tdsmith Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 ok so my rank on the forum sums me up, but i want to get better and have the permission to shoot on land with a fair few pigeons and rabbits, just got my own rifle and its killing me when i get a bunnie in the scope i pull and it runs not a sign of bashing at all. The bunnies are having a little giggle as i got what was made by a sheep a hole in a hedge which then gives me 30yrds or less range from the sunbathing patch the rabbits use. I shoot, miss then go away for 30mins go back and they are back, i tried just staying there but they dont seem to come back found going away and coming back is best. Firstly i have tried to zero my scope in for days but seem to be making it worse, i went out today and got an inch grouping but it seems everyother shot is going not were i want it. I got a bi-pod in the way so i dont know if that will help, any techniques for zeroing please i would be grateful. Secondly try to imagine a lemon in camo gear walking around to get close to pigeons and you got me i feel a bit silly when i see them take off and watch them land 150yrds or so in a tree i start my trek but i dont walk straight i go zig-zag hide behind trees and bushes as i think this will help my chances of getting closer. is there any way of making pigeons come to me. i thought of decoys but dont have money at the moment and dont want to lugg them around but its an option, also i thought a technique i learnt fishing, baiting the area up? i mean bird feed and fence posts and setting a hide in range of them? Any help would be grate guys Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 practice on paper targets plus what pellets and what gun all ways use a good quility pellet and no the £2.99 poop from the army surplus store practice then practice more you are needing a good tight sub inch group at 30 yrds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Ok i got a BSA tactical xl .177 and i use RWS SUPERDOME. so Paper is the way forward then and at 30yrds tight grouping got it thanks airgunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Im based in the wiltshire in a town called swindon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryantidgwell Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 i would ditch the bipod on the springer , as when you fire the spring is knocking the gun before the pellet leaves the barrel making you miss , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 ok i can free shoot with out it so thats not a problem thanks all so far i should be out tomorrow so i can try these things out thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineshooter Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 A bipod on a springer is not really a good idea, as mentioned practice and more practice is the key, I`ve shot the XL and is does recoil a bit, apparently they do calm down after time. Superdomes are a good pellet but may not suit that barrel, have a look on bsaog.co.uk and see what pellets other people are using in their guns. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobyb525 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 I found superdomes work for lightnings, Check the barrel is clean, did you buy second hand? If so it may need a service (strip and lube etc) to sharpen it up again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) 2 things spring to mind here-if you zero your rifle ,say, leaning on a fence and then lay down and use a bipod or even move your hold your point of impact will shift so make sure that you zero in the same stance as you will be shooting (i would even consider zeroing the gun where you are going to be shooting the rabbits from until you are totally confident of your outfit).The next possible cause is "buck fever"-a common problem that affects many new shots (and plenty of old ones as well).As you are finally about to take the shot you get excited and become unsteady until you rush the shot and miss-relax-once you are in position wait even if a target presesnts itself-follow the target thru the scope for as long as you can (2-3 minutes at least) and concentrate on breathing slow and deep.Try to imagine that the rabbits head is a golf ball and you are just going to show your mates that you can put a hole in it-stay completly emotionless and still as you ease the shot off and dont lift your head for 3-4 seconds.As for walking up to pigeons-in your dreams!-while you are guessing which tree they are in they are counting your eyelashes-you need to roost shoot them or find a sitty tree to hide underneath, concealment and patience are needed to deal with most of our feathered foe.Keep at it and you will soon be telling us about bunny no.1-best of luck-bruno. Edited October 10, 2009 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 No it was brand new out the box so thats why i think its a bit jumpy, i have read it may calm down overtime but like 1000+ pellets as someone said on bsa forum 500 is not a lot.; With the scope it says on my hawke nighteye 1 click 1/4 MOA. i understand it goes for minute of angle but any good accurate measurements to compare like 1 click equals 1/4 of an inch or something i just seem to shoot 3 pellets then see the pattern and adjust and click say one or two to the right then up and its really changed a lot so i try 5 clicks. thanks all so far grate help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) Could you be getting a bit of scope creep.??..Try remounting your scope,Making sure you tighten up the screws a little at a time alternating between each screw until there really tight...As others have said,You'll find it very difficult to stalk a pigeon.You need to watch were there going and which trees they prefer and get yourself a hide built or a nice little hiding place......I think also it's illegal to lure pigeons in with bait/seeds..There on the general license and you can only shoot them for the purpose of crop protection...Luring them in is not allowed...Just before you shoot,make sure you dont hold your breath for to long..This cause's the body to shake slightly...Deep breaths......Practise practise practise... Edited October 10, 2009 by smig4373 