Targeting of  3 Pistols and one Rifle @ 106 Feet.

      A little intro about my shooting experience:

   Most Target shooters generally shoot targets at 6 Meters, 10 Meters, 25 feet, or 50 feet. Though I know 100 feet or better is a bit extreme. I consider myself an astute and experienced shooter. I began shooting as a child when I took interest in .22 Rifle competition shooting. I joined both the Danvers Fish and Game Club's Junior Division when I was 12 years old and also became a member of the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association).  I accomplished Sharpshooter and also 6 of the 10 bars towards "Distinguished". I never made it as I stopped going to the club the last two years of High School. I did continue my love for Target Shooting and Hunting, and as years passed have shot Skeet as well as Paintball. With the recent progressions made in Air Gunning, I have ventured into air gun target shooting of which years ago I thought of as childish. I can say it is all but childish and just as serious in competitive adventures.

     Now for my views:

   My main point here on this page is to show you that with all I have read about certain Air Pistols and there lack of accuracy that I can say that it is the shooter, and not the Pistol used. One of the findings with air pistols whether they be pump or top lever spring is finding the all around correct ammo that works ideal with that gun. Surprisingly to some of you who feel they are the "Gods" of Air Pistol Target Matches I am convinced that the old reliable has proven its performance over and above the others with there claims od "Precision Ammo", "Match Quality" and so on... Yes, I am talking about Pellets, not "Rounds". My choice of Pellet which has WON me often and proven it's reliability and adverse usage in many situations is by Crosman. It is the Crosman .117 Lead Point. Why? I will show you why in my comparison target shots taken on 6-20-04 (Fathers Day) hehehe at 106 feet. That's right I wrote 106 feet. It is an extreme shooting distance and is done on purpose because I am also going to tell you and others that their complaints about certain Pellet Pistols is with themselves as shooters and not the Pistols Maker, design, or other excuses used to degrade these particular brands, makes or models. There are three Pistols, by three seperate manufacturers that I tested in this extreme shoot. They are as follows:

Webley Tempest : Sighting was a bit of a challenge for the distance. The rear sight set all the way to it's top end. The left and right sighting not an issue. Of the 5 shots fired 4 hit within rings 5-9. At 106 feet from muzzle to target I think that this was very exceptional. I found only one ammo type consistant to accomplish this, which was the Crosman .117 Lead Point. It is there basic pointed pellet, not the premier. In fact it is one of six types in there Copperhead Six Pack (Airgun Shot - Glacier). I shot many different brands and weights of Pellets. The full diameter of the target was 6 inches with each ring 1/2 inches thick. To place this in some perspective for those who talk in yards and meters the conversion of 106 feet in yards is equal to 35.3333333...and in Meters it equals 32.31. If I can group at that distance 5 (one being a pulled shot) of 4 shots within a four inch diameter then those shooting 10 meter, 6 meter and 25 feet should be able to hit consistant bulls. See my target shots and notes on the target itself: View

RWS 9B (Diana) : What sighting? At 106 feet I made little or no changes in the sights other than I cut a "V" in the forward sight as the design has no elevated adjustment that I could see and only a windage adjustment left to right. The front sight is perfect if left alone it is just that it blocks out my center view of the bull so I cut a notch to see the bull. The last two shots taken are an indication of my needing a better view (See number 7 ring and number 8 ring). The cut made in the forward sight was 1/32 of an inch deep, just like flossing or threading a needle. The sight it'self (like a block) looking through the rear sight to the front and then aligning with the target, basiclally covers the bull even with the top edge rear sight and top edge front site and the bull center sitting in the now modified notch in the front sight. Care was taken in making this modification making sure I cut the notch at dead center of the front sight (view drawing of mod). Again, the Crosman .117 Lead Pointed Pellet worked it's wonders. View target shots. At 75 feet the RWS 9B Diana using a heavier Pellet (H&N SUPER POINT)  prevented any changes in sighting. It is the grain of the pellet that did this for me at the closer targeting. All in all the RWS 9B Diana can be used in match competition even with the lack of elevated sighting and instead the elevation is offset by pellet weight.

Crosman American Classic 1377C : This pistol is like a dream come true. Forget the sights. Add a regular Crosman 4 x 32 scope from a regular target shooting rifle and home it in. In all the Crosman .117 Lead Pointed Pellet was still the most desirable as proven by it's grouping. I was very happy with this as the wind had really picked up during the shoot and yet the grouping at the distance was still exceptional (view target). The H&N Super Point also did well at 12 pumps as opposed to 10 pumps with the Crosman Pointed. What I like betwen the two is 10 pumps as opposed to 12, and saving on the wear of the Pistol. Forget the Dynomit Super Point Pellet, they were all over the place and inaccurate as well as inconsistant though a scoped pistol was used with both pellet manufacturers (see H&N and Dynomit target shots) In both cases I compensated for the weight of the pellet and drew a line for each as can be seen at the top of the target. The lines were not there while shooting obviously, but that is where i was aiming for the two different weighted pellets to drop to center at 106 feet. Knowledge and experience are nice to have.

From the above testing performed I'm only showing the most important targets of the three pistols. As I said previously, other ammo at the same distance was used in the comparisons and the targets all the same. I'm trying to give you all the best outcome and approach possible for your shooting fun and target competition. You as a shooter hold the cards on your form, and your choice of airgun weaponry. Me I prefer to have fun, shoot accurately, win competitions and spend as little as possible doing so.
 Below is one more test comparing all three pistols by the end of the day with the fact the range had changed by then with the wind picking up a bit more and no changes were done to compensate for this or the shooting distance which was closer at 75 feet. In other words, none of the pistols were re-sighted at all. (View Shots).