Bunny Blaster Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hey all! I have an Air Arms s410 carbine in .22 calibre, but I am currently experiencing some issues with pellet groupings over different ranges. For example, I have it zeroed to 25 meters, however when firing at any range over 30 metres, without re-zeroing, the pellets seem to start to spread randomly (not just drop by an inch or two, but going left right and even higher than the original strike point). Since buying the gun I have kept it in good condition, with only very minor wear and tear, but I am starting to suspect that I may need to give the internal components a thorough going over, partly because the cocking bolt doesn't seem to fully rotate the magazine every time, and sometimes this causes it to jam on loading. I think the jamming might be the bolt pushing against the skirt of the pellet rather than the base, which could be damaging it before firing. Has anyone else ever had this problem with the s410 or have any ideas on how to fix it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sx3 clay breaker Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi Is there a silencer it may be clipping it also try differnent brands of pellets hope this helps. Rgds sx3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome of the Woods Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 http://www.airarmsownersclub.com/index.php Have a look here, plenty of folk willing to help. A strip down clean and lube normally does most things, but clipping may be a problem especially on .22. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 do you mean your groups are just getting bigger? how random and how far off point of aim>? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 If the bolt is catching the pellet, then this will cause the loss in accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Are you using dome head pellets Are you using right sized pellets is mod clipping,have you cleaned it inrease the range out a bit more what pressure are you filling at,you do know about sweet spot dont you is scope tight Other than above,as Gnome said have a look on AAOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Blaster Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hey, Yeah the groupings are 10 shots using the same pellets and are going from the size of a 20p coin at 25m to a larger spread (3-4cm) at 30m+, but it isn't just drop or wind, it looks to me like each pellet isn't flying true which is probably due to the possible damage to the lead skirt of the pellet. I have had a talk to my local gunsmith who says he can do a full strip down and oil, as well as see if there is anything that needs replacing (seals mainly), so I will send it in for that and see if that helps improve accuracy. Also any recommendations for pellets for a .22 s410, mainly those with the best combination of accuracy and stopping power that are suitable for hunting? I am currently using David Nickerson Magnum Point Hunting Pellet and Wasp No.3 Domed (mainly using the hunting pellets as I want to make sure I am getting good grouping with those pellets before starting rabbiting again). I have also just bought a new Harris Bipod that I am going to install this weekend to see if that helps, but I think the accuracy issue is the gun and not me as I get great groupings with my springers. I have had a look at that website, and it looks like it will be really useful, plenty of AA related topics. Seems some people are having a problem with the barrel clamp coming loose, allowing the barrel to move slightly, ruining any previous zeroing. By the way I am using a 3-9 x 50 Hawke Nighteye Scope, it isn't the best, but I think it is good enough. Both scope and clamps are secure and do not move at all. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 I would immediatly say that the pellets are your problem. My AAS400 doesnt like them either! Try Air Arms Field, JSB Exacts or RWS Superdome. Inother words a quaity domed head pellet. In my opinion you are using cheap low quality pellets and you are having problems as a result. I would bet that with AA Field you will get good groups at most ranges. A Bi-Pod will nly help stability, and although you can be more accurate with one id not say they were a must have for accurate shooting. A very light trigger is very usefull though. If the rifle is stripped it will almost certainly want new seals, so id sent it back to Air Arms get a full service and a warranty Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Bad pellet choices, points are never centre and not accurate and wasps are not brill. Try rws superdomes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Blaster Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hey again, I am using hunting point pellets at the moment. I am using .22 pellets and they seem to fit the barrel well, but it is hard to tell with the rotary magazine in the way. The pellets fit my .22 springers perfectly. I make sure I throw out any deformed pellets or any that don't easily fit in the magazine. I haven't checked the silencer for a while, but I could take it off and give it a clean. I don't know if the pellets are clipping the sides or not, they don't make a noise as the leave the barrel, so I would say not. Any other way to tell? I think the perfect pressure for an s410 is around 190bar isn't it? I might be slightly over filling it though, I will try hitting 190bar bang on next time, see if that makes a difference. What range do you think I should increase it to then? Around 35-40 metres? