Creating a baseline with a new 1377

[Mcoulter]

I now own an unmodified 1377 and am looking forward to putting some pellets through her.  I want to be deliberate in how I shoot and what I try.   So I'm hoping that I can get some input from you folks regarding some of these basics...

1) Shooting distance:  Is 10 meters a good starting point or should I start closer?  I only shoot outdoors for the time being so wind will be a factor.

2) Shooting rest: I want to take "me" out of the equation as much as possible.  Can someone describe how to best use sandbags as rest?  Sorry this sounds so dumb as I write it...  But do you rest the pistol from the under the grip or from under the barrel?

3) Number of pumps:  Hoping for the best accuracy is there a specific number or method of pumping that's typically "best"?  I'm hoping for consistency not necessarily power.

4) Sight picture & hold:  I'm left-eye dominant but right-handed.  Please tell me if my natural tendency of holding the pistol with my right hand but using my left eye for targeting is a bad idea.  I guess I could try to use my right (non-dominant) eye but that certainly does not come naturally.

5) Groups:  When shooting my air rifle (and 22LR for that matter...) tend to shoot in 5-shot groups.  Is that standard for pistols?  Also for a "newbie" to air pistols with a basic 1377 shot from a rest what size groups would I try to achieve various distances (5m, 10m, etc.)?

6) Pellet selection:  I already have a good variety of pellets from shooting my RWS 34 (which is Queen of pellet-picky rifles).  I have RWS Superdomes, RWS Hobby, CPHP and sampler packs from JSB and RWS.  Any suggestions on which to start with?  Generally what weight and head is preferred in a 1377?

Thanks in advance!

[arkmaker †]

1) mark off both 5M and 10M (then join in the comps)
2) whatever is most comfortable for you. experiment. I use the pump arm rested on the bag or rest.
3) experiment. I used 5 and some use 2 and still others use 7, 8 9, 10, etc... What works best for you is best.
4) I don't know what to say about #4
5) I shoot 5 and 10 shot groups when practicing. Comps require various shot group numbers depending on the comp rules.
6) every gun is different. hate to sound like a broken record, but you need to experiment with all of them. Weight? more experimenting!


Most importantly, you have given yourself a bunch of excuses to get out and shoot!!!! 

[quickster47 †]

I now own an unmodified 1377 and am looking forward to putting some pellets through her.  I want to be deliberate in how I shoot and what I try.   So I'm hoping that I can get some input from you folks regarding some of these basics...

1) Shooting distance:  Is 10 meters a good starting point or should I start closer?  I only shoot outdoors for the time being so wind will be a factor.

2) Shooting rest: I want to take "me" out of the equation as much as possible.  Can someone describe how to best use sandbags as rest?  Sorry this sounds so dumb as I write it...  But do you rest the pistol from the under the grip or from under the barrel?

3) Number of pumps:  Hoping for the best accuracy is there a specific number or method of pumping that's typically "best"?  I'm hoping for consistency not necessarily power.

4) Sight picture & hold:  I'm left-eye dominant but right-handed.  Please tell me if my natural tendency of holding the pistol with my right hand but using my left eye for targeting is a bad idea.  I guess I could try to use my right (non-dominant) eye but that certainly does not come naturally.

5) Groups:  When shooting my air rifle (and 22LR for that matter...) tend to shoot in 5-shot groups.  Is that standard for pistols?  Also for a "newbie" to air pistols with a basic 1377 shot from a rest what size groups would I try to achieve various distances (5m, 10m, etc.)?

6) Pellet selection:  I already have a good variety of pellets from shooting my RWS 34 (which is Queen of pellet-picky rifles).  I have RWS Superdomes, RWS Hobby, CPHP and sampler packs from JSB and RWS.  Any suggestions on which to start with?  Generally what weight and head is preferred in a 1377?

Thanks in advance!

Short answers for now cause I'm on my iPad.

1) 5 meters is good to start with.

2) You can buy a good rifle/pistol rest but you can also fill a sock with rice and use it for a long time. I rest mine on the foregrip.

3) 3 to 5 pumps is good.

4) if you are using the OEM sights then whatever is most comfortable for your shooting style.  I would suggest the Sub 6 view with the OEM sights.

5) 3, 5, or 10 shot groups are all good.  Check out our monthly competitions for some shooting target ideas.

6) For paper punching 99% of my pellet use is wadcutters. They just give better/cleaner holes. For plinking I use whatever I have available.

This is just me, others will chime in later.

Carl

[KevinP]

#4
that is not a problem .. I am also left eye dominant and right handed ( well for shooting )  ... just keep your head strait at the target and hold the gun ifo your left eye ...

[RC1947]

Since you have them, the RWS Hobby pellets are a good place to start.  I've found them to be reliable in all my pistols. RC

[Brent]

Rice in a sock as a rest - what a Great idea! 

What does - Sub 6 view - mean?

[Mcoulter]

Thanks to everyone for the great replies and suggestions.  And I'm wondering this too:

What does - Sub 6 view - mean?

[breakfastchef]

Thanks to everyone for the great replies and suggestions.  And I'm wondering this too:

The six o'clock hold is another term for this. When shooting a 10M target, the sights are aligned so the bottom of the black area of the target containing the bullseye is sitting atop the front sight at the 6 o'clock position. Search it on the Web for a better explanation.

[Mcoulter]

Thanks Larry, I'm an IT guy and our mantra is "why don't our %*!& users just Google it?"  Soooo I'll admit my guilt here...

Two minutes of Googling brought me to this page where it describes four different ways of sighting very well:

http://www.ocabj.net/sight-picture-a-primer/

[breakfastchef]

Thanks Larry, I'm an IT guy and our mantra is "why don't our %*!& users just Google it?"  Soooo I'll admit my guilt here...

Two minutes of Googleing brought me to this page where it describes four different ways of sighting very well:

http://www.ocabj.net/sight-picture-a-primer/

Nice find! Since most Crosman 13xx/22xx pistols shoot a tad high out of the box with OEM sights, the 6 o'clock hold is ideal to overcome this trait. If you shoot various targets, the center hold is probably the better option.

[KevinP]

I have always been a proponent of center hold .... aim at what your shooting at ....   

[Brent]

Great article... thanks Mcoulter!

[birdmove]

The 1377 I recently bought likes Crosman Premier wadcutters. Also Crosman Premier hollow points. Try the RWS Hobbys also. They shoot really well in most of my pellet guns. I use the 6:00 hold and it works well, as the pellet shoots a bit high. The targets I'm using it puts the pellet center in the bull. My gun shoots real well with 3 pumps, so that's what I use. Less pumping and less stress on the gun.