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendersons Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) i live just outside swindon if we can meet at some point convenient to us both (i work silly hours) i maybe able to give you a few pointers pm me if your interested nick Edited October 10, 2009 by hendersons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 Ok guys in what has been said tonight i will have to run through some checks with my scope and set targets at the bunnie runs. make sure im in the postion i will shoot in and i am still breathing well enough to take the shot. Thanks all and hendersons thanks for the offer would love to meet i will try the advice out first if this surely fails then i will be calling upon you, if i get it sorted will probably pm you with details for a meet any how. well i will report my findings back tomorrow, you never know tomorrow could be my bunny day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 The gun and pellets are normally good together,thou i would suggest you buy one tin of rws hobby pelllets. bsa barresl will like these. Iam un sure how you shoot. Are you pulling at the trigger ?(just a thought) What the others have said about range is great and very true,but i would not start at 30yrds if you new to shooting. put a very big bit of paper about 20yrds away.practice.loads. When you can keyhole(pellet on pellet) it at that range move it back to 30yrds. It will take a couple of tins to stop bouncing as much(twang). everyones right about the bi-pod. Sell it to some with a pcp. The gun and scope and pellets are from a good manufacturer, often the most overlooked part are the mounts! Make sure they are tight,and up to the job. sorry about the spelling. cheers scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james w Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 http://bsaog.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9103.0 im having similar problems, may help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud9 Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 i found bisley magnems to work really well as they are slightly bigger and fix better in the bsa barrels as bsa barrels are slightly bigger but i used superdomes also had no problems but i did have problems zeroin my sights where we shoot aswind is a pain in the butt so now we zero in the yard as its got plenty to break the wind. my lx had no problems killin bunnys at 45 yards but i did find out it was firing at 13.5 flb we also have the same problem with rabbits not coming back if we sit and wait but they do come back just seems to take longer lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 ok been down the shed today with the gun found out that a couple of top bolts on the scope were loose, but re-adjusted it anyhow. i was using this technique of zeroing because it made sense in my head but didnt when it was not working. http://www.zeroriflescope.co.uk/zero_rifle...oting_plan.html Even though this is my first rifle i shoot regular with my uncles they own a wienrach 99s which i have cleaned pigeons of barn roofs with. I was taught to shoot by using a up down method. you find you target and run through it with a vertical line and repeat that slowly, then when ready and your breathing is sorted, as you run over the target you already have first pressure then you gently squeezze the trigger and then follow through. As trying to hold it steady you seem to shake a bit after a while so have a solid movement sorta stops that from happening so i have always used that but latley i have been able to hold my gun in a sit down position and hardly any movement. which is the position i shoot out of the sheep made hide. cannot display my findings as the weather in swindon is a pain and raining. Wind has been a problem for me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) 1 MOA = 1 inch (aprox) at 100yds, 1/2 inch at 50yds, 1/4 inch at 25yds, so at 25yds 16 clicks should move the POI 1 inch mikee Edited October 11, 2009 by mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fo5ter Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 What nobody has mentioned yet is whether or not your scope is aligned correctly, your crosshair needs to be perfectly level with your rifle. it is important that you understand that the trajectory of the pellet will always travel a large degree towards the top of the rifle (where your scope is mounted) - meaning that if the gun isnt perfectly level the pellet will veer off to the side. (its ballistic science and i wont bother explain it here - look up canting a rifle) with the low power and trajectory of an air rifle this is important as it can make the vital difference between missed shots and bags of bunnies. I find that the easiest way to get your gun and scope level is to mount your scope loosely and place a sheet of card or anything with a straight edge on the floor. hold your rifle so that the butt is on the ground with the straight line dead centre at the top and the bottom of the butt and the barrel is pointing to the sky. look into the objective lens of the scope and the straight edge of the card should be clearly visible through the scope - simply rotate the scope until it is level with the straight edge. Easy! I hope i made it clear enough? Happy hunting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 "then you gently squeezze the trigger" That, and breathing is what its about. now its just down to practice,dont try to kill anything until you are able to hold tight groups at 20-25yrds. You have a well made outfit,just get it set up right,and it will last years. You will not zero that gun on a windy day. Try to zero it in a barn out of the wind,(good back stop) Dont sound like you are doing anything wrong to me at all. cheers scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdsmith Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 ok i will zero in my back yard as got a good wind protection. and will get my groupings down to "keyholes" as i read earlier should get it done this week and will keep you guys updated thanks for everything. Tom Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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