I didn’t need it – I just wanted it

I splurged and purchased myself a new air rifle. It’s a Ruger – Targis, .177 caliber. It is a break over barrel type that does not require it be pumped 8 or 10 times before loading and firing.

This air rifle is much more powerful and has a muzzle velocity more than two times faster than the my old Crosman 760 pump-up.
Brand: Ruger *bigbox store price $90.00
Caliber: 0.177 (4.5 mm)
Ammo Type: Pellets
FPS w/Alloy Pellet: 1200
FPS w/Lead Pellet: 1000
Barrel Length: 18.7″
Barrel Type Rifled Bore
Total Length (inches): 44.75″
Capacity: 1
Action: Break Barrel
Power: Spring Piston
Trigger Pull (lbs): 3.5 (adjustable trigger travel)
Length of Pull (inches): 14
Cocking Effort (lbs): 34
Comes with unmounted 4X32 scope

Crosman(Daisy) 760 air rifle
Caliber .177
Power Variable Pump 3 – 10 pumps
Velocity Up to 600 fps
Product Weight 2.10 lbs
Barrel Material Steel
Barrel Type Smooth Bore
Front Sight Fixed Blade
Rear Sight Elevation Adjustable
Material Synthetic
Trigger Single Stage(non-adjustable)
Length of Pull (inches): 13
Total Length (inches): aprox: 33

I un-boxed inspected and checked all screws for tightness. Several were not as tight as I feel they should have been. I made a target from 8X11 paper, placed it at 15 yards to zero this air rifle.
Crap after 6 shots my shot pattern was 4 inches across, not one shot struck any closer that 2 inches to my target dot. I can’t make any sight adjustment until /unless my shot pattern is no larger than a quarter.

Double checked all sight mounting screws, I once again fired 3 shots. Again all over the paper. What’s up with this?

After a bit of research, I discovered that my problem could be the type of pellet I was firing. I was using a common pointed tip pellet made by crosman. SO, I changed to a dome head pellet, also manufactured by crosman, and suddenly my 3 shot grouping settled down and could be covered with a dime.
One windage and one elevation adjustment and I was zeroed.

Inspected the scope, mounting rings, assembled and mounted the scope on my air rifle.
New target, same range. Hint: Insure you have the scope rings securely mounted.
I fired 2 rounds. Two inches high, 3 inches right. Adjusted scope windage and elevation. Fired 3 shots. One inch right, made one more windage adjustment and fired 3 shots. Yea for me. Three holes appeared in the 1/2 black dot on my target.

My Review: For less than $100.00 I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a finer air rifle.
* I’m 69 and I find the rifle easy to cock and load.
* I love the illuminated open sights. Works great for an old guy that doesn’t see as well as I once did.
* Scope is better quality than I would have expected considering it is included with your air rifle purchase. It has a nice large field of view and ample magnification for any target within shooting range of a .177 caliber air rifle.
* Big plus – Ruger air rifle automatically puts the rifle in safe mode when you break over the barrel to cock the rifle.

Late yesterday afternoon I harvested a rabbit at about 40 yards for my table. One shot, one rabbit, doesn’t get any better than that.

Not from the USA. Please leave me comment about your home town and country.

If you see or read something you like Please Share By Re-blogging, Twitter or Email To A Friend.

Why is common sense so uncommon?
Don’t be shy. Leave me your comment(s)