How to Shoot a Spring Piston (Springer) Air Rifle - theGunLocker

[@Steve24339]

Absolutely spot on. I have been shooting for over 50 years and I`ve fired evrything from air, 7.62, machine guns, up to anti-tank weapons and what you say is absolutely correct. My wife and I love our springers. At the end of the day, how can you be shooting wrong if you are hitting the target with every shot!!!

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks @user-et3sv7kh8n...Sounds like you have some fun! Merry Christmas to you and your wife. All the best

[@maro0016]

Most anti tank weapons (the modern ones) are recoil less 😉. The main target is repeatability- it doesn’t matter how you hold, you just have to do it all the time the same way.

[@Steve24339]

@@maro0016 66mm and 84mm Charlie G. I was just makeing the piont, as you say, if you are consistant and hitting the target, that`s what counts. 👍

[@spencerhulme1203]

🔫After 35 years and after much deliberation I am returning to my first sport, back then I used to sport a Jackal Parabellum .22 springer from Sussex armoury. Great gun, with a great instructor someone like you “TheGunlocker” where every action was explained and mentored for preferred prefernces. Pellets, grains, windage, footing, safety, gun maintenance my instructor was ex armed forces UK.🔫 I have been looking at picking up another Jackal, but also wow the new guns feel like a 15-year-old kid in a sweet shop. I am going to get after heavy review a Regime Remix Bullpup and the full kit shown in one of your other videos to start with as i will be wheelchair shooting well i hope if not into much pain - Great Video and thank you all for keeping alive these videos!

[@Steve_7867]

I'm not saying what's right or wrong but this is interesting: I use a Primos tripod, it comes with a rubbery V rest which is ok for PCP but I found it didn't work very well with my HW98 so I tried putting pipe lagging all over it covered with a chamois leather to give a FLAT soft surface to shoot off. This improved grouping no end. I can only summise it's because the V retricts or affects the recoil somewhat but whatever, it's a lot better.

[@theGunLocker]

It's more likely that the rubber of the V rest is sticking to the forend and gripping it. Also more likely to show on hot days when the rubber warms up. You'll see that I use a homemade rest with pipe lagging laid over the top edge to rest on. The rest itself is wide and flat so no chance of gripping on to the side of the stock. I prefer that to my other rests. All the best and thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@brendantummon4415]

This is brilliant video I've always been saying there is no right way or wrong when it comes to springers... Glad you posted this up.. It comes with feel and feels best for you

[@martyndrummond9452]

Excellent video. Many thanks!

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks Martyn...all the best

[@Steven-jn2cw]

Thats a lovely '77 you have there, very unique stock.

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks...it is

[@BoatingBiker]

As a returning shooter I'm looking for hints and tips. I shoot springers and learning all the time. Your demonstration of the artillery hold really makes sense to me and I will be trying it out next time at the range. Thanks very much!!

[@theGunLocker]

You're welcome and apologies for the late reply! Have fun and let me know how you get on. All the best

[@urbanfox53]

Hi Mark, I have been shooting springers for over 50 years and as a young man with my 1st springer I can remember trying various type holds and eventually settled for the Artillery hold and never looked back. And those were the days of no fancy rests ect, take care.

[@Steven-jn2cw]

If you are hitting the target with that level of accuracy, its very difficult to argue that you aren't shooting properly. Why are people so petty.

[@theGunLocker]

Hi Steven, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Why are people so petty? I really have no idea...maybe they were dropped on the heads during child birth? Who knows. But it seems that these "keyboard warriors" are multiplying and targeting reviewers. I've noticed a few of the well known guys referring to them now on their channels.

[@simonzero3815]

Well said, great viewing. Thanks for the tips.

[@theGunLocker]

Hi Simon, thank you! All the best

[@jacobomorales1096]

Great video and very good points; e.g., "an artillery hold is a loose hold!" Those are the exact same words I've been using for the past 10 years. Thank you very much for sharing your work.

[@steve8981]

Agree, find a method that works for you and practice so it's second nature to promote consistency.

