Crosman 3622 PCP Air Rifle.
This report covers:
- Scope
- Sight in
- JSB Exact Jumbo RS
- Refilled the rifle
- Air Arms Falcons
- Last pellet — JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
- Not finished
- Summary
Today we mount a scope and test the Crosman 3622 precharged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle’s accuracy at 25 yards.
Scope
I mounted a UTG Bug Buster 3-12X32 scope which seems ideal for the 3622. Let’s see.
The Bug Buster scope seems ideal for the 3622.
The test
I shot the rifle from 25 yards, rested directly on a sandbag. I shot 10-shot groups. There were no called pulls throughout the test.
Sight in
After mounting the scope the rifle was close to right on at 12 feet and again at 10 meters. At 25 yards I shot 8 more times to refine the zero. Once the scope was set I never adjusted it again.
JSB Exact Jumbo RS
First to be tested were 13.43-grain JSB Exact Jumbo RS domes. The first three went into the same hole but after that the pellets started wandering. Ten pellets made a 25-yard group that measures 0.683-inches between centers.
The Crosman 3622 put ten JSB Exact Jumbo RS pellets into a 0.683-inch group at 25 yards.
Refilled the rifle
Following this group I refilled the rifle using the Air Venturi G9 hand pump. In Part 3 we learned that the 3622 has between 18 and 40 good shots per fill — depending on what sort of velocity spread you are willing to accept. I went with twenty shots per fill today as I was testing accuracy. So after a 10-shot sight-in and the first 10-shot group it was time to refill. The fill took five pumps to pressurize the air hose and 20 more pumps to fill the reservoir to 2,000 psi. The 3622 is an easy PCP to manage.
Air Arms Falcons
Next up was the 13.43-grain Air Arms Falcon pellet. The 3622 put ten of them into 0.839-inches at 25 yards. The same sort of thing happened this time, with the pellets scattering after the first few shots. The middle three shots went wide and then the last shots went into the same hole as the first. As mentioned previously there were no called pulls.
The 3622 put ten Air Arms Falcons into 0.839-inches at 25 yards.
Last pellet — JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy
For the last pellet I wanted to test the 18.1-grain JTS Dead Center dome because at ten meters they showed a lot of promise. But they also were quite difficult to load into the 3622’s breech. So I switched to the 18.1-grain JSB Exact Jumbo Heavy instead. And they were also a little difficult to load, though not as hard as the JTS pellets. When the first two shots went through the same hole at 25 yards I thought we had a winner, but then the shots began to scatter. Ten of these pellets made the largest 25-yard group of the day, going into 1.323-inches between centers.
Ten JSB Jumbo Heavy pellets made a 1.323-inch group at 25 yards.
Not finished
After today’s test I noticed that all the pellets I tested were made by JSB. I want to try some different pellets in the 3622 before I call the test finished. I think I need to try H&N Baracudas and the new Benjamin Bullseye. The Bullseye wasn’t too good at 10 meters but it deserves another chance. Maybe I’ll even try the Crosman Premier. Who knows?
Summary
You readers have had a good look at the Crosman 3622 and you’re going to get more, though by now I think you know pretty well what the rifle has to offer.
Remember I had Pyramyd Air install the steel breech which gave us the opportunity to test both the dot sight and the scope. The basic plastic receiver accepts neither optional sight.
I’m also testing the Air Venturi G9 high pressure hand pump which is perfectly suited to the 3622. If you are going to start shooting PCPs this is a good way to go.
B.B.
Please go on the eternal quest to find the BEST pellet with this rifle.
I would be happy to send you some of my .22 pellets to add to the mix.
-Yogi
PS seems the 3622 likes smaller headed pellets.?
Yogi,
I kinda sorta want to do that, so we’ll see. I have something that I think is big coming and it relates to this — sort of. You’ll learn a little about it tomorrow.
BB
“If you are going to start shooting PCPs this is a good way to go.”
