Canadian Airgun Forum

Hello, In first place Have a very happy easter, or whatever you are celebrating.

I have been away from shooting for over 20 years, and recently acquired and modified a Crossman 1377.
Praticing, this is the best that I can do.
(Free standing, open sights, 5 meters, two hands, .177 crossman hunter pellets, two pumps = 351 fps)
Always seem to get one or two wild shots. I think that is not me, but the gun!
So all of you experienced shooters, please tell/me: What can I do to improve this?...
... and my markmanship? -Thank you.

_________________
Regards
Beretto

Air Pistols: Baikal IZH46M; Webley Alecto .22; Umarex Beretta 92FS; Umarex Colt 1911A1;

I am no expert but I would use better pellets first .
.177 crossman hunter pellets are very inconsistent in my HW40,
the wadcutter crosman are better for me anyway.
Second I would put more pumps in the pistol to get more speed so that the pellet don't stay in the barrel for so long .

I find that my 1377 has such a long barrel that I have to put my left hand under the barrel when I shoot offhand with it .
I hold that thing more like a rifle then a pistol, it may sound weird but that is the way that I shoot with it.
I also find that the Crosman Pointed pellets are not the same size from the same container and some have deformed skirt too .
I have better luck with the Crosman Wadcutter pellets but
they are nowhere close to the H&N diabolo as far as quality & consistency as far as weight & size .

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René

Thank you A.H., good suggestion. I will try with more pumps tomorrow.
Thans René I also find the long barrel hard to hold,
And about the pellets, I will try to find the Diablos.
I feel that a better gun is in order, any experience with the Balakay?
Or any other cheap but decent targget gun?

_________________
Regards
Beretto

Air Pistols: Baikal IZH46M; Webley Alecto .22; Umarex Beretta 92FS; Umarex Colt 1911A1;

The only good beginner target pistol that I got is a Gamo Compact
and I have a Beeman P17 which is ok for casual target pratice
but mine needs fixing every so often .

The Beeman HW40 has a very good reputation, I tried A.H.'s HW40 and I loved it.

http://www.dlairgun.com/Gamo.html
http://www.dlairgun.com/Weihrauch.html
http://my.tbaytel.net/~coopers@tbaytel.net/HW40Review/

Gamo Compact vs IZH 46 - Part 1
by B.B. Pelletier
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/04/ ... art-1.html
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch ... com%2Fblog

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René

This one is to good starter too apparently.
But I never used one so ... I don't know for sure .

Daisy Powerline 717 for sale or trade,,,,,,,,
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27037

_________________
René

Grab a tin of higher quality pellets first.RWS,JSB,H&N and see if your groups tighten up.

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Currently Shooting
RWS Hammerli 850 Air magnum .177 HPA
Slavia 630 with 6X bugbuster
Beeman P17 with Tasco red dot

Thank You, gentlemen. I will try these things for a few days, and see were i get.

_________________
Regards
Beretto

Air Pistols: Baikal IZH46M; Webley Alecto .22; Umarex Beretta 92FS; Umarex Colt 1911A1;

Accuracy and Marksmanship are two different things.
If shooting anything other than a springer I start with a nice solid benchrest with plenty of sandbag rests to ensure a consistant, steady hold for the gun. Then I start testing different pellets to see what works best out of said gun, then zero at a given distance for said gun shooting said ammo to eliminate the human factor. Then start shooting the gun in a given stance or position to see how you do.

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“You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action.” Please join the CSSA today!

I would try pellets till one worked great.
I did pick up a skirt sizer for .177 pellets, have not tested to see if it makes me smile yet It does make the pellets look better from the back end..

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Diana 350,460
HW 77, 97K,30S,
Beeman R1
BSA Superstar Magnum 2
umarex 92fs x2, Sig 225, S&W m&p
crosman 1322

Nothing really wrong with the 1377, the basic accuracy of the gun is quite OK.
But the trigger may be a challenge; I do plenty of 10m match AP with more expensive guns. If you wanna shoot well, do plenty of dry firing; you should be able to pull (slow squeeze) the trigger with "zero" sight movement. Not easywith the 1377!
Have you polished / moly lubed the sear?
Also may be an idea to weaken the trigger spring, and possibly hammer spring to lighten the action. Mechanism is the same as Crosman 2240 etc. plenty of tuning advice for these on the net.

I find 5 pumps is just fine for plinking with my 1377.
And better bullets is a cheap upgrade!
Diabolos definetely; they also make pretty holes in paper.
Stay away from the "Wellknown US brand" chinese products; they're terrible.

Good advice, all of it. I polished the trigger parts as per René's tutorial and tried another spring.
Improved things a bit. Have to find another trigger spring because the one they use is not a very good steel.
Adjusting it too light, gives you greater control over the shot, but it is a very delicate balance before it starts
shooting by itself!
I am trying new pellets, but before switching decided to clean the barrel inside. Surprise! Black stuff in great quantity.
That improved the accuracy again. Those are long forgotten lessons from a long gone drill sargeant.
At 5 meters 90% of my shots go inside a circle the size of a quarter. I am happy with that.
Now I will be switching to 10 meters, and starting all over again, but at 72 the hands shake a litle bit more than desirable.
We will see...

_________________
Regards
Beretto

Air Pistols: Baikal IZH46M; Webley Alecto .22; Umarex Beretta 92FS; Umarex Colt 1911A1;

Progress report:
Thanks to the suggestions of all the good people from this Forum, this were I am at today:
(5 meters, two hands, standing unsuported, iron sights, Diablo pellets)
(the bigger circle is dollar size)

Next should I work in increasing the distance?

_________________
Regards
Beretto

Air Pistols: Baikal IZH46M; Webley Alecto .22; Umarex Beretta 92FS; Umarex Colt 1911A1;

If I get to 72 and shoot like that with a 1377 standing in a offhand position with open sight
I will be very happy with myself.
I should give it a try to see if I can do it now first at 63 .

_________________
René

Looks like I need more practice with my old 1377(no mod to it except a new valve & piston)
if I want to shoot straighter with it @ 5 meters + in a standing position offhands

_________________
René