Airguns...my thoughts and 'project's

i did a little test just to see how well the AF would perform with open sights. i was pleased with the results. i was able to shoot 1.75" groups with crosman premier, pointed hunting, 14.3 grain, pellets at a measured 36 yards.rnrnto some, that may not be 'good' at all, but to my needs...it's just fine. it's good enough to put most anything around here on the ground (small game, that is)rnrnwhat pleased me even more is the fact that it (the AF) penetrated, cleanly, through the 1/2" thick plywood back stop i was using at that range...and it's not on it's highest power setting...my Beeman RX .20 was able to do the same, too...the Beeman R-10 (.177) is a different story, though...the RWS superdome pellet didn't even penetrate the length of itself in the same plywood...maybe if i used some of the .177 'penetrator' pellets?rnrnwell tomorrow is another day...i'll try something different...

i did not chronograph (that will be soon, though) but was interested to see how accurate/consistant i could be with the AF using their open sights.rnrn0900 hrsrn3900 ft elevationrn0-3 mph west to east breeze (done by my estimate based on estimating & determining wind speed factor from USAMU)rnoutside temp: 92 degrees F.rnpellet: crosman premier pointed hunting, 14.3 grains, unlubedrnairsource at an unknown PSI...but well within normal operational standards as little use since last refill of 2700 PSIrntophat set at 0.093" rnPW setting: 10.5rnPS: 7rntarget distance ranged at 30 ydsrntarget size 2.25" diameter hard rubber ball.rnnumber of shot fired: 20rnnumber of shots on target: 17-19 (hard to tell at the 2-3 times considered a "miss" as the target was set in the entrance to an ant hill and the pellet stike would indicate a low "hit".rnall shooting was done from a sitting but unsupported position (no bi-pod, benchrest or support bags or slings of any sort) utilizing my U.S. Army marksmanship training.rnrnhardly what one would call "scientific" or even conclusional, for that matter, but it was reliable enough to tell me that with some effort the AF utilizing open sights CAN be effective at distances out to 50 or so yards.rnrnthe sight picture was a "pumpkin on the post" or "six-o-clock" hold, if you prefer, and is what i would consider as M.O.S. (Minute Of Squirrel) accuracy.rnrnmy supposition is that in a 'supported' position, it would be at least 50% more accurate.rnrni'll find out soon. i'm getting ready for a rat hunting safari...

as i said before, i'm finding the open sights of the AF Talon work quite well. the only real adjustment i've had to make is in the rear elevation.rnrni do have a complaint, though...it seems AF changed their front sight to a non-adjustable style; i'd like to be able to adjust the heigth. maybe that's another "project" for me to undertake.rnrnother than that, when i'm right, or very near, on my range estimation, it'll lay 'em in there.rnrni know it seems 'strange' that i not take advantage of the accuracy of this fine air rifle by using some good optics on it and i intend to in the future.rnrnwhen i install the optics, i want it to be EXACTLY what i know will work best. i have a number of scopes available. i just need to sort it out as to which one is best suited.rnrnon one hand, i have a very good fixed power that would shine on the AF, but it's just that; a fixed power that may not be a high enough power to suit me. after all...most of the time when using an air rifle, we normally are shooting at diminutive targets. in order to see those small targets clearly, high power is necessary...high power usually means having a higher quality scope which in turn translates to high dollars...jeeeee...where does it stop?

i machined the bushings from brass, fitted them into the stock of the stutzen with minimal changes and hassle.

now i'm not concerned about crushing the stock where the mounting screws go thru the stock.

the change has been positive so far. with open sights it seems to do quite well.

i'll leave the open sights for a while just to "see what happens". i have a very good BSA air rifle scope to mount on it when, and if, i choose

i machined the pillars for the pillar bedding of the Gamo Stutzen from brass and fitted them into the stock. the most difficult part was taking the measurments for the length/depth of the bushings.rnrnwith them installed now comes the testing phase. i've fired a few preliminary shots and so far...so good.rnrni'm using open sights so i don't really expect 'one hole' groups...but i do expect better than what i had before...fifty-cent piece sized groups at 30 yds from a .177...in my opinion, for what it's worth...could be better.rnrni am an advocate of "using what you like and works best for you/me" in any endeavor to increase performance/accuracy and i hope to install the scope for this rifle soon. my main objection being the weight added to the rifle by the optics.rnrnit's my given, overall, wish that i'd like to use open sights as good as optics but that notion is, shall we say "ludicrous" at best. so i guess i'll do what i think is the best; develop the accuracy/stability/consistancy factors with open sights then switch to optics to insure it's NOT the equipment...but rather the operator, in the terminus of the shot.rnrni read and see all the articles about great long distance shooting by marksmen...hunters, competetive shooters, SWAT and military 'snipers' and in the end...it's not really the equipment it's the marksman himself...the equipment merely enhances his/her abilities and WILL.rnrnthink about it...i have...i've also read quite a lot on the subject.rnrntelescopic sighting devices enable a marksman to SEE his mark...not necessarily HIT it.rnrni find it truly ironical that right now, a 16 year old girl has the record for group size shot at 1000 yards...4" group.rnrnthink about that...a 16 year old girl being able to outshoot the SWAT and military "snipers".rnrni think she just had it figured out.rnrneven if the power setting is correct, the 'zero' is right on...he/she can still miss! flinch at the wrong time, move the wrong direction, jerk the trigger, unecessary movement...and to make matters even more critical...the farther the shot, the more critical the steadiness becomes.rnrni know three, REAL military "snipers" with more than one 'kill' in vietnam...in the end, it's not the equipment...its the marksman pulling the trigger