BB,
Now that’s some enabling words of wisdom from the Great Enabler we all know and love! 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
Tom,
Can you kindly check if the barrel band is still snug? Or is the barrel fully floating?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I asked BB a while back if the stock was still a two-piece assembly as on the 362 with the forward stock section being attached to the pump handle. If so, then it would need to be secured to the air tube and barrel as a PCP. I am going to assume that is the reason for the barrel bands being added to the PCP version.
I don’t see any clamping screws securing the bands to the barrel and tube but there is a brass insert of sorts on the top. My guess is that the bands are attached to the stock and snug around the barrel and tube and tightened up with those brass inserts.
Unless they installed some sort of attachment bracket under the air tube or it really is a one-piece stock now and they just never cut along the existing separation lines when it was a pump handle. Don’t think it would be safe to tighten the stock to the bands from the bottom and risk denting the air tube, unless it was taken into consideration and prevented. They obviously wanted to keep it simple.
What else would those brass inserts be used for?
Bob M,
I think you have a valid conclusion that the stock is two pieces. Click on the banner photo or go to the sales page on PAir then click on the second photo from the left…i didn’t even need to enlarge the seam to see that it is two part; you can see clear through to the background!
I think that (MAY) explain the horizontal patterning of B.B.s groups; he shooting has a normal tendency to go vertical and left but not both left to right. It isn’t the barrel air tube connection but rather lateral flex at the receiver in my remote point of view.
From experience with the DAQs their should be a repeating pattern if it was air tube to barrel flex.
shootski
Siraniko,
I’m almost positive the front barrel band grabs the barrel. I will get up and look for you. — it does. There is a grub screw down through the top of the band into (or at least touching) the barrel.
BB
Tom,
Thanks. This just seems to have a better expectation for accuracy than what has been shown. Looking for the best pellet can be really frustrating at times.
Siraniko
Wonder what Crosman will follow this up with?
OP,
The 3677 I hope.
BB
That and maybe bring back the Disco/Maximus. I know it is my personal opinion and worth about that much, but I think they really messed up when they attempted to convert the Maximus into the Fortitude. They had obviously forgotten the Katana.
If they should give serious consideration to such, they could drop the gauge from the “new” Disco/Maximus design and I will not complain.
Coincidentally and along that line of thought, your blog entry about the Diana 34 stirred FM to bring out the .177 Max with the red dot sight out yesterday afternoon and after pumping it up to 2000 PSI, put 40 Crosman HP 7.9 grain pellets through it. Hunted down feral cans/can lids at 25 yards, shooting from a sitting position – results: a dazzling 18/40 hits for a non-sharpshooter grade of 45%. Perhaps it woulda helped if the targets had not been in the shade but no, FM’s shady shooting skills are to blame. But it was fun! This is why FM is not quite sure about acquiring a 3622 just yet – the Maximus family still ticks all the boxes when it comes to his shooting needs.
And coincidentally too, one of FM’s firearm-loving friends contacted him about giving advice to another party who’s never shot airguns on the subject of clearing iguanas off that party’s property; apparently the man is experiencing an invasion of the pesties. Maybe the 3622 would be a good starter airgun for that purpose? But as FM be no expert on pretty much anything, think the best course of action will be to steer the newbie to the relevant articles on this blog so he can really learn from Godfather Tom and all ye experts.
FM,
I am no expert. Far from it. I just have more experience than some of the others. I learn something new here every day. One thing I have learned from you is I should not have let my Maximus go. I so regret it now. I do wish that TCFKAC would bring it back. I may end up getting a 3622 and/or a 3677. We shall see. Hopefully a Max will show up at the next NC Airgun Show.
Here is something very important to remember. Have fun. Everything else concerning these things is not important.
FM will continue to bird-dog for your Maximus and if able to sniff one out, you get first shot at it. Picking up a 3622 at some point is a possibility but the Maxies might get jealous if one came to live down here.
FM,
Quite frankly, if’n I was you, I would not bother with the 3622. Those Maxies of your’n are better’n it will ever be.
That’s kind of the way FM sees it, but may recommend it to the yet-to-be-met newbie airgunner who wishes to get acquainted with airgunnery and reptilian pesting.
