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Paulius1981 · Member

Hey all,

I'm a Brit now living in the USA. I'm an experienced shooter with years and years of experience, but with the area I live in slowly getting more and more built up, I decided to buy my first air rifle so I can shoot without bothering my neighbors.

I bought a Crosman Storm XT as a 'starter' gun, and I found shooting a spring piston gun is a whole different ball game. I have a question if anyone has the time to help out a humble newbie:

I've done a lot of research on spring guns and I know there's a definite 'break in' period. However, no one seems to be able to agree on even a ballpark figure. I've read a springer is as broken in as it will get after 200 shots, and others claim in excess of 2500.

Basically, how many pellets should I put through my spring gun before it's worth experimenting with different brands to see what it likes?

I've also read that lubricating your pellets helps with velocity and accuracy. I've heard a wax-based furniture polish works best for spring guns (and petroleum based oils are a no-no to prevent dieseling)...so is a wax based furniture polish safe to use with my gun, and is the difference in accuracy worth it? (I'm just shooting paper, so velocity is a non-issue for me as long as it's consistent.)

Thanks!

donec · Senior Member

I can't help with all of your post but....
"Basically, how many pellets should I put through my spring gun before it's worth experimenting with different brands to see what it likes? " I would say you should start testing which pellets you rifle likes right away. As I understand it the kind of pellet your rifle likes will not change as you fire more pellets through it but it should fire those better. Of course I am also a newbie and someone that knows more may correct me and teach us both something new.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

It's a good little rifle. It won't have any problems shooting it, but you had better check your local laws and statutes. I don't want you losing your rifle because some pissy old b!tch called the cops on you. I keep a 26 dollar 760 for if the cops show up as my giveaway gun. It's actually about 5 different rifles depending on the stock, scope and barrel. All the innards are the same. It makes it nice though because there are loads and loads of custom parts out there for crosman. I'm getting ready to put a quest 22 barrel on it.

I use my .22 crosmans for the onsite target contest because a 22 hole is bigger than a 177 and I just might stick that ring. lol Plus in my opinion 22s are more of a hunting round. I'm not saying you can't hunt with a 177 but 22s hit harder.

Anyway, I hope my little post helps some. lol

Paulius1981 · Member

Donec : Well, I've put about 200 rounds through it now, but until I'd put 100 through it the groups look liked long range shotgun blasts from an unchoked barrel. I'm talking 6"+ groups at twenty yards. Luckily, they've tightened up to about 2" at 35 yards, so I think it's worth testing a few different makes now.

Oddtodd: Luckily, I don't have to worry about anyone calling the law...I live in the middle of thirty acres of my own land outside city limits...WAY out in the country...I also know my neighbors well and it's not uncommon for me to hear one of them doing a bit of pest control or target practice.

However, more and more people are moving to my little corner of SC, and I have been known to put 500-800 rounds through my Remington 597... so buying the Crosman was more to do with me trying to be a good neighbor than worrying about someone calling the law.

I'm loving the rifle, although there's definitely a learning curve going from a firearm to a spring gun. I can put bullets through the same hole at 70 yards with my 597, and until I did a bit of reading, I was all over the paper with the Crosman

Right now, my best is about 2" at 35 yards, but I've barely put 200 rounds through it...and I've only used one brand of pellets, and they looked like an elephant sat on them during shipping.

I definitely want to replace the factory trigger though. The Crosman's trigger pull is too long, too heavy and spongy as hell.

VENI VIDI VICI · Member

I purchased a Storm XT with a 3-9 centerpoint scope for my g/f to shoot, mine was quite accurate right out of the box. Mine sure loves the Crosman premiers, both domed and hp, I personally havent found a pointed pellet it shoots well!

I personally think you made a good choice in rifles, I consider to be a fine rifle for 100$!

packrat · Senior Member

I had a StormXT as well, it shot the Crosman pointed hunting pellets very accurately...at around 500 rounds it seemed to just get better,,,hard to put into words, but it just seemed to sound better when shot, and seemed to be more accurate as well. IIRC, the pointed hunter pellets were 7.9gr. I shot a gazillion of 'em through it ( OK, maybe 2,500)

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Welcome to AirGunHome Paulius.

The thing about Springer’s is that every ones different, to run in the barrel in can take 200- 1000 pellets, then there is the problem of learning to hold the gun correctly, most require a very light touch and never rest it on anything solid to shoot, rest it on your hand. Once you get these right then it’s all down to how good a shooter you are, but after a while you will find it come naturally to you.

One thing you really do not need to do is lubricate the pellets, the barrel will lead in after a couple of hundred pellets, and that’s all it needs. Any lube you use will burn in to the barrel and throw the pellets all over the place.

Have fun.

Al

Slavia · Moderator

I agree with donec about trialing different pellets right away, and alstone's 200-1000 rounds for break-in is close to my experience.

I have tried lubricating pellets - Pledge, silicone, and Slick 50. Lots of effort with no discernable result. I have seen good results with a pellet seating tool, however. Not with all pellets or all guns, but sometimes it works.

Paulius1981 · Member

Well, after putting about 350 rounds through it, my group size has now dropped from around 4" at 30 yards to about 1.5"...although I think at least half of that is down to me getting used to the trigger and the gun rather than just breaking it in

The two main things I've learned that I'd definitely want to pass on to other people shooting their first spring gun...especially if, like me, you're switching from regular rifles to spring guns... is the 'Artillery Hold' and don't buy pellets from Wal-Mart.

As soon as I stopped shooting my spring gun like a 30.06 by pulling it tightly into my shoulder, my group size dropped by a full inch and a half.

As for buying pellets at Walmart, I bought a couple of tins of different types and found the vast majority were seriously deformed and squashed like someone had deliberately shook the tins as hard as they could.

Luckily, I also bought a Gamo sample pack at my local Sports Authority, and they look like they're in perfect condition...I'm looking forward to trying them out once the wind dies down.

Anyway, thanks for all the great advice and replies!

fritz · Silver Status Member

Sounds like you're getting it down quite well. I think 1,000 is well enough broken in.

Did you clean the bore when you got it? Sometimes it comes with some junk inside from the factory.

midnightsniper · Member

Paulius1981 · Member

I'm from Liverpool UK, but I live just outside Easley SC Laughing

One more question to anyone who knows the answer...what sort of group size is the Storm XT capable of at around 25 yards?

VENI VIDI VICI · Member

Like i posted earlier mine is quite accurate with crosman premier domed pellets, if i cant cover 5 shots with a nickel im pretty upset with myself, the gun is more accurate than i could ever hope to be

packrat · Senior Member

HI Dee !! I'm just down the road in Savannah, Georgia...welcome to this site..I had a StormXt also...after I had aoround 1,000 pellets through mine, it seemed to shoot smoother and definitely more accurately..Clen the barrel with a few DRY patches, and enjoy....mine ended up being as accurate shooting the Crosman 7.9 pointed hunter pellets , as ir was shooting the higher priced JSB's and RWS's--which was great!!! Only $3.95 for a tin of 300 Smile

and I could buy them locally!

midnightsniper · Member