last nite i sat and took measurments to construct some bushings for my Gamo Stutzen rifle stock.rnrni noticed in the process of installing the new trigger, there are some wood to metal gaps in the mounting screws that, i'm certain will affect accuracy.rnrnso...having a lathe and the time to do it, i am going to 'bed' this action/stock with pillar bedding.

why is locating .22 cal pellets so doggone difficult here in sunny so. cal?rnrni went to no less than four stores today and was able to find only .22 wadcutters...i reckon i gotta order from the internet.rnrnit 'galls' me to do that, too...it ends up costing more for shipping than the pellets cost.rnrnoh well...

did lots of shooting with the AF Talon with good results. did a refill yesterday of 2700 PSI and reset the tophat to 0.093" and set the PW to 10.5.rnrnwith open sights, i was able to lay some crosman pointeds right where i wanted to in front of some bunnies that were hanging around the house. i do not see killing them without reason. but it did, i'm certain, scare a goodly amount off their lifespan.rnrnto me, it was testimony that open sights do quite well on this PCP. while i do have the scope that came on it as a "package" i'm going to concetrate on open sight usage for the moment.rnrnin fact, i think i will devote more time to develop them after all even the smallest targets we shoot at are normally within 50 or less yards. the use of open sights vs scopes is a wide open subject and at the moment i'd rather not "go there"...suffice it to say, i like the open sights for here and now. it may change in the future...i'll see.

not long ago, i came into a new Gamo Stutzen in .177 (if they make a larger cailber, i'm not aware of it.)rnrnthis is a fine air rifle by any standard. very well made, powerful and fairly accurate. but, those attributes were overshadowed by a marginal, at best, trigger. the doggone travel was so long i though it would never break. in my typical "i can make it better" train of thought, i set out to "make" the trigger better.rnrnthe standard trigger has an "adjustment" screw on it but it didn't really seem to make much difference no matter how much i adjusted and re-adjusted.rnrni have to admit, i'm spoiled by triggers i have on my centerfire and rimfire rifles. you know, the kind that fire at the touch of the finger. i have a truly GREAT trigger on my rem 700 BDL that is truly the "glass rod snapping" feeling kind...from the factory! my mauser has a timney trigger i installed and adjusted to the "nnnnnth" along with triggers, combined with above average optics, in my CZ'z and Savage 12fv that are what make these fine rifles what they are; accurate...scary accurate...the kind of accuracy that nets hitting a nickel at 100 yards seem like childs play.rnrnto some of you, that's not "all that great" i know...but consider...my rifles are utility rifles, NOT bench rest, competetion, rifles and being able to hit a nickel at 100 yards is certainly more than adequate to take the vitals out of any target i wish to with one shot...providing i do MY job, the rifles are certainly capable of doing what i wish of them; i demand the same of my air rifles. and having a better than average trigger is part of that criteria.rnrnnot being satisfied with the 'stock' trigger, i ordered and recieved an aftermarket trigger with which, i am pleased.rnrni have made the necessary preliminary adjustments, now i have yet to refine it farther, but in all, it's enhanched the performance by at least 50% so far.rnrni'm glad i purchased this aftermarket trigger. i think it will make a mediocre rifle into a great rifle.rnrnrnrn

i decided i wanted to mount a bi-pod on my AF Talon. rnrnas most of you are aware of, the AF series rifles have an integrated dovetail on top and bottom; the harris type mount will not work with the standard AF sling mount. so, my thoughts were originally, just drill a hole in the standard AF forearm and mount a sling stud there to attach one of my existing Harris bi-pods. it is very rigid heavy duty polymer of some sort, after all.rnrnbut, being who i am...i had another thought. why not make a new forearm? i have some good hardwood available to me for FREE and i've got a router and some good saws and sanders and a good drill press...why not?rnrnit took me only three days to construct it and that's mostly drying time for the finish and for the glue to set up as i had to drill and peg some nail holes in the wood. (old hardwood pallets, don't ya know?)rnrnit works very well as i made it 'parrallell' to the frame instead of angled like the standard forearm. the Harris bi-pod fits wonderfully in place and operates quite well.rnrnit was really, quite easy to make and i'm happy at how well it came together.rnrni'm still not certain, but i may refinish it in a "flat or matte black" to match the AF finish, or, make a pistol grip to match the forearm.rnrnanyway...i guess being "frugal" and having most of the tooling needed to do these things add up to a lot of enjoyment.