FM,
As I have stated, I myself may end up with a 3622 or a 3677 if TCFKAC should make it, but if a Max/Disco shows up at RRHFWA, all bets are off.
B.B., two suggestions for you. Try a pellet that comes in multiple head sizes, like HN FTT or Baracuda Match. Next, this seems to me a decent pesting rig, so perhaps a selection of hunting style pellets–pointed and hollow-points.
I am curious as to what is causing the initial superbly tight grouping and then the “wandering” of the shots. As this is not a regulated air rifle, could this be due to the increase of air pressure as the shot count climbs to the top of the shot curve? I do hope that I said that correctly.
I recall that my first PCP, which was the Talon SS that I got from Mac after a long tarantula dance, did not reach the peak velocity of the shot curve until the pressure had dropped to 1900 PSI. That was a very long climb up the shot curve from a 3000 PSI fill. It started at about 400 FPS and climbed to over 1000 FPS with H&N Silver Streaks.
BB – thank you for all of the work you’ve put in over the years! Your information has been invaluable and a “go-to” for me when actual data is sought after. I see a lot of posts where owners will say “it’s an accurate rifle” or how hitting cans at X yards shows the “accuracy” (although I believe precision is the more appropriate term for what most are interested in) of a given gun. But without data, this information is not very helpful.
I was anxiously awaiting your 25 yard precision results of the 3622 before I posted my experiences with the 362 series rifles to see if the PCP version might be different, but I believe it is being consistent with the rest of the series and it’s due to what I consider to be a major flaw in at least a good number of the 362 guns.
I have only spent time as of the past couple of months on pump pellet rifles since I was stuck in the spring piston pellet gun world where I was quite content and had a lot to pick from and to play with. I do like the essentially recoiless characteristics of the pump guns (although the couple I’ve had experience with do have a piston and spring in their triggering mechanism which ironically behaves like a spring guns on a much smaller scale which is interesting to me.) I have yet to acquire a PCP but the 3622 would probably be the first if I was to make that plunge. However, I don’t mind pumping the guns up for every shot and once the air charge is ready, I don’t really see a lot of differences between the PCPs and pumpers for my purposes. I understand PCPs can achieve much higher energy shots but for target shooting @ 25 yards that isn’t a significant factor for me.
As of yesterday, I now have four of the 362 100-year anniversary edition guns and like them for their aesthetics, weight, feel, collectability, and handling. However, I became disappointed in the gun’s precision rather quickly after my experiences with other pumpers such as the Seneca Dragonfly MK2 and even the Daisy 880 which I’m still amazed will produce consistent <= 3/4" groups at 25 yards with a variety of pellets and it's not unusual for me to obtain 1/2", 5-shot groups at the same distance with a pellet like the Norma S-target matches which blows my expectations away for such a gun!
Then there are the 362s… They "seem" like they want to make consistently precise groups at times – sometimes I could get a ragged hole out of 3-4 shots, but overall the ones I have cannot be relied upon to do so with the consistency of the other guns. Pellet selection did make a difference, but even the best pellets I had I could only rely on to do 1-1/4" groups (RWS Superdomes.) And as far as using the "recommended" Crosman pellets? Wow! Those were regularly grouping at 3-4 inches @ 25 yards! How come a Daisy 880 can outperform a 362 when the 362s appear to be a step-up in quality in nearly every aspect? I would expect the 362s to rival the Seneca!
After disassembling one of the 362s and examining the components to the best of my ability, I could not find any glaring issues. The barrel was a focal point, but visually it looked great! No burrs, passed the "q-tip" test, rifling and crown appeared fine. But then I did a "pellet push-through test" with both Crosman hollow points and ultra domes and was alarmed by the results of the pellets almost falling through the barrel under the weight of gravity! Because this was my first time performing this test, I grabbed the next non-362 available gun I had handy which happened to be a Hatsan 95 and performed the same test. What a difference! The Hatsan had a lot more resistance for most of the barrel length and even in the areas where it was less it still required me to push it through with no signs of it free-falling under gravity with the barrel held vertically. The rifling impressions on the pellets reflected the difference (see attached picture.) I subsequently ran the test in the other three 362s I have and the results were the same. And, of course, without the rifling imparting the spin on the pellet I'm concluding it explains the results I have seen.
