Ladies and Gentlemen.

This is a case for the oldest, noblest and, in my humble opinion, the finest sporting air rifle type of all. The spring-piston powered air rifle.
Yes, PCPs are accurate; some are indeed astonishingly accurate and..well, that's all they are really. They can surely hit what they are pointed at but,
they do it with an air of self-possession. It's as if they have been designed to keep as much involvement from the you the shooter, and your natural
imperfections and errors in handling and aiming, out of the shooting solution, as far as possible. With a pcp and a scope in zero, you can just hold it
like a rifle, aim it like a rifle onto the target and it'll sort out the poor handling skills and reward you with a clean hit. Most of the time.

Marksmanship for those who don't have any? Well, that's a bit unkind to say. Truly, you can set up a 50-metre zero on a 2p disc with a PCP on a
bipod and your Mum, your sister and granny will have no problem hitting the target every time, as long as they can steady the crosshairs on to the
target. But what did they actually learn to achieve such marksmanship so quickly...other than simply setting the cross hairs right on the target? It is
perhaps a truth to say, you will learn little of the principles that govern marksmanship from a rifle that over-writes your errors and mistakes and will
not allow you to learn from them.

There is however, one over-ruling truth in the PCPs favour. If large numbers of vermin shot are the order of the day, if a fast reloading capability is a
necessary requirement for controlling large volumes of rabbits etc, if FAC levels of performance approaching that of rimfire rifles is needed, without
the risks of sending a missed bullet over huge distances, the multi shot PCP rifle is a professional's tool and is unbeatable in this instance, with their
advantages in terms of quicker shot delivery. If you shoot with large numbers of vermin as your objective, it makes perfect sense to use a PCP. But
Let me make one fact absolutely clear on the question of air rifle accuracy:

THE SPRING PISTON AIR RIFLE IS EVERY BIT AS ACCURATE AS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED PCP RIFLE.

Accuracy is everything here. It is the real make-or-break power test of any air rifle. This is a law governing all air rifles. Sheer power and brute, grunt
force alone means absolutely nothing if you can't hit a barn door with it.

No question, if you shoot with a top-quality springer rated at between 10.5 to 11.5 ft/lbs of consistent power, a good scope and the right pellet; and,
if you do your part in the shooting solution right, you can put any number of pellets, .22, .20, .177 - whatever calibre, all day through a 1 coin size
target at anything from 10 to 50 metres and over as well as the most sophisticated PCP can.

It is a complete and utter myth that the PCP is superior to the springer for accuracy alone. One-hole, single-pellet accuracy at this distance is
seriously accurate shooting by any standard. You cannot demand more than this level of accuracy realistically from any air rifle, regardless of the
action type. And a quality spring rifle will perform to this standard of accuracy without problems..or bottles or scuba tanks of air, hoses, regulators,
limited numbers of shots and God knows what expense! All you need to know, is how the rifle shoots and how a correct hold technique will help you
to manage its recoil.

A NOTE ABOUT QUALITY.

In the sport of shooting, like everything else in this life, you only get back what you pay for, and the quality of the spring rifle and a good scope you
choose is a vital factor of your enjoyment of spring rifle ownership and a rewarding shooting life with it. The very best spring rifles are made
by Weihrauch, Diana and Walther LGV from Germany. Air Arms from Great Britain. The quality of guns made by these names are the finest there
is and their barrels and adjustable triggers are the real deal. There are always cheaper guns of course. But their quality and performance are no real
alternative and most do not measure up to the level of accurate shooting we are discussing here. It will invariably happen that the limitations of a

cheap gun will soon result in another visit to the shops to buy what you should have bought in the first place. A point to remember when choosing a
spring rifle on a tight budget. A second hand rifle from the above stable names will still produce amazing results for the price of brand new tat or
even cheaper! Consider that my newest rifle, an HW97K .177 is now about 8 months old and my oldest, an HW80 .22 is now 16 years old and one
is just as accurate, just as delightful to shoot with as the other. Scopes are a matter of individual tastes and budgets. But always; Buy cheap and
you buy twice is a true maxim here.!

WEIGHT.
Spring powered air rifles are designed with three types of cocking action. Break-barrel, Underlever and Sidelever. and all them are heavier than the
average PCP, but, at around 7.5 to 10lbs or so with a scope on board; about the weight of most military rifles, this is really not as heavy as some
would have you believe. The weight helps absorb recoil and assists with stability in the aim, particularly from prone, kneeling and seated shooting
positions and frankly, if you cannot manage this sort of weight and on a rifle sling at that, you need some serious exercise! Underlevers and
sidelevers are a little heavier than break barrel rifles as there are more parts in their make up. But the fixed barrel accuracy they possess is utterly
precise. But that's not to say break barrel rifles are in any way a poor relation! Walther LGV series and Weihrauch's HW80s and HW95s are breakbarrel rifles with a world renown for their precision accuracy and utter reliability in all conditions.

