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Zero In
An easy-does-it procedure for adjusting your sight.
The procedure for adjusting airgun sights so they are properly aligned with the point of impact is called "zeroing-in" or "sighting-in." The gun will be accurate at the distance at which it was sighted-in. Note: Accuracy is dependent upon the quality of the gun. If you follow the procedure below you will be able to best sight your gun in based on its performance specifications.
In the best of all worlds, a perfectly sighted-in airgun should be able to shoot three or more shots at a paper target and make one hole. However, since your heartbeat or a slight puff of wind can impact the flight plan of the pellet or BB, a tight cluster, or "group" is adequate. At a distance of 50 feet, an acceptable group could be covered by a quarter.
To sight-in your gun, establish the correct "sight picture," or bullseye, in proper perspective to the front sight, and the front sight in proper perspective to the rear sight. Resting the gun on a sandbag can help steady the rifle or pistol while maintaining correct sight alignment and sight picture.
Place a paper target 20 feet away from the firing line, and fire a group. Next, find the center of the group, and adjust the sights accordingly. If the rear sight is moved to the left, the point of impact will move to the left. If the rear sight is moved down, the point of impact will move down, and so forth. Consult the owner's manual for your gun to know how your particular sight is calibrated.
Once the group is reasonably centered on the target, place a new paper target at the distance you actually want to sight-in your airgun and repeat the procedure. The degree of accuracy with which a sight is calibrated is almost always related to the cost of the sight.
Setting up a Range
You can build a home shooting range that will allow you to practice all year round, indoors or out. Here's what you need to do for a safe place to practice.
Select a Safe Area. When designating the area, take into account the range of your airgun, penetration of the ammo, amount of traffic in the area, and likelihood of ricochets. You must be able to prevent people and pets from walking into the range.
Know Your Airgun. When shooting BBs, the distance from the firing line to the target is usually 15-25 feet. With pellets, that distance increases to 25-33 feet. There is no reason to exceed these distances because the accuracy begins to decrease.
Build a Proper Trap and Backstop.
In combination, a trap and backstop can stop pellets or BBs without risk to shooters or spectators.
The trap can be constructed from a sturdy cardboard box filled with materials like newspapers, magazines, or telephone books. Avoid materials with a hard surface or foam rubber because these could cause a ricochet or bounce-back. In the front of the box, use loosely packed or wadded material, followed by a series of tightly packed material in the rear. Be sure to test this box before positioning it with your backstop.
The backstop is a hanging carpet or loose-hanging canvas, a sheet metal angled at 45 degrees, or hay or straw bales. The purpose is to stop any wide shots that miss the target. Again, test this backdrop before you put it in place.
Attach the Target. Tape a paper target in place on the front of the box. Hard-sided items like clothespins or paper clips can cause ricochets.
Establish a Defined Firing Line. Establish a definite line or barrier and allow no one to pass it when shooting is taking place. Make sure you store your guns away and they are not in your hand or the hands of other people when someone passes across the line. Leave enough room for shooters to safely move about and to accommodate the various types of shooting you will do.
If you choose not to build your own trap, consider a Crosman Target Trap, model # 0850, which is safe for use with BBs or pellets.
Fundamentals of Rifle Shooting
by Bob Soldivera
Guest expert Bob Soldivera has been a shooting coach for over 22 years. He is the New York state director of the International Shooting Coaches Association as well as an NCAA collegiate rifle coach. He has authored several articles on the subject of marksmanship and advanced coaching. Here, Bob offers a solid approach to shooting a rifle that can help veteran shooters as well as beginners.
The following rules apply to shooting a rifle with open iron sights. Use a bullseye-type target so you can measure your progress. While these steps may seem basic, that doesn't mean they're easy to follow. You have to practice and then practice some more. Concentrate on the following eight rules every time you practice shooting and the end result will be improved marksmanship.
- Position - Prone, standing (off-hand), kneeling, and sitting. The basic elements require bone support, muscle relaxation, and natural point-of-aim.
 Sight Alignment - Center the front sight in the rear sight. The top of the front sight should be level with the top of the rear sight. Make sure that you place the butt of the rifle into your shoulder so you can align the sights without tilting your head to the side. While facing the target, drop your head forward onto the cheek piece until the front sight is properly aligned with the rear sight.
 Sight Picture - For a six o'clock hold, the bullseye should sit on top of the front sight like a pumpkin on a post. For a point-of-aim hold, the desired point of impact should be aligned with the top of the front sight. Adjust the gun so that the bullseye is in proper relationship to sight alignment, bringing about a natural point-of-aim.
- Breath Control - Stop breathing long enough to release the shot (5-10 seconds). Note: If you hold your breath more than 10 seconds, your vision may blur.
- Hold - Allow the position to settle down until movement is minimized. If the position takes too long to settle, return to your normal breathing and repeat step four.
- Trigger Control - Smoothly apply rearward pressure on the trigger. You should not know when the shot is going to break because anticipation will cause a miss. You should be concentrating on the front sight, not the trigger.
- Follow through - Remain perfectly still for a few seconds after the shot breaks. While you are still, focus on the front sight and call the shot. That is, evaluate the hold and predict the result in terms of value and proximity.
- Strive for consistency - Repeating the process exactly the same way over and over is the key to ultimate shooting success.
Reviewing Airgun Safety
- Never point the airgun at any person or at anything you do not intend to shoot.
- Always treat the airgun as though it is loaded and with the same respect you would a firearm.
- Always aim in a SAFE DIRECTION. Always keep the muzzle of the airgun pointed in a SAFE DIRECTION.
- Always keep the airgun on safe until you are ready to shoot.
- Always check to see if the airgun is "ON SAFE" and unloaded when getting it from another person or from storage.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
- You and others with you should always wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes.
- If your reading or prescription glasses are not safety glasses, make sure you wear shooting glasses over your regular glasses.
- Use only the caliber of BBs or pellets specified for your airgun. Never reuse ammunition.
- Do not shoot at hard surfaces or at the surface of water. The BB or pellet may bounce off or ricochet and hit someone or something you had not intended to hit.
- Place the backstop in a location that will be safe should the backstop fail.
- Your backstop should be checked for wear before and after each use. All backstops are subject to wear and will eventually fail. Replace your backstop if the surface is worn or damaged or if a ricochet occurs.
- Do not attempt to disassemble or tamper with your airgun. Use an Authorized Service Station. Using unauthorized repair centers or modifying the function of your airgun in any way may be unsafe and will void your warranty.
- Before you store your airgun, make sure that it is unloaded, not charged, and that the airgun is "ON SAFE".
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