I do have a barrel on order which has been tested for pellet engagement and shows better engagement and I will follow-up with results of that when I have them.
I would like to get others' experiences to confirm this is likely the culprit. I don't know why the Crosman barrels are so loose compared to the Hatsan 95's. Maybe the looser barrels aid in maintaining higher velocities (less energy spent on spinning?) since velocity numbers seem to be a selling point? But if the pellet is not sealing, then some of the air charge would be bypassing it anyway possibly resulting in lower velocities (?) Which brings up another question for me – under air pressure, is the pellet skirt expanding and adequately engaging the rifling in the 362s so it's fine? Other thoughts? From your prior results on the 362 line of guns, I'm concluding they all have a common fundamental deficiency and I'm hoping it can be resolved so these guns will be able to compete with what the Seneca has shown to deliver, or at least be able to hold it's own against the Daisy 880 as far as precision.
AGA,
Wow! After seeing your pic I ran a Benjamin Bullseye through the test 3622 barrel. It did not fall through the barrel, though after the rifling engraved it at the muzzle the fit in the rest of the bore was loose.
My pellet is engraved by the rifling, though not all around the circumference. This is very illuminating. I now know I must select only the largest-diameter pellets for this rifle.
Thanks,
BB
Thanks for the reply BB! Yes, there is a YouTube video on the 362 anniversary edition with another frustrated customer (turbo1500 – *I think* – is the creator?) of these rifles. By the end of his 2nd video he claimed a re-crowning and trigger work brought it within acceptable results but I also noticed he had his best results with FX pellets of the “5.52mm” size and not the “5.5(0)” ones. Was this related???? Perhaps! I look forward to your further testing and (hopefully) a re-testing of the 362 anniversary or standard 362 editions with possible fixes for this (wouldn’t a LW barrel on these be nice!) 🙂
AirGunnerAmeteur, you have a very technical mind. You would do well to purchase a Pellet Gauge with which to measure and sort the pellet heads, although for an experiment, a pair of digital calipers may suffice. Get yourself some HN Field Target Trophy Pellets with 5.53, 5.54, and 5.55 mm heads, confirm the head sizes and sort them (there will be some variation). Then try your experiment and accurracy tests again. My 362 likes the 5.53mm heads.
Thanks for the reply Roamin! And especially thanks for pointing out the larger pellet diameters (than the FX 5.52mm) are also available as I haven’t spent much time looking into their availability. As my name implies, I have much to learn but these comments help speed the process! My main goal with any gun is to achieve 3/4″ or less groups @ 25 yards and boy, the 362 fails that in a miserable way for me. I’m certainly willing to accept the blame for unprecise shots too. I just want to know the main reason why and glad I have other guns to compare to (good reason for more, right?)
I got the 362 first and went through that frustrating experience but already saw what the Daisy 880 could do so I thought maybe my Daisy was a rare, precise one. Then I bought a Seneca Dragonfly after reading BBs review. What a dream to shoot vs. the 362! The difference was almost unbelievable! I do like the aesthetics, look, handling, weight, and size of the 362 over the Seneca but the Seneca is still a nice gun for sure (I highly prefer the wooden stocked guns over synthetics, for traditional and organic reasons I guess.) The Seneca pumping mechanism is interesting and effective, but I slightly prefer the 362 style. No particular reason other than I think the Seneca has a lot going on linkage-wise to pull off the consistent pump force operation which can bring some long-term reliability issues with it. Great idea, but a regular pump would be fine too in my opinion which I understand the original Dragonfly had.
In any of these cases, the pellet gun world is certainly an addicting one. I collect chainsaws and small diesel tractors too and when these bugs bite, they bite hard!
I’ve been bitten by the airgun bug…hard.
It sounds like you like the Dragonfly Mark II better, but you like a challenge.
Another reader set up this Google Docs spreadsheet a while back to share data on multipumps. You can see my results with different pellets and different numbers of pumps
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1A7DbYotHteZNxjIdSZfcG00edrjkUYcus0OD43qLPPM/htmlview
Thanks for the additional information Roamin!