[@theGunLocker]

Absolutely! All the best and thanks for watching

[@williamlong2660]

Young man l received hold instruction from my father over 60 years ago which was in essence; pull the rifle into your shoulder and then relax the hold, with your left hand support it and grip it sufficiently to prevent it twisting. His other words of wisdom were; do not pull the trigger, merely squeeze it, let the shot go, pause then come of target. So for the next fifty years that is precisely how I shot springers with satisfactory results. And then health issues forced me to try using sticks and to my surprise l found resting the fore end on a soft surface ( towel, foam etc ) had no adverse effect on accuracy. So these results seemed to be contrary to what the so called experts have been saying for some years and which I had thought were words of wisdom. WRONG. The correct hold is the one that works for you, replication of the hold is key, everything else, trigger squeeze etc is all about muscle memory. l hope we can put this subject to bed before all the world champions, military shooting experts and next doors cat tells us we are all wrong.

[@theGunLocker]

Hallelujah! Thanks @williamlong2660...and all the best

[@tonyrest6714]

Your shooting looks fine to me . Certainly hit the target better than I would !

[@Beesa10]

I agree that each shooter should find what techniques work best for them and their given situation, after all no two people (or rifles for that matter) are exactly the same and shooting targets from a bench can be quite different to hunting. At the same time it's interesting to hear other peoples experience of what works for them and it can be helpful to have some guiding principles, tips or general rules to apply for improving safety and enjoyment of springer shooting, especially for a new shooter. Holding on to the barrel/underlever while loading for example and not trying to grip the stock like a vice are good tips. Presumably, the conventional wisdom of resting the rifle on your hand rather than directly on something else is about staying consistent and supporting the rifle on something with sufficient padding or 'give' to allow the recoil motion to happen in a repeatable way. In my experience if you try to shoot from a hard rest like the back of a garden chair or fence post your groups will open up, but as ever there have been other factors at play, not least the wind. What might be interesting would be to test one or more spring rifles and shoot several groups with each rifle from different types of rest or very similar rests with different 'firmness'. Maybe from a plywood rest with no padding, then very thin padding eg a layer of cotton/denim over the plywood, then a chamois over the plywood, then a towel, then a folded towel, then a sandbag only, then your hand on a sandbag to see how the groups compare. Questioning conventional wisdom and challenging long held assumptions is no bad thing.

[@theGunLocker]

I'll bear that in mind. However, I would never rest a nice stock on a hard surface for fear of damaging it. There would always have to be some padding of sorts. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to share your thoughts! All the best

[@charlesoutdoors2424]

Where the hand between the gun and rest comes from is what your resting the gun on. I use a green Caldwell shooting bag and some airguns bounce off the bag opening the groups. It really depends on what your rest is made out of and the gun your shooting. Most guns in the mid power rage will bounce more and magnums even more. I've tried it both ways and even rolled up towels and some of my springer just don't like it. I was just out today with my Walther's shooting with front and rear bags in the wind and they didn't do bad. Their both sub 12 FPE guns, weight 12-13 pounds scoped and have a very nice shot cycle. My Gamo swarm magnum will get decent groups off the front bag, but around dime size at 25 yards with my hand under it. Some guns need that little side to side support of laying in a cupped hand or they'll jump off to the left or right a bit. I'm trying to eliminate my hand needing to be under the front as much as I can, but some guns I have just ain't having no part of it with the rests I've tried so far.

[@theGunLocker]

It really comes down to what you're used to and consistency. At the end of the day, if the gun consistently jumps the same way, it will consistently put the pellet in the same place. All the best, Mark

[@charlesoutdoors2424]

@@theGunLocker I can sure do a video testing that.

[@kouroshdavoudi7828]

I do agree with what you're saying,I shoot two high power (over 30 joules)Diana nitro piston full power HW 80 HW 77 k and use a shooting stick and I learnt it's Best to place it right at the balance point on the stick , what is most important to be consistent and using the same method zeroing your rifles.

[@maxanderson4278]

Looks like you seem to shoot very well based on the results! Afterall is not that the goal? Please keep up the videos and the good content. Thanks!

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @maxanderson4278...I will try! All the best

[@musician1000]

The test of a good shot is from a standing position. If you're going to shoot sitting down using rests, you might as well just clamp the rifle in a vice.