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hey again, I am using hunting point pellets at the moment. I am using .22 pellets and they seem to fit the barrel well, but it is hard to tell with the rotary magazine in the way. The pellets fit my .22 springers perfectly. I make sure I throw out any deformed pellets or any that don't easily fit in the magazine. I haven't checked the silencer for a while, but I could take it off and give it a clean. I don't know if the pellets are clipping the sides or not, they don't make a noise as the leave the barrel, so I would say not. Any other way to tell? I think the perfect pressure for an s410 is around 190bar isn't it? I might be slightly over filling it though, I will try hitting 190bar bang on next time, see if that makes a difference. What range do you think I should increase it to then? Around 35-40 metres? Cheers Well Chuck them out, and buy some better ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Blaster Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Haha, right well I hadn't realised they could be causing so much of a problem. Now I just need to find a local gunshop that stocks either the Air Arms or the Superdome... Could be a challenge. Not relying on my postie to treat any posted pellets with the care they need, I can just see them getting posted and falling the 4 feet to the floor, which will no doubt render half of the pellets completely useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Their would be grey traces on the tip of the silencer if clipping and the perfect psi is 2400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Blaster Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 2400psi works out to around 165bar doesn't it? That seems a lot lower than the 190bar that the AA manual reccomends. You sure I want it that low? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 AA Fields or JSB Exacts and try removing the air filler cap then slackening off the allen screws that hold the barrel band, slide it off and slide a tissue back and forth between the barrel and air-tube (be amazed how much gunk you'll get out), put it all back together but don't do up the barrel band screws or air filler cap too tight. ...had the same problem with my S400 Xtra and the above the advice I got from the AA Owners forum - worked a treat and it's been spot on ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 2400psi works out to around 165bar doesn't it? That seems a lot lower than the 190bar that the AA manual reccomends. You sure I want it that low? 190 bar is the recommended fill pressure, but you will find it will shoot best between about 170 & 120 bar, varies a bit from gun to gun, but it's that area it shoots best in that's known as the 'Sweet spot'. My S400 does seem to prefer Air Arms pellets over any others I've tried. I use the Diabolo Fields for target and hunting without any accuracy or performance issues, some of the people I shoot with prefer the Diabolo Hunter in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan-250 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 yer defo the pellets are the problem. my s410 hates rws, hollow points, pointeds and things like that. stick with the air arms diablo field in a yellow and black tin, accuracy is spot on, and killing power is brill !! great pellets you do get a few clipped for being really soft but then pellets are cheap to cartridges or bullets so have the best. my gun also can be stiff on the rotation of the magazine but its sometimes because it hasnt quite been pulled all the way and used to stick but it wasnt the pellet it was hitting it was the magazine as it hadnt fully indexed, it was hitting the alloy hole if that makes sense ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Blaster Posted June 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hey all! Thanks for all the replies, suggestions and help. I have just fitted my new Harris Bipod, cleaned the gun barrel and action as well as the silencer. I got a decent ammount of gunk (mainly lead residue out of the barrel, and after doing 3 pull throughs with no residue on the cloth was happy it was clean and clear. I also lubricated the bolt of the rifle and took apart the magazine completely. For the magazine I lubricated the whole thing, but the main place that I have missed before is between the aluminium rotary wheel and the black back of the magazine (or front of the magazine, the bit furthest forward when loaded.) I gave that a spray with oil and put the magazine back together, now it rotates perfectly and easily every time, so i know it isn't damaging the pellets. As for the accuracy issue, I set my target up at 32m (entire length of my garden) and zeroed my scope. I managed to get some Air Amrs Diabolo Field pellets up in Newcastle, where I go to Uni, and immediately you can see they are a quality pellet, no residue, at most 1 in 20 that are not absolutely spot on. I took your advice and tried firing between 165-145bar, which I would now safely bet is the sweet spot for my particular gun as I can now get a grouping the size of a £1 at 32m while kneeling in moderate wind conditions. Basically I am not sure what it was that gave me this dramatic improvement, it might have been a specific change or a combination of all the things I have done, but I am now very happy with my shooting, and am confortable enough firing on wild game again. Thank you all for your input and help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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