Right now, yes I prefer the Dragonfly ONLY because it is currently shows more favorable precision for me. And this is mainly due to how terrible the 362s are with the readily available Crosman pellets which I realize are probably not one to rely on.for precision anyway. However, once the 362s (and I believe they will) hit the 3/4″ @ 25 yards with acceptable reliability goal for me they will displace the Dragonfly’s 1st position for a pumper style gun overall for the reasons I mentioned in a prior post. It’s somewhat disappointing these are not as “pellet friendly” as the Dragonfly’s without barrel swaps but I’m good with that as long as the larger diameter pellets are readily available which I’m guessing they will be. Sure, the 362 might not be able to match the Dragonsfly’s ultimate precision but it’s currently not the only criteria in my case but it still is a significant one which it should be for any air gunner as we cannot rely on energy to make up for lack of precision if that relationship can even be made at all.
H&n does make sample packs. But I don’t think you can specify head sizes.
It seems the samples are weight and design.
Ian
I recently got a 362 anniversary rifle but have not shot it or even run anything through the barrel, although I hope to do both today. I ordered H&N FTT’s in 5.53 & 5.55 head sizes and a tin of Norma 15.9 gr Golden Trophy FT’s, which don’t seem to have the head size shown on the tin or packaging. This is my first 22/5.5 rifle any other stock of pellets in hand to try.
Scott, look at my other comments and the Google Docs spreadsheet link. Meisterkugeln would be good to try for target practice. What are you planning to use it for?
Thanks, your info and comments are what makes me think I chose well, maybe, when thought I should order a couple of head sizes to try.
Mostly plinking inside of 30 yards and opportunistic pesting, nothing bigger than gray squirrels.
You are welcome.
I also found better accuracy with 7 pumps vs. the max of 8, if I remember.
AGA
Like Roaming Greco said just try the FTTs in 5.54 and 5.55 before spending more money. I think you might be surprised. 5.53s are standard performers in my 22 cal German springers so I believe you will be better served with the larger sub calibers.
My Beeman R9 likes the 5.53s
Surprisingly, I have a Walther Terrus that only likes JSB Stratons.
Thanks Bill. I’m all over the larger pellets from everyone’s excellent input and have orders placed. Certainly it’s cheaper than barrel upgrades and now the Dragonfly will have more pellet resources too 🙂
AGA
You bring up some fresh observations and questions. Most of my .22’s prefer larger pellet head diameters, even 5.54 mm and larger like AA 16 grain domes which are excellent pellets but they tend to be larger than stated. I share your accuracy goals, my being a paper shooter and confined to 25 yards or less.
Your obvious technical background makes me hope you will be a consistent comments contributor.
Deck
Thanks Decksniper! Glad I am in good company here and I hope to be able to contribute more moving forward. As my pellet gun collection grows they’ll be reasons to keep returning. Thanks to all those who support and make this sport entertaining and engaging such as yourself!
Looking back, I have to correct my faulty memory. In the 362, it seems RWS Meisterkugeln were the best pellets. However, I stand on my advice of trying different head sizes.
AGA,
Below is a link to a comment I made earlier on the 362 100-year anniversary report. After all the effort Crosman went to improve their barrels a few years ago they have definitely dropped the ball on the 362 gun models. Hard to believe a company can shoot themselves in the foot that badly.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2024/01/crosman-362-100-year-anniversary-edition-part-five/#comment-512098
Don
Thanks for the reminder. How is your 362 doing these days, and do you ever see a need to adjust the sear engagement with the external screw?
RG,
Sorry to say much of my time has been taken up with maintenance and up keep aroun here. Free time is getting precious. I really do need to downsize. A one hour job now takes me all day. Getting old sure speeds up the clock. I haven’t given my pellet guns near enough exorcize lately.
My little airgun time has focused on accuracy testing and tuning of my Low Pressure Pellet Gun.
I do need to get the 362 100yr out for some trigger time.