[@tjsnapper1953]

Ive got 3 springers Tx200hc Hw95k and Lgv master pro all 3 require different methods of holding. As you ssys what works gor the gun. Great channel many thanks keep it up Trevor

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks Trevor...all the best and thanks for taking the time to comment

[@lookcreations]

Enjoyed that. Makes me want to get my Remington express out and try again. This time with a range of pellets to see what it prefers. Think I’ve been locking the but in my shoulder 😮

[@theGunLocker]

Go for it! Thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you - all the best for 2024.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Consistency of hold - same recoil effects every shot + fast lock time must be beneficial?

[@theGunLocker]

100% correct! All the best and thanks for watching

[@African-Budget-Pellet-Gunner]

I must say I employ a very similar shooting style to you with springers, I find that the artillery hold does shift the POI but my consistency isn't as good. I think whatever shooting technique you use as long as you can do it consistently and it suits you, go for gold.

[@theGunLocker]

Exactly right! All the best and thanks for watching

[@terencegamble4548]

Great practical advice!

[@johnhouston6142]

Good on you Mark, never listen to the haters in this world, because they just hate on anything they dont like, its their way or the high way.. imagine having one of them as a Father or a Mother or both of them.. that would only create another self centred person in this world..😂😂😂 anyway as a new shooter I will try any good and decent advice I can find..and give it a try.. you shoot great and your videos are the most indepth I've seen in any videos on KZbin... so hats off to you Mark..👌👍🤘

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @johnhouston6142...thanks! I honestly can't believe how some people react. If they don't like what they hear or see, they can simply leave, but no, they have to insist that you do it their way and if you say no, they get insulted. They're like spoilt children and they forget whose channel they're on. My dad who was a master builder told me..."Son, if you're going to show someone how do to a job, make sure you can do it first, otherwise you'll never gain any respect". I've lived by those words since I was 14 and I try to apply them to everything I do. That's why I always show the targets in the distance whilst I'm reviewing rifles. People can see exactly how far away the targets are and the weather conditions as well. Not like AAR for example...shoots out to 40m on every one of his reviews yet you never see the targets in the distance. What's to say he's not shooting at 10m or 20m? I will happily take advice from someone that can openly show their skills, otherwise it's just hot air to me...completely and utterly worthless. Anyway, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. All the best!

[@doitbetter8537]

@@theGunLocker Aar is a salesman, nothing but a salesman!

[@johnhouston6142]

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply 🤘👍👌 I like the values you learned from your father thats lovely to hear.. I was much the same I learned a lot of good and useful things from my father... one statement I kind of live by is, "It takes the same amount of time to be a nice guy as it takes to be an _rsehole'' 👍👍💕 Anyway your only showing us how you shoot and how it may help someone who is struggling a bit with technique, it could be the hold, could be the gun, could be the pellets, could be the way you pull the trigger, could be the scope or the mounts, it could breathing, 😃😃👍👍 and it cant be easy for you shooting all different guns, cause they're all a bit different or way different 😃😃👍👍I've seen you shooting in some really shiity conditions.. I would like to see a few of those guys who left negative and hurtful comments shoot 5 different rifles, in crappy conditions, with not the best scope or mounts and an array of maybe some good and not so good pellets and see how they do... 😂😂😂 a quick story Mark, I sold a guy a scope who is a firearms instructor, I spoke to him on the phone and he gave me some great advive to.. his range does training for the Police like SWAT teams, foreign forces, local shooters etc, Anyway he had a bunch of loud Americans at the range and they couldn't hit shit, that soon shut them up and they went away with their tails between their legs... and they had all the best of equipment.. 🤣🤣🤣 anyway Mark, you know yourself how to handle these sort of people..and I hope your dughter is doing a lot better.. take care of your own. 👍👌🤘💕

[@theGunLocker]

@@johnhouston6142 Thank you and all the very best!

[@jimmynich4791]

​@@doitbetter8537Yeah, I was trying to find a video where he says a gun is shit but couldn't find one, all air guns are brilliant according to him.

[@colinsimmons2913]

thank you every thig you have said makes sense so i went and tryed it 30mtr half inch with my Diana 460 magnum love it thanks again

[@theGunLocker]

That's good to hear! All the best and thanks for watching

[@poisonmans]

Spot on, whatever suits you and if you get results you're not wrong. Doesn't matter what others think.

