously built with quality in mind.
Half
Halfstep,
I second that wholeheartedly. I love my Urban 🙂
Geo
Kevin
Have you shot a 2240 or 1377 lately at 20 yards?
They are 50 and 60 dollar guns. They will run rings around the TR5. And yes I know. Can’t compare those to each other. But still. More thought should of went into the TR5. As it goes only one way to say it. They screwed up releasing it when they did.
And who cares what the Izzy’s did. Doesn’t have a thing to do with the TR5. Other than maybe people got sold that the TR5 was suppose to be a copy of the Izzy. To me they didn’t even copy it well if it was the intent.
Here’s the problem. The gun no way could of been tested before it was released. And if it was tested than there’s bigger problems going on.
GF1,
Interesting comparisons. CO2 and MSP pistols to a rifle that’s a springer. Understand your point though about the TR5. It didn’t live up to your accuracy expectations. My point was that for an entry level SPRINGER it probably suits the needs of 90% of the buyers, i.e., rolling cans at 25 feet.
ps-Yes, I recently shot a custom build I have in .22 caliber that was built on a 2240 platform. This one:
Kevin
Probably so on rolling the cans.
But I have to say I have had Benjamin/Crosman/China made guns that cost the same and less than the TR5.
They will roll a can double to triple the distance the TR5 will.
So what does that tell you?
To me somebody went to school and somebody else didn’t do thier homework.
GF1,
Like you’ve always stated, “only accurate airguns are interesting”. If you can’t call your shots on a pest, the gun is pretty much worthless in my book. Too bad, this one attracted a lot of attention. I don’t think any serious airgunner will be very interested in the TR5 if they follow this blog. At least they will have a good idea of what they are getting, and, the mods that are required to make it accurate. IMHO
Geo
Geo
Yep with accurate air guns.
And I do believe that the TR5 can do just fine dispatching feral cans as it comes from the factory.
Everything has it’s limit.
BB
Be interesting to see the demographics for airgun sales involving age, income, and experience for all the various types of airguns marketed.
If it’s more profitable to pump out run of the mill airguns than finely tuned accurate ones the stock holders, or money hungry corporate executives, will demand it.
I don’t think companies like FX and Air Arms cater to low income youth with their airguns although in tough times high end companies may transition into a more profitable market like Diana did.
In the end we are left with nothing more than a big blur for quality and the only standard we can depend on is ….. ” You get what you pay for ! ” Well …. err …. Most of the time.
Like Kevin said, we here are the critical meticulous airgunners who get deeply involved in airguns, compared to the rest of the world, and are probably a small part of the sales demographics and add to the chagrin of most manufactures.
Bob M
Bob
But something to think about.
Not only airguns. Also other things there is always a group of people that try to push the performance of a product.
Those people help the others learn. Not only the consumers but the manufacturers.
The smart ones in the group are the ones that usually make something succeed. That is if you can get the others to listen.
A funny?/odd observation this evening,………..
Sitting in my chair and looking out a window,… I saw (what first) appeared to be squirrel climbing a tree. Not odd here. Further observation revealed that is what not squirrel, but rather a ground hog. For sure! No doubt! Clear view from 20 yards.
The critter climbed 3-4′ up a small clump of trees. I would swear it was a “sneak peak” to view my newly planted pepper and tomatoe plants.
The critter did work it’s way back down (rather clumsily) and fell to the ground about 1/2 way down.
All in all I found it quite interesting and thought that I would share it for any other would be critter hunters.
Chris
Very interesting. I’ve never seen one climb a tree…but I’m sure he WAS checking out your plants for future harvest. 🙂 Coincidentally, I saw a huge woodchuck in my back yard this morning. He stood up on his hind legs and must have been two feet tall. When he saw us in our screen room he hustled over under my lawn barn. He WILL have to be dealt with because I do not want him burrowing under my barn.
Chris
Yep they climb trees. I use to run into them in the woods when hunting and mushroom hunting.
Sometimes they catch you off guard. They will be in a tree and come around a limb that is eye level and they may be only 10 yards from you. I have had them run straight down the tree and even seen them jump out of a tree if it was maybe 5 or 6 feet up.
GF1,
Thank you for the conformation (and other poster’s too). Not a serious, long time, hard core hunter,… so it was a bit of a surprise.
I chased one around the yard/woods perimeter the other day only to have it vaporize in thin air. It stayed about 10′ in the woods, moving steadily through the new weeds. I was waiting for it to stop. A hole nearby to be sure. It was late, work day, tired and I did not investigate further. At least I gave it chase.
On shooting,…. this Summer might be a bit curtailed. Mom and Dad (80+) are moving from a big-ish house with 50 years worth of stuff and down-sizing to a (much) smaller one. My shooting Summer is not looking good. Way past due in reality,… but at least it is happening.
Chris
Chris
This critters always know where safety is. And all I can say is they have ninja dna. Don’t even blink your eye is the best I can say. They will vanish before you know it.
And I feel for you. I been through the parent thing. And really I wish you good times and happiness with them. Really spend what time you have together whenever you can. The air guns will always be there.
Remember all the times they was there to guide you. Well it’s your time to be there and guide them.
GF1,
You got it. The pairing down of 50 years worth of stuff is the first step. That may take a few.
They raised 5 good kids, so together we will get it figured out. Luckily,… M + D still have 99% of their “marbles”,…. so that is a plus.
Chris
Chris
I’m sure you already realize it. But you know you have been blessed.
I just thought of a hundred things I wanted to say.
But all I can say is be there for them and remember all the happiness you have had. And make happy memories now.
GF1,
I do know. No doubt,… I will not realize just (how fully) until further down the road. As they say,… hind sight is 20/20.
Chris
Chris
Live life to the fullest as they say.
Chris—- I have been hunting woodchuck since 1960. I have seen chucks climb trees at least 12 times. I have also seen them climb up on top of high rock walls , and even perch on top of large boulders. I also remember a story about a farmer that had a semi pet chuck that would climb up onto the hood of his tractor. The article had photos of the chuck on the tractor, so it could be true.——-Ed
Ed,
I know of 3 farmers that had semi-pet “hogs”. Cool for a few, but after awhile they had “to go”,… in that they were digging under barn foundations as well as house foundations.
They are very tactile to be sure. Just look at the mounds of rocks that they will dig out for a den. I just never figured them to climb trees. Then again,… I never knew that a Turkey will roost way up in trees either.
Cool stuff,.. that Nature.
Chris
Just watched a video review of the JSB Hades pellet in .22 cal by Donnie Reed at Baker Airguns. He does a nice job of reviewing this pellet for size, weight, and accuracy, as well as penetration and expansion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPsVUVSft4g&feature=push-u-sub&attr_tag=NsKstB2IbrysnBvj%3A6
Geo
Get some. They work. I’m sold on them.