HELP with vertical stringers...

[987654321]

I'm trying to tighten my groups up a bit. At 12 yards, I can put a few pellets through the same whole, but my POI seems to shift up and down as much as an inch here and there. Left to right its usually bang on unless I pull it. I'm 90% sure it's a technique issue.

It's a crosman shockwave .22 that shoots pretty consistently over a chronograph (30 shots ranging from 611-618 fps shooting JSB Heavy 18.1). I know that 18 grains is a lot for a 15 fpe air rifle, but it seems to do better with heavier pellets.

It's not a scope issue, I've tried several scopes and its currently mated to a Hawke AirMax.

Am I right in assuming it's a technique issue? I'm trying to troubleshoot my artillery hold as best I can.

Or could 6-7 fps deviation from shot to shot really change my POI so significantly at 12 yards?

[Daryl]

Vertical stringing with a springer is usually hold to the shoulder, face and forend. By that, I mean the tightness of hold and the position,of the face, forend in hand and on rest and the position and tightness of the butt to the shoulder. EVERYTHING has to be exact, each time. "CONSISTENCY" though art a jewel.

Some springers are more susceptible to wandering POI than others.

[Tony_M73]

I'm trying to tighten my groups up a bit. At 12 yards, I can put a few pellets through the same whole, but my POI seems to shift up and down as much as an inch here and there. Left to right its usually bang on unless I pull it. I'm 90% sure it's a technique issue.

It's a crosman shockwave .22 that shoots pretty consistently over a chronograph (30 shots ranging from 611-618 fps shooting JSB Heavy 18.1). I know that 18 grains is a lot for a 15 fpe air rifle, but it seems to do better with heavier pellets.

It's not a scope issue, I've tried several scopes and its currently mated to a Hawke AirMax.

Am I right in assuming it's a technique issue? I'm trying to troubleshoot my artillery hold as best I can.

Or could 6-7 fps deviation from shot to shot really change my POI so significantly at 12 yards?

If you feel confident that your problem is an technique issue, I would suggest you read up on how to shoot a springer. Or better still watch some Youtube vids on how to shoot springers. They are terrible beasts to master. Had one for a very short time but got rid of it in a hurry. Now shoot pcps.
However, when you master shooting a springer I guess the reward is a feeling of great accomplishment.

Good luck. Post a follow up when you get it shooting as you would like.

[jckstrthmghty]

I agree with Daryl. Consistency means everything. additionally how your springer wants to be held is a big part of it. One technique might work on one spring and not on another. Something as simple as which part of my finger is pulling the trigger can drastically affect poi and tightness of grouping. Just lightly touching the comb of the stock with my cheek changes my poi. I have my main springer figured out but it took me well over 2000 shots to get there. Hope you do too.

btw there is only so much accuracy and consistency you can expect from a "cheap" ag. I put a lot of work into my cheapie to get it to shoot not like one.

[Dukemeister]

It's not a scope issue, I've tried several scopes and its currently mated to a Hawke AirMax.

It may be technique, or a problem with the breach lockup since you are sighting through a scope.
Try a consistent method of closing the breach and see if it improves the vertical stringing.
I have had a few Chinese break barrels that had loose breach lockup and they showed a lot of vertical spread at 10m.
One of them was so loose that the barrel would break if I lightly slapped it down on my open palm- a new jam spring and alive jam cured the problem.

[987654321]

UPDATE

Some extra silicone lube down the transfer port has the pellets piling up again. (Well, the expensive ones, it still sprays Crosman pellets like a shotgun.)

Thanks for the suggestions.