THE ART OF SPRING RIFLE SHOOTING EXPLAINED.

1. LET'S GET COMFORTABLE. BASIC SHOOTING SET-UP.

Comfort and Finesse are the operational words in spring rifle shooting accuracy. Nothing should be allowed to be stressed or hurried or cramped.
But a certain elegant, finesse is desired on your part to effect a COMFORTABLE SUPPORT OF THE WEIGHT AND
RESPONSIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE RIFLE'S RECOIL WITH CORRECT HOLD. TRIGGER CONTROL and FOLLOW-THROUGH is
everything we need to get right first and last (We'll take it as a given regarding the right pellet and scope for the rifle).
SPRING RECOIL.
Shooting any rifle from a comfortable, supportive position where the weight of the weapon is properly managed and wobbles reduced to nought is
the foundation of all rifle-shooting accuracy. The next is an understanding of how the spring piston air rifle recoils and how we manage that recoil
without imparting restrictions on it. The rifle recoils in two directions; forth and back in this sequence. 1. The spring piston slamming
forward creating shock-vibration. And 2. The resulting air charge compressing and surging forward into the narrowing air chamber and
transfer port rebounding back slightly as it compresses into the skirt of the pellet in the breech, creating recoil back. All of which happens
in a micro-second and has to be managed in the hold of the rifle in your hands and shoulder, by you alone, without restricting any of it in any way
whatsoever.

THIS IS WHY SHOOTING FROM SOLID RESTS LIKE BIPODS ARE A COMPLETE AND UTTER WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY FITTING
ONE TO A SPRING POWERED AIR RIFLE.

Because this 2-way recoil effect will throw the shot wide when the rifle bounces about on solid, unyielding surfaces under recoil on firing. Whatever
the action you prefer to use, you have to manage the two-way felt-recoil that all spring rifles produce. And that brings us back to comfort.

The best, most comfortable shooting position of all is to lie prone. This is the most stable field shooting position of all and very effective for all
hunting sports with a rifle. It is the optimum shooting position of armed forces snipers as it allows the shooter to maximise "ground level-down"
concealment while observing the target and build a stable-aiming gun-platform with his body and arms forming a firm tripod support of the weapon.
Bipods and solid rests are useless with spring rifles but, I use a cushioned shooting seat to rest and support my leading forearm which comfortably
supports the weight of the rifle on my forehand. You can, of course shoot from any position that suits you best. What is important in whatever your

preferred position however, is allowing the rifle to rest, supported in a comfortable, unrestricted hold and a finesseful control of the rifle at your
shoulder and in your hands.

Scope. The position of the scope on the rifle imposes an amount of weight onto the cylinder which has an effect on the rifle's balance and its
handling, and thereby its accuracy performance. Getting the scope perfectly aligned for both eye relief and weight-balance is easier to achieve and
can make the rifle feel almost weightless if you use two-piece mounts to spread the load over the cylinder. I find single or one-piece mounts very
limiting in scope position and inefficient for weight-imposition of the scope on the rifle and thus, never use them. When zeroing your rifle, any rifle,
the winds will make a significant effect on your accuracy. Test your scope and pellet's performance whenever a calm, windless day presents an
opportunity to get out and shoot.

2.HOLD and TRIGGER.

At the risk of repetition, when you shoot a spring rifle, you feel it's recoil "talk" to you through your controlling hand's wrist and gently back into your
shoulder. It may not feel much but, unlike the one-way recoil back from a larger calibre cartridge rifle, a spring rifle's two-way recoil is enough to
adversely work against the shooter and throw the shot completely off target. It is a snap of sharp vibration-shock and slight push-back on firing but, it
can be sharp enough to wreck a scope. Tuning and "fettling" can help reduce the recoil effect but not remove it completely from the firing sensation.
Also a pull or snap of the trigger will direct the recoil and pull the rifle off-target in the direction determined by which hand, left or right you shoot
from.
Because the recoil vibration will bounce the barrel about on any solid rest, a gentle, supportive yet unrestrictive hold and a calm and gentle trigger is
needed by the shooter to control it and that's where a correct hold and trigger technique comes in.
From a well supported position your focus is on allowing the rifle to recoil on firing as naturally as possible with just a little input from
you. You neither grip anything tightly, nor so lightly that the thing jumps in your hands. You should have the rifle forend or forestock
resting and supported on the palm of your leading hand in a cushioning cradle of your fingers. The butt just nestling at your
shoulder NOT TIGHT OR JAMMED UP. Just gently resting there. Enough to butt gently on the curve of your shoulder; that's why it's called the
butt!