[@theGunLocker]

Cheers @poisonmans...thanks for taking the time to comment and for your support. All the best

[@JohnSargeant-m2i]

A nice considered response - well done

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks. All the best

[@SedEdwards]

Thanks for the advice 👍

[@DarcvexiS]

LOL...like telling a home run hitter how to hit a ball. 🤣 I just discovered this channel today and it's my second video I've watched I can tell this mans an ideal airgun shooter. Greetings from the USA!

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @DarcvexiS...I really couldn't have put it any better! WELCOME! Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment. All the best.

[@davidhalliwell6844]

Annie Oakley used to place the rifle on her shoulder, pointing behind her towards the target and used a mirror to see the target behind her. Never missed. …..so…shoot your own way.

[@andybrown8293]

I read a book years ago on the history of the old Wild West shows and Annie Oakley used shotshells in a lot of her performances.

[@theGunLocker]

Will do! All the best and thanks for watching

[@PLAYU72]

All that I know about springers are that they jump . We need control in the someway every shoot this jump ... how? .. well... this is the fun part whith spring arms. I have got a hw97k whithout any kind of hamster that rest directly in my knee when practicce FT. I use my front hand in the same way that you employ your rear hand, only to "let-drive" the jump, Some bubbys insist in that I need put my front hand between my knee and forened, but when I hit the target whith "my style" at 5o meters.... well... this reafirm that "my style" maybe could be correct, works fine for me . Sorry for my bad english. Nice chanel man, Cheers from Spain

[@ScottHudson-e2i]

I've always felt as though the concept of natural point shooting hasn't been given its due credit. You see the lack of tension in a unreferenced body to target acquisition only compounds an unstable platform. I shoot springers quite well thank you,, due in part I believe to the the fact when first deciding to engage a target I turn my body to that target so as there isn't any sprung tension in my body, I pull up tight enough to insure all my clothing is compressed and I am in the best ergonomically possible position then and only then do I begin to "lighten" my hold by beginning my breathing sequence prior to releasing the shot. Works for me but whatever.

[@ScottHudson-e2i]

And other exeriences

[@johnkiessling7459]

When you place the gun on the rest. Is that rest padded? I have noticed my shots can be off if placed on a hard surface.

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @johnkiessling7459, apologies for the delay in replying. Yes it is. Where ever I go and what ever I rest my gun on, there is always some form of padding between the forestock and the rest. It's to protect the forestock more than anything. not so much of an issue with sub 12ft lbs, but full power (FAC) firearms generally have a fair amount of recoil and that can mark the stock if you're nor careful. Anyway, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. All the best

[@RaoulDuke333]

Are you any good standing up , sitting or prone with nothing but your hands ? No bipod or benchrest ?

[@theGunLocker]

Now that's a good question. I can shoot without a rest and that comes from years of pigeon and pheasant shooting with a shotgun, but it's not something I do when it comes to vermin control or stalking for ethical reasons. And because of that, I don't often shoot unsupported...but there's another video idea...thanks! All the best

[@musician1000]

You take the safety off before you've rested the gun. Best practice is to be rested and on target first.

[@theGunLocker]

Please remember this is my range, my land beyond that range and my nearest neighbour in the direction I'm shooting is one and a half miles away. I can afford to relax a little. But point taken.

[@colinsimmons2913]

there is always a nit picker

[@richperdue9344]

If the butt stock had a surface parallel to the forend you could rest on both surfaces. Since the butt stock is angled that surface tends to throw the shot high when it slides. Resting the trigger guard on a leather sand bag seems to work. Would rather have flat surface on butt stock. Just my thought & experience you shoot great.

[@theGunLocker]

At the end of the day, you'll shoot how you feel most comfortable and you'll find a technique that works for you. The most important point is consistency. Once you find a method that works, stick with it and fine tune it, especially your breathing and try to slow down your heart rate. All the best and thanks for watching.