Benji-Don
What a profound statement, “Getting old speeds up the clock” Might add “Promotes slow motion”
Maybe both
I hear you, pal. Seems like I need another 12 hours in a day to get everything done.
Thanks for pointing that out Don! I unfortunately did not read through all of the comments on BB’s 362 anniversary edition review but I think I independently mirrored your conclusion and I’ve spoken to others who were aware of the “0.23” caliber barrels Crosman seems to have been producing for some time now. I will say that at least the barrels seem to be precise, just not accurate! :/ Everyone seems to be just a tad large… I did reach out to Crosman on this issue but I’m guessing it will not get much attention. It’s a shame they continue to make these barrels if it is indeed causing a problem which maybe it is not. My most recent 362s were made in the past couple of weeks. Serial #’s 1427/8. One of them has a pretty poor pump handle fit and another had the box sleeve mangled. I was planning on passing these down to grandkids someday and now need to compensate for both the precision issues and sloppy finishing that I normally am pretty tolerant of. I wonder how hard it would be for Crosman to tighten up their barrels a bit, or at least understand their reasoning as to why they are loose (if it is intended?)
AirGunnerAmeteur,
Welcome!
If B.B.s observation that the pellet he pushed through his barrel didn’t engrave all 360° that could indicate an OVAL barrel…not precision barrel making in my book regardless of actual caliber.
That oval bore could also go a long way to explaining the cyclical Points Of Impact (POI) pattern.
shootski
Thanks for the welcome Shootski! Point taken on ovality although I would argue if the ovality is consistent then the precision is still there. My definition of precision is more that of consistency” or “predictable repeatability” but maybe I need to refine that for myself. I can imagine those who work in barrel design and build have quite a set of parameters to contend with and it would be quite a learning experience to go through a class covering these items for those interested which I’d be one of.
I’m surprised nobody has asked how well the Hatsan 95 does given it has shown better rifling contact with the CPHP pellets vs. the 362. Well, let’s just say I cannot achieve 3/4″ groups with it at 25 yards but it does much better than the 362 with those pellets. I actually have not identified a spring piston gun/pellet combination (out of the springers I have) that reaches the 3/4″ group @ 25 yards goal as of yet but I don’t feel I have the “seat time” in on them but believe it will be forthcoming when I do. The Daisy 880 and Dragonfly have captured my attention by achieving this goal and I’ve gotten distracted with trying to get similar results from the 362s for now.
AirGunnerAmeteur,
For motivational purposes only you will find attached a break barrel shooting Bullets (slugs) at up to 50 yards. It was shot for a PAir MOA contest with a SIG SSG ASP20 .177
shootski
Motivating results indeed!
Benji-Don,
Very curious about your progress of your low pressure air gun. Do you have any pictures to share?
Brent
Brent,
As I did in my first quest on velocity I set myself up for a very high mark. Initially I tried for 500 feet per second using a readily available lead pellet with 100 pounds per square inch pressure. I never quite got there. Using 150 psi I was able to achieve 500 fps with a few pellets.
I set out to achieve 1 minute of angel at 25 yards as my accuracy goal. So far my best 10 shot groups are around 2 moa at 25 yards or 1/2 inch at 25 yards. That is out of many tries.
Here is a Picture of my latest version of the gun. I have tuned the gun in every way I could think of and the accuracy has stayed about the same from my first version. I have not given up yet on achieving 1/4 inch at 25 yards; I do believe it is just finding what is causing the groups to be 1/2 to 1 inch at 25 yards.
One day I need to write a blog about the fun I have had building and testing my Low Pressure Pellet Gun.
Thanks for the interest.
Don
My first sentence should of said: As I did in my first quest on velocity I set myself up for a very high (accuracy) mark.
There are spelling mistakes in the Reply above I cannot correct.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Looks like a bench gun. Do you use a hand pump to air it up?
Yes, it is a bench gun. Not something to carry around. I tether it to a small portable air compressor. The compressor kicks on about every 10 shots. It is an air hog, but that is not a problem with the gun tethered.