TRIGGER CONTROL.
A well-set trigger is vital to all shooting accuracy. It should be set 'soft' on 2nd stage to operate with no pulling or snapping on the blade from your
finger. You must learn to gently 'press' the shot off with a sweetly-positive finesse (that word again!) without pulling or jerking your finger on it and
causing the rifle to deviate in your hand and shoulder. As you settle the rifle into aim, your control of the trigger begins to build from your controlling
hand around the grip. LIGHTLY place your hand around the grip with
your thumb up the back or spine, your middle, fourth and little fingers just curled around the grip. The main point of controlling contact here is your
palm abutting the grip with a little resistant pressure. Now if you are ready to fire GENTLY place your index trigger finger with the crook or
knucklebend resting on the blade and gently take up first stage pressure with everything sighted on the target. You will notice a rise and fall
in the scope. That's your breathing telling you you have true alignment from rifle barrel to target. Now, exhale and hold your breath, slow your pulse
and heartbeat. Gently press through and release the shot, keeping everything as smooth and movement-free as possible. Pull the trigger and you'll
pull the barrel off target and miss..simples. NOW STAY on aim with the trigger pressed as the shot releases and stay in firing pose. Do not flinch,
even though this is natural reaction to sudden movement. Train yourself to keep your head still and your aiming eye on the target as the rifle
fires. Nothing is going to come back and hit you! Watch your shot hit all the way home to the target through your scope and, for a moment or so,
keep your concentration focused on where your shot has just hit . This is called FOLLOW THROUGH and it's important to understand what it is and
what it's for.
3.FOLLOW THROUGH.
This is in fact, a discipline you must adopt whether you shoot a cartridge rifle, spring rifle or PCP with precision. You may think that once a pellet or
bullet has left the muzzle into free flight there's nothing more to do. The round has left the rifle into flight and is now beyond your physical ability to
influence it further; so what does follow-through actually do?. What follow-through disciplines you to do, is keep the rifle perfectly, motionlessly
aimed as you release the trigger and the process of ignition, the round starting it's journey onto the rifling and spinning it's way down the barrel to
exit the muzzle (the process of Lock Time) begins it's firing phase. And then, speeding on downrange to impact the target.
It may all happen in a millisecond but, if you put a moment of movement in on firing, you will throw the shot off-target and miss. Remember, the shot
isn't finished until it's hit its target...or not. Follow Through is the finishing-off of every shot you take.
This is why you should always buy the best quality you can afford when choosing your next spring rifle. Cheap guns have cheap parts and the worst,

Stiff-As-Hell triggers of all and are virtually unshootable as far as long range precision accuracy goes and the finesseful skilled approach needed.
A FINAL WORD ABOUT BREATHING. NEVER hold your breath.
This will cause your heart and pulses to increase their rate to keep you alive! Learn to inhale then, gently exhale slowly as you set up to shoot. This
will slow down your heart and pulses and reduce the effect on rifle stability in the aim. The pause between the last amount of air in your lungs and
the last effort to empty them is the point at which you press the trigger and fire the shot.
It has the added benefit that it will reduce the risk of coughing and giving your presence away! A military sniper's technique that is just as useful
when hunting wary quarry listening for approaching enemies and danger all the time.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

1. With the rifle loaded. Bring the rifle to your shoulder and gently let the butt rest at your shoulder with no pressure or force, or your shot will fly
high. 2. Inhale and steady your breathing. 3. Cradle the forestock in the palm of your leading hand with you fingers lightly placed around the forend
so as to gently aim the rifle supportively without restricting it in any way. 4. With your controlling hand, take the grip with your palm as the main
contact and your trigger finger safely out of the guard as you set the rifle up to aim it. 5. Your thumb should be running up the spine or 'wrist' of the
grip. 6. Now carefully place your trigger finger on the trigger blade. If you are clear on target in your scope, 7. slowly take first pressure to the point
where the sear will dis-engage and release the spring. 8. Keep you aim focused in the reticle and press the trigger and release the shot and DO
NOT FLINCH!. Your thumb position and relaxed, gentle trigger control will allow you to release the shot without pulling the shot to left or right. 9.
Keep on Follow Through as the shot hits the target and 10. make fullest attention to where the shot has struck the face of the target.

If you've put it all together right, your shot has just gone through the last hole of your previous pellet! And you'll do it again and again as far as you
can control your aim. With practice, all this will become second nature instinct and you will develope a level of marksmanship far in excess of your
expectations!
All the best for your spring gun shooting
Simon