[@richperdue9344]

@@theGunLocker Probably going to watch your video a few more times & work on your technique rather than butcher...I mean modify my RWS 34 stock. 😁

[@theGunLocker]

@@richperdue9344 practice makes perfect...take your time and remember... squeeze the trigger don't snatch at it. If you get to watch the way other shots perform, look at the way they squeeze the trigger. 9 times out of 10 a miss will come down to them snatching. All the best

[@ashleyridge3854]

Hi everyone, looking to get my first hw, I really don't know what to get, I'm leaning towards 98k. However, I do like the idea of the hw 90 gas ram. Any suggestion.

[@ashleyridge3854]

Sorry, I meant 97k

[@theGunLocker]

Hi Ashley, if it's sub 12, then I would go for the fixed barrel every time. So for me it's the HW77 and I prefer the carbine (K). That's purely my personal preference. The only real difference between the 77 and the 97 is that you get open sights with the 77 and I like the option of being able to shoot with open sights....hones your skills. All the best and thanks for watching!

[@ianbrown5682]

Go for the HW95K excellent rifle, accurate and also good for a first one. Then progress to HW97KT.

[@24745037]

Buy once cry once, 97 good choice 👍 Coming from someone who has around 40 air rifles 😅😅

[@dapwalkvintage]

​@@theGunLocker Nice video, I totally agree with your points! Just to add a fun fact to your comment above-the HW77K not only has open sights but also sports a longer barrel and a lower cheek rise, while the HW97K features a muzzle weight slash rudimentary moderator. These differences significantly impact the shooting experience, making them distinctly different rifles altogether.

[@paulspeller968]

the age old argument. how do you shoot a spring gun . it’s easy how ever it works for you

[@theGunLocker]

Absolutely! all the best and thanks for watching

[@24745037]

Whatever works👍 Your bench is very unstable table😂, i think your a great shot considering the bench, rest, and the wind. No sarcasm either 👍

[@10ring60-bp5ml]

and thanks for clearing things up good video

[@theGunLocker]

Any time!

[@stevenlowrie726]

Great video a usual

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @stevenlowrie726, thanks! All the best

[@doc-slider5345]

Whoever hits is right. You hit.

[@lesliecampbell2109]

Another good video, love the 77k too. There are a lot of keyboard warriors out there for sure, willing to knock down anything that goes against their ideas cos they're always right of course. Keep em coming, just wish the flaming rain would stop for a day or two.

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks @lesliecampbell2109...I will. All the best

[@BazLisie]

People picking on our Mark will be dodgy air gun manufacturers. Baz.

[@theGunLocker]

You might be right! All the best and thanks for watching

[@paulcarruthers1314]

Once you publish the haters come out, just something you have to live with.

[@theGunLocker]

Well...I could just ban them! Ha! All the best

[@JamesDavis-mb9pc]

OCD nerd trolls don't have any space in their heads for fun, don't let them get you!

[@theGunLocker]

They are more than welcome to prove to the world how good they really are. All they have to do is post on KZbin...and if they really are that good, I'll listen to them. All the best and thanks for the support.

[@mikelangelno]

Mark proof's int'pudding eh? Your shooting is as good as any I've seen with only one exception - Si and his mate at 'Vermin Hunters' (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGTPi2h6r7SVeJo). This, you particularly displayed via PCP with the Weihrauch HW100 and springer - the Walther LGV (I have an LGV Pro and it's Rolls-Royce- like compared to any other spring gun and can shoot the eyebrows of a gnat). Immensely thorough and enjoyable as always Mark.

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @mikelangelno...Thank you! All the best.

[@raye7961]

Your hand under the back of the rifle is not a good rest. I never have used the artillery hold on a rifle and I have been shooting for over 60 years.

[@theGunLocker]

It works for me. All the best and thanks for watching

[@noelwallace5257]

Don’t rise to the keyboard warriors, plenty of them on the AGF, horses for courses my friend. Btw don’t tell them you’re 10mm off target for live quarry they’ll string you up!

[@theGunLocker]

Hi @noelwallace5257...they forget that I can simply ban them from my channel. Life's too short for that sort of shite! All the best and thanks for watching.

[@noelwallace5257]

@@theGunLocker 👍🏻

[@10ring60-bp5ml]

damn good shootin i dont care if your standing on your head and yeah you dont half to have one of your paws under the friggin forend of the gun i use a sponge or bag or rest

[@theGunLocker]

Thanks...all the best and thanks for watching