My Marauder pistol (Prod) did a similar velocity profile before I put a Huma regulator set to 1900 psi into to it. The regulator takes up some of the air volume but you still get a similar number of good shots filling to 3000 psi but all are 590 +/- 5 fps before falling off the regulator. This is a lot more consistent than starting at 560 fps at 2600 psi climbing to 595 fps at 2000 psi before falling back to 560 fps at 1500 psi.
Thank you for the report BB. I always learn something from these. Today I think AGA’s comments were very interesting. I am going to assume that you will want to test some more larger diameter pellets in this rifle. I will be looking forward to those.
I’d agree that FTT would be worthy of a trial. I’d also be inclined to give the barrel a clean
Looks like a lot of people learned something on this blog.
Need to add, “Pellet Rifling Engagement push through” to every new airguns, things to do, check list. And now go back and check all the ones you already have. May save a lot of trial-and-error shooting to find that ‘Amen Pellet’. Like that term !
Now I really need to get a pellet gage.
Bob M,
Egg shaped Cannonball Sinkers. They are made of soft Lead/Pb Bn 3-4 and have a hole (actually a bore) that runs through them lengthwise. You can do the fingernail check to see if light pressure will dent the sinker surface.
Measure the diameter (Calipers or better still a Micrometer) to be slightly oversized compared to the bore you want to slug.
Using a Hardwood dowel (aluminum, brass, or copper rod are okay. NO STEEL!) slightly smaller than the bore of your barrel.
Push the slug into the bore. It will cut off a small ring of Lead ALL THE WAY AROUND is what you want to look for. You should be able to push the slug through the bore by hand. IF NOT wack the rod/dowel end with a large rawhide, plastic or BIG rubber hammer. DO NOT TAP…WACK until you can press the sinker with your hand once more.
The small hole in the sinker will give the swaged Lead a place to get squished to.
You should do it from both ends of the barrel (2 sinkers) and some folks will do two more sinkers going only half way to see if the muzzle end is different than the chamber end.
Measure with micrometer or a quality caliper as a second choice.
Firearm folks go .001 to .002″ oversize on Lead Bullet diameter but for airguns i would go .005″ oversize for sure on pellets and Lead/Pb bullets (slugs) from the GROOVE (NOT the Lands) impression on the sinker.
shootski
Shootski,
That would save time and $ on pellets. Why not just measure the inside of the barrel with a caliper and start with the most appropriate pellet size to push through. Everybody has micrometers and calipers, right? Perhaps if I was into pro target shooting.
I would just go with various pellet sizes. You can always use them to plink in other airguns.
Speaking of pushing pellets. Did you ever hear of the Pardo Push Maneuver? I know you will look it up if not.
Bob M,
Sure you could measure to select pellets…
The sinker, however, gives a better impression of the bore and also provides better FEEL during the push throughs.
Yup on the Pardo’s Push. Worth a Silver Star for each of the two drivers.
Would have been difficult in most other USAF aircraft of that time and earlier since most didn’t have Tail Hooks. I believe the USAF’s F-104 Starfighter was one of the first to be so equiped.
shootski
Boy i was really into jet aircraft as a kid, models, postcards pictures and all.
Two of my all-time favorites, the B58 Hustler and the X15. Coolest looking planes in the world then.
Little did I know I would spend my life working with them and the likes of an F14 Tomcat.
Bob M,
I really liked the oldies from WWI and WWII.
My favorites however were the flying boats…and then i saw my first P6M2 Seamaster. Most folks don’t know it even existed; a sustained Mach capable Seaplane in the ’50s to early ’60s!
I do admit to liking the X-15 and the other X Planes…until i got to fly my first RA-5C.
shootski
Just went to the kitchen to wash my coffee cup and was presented with the opportunity to help preserve our Critically Endangered California Condors when I looked out the window.
So I took advantage of the situation and turned a sparkplug cable muncher into a dinner with my Crosman Model PC77.
That is unless the local Coyotes get wind of it first while on their rounds.
More than likely the black birds will be happy first.
Amazing what that little pumper pistol has evolved into, this 3622 PCP.
