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bcbuddy · New Member

Hi folks.
im kinda new to air rifles i mean i had one as a kid but never put much thought back into them until i bought a stoeger x20 with an "advertised" FPS of 1200 with steel alloy pellets.
I bought it as a varmint/rabbit rifle.

bcbuddy · New Member

P.s. im wondering if someone had the tools and the time how difficult would it be to "polish" an air rifle to make it faster

DavidSaunders · Veteran Member

DavidSaunders · Veteran Member

And welcome.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I would have to disagree with some of the content posted above- 850fps is not a "barrier" to accuracy- the only 'rule' in that respect is turbulence around the speed of sound- i.e. 1020-ish fps. Accuracy is otherwise going to be dependent on the pellets and barrel being used. I would agree that a springer (and the more powerful the springer, the more so) is the most difficult gun to master, if a person understands that and works to become a good shooter with one, pretty much every other gun they touch will be almost a joke in respect to becoming a good shooter (the classic statement being if someone can become a solid shooter with a high-powered springer, they can shoot anything else at least as well). It is challenging when first starting, but I don't think this should be a barrier unless someone is impatient or doesn't have the time to practice very often.

DavidSaunders · Veteran Member

bcbuddy · New Member

Good information off the get-go thanks fellas.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Slavia · Moderator

Welcome to the forum!

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I do recall that discussion, and the talk of the transonic region and some extra buffeting- but I don't believe "spiralling" was ever on the table (this would seem to be dependent on the specific pellet being used). It was noted that less accuracy can be present when in this region, but even Bob's experience indicated it was closer to 950fps where this became an issue, not 870fps- so I will point again (assuming such a thing was photographed at 870fps) that the specific pellet/design is relevant.

All that being said, and along these same lines, has anyone ever fully tested a pellet flight path through the transonic area (i.e. through, above, and back down)- it would seem to make sense that as it is the same conditions for each shot, that the end result should be consistent, even if the end result is not what was fully expected. I am wondering if anyone has ever tested this properly over a longer distance-?

DavidSaunders · Veteran Member

I am looking for the references. Though there are certain constants that effect the spiraling regardless of pellet. Obviously some pellets will have a better time of it though all will loose accuracy do to spiraling.

Slavia · Moderator

Perhaps "spiral" is an imprecise choice of words. To me, spiral means a helical flight path due to nutation (gyroscopic precession of the longitudinal axis). Flipping end for end might better be described as "tumbling" in flight or "keyholing" at the target. I agree with Eric that such a rotation about a transverse axis would be more a function of the pellet design and gun. To my mind transonic instability doesn't imply "sprialing," "flipping," or "tumbling." It's the disturbance of the pellet's longitudinal axis (and flight path) due to "buffeting." That buffeting being caused by the pressure differential with a shock or pressure zone forming and dissipating asymmetrically and randomly as the pellet passes through the transonic region.

870 vs. 950 and semantics aside, the practical application is simply to use the pellet that gives the best accuracy in a particular gun. Moving to a heavier subsonic pellet might satisfy that end.