My Air Rifle Fires but Not Where I’m Aiming!

This is one of the most common questions I’ve seen relating to airguns. There are a few things to consider here but typically I would take a look at the below (in this order):

SCOPE (1)

You might see your target through the scope but if your barrel isn’t in line with the scope then you’re not going to hit it. Do your shots still group together? If they do and your scope feels secure then it may just need zeroing.

If, however, your scope doesn’t feel as tight as it should be then you’ve most likely found your problem! You should first check that the mounts for the scope are tightly screwed to the gun and also that the rings are nice and tight on the scope.

SCOPE (2)

Yes, another scope-related suggestion but a valid one. If you’re shooting at relatively close range (maybe plinking?) then you may be actually shooting outside of the scope’s recommended range. If you’re not using a scope with an adjustable objective lens then the parallax setting on the scope could well be causing you a problem.

Just a suggestion here but if you already have an Air Rifle and you’re thinking about getting a scope, make sure that you buy one that is:

• designed for the gun you’re using
• a proper airgun scope that wasn’t built for firearms use only
• one that will deliver results at the distances you’ll be shooting.

PELLETS

All too often I see people complaining about their consistency and accuracy only to discover they’re using the cheapest possible pellet they could find.

You get what you pay for when it comes to pellets. If you go for the cheap option, you could be getting anything!

Some are even known to consist of slightly odd sizes which can over time cause problems for your barrel.

If they’re old pellets and have started to oxidize then don’t expect too much out of them. You don’t necessarily need to throw these old ones away, just use them for some plinking.

IT’S YOU

Well, without sounding too condescending, it may well be. We all have to start off somewhere and I don’t know about you, but I was all over the place at first.

If you have a springer, then these are known to not be that accurate when you’re shooting off any hard surface. Either shoot from a nice soft rifle rest or practice the artillery hold technique if that suits you better.

I haven’t found this makes much difference to me but some people swear by breathing techniques. Take a couple of quite deep breaths and on the third one, hold it briefly and during this time squeeze the trigger.