Bob M,
What happens to them if they fly to say Arizona? Do they drop the California designation?
shootski
Of course, they become Snowbirds. I believe I actually got to see an A5, someplace? Another fine example of what we believe a swept wing jet should look like. I think I actually had to step back to take it all in to recognize it. Big.
Received more pellets today – H&N FTT in 5.53mm and 5.55mm. FX in 5.52mm. Did the “push-through” test on the 5.55mm and FXs and there is a little more resistance but nothing like the Hatsan and still not much sign of rifling on the pellets tested. A couple 3 shot groups were <1/2" @ 25 yds but subsequent shots were up to 3-4 inches away and scattered. So IF larger pellets help, they would need to be larger than the 5.55mms if they are true to labeled size, at least in this test case. This also confirms what Don said in the 362 anniversary review comments on larger diameter pellets not helping him either. I did not measure any pellet diameters.
So far it looks like the few who can achieve consistent groups at or below 3/4" @ 25 yards have done a barrel change. I started considering swapping a barrel from a Dragonfly over but not serious enough yet to take it apart to see what modifications would be required to do so. It looks like LW barrel blanks would run about $150. I have no idea what machining costs would be to finish one.
How many pumps are you shooting with?
You can see from that spreadsheet I linked you to that different pellets at different numbers of pumps performed differently. Try a couple of strings of 10 shots at each number of pumps starting a 8 and moving down in number until you don’t feel the pellet has enough velocity to hit your target at 25 yards.
Are you using a “6 or clock” hold on the target for maximum sight picture consistency? Also put a piece of tape on the stock where you will feel it with your cheek for a consistent cheek weld.
Sorry if you know all this stuff. Just trying to help you get the most precision possible out of your experiments.
Good luck. I think I will put in my trigger time with my 362 soon, too.
I have been using 6 pumps for the 362s and 8 on the Dragonfly. I appreciate the tips on achieving the ultimate precision and believe everything does affect it. However, I also believe there is at least one fundamental and glaring deficiency with the 362s that, at this point, appears to be in the barrels based on others’ experiences.
After shooting the 362s for a few dozen rounds or so and then switching to the Dragonfly, these are the things I notice:
1.) There is a definite and immediate gain in confidence in where the pellets are going. It isn’t as if the Dragonfly *might* be performing better, it’s that you *can just tell* where the shot will be going as you get a couple of initial rounds on the target and continue to pull the trigger. With the 362s, I find myself wondering where the last shot went at times, especially if I’m getting the most mileage out of my targets where other, prior shots *could* be it because of the lack of precision.
2.) Pellet scrutiny, insertion method, and other technicalities becomes less of a concern. With the 362s, I’m always thinking about how round the skirts are, or thinking about the differences in diameters, weights, or if the wind is picking up enough to cause a significant drift, or if I somehow am damaging the pellet during insertion, hold repetition, and the other things like you mention. The Dragonfly has taught me that, while these most likely have some effect on precision, they are not the sources of the large discrepancies I’m seeing, or the Dragonfly is just that good to somehow accommodate these things which I doubt it does. In other words, it has taught me that if you put the cross hair on a 25 yard target at 24x magnification and pull the trigger, you’ll see the pellet show up there whereas with the 362s (and a lot of my springers) it quickly goes from target shooting to a game of “Where’s Waldo?” unless a rather large, and clean target is starting out the group.
3.) Seneca “got it right” with the Dragonfly where Crosman has dropped the ball in at least the model line of the 362s. It’s one of the few instances in my life where a product stamped with “China” is running circles around one that is “Made in the USA” for a similar category item.
I just thought of another trick B.B. told us about. He has a big ball bearing and he used it to slightly flare the skirts.
Yes! I was thinking of using the centering cone on a flywheel puller to see if it would work to expand a pellet skirt enough to make a difference if the cone angle is adequate. I haven’t gotten around to trying it yet but at this point I don’t know how it could get worse! Thanks for throwing that out here as it may come in handy. How about a custom die for pellets for the 362 line of products? 5.8mm? Crosman? I bet they could make a killing selling these if they work due to the guns already out there. Probably could sell more guns too resulting in more pellet sales! Maybe this has been their plan all along!