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Originally Posted by clarky
Some folk could come on here and read all these threads about springers and boingers and the biblical resurgence and actually believe that magical things are happening out there, on the competition front, with people shooting springers.
If this were so then I'd expect to check out the UKAHFT National Series results and see loads more people shooting the required 6 out of 9 shoots to qualify with a springer, and the springer scores be increasing/improving, and the gap getting closer between the top PCP shooters and the top springer shooters of the latest year. Surely that must be the case if all this magical modern day tuning and springer resurgence was as virulent as the springer threads all over the internet suggest?
Wrong.
In the HFT Nationals there have been only 3 or 4 that have shot the required 6 shoots to qualify for several years, compared to literally dozens shooting 0.177 PCP. The springer scores have actually deteriorated and the gap between the top PCP shooters and springer shooters widened.
There is no doubt that shooting a springer is more difficult and more of a challenge than shooting a PCP. So it is more satisfying, from a shooting point of view, when you knock over a difficult target. The greatest majority of shooters want results ... not the satisfaction of hitting targets with something that is far more difficult to shoot accurately in a variety of holds/positions.
It's really quite pointless testing out Springers Vs PCPs on a range where the shooter can maintain a consistent position and hold. Many many decent springer shooters will be able to shoot fantastic groups up to 45 yards and beyond with their springers. If Clarky can consistently put in 17mm groups at 50 yards with a Diana 34 then he can have my house keys. Group capability is average group ... not best. The test for the Springer Vs PCP, especially re HFT comp shooting, is being able to consistently achieve accuracy whilst changing the rifle angles, body positions, holds. This is where the PCP will win easily. So when you do those 45 yards tests ... do them at various angles, body positions, holds etc. That's when you'll see how accurate a springer can be shot compared to a PCP.
I would imagine that for those that are at the very peak of the 0.177 PCP competition, there is the thrill of trying to stay at that level and trying to squeeze every point out of a course to try and win that comp or that series. That will only concern a minimum amount of shooters. That will leave a majority of PCP shooters who are of a lower level, that may look for something extra in their Sunday morning shooting rather than another 50/60 scorecard, where they probably found a lot of targets ( on a stillish day ) didn't provide them with a lot of excitement. So they turn to a springer and that now means that far more targets on the course provide more of a challenge, and a thrill when they go down. However ... it's a small number of shooters. Tench turned to 0.22 PCP for a while. Gary has turned to springer. Neil Wakelin has shot very well with a springer over the winter months but I'm sure he will shoot 0.177 PCP in the Summers.
They are interesting things to shoot. You have to learn to shoot them properly to shoot them well. It is rewarding when you are shooting them well. However, they are Penny Farthings in the world of modern day racing bikes. You can put fancy saddles on them and put some special grease on the chain, but they will still be something that has been superseded regarding ease of use and performance.
Buy them, shoot them, tune them, customise them and enjoy them ... but it's Cuckoo's nest time to keep trying to say that they are as accurate as a PCP ( all things considered ).
If you want outlandish statements ... check this out ...
Modern day 0.177 sub 12FP PCPs have revolutionised airgun shooting. They've meant that pest control is much easier for the average shooter who actually has concerns re quarry welfare and quick dispatch etc. They have also meant that loads of people can just buy one and within a very short period of time can be shooting them accurately. I do reckon they have a lot to answer for in Sunday morning air rifle competition shooting. Shoot a springer at a range and it's fun. There is difficulty shooting at quite close targets. Even a 40mm kill at 35 yards needs some work. A 15mm kill at 25 yards needs a lot of work. Start shooting them kneeling and standing and it's really fun. Compare that to shooting a 0.177 PCP. I'm always talking here about decent rifles with matched pellets that shoot accurately so the work is down to the shooter. Shooting a 0.177 PCP, in a stable position, at the range at targets up to 45 yards can get boring pretty quickly. So to get that 'buzz' out of a PCP you have to start pushing the targets out beyond 45 yards ... maybe even beyond 50 yards. That is what happened in FT. If you want to stay close range ... so max 45 yards ... as in HFT ... then to test the 0.177 PCP, from a stable position, then you have to decrease those kill sizes ... again what has happened in HFT. The problem is that with a 12FP air rifle, any wind is having a dramatic affect on those pellets, especially at some distance. So by extending range, or dramatically reducing kill sizes, you are starting to turn the balance between shooting skill and ability ( hold, release, follow through ) and wind judgement far more towards wind judgement. At a certain level of wind, then it becomes guessing time. So modern day courses, driven by the consistent accuracy of PCPs, start pushing a 'Challenge', for springer shooters, towards 'Unachievable' for some targets. I've done all this before.
I reckon a situation where people were having to shoot courses with a rifle that they had to 'learn' to shoot accurately, with relaxed kill sizes, would be a far better test of airgunning skill. The Paul James British Recoiling Championships at Anston is such a comp and you will find a lot of people saying that that is the best shoot of the year ( ... and a lot of them will also shoot PCP in other comps ). Maybe a one mile race on Penny Farthings is a better competition than a 25 mile race on modern road bikes? A Penny Farthing Vs modern road bike over 25 miles ... Good luck with that.
