Springer accuracy

[PCPShooter]

Shooter warming up usually

[TonyL]

Possibly a combination of many factors mentioned above, including ambient temperature and the shooter dialling in. From a technical perspective, I have too little time for a really long reply right now, but the state and amount of lubrication and the size of the piston seal will influence things. For now, if not wanting to delve inside, if every shot has to count, two or three shot safely into the ground / pellet trap should help. Will look in later.

[spadoch]

I dont think its me because Ive tested it at a very comfortable range and position that I cant really miss from, but Im not ruling anything out, just trying to learn. Thanks for all the replies so far and I think it must be to do with temp as many have said. Thanks again

[BTDT]

I dont think its me because Ive tested it at a very comfortable range and position that I cant really miss from, but Im not ruling anything out, just trying to learn. Thanks for all the replies so far and I think it must be to do with temp as many have said. Thanks again

Is the rifle the same as it left the factory internally, or has it been modified?

[TonyL]

Is the rifle the same as it left the factory internally, or has it been modified?

Brilliant point. And if the piston seal has been "sized" or if the lubrication pattern isn't ideal, this will obviously adversely affect things.

[TonyL]

Ive noticed that the first 4-5 shots I have from my .177 TX200 are not as consistent as the ones that follow. Following the first few shots its very accurate with Air arms express 7.87gr pellets
Can anyone tell me why this happens please?

I dont think its me because Ive tested it at a very comfortable range and position that I cant really miss from, but Im not ruling anything out, just trying to learn. Thanks for all the replies so far and I think it must be to do with temp as many have said. Thanks again

Okay, so I guess that when you say the first few shots are not as CONSISTENT, we're not referring to velocity as such, but that the impact points aren't where you would like / expect? Are these first few shots generally striking lower than the subsequent shots? Is this pattern the same at all ambient temperatures, or does it seem more prominent in cooler conditions?
Our synthetic piston seals expand and contract at greater rates than the steel cylinder. So, in very cold temperatures, the piston seal will be a looser fit in the cylinder. The reduced friction could result in quicker piston acceleration. The temperature produced by the springer firing cycle will warm the seal up and cause it to expand ever so slightly after a few shots. If left in the cold unused for a good few minutes, it may need "warming up" again. If a piston seal "standard fit" is a little too tight, when used in higher ambient temperatures it might become even more evenly tight, creating excess friction and robbing power. And I know of at least one user on here who, when using the rifle in extreme cold, experienced such drastic loss of piston seal contact that the rifle would not fire a pellet! Once the rifle was "re-acclimatised" it was fine, and the piston seal fit must have been on the very loose side.

Hope this might help a little with your concerns. Most serious shooters (if hunting or shooting a comp) will have a few test shots to firstly check all is good and this also has the added bonus of "stimulating" the action.

[PCPShooter]

I dont think its me because Ive tested it at a very comfortable range and position that I cant really miss from, but Im not ruling anything out, just trying to learn. Thanks for all the replies so far and I think it must be to do with temp as many have said. Thanks again

A tight piston seal can become a bit more flexible after a few shots, to answer your own investigations you'll likely need the use of a chronograph and a lot of patience _ ambient temperatures unlikely to influence that much (in UK) unless high summer (dripping in a tee shirt) / freezing winter ( al la cold snap a few weeks back)

[MrGreengrass]

I always shoot a few shots off into the ground before using a springer.

[spadoch]

Well I think there are a lot of variables here and when I tried it in doors it was bang on from the start. Could have been hand hold (changing), eyes, wind, unwashed un selected pellets and so on, but I think I will from now on waste a few shots to start if its a hunting trip. I dont compete so no worries there. Thanks for all your replies.

[TonyL]

No worries; keep enjoying that lovely springer.

I've always thought it would be most interesting and eye-opening to be able to conduct some chrono testing at various different temperatures, especially from a "standing start" just to fully see the effects. Obviously, as mentioned up above, there won't be much difference at all between readings obtained at two broadly similar temperatures, but to see the difference between velocity at close to freezing and, say, 20 degrees centigrade would be revealing.

Or you could just not worry about it, keep it simple, put those two or three warming/settling-in shots through and just use.. And use the pellets you've saved to use by getting even more practice in / vermin shot.

And if you ever fancy attending a Boinger Bash event, which I'm sure you'd love, there will be one happening not a million miles from you in late Spring / early Summer.

[BTDT]

Well I think there are a lot of variables here and when I tried it in doors it was bang on from the start. Could have been hand hold (changing), eyes, wind, unwashed un selected pellets and so on, but I think I will from now on waste a few shots to start if its a hunting trip. I dont compete so no worries there. Thanks for all your replies.

I would not waste shots to start a hunting trip. Hunting shots tend to be infrequent enough for any heat gained by the piston seal to flow into the surrounding steel until equilibrium is achieved - maybe a minute?

Every hunting shot is thus effectively a first shot.

[jjjohn]

I always thought it was residual gas /burnt fuel even on a microscopic level lingering in the cylinder after a few shots.
Not on the big bang crush your spring dieseling scale.

[P13 shooter]

I always fire off 8-10 pellets before I start looking at targets gets internals warmed up then to the zero plate then targets