![\"Shooting](\"http:\/\/198.154.244.69\/hunting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/blog_0719_1.png\")
<\/a>Shooting off hand for my best results requires a gun that is compact, has a respectable level of intrinsic accuracy, and fits well with a decent trigger, but it is the hold and follow through that makes a huge difference and is within my control.<\/p><\/div>\n
Walking through the dairy farm using an inexpensive Ruger Air Hawk, I was dropping Eurasian doves out to 40 yards consistently, shooting both offhand and rested. My buddies Scott and Rossi, who like me are primarily PCP shooters, were\u00a0also doing well with the springers. But some others (cameramen…. I won\u2019t mention by name to protect the innocent) weren\u2019t doing so well. These guys didn\u2019t have airgunning experience but had grown up shooting powder burners, so why was this? I think it boiled down to three things: 1) they were not used to dealing with the marked trajectory of an airgun, 2) they were not used to dealing with the shooting characteristics of springers with regards to hold sensitivity, and 3) they were not used to shooting at steep angles. My proof point on these assumptions is that as we worked through each one, their shooting improved.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Same thing when shooting the gun rested on my knee, loose hold, consistent, and good follow through will deliver best results.<\/p><\/div>\n
The trajectory of a spring piston airgun can require the shooter to hold the gun high at 10 yards low at 20 yards, dead on at 35 yards, and high at 40 yards, with variations all along the path of flight. What does this mean? Simply, that you need to know where your gun is impacting the target along its path so that you can aim appropriately. This is one reason airgunners generally want a scope with some reference system of aimpoints on their scopes reticles. Mildots or a MAP system will provide the shooter with a frame of reference when shooting at different ranges. My preference is to set up targets from 10 \u2013 40 yards, shoot a three shot group at each distance, and graph the shift in point of impact (POI) on a small card that can be taped to the stock, slipped into the scope cover (so you can see it when the cover is flipped open), or at least kept in my shirt pocket for fast reference. Another thing that can be a great help, and I always have with me, is a range finder. Using this piece of gear along with the trajectory chart can make a huge difference in your success rate.<\/p>\n
The next item on springers is the shooting technique itself. Shooters, especially when using a magnum springer that jump on discharge, often compensate by holding onto the gun with a death grip! They pull it in tight to the shoulder, grasp the forestock until their knuckles turn white, and flinch when the trigger is pulled, then immediately lift their head to see if they hit the target. One of my friends and colleagues from American Airgunner by the name of Tom Gaylord, has been preaching the use of the \u201cartillery hold\u201d for springer shooting for many years. The gun is held firmly (but not rigidly) to shoulder, the forestock is laid on the open hand then very lightly grasped, and the gun is allowed to cycle without forcibly being locked in place. In addition you need to make sure you hold the gun in exactly the same way every time you mount it. The other common mistake I see is that the shooter pulls their head up to look art the result of the shot. Keep your cheek welded to the stock and try to watch the impact through the scope. This may be hard to see on a jumping springer when compared with a PCP to be sure, but the mainpoint is that you keep your position consistent until the pellet is down range.<\/p>\n
<\/a>When I shoot a springer rested, its hand on rest, gun in hand, hold loose and follow through …. see a pattern developing \ud83d\ude42 ?<\/p><\/div>\n
You may hear that you can\u2019t shoot a springer rested because of the bi-directional recoil. There is some truth to this, but the answer is more involved. You can\u2019t shoot it rested the same way you do a firearm is a more accurate statement. This is for all the reasons stated above; when you rest a springer lay your front hand on the rest with open palm up, lay the rifles forestock on the palm of your hand and grasp very lightly, then you will get good results. The same provisos apply, be consistent in your hold and stay on target until the pellets hits.<\/p>\n
The last point is to remember that as counter intuitive as it seems, when your shooting upwards at a steep angle, you typically need to hold under your target. If there is a tree 20 yards away and there is a bird sitting 60 feet (20 yards) up in the branches, that bird is effectively 20 yards away from you not 40. The distance that matters is the horizontal distance, though your brain is telling you it is further. Now as you start shooting at greater distances and steepers angles the variables you need to factor in are not quite as simple, but a good rule of thumb is to hold lower than you\u2019d expect. When I\u2019m shooting up at a dove or pigeon at a distance that I haven\u2019t ranged, I\u2019ll hold on the chest figuring if I am shooting high it will result in a headshot, but if the trajectory component kicks in I\u2019ll hit where I am aiming on the chest.<\/p>\n
I believe, and have proven this out on many occasions, working on the points discussed here can result in marked and immediate improvements in field shooting. While everything discussed is valid for both springers and PCP\u2019s, springers are less forgiving when you ignore the rules. This is also why shooting a springer makes you a better marksman overall. I had so much fun with springers on this trip, that I\u2019ve been shooting them all week down in my basement range after work!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week I spoke about\u00a0avian pest control\u00a0with springers, this week I will talk a bit more about how you can improve your results when hunting with a springer.\u00a0As mentioned, I took time while shooting in Arizona recently to\u00a0leave the PCP\u2019s behind and take a number of springers out to hunt. Many of us have shifted … Continue reading